Oak Bay News, March 11, 2015
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Transcript of Oak Bay News, March 11, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 oakbaynews.com
Casting a webWebcasts help public keep abreast of council meetings
Page A3
SPORTS: Medals send gymnast for a loop /A2NEWS: Council embraces paperless process /A5ARTS: Artists find inspiration in song /A10
OAK BAYNEWSOak Bay puts a friendly face on tourism
Christine van ReeuwykNews Staff
Friendly. That’s the word that won out after a vote from about 50 stakeholders representing all walks of business and residents at the latest branding session hosted by the Oak Bay Tourism Committee.
The vote was in response to the question: “If you could only choose three words to describe Oak Bay what would they be?” That was one of many thought-provoking questions put forward to the group at the March 2 meeting.
“It was a really good session, we got a lot of excellent feedback,” said Coun. Tom Croft, council liaison to the Oak Bay Tourism Committee. “We’ve got a clear understanding of what people see the current brand of Oak Bay is and where they would like to see the brand move to.”
Oak Bay Tourism made a short presentation to council recently to recap highlights from 2014 and offer an overview of the 2015 plan and priorities.
As part of their stakeholder engagement, Oak Bay Tourism budgeted $7,000 this year for brand foundation workshops such as the session at municipal hall last week.
“Overall we seemed to repeat the same things that have been repeated in the past, but I think we have to deliver. What I’m getting from people is we need to deliver on the promise that you have a unique experience in Oak Bay … Are we delivering to the degree that we would like to?” Croft said. “A lot of that is not just marketing but destination development.”
For example, things to draw people to the community, and provide things like boat rentals at the shoreline.
Oak Bay Marina, for example, has plans to bring back fishing vessel rentals, providing an option for visitors.
But a part of the issue identified is getting guests, and new residents, from the village to the water.
“We seem to be missing the usage of our waterfront so there’s a lot of ideas there,” Croft said. “We don’t have that way-finding from the village, it’s a direct line, but we don’t have that way-finding.”
The question: “What would you like to see as a result of this branding process?” got a few contradictory statements such as bury the Tweed image and build on traditions.
Build and bury isn’t a new concept, said Croft.“We’ve been through bury the Tweed to embrace the
Tweed. From tourism’s point of view we want to build on the Tweed but the new Tweed, not stiff British,” said Croft.
He was a part of the committee for three years prior to being elected to council last fall and part of the original branding strategies.
“We know that we’re moving away from it (old Tweed) with the young people and the demand for more walking, more cycling and more community activities,” Croft said.
This year the annual Tweed Ride moves into Oak Bay on Aug. 8, providing the kick-off event to arts and culture week that will include the annual car show on Oak Bay Avenue and wrap with Bowker Brush up. Both are fairly lengthy traditions in Oak Bay.
Those types of activities could create some linkage to another area of concern heard at the branding session, geographical connection.
“The other thing I heard … the community is fragmented,” Croft said. “The community is saying they want more collaboration with more communities (within) Oak Bay.”
Consultant Dan Dagg of Hot House Marketing is expected to report on the findings from the two-hour session in about three months.
Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff
Coun. Tom Croft at a trail head straight off Oak Bay Avenue. Stakeholders at a recent branding session suggested Oak Bay needs more signage or other measures to help people find the waterfront from the village.
Oak Bay Tourism session looks at branding opportunities
“We’ve got a clear understanding of what people see the current brand of Oak Bay is and where they would like to see the brand move to.”
- Tom Croft
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2451 Windsor Road
Restoring Your HomeAn Evening With The Experts
Oak Bay
Heritagepresents
With panelists:
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Nick Russell photo - Toronto Street
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“Make a cash donation, take a book”Mysteries, novels, classics, biography,
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A2 •www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff
Getting air on the backyard trampoline is a favoured pastime for Oak Bay youth Ava Stewart. She recently earned a spot at provincials for her passion and hard work in gymnastics.
Medals send gymnast for a loopChristine van ReeuwykNews Staff
An astute observation on Ava Stewart’s parents’ part uncovered what turns out to be a passion for the Oak Bay 10-year-old.
More than two years ago, during her brief tenure as a soccer player, the Willows elementary student spent as much time flipping cartwheels on the sidelines as dribbling the ball on the field. Her parents pulled her from soccer and enrolled her in gymnastics, said mom Petra Eggert. It wasn’t long before she caught the eye of a competitive coach and leaped from recreational to the competitive stream.
Now competing with Falcon Gymnastics, Stewart scored silver in all-around during recent competition in Port Alberni, qualifying for provincials next month. She earned silver on bars and bronze on floor, rounding out her competition with routines on the beam and vault.
They marked her first medals. “She said her face hurt at the end of the day
from smiling so much,” said Eggert. A total of 13 Falcon athletes ranging from
Junior Olympic levels 3 to 6, Stewart’s a level 6, competed in the Mt. Arrowsmith Invitational Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Competition. All six Junior Olympic Level 6 athletes qualified for
the B.C. championships April 10 to 12 at Capilano University.
Stewart competed at provincials last year in Kamloops and while it was fun and exciting, she didn’t feel as prepared as this year. Plus she was sick.
Petra Eggert photo
Ava Stewart ponders earning her first ever medal during the competition where she earned silver on bars, bronze on floor and a silver medal in all-around.
PLEASE SEE: Falcons host meet in May, Page A5
oakbaynews.com
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A3
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Council webcasts on Oak Bay’s radar
Christine van ReeuwykNews Staff
Anthony Mears is a regular in Oak Bay council chambers. He’s the guy behind the phone, adding live-streaming council and committee meetings to online resources by the group Oak Bay Watch.
The group started a couple years ago in response to development concerns, primarily around large homes replacing smaller ones on lots, because of the municipal floor area bylaws. There was at the time a YouTube user with the handle Modern Democracy, uploading video from various meetings around the CRD. When those stopped, Oak Bay Watch took up the torch.
“There was a sense, certainly in South Oak Bay, that things were moving too fast, there was a perception,” said now Coun. Eric Zhelka.
Streaming meetings was one way to promote that perception of transparency.
He was a member of the group at that time, and ran on a similar platform during the November election.
Prior to election he was among those who took turns streaming
the meetings which then remain online as podcasts.
Zhelka is no longer a member of the group and Mears is now the main man behind the camera while Zhelka serves the community as a councillor.
“The (municipal) website had to be redone, we now have a modern platform to build on,” Zhelka said.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Nils Jensen addressed webcasting as something the municipality
would pursue this term. “The webcasting is also a
matter of public accessibility to our proceedings. It’s a lot more complicated (than recently implemented e-agendas) and potentially more costly in the
long run,” said Jensen. “It’s something we will be looking at when we go to estimates in April. It’s not just a matter of hooking up the camera … it’s also a matter of storage space and organizing and maintaining the recordings, so it is complicated but it’s not rocket science.”
As chair of the CRD board he’s busied himself visiting each of the 12 other municipalities in the region.
“So far the majority of them have some form of webcasting,” Jensen said. “So it is something that I think there’s an expectation of the public that they have that kind of visual access to our proceedings. Because the technology is available, it is just a matter of time before we complete that task.
“I think over the term of this council it is something that there is consensus on this council to move towards. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
In the meantime, Mears plans to keep attending the Monday evening meetings at municipal hall.
“If it’s recorded then obviously we would look at that,” Mears said. Oak Bay Watch will maintain its work, even after there’s no need to stream meetings, he said.
“We’ve expanded our directors and added some expertise,” said Mears. “Our philosophy is two heads are better than one and a bunch of heads are better than two.” [email protected]
Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff
Oak Bay Watch member and regular council attendee Anthony Mears, left, and Oak Bay Coun. Eric Zhelke with the inexpensive setup Mears uses to stream municipal meetings.
UVic students throw support behind divestmentUniversity of Victoria students
voted 77 per cent in favour of fossil fuel divestment in a campus-wide referendum March 5.
The results boost Divest UVic’s campaign. The group of students is calling on the University of Victoria Foundation to honour commitments to sustainability and socially responsible investing and divest from the fossil fuel industry.
“Financial experts are warning of the risks of investing in fossil fuels, while highlighting the strength of divested portfolios,”
said organizer Ellen Trottier. “The facts stand for divestment and students do as well. It’s up to decision makers to side with students and faculty, stand for climate action and divest from the fossil fuel industry.”
Students say the onus is now on the UVic board of governors to divest.
“The urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate action,” said student Natalia Karpovskaia. “By continuing to invest in the fossil fuel industry UVic chooses to be complicit in the climate crisis. UVic must instead stand for climate action
and divest from the fossil fuel industry.”
Students unanimously elected candidates who pledged to push divestment through student government.
“I plan to make it clear to the university administration that UVic students will not stand for their education coming at the cost of climate change,” said newly elected student society chair Brontë Renwick-Shields.
At the end of March the UVic board of governors will convene for their spring meeting. Divest UVic hopes divestment will be at the top of the agenda.
Citizens group will provide service until district webcasts begin
Malkolm Boothroyd photo
A UVic students passes a banner advertising the student referendum on divestment. UVic students voted 77 per cent in favour of divestment from the fossil fuel industry
Christine van ReeuwykNews Staff
A pair of signs serve as a gentle reminder to
trail users that neighbours may be sleeping.The signs at either end of a trail at Walbran
Park are a direct response to residents in the area concerned over noise created by early morning users, according to Mayor Nils Jensen
“The reason we installed them is we had received complaints from the neighbours about exercise groups using that very early in the morning and waking neighbours and neighbourhood dogs,” Jensen said. “There’d be a bit of a disruption.”
The recently installed signs, at $50 apiece, are “encouraging good neighbourliness,” he said.
