June 28, 2013

Best of the City Summ

er 2013 • 3

“COME VISIT US AT SHELBOURNE PLAZA. AFTER ALL, WE’RE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS!”

THE SHELBOURNE PLAZAdeep in the of the Shelbourne Valley

Shelbourne at Cedar Hill X Road

Cards & Gifts Sports & BikesGrocery & Bakery

Lizzy Lee & MeFairway Market Cards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & Bakery City Nails Cards & Gifts Sports & BikesGrocery & Bakery Oregano’s Pizza

and BistroCards & Gifts Sports & BikesGrocery & Bakery Wild Birds

UnlimitedCobs Bakery M&M Meat Shops

People’s Pharmacy



TD CanadaTrust

A&WRestaurant Cards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & BakeryBooster JuiceCards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & BakeryMac’s Cycle

Centre Cards & Gifts Sports & BikesGrocery & Bakery

Little Thai PlaceCards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & Bakery Merit TravelCards & Gifts Sports & BikesGrocery & Bakery Peninsula Runners Cards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & Bakery Squeaky’sLaundromatStarbucksScotiabank

Liquor Distribution Br.Cards & Gifts Sports & Bikes

Grocery & BakeryIsland Inkjet

Most newspaper reporters will agree, much of the spice in their career has come from experiencing activities or

observation points unavailable to most people.

Sometimes, however, taking the opportunity to observe or be ex-posed to something that is part of the everyday in one’s city can offer just as much enjoyment and sense of discovery.

Saanich News reporter Kyle Slavin, a Victoria resident for four years and part of this year’s writing team for Best of the City, has a natural curiosity about such things. He made a few discoveries of his own during the story gathering stage for the 2013 edition of the magazine.

Take chicken wings, for example.Tasked to find out what makes the

wings chosen by our readers as Best of the City, he relished the chance to learn firsthand (Page 15).

“I think chicken wings, especially in Victoria where the gourmet burger has gotten a lot of attention over the last few years, are really underrated as good pub food or a cheap meal with friends,” Slavin says.

For the record, he agreed with the

readers on their choice for No. 1 (find out who was selected as the top three in our survey results pages in the centre spread).

There were other BOTC experi-ences that brought a smile to Slavin’s face, as well, such as popping down to Fisherman’s Wharf to feed the harbour seals (Page 36).

“I don’t usually go down there unless I have visitors in town,” he admits. Visiting on his own, seeing the hub of activity and discovering the names and personalities of the seals gave him a different perspective. “It’s pretty neat to get that information and find those things out about a spot that is really popular, not just for visi-tors, but for locals too.”

Slavin even unwittingly became part of a colleague’s research into the elusive Roger the marmot (Page 45) at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Having made regular stops to the hotel’s Cen-tennial Garden for a year and half to try and glimpse the rodent, he finally struck gold on May 3.

“I reverted back to the three-year-old me who was excited to open up a Christ-mas gift and that gift on this day was a yellow bellied marmot named Roger,” he says.

As you read through this year’s Best of

the City, we hope you’ll get a sense of the fun we had in gathering the stories about our shared region. It offers all of us here a chance to rediscover some of the great things about Greater Victoria and the reasons why we choose to live here.

a few words from edITor DON DESCOTEAU

Spirit of the cityblack press reporters find the fun in best of the city

facebook.com/victorianews

Best of the City

Winners in the 19th annual Victoria News Best of the City supplement were chosen by Capital Region readers over the course of one month. Their votes were then tabulated by our promotions department and ranked in order to determine first, second and third place.Black Press-Vancouver Island has sole copyright over any written material or images in this publication.In the event of an error occurring in any advertisement, the liability of Black Press shall not exceed the charge of space actually occupied by the item in question.

How to contact us:Black Press818 Broughton St.Victoria, B.C.Phone: 250-381-3484Email:[email protected]:www.vicnews.com

Editorial DirectorKevin Laird

Production ManagerJanice Marshall

Associate EditorDon DescoteauGroup PublisherPenny Sakamoto

Director of SalesOliver Sommer

Circulation DirectorBruce Hogarth

Finding anew the things we love about VictoriaThere is always a certain excitement in our

newsroom when we begin producing Best of the City – a guide that celebrates what makes Victoria the best city in the world in which to live and play.

I’m sure the reason is that it allows our writ-ers and photographers to write about something different and fresh – away from the run-of-the-mill political, police and fire stories that are so much a part of a reporter’s day job.

This year’s Best of the City certainly doesn’t disappoint, with a cornucopia mix of stories ranging from the best place to eat chicken wings

to the secrets of Government House.And of course let’s not forget the survey that

is integral to this annual edition. This is where you told us what you think is the best about Victoria from restaurants to parks to recreation. There are always surprises in that list.

Best of the City is a guide to unknown trea-sures and well-known favourites, but most of all it’s a reflection of what makes Victoria the community it is. And what makes this commu-nity such a place to call home are its people and their many stories.

– Kevin Laird, editorial director

Reporter Kyle Slavin, seen here in his 2012 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock duds, had a lip-smacking good time chasing down his assignments for this year’s Best of the City.

Don Descoteau

4 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Thank You

Victoria!Proud to be your Auto Service Specialists!

MEET THE LANGFORD TEAM

3993 Cedar Hill RoadNIGEL MAGEE

801 Royal Oak DriveTOM HUNTER

2959 Douglas StreetDAN ROBBINS

ofthe

1519 Admirals RoadSCOTT BASTIEN

MEET THE CEDAR HILL TEAM

MEET THE ROYAL OAK TEAM

MEET THE DOUGLAS STREET TEAM

MEET THE VIEW ROYAL TEAM

250.721.1125

250.727.6561

250.361.3152

250.381.5055

Service Manager, Cedar Hill

Service Manager, Royal Oak

Service Manager, Douglas Street

Service Manager, View Royal

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Westshore Town CentreNOEL O’LEARYService Manager, Langford

LANGFORD TEAM

250.474.2291


er 2013 • 5

9

13

15

16

17

20

22

31

33

34

35

37

I Love VictoriaNative Ontarian and local personality Meribeth Burton talks about why she loves her adoptive city

Carving a nicheExpert carvers from the Songhees Nation are creating a unique style with their handiwork

Chicken-lickin’ goodWe check out the secret behind this year’s winner for best chicken wings

Reviving a traditionPaul’s Motor Inn enters its second season offering carhop service at the Paul’s Drive-In on Douglas Street

A neighbours’ villageCook Street Village combines a cer-tain comfortableness that attracts people from around the region

Romance on the beachFinding a romantic spot to cuddle on the beach can be easy around the Capital Region

Famous facesWell-known celebrities take most of the spotlight, but other local notables deserve our attention

Coffee cultureGreater Victoria’s multitude of cafés and coffee shops offer numerous options for area residents

History with French flairSt. Ann’s Academy has had a signfi-cant impact on Victoria, which was largely French in the early days

Art walk in SaanichGorge on Art gives visitors a close-up view of art in the making

Free is the best priceThe Capital Region has many activi-ties available for those on a budget

And here they comeNo one can resist the appeal of a herd of baby goats on the move

39

43

44

45

47

48

Feeling in a fishy mood?The survey champ in our best fish and chips category is a perennial favourite with readers

Cultivate a vintage lookThrowback clothing is style and local merchants are cashing in

Taking to the airTours and transportation keep float plane companies hopping

Urban wildlifeThe Fairmont Empress Hotel is home to an unlikely rodent

Beachcombing 101Sandy sites produce beautiful souve-nirs for collectors with a sharp eye

What’s happening?Looking for something to do this summer? Check out our calendar of local events

BEST OF THE CITY | featured cONteNt

YOUR PICKS

FOR 2013Reader’s top three choices

unveiled in the annual

Best of the City survey

23-30

4111

1010 Yates St., Behind Moxies • 250-590-7828

Full Service Hair Lounge for Men & Women• Free Wireless • Advanced Hair Care Products • Premier Waiting Lounge • Three Time Best of the City Winner

$5 Off Haircut(NO CASH VALUE - GRATUITIES WELCOME)

ONLY VALID FOR 1ST TIME CLIENTS -

ID REQUIRED

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Barbershop

Our strawberries are ready!!So Juicy and succulent

Drop on by!Soon to come…

Raspberries • LogenberriesBlackberries • Tayberries • Boysenberries

6929 Veyaness Rd. off Keating X Rd. 250.652.0182

Blackberries

GOBIND FARMS GO “BEST” Berries

6 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2200 Oak Bay Ave • 250 598 3380

Post Offi ce • Prescriptions • CosmeticsNatural Health • Skin Care • Household Items

Not your average Drugstore.

Thanks, Victoria!For voting us

one of the Best!

Not your average Drugstore.

one of the Best!For voting us

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

FINISHINGSTORE FINISH LIKE

AN EXPERT

THE

✃

FINISHINGSTORE FINISH LIKE

AN EXPERT

THE

Finish like an expert with top quality products, competitive pricing and over 60 years of expertise in home � nishing, The FinishingStore is proud to be a local, family owned and operated business with sales associates that have extensive experience helpingour customers with their home renovation projects.We’re open Sundays 10am - 4:30pm.* Expires August 31st, 2013. $250 off the purchase and Install of All Weather Windows. See store for details. Some restrictions may apply.

✃

✃

$250$250Save an

Additional

onAll WeatherWindows*2

013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

VICTORIA 780 Topaz Ave 250.384.3003 I NANAIMO 4128 Mostar Rd 250.756.1231 I � nishingstore.com

Sync or Swim from Portland, Ore. races across the 500-metre Inner Harbour course during last year’s 18th annual Canada Dry Victoria Dragonboat Festival. The popular summer event, based at Ship Point, happens Aug. 16 through 18 this year and is expected to attract upwards of 90 teams from around North America. The races are the focus of the weekend, but there are also plenty of food and entertainment options, children’s activities and cultural displays for the public to check out. For more information, visit victoriadragonboat.com.


er 2013 • 7

Victor Rubillar, 2011 winner of the People’s

Choice Award at the Victoria International

Buskers Festival, entertains the crowd

in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel last

summer by juggling five soccer balls.

The Buskers Festival runs July 19 to 28 at

various spots around the Inner Harbour.

Confirmed acts include Sweden’s Got Talent

winner, magician Charlie Caper; acrobats

Reuben Dot Dot Dot, Mr. Phil, the LOL

Brothers, Street Circus and such Victoria

regulars as Plasterman, Copper Cowgirl and

Darth Fiddler. For more information and a schedule of

performances, visit victoriabuskers.com.

ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13

PMS PMS PMS PMS FOIL

XXX

2014 RLX

ACU12962A_RLX_XXX.indd 1 13-06-04 4:07 PM

Campus Acura • 3347 Oak Street • (250) 383-0088DL #31106

Campus Honda 506 Finlayson Street, Victoria, BC V8T 5C8250-382-2277 • www.CampusHonda.com


www.CampusAcura.com

ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.

Acura innovation turns a new corner with the groundbreaking Precision All Wheel Steer™ system.

Its design allows the rear wheels to independently adjust their toe angle by a small degree —a small

degree that has a huge impact on handling, stability and maneuverability. It’s just one of the new

standards set by the most powerful, luxurious, and advanced Acura yet, the 2014 RLX.

The 2014 RLX has arrived. Start your experience at acura.ca/rlx.

XXX

LUXURY AT EVERY TURN.

2014 RLX


ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.






XXX


2014 RLX


ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.






XXX


2014 RLX


ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.






XXX


2014 RLX


ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.






XXX


2014 RLX


ACU12962A_RLX_12962_21

12962_21

RLX Magazine

ACU12962A_RLX_

Acura

Bob

Amanda

AJ

Lindley

4C

9” x 5.375”

n/a

8” x 4.875”

0.25”

100%

1 4100%

PMS

06/04/13


U.S. model shown.






XXX


2014 RLX


8 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

8 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Chalk artist Lorelle Miller works on a piece during last year’s inaugural Victoria International Chalk Art Festival. Crowds flocked downtown to see art created in the Bay Centre and on the Government Street roadway, which was closed to traffic for the weekend. This year’s free festival happens Sept. 14 and 15 and features events from Government Street to Centennial Square. To ramp up the excitement, a 37-square-metre 3-D chalk art painting will be created in the Bay Centre lower level in the days leading up to the festival weekend. Visit victoriachalkfestival.com for more information and a list of artists.

126 DOUGLAS STREETDrive In RestaurantB

e

a

c

o

n

Serving up smiles since 1958

2011

YEAR

17th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestof

the

Voted

1

YEAR

2012

YEAR

18th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestof

the

Voted

1

open year round

Dine inside or on our heated patio

2012

YEAR

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

250.385.7521WWW.BEACONDRIVEIN.CA Check us out on:

250-386-1212FAX: 250-386-1299

Free shipping withminimum $70 order.

Anywhere in Canada.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Victoria’s Downtown Sushi Destination

615 Yates (at Broad Street)

250.382.8768www.azumasushi.ca

Open Daily 11 am - Late • Dine In • Take Out • Delivery

• Dine In Victoria

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Japanese Food


er 2013 • 9

More than just a dealership.

Thank you Victoriafor years of faithful business!

From the Metro Lexus Toyota Family

Douglas at Finlaysonwww.jpautogroup.com 1-888-465-9376

2001

#1BEST OF THE CITY

8th Year20

02

#1BEST OF THE CITY

9th Year20

03

#1BEST OF THE CITY

11th Year20

05

#1BEST OF THE CITY

12th Year20

06

#1BEST OF THE CITY

13th Year20

07

#1BEST OF THE CITY

14th Year20

08

#1BEST OF THE CITY

2009

YEAR

15th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2011

YEAR

17th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2012

YEAR

18th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Thank you Victoria

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1BE

ST N

EW CAR DEALERSH

IP

TESTIMONIAL

TESTIMONIAL Amazing experience with Metro Toyota Victoria! From the moment we walked on to the lot we were made to feel welcome and at ease with our upcoming purchase. Our sales agent was extremely knowledgeable and professional. We are happy with our new purchase. Thanks Toyota!!!”

We just bought a new truck at Metro Toyota and experienced outstanding customer service. We did not feel pressured in the least. Every step of the process was simple and stress free.”

Thank you VictoriaThank you VictoriaThank you Victoria ‘‘ TESTIMONIAL

We just bought a new ‘ We just bought a new ‘‘Thank you VictoriaThank you Victoria

2013

CVIC

ofthe

‘‘ TESTIMONIAL Amazing experience with ‘ Amazing experience with ‘‘ Amazing experience with ‘

Meribeth BurtonCorporate spokesperson, B.C. Transit, former longtime TV journalist and anchorAge: 45

Twenty years ago I moved to Victoria. I’m from Sudbury, but I was working in Timmins when I got a job offer to be the weekend anchor at CHEK. I worked in TV for 23 years and have been with B.C. Transit for 18 months.

I went to community college in North Bay and Canadore for broadcast journalism, very much a northern girl and my plan was to get back (to Ontario) as soon as possible. I was going to give it two years in Victoria.

It was a slower tempo than I was used to, but slowly, over time the city won me over. Now when I go home to Ontario I bring a B.C. vibe with me.

I’ve had opportunities and offers (to move) over the years, but when I look around and see the

quality of life here – I was having sushi on the beach one spring day with one of my daughters – I’m never giving that up. No matter what kind of day you have, that can be pretty healing and transformative stuff. The Ontarian in me would never have said that. But it’s just a lifestyle.

I have become a passionate walker, a power walker, and I have a particular hour-and-a-bit stroll through the Uplands. It’s the place I feel happiest and freest.

I dance every day. We try to do a family dance around doing the dishes. I also love my wine bars, I like Stage and Vis a Vis, and Charelli’s Cheese Shop. I try to get a movie in a few times a month.

I have always been a fall person, what I like best about Victoria falls is that it’s always a rather long summer. I’m a passionate but terrible golfer. I get out about 20

times a year and have been taking lessons on and off.

I go to the library every weekend with my daughters, Sher and Kennedy. I live in the Estevan area of Oak Bay and at Christmastime, we do a walking Christmas party. There are many people in the neighbourhood who have kids the same age and they’ve all grown up together.

I’ve had a chance to go to other places in the world, like Europe, but they rarely compare to Victoria. I went there by myself at 28 and spent a couple of months. I remember being in Lucerne, Switzerland and did a river cruise and it was so beautiful. I thought, ‘O.K., this is close, but I can’t wait to get home.’ It just reminded me of what we have here.

I love Victoria …

10 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

10 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Those who’ve sunk below the surface around the globe will attest to the world-class diving just outside our doorsteps in Greater Victoria.

Like many veteran divers, Greg Dombowsky has explored locales from Alaska to Australia and a slew of exotic spots in between – and still trumpets the unparalleled beauties to be discovered around Vancouver Island. Dombowsky, a certified dive instructor, underwater photographer and author of Divers’ Guide – Van-couver Island South, says three of his favourite dives around here offer everything for undersea explorers of all skill levels.

“We have the biggest octopuses in the world, the biggest anemones, the biggest sunflower stars,” he says. “Everything seems to grow bigger here.”

Ogden Point breakwaterThis walk-in locale is perfect

for beginners – there’s a dive shop nearby – and can keep expert divers entertained with its lush sea life.

“As far as beginner’s dives go, it’s a really good spot, easy to navigate,” says Dombowsky, who was drawn to diving after learning of Jacques Cousteau as a kid. “There’s a lot of fish in general. It’s not uncommon to see a wolf eel or octopus and there’s quite a bit of inverte-brate life.”

Now with thousands of dives under his weight belt, Ogden Point’s still, calm wa-ters continue to afford ample photographic opportunities for Dombowsky.

Ten Mile Point“I’ve been diving around

the world and Ten Mile Point is probably the best shore dive in the world,” he says.

The basis for his argument? An almost guaranteed sighting of octopuses in their dens and the playful accompaniment of sea lions. But be warned, such

a payoff comes with a price, beyond traversing the rough terrain at the beach access.

“The currents are strong and you have to dive on slack tide,” Dombowsky says, underlining that experience diving along the point is a necessity. “If you go somewhere and have any doubt: you probably shouldn’t (dive).”

