Organizers of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic are preparing to hold the event for a landmark 25th year
Gorge picnic on Canada Day back for 25th year
With Canada Day just around the corner, organizers of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic are preparing to hold the event for a landmark 25th year.
The picnic’s free attractions — which bring in up to 10,000 people each year — will be spread along Gorge Road West, which will be closed to traffic from Tillicum Road to Admirals Road on July 1 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
“This event was founded on the belief that our community deserves a day to come together, connect and celebrate where we live,” said event chair Brandon Devnich. “We’re proud to carry that tradition forward, and this year’s 25th anniversary gives us even more reason to celebrate.”
The annual picnic is hosted by the Gorge Tillicum Community Association, and will feature live entertainment, more than 30 food trucks and hands-on activities such as a kids’ play zone and a road hockey game.
Also on tap are a kids’ parade, pancake breakfast, strawberry tea and the Art and Artisan Market.
There will also be rescue ponies to see from Ponies and Pipsqueaks — a pony sanctuary on Oldfield Road — and an entertainment stage with performers including Penny Belle, the Hoss Mountain Stringband and Zach Stevenson.
Sponsors such as Fairway Market, Tillicum Centre, Thrifty Foods, Canadian Tire, Top-Shelf Bookkeeping and Amica have kept the event going, as has funding from the District of Saanich and Heritage Canada.
Participants are encouraged to take a bus or ride a bicycle to the event, which will have valet bike parking at both the Tillicum and Admirals entrances.
Esquimalt High student heads to UVic with $100,000 scholarship
Grade 12 Esquimalt High School student Lottie Campbell has been awarded a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship, which she will use to study chemistry at the University of Victoria.
She was nominated by the school’s scholarship committee for both academic and extracurricular achievements.
The Schulich Leader Scholarship, funded by the Schulich Foundation, is given to 100 high-school graduates each year to enrol in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) at 20 partner universities in Canada
“Ever since I was little, I’ve known I loved science, and interning in the research lab at B.C. Cancer Agency’s Deeley Center proved to me that research is my calling,” Lottie said.
She called receiving the scholarship a “huge honour” and said it will let her focus on her studies and pursuing lab opportunities, without having to worry about money.
She said she was at work when she found out by email she had won the scholarship, so she took a break to call her mother and cried.
Esquimalt High guidance counsellor Ally Hoffman said Lottie is “highly intelligent, scientifically curious and never shies away from an opportunity to learn.”
“She is also a kind and engaging young person. We are very excited to see what the future holds for Lottie.”
David Schulich said the scholarship program helps keep Canada’s top STEM talent at Canadian universities.
“When these scholars go on to drive prosperity and strengthen our economy, Canada must ensure the right economic conditions exist so they can build their promising futures here,” Schulich said in a statement.
Police giving out tickets for good things in Comox Valley
Comox Valley RCMP will once again be handing out “tickets” to young people this summer to reward them for safe and healthy activity.
The tickets — vouchers for activities or treats from businesses and local groups — will be given for such things as wearing a helmet while riding a bike, scooter or skateboard, crossing the street at a marked crosswalk or just being active outside.
“This initiative is one of the highlights of our summer,” said Const. Monika Terragni.
“Officers love connecting with youth in such a positive way. It’s not every day we get to hand out ‘tickets’ that make someone smile.”
Businesses and groups interested in taking part can contact Terragni at 250-338-1321.
Dignity Project provides showers, laundry
The Salvation Army has introduced a program to provide shower and laundry services to vulnerable people from Connection Point Church & Resource Centre in Langford.
A grand opening for the initiative was held last week, following a soft launch in April.
The project had already provided 59 showers and had 39 wash loads done by last week, with more to come as awareness grows.
The response from those using the services has been hugely positive, the Salvation Army said.
“When asking people how they feel about it, the answers usually involve tears,” said Pat Humble, director of community ministry for the Salvation Army.
New farmers market in Gordon Head
A new farmers market is coming to Lambrick Park in Gordon Head, starting next Sunday.
The PKOLS Market will run every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Sept. 7.
Visitors can expect to find local food, artisan goods and entertainment.
The announcement comes after other local market operators reported an increased public interest in supporting local vendors in the wake of recent Canada-U.S. tensions.
Plenty of garbage removed from Gorge
A recent cleanup effort in the Gorge Waterway saw about 240 kilograms of debris removed from both the shoreline and the water, thanks to a combined team from Prince of Whales Adventures, Transport Canada, Surfrider Vancouver Island and the Black Ball Ferry Line.
Prince of Whales and Black Ball volunteers joined forces in one group to bring in 90.5 kilograms of trash, including close to 14 kilograms of rope, while the Transport Canada group removed about 24 kilograms of foam, which can be especially bad for the environment because it tends to break down into microplastics.
A similar effort last July removed 380 kilograms of garbage from the Inner Harbour and Gorge area, with participants collecting items ranging from appliances and tires to plastic wrappers and textiles.
“As stewards of the Salish Sea, we feel a deep responsibility to lead by example when it comes to environmental protection,” said Prince of Whales general manager Elspeth McGillivray. “This cleanup is just one of many ways we live out our commitment to conservation and community.”
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