“We didn’t feel we could restrict the hours of use of the trail. One of the first steps was to see if the signs to could help to sensitize the users.”
A4 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
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A pair of signs remind trail users to be conscious of neighbours during the wee hours of the night and early morning after residents shared concerns with Oak Bay.
Signs silence Walbran trail users
Falcons host meet in May
“I’m still nervous, because people from all over the province are coming,” she said.
Straight off the Port Alberni competition the youth is back into the weekly training regimen of 12 hours at the gym and two in ballet.
“We do a lot of conditioning to build up our muscles and then three weeks away (from competition) we start doing our routines again,” Stewart said. “I like doing all that work to go to competitions. I really like competing. It’s just really fun. … I don’t care if I don’t place.”
Then she seemed to remember that recent feeling.
“Those were my first medals,” she said with a grin.
She hopes to earn more at her next three competitions of the year. After provincials, Falcon Gymnastics hosts the annual Garden City Invitational held May 15 to 17 at Panorama Recreation in North Saanich and then they head to the Ogopogo Invitational June 5 to 7 in West Kelowna. The athletes will then wind down for a couple months of light training and conditioning.
Continued from Page A2
A4 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
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Christine van ReeuwykNews Staff
The shift to tablets is proving worthy as Oak Bay entered the digital age of agendas for 2015 – environmental, financial and community engagement.
“It’s good for our budget, good for our staff and it’s good for community engagement,” said Coun. Michelle Kirby. “Staff deserve the credit.”
She has encouraged the change since her first election to council in 2011, and right up until late last year staff were creating multiple paper agendas, at times even driving them out to council members’ homes on the Friday before a meeting.
“It’s expensive to change processes and we’re very mindful of our budgets in Oak Bay,” Kirby said of taking time in the changeover. “We’re going to save in the long run, not to mention accessibility to the public.”
While Oak Bay hasn’t done a cost analysis of savings versus the cost of software and tablets for members of council and key staff, they’re confident in the value.
“We haven’t’ done a specific analysis of it, but certainly I know there was always a lot of staff time taken in photocopying and collating. It seems to be a smoother and easier operation,” said Mayor Nils Jensen.
“I have found it to have been a success from a number of points of view,” he added. “It gives the public quicker and greater access to all the items on our agenda; second of
all it’s much easier to use at council than some of the other programs that I’ve seen and it’s very portable so you can do all the studies and access it 24/7 pretty well any place you’re at; thirdly it reduces the staff time as far as I can see.”
Now the agendas are available at oakbay.ca for download, and for those who require a tangible document,
printing at home. It provides an easier path for first-time council meeting attendees, or the occasional follower of council. Staff also added a procedures page, explaining how each segment of the agenda works.
“It’s alleviated frustration for people who really spend a lot of time following council business,” Kirby said. [email protected]
Council embraces paperless process
Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff
Coun. Michelle Kirby is happily out from under the piles of paper that used to make up agendas at Oak Bay council and committee meetings and now taps away at her tablet instead after Oak Bay started 2015 with a paperless agenda.
Tablets and online agendas the new way for Oak Bay
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A6 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWSA6 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
EDITORIAL Penny Sakamoto Group PublisherDan Ebenal Editor Oliver Sommer Advertising Director
The OAK BAY NEWS is published by Black Press Ltd. | 207A-2187 Oak Bay Ave., Oak Bay, B.C. V8R 1G1 | Phone: 250-598-4123 • Web: oakbaynews.com
The OAK BAY NEWS is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council.
Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
What do you think? Give us your comments by e-mail: [email protected] or fax 250-386-2624. All letters must have a name and a telephone number for verification.
OAK BAYNEWS
2009
OUR VIEW
B.C.’s new seniors’ advocate has issued her second report, and the media mostly ignored it.
When this new office was promised by a campaigning Premier Christy Clark two years ago, I suggested that B.C. already has 85 seniors’ advocates. They’re called MLAs, and inquiries go to their local offices.
Much to the chagrin of the opposition, Seniors’ Advocate Isobel Mackenzie’s mandate is not to pursue individual cases, and so she won’t be serving up a fresh assortment of horror stories to embarrass the government.
Instead, it is to look for “systemic challenges” and recommend ways to deal with them. The latest report is based on a survey of more than 500 seniors from around the province, and the key finding was not what she expected.
“We were surprised to learn of the lack of awareness among seniors, particularly low-income seniors, of government programs and the subsidies available to assist them,” Mackenzie said.
The survey found that 60 per cent of seniors living on $30,000 or less annual income didn’t know they are eligible for discounts on Medical Services Plan premiums. For income less than $22,000, the entire $864 cost of individual MSP premiums is waived.
Other frequently overlooked programs are a monthly rent
subsidy called Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER), grants for disability modifications called Home Adaptations for Independence, drug cost assistance called Fair Pharmacare, property tax deferment and the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement program. Those older than 75 with income of less than $30,000 reported the lowest awareness of
assistance designed specifically for them. But you don’t get these benefits unless you apply and show that your income qualifies.
The survey also found that the biggest fear of low-income seniors is that they won’t be able to afford to stay in their homes. See home adaptation, property tax and rent subsidy programs above.
Awareness and usage of the SAFER program was lowest in the north and highest in urban areas, perhaps not surprising since the B.C. government exists more in theory than in fact in many remote places.
So what should the government do about this? Well, it could advertise these programs. The government does lots of advertising, but not about old news like the SAFER program, which dates back to the 1970s.
Clark’s government did a whack of advertising in the election year, 2013. Much of it was about the B.C. Jobs Plan, heavy on the hardhats and blueprint-style graphics and arc welding and stuff like that.
Then last year the government’s big ad campaign was around the teachers’ strike, and the payments to parents to help with child care while teachers demanded twice as big a raise as all the other unions.
Education Minister Peter Fassbender is still bragging about the response rate for $40-a-day parental strike pay, which was snapped up by almost 100 per cent of eligible parents. This demonstrates that the government can indeed give away money with great efficiency, just by telling people how to get it.
The NDP’s version of seniors’ advocacy is to find the most tragic problems from complaints coming into constituency offices, and use those to ambush the government.
A popular choice is an elderly couple who have to be separated because their medical needs are too different to keep them in the same facility. TV news loves that one. People cry on camera and denounce politicians for being heartless, as if the health minister stayed up late plotting how to break their granny’s heart.
Maybe this seniors’ advocate wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press.
Seniors’ advocate strikes a chord
School districts have little room for cuts
School trustees across B.C. must be scratching their heads at their premier’s apparent lack of awareness about what’s going on in their schools and administration offices.
Premier Christy Clark has suggested school boards grab a step-ladder and start picking some “low-hanging fruit” to the tune of nearly $54 million over the next two years from district administrative costs.
Education Minister Peter Fassbender later clarified that school districts must find efficiencies to get administrative costs down to six per cent, where they were 10 years ago, which requires 0.5 per cent savings this year and one per cent the year after.
While there is a concern that administrative costs will eat up valuable dollars that must go to the classroom, the province should lead the way by showing where this cost-cutting should be made.
B.C. School Trustees’ Association president Teresa Rezansoff has been quoted as saying that Clark’s comments ignore the fact that school districts are already working together to save money and have been doing so for years.
Among the ideas being touted is converting school board meetings to a paperless model and moving professional development workshops outside school hours, thereby saving in substitute teaching costs, something that is already being done in many districts.
Bulk buying, sharing services — many of these measures have been tried with more or less success, depending on the district and the circumstances. One area that has been discussed is the high cost of legal services.
But instead of being transparent with school districts, the provincial government has created an information vacuum that has led to broad speculation about the potential scope of the cuts and likely some school district workers fearing for their jobs
Everyone hates waste but instead of making off-the-cuff comments, perhaps the premier should show school boards exactly where the hidden cache of cash is located?
Tom FletcherB.C. Views
Province asking school boards to trim $54 million from budgets
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A7
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OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A7
LETTERS
Webcasts will ensure council transparencyAll candidates voiced transparency as an important
objective in council decision making before last November’s municipal election. Often, once elected, this objective becomes less of an urgent priority.
One of the ways many communities are helping to ensure residents can see just how transparent, justified and rational council decisions are, is by taping live (webcasting) council, committee and public meetings. These meetings can then be viewed and used for reference by the public anytime.
The new Official Community Plan includes many new land-use proposals and objectives. Many of these objectives have the potential to adversely impose on existing residents.
In the past council term there have been concerns about transparency and the problem of the majority of Oak Bay council members providing only the advantage side of various development and zoning bylaw proposals. This has also occurred during many of the public consultation processes.
Public notice information is required by law but it has to be understandable to the public to allow for scrutiny
and consideration – some public notices have not met this criteria.
There is also concern that there have been instances at council and at public meetings where relevant information and significant resident opposition has been voiced to the proposed bylaw changes or developments, however, there have been no modifications or amendments provided.
In many B.C. municipalities council policy has been to legislate (change the bylaw) first then problem solve, set policy and try to regulate, after the fact. Besides being incompetent and ineffective planning, it exposes existing residents to the adverse densification impacts, service reductions, user fees and property tax increases.
It is important to recognize the complex problems and disadvantages involved in densification and development. These impacts range from: what is allowed to be built; how much will regulation cost; how will more residents per dwelling and the new services and infrastructure requirements affect our property tax structure; how will council act responsibly and meet its many commitments to protect residents, who have previously built their home
and life in Oak Bay, from new higher densification impacts.The present council is now somewhat more balanced
but careful scrutiny is required – the 2007 zoning change mistake that caused irreparable harm to many residents is a strong indicator of what can happen if council ignores community input.