Race RocksThe ecological reserve surround-

ing the series of islets off the West Shore is a hotbed of sea life, from invertebrates and fish to the preda-tor sea lions – often spotted sunning themselves atop the smattering of rocks that crest the ocean’s surface.

The shallow dive, only accessible by boat, is on a level of wonder with any other reef in the world. The strong currents demand an ad-vanced diver.

“Vancouver Island is really an amazing spot,” Dombowsky says.

“If I were to compare Race Rocks to any coral reef, the main differ-ence would be that the fish are a little more colourful in the tropics and sometimes the water is a little clearer, but I would rate (the Island) as one of the best spots I’ve ever dived in the world.”

Photo by Greg DombowskyCurious sea lions swim at Race Rocks ecological reserve near Victoria.

Adventure awaits under the surface

Photo by Greg DombowskyOctopus near McCurdy Point in Saanich Inlet.

10% Off Everything Golf!Cut out this coupon andbring it in for a 10%Discount at HighlandPaci� c Golf Shop.

Discount is good for all equipment,clothing, balls & accessories. Not valid withany other offer. Expires Aug. 30, 2013

450 Creed Road, Victoria, BC250.478.4653

254 Island Highway Victoria • (250) 704-1000 • [email protected]

• Roll any double and Win your Price!

• Great Selection at Fantastic Prices

• Exceptional Quality, Great Value & Superior Customer Service

• Convenient Location, EASY Parking

• 100% GuaranteedRoll the Dice &

Win your Price!Roll any double and get an extra 10% off your kit!

254 Island Highway Victoria • (250) 704-1000 • [email protected]

A “View Loyal” toast to all our

wonderful winemakers!

Make your “Selection”

with the Best of the City!

SUMMERPREMIUM

PROMOTION:Chile in June

California in JulyAustralia in August

On Special Offer

10% Off

www.facebook.com/thewinemaker254twitter: @thewinemaker254

Thank you for your votes!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Industry LeaderSpecial offer on

each kit. 10% off


er 2013 • 11

• B

ankr

uptc

y? A

pply

Tod

ay. •

Wor

kin’

Fol

ks C

ar &

Tru

ck S

tore

...

Need a Loan? We Can Help • The Lot on the Strip that Deals on the Square • H

elping Good People w

ith Bad C

redit •

SALES & SERVICE CENTRE

D10234

for voting us

Best of the City!

Two Time Recip ientof the BBB Torch Award

2009/ 2012

Best of the City!2009/2012 BBB Torch Award

for voting us ThanksVictoria!

Financing AvailableRates from 4.99%* • Good and Bad Credit Welcome

Financing Rates from 4.99%* • Good and Bad Credit Welcome

o n s i t e

*On Approved Credit

1658 Island Hwy250-478-1128www.car-corral.com

Sale prices 365 days a year

@HowiesCarCorral

vicpubco.ca

4 - 5 - 64 - 5 - 64 Draught Beers4 - 5 - 6

5 Days!4 - 5 - 6

$6 Dollars4 Draught Irish Times Pub1200 GOVERNMENT ST.

Bard & Banker Public House1022 GOVERNMENT ST.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted 1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1


er 2013 • 11

With the summer sun in Victo-ria comes a never-ending stream of tourists, protesters and concerts across the lawn of the legisla-ture – and every three years or so, hundreds of 1932 Fords, better known as the deuce coupe.

From July 19 to 21, about 950 classic Ford cars and trucks – the majority are ’32s, but about half were manufactured up until 1951 – will line Victoria’s Inner Harbour and legisla-tive grounds during Northwest Deuce Days, an event organized by life-long deuce lover, Al Clark.

“They put these events on all over the world and I figured (Vic-toria) was a good destination,” says Clark, a classic car restorer.

What began as a one-day car show in Oak Bay grew in size, mov-ing to the mainland in 2002 and back to Victoria in 2004.

In 2010 it ballooned into a three-day event.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” Clark adds, citing an estimated 50,000 spectators at the last event in 2010.

Vic Edelbrock, CEO of automo-tive parts giant Edelbrock Corpora-tion, will be among the visitors this year when he parks three sets of

wheels at the legislative grounds. The son and namesake of the com-pany founder will bring with him two roadsters and a deuce coupe from Torrance, Calif.

Other southern guests include a 148-member group representing Roy Brizio Street Rods in San Fran-cisco. The Brizio clan has booked an entire sailing on the M.V. Coho ferry

from Port Angeles to Victoria the day before the show.

And while another 228 enthusiasts from

the L.A. Roadster Club – including one 88-year-old veteran of the clas-sic car scene – will make the drive from the Golden

State, it’s a relative jaunt compared to

the lengths some auto-philes will go to put their

Fords on display next to the world’s best in our capital city.

Deuce coupes are being shipped from as far away as Nova Scotia, North Carolina and Europe to make the seventh iteration of the event since it began in 1998.

“I’ve been fooling around with these cars forever,” Clark says. “They’re cars you only read about in magazines.”

The show includes a poker run, gala dinner and of course, the main attraction, the public show down-town.

More details can be found at northwestdeuceday.com.

Al Clark sits behind the wheel of his two-door ’32 Ford sedan in his Fairfield backyard. Clark, the organizer of Deuce Days, is expecting more than 900 deuce coupes and other classic cars from all over the world. The three-day event is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors to the Inner Harbour.

Classic Fords descend on the Inner Harbour

THE PLACE

TO BE THIS JULY

Northwest Deuce Days

attracts classic car collectors,

restoration experts and car buffs

from the Pacific Northwest and

beyond. It is one of the largest

car shows of its kind on the

West Coast of North

America.

NOrTHwEST DEUCE DAYS SHOwS TrEmENDOUS grOwTH SINCE EArLY DAYS

12 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

It’s no surprise to Victorian’s that Dodd’s Furniture; the local community-focused company is repeatedly named as one of the best in the city.

The quality of their furniture and service, not to mention their impeccable record of community involvement, speak for themselves.

All the more reason why if you’re in the market for furnishings or accessories for your home, a visit to Dodd’s Victoria or Nanaimo stores is a must.

After years of serving communities as far away as Port Alberni and Comox from their Victoria store, last year Dodd’s threw open the doors on a brand new, 25,000-square-feet Nanaimo store, conveniently located across from the Woodgrove Shopping Centre, notes Gordy Dodd, who

launched Dodd’s Furniture back in 1977 with a 2,200-square-foot store at the corner of Quadra and King streets. Their reputation for quality, affordable furnishings led to Dodd’s expansion to a 35,000-square-foot building he built and owns.

Today, Dodd’s is home to Vancouver Island’s largest mattress gallery, as well as Canada’s largest independent Serta mattress gallery and Simmons’ largest gallery on the Island.

And, with their 43,000-square-foot warehouse, there’s often no need to wait for new furnishings as much is held in stock. For those who prefer a customized approach, Dodd’s showcases made-in-B.C. products that allow you to tailor your styles and colours.

The Nanaimo store has been the perfect companion to the 35,000-square-foot, three-storey Victoria store, notes Gordy’s son, Love Dodd.

“We have the same great service, selection and price, but with better

buying power, a value we can pass along to our customers.”

Dodd’s Furniture has also expanded the community programs offered here in Victoria for years, such as the annual Thanksgiving dinner, hosted in Nanaimo this past year for the fi rst time as well. They will once gain host a heritage festival in Beacon Hill Park’s Cameron Bandshell this June as well, Love notes.

“Victorians are the ones who have made Dodd’s Furniture possible, so we want to give back to Victoria,” he says. “In Nanaimo, we have received such a warm welcome, we want to support our community there as well.”

Additional programs respond to immediate needs after natural disasters, for example, as well as on-going support for developing countries.

“We are so fortunate to be able to do the work we do,” Gordy says, thanking Victoria and Vancouver Islanders. “It’s just wonderful.”

Quality, service and commitment to community BEST of the CITY FINALIST BUSINESS PROFILE: Dodd’s Furniture

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Gordy Dodd opened Dodd’s Furniture with a 2,200-square-foot store. Today Dodd’s offers 35,000-squarefeet of quality furnishings in Victoria and another 25,000 square-feet in Nanaimo.

Best Furniture Store

715 Finlayson St., Victoria 250.388.6663

www.doddsfurniture.com Hours:

Mon, Tues, Sat 9-6Wed-Fri 9-9, Sun & Hol 12-5

Follow & Join us for the latest commercials, promotions & monthly � yer!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Story and photos by Charla HuberSonghees Nation carver Clarence Dick is work-

ing with other carvers in his community to develop a distinct Songhees carving style.

He’s quick to point out Coast Salish people are more known for carving house posts, not totem poles. The difference, he says, is a totem pole is round and a house post has a “flat back with a high relief carving on top.”

Showing an octo-pus carved on a house post for the proposed Songhees Wellness Centre, Dick shows how the tentacles curl out of sight, making it appear the sea creature is sitting on the post, not carved out of it.

“On house posts we are carving on the sides and underneath to make it have a 3-D look,” Dick says. A traditional Coast Salish house post would have flat sides, he adds.

This is one of the techniques setting Songhees carvers apart from others.

Dick has been carv-ing full time for the wellness centre project since May 2010 and expects the project to be completed next January. He and two other carvers are creating five 20-foot house posts, two totem poles with a connecting centre piece and a 27-foot loon ladle. “None of us have ever done anything like that before,” Dick says.

In keeping with tradition, he uses authentically Coast Salish designs and shapes, including crescents and trigons. “This is a blend of old traditions with a modern twist. We are trying to develop a distinct style for Songhees to leave our own legacy behind.”

Dick and the other carvers are putting a modern flare on these massive carvings, but ancient traditions are reflected as well.

“Everybody is going from old museum archives and old photos,” he says, explaining how novice and vet-eran carvers study to improve their art form. “A lot of people’s work looks similar because they are studying the same carvings.”

It’s not only Songhees carvers who go to the Royal B.C. Museum to study ancient carvings.

“We get artists from all across the province coming,” says Martha Black, the museum’s curator of ethnol-ogy. “The Songhees are always welcome, as we are on Lkwungen land.”

Black sees similarities in work from carvers and from communities, but says there is no set style for the region.

“It’s a living thing, it’s not static. It’s a living cultural heritage. I don’t see one Bella Bella style, I see several and they are all from the same community.”

Carvings and other First Nations art on permanent display at the Royal B.C. Museum are only about three per cent of the total num-ber of items housed at the facility.

"Artists or anyone interested can make an appointment and pick things up, turn them over and see how much they weigh,” says Martha Black, curator of ethnology, RBCM. “Artists really like to do that and see how things are made."

Songhees First Nation artist Clarence Dick has spent the past three years working full time carving totem poles and traditional Coast Salish house posts for the Songhees Wellness Centre.

A face on a totem pole being carved for the Songhees Wellness Centre.

Songhees Nation carving its niche

A distinct coAst sAlish styleis being developed

by mAster cArvers in A shed on songhees first nAtion lAnd

Museum practises hands-on approach to ethnology


er 2013 • 13

14 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

A Personal Shopping Membership is $55 per year plus applicable taxes and includes a 2nd FREE card for someone in the same house-hold over 18. VALID FOR NEW MEMBERSHIPS ONLY ON THIS DATE AT COSTCO. NOT VALID FOR MEMBERS ALREADY IN OUR SYSTEM.

Discover the Great Savings from thefollowing departments!!

COSTCO MEMBERS, YOU CAN INTRODUCE A FRIEND TO THEGREAT VALUE YOU FIND AT COSTCO AND REAP THE BENEFITS!!Bring your friends in to join as NEW members and you’ll get a

$10 CoStCo CaSh CarDFor each new membership you bring in!

PLUS your friends who join will also get a $10 Cash Card!SAVE EVEN MORE WITH OUR EXECUTIVE

MEMBERSHIP AND AMERICAN EXPRESS PROGRAMS

Thank You Victoria for voting Your Costco Best in the City for Optical, Photofinishing

& Best Bulk Store!

• OPTICAL• HEARING• PHARMACY• PHOTO

• GAS• TIRES• PROPANE• BAkERY

• MEAT• DELI• PRODUCE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

3

Best Optical/Eyewear

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

2

Best Photof nishing

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Best Bulk

250-477-6513 • 3829 Cadboro Bay Rd. • www.peppers-foods.com • Mon-Fri 8am-9pm • Sat-Sun 8am-7:30pm

A Fresh TraditionPepper’s Foods has been serving Victoria as a full service, independent grocery store for over 50 years. We are committed to continuing the same traditions begun in 1962: the freshest, highest quality products at the lowest possible prices. Local is always our first choice. Our independent nature allows us to listen to our customers and give them what they want.

A truly independent store, visit Pepper’s Foods for all your local shopping needs.

Celebrating 50 Years of Good Food

14 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

“Go, hippo, go!” an enthusiastic busload of passengers yells in unison. And with that, the bus drives down a ramp at Ogden Point and splashes into the Pacific Ocean.

Fear not – it’s no suicide mission; it’s a tourist attraction that provides a unique, one-of-a-kind tour of Victoria from both land and sea.

Victoria Hippo Tours is in its first season of-fering sightseeing tours in and around downtown Victoria. So far the feedback has been quite positive.

“Victoria has its own little flavour, its own lustre. It’s got a lot of charm and because everybody comes to centre ice (a.k.a. downtown Victo-ria) when they visit, we thought it would be a great place for us to be,” says Geoffrey Lind, president and co-owner of Victoria Hippo Tours.

The hippo buses – named Happy, Harry and Henrietta – were formerly school buses. They were taken apart and had a boat’s hull built under-neath. The vessels are government certified to run on land and in water.

Tours last roughly 90 minutes and begin with a land tour down-town and in James Bay.

As the aforementioned amphibi-ous bus travels along Dallas Road, it turns off the road near Ogden Point and drives straight into the water.

For 45 minutes, the hippo bus cruises through the water, touring Ogden Point, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Inner Harbour.

“It’s not hop-on, hop-off. It’s a fully narrated tour with a guide and a captain,” Lind says. “It’s a great way to see Victoria and get some history from a bus and from a boat without having to switch vehicles.”

Victoria Hippo Tours load in front of the CPR Steamship Terminal building. Tours run on the hour be-tween 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information visit victoriahippotours.com.

A Victoria Hippo Tours bus enters the water at the James Bay Anglers Association ramp near Ogden Point. The company’s three converted school buses offers passengers a view from land and sea.

Touring in the belly of a hippo


er 2013 • 15

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

www.cordovabaygolf.com250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996

250-658-4444

250-658-3996


er 2013 • 15

The Tartan Toque soars with its chicken wings

Kara Ferguson is co-owner and head chef at the Tartan Toque restaurant, which brands itself as Victoria's first chicken wing house. Despite being a fairly new business, our readers voted it the best place to find wings in the city.

The Tartan Toque is quickly garnering a reputation in Victoria as the go-to place for delicious chicken wings.

After just four months in op-eration, the restaurant – dubbed Victoria’s first chicken wing house – was voted the best place for wings in Greater Victoria.

Kara Ferguson, partner and head chef, is the one in charge of the menu. She’s the brains behind the flavours that pique taste buds and keep hungry customers coming back.

“We’ve got about 35 sauces now. What makes us a little dif-ferent, I call us ‘real food.’ All the recipes come from my head, and we make everything from scratch,” she says.

While she’s creat-ing new wing flavours almost weekly – through trial and error, mixing flavours and ingredients – The Tartan Toque already has unique classics.

“The candied bacon – that’s one of our most popular flavours,” Ferguson says. That one is a mix of brown sugar, butter, maple syrup, bacon and Montreal steak spice.

“Whenever I get days off, I spend hours researching wing sauces. I look for what strikes me as amazing, delicious combinations, and I try to figure out how I can make it into a wing sauce,” she says.

Rounding out the Best of the City’s top three chicken wing joints are Hecklers Bar and Grill, which

boasts more than 50 flavours, and 1550’s, which gets long lineups ev-ery Wednesday with hungry patrons taking advantage of their $5 wings special.

The Tartan Toque is the brain-child of Ferguson and Barry Thom-son, the latter of whom owns Victoria’s two Shine Café locations. Ferguson worked in the kitchen at Shine.

Ferguson, who’s originally from Ontario, says that province was teeming with wing houses while she grew up. Once she and Thomson realized that was what was missing

in Victoria, The Tartan Toque was born.

She says the secret to a good chicken wing is con-fit, slow cooking them in their own fat.

“We slow cook them at (170 F) for about 24

minutes for prep, and then at service time we

cook them at (355 F,)” she says. “We did a lot of research

when we were starting up on what will make the crispiest wing. We found the secret to the perfect wing: the right times, the right tempera-tures.”

All Ferguson has to do now – when there’s a bit of down time in the kitchen – is create more flavours that’ll continue to set The Tartan Toque apart from its competitors, and continue building their well-earned reputation as the best place for chicken wings in Victoria.

The Tartan Toque is located at 1507 Pandora Ave.

Fun Fact

The Tartan

Toque serves

640 pounds of

chicken wings

weekly.

DIAMONDOPTICAL EYECARE



50% offAll Frames

Including in-stock designers.

SPECIALS AVAILABLE AT BOTH LOCATIONS.

DIAMOND EYECARE OAK BAY1964 Fort St. • 250.590.2932

ACROSS FROM SAFEWAY

DIAMOND OPTICAL VICTORIA1320 Douglas St. • 250.380-6919

DOWNTOWN

OASYS Brand CONTACT LENSES

$3000 BOX

BigSavings!

EYEEXAMSAT GREAT

RATES

16 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

hank you to all our patients for voting us best place to improve your smile.

250-384-1154 Open Weekends and Evenings,New Patients Welcome186 – 3147 Douglas Street, in Mayfair Mallwww.mayfairdental.ca

Of� ce Hours: Mon. 7:30 am – 4 pm, Tues. – Thurs. 7 am – 9 pm, Friday 7 am – 4 pm, Sat. 8 am – 4 pm

T• Caring about the person

behind the smile since 1984.

• We would love to showyou the difference that our professional service can make in your life.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

16 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Step back in time to the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll, James Dean and T-birds as Paul’s Motor Inn revives its diner drive-in every weekend this summer.

