Island Parent December 2020 / January 2021
Victoria & Vancouver Island Parenting Magazine Top Toys • How to Celebrate the Small Things • 3 Tips to Reduce Stress
Victoria & Vancouver Island Parenting Magazine
Top Toys • How to Celebrate the Small Things • 3 Tips to Reduce Stress
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HOLIDAYHAPPENINGS<br />
Light Up the City<br />
The Greater Victoria Festival Society is hosting the “Light Up The City” campaign every Saturday<br />
when you can drop off donations at a set of drive-through events in the ‘core’ municipalities of Greater<br />
Victoria until <strong>January</strong> 3, <strong>2021</strong>. Non-perishable food, new toys, and cash donations will help support<br />
local food banks, Salvation Army, and Toy Banks. Drive-through events will have Santa and Mrs. Claus<br />
on hand, Convoy trucks aglow, music, and more to enjoy as you drive through and drop off your donations.<br />
Social distancing practices will be in place at all drop-off locations.<br />
A new Christmas lighting competition welcomes entries in five separate categories: homes, apartment/condos,<br />
local businesses, community organizations and First Nations communities. The five winners<br />
receive a prize worth more than $1,000 and 15 prizes in all are up for grabs. Entrants must email<br />
photos of their displays, along with their street address. To enter and for more dates, times and drop<br />
off locations, visit gvfs.ca.<br />
The 29th Annual<br />
Festival of Trees<br />
The Bay Centre will be transformed into a lush<br />
forest of beautifully decorated trees to raise funds<br />
for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, all thanks<br />
to sponsors, local businesses, organizations and<br />
individuals. Guests can bring their loved ones,<br />
marvel in the magic of Victoria’s community spirit<br />
and vote for their favourite tree until <strong>January</strong> 5,<br />
<strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Your support will help provide the best care<br />
imaginable for sick and injured kids from across<br />
the province, including the 3,300 kids from Vancouver<br />
<strong>Island</strong> who visit BC Children’s Hospital<br />
each year for specialized care they often can’t<br />
get anywhere else. Visit bcchf.ca/event/<br />
festival-of-trees.<br />
<strong>December</strong> 4:<br />
The Q’s Feed the Need, Mayfair Mall, corner of<br />
Blanshard and Finlayson; 6am-9pm<br />
<strong>December</strong> 5:<br />
The Bay Centre Lower Guest Services, 1-6pm;<br />
masks mandatory; Charity: Mustard Seed Food<br />
Bank and CFax Santa’s Anonymous<br />
Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress, 4900 Uplands<br />
Drive, Nanaimo; 10am-2pm; Charity: Salvation<br />
Army—wave to Santa from a safe social distance!<br />
Sunbelt Rentals, 2994 Jacklin Road, Langford;<br />
402 Garbally Road, Victoria; 10115 McDonald Park<br />
Road, Sidney; 9am-3pm<br />
Fan Tan Home and Style, 541 Fisgard Street ;<br />
10am-3pm<br />
<strong>December</strong> 6:<br />
Esquimalt Recreation Centre Parking Lot, next<br />
to Water/Adventure park, 3-5:30pm; Charity: Rainbow<br />
Kitchen and TLC Fund for Kids<br />
<strong>December</strong> 11:<br />
The Zone’s Toy Drive for Christmas Giving,<br />
Mayfair Mall, corner of Blanshard and Finlayson;<br />
6-9am<br />
Salvation Army Citadel, 4300 Douglas Street,<br />
Victoria; 5-7pm; Stream by Chek on the Go; Charity:<br />
Salvation Army<br />
Thrifty Foods, Belmont Market, Langford;<br />
5-7pm; Stream by Chek on the Go; Charity: Salvation<br />
Army<br />
Steve Marshall Ford, 3851 Shenton Road, Nanaimo;<br />
5-7pm; Stream by Chek on the Go; Charity:<br />
Salvation Army<br />
Galey Farms, 4150 Blenkinsop, Victoria; noon-<br />
8pm; Charity: Saanich Food Bank and C-FAX<br />
Santa’s Anonymous<br />
<strong>December</strong> 12:<br />
The Bay Center Lower Guest Services; 1-6pm;<br />
masks mandatory; Charity: Mustard Seed Food<br />
Bank and CFax Santa’s Anonymous<br />
Sunbelt Rentals, 2994 Jacklin Road, Langford;<br />
402 Garbally Road, Victoria; 10115 McDonald Park<br />
Road, Sidney 9am-3pm<br />
Fan Tan Home and Style, 541 Fisgard Street,<br />
10am-3pm<br />
Mount Newton Center Society, 2158 Mount<br />
Newton X Road; Central Saanich; 5-7pm; Mount<br />
Newton Centre Society drive thru; accepting cash<br />
donations or online<br />
Luxton Fair Grounds, 1040 Marwood Avenue,<br />
Langford; 5-7pm; Charity: Goldstream Food Bank<br />
and TLC Fund for Kids<br />
Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress, 825-12 Avenue,<br />
Campbell River; 1-4pm; Charity: Campbell River<br />
Food Bank and Salvation Army Toy Fund<br />
Habitat for Humanity’s<br />
Gingerbread Build<br />
It may look a little different this year, but Habitat<br />
for Humanity Victoria’s premier fundraiser the<br />
Gingerbread Showcase, sponsored by Revera,<br />
launched its 12th season in November.<br />
Thirty three bakers have answered the call to<br />
take part in this year’s event. These amazingly<br />
talented people who volunteer their time to create<br />
works of edible art, together with community<br />
hosts, are ensuring we are able to continue this<br />
must-see seasonal attraction—all to help raise<br />
funds for its current build project in North Saanich.<br />
“Coastal Living” is the theme for <strong>2020</strong>, our<br />
volunteer bakers have been invited to create<br />
beautiful pieces which reflect the incredible environment<br />
that we as a community are so privileged<br />
to share. Come and see what they create.<br />
Download your host map and take the tour<br />
through downtown Victoria and Sidney. Each<br />
creation is available for viewing from outside. To<br />
maintain social distance please stay within your<br />
bubble and remain 6ft (2m) from others. For a<br />
map, visit habitatvictoria.com.<br />
34 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Magazine <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
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