If community concerns are not recognized in the public engagement process or in the implementation stages of the new Official Community Plan, then Oak Bay council will not have paid attention to what is and has been going on in other communities.
Ignoring the adverse impacts of poor densification planning and implementation and the resulting problems other municipalities are now struggling with will not result in fact-based decision making. It is for all these reasons council meetings are being recorded and webcast by Oak Bay Watch to ensure transparency and allow existing residents to see, first hand, council’s performance as the implementation of the new Official Community Plan unfolds.
Anthony Mears Oak Bay
Overstepping authorityTransit police are now doing the job of
the federal immigration authority. What we have happening here is an erosion of rights, and could be a slippery slope into a mass witch hunt.
You see, transit police are solely dedicated to transit, the safety of passengers and employees. Sure, it may seem like a waste of money to have police officers checking tickets, but handing off higher responsibilities which are out of their jurisdiction is an abuse. If transit officers were expected to be undercover, internal eyes for the federal immigration authority, this would undoubtedly evoke racial profiling and a barrage of unlawful search and seizures. This is a prudent concern in our day and age.
What’s next, fisheries officers who check for a fishing licence, then throw you in a cell while they see if it’s possible you’ve visited any Islamic countries and therefore could possibly perhaps be or know a member of Isis? Pure conjecture? I say, no warrant, no arrest. The Canadian Criminal Code agrees. The public should know their rights.
Generally, the police do not have power to stop or question you without a reason. If the police stop you, you are under no legal obligation to answer their questions. You do not have to show ID or give an address unless they are ticketing you.
Police may not arrest you simply upon suspicion. If you are arrested or detained, you must be told why. You have the right
to a lawyer and free legal advice. So, kudos to the human rights groups who called out Metro Vancouver’s Transit Police and the Canadian Border Service Agencies.
Cailey CamosunOak Bay
No shame in agingNo disrespect to the students who were
recently teachers for the day when they passed on their computer skills to a much appreciating audience of seniors. Thumbs up to all of you.
But there is a disturbing factor that is only remotely related to the above: The overemphasis of youth these days. To be young, look and act young seams to be the ticket. When the top administrator of the nation appears on public TV with an open shirt and no tie, I think, he has a problem. When a woman at the age of 80 sports the complexion of a 16-year-old, trust me, from the neck down she is what it says on her birth certificate.
When a man of 60 shaves his head instead of his face, look again, he is likely on a Viagra diet. Why are we so keen on cheating Mother Nature?
The young ones are better in pushing the buttons of technology, but the elders are better equipped to push to the buttons of life. They’ve been there. Forget about compassion, elders are not a liability, they are an asset. There is nothing wrong with the patina of old age.
William RauschningOak Bay
Taxes used for simple nuisanceWhen I discovered a nest of rodents in
my yard undermining my gardens I called a pest control service to remove them. No, they were not destroyed but relocated.
The folks in Oak Bay have it much better because deer which are allegedly destroying their gardens are being removed at taxpayers’ expense.
I wonder if an Oak Bay resident found rodents in his yard would the municipality also use taxpayers’ dollars to remove them? Somehow I think not. I think the taxpayers should question this. If Oak Bay can use tax dollars to remove nuisance deer then they should also use tax dollars to remove nuisance rodents.
R.A. JonesVictoria
Article focuses on cullAn article in the latest Focus magazine
pretty much tells the Oak Bay deer cull facts as they are. It’s well thought out and written.
What was missing was the mention of a lack of transparency and the mistakes, half truths and pure fabrication which appear to be a deliberate intent to deceive the public.
Along with fear mongering about deer attacks and children being afraid to play outdoors, and let us not ignore the ultimate insult, deer feces in the park, the article mentions Mayor Jensen trumpeting safety as the main motivation for killing
deer. This makes it seem rather odd that he has had the traps placed on private property rather than the area where most deer/vehicle collisions occurred.
There is a good chance that many of these garden deer have never been in the high-accident area. As far as strengthened signage, the addition of six deer warning signs is hardly a motivator.
Speed reduction in that high-accident area have fallen on deaf ears and the speed readers which are excellent deterrents were removed not long after they were installed.
There is much more but rather than I echo it in a letter I highly recommend the article be read by all, those for and against a cull.
William JesseOak Bay
The News welcomes your opinions.To put readers on equal footing, and
to be sure that all opinions are heard, please keep letters to less than 300 words.
The News reserves the right to edit letters for style, legality, length and taste.
Send your letters to:Mail: Letters to the Editor, Oak Bay
News, 207A - 2187 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, B.C., V8R 1G1Email: [email protected]
Letters to the Editor
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A9
JPLexusVictoria.com | 623 Finlayson Street, Victoria, BC | (250) 386-3700
Amazing is born.
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Luxury is reborn. And it’s amazing.In our 25th year as an original Lexus retailer, we’ve crafted a higher level of luxury. Our new name is
the perfect occasion to unveil a stunning new Platinum Standard Lexus facility. Visit our beautiful showroom for the latest in amazing design and Japanese craftsmanship. Then take the
elevator to our L-finesse Mezzanine Lounge to enjoy premium beverages, business services or music from our grand piano. Come see why Jim Pattison Lexus is
a testament to elegance and refinement. Amazing.
A8 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Home builders applaudtougher licensing rulesRosie Townshend-CarterBlack Press
Residential builders now face tougher licensing requirements to better protect home buyers.
Continuing education requirements as well as new qualifications were annouced by the province recently.
To renew their licence, all home builders will be required to take continuing professional development courses directly related to residential construction each year.
“Mandatory building education is something we’ve been advocating for
years,” said Casey Edge, executive director of the Victoria Residential Builders Association.
There are more than 6,000 licensed residential builders in B.C. Last year, more than 30,000 new homes were built in B.C.
“Our goal is to protect new homebuyers across British Columbia. We worked with the construction industry to make these changes,” said Rich Coleman, minister
responsible for housing.Edge’s only criticism
is who will be handling the educational aspect.
“An agency that doesn’t build homes will be managing that so it’s disappointing. [A professional builders association is] most qualified because it is in the field doing the work.”
Builders must now demonstrate competence in seven different areas related to residential building such as the B.C. Building Code, construction management and customer relations.
“It’s not like building homes 30 years ago,” said Edge.
A special evening of “fun and inspiration” will support Victoria
Special Olympics athletes.The Friday Night Lights Gala features
a four-course dinner, silent auction, celebrity athletes, photo booth and autograph station.
Special Olympics is a world-wide organization providing sport training and competi-tion for individuals with an intellectual disability.
In Greater Victoria, Special Olympics trains 250 athletes, ranging in age from seven to 73, in 19 different sports pro-grams.
There are more than 150 volunteers involved with the organization.
Special Olympics fundraising co-ordinator Patti Anthony expects 200 people at Friday Night Lights Gala which will feature guest speakers former Olympian Simon Whitfield and Victoria Eagles coach Anthony Pluta, among others. Musical entertainment will be provided by Craig Henderson Trio and Tristan Thomp-son. A dance follows.
Friday Night Lights Gala will be held April 10 at Harbour Towers, 345 Quebec St, from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Tickets are $95 and available online at selectyourtickets.com or by phoning Patti Anthony at 250-589-3690.
“Our goal is to protect new homebuyers across British Columbia.”
- Rich Coleman
Event supports Special OlympicsFriday Night Lights Gala set for April 10 at Harbour Towers
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A9
Province puts together minimum wage formula
Tom FletcherBlack Press
Premier Christy Clark has ruled out increasing B.C.’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, but she says
there will be a formula announced soon for increases to keep pace with the cost of living.After meetings between cabinet ministers and B.C.
Federation of Labour executives last week, Clark said work is underway to extend the series of increases that brought
the minimum wage up to its current rate of $10.25 an hour after a decade with no increase. She said the system has
to protect small and medium-sized businesses from big jumps.
“They know that it’s going to go up, but they want to know that it’s going to go up in a
predictable way so they can plan for it,” Clark said.
B.C. Fed president Irene Lanzinger said it’s big businesses like fast food chains
that offer many of the minimum wage jobs. Of the 120,000 people in B.C.
making minimum wage, nearly half are over 25 years old, 63 per cent
are women and about 10,000 are aged 55 and older, she said.
Labour leaders were more encouraged after their call for a minimum 25 per cent of jobs for apprentices on publicly funded construction projects.
Lee Loftus, president of the B.C. Building Trades, said unionized contractors
have the 25 per cent rule in their collective agreements
and fund apprenticeship training. But with the majority
of construction now done by non-union companies, there
are no quotas for apprentice positions.Clark said BC Hydro has adopted
the 25 per cent standard for the Site C dam project, but other large public
infrastructure projects include federal funds. Ottawa wants apprenticeships to be
voluntary for those projects, but Clark said she supports the idea in principle.“If we’re spending this money on public projects
anyway, we should be investing in apprenticeships and getting people up the ladder so they can earn more
money and go and work in what we know is going to be a huge industry, in liquefied natural gas,” Clark said.Lanzinger said the B.C. Fed has received little response from
the government on its other long-standing issue, the lack of union
successorship rights in health care.A change in contractors triggered layoff notices to 240 Hospital
Employees’ Union members last week at Laurel Place, a Surrey long-term care facility.
A contract change for Vancouver Coastal Health cleaning staff has triggered layoff of 935 staff effective this summer.
Lanzinger said the B.C. government’s 2002 exemption of public employers and publicly subsidized private employers from union successorship provisions in the Labour Code has resulted in many contract changes with workers laid off and rehired. The practice is designed to drive down wages and benefits for employees making little more than minimum wages, she said.