Paul’s Drive-In (1900 Douglas St.) features the ambience of a ’50s night out, as carhops serve classics like burgers and fries, ice cream floats and banana splits.

Paul’s original diner opened in 1952 with a drive-in on the north side of the building. It lasted until 1972 when the restaurant was renovated, the drive-in was closed, and the motel and lounge were added.

Michael King, general manager of Paul’s Motor Inn, likes the simplic-ity of the idea.

“You park, turn your lights on, and the carhop comes out and takes your order, then brings your food out to the car on a hanging tray,” he says.

King decided to revive the drive-in experience last summer to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the

diner and 40th anniversary of the motel. The event was such a suc-cess, organizers felt compelled to bring it back for another summer.

“People just loved it last year,” he says. “We got a lot of response from grandparents who brought in their grandchildren to show them what a drive-in was like back in the day.

“Young people are coming in who’ve never heard of it. They’re slack jawed when the food (tray) is set on their window.”

The menu also in-cludes fish and chips,

BLTs, turkey club sandwiches and a unique take on the taquito.

The only tradi-tion missing from this fun night out is rollerskating

carhops (a no-no by current insurance

standards; how times have changed).

“It’s a lot of new business, though some of the drive-in cus-tomers are people who came here during the restaurant’s heyday when it ran 24/7,” King says.

The drive-in is open through August, Fridays from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Blast from the past

Tale ofThe Tray

Paul’s carhop trays come from

O’Tray in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Says Paul’s manager Michael King:

“O’Tray is the only place I could find

that manufactures them. They also

make the custom trays for the

U.S. chain Sonic Drive-In.”

Second Summerfor carhopS aT paul’S

This time last year, Matthew Conrad was thrilled to be hon-oured as one of best barbershops in the city – extra-special given that Victory Barber & Brand was then a newcomer on Victoria’s

barbering scene.To follow that up with a second nomination in their

second year confirms Victory is truly offering something much more than a simple haircut. “The secret to our suc-cess is a really strong understanding of who we are and what we are trying to do,” Conrad explains.

Located in the prestigious Atrium Building, Victory is at its essence a men’s-only heritage barbershop. Conrad insists that they aren’t retro or vintage because typically those shops are a reproductions of the past. The heritage nature of Victory pays homage to the attitudes and at-tributes of generations-old barbering traditions while still being very much current for today. “It has a strong tradi-tion but it’s not stuck; it’s able to change and adapt,” he ex-plains, commending his staff who have not only embraced the concept, but are true “barbering phenoms” in their own right. “We’re passionate about bringing this form of men’s grooming back – we just love it.”

Stepping in to Victory, clients are struck at once by the masculine appeal of the place, with its painstakingly restored vintage barber shares, the reclaimed wood signs

and even a moose head overseeing everything. “It’s a new space that already has a 100-year-old soul.”

And then there’s the smell – this is definitely not a sa-lon. Here there’s shaving tools, beard balm, mustache wax and other products crafted with men only in mind. “I love the smell of the shop. It doesn’t smell like a hair salon; it smells like handsome men,” Conrad says with a smile.

That heritage philosophy permeates how Victory approaches its haircuts, as well as popular services like straight razor shaving – a “bucket-list” item for many men. At the same time, Conrad’s team has adopted their own modern twist, developing Victory’s line of shaving products and tools – Damned Fine Shaving for Gentlemen, with more to come.

From the start, people have appreci-ated that authenticity. What began as a local buzz quickly spread across Canada and the United States, where Conrad has been sought after to teach others the unique trade of barbering.

The real magnitude of Victory’s reach became clear while Conrad was travelling in a Toronto taxi where the cab’s TV console ran an ad highlighting Victory’s selection as one of the best

barbershops in all of Canada. “I think that’s when I real-ized we had done something really special.”

While Victory may be designed for men, it’s no surprise that Conrad, who also owns downtown’s equally celebrat-ed Lab hair salon, hears plenty of appreciative comments from women thrilled that their men now have a place that keeps them looking and feeling their best.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from guys, but even more from their wives and girlfriends!”

Classic men’s style finds home at Victory BEST of the CITY FINALIST BUSINESS PROFILE: Victory Barber and Brand

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted 1

From left: Aahmes Deshutter, Crystal Currie, Matthew Conrad, Paul Huxtable, Doug Macniell and Joshua Sparrow at Conrad’s men’s only heritage-style barbershop.

www.victorybarbers.com

Victory Barber and Brand1315 Blanshard St. at Yates in the Atrium • 250.381.1522

Best Barbershop

Sizzling Tandoor owners Gurinder and Narpinder Bawa welcome guests to their new location at Uptown, which has joined their bustling LoJo location.


er 2013 • 17

So nice to come home to.

wellesleyvictoria.com

Ask about our Free

Trial Stays Trial StaysTrial StaysTrial StaysTrial StaysTrial StaysTrial StaysIndependent and

Assisted Living

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Thank you Victoria for nominating The Wellesley Best Retirement Residence!

Call Margo to schedule a personal tour and complimentary lunch!250.419.6807 2800 Blanshard St. Victoria


er 2013 • 17

It’s more than simply a neigh-bourhood commercial district.

It’s a place to meet up with friends, people-watch, have a first date, dog-watch and simply have a pleasant stroll under a canopy of chestnut trees.

Cook Street Village, a three-block section of Cook Street in Victoria’s Fairfield neighbourhood, has devel-oped from a hyper-local shopping district into a trendy stretch of food, health, entertainment and living.

And it’s not just all about cof-fee, although the three largest cafés – Serious Coffee, Moka House and Starbucks – each have their fans and are among the biggest initial draws for people coming into the village.

Some café visitors choose their patio based on the placement of the sun.

But nearby resident Ab Kudra, a retired B.C. Ferries employee, nick-named the Mayor of Cook Street Village by his friends – and he has many – likes to spread the business around.

Stopping in at various spots in the village offers him a chance to check in with friends and neigh-bours and meet new people, he says.

“The people around Cook Street Village are very hospitable; they’re so friendly and they help you out if you need assistance,” he says. Kudra recalls a situation when an elderly woman stumbled and fell in front

of Starbucks. “Everybody got up to help.”

One need not venture away from the village to be self-sufficient.

You want food? The eight sit-down eateries offer a variety of choices, from pub food to ethnic specialties

Cooking dinner yourself? Long-time icon Oxford Foods is joined by two organic grocery stores, a market/deli, a fresh butcher shop and a pro-duce/flower stand run by John the singing greengrocer, who performs on occasion at Serious Coffee.

There’s a range of other mer-chants and services, from a pair of antique dealers, two hair salons, an all-night convenience store and an optician, a liquor store, a drug store, butcher, women’s clothing store and financial and physio/health services.

And of course there’s Pic a Flic, one of the Capital Region’s rare thriving video rental stores, which has perhaps the largest library col-lection of classic movies and TV series.

While small business is what keeps the village thriving, the over-arching attitude is chill.

“With all the chestnut trees and the dogs, it’s really fantastic and a great place to people watch on a nice day,” Kudra says. “I know people that have moved away, but they still come back, even all the way from Langford.”

Cook Street Village, a place that says neighbourhood

Tessa Hamelin walks through Cook Street Village with her dog, Indiana on her way to get treats at the pet store. The stretch is great for dog-watching.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

18 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

With the best, consistent,

dependable � nancial advice...

You can get there!

P R O O F

Thank you for supporting the WestShore Go2Guide. Please review this PDF proof to ensure that the copy and layout are correct.

NOTE: This is a low-resolution PDF proof for final check only. As such, the colour and clarity may not represent how the ad will appear in print; ads will be crisper when printed.

Please X the appropriate instructions: o Proof OK as is

o Proof OK with changes indicated

o Revised Proof required

Notes: __________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Authorized by: ____________________

Date: ___________________________

Please email (preferred) or fax your approval or changes

to Integral Creative

email: [email protected]

tel.: (250) 885-9070

fax: 1 (866) 623-5128

w w w . i n t e g r a l c r e a t i v e . c a

With consistent, dependable…� nancial advice…

you can get there.

Dale Collins

Certi� ed Financial Planner

Elder Planning Counselor

Dale Collins CFP EPC

O� ce: 250-818-2616

Fax: 250-590-5721

Email: [email protected]

www.prosperity-planning.com

Dale Collins CFP EPCCerti� ed Financial PlannerElder Planning Counselor

O� ce: 250-818-2616 Fax: 250-590-5721Email: [email protected]

www.prosperity-planning.com

Oak Bay Home Hardware1911 Oak Bay Ave

250.598.1620

Home Owners helping homeowners

Providing old-fashioned friendly customer servicein Fair� eld Plaza and on Oak Bay Avenue.

Ross Bay Home Hardware1584 Fair� eld Road

250.598.7224

Thank you, Victoria, for nominating us the best hardware store!

Fair� eld Staff Oak Bay Staff

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted


er 2013 • 19

VICTORIA3400 DOUGLAS ST250.475.2561mclarenlighting.com

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

For over 50 years we have served the community as a family owned and operated business.

We have the largest selection and inventory of lighting on Vancouver Island with showrooms in

both Victoria and Nanaimo.

Thank you for voting us #1

for the past 4 years running in Victoria's Best of the City.

Thank youBest of the City Sum

mer 2013 • 19

Weyburn, Sask., 1974: a nervous 19-year-old settles into the sound booth at CFSL radio.

A lightbulb spray painted red sig-nifies On Air status and the begin-ning of an epic career in Canadian radio.

A fresh-faced Ed Bain, with a newly-minted certificate in broad-casting, finally has the chance to show a broader audience he’s more than just the comedian of his peers.

The light glows. The pressure mounts. Bain completes the inspired moment and sends out Three Dog Night’s “Mama Told Me Not to Come” across the airwaves.

“I always thought that was somewhat symbolic, but maybe I shouldn’t have,” says Bain, longtime morning show host at 100.3 The Q and this year’s best local radio personality in our Best of the City survey.

The native of smalltown Alberta had just taken what he describes as a fly-by-night broadcasting course in Edmonton that was appealing primarily on a sole promise: “They guaranteed you a job if you were willing to go anywhere.”

Bain attributes the decision to enter the industry to a post-high school epiphany.

“I’d always been a class clown, a loudmouth with an affinity for mak-ing people laugh.”

Though his first years in Wey-burn were fun, they weren’t exactly opulent. “I wasn’t making much money, living in a one-room base-ment suite and then moved to a two-room basement suite in a cabin. It was pretty lean in the early days.”

Bain moved to the morning show position in Regina in the mid-70s, where he stayed for five years before moving to Saskatoon. He eventually landed a gig starting a station just outside of Vancouver in ’85, until The Q opened up shop in Victoria two years later.

He was the first voice on the air in ’87 and has been in the same time slot ever since.

“I wouldn’t willingly go to any other time,” says Bain, who calls Vic-toria home with his wife of 28 years and 22-year-old son.

Despite a changing landscape in broadcasting – one of declining 24-hour live programming – Bain is hopeful for those extroverts still willing to enter the industry.

“It’s definitely tougher and there are less opportunities,” he says. “If somebody wants to get into it and is willing to go wherever it takes to find work, it’s still a wonderful career.”

Bain topped our readers’ favou-rites list for his antics on the radio from 5:30 to 9 a.m. and his weather reports on CHEK’s evening newscast also landed him a spot among our top three best TV personalities. All that love from Victoria audiences isn’t exactly driving the 57-year-old to pack in his 14-hour days.

“People always say: ‘When are you going to retire?’ and I always say the station or the audience will tell us when that’s going to happen. As long as the audience shows up and as long as my card key keeps work-ing, I’ll be on.”

Best of the tV news deskAfter nearly 35 years on the air,

Hudson Mack is a favourite person-ality in Victoria and beyond.

Voted best TV personality, the se-nior news anchor and news director of CTV Vancouver Island continues to lead the industry and educate the next generation of broadcasters. He also continues to pick up industry awards – including the 2011 Jack Webster Award for Best TV News Reporting in B.C. – and sit on broadcast standards and curriculum advisory panels for broadcast jour-nalism and communications.

After A cAreer thAt spAns four decAdes, the morning funny mAn is still A fAn fAVourite

Best radio personality: Ed Bain

Ed Bain rocks out to his accordion

for Beat the Polka Monster at 100.3

the Q studio on Quadra Street. Readers have

voted Bain their favourite radio personality in

Victoria for Best of the City.

20 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Call 250.920.7877 for fast, reliable service. 24 hours a day.or visit www.swiftplumbing.com for more info.

Helping you take care of your home.As a local, home-grown business, we operate with

a mission to ensure our customers receive quality

professional services with honest pricing provided

by staff that truly care about your home.

20 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Romance bloomson local beaches

Ahh, romance. Snuggling with your significant other on a sandy beach, with the sunset painting the sky pink and orange.

For some, the scenario might seem more suited to a tropical holiday thousands of kilometres south of Victoria.

Chin up, frustrated lovers, Greater Victoria has miles of coastline available for such romantic interludes, much of it very accessible – some areas even feature the aforementioned sand.

But just how to pick the most romantic beach in the region?

It really depends on one’s idea of romantic, but there are plenty of options out there.

Take Willows Beach, for ex-ample. The long stretch of coastline in Oak Bay has long been popular

with families and young people for a summer day of digging in the sand and cooling off with a dip.

There’s an added bit of romantic appeal for others.

“I’m a dancer, and when my friends and I want to go dancing

barefoot in the sand, Wil-lows is always our No.

1 choice,” says Kelsey Coplin.

“It’s beautiful any time of the day and in any season. Whether the sun is high in the sky or sinking below the

horizon, Willows is always welcoming and

romantic.”Given the abundance of

coastline around Greater Victoria, many other spots received votes, including Esquimalt Lagoon.

“One of the attractions is youcan enjoy the view in your vehicle, if it’s cold out, or on the beach if it’s

The way To

one’s hearT …

Want to make a beach visit

even more romantic? Pack a

picnic lunch, with plastic wine or

champagne glasses, champagne

and orange juice, fruit, cheese

and crackers, and of

course, chocolate!

rocks, logs or sand, The capiTal region has iT all

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEW

S

Bestofthe

Voted 1


er 2013 • 21Best of the City Sum

mer 2013 • 21

Marianne Heine and Remi Potvin chat in the spring sunshine while reclining at Gonzales Beach, one of the region’s most romantic beaches, according to our Best of the City reader’s survey.

warm, because of how close you can get to the water,” says Langford resident Janys Langer.

Not only that, she says, it has a number of secluded places to gain some privacy and can be a perfect spot from which to watch the stars.

For stargazing, anywhere along the Dallas Road waterfront can work well, since the lights of the city drop

from sight at beach level. The large number of logs, rocky outcroppings and other natural and man-made seats provide many spots to perch or snuggle up.

Same for Gonzales Beach in Fair-field, Cordova Bay beach in Saanich, Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin and Becher Bay in East Sooke Park, to name but a few.

Thank You Victoria for voting J&J Wonton Noodle House as one of your favourite restaurants!

Located on Fort St. between Cook and Vancouver, J&J Wonton Noodle House specialises in Cantonese and Szechuan food. Using as many local ingredients as possible could be a reason for them receiving the title Best of the City more than once! The staff is attentive and friendly and the glassed in kitchen area allows you to watch the chefs preparing your food. The ingredients are incredibly fresh and there are a many daily specials. There are often line-ups so you may want to avoid peak times or reserve. Gluten-free and vegan-friendly options available. Bring the whole family.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEW

SBestofthe

Voted 3 J&J WontonNoodLe HoUSe

THaNk-YoU

ViCToria!

Tues-Sat, lunch from 11-2 & dinner from 4:30-8:30

1012 Fort St. • 250-383-0680

Enjoy fresh, flavourful cuisine two ways at Japanese VillageMany Victorians are familiar with the Japanese Village Restaurant’s award-winning teppan dining – after all, who hasn’t marvelled at the chefs dazzling with their remarkable skills, right at the table?

But what diners may not know is that the Japanese Village also welcomes guests in their charming, traditionally decorated sushi bar and dining room – just one more reason why the iconic restaurant has again been voted one of Victoria’s best. Pull up a comfortable stool and watch the talented master sushi chefs create the delicacies right before your eyes, or relax at a quiet table to enjoy your meal.

734 Broughton St. I 250.382.5165 I www.japanesevillage.bc.ca

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted 1

Open for lunch and dinner, additional selections here include a variety of individual and combination meals, including tempura, yakitori, lunch-time udon bowls and more. Can’t decide which kind of sushi and sashimi to try first? Ask the chef to prepare a special assorted sushi platter and discover a new favourite. Of course, if you’re in the mood for something hot and sizzling, venture into the Teppan Steakhouse. Teppan dining, or Teppanyaki – “the iron table” – was first introduced to North America in the 1960s, offering guests a front row seat as their dinner is cooked to perfection right before their eyes. Choose from filet mignon, chicken and seafood dishes, complimented by fresh-cut vegetables and fantastic secret recipe sauces, then enjoy the show as your personal chef dazzles and delights with his culinary sleight-of-hand. Have a birthday or special occasion coming up? Whether in the sushi dining room or the Teppan Steakhouse, special events are a Japanese Village specialty and the experienced staff will help ensure your celebration is memorable!

22 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

It’s a funny thing, celebrity, especially for Greater Victoria.

If we ask each other the names of local celebrities, it seems the ones who keep coming up are those we spot on our televisions and/or on the big screen – primarily the sports stars and the entertainment crowd.

Sure, Steve Nash, Simon Whitfield and Jamie Benn (below) are big names from the sporting world. We instantly recognize Vicki Gabereau, Nelly Furtado (right) and David Foster, and for some, director Atom Egoyan. Even entertainment world celebrity, Pamela Anderson, a Ladysmith im-port has some local connections.

But what about those famous folks who we don’t see on our TV screens. Let’s talk about writ-ers. West Shore resident Esi Udugyan has won almost every major literary award in Canada in the past couple of years, not to mention several interna-tional ones.

Patrick deWitt is another writer who has snapped up awards lately. Writers don’t often appear on our TV screens but we should be aware of these two and others such as the prolific Robert J. Wiersema.

