Victoria Fringe Festival 2017 an overview

Victoria Fringe Festival 2017 an overview of the 31st annual festival August 23-September 3 2017. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love the Fringe. I've gone from seeing more shows for the 20th anniversary (2006) than in the previous 20 years COMBINED, to volunteering (2007-2013), to writing previews (2010 on) to providing complete coverage of the festival with "picks", previews, media releases and reviews (30 last year and close … [Read more...]

Black History Month 2015 in Victoria BC

Black History Month 2015 in Victoria BC A Black History and Heritage Day (February 15th), an evening of performance and song (February 23 at the Belfry Theatre), a gala awards night (February 28th at the Copper Owl), a cemetery tour (February 22nd) and three presentations make up the very ambitious schedule in celebration of BC Black History Month February 2015 in Victoria. Many people are not even aware of the significant role black … [Read more...]

Victoria Fringe Festival 2014. My “local” picks.

Victoria Fringe Festival 2014. My "local" picks. The 28th annual Victoria Fringe Festival August 21-31, 2014. I love the Victoria Fringe Festival. I get to applaud local artists I’ve met over the years, and am always on the look out for people whose works is, as yet, unknown to me. Since falling in love with the fringe in 2006, I regularly see between 30 and 40 fringe shows a year, and attend more theatre during the year.  In addition … [Read more...]

Five Hole For Food 2014 Victoria BC July 18th

Five Hole For Food returns to Victoria for the fourth year July 18th 2014 at Save On Foods Saanich Plaze (2-6pm). I first learned about Five Hole For Food through Twitter in 2010 from friends of friends when I started following Dixon Lam, VP media relations. Five Hole For Food (and now—world-wide—Footy for Food) is the brainchild of Richard Loat.  The concept is simple. Register a team to play ball hockey, come to play and bring a food … [Read more...]

Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival 2014-interview with Karen Lee Pickett, artistic director

Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival 2014—interview with Karen Lee Pickett, artistic director. Now in its 24th year, the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (GVSF)—founded in 1991 by Clayton Jevne of Theatre Inconnu as a summer festival in downtown Victoria and produced since 2003 by the Victoria Shakespeare Society—presents Henry V and The Taming of the Shrew on the Camas stage at Camosun College’s Landsdowne Campus.  Earlier this year … [Read more...]

Call for Victoria’s Second Youth Poet Laureate. Deadline November 25 2013

Did you know that the City of Victoria is the first city in Canada to have a Youth Poet Laureate?  Aysia Law, a current UVic creative writing student, was chosen in January 2013 to represent Victoria.  She was active in the community, performing at Pop-Up Poetry events in April to celebrate National Poetry Month, and at council meetings and Culture Days events, as well as organizing a Diversity Slam this past summer. Photo: City of … [Read more...]

Victoria Fringe Festival 2013 – my “local” picks

When it comes to the Victoria Fringe, I’m a mere baby fringer. It wasn’t until the 20th anniversary in 2006 that I really got involved in this two week long festival of alternative live performance.  I love the buzz, and hanging out with fellow volunteers, performers and like-minded “fringe addicts”.  I see between 30 and 40 shows at the Victoria Fringe, and another 50 – 60 shows during the year.  Here are my “local” picks based on performances … [Read more...]

Mustard Seed’s Fair Start School Supply Program accepting donations

Have you ever had to shop for school supplies? For most families, it's a significant expense as they prepare for the return to school. For some families, already feeling financial pressure, it's one more thing they cannot reasonably afford.  The Mustard Seed's Fair Start School Supply Program provides support with packages of school supplies. Started 16 years ago by Linda Matthews and Vera Webb, and carried on by a team of staff and volunteers … [Read more...]

Music in the Park. The Rutledge Park Series 2013.

Music in the Park. The Rutledge Park Series 2013 (corner of Cloverdale and Inverness), Tuesdays in August, from 6 – 8pm. Free concerts for the entire family. Years ago when I lived just off Quadra, near the intersection of Cloverdale and Inverness, the area now occupied by RutledgePark was populated with houses that were past their prime.  The  district of Saanich has long had a policy of buying up properties in areas where they wish to … [Read more...]

Ross Bay Villa Grand Opening. August 4 2013.

ROSS BAY VILLA GRAND OPENING: On August 4, 2013 The Ross Bay Villa Society and TLC open the doors of this special historic house museum to the community for a lawn party, house tours and to celebrate 13 years of restoration. I've written before about the restoration of Ross Bay Villa. Here's an earlier post on the Oil Cloth Project from December 2011. Now, you can tour the house, and view the results of thirteen years of careful restoration … [Read more...]