A8 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
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*On regular priced items only. *2nd item at ½ price must
be equal or lesser value. Excludes Alia, TanJay, Nygard & Bianca.
www.suzannes.biz
Rock & Gem ShowMarch 13,14,15, 2015
Demonstrators and Vendors from BC, Alberta and Ontario*
Gem Cutters at work * Silver Smithing* Rock Polishing*Gold Panning*
Beads* Children’s Activities
AdmissionAdults $ 5 Senior (65+) $ 4Students $ 4Family (4) $12Weekend Pass (single) $10
Leonardo de Vinci Centre • 195 Bay Street, Victoria
Friday Mar. 13 12:30 pm - 8:30 pmSaturday Mar. 14 10:00 am - 6:00 pm***Sunday Mar. 15 10:00 am -4:00 pm
Something for the whole family!
VICTORIA LAPIDARY AND MINERAL SOCIETY
***Persons with reduced mobility recommended timeSat 5pm - 6pm due to lower crowd volume.
Doors will close 30 min prior to closing to new admissions
For more information go to www.vlms.ca
Esquimalt 2015
NAVY RUNCFB
10k, 5k & Kids Fun Run
DO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Sunday June 21, 2015 • Start Time 8:30AM
Make fitness a fun, family experience.Run with the military and show your support!
Our Proud Sponsors:
www.1031jackfm.ca www.ocean985.comNEWSPAPER & CREATIVE SERVICES
CFB ESQUIMALT Personnel Support Programs
TMBRAND
REGISTRATION FEESEARLY BIRD until March 31, 2015Active & Retired Military & Dependants:$20DND/NPF Civilians & Dependants: $30Public: $35Kids Fun Run: $10
Esquimalt 2015
NAVY RUNCFB
10k, 5k & Kids Fun Run
DO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Sunday June 21, 2015 • Start Time 8:30AM
Do it because you can!
Free childcare is available. Please call 250-363-1009 to register.
For more info or to register visit www.navyrunesquimalt.com
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A9
JPLexusVictoria.com | 623 Finlayson Street, Victoria, BC | (250) 386-3700
Amazing is born.
N O W O P E N
Luxury is reborn. And it’s amazing.In our 25th year as an original Lexus retailer, we’ve crafted a higher level of luxury. Our new name is
the perfect occasion to unveil a stunning new Platinum Standard Lexus facility. Visit our beautiful showroom for the latest in amazing design and Japanese craftsmanship. Then take the
elevator to our L-finesse Mezzanine Lounge to enjoy premium beverages, business services or music from our grand piano. Come see why Jim Pattison Lexus is
a testament to elegance and refinement. Amazing.
A8 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Home builders applaudtougher licensing rulesRosie Townshend-CarterBlack Press
Residential builders now face tougher licensing requirements to better protect home buyers.
Continuing education requirements as well as new qualifications were annouced by the province recently.
To renew their licence, all home builders will be required to take continuing professional development courses directly related to residential construction each year.
“Mandatory building education is something we’ve been advocating for
years,” said Casey Edge, executive director of the Victoria Residential Builders Association.
There are more than 6,000 licensed residential builders in B.C. Last year, more than 30,000 new homes were built in B.C.
“Our goal is to protect new homebuyers across British Columbia. We worked with the construction industry to make these changes,” said Rich Coleman, minister
responsible for housing.Edge’s only criticism
is who will be handling the educational aspect.
“An agency that doesn’t build homes will be managing that so it’s disappointing. [A professional builders association is] most qualified because it is in the field doing the work.”
Builders must now demonstrate competence in seven different areas related to residential building such as the B.C. Building Code, construction management and customer relations.
“It’s not like building homes 30 years ago,” said Edge.
A special evening of “fun and inspiration” will support Victoria
Special Olympics athletes.The Friday Night Lights Gala features
a four-course dinner, silent auction, celebrity athletes, photo booth and autograph station.
Special Olympics is a world-wide organization providing sport training and competi-tion for individuals with an intellectual disability.
In Greater Victoria, Special Olympics trains 250 athletes, ranging in age from seven to 73, in 19 different sports pro-grams.
There are more than 150 volunteers involved with the organization.
Special Olympics fundraising co-ordinator Patti Anthony expects 200 people at Friday Night Lights Gala which will feature guest speakers former Olympian Simon Whitfield and Victoria Eagles coach Anthony Pluta, among others. Musical entertainment will be provided by Craig Henderson Trio and Tristan Thomp-son. A dance follows.
Friday Night Lights Gala will be held April 10 at Harbour Towers, 345 Quebec St, from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Tickets are $95 and available online at selectyourtickets.com or by phoning Patti Anthony at 250-589-3690.
“Our goal is to protect new homebuyers across British Columbia.”
- Rich Coleman
Event supports Special OlympicsFriday Night Lights Gala set for April 10 at Harbour Towers
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A9
Province puts together minimum wage formula
Tom FletcherBlack Press
Premier Christy Clark has ruled out increasing B.C.’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, but she says
there will be a formula announced soon for increases to keep pace with the cost of living.After meetings between cabinet ministers and B.C.
Federation of Labour executives last week, Clark said work is underway to extend the series of increases that brought
the minimum wage up to its current rate of $10.25 an hour after a decade with no increase. She said the system has
to protect small and medium-sized businesses from big jumps.
“They know that it’s going to go up, but they want to know that it’s going to go up in a
predictable way so they can plan for it,” Clark said.
B.C. Fed president Irene Lanzinger said it’s big businesses like fast food chains
that offer many of the minimum wage jobs. Of the 120,000 people in B.C.
making minimum wage, nearly half are over 25 years old, 63 per cent
are women and about 10,000 are aged 55 and older, she said.
Labour leaders were more encouraged after their call for a minimum 25 per cent of jobs for apprentices on publicly funded construction projects.
Lee Loftus, president of the B.C. Building Trades, said unionized contractors
have the 25 per cent rule in their collective agreements
and fund apprenticeship training. But with the majority
of construction now done by non-union companies, there
are no quotas for apprentice positions.Clark said BC Hydro has adopted
the 25 per cent standard for the Site C dam project, but other large public
infrastructure projects include federal funds. Ottawa wants apprenticeships to be
voluntary for those projects, but Clark said she supports the idea in principle.“If we’re spending this money on public projects
anyway, we should be investing in apprenticeships and getting people up the ladder so they can earn more
money and go and work in what we know is going to be a huge industry, in liquefied natural gas,” Clark said.Lanzinger said the B.C. Fed has received little response from
the government on its other long-standing issue, the lack of union
successorship rights in health care.A change in contractors triggered layoff notices to 240 Hospital
Employees’ Union members last week at Laurel Place, a Surrey long-term care facility.
A contract change for Vancouver Coastal Health cleaning staff has triggered layoff of 935 staff effective this summer.
Lanzinger said the B.C. government’s 2002 exemption of public employers and publicly subsidized private employers from union successorship provisions in the Labour Code has resulted in many contract changes with workers laid off and rehired. The practice is designed to drive down wages and benefits for employees making little more than minimum wages, she said.
A8 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Step into Style NOW!
LIMITED TIME ONLYLIMMITEDDDD TTIMMEEE OONNLLYYLIMMITEDDD TTTTIIIIMMMMEEE ONLLYYLIMMITED TIME ONLY
Buy one, get one1/2 price *
1000’s of new arrivals!
Westshore Town Centre 250-478-3885Hillside Centre 250-598-3502
Beacon Plaza 250-656-0096
Broadmead Village250-658-3618
*On regular priced items only. *2nd item at ½ price must
be equal or lesser value. Excludes Alia, TanJay, Nygard & Bianca.
www.suzannes.biz
Rock & Gem ShowMarch 13,14,15, 2015
Demonstrators and Vendors from BC, Alberta and Ontario*
Gem Cutters at work * Silver Smithing* Rock Polishing*Gold Panning*
Beads* Children’s Activities
AdmissionAdults $ 5 Senior (65+) $ 4Students $ 4Family (4) $12Weekend Pass (single) $10
Leonardo de Vinci Centre • 195 Bay Street, Victoria
Friday Mar. 13 12:30 pm - 8:30 pmSaturday Mar. 14 10:00 am - 6:00 pm***Sunday Mar. 15 10:00 am -4:00 pm
Something for the whole family!
VICTORIA LAPIDARY AND MINERAL SOCIETY
***Persons with reduced mobility recommended timeSat 5pm - 6pm due to lower crowd volume.
Doors will close 30 min prior to closing to new admissions
For more information go to www.vlms.ca
Esquimalt 2015
NAVY RUNCFB
10k, 5k & Kids Fun Run
DO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Sunday June 21, 2015 • Start Time 8:30AM
Make fitness a fun, family experience.Run with the military and show your support!
Our Proud Sponsors:
www.1031jackfm.ca www.ocean985.comNEWSPAPER & CREATIVE SERVICES
CFB ESQUIMALT Personnel Support Programs
TMBRAND
REGISTRATION FEESEARLY BIRD until March 31, 2015Active & Retired Military & Dependants:$20DND/NPF Civilians & Dependants: $30Public: $35Kids Fun Run: $10
Esquimalt 2015
NAVY RUNCFB
10k, 5k & Kids Fun Run
DO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Sunday June 21, 2015 • Start Time 8:30AM
Do it because you can!
Free childcare is available. Please call 250-363-1009 to register.
For more info or to register visit www.navyrunesquimalt.com
A10 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWSA10 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Dan EbenalNews Staff
Stepping into Red Art Gallery these days is like taking a walk through the soundtrack of our lives.
During the month of March the gallery is home to the show Tower of Song, featuring 25 works inspired by songs.
“We put out the idea to our artists to paint something for the theme that is inspired by music,” said gallery director Bobb Hamilton.
“The whole idea was to leave the artists to interpret it whatever way they wanted.