Finally, the most important celebri-ties are those folks we know who give to the community without any thought to their own public profile. People like Jeneece Edroff, who despite her own

ongoing health issues, has fundraised mil-lions of dollars for local causes, or the Cops for Cancer Tour

de Rock riders who each year take their own time to train, ride and fund-raise to help ease the struggles of children battling cancer.

These are the folks who we should recognize as our real celebrities.

22 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Various celebs in our midst

Gurinder and Narpinder Bawa were honoured to be named “Best of the City” for Indian food

within a year of opening their Sizzling Tandoor restaurant in Victoria’s bustling LoJo neighbourhood.

Today, a year later, they have opened their second location in the vibrant Uptown development and are vying for their second “Best of the City” title.

Together, the Bawas have capitalized on Narpinder’s passion for cooking to create a pair of restaurants that have created quite a local following in just a short time.

Serving fragrant and flavourful North Indian cuisine, Sizzling Tandoor has proven popular with the lunch crowd who appreciate the fresh, delicious ingredients crafted into their favourite Indian dishes. Daytime diners can choose from the regular menu or the hearty, quick and affordable Indian buffet, featuring such

favourites as butter chicken, beef curry, dal makhani, pakoras, rice, naan bread and salad.

While both the menu and buffet are popular choices at lunch, guests are also welcome to order food to take out to enjoy outside or back at the office.

In the evening, the Sizzling Tandoor’s friendly, efficient staff welcome an appreciative dinner clientele who enjoy a more intimate atmosphere and a full menu, including Narpinder’s celebrated butter chicken. “People say it’s the best in town,” Gurinder notes.

Other customer favourites include the filled naan, appetizers like samosas, mussels and pakoras and a delicious array of entrees such as Chicken Tikka, Lamb Kebab and Tandoori Prawns. For those looking for something a little different, sample something new, like chicken strips and Marsala fries or Tandoori Poutine.

An excellent choice for those watching the gluten in their diet, more than 90 per cent of the menu items are gluten-free,

Gurinder notes, pointing as well to their numerous vegan and vegetarian selections prepared completely free of contact with meat, including utensils. “Our customers can have confidence when they dine with us,” Gurinder says.

Those new to Indian cuisine might enjoy the mildly flavoured butter chicken or the various Tandoori dishes, cooked in a traditional clay Tandoor oven, as the spice level can be tailored to the individual. Those preferring something a little spicier might enjoy a Vindaloo, or for something completely different, a mango coconut curry. Accompanied with light and fluffy Basmati rice and delicious naan

bread – try a flavourful garlic naan or a rosemary naan for a yummy change – and it’s no wonder why Victorians are once again honouring Sizzling Tandoor as one of the Best in the City.

Savour the fine flavours of Indian cuisine BEST of the CITY FINALIST BUSINESS PROFILE: Sizzling Tandoor

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted 1

Sizzling Tandoor owners Gurinder and Narpinder Bawa welcome guests to their new location at Uptown, which has joined their bustling LoJo location.637 Johnson Street • 250-388-5450 • www.sizzlingtandoor.ca

Best Indian Food


er 2013 • 23

Leisure and Entertainment

Best Place To Take A Tourist 1. The Butchart Gardens 2. Inner Harbour 3. Dallas Road

Best Place To Take A Parent1. The Butchart Gardens 2. Beacon Hill Park3. The Fairmont Empress

Best Place For Afternoon Tea1. The Fairmont Empress 2. The White Heather Tea Room3. Murchie’s

Best Place To Escape Urban Stress In The City 1. Beacon Hill Park2. Mount Douglas Park3. Willows Beach

Best Place To Walk Your Dog 1. Dallas Road2. Thetis Lake Regional Park 3. Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2013

� e Best of the City 2013 Results2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Place To Meet A Mate 1. Starbucks2. Thrifty Foods3. University of Victoria

Best Free Fun1. Beacon Hill Park 2. Inner Harbour 3. Dallas Road

Best Place To Worship1. Christ Church Cathedral 2. St. Andrew’s Cathedral 3. Glad Tidings Church

Best Museum1. Royal BC Museum 2. The Maritime Museum of BC 3. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Best Adventure Tourism1. WildPlay Element Parks 2. Prince of Whales 3. Eagle Wing Tours

Best Outdoor Art1. Moss Street Paint-In 2. The Victoria International

Chalk Art Festival 3. Inner Harbour

Best Place To Spot A Celebrity1. The Fairmont Empress 2. Inner Harbour 3. Government Street

Local Celebrity You’d Like To Invite To Dinner1. Ed Bain 2. David Foster 3. Hudson Mack

Best Place To Spot A Ghost1. Ross Bay

Cemetery2. Bastion

Square 3. Victoria Golf ClubVictoria Golf Club

Harbour Ferries vessels shuttle passenger across the Inner Harbour with the Legislature (left) and the historic CPR Steamship Terminal building, (right) in the background.

24 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Flower Shop 1. Brown’s The Florist2. Poppies Floral Art3. Thrifty Foods

Best Garden Shop 1. GardenWorks2. Dig This3. Marigold Nursery

Best Thrift Shop 1. Value Village2. Victoria Women In Need

Community Cooperative 3. The Salvation Army

Best Consignment Shop 1. Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana2. My Sister’s Closet3. The Patch

Best New Car Dealership 1. Metro Lexus Toyota2. Campus Honda3. BMW Victoria

Best Used Car Dealership1. Galaxy Motors 2. Howies Car Corral 1. Metro Lexus Toyota

Best For Motorcycles/Scooters1. Steve Drane Harley-Davidson2. Action Motorcycles 3. SG Power

Best Bicycle Shop1. Oak Bay Bicycles 2. Fort Street Cycle 3. Russ Hays The Bicycle Shop

Best For Your Pets 1. Petcetera2. Bosley’s Pet Food Plus3. Pets West

Bosley’s Pet Food PlusBosley’s Pet Food Plus

Biker Darcy Lee, an avid biker, rides the Colwood portion of the Galloping Goose home from work.

Best Urban Hiking Trail1. Mount Douglas Park2. The Galloping Goose Trail3. Thetis Lake Regional Park

Best Romantic Beach1. Willows Beach 2. Dallas Road 3. Gonzales Bay Beach

Best Worst Kept Secret In Victoria1. Red Fish Blue Fish 2. Blue Fox Cafe 3. Brasserie L’école

Shopping

Best Shop For Vitamins & Nutrition1. The Vitamin Shop 2. Lifestyles Market 3. Popeye’s

Best Bookstore1. Munro’s Books2. Bolen Books3. Chapters

Best Used Bookstore 1. Russell Books2. The Smart Bookshop3. Chronicles of Crime

Fresh & Local Since 1963

Fairway Market Proudly Supports Santa’s Anonymous • Rotary International • The David Foster Foundation

• The Mustard Seed • Heart & Stroke Foundation • Victoria Dragon Boast Festival • Jeneece Place

“Giving Island communities our best for 50 years.”

Founder Don Yuen with President Doug Yuen


er 2013 • 25



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best For Appliances 1. Sears2. Trail Appliances3. Westcoast Appliance

Best For Hardware 1. The Home Depot2. Home Hardware3. Rona

Best Kitchen Shop 1. Cook Culture2. Capital Iron3. Penna & Co.

Kitchen & Giftware

Best Independent Shoe Store 1. The Cobbler2. Footloose3. She She Shoes

Best Fashion Boutique 1. Still Life2. Mango’s Boutique

& Accessories 3. Bliss Boutique

Best Farmers Market 1. Red Barn Market2. Moss Street

Community Market3. The Root Cellar Village

Green Grocer

Best For Window Coverings 1. Ruffell & Brown 2. Sears3. The Home Depot

Best For Flooring 1. End Of the Roll2. The Finishing Store3. The Home Depot

Best For Lighting 1. Mclaren Lighting2. Illuminations

Lighting Solutions3. The Home Depot

Best Department Store1. The Bay 2. Sears 3. Walmart

Best Furniture Store (Independent)1. Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress 2. Sager’s Home Living 3. Luxe Home Interiors

Best Furniture Store (Chain)1. The Brick 2. Sears 3. Urban Barn3. Ashley Furniture

Best For Pool/Spa1. Capital Iron 2. Vintage Hot Tubs 3. Twilight Hot Tubs & Billiards

Best For Barbeques1. The Home Depot 2. Capital Iron 3. Canadian Tire

Best For Musical Instruments1. Long & McQuade2. Tom Lee Music 3. Larsen Music

Best Department Store

Walmart

2. 3.

Heather Stretch holds leeks grown at Saanich Organics booth during the first full day of the Moss Street Market

One visit to Hillside Veterinary Hospital and it’s easy to see why the full-service

facility has consistently been named one of Victoria’s first choices for pets’ health.

Not only are the dedicated staff com-mitted to the needs of their four-legged patients and their families, but as an animal hospital, they provide virtually all the services your pet might need. On-site are exam and treatment rooms, surgery and radiology, with extensive diagnostic lab space upstairs. Hospital services include patient examinations, on-site anesthesia, surgery, dentistry, digital radiology, nursing care, on-site laboratory services, a full pharmacy,

including herbal medicines, plus a full range of complementary and rehabilita-tion services.

“Because we understand that every patient is different, we have a full team that provides a compassionate, individ-ual approach to every patient’s needs,” explains manager Jennifer Harris. “It’s a very holistic approach to the patient’s healthcare.”

Welcoming patients since 1982, the hospital has marked many firsts in its history, including opening Vancouver Island’s first comprehensive veterinary rehabilitation centre in 2008, offering mobility assessment, hydro-treadmill therapy, massage therapy, sports therapy and more. It was also one of the first veterinary hospitals to offer acupuncture and chiropractic services, complement-

ing their extensive traditional veterinary services.

After working at the hospital for many years, Drs. Jennifer Chan, Sylvie Abrioux and Glynis Newman bought the practice in 2004; joining them are vet-erinary associates Drs. Rachel Borwein, Jane Vermeulen, Laurie Gaines, Lesia Hyzka and Kevin Keller and a full team of support staff committed to providing a compassionate, balanced holistic ap-proach to your pet’s heath needs.

Voted among the top-three veterinary facilities each year since 2009, Hillside Veterinary Hospital welcomes dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and a full range of “pocket pets.”

Because of their holistic approach, the Hillside Vet-

erinary team also emphasizes preventive care and that, paired with an appreciation for the full hospital care available, has resonated with clients. “We’ve built the most incredible relationships with our clients and their pets,” Harris says.

“We make the clients a partner in the decision-making; we give them the knowledge so they can make informed choices.”

For more information please call, stop by or visit our website.

A Balanced Approach to your best friend’s health BEST of the CITY FINALIST BUSINESS PROFILE: Hillside Veterinary Hospital

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Dr. Jennifer Chan, Dr. Sylvie AbriouxDr. Glynis Newman & Associates

Hillside Veterinary Hospital1700 Kings Rd. • 250-598-4477

· Full Hospital & Surgical Facility · Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Massage · Rehabilitation & Hydro-treadmill

Open 7 days a WeeKwww.hillsidevethospital.com

26 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013


er 2013 • 27

Best Grocery Store

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Best Grocery Store

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!

Best Flower Shop

Best Place to Meet a MateExperience the difference

our peoplemake.

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Experience

the difference our people

make.Best Bulk Store

Your destination for grocery shoppingfor grocery shopping

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

2

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

22013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

3

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Restaurants/Food & Drink

Best New Restaurant1. Bin 4 Burger Lounge 2. Jam Cafe3. The Tartan Toque

Best Old School Diner1. Floyd’s Diner2. John’s Place Restaurant 3. Rosie’s Diner

Best For First Date1. Milestones 2. Il Terrazzo 3. Fireside Grill

Best Seafood 1. Pescatores Seafood & Grill2. Red Fish Blue Fish3. Nautical Nellies Steak

& Seafood House

Best For Steak 1. The Keg Steakhouse & Bar2. Brasserie L’école 3. Milestones

Best Chinese 1. Ming’s2. Don Mees3. J & J Wonton Noodle House

Best Greek 1. San Remo2. Il Greco3. Opa Souvlaki

Best Italian 1. Il Terrazzo2. Zambri’s3. Pagliacci’s

Best Japanese 1. The Japanese Village Restaurant2. Azuma Sushi3. Ebizo Japanese Restaurant

Best Mexican 1. Cafe Mexico2. Hernande’z Cocina3. La Taquisa

Best Vietnamese 1. Pho Vy2. Green Leaf Bistro3. Saigon Night

Best Indian 1. Sizzling Tandoor2. The Spice Jammer3. Sabri Indian Cuisine

Best Thai 1. Baan Thai 2. Little Thai Place 3. Sabhai Thai

Best For Breakfast1. Blue Fox Cafe 2. Jam Cafe3. John’s Place Restaurant

Best Vegetarian/Vegan1. Rebar 2. Green Cuisine 3. The Lotus Pond

Best “All You Can Eat”1. Brunch at The Marina

Restaurant 2. Raymond’s Restaurant 3. Purple Garden

Best Business Lunch1. Cactus Club Cafe 2. Moxie’s Classic Grill 3. Lure Restaurant & Lounge

Hernande’z Cocina

Best Vegetarian/Vegan1. 2. 3.

Order up in the kitchen at The Penny Farthing. Andrew Frey places a salad next to a duck burger at the beginning of the lunch rush.



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Ice Cream 1. Beacon Drive-In2. Qoola Frozen Yogurt Bar3. Marble Slab Creamery

Best Wings 1. The Tartan Toque 2. Hecklers Bar & Grill3. 1550’s Pub Style Restaurant

Best Fish & Chips 1. Barb’s Fish & Chips2. Red Fish Blue Fish3. Haultain Fish & Chips

Best Burger 1. Bin 4 Burger Lounge2. The Pink Bicycle3. Big Wheel Burger

Best Pizza 1. Pizzeria Prima Strada2. Romeo’s3. Ali Baba Pizza

Best Patio Bar 1. Canoe Bewpub2. Glo Restaurant & Lounge3. The Local Kitchen

Best Sports Bar 1. Shark Club2. The Podium Sports Grill3. The Sticky Wicket Pub

Best For A Martini 1. Veneto Tapa Lounge2. Clive’s Classic Lounge3. The Bengal Lounge

Best Pub 1. Irish Times Pub2. Bard & Banker Scottish Pub3. The Fernwood Inn

Best For Scotch1. Bard & Banker Scottish Pub2. Clive’s Classic Lounge3. Argyle Attic3. The Bengal Lounge

Best For Your Sweet Tooth1. The Dutch Bakery 2. Rogers’ Chocolates 3. Ooh La La Cupcakes

Best Coffee/Latte/Cappuccino(Independent)1. Habit 2. Discovery Coffee 3. Caffé Fantastico

Phil Ralph, bartender at the Strathcona Hotel Sticky Wicket Pub pulls a beer in the Games Room of the popular downtown pub.

26 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013


er 2013 • 27

Best Grocery Store

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Best Grocery Store

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!

Best Flower Shop

Best Place to Meet a MateExperience the difference

our peoplemake.

Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Thank you to all our customers for voting us number one!Experience

the difference our people

make.Best Bulk Store

Your destination for grocery shoppingfor grocery shopping

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

2

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

22013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

3

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Restaurants/Food & Drink

Best New Restaurant1. Bin 4 Burger Lounge 2. Jam Cafe3. The Tartan Toque

Best Old School Diner1. Floyd’s Diner2. John’s Place Restaurant 3. Rosie’s Diner

Best For First Date1. Milestones 2. Il Terrazzo 3. Fireside Grill

Best Seafood 1. Pescatores Seafood & Grill2. Red Fish Blue Fish3. Nautical Nellies Steak

& Seafood House

Best For Steak 1. The Keg Steakhouse & Bar2. Brasserie L’école 3. Milestones

Best Chinese 1. Ming’s2. Don Mees3. J & J Wonton Noodle House

Best Greek 1. San Remo2. Il Greco3. Opa Souvlaki

Best Italian 1. Il Terrazzo2. Zambri’s3. Pagliacci’s

Best Japanese 1. The Japanese Village Restaurant2. Azuma Sushi3. Ebizo Japanese Restaurant

Best Mexican 1. Cafe Mexico2. Hernande’z Cocina3. La Taquisa

Best Vietnamese 1. Pho Vy2. Green Leaf Bistro3. Saigon Night

Best Indian 1. Sizzling Tandoor2. The Spice Jammer3. Sabri Indian Cuisine

Best Thai 1. Baan Thai 2. Little Thai Place 3. Sabhai Thai

Best For Breakfast1. Blue Fox Cafe 2. Jam Cafe3. John’s Place Restaurant

Best Vegetarian/Vegan1. Rebar 2. Green Cuisine 3. The Lotus Pond

Best “All You Can Eat”1. Brunch at The Marina

Restaurant 2. Raymond’s Restaurant 3. Purple Garden

Best Business Lunch1. Cactus Club Cafe 2. Moxie’s Classic Grill 3. Lure Restaurant & Lounge

Hernande’z Cocina

Best Vegetarian/Vegan1. 2. 3.

Order up in the kitchen at The Penny Farthing. Andrew Frey places a salad next to a duck burger at the beginning of the lunch rush.



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Ice Cream 1. Beacon Drive-In2. Qoola Frozen Yogurt Bar3. Marble Slab Creamery

Best Wings 1. The Tartan Toque 2. Hecklers Bar & Grill3. 1550’s Pub Style Restaurant

Best Fish & Chips 1. Barb’s Fish & Chips2. Red Fish Blue Fish3. Haultain Fish & Chips

Best Burger 1. Bin 4 Burger Lounge2. The Pink Bicycle3. Big Wheel Burger

Best Pizza 1. Pizzeria Prima Strada2. Romeo’s3. Ali Baba Pizza

Best Patio Bar 1. Canoe Bewpub2. Glo Restaurant & Lounge3. The Local Kitchen

Best Sports Bar 1. Shark Club2. The Podium Sports Grill3. The Sticky Wicket Pub

Best For A Martini 1. Veneto Tapa Lounge2. Clive’s Classic Lounge3. The Bengal Lounge

Best Pub 1. Irish Times Pub2. Bard & Banker Scottish Pub3. The Fernwood Inn

Best For Scotch1. Bard & Banker Scottish Pub2. Clive’s Classic Lounge3. Argyle Attic3. The Bengal Lounge

Best For Your Sweet Tooth1. The Dutch Bakery 2. Rogers’ Chocolates 3. Ooh La La Cupcakes

Best Coffee/Latte/Cappuccino(Independent)1. Habit 2. Discovery Coffee 3. Caffé Fantastico

Phil Ralph, bartender at the Strathcona Hotel Sticky Wicket Pub pulls a beer in the Games Room of the popular downtown pub.

