by Paula Kully –
News, changes, updates, launches? Email news@seasideamagazine.ca.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU …
Thirty, Flirty & Thriving
ArtSea Community Arts Council turns 30 this year and they are commemorating this auspicious birthday with the 2021 ArtSea Festival of Arts and Culture. Special programming will take place throughout the year including the Festival of Artists with displays by local artists in the windows of the ArtSea Gallery, and in local retail locations. The Festival of Hearts will encourage the community to get creative and decorate hearts to honour health care workers and brighten the day of local seniors. A new Interactive Studio Tour will provide a hybrid experience of local artist studios with information and visuals available online, and up-to-date open studio hours (when safe and permissible). For more information and updates, visit www.artsea.ca.
Young at Heart
Congratulations to the Sidney Museum on its 50th Anniversary this year! The Museum was established in 1971 with a mandate to acquire, preserve and make available the heritage, culture and interests of the Saanich Peninsula, a task they have done remarkably well. They are starting their 50th year off with their annual famous fun LEGO exhibit. Tours must be booked ahead of time so see their website or call for details.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
One Stop That Makes a Difference
What a great way to close off the year: giving back to the community! That is exactly what One Stop Furniture & Mattress in Sidney did with their Anniversary Sale at the end of 2020. Janice McEachern, Owner of One Stop, is pleased to report that they raised a total of $5,024 for charity. The funds were distributed to the Victoria Hospice Society ($3,458) and Victoria Humane Society ($1,566).
Covid Couldn’t stop Christmas Carols
Local musicians Sunny Shams and Paul Banks, along with Paul’s sons Nelson and Morgan (known as the Banks Brothers) collaborated with Radio Sidney to produce the album Christmas from Alexanders. The album was a means of replacing the annual live Christmas music at Alexander’s Coffee Shop with proceeds going towards the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation. The initiative raised over $1,000 and brought the much-loved seasonal songs to local patrons despite the pandemic.
The Support Local Cycle
10 Acres Restaurant and Market in Sidney made a pledge in December to donate a portion of proceeds to the Saanich Peninsula Community Foundation. President Tim Maloney was delighted to receive news from 10 Acres’s owner Mike Murphy that a cheque for $6,000 will be presented to the Foundation. The funds were raised from 10% of online sales at the 10 Acres Market and $20 from every Christmas dinner sold at the restaurant. What a great start to the year, and example of community support!
LET’S HEAR IT FOR OUR HEROES
Flying High
The BC Aviation Museum installed a new monument in January to honour fallen pilot Lieutenant Robert Gray (Hammy) who was shot down during the Second World War while on a mission off the coast of Japan on August 9, 1945. Gray was only 28 years old at the time. He was among the last Canadians killed during the war, the last to win the Victoria Cross and was the most highly decorated pilot from British Columbia. Although the monument recognizes Gray, it also draws attention to 260 Canadians who served in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. A formal dedication of the monument is planned for when COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Saanich Peninsula Shoppers Support Local
Congratulations to you – the people of the Saanich Peninsula. Word on the street is that area residents have truly stepped up to the plate and supported local businesses during these trying times. During this year of Covid, businesses and business organizations have been working hard to stay afloat through an online presence and other ingenious tactics that promote shopping local and using local services. For example, the Sidney BIA recently developed a fantastic online shopping centre called Marketplace that features small businesses operating in Sidney:
www.sidneybia.ca/market #marketplace.
NEW ADVENTURES & VENTURES
Farewell to a Friend and Colleague
Liz Cornwell, Corporate Officer / Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the District of Central Saanich, attended her last Council meeting on January 11. Liz, who came to work in Central Saanich in 2014, has retired to spend more time with her grandchildren. Prior to her role on the Peninsula, Liz held a similar position for seven years at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in Kamloops. All the best to you Liz!
New in Town
The Fickle Fig has opened its much-anticipated new location on Beacon Avenue in Sidney. The Canora Liquor Store opened its door on January 12th and a second Joe’s Family Pharmacy recently opened across the street from the Prairie Inn in Saanichton.