Some of the pieces are very obvious, what they were inspired by – other pieces, once you see the name of the piece and you look at the lyrics, it makes sense.”
The artwork spans the styles of abstracts and landscapes, to still life and figurative pieces, with the inspiration coming from musical tastes ranging from The Who and Otis Redding to Barry Manilow and Tiny Tim.
“What’s interesting is we all sort of associate times in our lives with certain songs,” said Hamilton, adding there has always been a connection between music and visual art.
“Some artists even paint with a lot of music playing. We have one artist that paints with a live musician in her studio.”
The lyrics are posted next to the artwork to help
viewers get a feel for the inspiration, and buyers will receive the lyrics along with a “collector bonus” when they pick up their acquisition after the show.
“Art is either supposed to make you think or make you feel,” said Hamilton. “I think with what we’ve put together here, it not only makes you think and feel, but people leave here whistling a tune.”[email protected]
Artists display a musical touch
Dan Ebenal/News Staff
Artwork from Tower of Song exhibit draws its inspiration from music. The show is playing at Red Art Gallery during the month of March.
Red Art Gallery hosts Tower of Song show
Upstairs Lounge u Oak Bay Recreation Centre u Doors open 6pmCome early, join us for dinner & drinks u Music 7:30pm Advance Tickets $12 available at Ivy’s Bookshopand Oak Bay Recreation Centre,1975 Bee Street u 250-595-7946or online at beaconridgeproductions.com ($15 at the door) recreation.oakbay.ca
FRIDAY, MARCH 13th
St. Patrick’s DayCelebration!
Kidney Transplants: British Columbians Have Spoken
Thank you for participating in our Community Conversations. We heard you! Find the full report detailing what British Columbians told us about the barriers and solutions to kidney transplantation and organ donor registration on our website. Continue the conversation in support of those living with kidney disease. Join us on May 1st at the BC Kidney Transplant Summit in Vancouver.
March is Kidney Health Month
For more information visit: www.kidney.bc.ca
Ken Merkley, Victoria, received a kidney from his daughter Christina.
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Andrea PeacockBlack Press
Women’s transition houses across Greater Victoria will be able to continue help-ing women in need, thanks to a donation from Royal LePage.
“[The] Royal LeP-age Shelter Founda-tion was started up by Royal LePage back in the late 1990s to sup-port local shelters across Canada,” said Bill Ethier, president and managing broker of Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty.
The $42,157.93 raised by Royal LeP-age in 2014 was split evenly between The Cridge Transition House for Women, Vic-toria Women’s Tran-sition House, Marga-ret Laurence House and Sooke Transition
House.All four shelters
received half of their portion of the money in the fall, around $5,000 each. Royal LePage presented them with the rest of the money last week.
“We try to give it out in chunks throughout the year, because they need it as the year goes on,” said Ethier.
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty has raised almost $200,000 for local women’s tran-sition houses since 1998.
Joanne Specht, man-ager of communica-tions and fund devel-opment for The Cridge Centre for the Family, said the centre relies on donations such as this.
“We can’t do what we do unless we have the community’s sup-
port,” she said.The money from
Royal LePage goes specifically toward The Cridge’s Transi-tion House for Women, which is a place for women with or with-
out children who are escaping violent or abusive relationships.
“It feels good to be able to do some-thing that has a direct impact,” said Ethier.
Women also receive
support such as coun-selling or help access-ing income assistance or court services.
“Our staff are there to help them with whatever they need,” said Specht.
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A11
Donation provides boost to transition houses
Canadian Club Victoria’s March luncheon features Kathleen Gilbert, Victoria film commissioner.
Gilbert, who is responsible for marketing to producers worldwide, has worked in the film Industry as a location manager for 20 years. Her resume includes Little Women, Intersection, two X-Men films, Final Destination and a slew of television movies.
The luncheon is at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at Harbour Towers Hotel, 345 Quebec St. in Victoria. Guests are welcome but reservations are required. Call 250-370-1837.
Commissioner speaks on films
Birding in Uplands ParkJoin Geoffrey Newell of the Friends of
Uplands Park for a bird walk from Cattle Point through Uplands Park. Meet at 9 a.m. March 29 at Cattle Point by the first boat launch. Bring binoculars, bird books or checklists or simply show up to enjoy the free outing, rain or shine. For more information, contact Margaret Lidkea at 250-595-8084.
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A11
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9 Reasonsto use
LOCALin Oak Bay!
Diamond Optical Eyecarediamondeyecare.ca1964 Fort Street 250 590 2932 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 - 5:30 Sat 10- 5We take great pride in our expert staff of Optometrists, Onsite Lab and Eye Ware Technicians, we also take pride in our expert staff, when it comes to frame and lens construction. We understand that eye wear is more than fashion. It’s also function. Take a look at our diverse selection of fashionable eye glasses and contact lenses.Our Oak Bay location boasts the best price for an eye exam in the area. Book an appointment today.
2
Mucky Mutt Bowtiquemuckymutt.comOak Bay Ave. (below The Oaks) 250 590 0833 U bath & groomingHOURS: Mon - Sat 9am - 5pmIPG Certi� ed Salon Groomers, Dog & Cat Grooming. Walk-in nail clippings. State of the Art, safe, clean facility, staffed by quali� ed, friendly animal lovers. Our “Bowtique” store offers select accessories foryour dog like leashes, collars,scarves, coats & rainwear with a focus on quality & ethical products, giftware, local artisan & locally made one-of-a-kind items can also be found. Susan Lanci Swarovski stockist.
1
OAK BAY CUSTOM ORTHOTICS
Athlone Court in Oak Bay Village#114B-2187 OAK BAY AVENUE
250-370-6035Over 100 styles of special and regular shoes
for sale - over 20 years experience
• Toe • Bunion • Arch • Ball of Foot• Heel • Ankle • Achilles Tendonitis
• Toe • Bunion • Arch • Ball of Foot• Heel • Ankle • Achilles Tendonitis
Guaranteed 100%Relief Pain on:Guaranteed 50-100%Relief Pain on:
4
Features Spa Servicesfeaturesspaservices.com2552 Windsor Rd. 250 888 3172 Hours: Mon - Sat - by appointmentFinest Spa Therapies. Licensed, European trained Esthetician - 25 years experience. Treatments for couples or singles. Relaxation massage, rejuvenating hand, foot &back treatments, reflexology, facials. A full rangeof aesthetic treatments. Is it your birthday month? 15% off all month on treatments, products & gift cert.(Proof of birthdate required).
5
Independent Seniors Livingshannonoaks.com2000 Goldsmith Street 250 595 6257 Hours: By appointmentShannon Oaks is a premier independent living retirement residence with locations in Victoria’s prestigious Oak Bay and South Vancouver. From � ne dining to a variety of daily activities and excursions, it’s the perfect place to enjoy retirement and spend time doing the things you love the best. Come home to Shannon Oaks, where you can live life to the fullest!Baptist Housing - Enhanced Seniors Living - Since 1964
Baptist Housing | Enhanced Seniors Living | Since 1964
VICTORIA | 250.595.6257
www.shannonoaks.com
3Barclay’s Jewellersbarclaysjewellers.com106 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave 250 592 1100 Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 am - 5:15 pm. Sat 10 - 5We travel so you don’t have to…We travel to jewellery and gemstone showsacross North America to bring you designs and brands, including True Romance, Art Carved,and Allison Kaufman that you can’t findanywhere else in Victoria.
3Barclay’s Jewellersbarclaysjewellers.com106 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave 250 592 1100 Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 am - 5:15 pm. Sat 10 - 5We travel so you don’t have to…We travel to jewellery and gemstone showsacross North America to bring you designs and brands, including True Romance, Art Carved,and Allison Kaufman that you can’t findanywhere else in Victoria.
9
Oak Bay Custom OrthoticsAthlone Court in Oak Bay Village114B- 2187 Oak Bay Ave 250 370 6035We can help you with guaranteed 100% pain relief on:Toe, Bunion, Arch, Ball of Foot, Heel, Ankle and Achilles Tendonitis. Oak Bay Orthotics can guarantee 50-100% Relief on: Leg, Knee, Hip, Neck and Lower back pain. We have over 100 styles of special and regular shoes for sale - with over 20 years experience.
8
Oak Bay News oakbaynews.com207A - 2187 Oak Bay Ave 250 480 [email protected]: 9am - 5pmIf you would like to market your shop or serviceto the residents of Oak Bay.
Call me for a no obligation chat.
6
Fairfield Skin ClinicDrSkinBotox.com1494 Fairfield Rd. 778 432 3333 Hours: Friday - by appointmentDr. Julian A. Hancock Dermatology Inc. Experience ‘Beauty with a Light Touch’ visit Fairfield Skin Clinic. Our clinic specializes in Age Well Skin: Skin rejuvenation, Skin Cancer Prevention, Botox, Juvederm, CO2 Laser, Botox, Metvix PDT. All Botox/Juvederm by Dermatologist. For full details of available treatments see our website. Appointments available Fridays in under a month, with or without a referral.
6
Fairfield Skin ClinicDrSkinBotox.com1494 Fairfield Rd. 778 432 3333 Hours: Friday - by appointmentDr. Julian A. Hancock Dermatology Inc. Experience ‘Beauty with a Light Touch’ visit Fairfield Skin Clinic. Our clinic specializes in Age Well Skin: Skin rejuvenation, Skin Cancer Prevention, Botox, Juvederm, CO2 Laser, Botox, Metvix PDT. All Botox/Juvederm by Dermatologist. For full details of available treatments see our website. Appointments available Fridays in under a month, with or without a referral.