28 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

1900 Store Street 250-385-9703 • FREE PARKING • Sidney Centre, Sidney 250-655-7115

THERE’S NO STORE LIKE IT... for Backyard Magic!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Food Service

Best Grocery Store1. Thrifty Foods 2. The Market Stores 3. Fairway Market

Best Bulk Food Store1. Costco 2. Thrifty Foods 3. For Good Measure

Best For Produce 1. The Root Cellar Village Green

Grocer2. Red Barn Market3. Fairway Market

Best Organic Grocer 1. The Root Cellar

Village Green Grocer2. Red Barn Market3. Planet Organic

Best Bakery 1. COBS Bread2. The Dutch Bakery3. Wild Fire Organic

Bakery & Café

Best Specialty Deli 1. Italian Food Imports 2. Ottavio Italian Bakery &

Delicatessen3. Red Barn Market

Best Local Brewery/Winery1. Phillips Brewing Company 2. Hoyne Brewing Company 3. Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

Best Wine Store1. Everything Wine 2. BC Liquor Store 3. Liquor Plus

Best For Making Your Own Wine1. The Winemaker 2. Cook Street Village Wineworks3. WineKitz

Service

Best Hotel 1. The Fairmont Empress2. Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe

Resort & Spa3. Hotel Grand Pacific

Best Barbershop 1. Victory Barber & Brand2. Jimmy’s Barber Shop3. Status Barbershop

Best Spa 1. Willow Stream Spa at The

Fairmont Empress2. The Spa at The Delta Victoria

Ocean Pointe Resort3. Spa Magnolia

Best Manicure/Pedicure 1. Willow Stream Spa at The

Fairmont Empress2. Alchemy Hair Design & Spa

(no longer operating)3. The Spa at The Delta Victoria

Ocean Pointe Resort

Best U Brew 1. Brew Works2. Bedford

Brewing Company

3. West Coast Brew Shop

Mitch Kory gets a little off the top at the Oak Bay Barbershoppe during a cut from barber Happy Coxford.


er 2013 • 291900 Store Street 250-385-9703 • FREE PARKING • Sidney Centre, Sidney 250-655-7115

THERE’S NO STORE LIKE IT... for Great Housewares Value!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Food Service

Best Grocery Store1. Thrifty Foods 2. The Market Stores 3. Fairway Market

Best Bulk Food Store1. Costco 2. Thrifty Foods 3. For Good Measure

Best For Produce 1. The Root Cellar Village Green

Grocer2. Red Barn Market3. Fairway Market

Best Organic Grocer 1. The Root Cellar

Village Green Grocer2. Red Barn Market3. Planet Organic

Best Bakery 1. COBS Bread2. The Dutch Bakery3. Wild Fire Organic

Bakery & Café

Best Specialty Deli 1. Italian Food Imports 2. Ottavio Italian Bakery &

Delicatessen3. Red Barn Market

Best Local Brewery/Winery1. Phillips Brewing Company 2. Hoyne Brewing Company 3. Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

Best Wine Store1. Everything Wine 2. BC Liquor Store 3. Liquor Plus

Best For Making Your Own Wine1. The Winemaker 2. Cook Street Village Wineworks3. WineKitz

Service

Best Hotel 1. The Fairmont Empress2. Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe

Resort & Spa3. Hotel Grand Pacific

Best Barbershop 1. Victory Barber & Brand2. Jimmy’s Barber Shop3. Status Barbershop

Best Spa 1. Willow Stream Spa at The

Fairmont Empress2. The Spa at The Delta Victoria

Ocean Pointe Resort3. Spa Magnolia

Best Manicure/Pedicure 1. Willow Stream Spa at The

Fairmont Empress2. Alchemy Hair Design & Spa

(no longer operating)3. The Spa at The Delta Victoria

Ocean Pointe Resort

Best U Brew 1. Brew Works2. Bedford

Brewing Company

3. West Coast Brew Shop

Mitch Kory gets a little off the top at the Oak Bay Barbershoppe during a cut from barber Happy Coxford.



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Hair Salon 1. Lab Salon 2. Alchemy Hair Design & Spa

(no longer operating)3. Fish Hair Salon

Best Shoe Repair 1. Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic2. Oak Bay Cobbler3. Arcadia Shoe Repair

Best Optical/Eyewear 1. Goo Goo Goggles2. Maycock Eyecare3. Costco

Best Pharmacy 1. London Drugs2. Pharmasave3. Shoppers Drug Mart

Best For Photo Finishing 1. London Drugs2. Costco3. Walmart

Best Place For Picture Framing 1. Michaels2. Island Blue3. Opus Framing & Art Supplies

Best Custom Home Builder 1. Abstract Developments Inc. 2. Terry Johal Developments3. Coastal Construction3. Maximillian Huxley Construction

Best Condo Development 1. Dockside Green2. Village Walk3. The Hudson

Best Retirement Residence 1. The Wellesley2. Berwick Retirement Communities3. Carlton House

Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlour 1. Urge Tattoos2. Tattoo Zoo3. Empire Tattoo

Best Tire Store 1. Kal Tire 2. Canadian Tire 3. Big O Tires

Best Automotive Service (Chain)1. Canadian Tire 2. Midas 3. Kal Tire

Best Automotive Service (Independent)1. Searles Auto Repair 2. Rand Automotive 3. Speedy Auto Service

Best Place To Improve Your Smile1. Academy Dental 2. Saanich Dental Group3. Mayfair Dental Centre

Best Public Washroom 1. The Bay Centre2. Cactus Club3. The Fairmont Empress

Best Pet Clinic 1. Hillside Veterinary Hospital2. McKenzie Veterinary Services3. Kindred Spirits Veterinary Hospital

Best Weight Loss Centre 1. Weight Watchers2. Jenny Craig3. Curves

London Drugs

Residents at Carlton House, a seniors retirement home, raise their glasses in a toast as they enjoy the start of their Thursday happy hour. The residence hosts a happy hour every Thursday and Saturday at 4pm.

30 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013


DL 27136

9.2 city/6.6 hwy/8.1 combined L/100 km. Fuel consumption for comparison purposes only and may vary with usage and accessories. See Dealer for latest EnerGuide results published by Natural Resources Canada (when available). Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines intended to provide assistance to the driver. Always exercise appropriate care while reversing. Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) available on LX and EX models and comes standard on EX-L and Touring models. Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with bilingual Voice Recognition and steering wheel controls comes standard on Touring models only. Compatible with select smartphones. Your wireless carrier’s rate plans apply. Only use texting feature when conditions allow you to do so safely.

Easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback • Legendary fuel economy • Available Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) • Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) • Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines • Available voice-activated Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ • SMS Texting • Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™ with audio streaming • USB audio interface • Advanced safety The All-New CR-V. Yeah, it does that.

9.2 city/6.6 hwy/8.1 combined L/100 km. Fuel consumption for comparison purposes only and may vary with usage and accessories. See Dealer for latest EnerGuide results published by Natural Resources Canada (when available). Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines intended to provide assistance to the driver. Always exercise appropriate care while reversing. Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) available on LX and EX models and comes standard on EX-L and Touring models. Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with bilingual Voice Recognition and steering wheel controls comes standard on Touring models only. Compatible with select smartphones. Your wireless carrier’s rate plans apply. Only use texting feature when conditions allow you to do so safely.

Easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback • Legendary fuel economy • Available Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) • Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) • Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines • Available voice-activated Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ • SMS Texting • Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™ with audio streaming • USB audio interface • Advanced safety The All-New CR-V. Yeah, it does that.

2013 CRV EX

9.2 city/6.6 hwy/8.1 combined L/100 km. Fuel consumption for comparison purposes only and may vary with usage and accessories. See Dealer for latest EnerGuide results published by Natural Resources Canada (when available). Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines intended to provide assistance to the driver. Always exercise appropriate care while reversing. Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) available on LX and EX models and comes standard on EX-L and Touring models. Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with bilingual Voice Recognition and steering wheel controls comes standard on Touring models only. Compatible with select smartphones. Your wireless carrier’s rate plans apply. Only use texting feature when conditions allow you to do so safely.Easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback • Legendary fuel economy • Available Real Time AWD™ (Intelligent Control System™) • Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) • Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines • Available voice-activated Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ • SMS Texting • Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™ with audio streaming • USB audio interface • Advanced safety The All-New CR-V. Yeah, it does that. Expires July 31, 2013.

FOR NOMINATING US BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP

Thanks Victoria!

Lease or Finance as low as 0.99%

or $2500 Cash Incentive



YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Best Bank/Financial Institution1. Coast Capital Savings 2. TD Canada Trust 3. Royal Bank of Canada

Best For Insurance1. Coast Capital Savings 2. Megson FitzPatrick3. BCAA

Recreation

Favorite Local Sports Team1. Victoria Royals 2. Victoria Grizzlies 3. Victoria Shamrocks

Best Yoga Studio 1. Moksha Yoga Victoria2. Moksana Yoga Center3. Feel Good Yoga & Pilates

Best Rec Centre 1. Recreation Oak Bay2. Saanich Commonwealth Place3. Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre

Best Gym/Fitness Studio 1. YMCA-YWCA of Greater Victoria2. VI Fitness Centres3. Recreation Oak Bay

Best Running Store1. Frontrunners 2. Running Room 3. Peninsula Runners

Best 18-Hole Golf Course1. Olympic View Golf Club 2. Highland Pacific Golf 3. Royal Colwood Golf Club

Best 9-Hole Or Par-3 Golf Course1. The Ridge Course at Cordova

Bay 2. Henderson Park Golf Course3. Juan de Fuca Golf Course

Best Swimming Pool 1. Saanich Commonwealth Place2. Recreation Oak Bay3. Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre

Best Dance Lessons 1. de Pfyffer Dance Victoria2. Karen Clark Dance Studio 3. Lynda Raino Dance

Best For Martial Arts 1. Fierce Studio Martial Arts and Yoga2. Zuma3. Olson’s Gym Martial Arts & Boxing

Kids

Best Kids’ Attraction 1. Beacon Hill Children’s Farm2. Victoria Bug Zoo3. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

Best Kids Clothing Store 1. Gap Kids2. The Children’s Place3. Abra-Kid-Abra

Best Camp For Kids 1. Y Camp Thunderbird2. Camp Imadene3. Camp Pringle

Media

Best Local Blog 1. Lip Smacking by Chef Heidi Fink 1. Victoria Burger Blog 1. Victoria Mom2. Mamma Kärlek2. GoVegan.Net3. StyleFeed Victoria3. The Morning After

Best Local Radio Personality 1. Ed Bain & The Q! Morning Show2. Kool Mornings With Robin & Brian3. Dylan & Jason in The Morning Zone

Best Local Tv Personality 1. Hudson Mack

CTV News Vancouver Island2. Ed Bain

Chek News3. Astrid Braunschmidt

CTV News Vancouver Island

Justice Kremler at Beacon Hill petting zoo Saturday as the goats climb on him.


er 2013 • 31

Victoria creates its own COFFEE CULTURE

It’s nearly impossible to walk a block in Victoria without strolling past a coffee shop.

Whether a trendy chain or a boutique independent joint, coffee is a big deal to Victorians.

“We have a really sophisticated coffee market here,” says John Oughtred of Oughtred Coffee & Tea, a roasting and distributing company estab-lished in 1973. “The attention to detail, the quality of prepara-tion, the roasters … When you get the leaders that come in and really do a good job it pushes the envelope for everyone else.”

Oughtred thinks the strong coffee culture comes from the city’s prox-imity to Seattle and Portland, two coffee meccas, along with coffee’s general association with the Pacific Northwest outdoorsy lifestyle.

Habit Coffee owner Shane De-

vereaux believes the European influ-ence in Victoria is another contribut-ing factor.

“It’s about community. That’s what coffee used to be about back in the old days of Vienna,” he says. “Coffee was a place to go that was much like the pub. It was a place for people to gather and think and share in this. And that’s what we see happening (here).”

Oughtred’s company goes to the source for its beans and pays great care and attention to where

the coffee is coming from and how it has been

produced.Habit takes its

coffee seriously too, from seed to cup, frequently visiting the source with its roaster,

Victoria’s Bows & Arrows Coffee Roast-

ers, and taking great care and attention through

every step of the mostly manual process.

Even the baristas making the cof-fee at Habit’s two downtown loca-tions are trained extensively before they ever get to serve a customer.

“You’re really relying on truly a high level of skill to understand day in, day out a fairly volatile, constant-ly changing product,” Devereaux says. “The art of making coffee has been taken for granted for a very,

very long time.”It still comes down to that culture

though, he says. When asked to describe the perfect cup of coffee, he speaks more of what’s around the

cup than what’s in it.“Who your with or where you

are and what kind of comfortable environment are you in. I think it’s an overarching experience.”

Rick Herd and Wendy Duval enjoy time together working on a crossword puzzle at Macchiato Caffé on Broad Street downtown. It seems new coffee stops spring up weekly around the region, but each develops its regular clientele.

no matter where you are around the region, chances are there’s a café near home or work

Owner Shane Devereaux sits at the counter of the popular Habit Coffee shop on Pandora Avenue. He says enjoying coffee is about far more than just the flavour.

n There are numerous

independent coffee houses

in Greater Victoria, but

Starbucks has the most

coffee clout, with 33

stores at last count.

32 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

B R OA D M E A D V I L L AG E

220-777 Royal Oak Drive 250.744.1779

Thank you, Victoria!

Thank you for all your tremendous support over 24 years and counting! We are honoured to be your local, family-owned choice for all your pet’s needs.

B R OA D M E A D V I L L AG E

Pets WestPets West

Thank you for all your tremendous

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

4th Annual Lyall Street Service

Lyall Street Service1480 Lyall St • 250.382.0015 • www.lyallstreetservice.com

Show & Shine

All proceeds to theALS Society of Victoria

(Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

All proceeds to the

Lyall Street Service

ALS Society of Victoria(Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

Lyall Street Service

ALS Society of Victoria

SaturdayJuly 20th

9am to 3pm

Imports, Domestics, European & Motorcycles Welcome. Come down and show off your ride!

Car Wash • BBQ • Cold Drinks

Chevy Grillverado on-site

presented by

3554 Blanshard St.(Saanich Plaza) across from Uptownwww.annashairdesign.com

250.361.2662

Best ServiceBest Prices

Christopher Debbie Julie Lauren Sandee Vanessa

Whether you are a new client or have been with us for years, we’re always happy to help with a whole new look or just a trim.

Anna

Jayna

Children’s Cuts 17+Men’s Cuts 22+Women’s Cuts 38+Shampoo & Set 20+

American Wave Perm 80+Colour 85+Highlights 80+Unlimited Tanning $29.95 /month

Services

We are the Best in the City

Missing;Corinna Esthetician

Melissa

WE BUILD STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES851 Broughton Street, Victoria • Ph: 250-386-7511 • www.victoriay.com

Your Community.

JOB # Y100-12040PUBLICATION: VIC NEWS

CLIENT: YMCASIZE: 4.75" X 6.25"

PREPARED BY: ECLIPSE CREATIVE 250-382-1103

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1


er 2013 • 33

1550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-00471550 Cedar Hill Cross Road • 250-472-0047

Join us for Brunch!Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

9:00-2:30

We think we have the best wings in town

Come in and judge for yourself!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1 Best of the City Summ

er 2013 • 33

It’s said that 60 per cent of Fort Victoria’s population in 1858 spoke French.

A fully Francophone newspaper, the Courrier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie launched that year, as did one of the city’s first schools, St. Ann’s School-house, on the grounds that later became St. Ann’s Academy.

The Sisters of St. Ann, who taught at the schoolhouse, did so in French.

“Fort Victoria’s labourers were French speaking, which is why the Sisters came here, out of a need to educate the children of the labourers,” says Julie Cormier, executive director of the Friends of St. Ann’s Academy Society.

The non-profit society was created in 1997 in the hopes of restoring the academy to a modern vision of its original mandate.

One of the Friends’ key programs

offers bilingual summer tours of the campus. They’ve been running the past two years and the plan is to make French tours of St. Ann’s a year-round affair. The group also hopes to make field trips to St. Ann’s an integrated part of the school cur-riculum for Francophone schools in Greater Victoria.

The society, in partnership with the Provincial Capital Commis-sion, created and installed bilingual interpretive signs in 2012 across the six-acre grounds.

They tell the story of the acad-emy, its founding members and legacy of education, Francophone

heritage and advancement of women in Victoria and

B.C., Cormier says. L’Association His-

torique Franco-phone de Victo-ria also donated funds towards the project.

“Because the academy has deep roots into

the Francophone heritage of Vic-

toria, we want to reach out to French

schools or schools with French immersion classes

to build more identity and sense of place with Victoria’s history,” she adds.

The society repaired and re-stored the original schoolhouse, also known as the Pioneer Convent, and reproduced the original classroom.

The building was relocated to Thunderbird Park on the grounds of the Royal B.C. Museum. There it sits alongside Helmcken House, a fitting neighbour, as Dr. Helmcken was one

of the first doctors in the area.The neatly kept building of St.

Ann’s Academy and surround-ing property on Humboldt Street is visited by an estimated 30,000 people per year and hosts more than 120 weddings, theatre, music and dance performances, as well as other festivals and events.

A cornerstone of Victoria’s Francophone history

This Sisters of St. Ann Archives (P1390) image shows the original St. Ann’s schoolhouse on the grounds that would become St. Ann’s Academy. The building is now located beside Helmcken House outside the Royal B.C. Museum.

