Who doesn’t love a free, family-friendly, all-ages celebration? Especially when food is involved. You’ll find all that and more at the 10th annual Quadra Village Day, Saturday May 12th from 9:30 am to 1pm. I’ve been actively involved on the planning committee since shortly after moving to the Hillside-Quadra neighbourhood in 2006. It’s wonderful to see people pulling together – businesses, not-for-profits, citizens (young and old), community … [Read more...]
Quadra Village Day Dance needs YOU!
April 21, 2012 By 1 Comment
I've been a supporter of Quadra Village Day since moving to the Hillside - Quadra neighbourhood in 2006, and a member of the entirely volunteer-run planning committee since 2008. This year one of our community partners and long time supporters, Dance Victoria, is organizing a "flash-mob" style dance to be performed at Quadra Village Day on Saturday May 12th. In 2011 Dance Victoria received municipal funding to create an … [Read more...]
A Spring to Fall 2012: Art Shows and Studio Tours in Victoria BC
April 11, 2012 By 5 Comments
I love art, and remember well growing up on the West Coast at a time when many artists were escaping the city. Moving to Europe in my early 20s, I spent endless hours wandering the corridors of museums and galleries, frantically sketching (poorly) my impressions. When I returned to Victoria I knew art had to remain in my life. Remembering an early comment by Robert Amos about the value of purchasing local, original art, we began. Our budget … [Read more...]
Victoria Shakespeare 2012 – Live Outdoor Summer Theatre
March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Victoria Shakespeare Society during their summer season. It was so much fun, I've become a regular. Although the society has been a vital part of summer arts programming in the capital region since 2003 (in this incarnation), it wasn't until the summer of 2009, when a friend of my son’s was in Julius Caesar, that we wandered up the hill to the grounds of Camosun College. You can read … [Read more...]
The Ugly Duckling Puppet Show by Tim Gosley
March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I've written before about Tim Gosley, the acclaimed local puppeteer (mentor to Ingrid Hansen among others) and owner of Merlin's Sun Home Theatre. Now, you have a chance to see him in the show that helped him get hired by the Muppets! This Saturday and Sunday (March 31st, April 1st) BY DONATION at Merlin's Sun, come and celebrate Tim's 30+ year old show. It's been to Germany, Austria, the UK and across Canada. With special guest puppets: … [Read more...]
15th Annual Victoria French Fest
March 1, 2012 By 2 Comments
Celebrate French culture and heritage March 8-11th in Victoria BC with free events for children, circus workshops, a sugar shack, artisans marketplace, performances and more! Centennial Square is the site of the 15th annual Victoria French Fest. (Complete program guide -in French and English here). Most free events take place noon - 4pm in the Square. People are often amazed at the number of Francophones and Francophiles in the Capital Region … [Read more...]
Traditional Indonesian Puppetry Workshop at Merlin’s Sun Home Theatre
February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I've written before about the intimate performance space at Merlin's Sun Theatre in Victoria BC. Timothy Gosley and Petra Kixmoeller have worked hard to create a theatre with a variety of performances and classes, suitable for many ages groups. Tim, a well known puppeteer, has convinced Javanese puppet master Sutrisno Hartano to offer a workshop (Victoria's first) in traditional Indonesian shadow puppetry (Wayang Kulit). … [Read more...]
Urban Arts Productions Announces their Second Season
February 10, 2012 By 1 Comment
We are so incredibly fortunate in Victoria BC to have a vibrant arts culture. Most people are familiar with larger companies like the Belfry Theatre and Intrepid (producers of the Victoria Fringe Festival), but there are many smaller and younger groups that merit our attention too. Urban Arts Productions had a very successful start in 2011, and has just announced their second season. … [Read more...]
Free Monthly Skates – Victoria BC
January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I never really learned to skate. Growing up in Ucluelet, we had an ice surface at the Long Beach Airport, but it was strictly reserved for curling. In Victoria, however, there are numerous skating rinks. The City of Victoria even offers FREE monthly skates. the outdoor rink at City Hall earlier this winter Monthly Free Skates The City of Victoria Recreation Services and Save-On-Foods have partnered to offer monthly free skates in the … [Read more...]
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 – Royal BC Museum
December 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It's a measure of the Royal BC Museum's reputation that the North American premiere of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is being held in Victoria this year. I was honoured to be invited to a special preview in advance of the opening December 16. The gallery has been transformed. Visually stunning, compiled from over 41,000 submissions, the 108 winning images compel your full attention. … [Read more...]