McNeill Audiologymcneillaudiology.ca1463 Hampshire Rd. 250 370 2833HOURS: 9 - 4.30 Mon - FriClosed for lunch 12pm-1pmCelebrating 20 years of Better Hearing.Comprehensive hearing tests.Digital hearing instruments. Our audiologists will � nd the optimum choice to best suit your individual hearing needs and your lifestyle
8McNeill Audiologymcneillaudiology.ca1463 Hampshire Rd. 250 370 2833HOURS: 9 - 4.30 Mon - FriClosed for lunch 12pm-1pmCelebrating 20 years of Better Hearing.Comprehensive hearing tests.Digital hearing instruments. Our audiologists will � nd the optimum choice to best suit your individual hearing needs and your lifestyle
87
SHOPS & SERVICESin Oak Bay!
Diamond Optical Eyecare
SHOPS & SERVICES
A12 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWSA12 www.oakbaynews.com Wed, Mar 11, 2015, Oak Bay News
ReporterVictoria NewsThe Victoria News, has an immediate opening for a full-time experienced reporter. Reporting to the editor, the successful candidate will provide top-quality work on a range of news and feature stories covering a range of beats.
A key attribute will be an ability to work well as a self-starting member of a competitive newsroom. You will be expected to contribute to regular newsroom meetings and bring your creative talents to readers through concise, accurate and entertaining writing. The successful candidate will show keen attention to detail, work well under deadline pressures, and willing to learn in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of Canadian Press style is important, as is the ability to take and carry out instructions in a timely fashion. Basic photography skills are required. Must have a valid driver’s license and working vehicle. Knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop CS6 would be considered an asset.
As the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with more than 180 titles in print and online, Black Press has operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii, California and Ohio.
Interested candidates should send resume, clippings and cover letter by March 15, 2015 to:Kevin Laird Editorial Director-Greater VictoriaBlack Press818 Broughton StreetVictoria, B.C. V8W 1E4or e-mail: [email protected]
www.blackpress.ca
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMING EVENTS
BETTER YOUR community. Create a project form a team. The PIE Project.www.jumpintothepie.com
CALL FOR ENTRIES13TH ANNUAL
Kitty Coleman WoodlandArt & Bloom Festival.
Fine Art and Quality Crafts Juried Show.
Presented in a spectacular outdoor setting
May 16, 17 and 18Applications for Artisans
are available at woodlandgardens.ca
250-338-6901
INFORMATION
Advertise in the 2015 - 2017
BC FreshwaterFishing Regulations
SynopsisPlease call Annemarie 1.800.661.6335 or email:
CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada benefi t.ca/free-assessment
DO YOU have a disability? Physical or mental. We can help you get up to $40,000 back from the Canadian Gov-ernment. For details check out our website: disabilitygroupca nada.com or call us today Toll-Free 1-888-875-4787.
HELP WANTED
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
INFORMATION
DID YOU KNOW? BBB pro-vides complaint resolution ser-vices for all businesses and their customers. Look for the 2014 BBB Accredited Busi-ness Directory E-edition on your Black Press Community Newspaper website at
www.blackpress.ca.You can also go to
http://vi.bbb.org/directory/ and click on the 2014 BBB
Accredited Business Directory
PERSONALS
MAKE A Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat Call FREE! 250-220-1300 or 1-800-210-1010. www.livelinks.com 18+
MEET SINGLES right now! No paid operators, just real peo-ple like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and con-nect live. Try it free. Call now: 1-800-712-9851.
WHERE HOT men hook up! Try free! 250-419-4634 or 800-777-8000 InteractiveMale.com
LOST AND FOUND
FOUND. COLETTE- I’ve found your letters from your mother. Call to identify (250)381-4231.
FOUND GLOVES on Monte-rey Ave (near McNeill). Call to identify (778)433-8042.
FOUND: SILVER earring with stone, corner of Beach Dr and Currie. Call (250)592-4166.
TRAVEL
GETAWAYS
LONG BEACH - Ucluelet - Deluxe waterfront cabin,
sleeps 6, BBQ. Spring Special. 2 nights $239 or 3 nights $299Pets Okay. Rick 604-306-0891
TIMESHARE
CANCEL YOUR Timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONis an in-demand career in Canada! Employers have work at home positions available. Get the online train-ing you need from an employ-er-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career to-day!
HELP WANTED
PRODUCTION WORKERSCanada’s Largest Independently owned news-paper group is currently looking for Part Time Production Workers for its Victoria location.This is an entry level general labour position that involves physical handling of news-papers and advertising supplements.REQUIREMENTS:• Prior bindery and/or
machine operator experience would be an asset
• Motivated self-starter willing to work in a fast paced environment performing repetitive tasks
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for long periods of time
• Ability to work cooperatively in a diverse, team based environment
• Must be reliable, dependable, have excellent communication skills and good attention to detail
• Must have own transportation
✱Afternoon and evening shifts 16-20 hours per week. $11.25 an hour
Interested parties may drop off their resumes between 9am and 5pm at:
GOLDSTREAM PRESS#220-770 Enterprise Avenue, Victoria, BC
V8X 6R4
MEDICAL/DENTAL
MEDICAL Transcriptionistsare in huge demand! Train with the leading Medical Tran-scription school. Learn from home and work from home. Call today. 1.800.466.1535 www.canscribe.com. or email: [email protected].
TRADES, TECHNICAL
F/T - Millwright /Maintenance Person
Princeton, B.C.You will work on the repair & upkeep of bucking mills post peelers and wheeled mobile equipment. Must have 10 years exp. including hydraul-ics, welding & minor electrical repairs. Will have the ability to work unsupervised, be able to problem solve and prioritize jobs.
CompetitiveCompensation Package
w/ Profi t Sharing!Email resume:
[email protected] or fax: (1)250-295-7912
VOLUNTEERS
THE COOL AID Society is looking for a computer access volunteer to help people strug-gling with homelessness to re-connect with their families and build important job-readiness skills. Volunteers help super-vise the free access computer room at Rock Bay Landing. Call Volunteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.
THE COOL AID Society is looking for a computer access volunteer to help people strug-gling with homelessness to re-connect with their families and build important job-readiness skills. Volunteers help super-vise the free access computer room at Rock Bay Landing. Call Volunteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.
THE CRIDGE Centre for the Family is looking for a volun-teer to coordinate their Octo-ber event, Ride for Refuge. The event is a fundraiser to support charities that care for people who are vulnerable, displaced and exploited. Call Volunteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.
THE MUSTARD SEED is looking for volunteers to work four-hour shifts on Saturdays in the food bank, sorting food donations and packing food hampers. Call Volunteer Vic-toria at 250-386-2269.
PERSONAL SERVICES
MIND BODY & SPIRIT
KRIPALU MASSAGE, Reiki, Acupressure, Chair Massage. I have relaxed clients that have been with me for 5-12 years. See testimonials on website. Women only. Call 250-514-6223 or visit online at: www.andreakober.com
FINANCIAL SERVICES
GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB.
1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com
PERSONAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES
IF YOU own a home or real estate, Alpine Credits can lend you money: It’s That Simple. Your Credit / Age / Income is not an issue. 1.800.587.2161.
TAX FREE MONEYis available, if you are a homeowner, today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mort-gage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.
Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or
604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO
RETOUCH, RESTORE, Edit Photos. Home Movies to DVD. Also, Portraiture, Baby, Family + Maternity. 250-475-3332. www.cwpics.com
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
FOOD PRODUCTS
BEEF FARM GATE SALES. 1516 Mt. Douglas Cross Rd. Hours Friday & Saturday 10-4. Naturally raised, hormone free beef. Individual cuts sold, sharp, frozen & double wrapped. (250)477-3321.
FRIENDLY FRANK
APPROX. 60 glass bricks (8x4x4), $20. Call (250)384-1142.
BAMBOO HANGING basket chair, good cond., $50. Call (250)385-3400
CHRISTMAS CACTUS- blooming, coral colour, quality pot, $15. (250)383-5390.
CORD-LESS EWBANK car-pet cleaner w/full bottle of cleaner, $38. (250)656-1238.
Harry Potter lunch box, barbie clothes,Pyrex dish (wheat pat-tern), $5/e. (778)265-1615.
LEATHER CHAIR and stool (tan colour), $95 obo. Call (250)544-4933
STANDING LAMP, $10. Call (250)595-6734.
TOOLS; ASSORTED. Starter for carpenter? $30. Call (250)479-7918.
FUEL/FIREWOOD
ARBUTUS, CYPRESS, fi r, hardwoods. Seasoned. Call 250-661-7391.
FURNITURE
5 PC bdrm suite with queen size mattress and boxspring. $300 obo. (250)474-1696
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
NEWSPRINT ROLLENDS- $2-$10. Fridays only, 8:30am to 4:30pm. #200-770 Enter-prise Cres, Victoria. Gold-stream Press Division.
SAWMILLS FROM only $4,397 - Make money & save money with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & DVD: www.NorwoodSaw mills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.
STEEL BUILDINGS/metal buildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for bal-ance owed! Call 1-800-457-2206 or visit us online: www.crownsteelbuildings.ca.
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
MISCELLANEOUS WANTED
ANTIQUES, BOOKS, col-lectibles, furniture, china, jew-elry. Estates/private librariespurchased. Galleon Books &Antiques, 250-655-0700.
RENTALS
APARTMENT/CONDO
1 & 2 Bdrm suites & cabins.Perched on a cliffside withpanoramic ocean vista, over-looking The Saanich Inlet. Se-rene & secure. All amenitieson-site, fi rewood. $500-$1200inclds utils. Monthly/Weekly.Pets ok with refs. 25 min com-mute to downtown Victoria.Must have references! Call250-478-9231.