St. Ann’S AcAdemy embrAceS French

heritAge

building

St. Ann’S AcAdemy

The central section of St. Ann’s

Academy was erected in 1871, the first

four-storey masonry built in Victoria. The

east block was added in 1866 with a new

main entrance, tripling the building’s size.

The chapel was originally built in 1858 as

Victoria’s first Roman Catholic cathedral,

and was added to the school in 1886.

The chapel still houses a Casavant

pipe organ, made in 1913 in Ste.-

Hyacinthe, Que.

Downtown Auto CentreDowntown Auto Centre

More than just tires, we’re aFULL MECHANICAL REPAIR SHOP!

Big O Tires Victoria is the largest Victoria BC wheel and tire retailer on Vancouver Island and the largest volumne Big O franchise dealer in Canada, with over 7000 sq. ft. of building and a supporting wholesale warehouse.

With over 18 years at our location in Downtown Victoria, we know our market. Our team will provide the BEST product for the BEST price. At Big O Tires Victoria, we pride ourselves on providing top notch Victoria BC auto repair service.

R E B A T E S

UP TO

E S R E B A T E S

UP TO

E S

Downtown Auto CentreDowntownDowntownDowntownDowntown Auto CentreAuto CentreAuto Centre250.384.7477 • 1319 QUADRAwww.bigotiresvictoria.com

BETWEEN YATES & JOHNSON

Johnson

Blan

shar

d

Vanc

ouve

r

Quad

ra

Yates

View

Fort

BIG O

Johnson

MECHANICAL FACILITYNOW OPEN

NEW!

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

B

EST TIRE STORE

... And More!

MON-FRI8 AM - 5:30 PM

SAT9 AM - 4 PM

8 AM - 5:30 PM8 AM - 5:30 PM

9 AM - 4 PM

34 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Thank you VicToria for recognizing us as one of The ciTy’s Top cusTom home Builders and renoVaTors of 2013!

Visit www.maximilianhuxley.com to view some of our recent projects or contact max to talk about building or renovating your home.

(250) 598-2152 | [email protected]

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

David Hunwick demonstrates his sculpturing techniques during Gorge on Art. On July 1, artists will demonstrate their work on Gorge Road between Colquitz and Adelaide avenues. The 2013 event is part of the Gorge Canada Day picnic.

Get on down to the GorgeGorge on Art, happening July 1

this year, is a free community event that annually features professional and emerging visual artists creating new works and exhibiting others along the picturesque Gorge Water-way in Saanich.

Offered this year as part of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic festvi-ties July 1, Gorge on Art offers up a

range of artistic disciplines, includ-ing painting and drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, metal art and more. Visitors can meet the art-ists and watch them work.

The event also includes music and food vendors. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit saanichsunfest.ca and look under featured events.

galaxymotors.net250-478-7603 • 1772 Island Hwy.

DL #30897

Thank you Victoria for voting us Best of the City once again.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1 Bes

t Place For Used Vehicles

Every Year,Every Make,Every Model

Come and see the complete car at Galaxy Motors

at the price you want to pay.

Find out what YES feels like

Your auto loanis APPROVED!



mer 2013 • 35

The kids are climbing the furni-ture and your wallet is empty.

Have no fear, Greater Victoria is bursting with places to go and things to see that won’t cost you a dime.

Being on an island, we are sur-rounded by beaches and that can be a great way to spend a day on the cheap.

Witty’s Lagoon is a beautiful park in Metchosin where the tide seems to be endless and the sun warms the water to a temperature that may make you think you’ve boarded a plane to a tropical locale.

Bring a picnic, beach toys or even a skimboard and you and your family are sure to have a blast.

To add some magic to your beach visit, head down to the amazing Glass Beach in Sidney.

The beach is full of an assortment of colours of beach glass, so bring a bucket and let the treasure hunt begin.

The beach is located across from the Sidney Pier Hotel and Spa, 9805 Seaport Pl.

If you want to keep the sand out of your car and still want to enjoy nature, why not take a trip to Goldstream Provincial Park at the south end of the Malahat Drive on Highway 1?

Easy walking trails are suitable for all ages and abilities. After a short 10- to 15-minute stroll, you’ll end up at the nature house, where there is plenty of information and activities to keep your children oc-cupied.

There are also several hiking trails around the park for

more advanced hikers.If you really like

it there, you can camp for a rea-sonable cost.

If you are new to the area and want some-one to show you around the beautiful parks

in Greater Vic-toria, the Capital

Regional District always offers free

events and hikes at its parks.

Parking at Elk/Beaver Lake re-mains free, but popular Thetis Lake is $2.25 for the day.

Nature centres at Beaver Lake, Francis King and Witty’s Lagoon are

open on weekends in the summer.The Greater Victoria Public

Library also offers free events for all

ages. Activities span from making your own comic book to story time and crafts.

Seeking fun for free across Greater Victoria

Brendon Kirkland strolls through Goldstream Park with his children, Spencer, 2, and Ella, 11 months. He finds the walk a great way to entertain his kids for free.

Finding Free

events

n CRD Parks has guided tours

and free or cheap parking: visit

crd.bc.ca/parks for more details

n The Greater Victoria Public Library

has tons of free events for kids: gvpl.ca;

so does Swan Lake: swanlake.bc.ca

n Check out vicnews.com/calendar

for events in your community

n The kidsinvictoria.com website

also has event listings for

the frugal parent

CITYummer CITYCITYCITYCITYCITYCITYummerummerummer in theS Don’t miss these great local events!

TGIFRINGEFRINGEFRINGEBe Brave.

PLUS! Theatre for children at the FamilyFest Fringe venue

intrepidtheatre.com ticketrocket.org

FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

27th Annual

AUGUST 22 –SEPTEMBER 1

Presents

“ LETTER FROM WINGFIELD FARM (July 30 – August 4 + 21, 23, & 24)

WINGFIELD’S PROGRESS (August 6 –11 + 21 & 24)

WINGFIELD’S FOLLY(August 13 –18 + 20, 22 & 25)

LETTER FROM WINGFIELD FARM

WINGFIELD’S PROGRESS

WINGFIELD’S FOLLY

1291Gladstone Ave.

”Pure comic gold... TORONTO STAR

Highly entertaining... standing ovations to Beattie’s tour de force. VARIETY

Belfry Theatre

July 30–August 252013

July 30–August 25

by Dan Needles directed by Douglas Beattie

starring Rod Beattie

This summer, Rod Beattie will reprise the firstthree shows in Canada’s most endearing

and longest running comedy series. Join usfor an evening or three.

Tickets on sale now at 250-385-6815or www.belfry.bc.ca

The year-round Gardens at HCP exemplify thepotential inherent in every season.

~ The Ottawa Citizen

Named one of the 10 best gardens in Canada!

505 Quayle Road(off Interurban Rd.)

250.479.6162

Open Year Round

hcp.caConnecting people with plants!

HORTICULTURE CENTREOF THE PACIFIC

potential inherent in every season.

Connecting people with plants!

HORTICULTURE CENTREOF THE PACIFIC

36 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Becket VanderWal, 4, drops a piece of herring into Lucy’s mouth and grins from ear to ear.

Lucy is one of Fisherman’s Wharf’s most famous, and recog-nizable, residents. The one-eyed harbour seal frequents the waters in front of The Fish Store, where locals – like Becket – and tourists enjoy interacting with nature.

And the harbour seals don’t seem to mind mingling with the humans. Lucy, Slappy, Mad-Dog, Scott and Lulu seem to get a kick out of wres-tling for a free herring meal tossed in the water.

“We all love coming down here. It’s entertaining,” said Dirk Vander-Wal, who accompanied wife, Alyssa, and kids, Becket and Macy, at Fisher-man’s Wharf on a sunny afternoon. “We like to teach them a little bit about nature and the world around us and the city we live in. We need to respect it.”

The harbour seals aren’t just a Fisherman’s Wharf attraction. Oak Bay Marina has its own resident seals that enjoy eating fish doled out by visitors. Take a walk or kayak along Portage Inlet or the Gorge Waterway and you’ll find the region is teeming with these curious and agile mammals.

“I think most people who spend any time on the harbour, even walking along the Westsong Walkway or along the causeway, are fairly familiar with seeing harbour seals (basking on rocks),” says Jody Watson, the Capital Regional District’s harbours and watersheds co-ordinator.

Victoria’s resident seals delight Visitors

36 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Will entertain for raw fish

Courtney Belleau, 13, feeds a harbour seal at Fisherman’s Wharf, a popular activity for both tourists and locals.

Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic

714 Fort St. • 250-383-8615

“Family Owned Since 1925”

Thanks Victoria

$8995

WheeledBackpack

MSRP $19900

You know we’re the BEST for shoe repair.Try us for the same 1st Class Sales & Service st Class Sales & Service st

for Samsonite luggage. Victoria’s ONLYfor Samsonite luggage. Victoria’s ONLYfull-service Samsonite luggage outlet!full-service Samsonite luggage outlet!

Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

60%%OFF

Shoe Repair Special High heel lifts

5050%%OFF

Bring in 2 pairs and the second pair is

50% OFF

Offer validuntil July 10t h Cabin sized.

Campus Acura Campus Honda Campus Infi niti Campus Nissan

campusautogroup.com

Campus Auto Group + Pre Owned Vehicles =

Total ConfidenceCampus Means:❯❯❯ Trusted Local Ownership❯❯❯ Integrity, Honesty and Respect❯❯❯ Huge All Make Inventory

❯❯❯ Full Safety Inspections❯❯❯ Car Proof History Reports❯❯❯ Complete Financial Services❯❯❯ Low Interest Rates

VISIT VICTORIA’S LARGEST SELECTION OF QUALITY PRE-OWNED VEHICLES AT:

campusautogroup.com



mer 2013 • 37

Pint-sized animals great for petting

Residents and visitors alike know the kids at Beacon Hill Chil-dren’s Farm are a must-see each spring and summer. A few folks may not know that the goats take centre stage twice a day during the “goat stampede.”

“It’s super fun and enter-taining to watch,” says farm manager Amanda Kyffin. “It’s something that is cute and gets people involved because they get to cheer on the goats. It’s not something you see every day.”

The children’s farm in Beacon Hill Park started in 1985 and has been operated since then by the Koenders family, working with the Beacon Hill Farm Society.

The goal is to provide an edu-cational and economical form of entertainment for the whole family and help young ones develop a life-long respect for animals. One way they do that is with hands-on

experience, particularly with the most popular feature – the goat-petting area.

Once the gates close, the staff starts putting all the animals away and get ready for the stampede. They open the petting area gates

and let the goats run while a crowd cheers them on

toward their dinner.“A lot of people

come in the morn-ing and the after-noon just to see the goat stampede,” Kyffin says.

The goats run twice a day, at 10:10

a.m. to kick off the farm’s opening, then

again after closing at 5:10 p.m. (that’s 4:10 p.m. in spring

and fall)Beacon Hill Children’s Farm is

in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. Ad-mission is by suggested donation of $3.50 for adults and $2.50 for kids.

beaconhillpark.ca/childrenspark/goat_run

your pick of pets

While goat-petting takes

centre stage, critters of all

sorts can be petted at the

Beacon Hill Children’s Farm,

from piglets to rabbits. Watch

video of the goat stampede

at vicnews.com/

lifestyles/tourism.

Beacon Hill cHildren’s farm an ideal placefor kids to develop a love for animals

Baby goats race down a pathway inside the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm in Beacon Hill Park during the daily morning stampede. The goats run from their sleeping barn to their day pen, where they get plenty of attention from petting zoo visitors.

BC’s Largest Wine Stores

And nominating us as the “Best of the City” wine store!

• Over 3,000 wines available in-store & online

• Free daily tastings from 2-6pm

• Over 300 premium & collector wines in our Vintage Room

• Free delivery in BC on orders over $200

5% offAny 12 bottles all the time – mixed

cases included

And nominating us as the

Everything Wine Thanks You for Your Votes!

18th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

0326 Everything Wine - Monday Mag - Best of the City 2013 Nomination As - Black and White 9.75in W x 6.25in H - 02 Final Press Ready PDF

Designed by Gary Leung 2013 604 267 2113

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEW

SBestofthe

Voted 1

38 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

517 Kelvin Rd • SearlesAuto.ca 250.475.2000

Thank YouVictoria!

Don’t TrustYour Vehicleto JustAnyone.

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

MysteryFiction

Non-Fiction

HorrorMystery

HorrorMystery

FictionHorror

Fiction

RomanceMystery

RomanceMystery

ReferenceFiction

ReferenceFiction

AtlasReferenceAtlasReferenceNovels

ReferenceNovels

Reference

Science-FictionBiographyHistoryScience-Fiction

HistoryScience-Fiction

ChildrensAtlas

ChildrensAtlas

BiographyChildrens

Biography

WesternNon-FictionWesternNon-Fiction

RUSSELL BOOKSThanks Victoria for letting us know we stack up!

• 500,000 New and Used Books• Unique Cards and Calendars• We Buy Used Books

52 Years of business & still growing! Locally owned & operated.

734 Fort St. 361-4447www.russellbooks.com

Check out our Vintage Room at 738 Fort Street

Now with over 16,000 square feet!

2011

YEAR

17th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2012

YEAR

18th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

38 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

We’ve all waited patiently for the opening of the Victoria Downtown Public Market in The Hudson Build-ing. Touted as the kind of perma-nent marketplace that characterizes other great cities, it’s something we’re excited to see come to fruition.

The location alone, inside the iconic Georgian revival building, is enough to get market aficionados excited. But many great seasonal markets abound in Victoria.

The marketplace in Bastion Square is open Wednesday through Sunday from May through Septem-ber and stretches from Government Street to Wharf Street.

Wandering through the eclectic selection of vendors, one can find everything from handcrafted choco-lates to jewelry crafted from stainless steel cutlery. There’s food, artwork and self-published books – an end-less variety of crafts.

The iconic Moss Street Com-munity Market, open May through October, combines the produce of more than 25 local organic farm-ers with crafters, artists and food vendors.

Billing itself as the “true farm-ers’ market,” it also features local musicians, painters and a broad representation of Victoria’s artistic community.

For another taste of Island-grown produce, specialty cheeses and fresh fish and meats, the Urban Farmer’s

Market at Centennial Square is sure to delight. It runs every Sunday throughout the summer and com-bines its offerings with an array of entertainment: acts performed on the free stage adjacent to the market.

The Ship Point Night Market, a summer affair held Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 to 10:30 p.m., offers entertainment as well, using the panoramic backdrop of the Inner Harbour.

The entertainment features everything from one-man bands to jugglers and classical musicians or jazz artists.

Food vendors are just as varied, as is the selection of art, crafts and novelty items on display.

The market is adjacent to the pedestrian walkway of the Inner Harbour at Ship Point.

Summer markets bloomFarmers’ market mania Wednesdaysn Downtown Farmers’ Market(Hudson Building)Thursdaysn Sidney Summer MarketSaturdaysn Goldstream Station Marketn Moss Street Community Marketn James Bay Marketn Peninsula Country MarketSundaysn Metchosin Farmers’ Market


er 2013 • 39

Victoria’s Choicefor fi ne

Chinese Cuisine

Thank You Victoria for Choosing

1321 Quadra St. at Johnson, Downtown VictoriaTel: (250) 385-4405 Fax: (250) 385-1392Visit us online at www.mings.ca

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

B

EST CHINESE FOO

D


er 2013 • 39

Nath Keo weaves through the hustle and bustle of line cooks and cashiers, happily darting around behind the scenes in one of the city’s busiest little kitchens.

He glides past his office and staff room – both the size of modest clos-ets – and takes pause at the receiv-ing window, where he can expect at least three deliveries daily in the summer. Like many compact eater-ies, every square inch is in use, but something sets it aside from most others. It floats.

While Barb’s Fish & Chips’ offbeat Fisherman’s Wharf loca-tion – and coolest address in the city, 1 Dallas Rd. – may have initially drawn in a few customers, Keo says it’s the flavour that keeps them com-ing back.

Our readers agreed and once again voted Barb’s the provider of the city’s best fish and chips.

“This is our 29th season and we stick to what we know,” says Keo, the restaurant manager. “We only allow superior product out the window.”

The restaurant serves salmon, halibut and haddock, as well as a va-riety of shellfish and a little surprise for the landlubbers: Keo’s pick, the

beef burger. The readers’ choice fish is offered grilled or battered, and with all of those deliveries coming in, it’s guaranteed fresh.

“I pride myself on superior customer service, but I don’t think people are coming back to look at my face,” Keo says. “That’d be flat-tering, but they’re here for the meal that they know.”

When Keo first started at Barb’s, the wait times were closer to an hour per meal. Now, they’re down to 15 minutes – a point of pride for Keo, who still delights in jumping behind the service window when-ever he gets the chance.

He attributes the current success to the closeness of his team, which knows how to show up on time,

hangover-free and ready to take whatever the day has to offer, rain or shine.

“It feels like a family and I think it has to be since we’re working in such close quarters,” he says. “My staff is full of adrenaline junkies, in that we love the action that happens down here in the summer.”

That action reaches beyond their busy service window – which serves between 700 and 900 customers daily – to the growing community of eclectic food vendors and float home residents on the wharf, who often stop by for coffee before the restau-rant officially opens.

Barb’s Fish & Chips is open from mid-March until the end of October on Fisherman’s Wharf.

“I like it down here,” Keo says. “I think I’ll be here a while.”

Barb’s seafood a favourite for 29 seasonsFisherman’s WharF icon

voted best Fish and chips

Nath Keo, manager of Barb’s Place Fish and Chips at Fisherman’s Wharf, tempts the photographer with a basket of their famous fish and chips.

seaFoodstars

n Barb’s Fish & Chips is named for

founder Barb Pedersen, who sold the

business in 2005.

n The runners-up for best fish and chips

are Red Fish Blue Fish, operating in an

up-cycled cargo container at 1006

Wharf St., and Haultain Fish &

Chips (1127 Haultain St.), a

legend in the city that

opened in 1927.

