by Lara Gladych –
Who do you turn to when you have a question? Is it Google or Siri, maybe Alexa? At Seaside Magazine we are fortunate to know local experts in all the fields (or we’ll know someone who knows someone), so next time you have a question, Ask Seaside! Each month I’ll take your quandaries and queries and do the research for you. Send your questions to news@seasidemagazine.ca.
Q: Can you please explain the game of pickle ball to me?
A: I reached out to the President of the Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association to shed some light on this increasingly popular game. First off, pickle ball combines various elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played both indoors and out, singles or doubles, on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. The game is played using paddles and a plastic ball with perforated holes. “Pickle ball can be enjoyed by all ages, regardless of skill level, as it develops quickness of mind and faster reflexes, and uniquely activates portions of the brain that few other sports do.” The game was invented in 1965, on Bainbridge Island, WA, by three dads whose kids were bored with their usual summertime routine. The rules and equipment have evolved over the years, and here on the Peninsula, the number of pickle ball players now exceeds the number of tennis players!
~ Corine Reid, President, SPPA
Q: With the lack of practical experience that many new boat operators must have, and the requirement for an online test only, what are the most common mistakes that boat operators make?
A: I went to friend and local marine rescue company owner, Adam Coolidge. Starting with the third most common mistake, of which he sees the unfortunate result, is not being prepared for an emergency: either sinking or mechanical breakdown. The second most hazardous error he sees is boaters not knowing what the aids to navigation mean, and subsequently running aground in rocky waters. The most common reason for distress and/or need for rescue is not being prepared for rough weather; be it that those on board are not prepared, or that the boat does not have the capability to manage these waters (more specifically, a lake boat on the ocean). Adam cautions that winds and currents can come out of nowhere, and that the lack of appreciation for, and understanding of, the dangers of the ocean and cold water can have dire consequences.
~ Adam Coolidge, Owner & Operator, Cold Water Divers Inc.
Q: I’ve recently noticed the large, green block structure that has appeared on Observatory Hill, and wonder what it is? Can you tell me anything about it?
A: The building you’re seeing is “an integration and test facility that greatly enhances the National Research Council of Canada Dominion Astrophysical Observatory’s ability to develop leading-edge instrumentation for astronomy and astrophysics research,” according to Scott Roberts, Acting Director, Astronomy Technology at the National Research Council of Canada’s Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre. The facility was born out of the need to build more sophisticated and larger instruments, such as the new optical telescopes that are larger, more powerful and more complex than ever before, for Canada’s astronomical observatories
The colours you see are the exterior cladding, carefully selected to allow the facility to blend into the surrounding landscape.