SHARED ACCOMMODATION
GOLDSTREAM AREA- 1400sq ft, newly furnished, W/D,D/W, A/C, big deck & yard, hi-def TV, parking. Working maleonly. $650 inclusive. Call Ray778-433-1233.
STORAGE
STORAGE- 10’x25’ Ideal for boat, car or trailer, dry, highceilings. $160. (250)656-8897.
SUITES, LOWER
BRIGHT 1 bdrm above grdlevel suite. Private patio en-trance. 7 min walk to Univer-sity Heights Shopping Centreand Tuscany Village. $650inclds heat/lights. NS/[email protected]
SIDNEY: 1 bdrm furn. suite,NS/NP. On bus route. Utilsincld, ref’s req’d. $850/mo.Avail. now. Call (250)656-0963
SOOKE, Lrg 1 Bdrm + den grnd fl oor suite, f/p, laundryroom, storage. all incl, pets OK$830 n/s,n/d, ref. req. 250-589-5337
TRANSPORTATION
AUTO SERVICES
$$$ TOP CA$H PAID $$$. ForALL unwanted Vehicles, anycondition. Call (250)885-1427.
CARS
2004 MATRIX Toyota, 71,000 km. Asking $6,800 obo. Goodcond. Call (250)477-0062.
We Buy Cars!Scrap Junk
Running or Not!Cars Trucks Vans$50 to $1000FREE TOW AWAY
250-686-3933
HELP WANTED
FOUND SOMETHING?Call 250.388.3535
CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS
www.localwork.com
CONNECTING BUYERS AND
SELLERSwww.
bcclassifi ed.com
OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A13
Today’s Solution
Sudoku
Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
To solve a Sudoku puzzle,every number 1 to 9must appear in:• Each of the nine vertical columns• Each of the nine horizontal rows• Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes
Oak Bay News Wed, Mar 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com A13
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
CLEANING SERVICES
AFFORDABLE! SUPPLIES & vacuum incld’d. All lower Is-land areas. 250-385-5869.
EXP. RELIABLE & effi cient house cleaner and home care, 10 yrs exp. $20/hr. Bondable, have own supplies except vacuum.(250)220-4965
DRYWALL
BEAT MY Price! Best work-manship. 38 years experience. Call Mike, 250-475-0542.
ELECTRICAL
(250)217-3090.ELECTRICIAN Lic.#3003. 25 yrs exp. Renos, new homes, knob & tube re-place. Sr.Disc.No job too small
250-361-6193 Quality Electric Reno’s, res & comm. No job too small. Lic# 22779.
KENDRA’S ELECTRICAL Company. Res/Com. Lic #86952. Call 250-415-7991.
NORTHERN SUN Electric Comm/Res. $40/hr. Work Guaranteed. Any size job. (250)888-6160. Lic#13981.
SMALL ADS GET BIG RESULTS! Call 250.388.3535
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
FENCING
ALL TYPES of fencing, re-pairs. Reliable, on-time. Free estimates. Call 250-888-8637.
GARDENING
(250)208-8535 WOODCHUCK Comm/Res lawn cutting. Weed/moss removal. De thatching, aerating. Ref’s avail.
Auricle- 250-882-3129 Spring clean up lawn aeration & ferti-lize-soil-hedges, irrigation
DPM SERVICES- lawn & gar-den, seasonal pruning, clean ups, landscape, power wash, etc. 15yrs exp. (250)883-8141.
LANDSCAPE & TREE Care Lawns, garden maint, tree pruning/shaping, hedge trim-ming, design. Mth/weekly. Free estimate, Insured, re-liable. Andrew, 250-893-3465.
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
GARDENING
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS
ABBA EXTERIORSProfessional gutter cleaning & repairs. Window cleaning. Roof de-mossing. Pkg dis-counts. WCB. (778)433-9275.
(250)889-5794. DIAMOND Dave- window, gutter cleaning, roof-de-moss, gutter guards, power washing. Free estimate
GRAND XTERIOR Cleaning & Repairs- Gutters, roofs win-dows, PW. 250-380-7778.
WE’RE ON THE WEBwww.bcclassifi ed.com
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
HANDYPERSONS
BIG BEAR Handyman. Decks, Painting, Repairs. Free estimate. Barry 250-896-6071.
HAULING AND SALVAGE
$20 & Up Garbage & Garden waste removal. Senior Disc. Free estimates. 250-812-2279.
CLEAN-UP SPECIAL. You load bins, size 12 yard $100 plus dump fee or we do it all. Call 250-361-6164.
GARY’S HAULING. One call does it all. Small demos & yard clean-up. Vehicle & metal recycling. Call (778)966-1413.
JUNK BOX- Junk Removal Company. Local guys. Low rates. Call (250)658-3944.
JUNK REMOVAL 7 days / wk.Fast Service, Best Prices!! Free quotes. (250)857-JUNK.
PARRY’S HAULING We haul it all - FREE estimates. Call Wes 250-812-7774.
PETE’S HAUL A DAY- Junk removal. Airforce guy. Call 250-888-1221.
SAVE-A-LOT HAULING Furniture, appliance, garden waste, we take it all! Always lowest rate, senior discount. Brad 250-217-9578.
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.
MASONRY & BRICKWORK
CBS MASONRY BBB. WCB. Chimneys, fi replaces,fl agstone rock, concrete, natural & ve-neered stone. Replace, re-build, restore, renew! Free competitive est. www.cbsma-sonry.com; Call (250)589-9942, (250)294-9942.
& MOVING STORAGE
(250)858-6747. WRIGHT Bros Moving&Hauling.Free estimate $80=(2men&3tontruck)Sr Disc.
(250)889-5794. DIAMOND Dave Moving- Free estimates!
ALLSTAR MOVING Delivery Service. From $59. Free local travel. Call (250)818-2699.
Done Right Moving $85/hr. Senior Disc. No travel time before/after local moves. BBB. Call Tyler 250-418-1747.
CHECK CLASSIFIEDS! 250.388.3535 or bcclassifi ed.com✔
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
PAINTING
A PROFESSIONAL Woman painter. Karen Bales Painting & Wall coverings. Over 25yrs exp. Free est. 250-514-5220.
OLD TIMER. Quality old fash-ioned service. Great rates. Ex-cellent references. Call Al at 250-474-6924, 250-888-7187.
PEMBINA PAINTING- Ready for Spring Cleaning? We are a full service painting company. Call ahead so you won’t be disappointed. (250)419-1556.
PLUMBING
bicycleplumbing.com Re-liable, friendly service, li-censed and insured. Please call Erik, 778-533-1490.
FREE ESTIMATES. Rea-sonable. Reliable. No job too small. Call 250-388-5544.
PLASTERING
PATCHES,Drywall, skimming, match the textures, coves, fi re-places. Bob, 250-516-5178.
PRESSURE WASHING
DRIVEWAYS, WALKWAYS, Decks, etc. Reasonable rates. 250-744-8588, Norm.
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
STUCCO/SIDING
PATCHES, ADDITIONS, re-stucco, renos, chimney, water-proofi ng. Bob, 250-516-5178.
TREE SERVICES
BUDDY’S TREE SERVICES-Trimming, pruning, chipping,removals, hedges. Insured.Call Keith, (250)474-3697.
UPHOLSTERY
UPHOLSTER- Furn. repairs, scratches, fi x springs, marine,commercial. 250-480-9822.
WINDOW CLEANING
BOB’S WINDOW Cleaning.Roof demoss, Gutters. Licensed and affordable. 250-884-7066.
DAVE’S WINDOW Cleaning.Windows, Gutters, Sweeping,Roofs, Roof Demossing, Pres-sure Washing. 250-361-6190.
GRAND XTERIOR Cleaning & Repairs- Gutters, roofs win-dows, PW. 250-380-7778.
BUYING - RENTING- SELLING
250.388.3535
SERVICE DIRECTORYwww.bcclassified.com 250.388.3535
SOOKE NEWS
[email protected] • [email protected]@goldstreamgazette.com • www.vicnews.com
[email protected] • [email protected]@vicnews.com • [email protected]@vicnews.com • [email protected]
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A14 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWSA14 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
Wednesday, March 11St. Patrick’s Day
dinner at Monterey. Bar opens at 5 dinner at 5:30. Tickets $20.50/$23.50 available at 1442 Monterey Ave. Call 250-370-7300.
Lenten Lunchtime: Music for Viola and Piano at St. Mary the Virgin Church, 1701 Elgin St. from 12:10 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. Admission is by donation ($8 suggested amount) with proceeds to benefit Abbeyfield
House Society. Bring your lunch; coffee and tea are provided. Info: 250-598-2212.
Thursday, March 12Volkssport 5/10
km walk. Meet at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St. Registration 5:45 p.m.; walk 6 p.m. Contact is David at 250-598-4316.
Friday, March 13 Compagnie
Kafig at the Royal
Theatre March 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets starting at: $29.
Friday Music – Featuring School of Music woodwind students. 12:30 p.m. at UVic’s Phillip T. Young Recital Hall (Admission by donation).
Drop-in Family Storytime from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Oak Bay Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, 1442 Monterey Ave.
Saturday, March 14Mobile shredding
fundraiser for Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation at Willows Beach from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by donation (suggested $10 a box).
The Best of the Best show at Monterey Recreation March 14 at noon and 7:30 p.m. and March 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets $10 for this variety show featuring the Monterey performing arts from Noteables to the drama club and a myriad of dance. Tickets at 1441 Monterey Ave.