Thank you Victoria!

from the Schaddelee Family

Celebrating over 50 Years in VictoriaFamily owned & operated since 1956

Specializing in• Pastries • Homemade chocolate

• Birthday cakes• Wedding cakes• Anniversary cakes

Join us in ourcoff ee shopbreakfast • lunch • afternoon tea

Same day service for BirthdayCake ordersopen:Mon. - Sat.

www.thedutchbakery.com • [email protected]

Dutch Bakerya n d C o f f e e S h o p

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

breakfast • lunch •


Dutch Bakery


Dutch Bakery718 Fort St. • 250-385-1012

40 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Prof

essi

onal

Ser

vice

s

Tel: 250-383-6961 • Fax: 250-380-3093859 View eld Road, Victoria BC

www.emeryelectric.com

Industrial, Commercial and Marine InstallationsStreet Light Installation and Service

Electrical Contractors

Reg. #4514

Serving Victoria Since 1930

Open Mon-Sat 250-478-0555765 Industrial Way • www.iconcrete.ca

• Ready-Mixed Concrete

• Victoria’s Only Liquid

Colouring System

• Concrete Accessories

• Gravity Wall Blocks

• Gravel Mart

• Re

• Vic

Co

• Co

• Gr

• GrEFFORT = CONCRETE RESULTSLocally Owned and Operated

CrossRoadsDriving School Ltd.

New Driver Training Class 5 & 7 • ICBC CertifiedNow serving Western Communities - 250.652.7623

• Refreshes mind, body and emotions• Is easy to learn, simple to practice• Refreshes mind, body and emotions• Is easy to learn, simple to practice

• TM brings balance to busy lives• Relieves anxiety and stress• TM brings balance • TM brings balance • Relieves anxiety and stress• TM brings balance • TM brings balance • Relieves anxiety and stress• Relieves anxiety and stress

WhyLearn TM?

Transcendental Meditation®

250.383.9822 ~ www.meditationvictoria.org

2328 Government Street • 250-384-3935

New & Vintage New Kawai & Heintzman Pianos

Keyboards ~ Appraisals Moving ~ Rentals ~ Tuning

New & Vintage New Kawai & Heintzman Pianos

Keyboards

Allison Piano

•

2940 Ed Nixon Terrace - Langford, BC • Tel 250-475-1345 • www.SteveDraneHarley.com

STEVE DRANEHARLEY-DAVIDSON®

• New & Used Motorcycle Sales• Parts & Accessories• Genuine H-D ® MotorClothes’ Apparel• Express Lane Service

Science W rksVictoria’s Hands-On

Science & Nature Store

1889 Oak Bay Ave 250-595-6033Hundreds of gift items for science & nature lovers

Educational Toys For All AgesScience Kits • Games • Puzzles

Telescopes • Microscopes • ChemistryRobotics • Physics • Dinosaurs

Call for your FREE Quote • attractive

• non-combustible and provides fi re resistance • low maintenance and long lasting• excellent performance • increase your building’s value • energy effi cient.

DISCOVER YOUR LEAKING ROOF JUST WON’T HOLD UP ANY LONGER?

A Metal Roof Won’t Let You Down!

875 Viewfi eld Rd. 250-382-5154

Benefi ts of Metal Roofi ng


er 2012 • 41

Chinatown businesses draw on pastNot long ago, if you needed veg-

etables or meat or maybe flour, you would head down to your neighbour-hood butcher, baker or grocer to restock the pantry.

Nowadays, with major grocery chains dominating the market, that’s generally no longer the situation.

Yet in Chinatown, where niche, hole-in-the-wall delicatessens still line Fisgard Street, sometimes with exotic-looking foods hanging in the windows, that nostalgic neighbourhood feeling is still a reality.

Loy Sing Company, a cooked meat store, has been in opera-tion for 129 years. The current owners cook a whole pig everyday, which is typically all sold by the end of the day.

Co-owner Shelly Rong said the shop thrives because of its longevity and because of the food.

“You keep the food good then ev-erybody comes back,” she said. “Lots of people know this, even people far away in Vancouver, they know the place already. I don’t need lots of advertising, they know we’re already here.”

Just around the corner is the Vic-toria BBQ House and Bakery, which serves a wide variety of savoury and sweet buns and other baked items, along with meat.

Owner Ken Ng, speaking through his bilingual daughter Helen, said the variety the shop offers keeps it alive, along with offering products not found at the larger grocery stores, and a more personal shopping experience.

“The customers, when they come, you kind of get to know each other and they become regular customers,” Helen said. “I guess it’s the atmo-sphere. (Grocery stores) are so big,

you don’t really get to know anybody. But usually these

places, it’s always the same people.”

Across Govern-ment Street and up Fisgard a little ways further you’ll find K&N Chinese Herbs, a traditional

herbalist. Here, ev-erything from Chinese

yams to dried seahorses to various roots and fungi

are sold to help ease all types of ailments, from the common cold to chronic pain.

Herbalist John Wong recently sold the store, but still mixes the soothing concoctions and spends his free time in the back of the shop practicing traditional Chinese calligraphy.

The herbalist, along with the other mom-and-pop shops of Chinatown, survives and thrives, thanks to the committed locals who have helped keep such businesses a stalwart of Victoria culture.

chinese

delicacies

Come down to Victoria’s

Chinatown and find various ethnic

favourites. Among them:

- Crispy pork - BBQ pork

- Peking duck - Sponge cake

- Almond biscuits

sabrina liang packages some medicinal items for a customer, as anna Wong looks on at the K & a chinese

herbs ltd. shop on Fisgard street. chinatown is full of unique shops

that cater to area residents with chinese roots,

and anyone else looking for a taste

of old traditions.

Proprietor Ken ng holds a tray of sticky buns at his shop, Victoria BBQ house on Government street in chinatown.

42 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

104-2590 Cadboro Bay Road 598-HAIR (4247)

www.salonmodello.cawww.salonmodello.ca

Salon Modellowishes to thankall our clients

as we celebrateour 10 Year

Anniversary!

Thank-you Victoriafor choosingRecreation Oak Bay!Recreation Oak Bay was chosenby you in these categories:ìBest Recreation CentreìBest Swimming PoolìBest Gym/Fitness StudioìBest 9-Hole Golf Course

(for Henderson Golf)ìBest Romantic Beach - WillowsìBest Place to escape urban stress

in the city - Willows Beach250-595-7946

recreation.oakbay.ca

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

Celebrating 29 Years of Great Food!Barb’s tender-crisp Fish & Chips; grilled or steamed Halibut

& Salmon; Salad or Fries; Oyster, Homemade Beef and HalibutBurgers; Dungeness Crab and Fresh Mussels & Clams;

Vancouver Island’s Best Seafood Chowder and much more!

www.barbsplace.caFisherman’s Wharf

1 Dallas RoadVictoria BC • V8V 0B2

250.384.6515

/BarbsFishNChips

A TRUEVICTORIA

EXPERIENCE

World Famous Fish & Chipson Fisherman’s Wharf

Rated as one of the “Top 10 seafood spots bythe sea in North America” by Sunset Magazine

Just a 15 minutewalk from Downtown Victoria or

a short ride on one of theVictoria Harbour Ferry Boats!

March – October: Open Daily 11:00am – Dark



mer 2013 • 43

In a world of increasingly fast fashion, one-of-a-kind clothing is seeing a resurgence in demand.

From mid-century pin-up and prohibition-era flapper dresses to bowler hats, suspenders and saddle shoes, the vintage look has defini-tively hit the mainstream.

Finding antique threads in Victoria can be tricky, but blogger Reb Stevenson of The Life Nostalgic knows the hidden gems to give you an updated classic Hollywood look.

“The idea is not to try to pretend that you live in the past, but rather look to the past for inspiration on how to live today,” she says.

“I’m not set on wearing authen-tic vintage garb, because good luck finding something that has the fit, style and odour that you want.”

For new clothing with vintage influence, Stevenson recommends Sarah’s Place in Market Square. The pin-up/rockabilly style curated by

Fashion forward, vintage inspiration

owner Sarah Kramer is reasonably priced and sure to make you stand out in an Abercrombie and Fitch crowd.

Before heading out for a day at Willows Beach or Thetis Lake, stop by Paradise Boutique on Lower Johnson Street for some made-in-Victoria vintage-inspired swimwear.

Sisters Dani Dubois and Rosebud Seads also offer a selection of origi-nal clothing and accessories, with a focus on independent designers.

For the acutely eco-conscious

consumer, check out Lazy Susan’s in Fairfield Plaza.

Mother-daughter owners Nicole Proom and Susan Doyle source the store’s vintage-inspired handmade clothing from North American producers, and make many of the pieces themselves using locally pur-chased fabrics.

“It’s a surprise find, really funky and cool,” Stevenson says.

Still not finding what you’re look-ing for? Make House in downtown Victoria offers a drop-in “stitch-

ing parlour” for $10/hour. Crafty clothiers can follow vintage pattern books using in-store cotton, sewing machines, cutting tables and more.

“There’s a whole library of vintage patterns. You can sign up for work-shops as well,” Stevenson says.

For all your vintage needs in one place, check out the Victoria Vintage Expo, Sept. 27 and 28 at Crystal Gardens, 713 Douglas St. See victo-riavintageshow.com.

Check out Stevenson’s blog at thelifenostalgic.com.

Amanda Komen and Amy McClay wear vintage clothing sourced from Empress Jade Vintage and Sam’s Sideshow boutique. Props were sourced from Vintage Fair Victoria. Victoria’s Vintage Expo takes place Sept. 27 and 28 at Crystal Garden.

Your heart will delight in our cozy four level, Alpine-style”Old World” Christmas Wonderland, bursting with thousands upon thousands of ornaments, locally made keepsakes and true one-of-a-kind treasures from all countries.

Our customers are in heaven: pleasing music, carpeted � oors, professional service, getting lasting values.

THELARGEST

THEFULLESTNOBODY

HAS MORECHRISTMAS

ORNAMENTS!

1323 Government Street, Ph. 250-380-7522ONCE INSIDE, THE STORE GOES ON AND ON!

Thank You All Victoria!

1323 Government Street, Ph. 250-380-7522

“WORLD’S FULLEST CHRISTMAS STORE”

Let’s celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a dramatic ongoing sale

★ 1000’S OF ITEMS BELOW COST, NO MATTER THE ORIGINAL PRICES! ★

Shop Local, Locally Owned & Operated

for choosingon Government Street Thanks Victoria!

212 - 815 Cloverdale Avenue next to Michael’s

250-380-1881

Victoria’s Best

Chinese Food Buffet& Largest

Szechuan Chilli FishBeijing Roast DuckSzechuan Hot PotSeats up to 120 People Over 50 items

including Dim Sum, Salad & Soft Ice Cream

Buffet All Day11:00 AM - 9:00 PMDinner Menu also availableSeafood Buffet Friday - Sunday & Holidays

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

2

Raymond’s Restaurant

2010

YEAR

16th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2011

YEAR

17th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

2012

YEAR

18th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

44 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

44 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Seaplanes offer bird’s-eye view

Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the busiest working harbour in Canada.

Looking out on an average day, you’ll see yellow and green harbour ferries zig-zagging between shore-lines, the M.V. Coho en route to and from Port Angeles, the Victoria Clip-per making the rounds from Seattle, luxury yachts, kayakers, fishing vessels and dozens of harbour seals sharing the water.

Perhaps the most common sight among all that traffic is seaplanes, diving in every 15 minutes at peak hours from downtown Vancouver, Whistler, Seattle and various sight-seeing tours around the Capital Region.

Harbour Air Seaplanes operates a fleet of DeHavilland Turbine Single Otter, Twin Otter and Beaver aircraft out of the Inner Harbour at Ship Point, providing one of the most tempting launching pads to see Vic-toria from above. Harbour Air offers four unique charter tours to visitors and long-time residents curious for a different perspective of the area.

For $104, take a 20-minute flight that offers unique views of the grand houses dotting the shores of Oak Bay and Gonzales Bay and get awe-struck by the Olympic mountains

across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.For another $50 ($166 total),

fly over the world-famous Butchart Gardens and the Saanich Peninsula after a low-level tour of the Victoria waterfront and offshore islands. Kids 11 and under fly for half the adult price, so don’t leave them at home.

If you want to get up close at Butchart Gardens, opt for the fly and dine tour ($272) from Harbour Air. Your flight drops you off at the gardens, where a three-course meal is waiting, as is a leisurely evening walk through floodlit gardens.

More ambitious trips include the Vancouver day trip ($377), where visitors can see the sights of Gas-town, English Bay and Chinatown. Find the latest deals and tour offers at harbour-air.com.

Seattle-based Kenmore Air (visit kenmoreair.com) also offers seaplane flights between Victoria and Seattle.

whether for sightseeing or transportation, flying brings new perspective

A Harbour Air seaplane comes in for a landing in Victoria’s Inner Harbour near the Ogden Point breakwater.

Campus Nissan 3361 Oak Street, Victoria, BCwww.CampusNissan.com • 250-475-2227

DL #5059

THIS IS MY NISSANTHIS IS MY NISSANPRESENTING OUR NEWEST, MOST FUEL EFFICENT LINE-UP. EVER.

2013 NISSAN ROGUE

Campus Nissan 3361 Oak Street, Victoria, BCwww.CampusNissan.com • 250-475-2227Campus Nissanwww.CampusNissan.com •

NISSAN ROGUE2013 NISSAN SENTRA

2014 VERSA NOTE

FROM0%FINANCING



mer 2013 • 45

Each year visitors travel from all over the world to stay at Victoria’s iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel.

In 2008, one guest arrived, and never left. Roger the yellow-bellied marmot, a non-native species to Vancouver Island, is believed to have taken a cue from a beat poet and hopped aboard a vehicle heading west.

He eventually took up residence in the hotel’s Centennial Garden.

“He’s made himself quite a nice little condo in there,” says Michael Yarr, comptroller general and head of the hotel’s environment commit-tee. “You can see him on a hot day sunning himself.”

In 2010 when former environ-ment minister Barry Penner caught wind of Roger, the province in-tervened with two failed attempts to live-trap him, but the little guy couldn’t be caught.

“The implication is that he shouldn’t be here and shouldn’t establish a colony because he’s not

indigenous, and I guess that’s true,” Yarr says. “But it’d be pretty hard to start a colony of one.”

The stubborn little hotel guest doesn’t face much competition for food and shelter – the native Vancouver Is-land marmot remains MIA in Victoria and is one of Canada’s most endangered creatures.

Since Roger, named for one of the hotel’s former managers, couldn’t be enticed by peanut butter traps, he’s become a favou-rite of hotel guests and employees alike.

“We all look for-ward to him coming out of hiberna-tion every year. After the first person has a Roger sighting, it runs around the hotel like wildfire,” Yarr says.

Roger wasn’t expected to sur-vive his first wet West Coast winter hibernation, but five years later, the rotund rodent is still winning hearts.

But the joy the flower-nibbling fiend has brought his fans is tem-pered by an inescapable woe.

“One thing you really think about is that he doesn’t have any com-pany,” Yarr says. “He’s all by himself and he has been for years.”

RogeR the maRmotat home at the empRess

A colony of one

Roger the yellow-bellied marmot in the “wild.”

631 COURTNEY • 250.384.BUGS (2847) • WWW.BUGZOO.COM

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEW

SBestofthe

Voted

The reputation of a cozy little 60 seat cocktail bar in the Chateau Victoria has far exceeded the limits of hotel

patrons and locals who discovered it from a friend or businessassociate.

Clives’s Classic Lounge was created as a result of a visionary meeting that Clive Piercy, hotel owner and philanthropist, had with his employee group at the hotel in 2009. The idea that we build and adhere to our strict MIXOLOGY MANTRA was at the heart of this quality experience right from the start.

• We freshly squeeze the juice when you order your cocktail

• We refrigerate our Vermouth, Sherry, Port & Madeira for maximum fresh-ness & taste

• We chill all of our cocktail glassware in the freezer

• We chill all of our Vodka to 42°F for perfect serving temperature

• All of our pop is bottled• Our garnishes are house made by

either the chefs or the bartenders,

no radioactive cherries here!• Most of our syrups are made in house

or sourced from the fi nest purveyors• We make and collect our own bitters

from around the world• We practice the art of making a fi ne

cocktail and tend to lean away from the mainstream

• Most of all, we are here to give you the best experience possible. Tell the bartender or the server what you like and we will make something you will love.

The bar started out quietly, as most hotel lobby bars do, but over time, it gained respect and admiration from both indus-try types and visitors alike. This organic growth from people discovering this cool spot and telling their friends built a steady and loyal clientele from both frequent hotel visitors and locals alike. A consistent communication with their customers about events and celebrations made the bar much more than just a great watering hole. It had its own social network and that network was recognized well beyond the borders of the town and country it calls home.

Today, it enjoys a number of credits:• Tales of the Cocktail “Worlds Best

Hotel Bar” Nominee 2011 and 2012• Tales of the Cocktail “International

Bartender of the Year” top 10 in 2012• Canada’s fi rst Campari Red Bar• Host Bar for Art of the Cocktail 2010,

2011 and 2012.The biggest credit for owner Clive

Peircy is that the bar played a key role in creating a Cocktail Culture in Victoria that is actually inspiring a new reason for visi-tors to return and experience our city. Head Barkeep, Shawn Soole will venture out on his own in 2013 to extend the reach of our cities cocktail culture with the opening of his own “Little Jumbo”, just a few blocks from Clive’s. He leaves behind a dedicated team of profession-als that have the same passion as he to deliver the experience of a well-crafted cocktail in comfortable surround-ings.

The future of Clive’s looks bright as

the focus on you, our neighbours, increases. “If there is one surprise we had over the last few years, it is that a bar with a good mix of visitors and local patrons creates a very comfortable, warm and inviting environ-ment for all. We never want our bar to be only accessible to our hotel guest or it will become a hotel lobby bar.” Jayce Kady-schuk, our new leader at the Bar is charged with the task of ensuring the vibe at Clive’s continues to grow. We look forward to see-ing you next year as your Best of the City.

Thank you for voting us one of the Best of the City BEST of the CITY FINALIST BUSINESS PROFILE: Clive’s Classic Lounge

ADVERTISING FEATURE

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

Clive’s Classic Lounge In the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites740 Burdett Avenue • 250-361-5684 • www.clivesclassiclounge.com

Your Clive’s coctail crew.

