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by Paula Kully –
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
You Can’t Keep a Good Town Down
With the holiday season upon us, everyone is wondering what it’s going to look like this year. Luckily, we live in a community that simply can’t be kept down! Not even by a global pandemic. The resilient community organizations and local businesses on the Saanich Peninsula have a blend of virtual and in-person safe events planned that prove that COVID-19 can’t dampen our spirits. To find out more, the Sidney BIA is keeping an events calendar updated at www.sidneybia.ca and regularly posting on their social media.
Lest We Forget
Although this year’s ceremonies are not open to the public, they will be live-streamed from the Mary Winspear Centre. There will be no formal wreath-laying but wreaths can still be purchased from the Poppy Office in the old Salon J location at 2506 Beacon Avenue. As well, two “Remembrance Boards” will be set up at the cenotaph for people to pin their poppies and/or a note of remembrance until November 11.
100 Days of Christmas
Westcoast Impressions, which manages the Sidney Street Market, has launched a virtual holiday market called “100 Days of Christmas.” The online event runs until December 23 and features a great mix of local and Island artists, producers and crafters offering unique holiday gifts you can feel good about giving. This holiday season, let’s all pull together and support local.
IN PRODUCTION
Netflix Has Gone to the Dogs
For all the dog lovers on the Peninsula, filming for the upcoming Netflix series Super Pupz took place in Central Saanich during September. One of the main locations used was Rascals Pet Market in Brentwood Bay. Super Pupz is being produced by the Air Buds franchise which features dogs that usually have some remarkable abilities.
Ten Years of Calendars
This year, the Sidney Sister Cities Association Calendar Committee went into their vault and scoured images collected over the past nine years. From these, they made their selection for the 2021 calendar, which marks the 10th anniversary of production! As always, the calendar will be available for purchase at Tanner’s Books.
BEACON GETS A LITTLE GREENER
A Budding New Business
If everything goes to plan, Sidney will see its first cannabis shop open at 2410 Beacon Avenue by November 1. Owners of the new shop were originally calling the store Happy Budha but after receiving some feedback from the community, they decided to change the name. They ran a “naming contest” and the new name was selected from entries they received from the public (not announced yet at time of publication).
Interior Landscaping Comes to Sidney
Dutch Green Designs is a new business in Downtown Sidney located at 2446 Beacon Avenue. Their website states that “Dutch Green Design was founded in the Netherlands in 1986 and was one of the largest and most respected interior landscaping firms.” Interior landscaping? Now, this sounds interesting! Owners Peter Zwaag and Erik Twisk have brought their unique business to Sidney where you will find various plants, pots, plant hangers and locally made gifts!
THE FUN STUFF
Let’s Play!
On October 9, Sidney Mayor and Council reopened Rathdown Park with an all-new playground! The playground equipment has something for children of all ages and abilities but I have to say my favourite is the mini zip line! If only I was a bit younger, and a bit smaller.
Painting Poppies
Odette Laroche, owner of Laroche Fine Art Gallery, and her students have been diligently working on a mural since May. The mural is made up of 30 individual oil paintings that when combined, become a six- by 8.5-foot wide mural of a poppy. The intention is to show and sell the mural by November 11 with all the proceeds going to Veterans.
Congratulations!
A huge congratulations from all the staff at The Roost Winery, Bistro + Farm Bakery to Rob and Tara McMullen, who have gone from general manager and head chef to proud new owners! And of course we all wish former owners Dallas and Sarah Bohl all the best with whatever is next for them.
A Special Happy Birthday
I want to wish a dear friend of mine, and a well-known Sidney resident, a very happy 100th birthday this November 24! I am sure there are many who call Mr. Peter Godwin Chance their friend, because that is just the sort of man he is. Peter joined the Navy in 1939 and served in the Second World War, the Korean War and the Canadian Armed Forces. He was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Admiral’s Medal, and the French Legion of Honour Medal at the rank of Knight, a befitting award for a true gentleman. He has written a wonderful book entitled A Sailor’s Life, which contains remarkable stories of his life and adventures that would certainly make a blockbuster movie. Peter – Happy Birthday!
