A Queer Trial by Dr Jennifer Wise. April 13-14 2017 in Bastion Square, Victoria BC.

A Queer Trial by Dr Jennifer Wise. April 13-14 2017 in Bastion Square, Victoria BC. I don’t miss much when it comes to local theatre, but regrettably and unavoidably, I did miss theatre historian Dr. Jennifer Wise’s last production, the historical play Girl Rabbi of the Golden West, staged for the 150th anniversary of Congregation Emanu-El in 2013.  When a note was posted to a local Facebook group informing students in the UVic Theatre … [Read more...]

The Walrus Talks Youth Leadership in Victoria on October 24 2016

The Walrus Talks Youth Leadership in Victoria on October 24 2016 The Walrus Foundation and RBC Foundation are pleased to announce a special event exploring youth, leaders, ideas, and questions that will shape our future. RBC Foundation Presents The Walrus Talks Youth Leadership takes place on Monday, October 24 at University of Victoria. This is the latest instalment in the popular nationwide Walrus Talks series. The Walrus Talks … [Read more...]

The Ginger Goodwin Story by Michael Stephen May 9th 2016. A preview.

The Ginger Goodwin Story by Michael Stephen May 9th 2016. A preview. Michael Stephen has long been interested in social and labour history.  For years he taught at the Contact Alternative School for marginalized youth in Toronto.  He knew many “Wobblies”—members of the Industrial Workers of the World, an international labour union founded in 1905—which was where he was first introduced to the story of Ginger Goodwin, Vancouver Island’s most … [Read more...]

Bent by Martin Sherman. A fundraiser for the Victoria Refugee Initiative. March 3-6 2016. Interview.

Bent by Martin Sherman. A fundraiser for the Victoria Refugee Initiative. March 3-6 2016. Interview. Local actor Trevor Hinton (Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream--Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival; Waiting for Godot--Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre) is one of the core members of a group of citizens (the Victoria Refugee Initiative) who have formed a constituency group to sponsor a family of Syrian refugees to Victoria. The local … [Read more...]

Laughing Allowed! —The Slapstick World of Neighbourhood Activism. November 8th, 2014.

Laughing Allowed! —The Slapstick World of Neighbourhood Activism. November 18th, 2014. My readers may remember local theatre director Will Weigler for his community-based work that resulted in From The Heart: Enter the Journey of Reconciliation.  He's at it again--this time with a more comedic bent.   It’s great when neighbours unite and work hard to make their community better, but sometimes there are bumps on the road to getting … [Read more...]

SingYourJoy! Young Adult Chorus Fall Season Start-Up 2014

SingYourJoy! Young Adult Chorus? Fall Season Start-Up 2014 (media release). Victoria's only young adult community chorus is welcoming new singers for its Fall Season. SingYourJoy is a non-auditioned group for young adults from all walks of life, joining their voices together in an exuberant expression of joy, building friendships, and growing community. The door is open for new (and returning) singers, ages 16 – 29, during the first 3 … [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...]

Ross Bay Villa Canada Day Lawn Party July 1st 2014

Ross Bay Villa Canada Day Lawn Party July 1st 2014. I've written before about the restoration project at Ross Bay Villa, and the grand opening in the summer of 2013. Now, you can stroll the grounds, nibble sweet treats, drink tea and tour the house during the annual Canada Day Lawn Party.  On Tuesday July 1, 2014 we open the doors of this special historic house museum to the community for our annual lawn party and house … [Read more...]

Firewall by Target Theatre at Belfry Festival SPARK Festival 2014. A review.

Firewall by Target Theatre at Belfry Festival SPARK Festival 2014. A review. My father, who would have been 93 this year, had an email address before I did.  I was on Twitter before either of my two sons (in their twenties) and I’ll be 60 this year.  My point, and more importantly, the point of Target Theatre’s Firewall, currently at the Belfry Theatre’s SPARK Festival (until March 23rd)—technology knows no age-barrier. People’s desire to … [Read more...]

Five Hole For Food Victoria – help the Mustard Seed Food Bank – Friday July 19th 2013

Join the team from Five Hole for Food (FHFF), this Friday July 19th at Saanich Plaza from 2 to 6pm, as they play Canada’s favourite pastime – road hockey - and raise donations of food and cash for Victoria’s Mustard Seed Food Bank. I first became aware of Five Hole for Food, founded in Vancouver in 2010, through my online social media connections, and am happy to lend my support to their ongoing efforts to raise awareness of, and support … [Read more...]