46 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Prof

essi

onal

Ser

vice

s

Experience + Knowledge = ResultsSelling Real Estate in Victoria for 23 Years

Let me put my experience and knowledge to work for you.

250-812-7710West Coast Realty

Inez louden, FRIAssociate Broker

“The Professional Approach to Real Estate” ™

1008 Russell St. Victoria250 391 1893

ADDRESSREALTY LTD.

For expert, personal service in all facets of real estate, call the local professionals.

Big enough to serve you better - small enough to care!

www.addressrealty.com

Science W rksVictoria’s Hands-On

Science & Nature Store

1889 Oak Bay Ave 250-595-6033Hundreds of gift items for science & nature lovers

Educational Toys For All AgesScience Kits • Games • Puzzles

Telescopes • Microscopes • ChemistryRobotics • Physics • Dinosaurs

Call for your FREE Quote • attractive

• non-combustible and provides fi re resistance • low maintenance and long lasting• excellent performance • increase your building’s value • energy effi cient.

DISCOVER YOUR LEAKING ROOF JUST WON’T HOLD UP ANY LONGER?

A Metal Roof Won’t Let You Down!

875 Viewfi eld Rd. 250-382-5154

Benefi ts of Metal Roofi ng

3075 Douglas St., Victoria • 250-744-2195 or 1-800-670-5505 • www.murphybeds-victoria.com

GetOrganized

& Clutter Free!Vancouver Island’s

Only AuthorizedMurphy Bed Dealers

Let us show you how to increase your useable space...■ Closets ■ O� ce ■ Kids Rooms ■ Sewing Room■ Custom Cabinets

250.885.9487

Bathrooms | Flooring | Tiling | Fences | Decks | Kitchens | Additions | FREE Estimates

RENO MEN

Call anytime. We stand behind our work!www.reno-men.ca

PNRScreens Ltd.

6680 Mirah Rd. Saanichton250-652-4612

Call us today!Call us today!We install windows, doorsand replace broken sealed units

250-370-1818 • 770 Spruce Ave. www.trianglehealing.com

NEW DESIGNER SERIESCommercial

Quality 1 ,560 Wattsof Power 10-year

warranty

Engineeredto outlast other

kitchen appliances

Helping People Attain Optimum HealthTeeter Hang Ups

Alkaline Water Stick

Weighted Acu Hula Hoops®can help

Made in

GermanyAthlete’s

Choice

Triangle Healing Products offers...an amazing range of well-researched products that enhance well-being!

Photonic Portable™ Structuring Unit can travel with you

NEW

Helping People Attain Optimum HealthCLEANSE • REPLENISH • REVITALIZE


er 2013 • 47

11 years of experienceAmerican Certi� edLaser Technician

MicrodermabrasionSpecial! 2 Treatments for

With this coupon$99 First time only

Laser Fungus RemovalBeat foot fungus the clean healthy way!$1991 foot

$2992 feet

Non-Surgical Facelift

Using RF Technology Only$99

after

before

Teeth Whitening

Only$49 Reg. $199

Laser Hair RemovalSpecial! Any 3 Treatments for

With this coupon$99 First time only

Choose from: Upper Lip • Chin • Underarms• Hands • Feet • Stomach Line • Bikini Line

Full Face only $49

LIPO LASERFAT REDUCTIONspecial $8900Reg. $300.00Lose up to 1 inch in 30 minutes!✔ Safe ✔ Fast ✔ Effective ✔ No Side Effects ✔ No Pain✔ No Redness ✔ No Bruising✔ Non-Surgical Procedure

Call today about thisamazing technology!FREE CONSULTATIONS

Elegance Medi Spa110-894 Langford Parkway, Langford 250-474-3313Unit 105, 561 Johnson St, Victoria250-383-9336 elegancemedispa.ca

SUMMER SAVINGS!Best of the City Sum

mer 2013 • 47

Once upon a time, before the invention of plastic, all containers and many other items were made out of glass.

Just like its modern, petroleum-based replacement, much glass ended up in the ocean. The differ-ence is rather than float, glass sinks and is pummelled by tides for years, sometimes decades, until the glass becomes smooth and frosted.

Sea glass washes up on the beaches of Victoria and is used in art by a variety of hobbyists and profes-sional artists. But perhaps not for long.

“Plastic changed everything,” says Norra Mirosevic, a beach glass artist based in Victoria. “My days are numbered because the glass is run-ning out. But I used to find lots and lots of glass.”

When beach glass was plenti-ful, she would make everything from lamp shades to candle holders to display pieces. Now, with sup-plies dwindling, Mirosevic focuses on smaller items such as high-end jewellery.

Drawn to the glass, she started making crafts with it and went on to take a stained glass course to cre-ate her art, which is currently sold in galleries in Victoria, Tofino and Sooke.

“When people ask me about my work I always say ‘Poor me, I have to walk the beach,’” Mirosevic says. “Some people I talk to don’t even know what the heck it is, but the people that do know and do like it, they love it.”

The rarer colours are the most valued finds. Green, brown and white are fairly common, but red glass is a treasured find, as is blue, or any glass with texture from bot-tles with etched writing and designs.

Mirosevic spends part of her time in Europe and finds beach glass all over the world, but still finds Victoria to be a treasure chest for the increasingly rare substance.

Diamonds in the roughbeach glass collectors running out of material

The Dallas Road beachfront, where this little gem was spotted, and Glass Beach in Sidney are two of the most popular beach glass hunting areas around Greater Victoria.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY VICTORIA

WWW.CACTUSCLUBCAFE.COM

WATERMELON MARGARITAFRESH SQUEEZED WATERMELON,

CUERVO GOLD TEQUILA WITHA SPLASH OF CITRUS.

Home of the Motorcycle Guys

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

250.386.83641234 Esquimalt RoadWWW.ACTION-MOTORCYCLES.COM

48 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

JULYJune 30-July 1 – Victoria celebrates

Canada Day, Inner Harbour. Festivities include children’s events on the B.C. legislature lawn, featuring Juno award-winning entertainer Norman Foote, musical performances by both award-winning and up-and-coming artists and fireworks. For a full schedule of events, see victoriacanadaday.ca.

June 30-July 8 – Victoria Pride Society presents Pride Week 2012, including an artwalk and exhibition in Trounce Alley (June 30), Drag Ball Game in Vic West (July 1), and Pride Parade and Festival (July 8). Parade starts at Government and Pandora at noon, ends at MacDonald Park in James Bay. For details, see victoriapridesociety.org.

July 1 – Victoria’s first-ever Vegan Festival, Market Square (560 Johnson St.), from noon to 5 p.m. Features guest speakers, entertainers, businesses and non-profits, and free vegan food samples. For more information, victoriaveganfest.com.

July 1, 5, 12-14 and Aug. 4, 6, 9, 11-12 – Raven Baroque Summer Celebration. Free concerts throughout Victoria featuring classical baroque played by musicians dressed in period costumes. More details at

members.shaw.ca/ravenbaroque.

July 3 – Music in the Park, every Tuesday at various locations throughout July and August, from 6 to 8 p.m. July 3 event takes place Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Rd. For more details, see saanichsunfest.ca or call Julie at 250-475-5408.

July 7 – Yogathon in Centennial Square, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop-in yoga classes every hour, on the hour until 7 p.m. Suggested $5 donation per session, or through pledges for full 12 hours. Benefits Victoria Cool Aid Society. For details, see coolaid.org/dcc.

July 8 – Strawberry Festival at Beaver Lake Park (on Elk Lake Dr.), 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free, family-friendly event features face painting, pony rides, relay races, bouncy castles, and a pie eating contest. Strawberries and ice cream served from 2 to 3 p.m. for 50 cents. For more information, contact Rob, 250-475-5558.

July 10-14 – Victoria’s 13th annual Ska Fest, featuring Toots and the Maytals, The Pietasters, Katchafire, Leroy “Heptone” Sibbles, and many more. Festival includes ticketed and free shows. For more details or to buy passes and tickets, see victoriaskafest.ca.

CALENDARW H E N T O B E W H E R E T H I S S U M M E R

Salsa dance instructor Javier Monsalve, front left, and partner Angela Jurj practice their moves on stage at Centennial Square during last year’s Festival Mexicano. The event, staged by the Mexican-Canadian Community Association of Victoria, happens July 13 to 15 this summer and features folk dancing, musical acts, ethnic food and other cultural activities.

48 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

400 Boleskine Road, Victoriaboleskinebistro.ca778.265.7745

OPENMon.-Fri. 10am-10pm,Weekends 9am-10pm

— Fully Licensed —

1/2 Price Wings!

Join us from Sunday to Thursday after 5pm for 1/2 off any � avour of wings!

It’s kind of a big deal...


er 2013 • 49

NEW & USED TOYS, CLOTHING & FURNITURE2024 Oak Bay Ave. • 250 595 1613 • www.abra-kid-abra.com

Thanks to all our customers and consigners over the years!

Thanks to all our customers and

30th Anniversary Sale

Shoes, hats, toys, ergo carriers

& more.

1 DAY SALE JUNE 29th

30% OFF ALL NEW STOCK

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted


er 2013 • 49

CALENDARJuly 13-15 – Festival Mexicano, hosted

by the Mexican Canadian Community Association of Victoria. Dinner and dance at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St.), July 13, 6 p.m. Activities in Centennial Square July 14-15, from noon to 5 p.m. Includes music, mariachi, dance, Salsa lessons, and much more. See victoriamexicancanadian.org, or call 250-213-9366.

July 14 – The eighth annual Victoria Dodgeball Championships, Royal Athletic Park (1040 Caledonia Ave.), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Play for fun or competitively. Register your team of six to 12 people by calling 250-361-0732.

July 14-15 – Enjoy Serbian food and Balkan music at the third annual Serbian Days, at Reynolds Park (on Reynolds Road). Family-friendly event features Victoria’s Euro Cup, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and activities for kids. Event runs from noon to 7 p.m. (July 14) with a final soccer tournament from 3 to 6 p.m. (July 15). For more information, email Aleksandar at [email protected].

July 19-22 – Victoria International Accordion Festival, at Market Square (560 Johnson St.), and various venues in Victoria. Featuring internationally acclaimed performers, competition, concerts, workshops, kids’ corner, open stage, trade show and beer garden. For a full schedule of events, see bcaccordion.ca.

July 19-22 – Taste: Victoria’s Festival of

Food and Wine, a weekend of wine and culinary tastings, seminars, and other events. Try more than 100 B.C. wines with local cuisine at Crystal Gardens (913 Douglas St.) For more details or to purchase tickets, see victoriataste.com.

July 20-29 – Victoria International Buskers Festival, noon to 10 p.m. The free festival brings together street performers from around the world to stages across downtown. Visit victoriabuskers.com.

July 21 – The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria celebrates the 25th annual TD Paint-In, on Moss Street, from Fort St. to Dallas Rd. More than 150 local artists take their studios outdoors for a paint-in from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Other events throughout the day include gallery open house and dancing to Kumbia in the evening. See aggv.ca/events/gallery-paint-in.

July 24, 26, 28, 30-31 – Victoria Summer Music Festival, at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall at the University of Victoria’s School of Music. For details, see vsmf.org.

July 28-Aug. 6 – Sooke Fine Arts Show, a 10 day celebration of the arts at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex, 2168 Phillips Rd. For event or ticket info, see sookefinearts.com.

July 29 – Fort Victoria Family Festival and Fort Building Competition, Centennial Square, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All-ages event includes music, performances, historic stories and tours. Register your team by July

13. For more information, see victoria.ca/Victoria150.

AUGUSTAug. 2 – Celebrate 150Forward, Victoria’s

150th anniversary event, in Centennial Square. Public ceremony at 11 a.m. Free afternoon festivities from noon to 6 p.m. Bring old family photos, and contribute to a digital time capsule. victoria.ca/Victoria150.

Aug. 3-4 – Integrate Art Crawl, a visual arts festival featuring 26 galleries. For more information, see integratearts.ca or email [email protected].

Aug. 4 – B.C. Aviation Museum Open House (1910 Norseman Rd., Sidney), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. View historical aircrafts, engines, and more. Admission by donation. See bcam.net.

Aug. 4-5 – Victoria Electronic Music Festival, featuring more than 200 artists in Centennial Square. Includes interactive seminars, a vendor market, beer garden, and more. For full schedule of events, see vemf.org.

Aug 4-11 – Victoria International Six-a-Side Cricket Festival at Beacon Hill Park, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Features players from around the world in hour-long games with teams of six. See vdca.ca for more information.

Aug. 5 – Victoria Symphony Splash at the Inner Harbour, featuring maestra Tania

Miller and the Victoria Symphony. Family zone open from 1 to 4 p.m., orchestra performance at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 10 p.m. Admission $5. For full schedule, see victoriasymphony.ca/splash.

Aug. 5 – Oak Bay Collector Car Festival, on Oak Bay Avenue. Almost 300 collectable cars from various eras will line the street starting at 8 a.m. For details, please see bletheringplace.com/carshow.

Aug. 6 – City United! at St. Ann’s Academy, 835 Humboldt St. The City of Victoria and the United Way of Greater Victoria partner to celebrate Victoria’s 150th and the United Way’s 75th anniversaries, noon to 9 p.m. Family-friendly event includes live music, entertainment, crafts, cooking and gardening demos. Details at victoria.ca/Victoria150.

Aug. 10-12 – FolkWest, a music festival celebrating folk-roots music. Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave. For details, see folkwest.ca.

Aug. 17-19 – Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, Inner Harbour. Featuring more than 90 dragon boat teams from North America on a 500-metre course. Family-friendly event includes multicultural entertainment, crafts tent, food court, and more. For details, see victoriadragonboat.com.

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 – Classic Boat Festival in the Inner Harbour. Featuring 100 boats from around the world. For details, see classicboatfestival.ca

Personalize your best moments with the Creative Photo Kiosk

Choose from creative gifting options such as:• Books • Mugs • Folded Greeting Cards

• 12 Month Calendars • T-Shirts • Onesie’s And So Much More!

BEST

in the city

Thank you for voting us

BROADMEAD VILLAGEPHARMASAVEPHARMASAVE®

®

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

PHARMASAVEPHARMASAVE®

®

L I V E W E L L W I T H

www.pharmasavebroadmead.com

250-727-3505Broadmead Village, 310-777 Royal Oak Dr.

Serving Your Community for 20 Years

Call to book your appointment to experiencea Cosmetic Make-over with our make-up artist

Wanting a New Look for the Summer

or a Glamourous Lookfor your Wedding

M O R E T H A N A D R U G S T O R E !

50 •

Best

of th

e City

Sum

mer

2013

Sometimes it’s just nice to travel around the city without making compromises.

If you find yourself solo in Victoria, there are plenty of things to keep you busy.

Take as long as you want inspecting the woolly mammoth at the Royal B.C. Museum, or admire the detail of model ships at the Maritime Museum of B.C. While downtown, stop and peo-ple-watch at the Inner Harbour. Buskers, jugglers and artisans offer plenty of eye candy.

Beaches along Dallas Road in James Bay are a nice place to relax with a book or just enjoy the sun while collecting beach rocks.

Tranquil walks can be found

at Abkhazi Garden, Glendale Gardens or the Ross Bay Cem-etery. Farther afield, hiking trails cut through scenic Royal Roads University, a property with breathtaking views of Esquimalt Lagoon, manicured gardens and 100-year-old Hatley Castle.

If you’re up for a little more adventure, swing through the obstacle course at Wild Play at West Shore Parks and Recre-ation. Or hike around Thetis Lake and finish the day with a dip.

No matter how you tour the city or who you do it with, Greater Victoria has plenty to see and do. You won’t mind go-ing it alone – and it may actually be more fun.

Flying solo in Victoria50

• B

est of

the C

ity Su

mm

er 20

13

1st section

• Lifetime Guarantee• 8 oz and 12 oz Capacity• Made in U.S.A.• Four Feeding Ports• High Perch™ - for Unobstructed

View of Birds• Ant-Moat - Blocks Crawling Insects• Easy to Clean• Bee and Wasp Free

• Lifetime Guarantee

What makes this WBU Hummingbird Feeder The Best In The City?

hummingbirdFEEDER

HIGH PERCH™

250-595-3595 • 3631 SHELBOURNE PLAZA

It’s the new high perch for unobstructed view of the birds.

Proudly serving Victoriafor over 39 years.

Thank You!

WWW.ROMEOS.CA

OPEN FOR LUNCH, DINNER& WEEKEND BRUNCH

Downtown1703 Blanshard St.

383-2121

Broadmead777 Royal Oak Dr.

744-1177

Langford2945 Jacklin Rd.

474-2121

Duncan180 Trans Cda. Hwy.

746-9944

Victoria East1581 Hillside Ave.

595-0212

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

FOLLOW US ONTWITTER

LIKE US ONFACEBOOK

FOLLOW US ONTWITTER

LIKE US ONFACEBOOK

redbarnmarket.ca

• 5550 West Saanich Road • Mattick’s Farm - 129-5325 Cordova Bay Road• 751 Vanalman Avenue • Latoria Walk - 611 Brookside Road

Thank YouVictoria & West Shore

For Your Votes!And nominating us “Best of the City” for

Best Farmers Market (1st Place), Best Produce (2nd), Best Organic Produce (2)

and Best Specialty Deli (3)!

With summer just around the corner, BC grown fruits and veggies are starting to flood our stores and we want you to

know where they come from!

If the sign says “local” it’s from the IslandAll Red Barn Markets have added a “Local This Week” boardin their produce departments. The board will showcase whatitems we are carrying and what farm they come from in the“From the Island” section as well as what we have from the

mainland in the “BC Grown” section.

Thank you for supporting local business in Victoria

“Local” Means “Local”at the Red Barn Market

2013

YEAR

19th

CityVICTORIA NEWS

Bestofthe

Voted

1

FAFAF CEBOOKACEBOOKA

redbarnmarket.ca

Victoria & West Shore

And nominating us “Best of the City” for Best Farmers Market (1st Place),

Best Produce (2nd), Best Organic Produce (2)

With summer just around the corner, BC grown fruits and

“Local” Means “Local”at the Red Barn Market

Documents

June 28, 2013