The Civic Orchestra of Victoria presents “Symphonic Masterworks” with Yariv Aloni, music director; Susan Young, mezzo soprano; Josh Layne, harp; Nicholas Fairbank, organ, on March 14 at 2 p.m. at Alix Goolden Performance Hall, Victoria Conservatory of Music, 900 Johnson St. Victoria. Tickets: $22 general, $18 seniors, $10 students, children 12 and under free. Tickets are available from Larsen Music, Long & McQuade, Munro’s Books, Ivy’s Bookshop, Shieling Cards & Gifts (Cadboro Bay Village), Tanner’s Books (Sidney) and online at www.civicorchestraof victoria.org.
Volkssport 5/10 km walk. Meet at Aviation Museum, 1910 Norseman Rd., North
Saanich. Registration 9:30 a.m.; walk 10 a.m. Contact is Ed or Pat at 250-658-2325.
Sunday, March 15Volkssport 5/10 km
walk. Meet at Running Room, Broadmead Shopping Centre, 777 Royal Oak Dr. Registration 9:30 a.m.; walk 10 a.m. Contact is Marion at 250-477-9851.
Monday, March 16Drop in baby time
from 10:30 to 11 a.m. for babies 0-15 months and their caregiver. Learn songs, rhymes and fingerplays to use with your baby every day. No registration required at the Oak Bay branch of the GVPL, 1442 Monterey Ave.
Tuesday, March 17Volkssport 5/10 km
walk. Meet at Running Room, Broadmead Shopping Centre, 777 Royal Oak Dr. Registration 5:45 p.m.; walk 6 p.m. Contact is Gail at 250-477-7742.
Tuesday Music – Take an afternoon break to enjoy a concert of varied repertoire and instruments featuring School of Music students. 12:30 p.m. at UVic’s Phillip T. Young Recital Hall (Admission by donation).
Drop in Toddler time, for youngsters 16-35 months and their caregiver. Toddler-terrific stories, songs, rhymes and puppets. No registration required. Starts 10:30 a.m. at the Oak Bay branch of the GVPL, 1442 Monterey Ave.
Canadian Club Victoria’s March luncheon features Kathleen Gilbert, Victoria film commissioner. The luncheon is at 11:45 a.m. at Harbour Towers Hotel, 345
Quebec St. in Victoria. Guests are welcome but reservations are required. Call 250-370-1837.
Victoria Sketch Club show and sale – Celebrating over 106 years of unbroken activity, the Victoria Sketch Club invites you to view the work of its members at Glenlyon Norfolk school, 1701 Beach Dr. from March 17-22 . Free admission. Show opens at 7 p.m. March 17 and continues daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.victoriasketchclub.ca.
Wednesday, March 18Restoring Your Home
an evening with the experts hosted by Oak Bay Heritage– Nick Russell, Simone Vogel-Morridge and Bill Patterson. Talk starts at 7 p.m. at Windsor Pavilion.
Thursday, March 19Volkssport 5/10
km walk. Meet at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St. Registration 5:45 p.m.; walk 6 p.m. Contact is David at 250-598-4316.
Friday, March 20Oak Bay Cabaret
brings Ceilidh Music Night to Oak Bay United Church, 1355 Mitchell St. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5.
Friday Music – Featuring School of Music string students. 12:30 p.m. at UVic’s Phillip T. Young Recital Hall (Admission by donation).
Drop-in Family Storytime from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Oak Bay Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, 1442 Monterey Ave.
Share your community event email your community calendar item to [email protected].
Community Calendar
In response to an overwhelming demand for Psychiatric Nurses throughout British Columbia, particularly outside the large urban centres, Stenberg College has offered its online-based Psychiatric Nursing diploma program since 2006. The only program of its kind in Canada, this innovative program allows students to do the majority of their coursework as well as their clinical placements and practicum in their local communities.
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Grants are available to homeowners of designated or registered heritage properties to help maintain and restore these homes. If you own a designated or registered heritage home, you are eligible for a grant and grant policy and
application forms are available at the Municipal Hall or online.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2015 IS MARCH 31st (Later applications may be considered if funds are still available)
For more information on heritage grants, designation and registration, please visit:
For A Strong & Sustainable Oak Bay,
Our Heritage Matters
Oak Bay Heritage works to build awareness ofOak Bay’s signi� cant Heritage and History.
For more information on heritage grants, designation and registration, please visit:registration, please visit:
www.oakbay.ca/our-community/heritage
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OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A15
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OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 www.oakbaynews.com • A15
Mike DaviesBlack Press
You hear stories about the man who bought a painting at a garage sale for $10 and found out later it was a rare master-piece, fetching millions at auc-tion, right?
Well, now you have another reason to look twice at some of the original works of art in your house, as you may be in possession of a rare treasure.
If one of those paintings in your basement or on your walls has a signature of “G.T. Brown” or “G.T.B” you may have been staring at an original Grafton Tyler Brown all these years and not been any the wiser.
Well over a century ago, in the 1880s, Brown was acclaimed as the first “professional artist” in B.C. and is also known as the first African American art-ist in the Pacific Midwest. He spent about two years in B.C. after relocating here from the U.S. and, based on historical documents – such as a news-paper that publicized his first Victoria exhibition and photo-graphs from the time – he pro-duced at least 40 paintings and 24 sketches in B.C. of which
we have no knowledge of their whereabouts.
Dr. John Lutz of the depart-ment of history at the Uni-versity of Victoria is trying to track down his B.C. works.
“While many of his American paintings are in major collec-tions and are well known to dealers, his British Columbia images are much rarer and only a few of them are in col-lections,” according to Lutz’ website devoted to his project of fleshing out the life and art of this interesting historical figure. “The Victoria Art Gal-lery and Craigdarroch Castle have one each, and the BC Archives (has) four. A few are known to be in private hands but most are unaccounted for and many are likely hanging in the hallways of British Colum-bians, or others further afield, all unaware of the stories they tell.”
Lutz says he discovered Brown, as it were, while he was researching pioneers of Saan-ich as part of his studies into the history of race and racism in Victoria.
“Brown’s art is a window into the world of the 1880s, and if we can find more images and make them accessible, we open that window for anyone inter-ested,” he says. “But Brown is as interesting himself, because his (personal) history of being born black and dying ‘white’ tells us a lot about 19th and
even 21st century ideas about race and racism.”
Anyone who would like to know more about the Miss-ing British Columbia Paint-ings of Grafton Tyler Brown project or thinks they might know of a work by the art-ist, can contact Lutz at [email protected].
In search of artist’s rare worksMany of the works of Grafton Tyler Brown are unaccounted for
Image courtesy Royal BC Museum, BC Archives
More than 40 paintings and 24 sketches by G.T. Brown are known to exist but are currently unaccounted for, including this depiction of Goldstream Falls from 1883.
A16 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
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Ah yes, a New Year and all those resolutions you don’t keep. Attending to your eye health is one resolution you should keep. A complete eye examination is your most valuable tool in ensur-ing a lifetime of healthy eyes and clear vision.
To provide you with the best eye and vision care, your Optometrist needs to know a few things about your health, how you use your eyes, and any unusual symptoms you may be experiencing.
Make it clear what you want or what is both-ering you at the beginning of the exam. Some people wait until the very end of the exam to mention what is really worrying them. Perhaps this is from embarrassment or the feeling that the complaint is trivial, but the Optometrist will be better able to give the problem the time and attention it requires if it is mentioned early. Few complaints are silly and even minor symptoms can be important.
Know your medications or, even better, bring a list. Knowledge of your family history of eye disorders is extremely helpful.
If you have a complaint like a headache, try to describe it as accurately as possible: time of onset, duration, frequency etc.
Be able to describe your work environment. Knowing the distance to your computer or desk makes it much easier to prescribe and design the appropriate spectacle lens.
Consider the hobbies and sports in which you participate. You may use your eyes differently for recreational activities than you do for your job, or you may require suitable eye protection.
Don’t forget to bring the glasses that you wear every day along with any old ones that you still may use. Any other old glasses may be brought in and donated for use in third world countries.
Do not wear a lot of eye makeup.If you wear contact lenses, inquire if the op-
tometrist will want you to wear them to the exam. This varies from one optometrist to another and with the purpose of the visit.
Ask if your eyes will be dilated. If the answer is “yes”, avoid driving yourself to the examination and consider bringing sunglasses.
And finally, relax! Eye examinations are not painful, and can even be fun.
How to get the most out of your eye exam
A16 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - OAK BAY NEWS
B.C. moves to restrict e-cigarettesTom FletcherBlack Press
The B.C. government is tightening its regulations to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and use of the smoking substitute in workplaces, restaurants and other indoor public spaces.
Health Minister Terry Lake said changes he introduced in the B.C. legislature Thursday will treat the battery-powered devices like tobacco products, meaning they may not be displayed in stores or used in enclosed spaces where others are present. That will include private vehicles with children inside.
Lake said he expects the new
regulations to be in effect within a year, after consulting with the industry and giving sellers time to adjust to the new rules.
“This doesn’t ban e-cigarettes,” Lake said. “This means that children are protected from the sale and from being exposed to e-cigarettes, and those who don’t want to be subjected to the vapours from e-cigarettes are protected as well.
“Essentially the same conditions that now apply to tobacco will apply to e-cigarettes, so in public places, indoor workplaces, school grounds and now health authorities as well.”
Lake said e-cigarettes may have potential as a quit-smoking
aid, but they are currently unregulated and the liquid used in them may contain nicotine or other chemicals with health risks. The federal government has banned the sale of so-called “e-juice” containing nicotine, but it remains legal in the U.S. and Health Canada has received numerous reports that it is sold north of the border as well.
NDP health critic Judy Darcy said she supports the restriction on e-cigarettes, but the lack of measures to prohibit flavoured tobacco products is “a gaping hole” in the government’s bill.
Lake said he has been assured by federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose that federal regulations are in the works to deal with flavoured tobacco.125596
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