Amazing Places

What’s amazing in the world of a Member of Parliament? Her riding;  the people, the places, and the events that are happening in Victoria, Oak Bay, and part of Saanich.

MP Laurel Collins joins us to talk about what she enjoys/has enjoyed doing this summer. We hope you are inspired to get outside or get involved, and enjoy what's on offer!

Here are some of the events, places, and organisations that we discuss:

Beacon Hill Park

Moss Street Market

James Bay Market

Victoria Literacy Connection

FernFest

VicWestFest

Jazz Fest

Ska Fest

Rendezvous Victoria

City of Victoria events

James Bay New Horizons

Irving Park

Oak Bay Parks

Saanich Parks

Leadership Victoria

East Sooke Park

CRD Parks

What did you do for your summer holiday last year? Meaghan McDonald of Salt Legacy, spent 8 weeks with a team, working to clean 300kms of remote and "pristine" beaches on the West Coast of BC. Cleaning up 210 tons of garbage and waste to be exact. Almost half of the 210 tons was fishing ropes and nets. Approximately 60% of the total items recovered were able to be recycled.

That's what Salt Legacy is all about - recycling as upcycling. Meaghan had a goal of building strong connections between individuals and the ocean, in order to raise awareness and educate on alternative practices towards upcycling. Her vision started with re-using discarded boat sails, to turn them into backpacks. The upcycled sailcloth vision has now expanded to include fanny packs (yes, they're in fashion again), duffel bags, and coming soon - surfboard/paddleboard packs! Oh wait, then there's the additional pillars of outreach and education that she's added to her ocean vision. Not too bad at all for a girl from the landlocked province of Alberta.

If you know anything about her, it wouldn't surprise you that on that life-changing "holiday", Meaghan spent 2 hours cutting out a fishing net from logs, because it was in good shape and she wanted to incorporate it into her products. So along with 80' of usable rope, she packed it all in her luggage and paid overweight to the airline, to bring it home for upcycling at Salt Legacy.

She not only employs local artisans to handmake each piece, but also has a unique way to inform buyers of the legacy of each unique item. It seems Salt Legacy is building quite an amazing legacy - Meaghan is an amazing person, with an amazing product, so we hope you'll give this a listen.

Taking a deep dive - or a beginner’s dive if you prefer - into local scuba diving sites, is PADI Master Instructor and Course Director, Larry Wedgewood. Born and raised in Greater Victoria, little did he know that his first class years ago, at Frank White’s in downtown Victoria, would change the course of his life.

He has traveled and dived all over the world, owned his own dive business in Thailand, and now splits his time between Saanich and Edmonton. Larry describes the highlights of a few local dive sites, as well as answering the question, where is Graham’s Wall? His passion and affinity for the sport shine through, as he describes the feelings and experiences way below the ocean surface. Oh yes, and the PG-rated sharks.

When he talked of always returning to Vancouver Island, due to the cold-water diving being “amazing”, we knew he was the right guest for a podcast named Amazing Places. Did you know that there are underwater “beaches”? As to where Larry is going to dive next, you’ll have to listen for his answer. Hint: you’re welcome Mayor Gaby Wickstrom! ;)

Larry has photos, blog articles, and a link to his YouTube channel on his website. Also, Pacific Water Sports is the local-adjacent (Duncan) dive shop that we discuss.

While he hasn’t got me in scuba gear yet, my curiosity was definitely piqued, so stay tuned for what happens later this year.

Once again, apologies if you find the background noise distracting - can you tell we were on the patio of a local cafe? It really was quiet when we started. *sigh*

We’re very happy to welcome the Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, to this week’s episode!

If you’ve learned anything by now, you’ll know that since Michele became the Podcast Lead on Amazing Places, she doesn’t really “do” politics, even with a government minister on the show. Instead, she wants to talk about what is growing in Lana’s garden this Spring!

Lana’s roots (pun fully intended) stretch back to growing up on Quadra Island, where growing food, raising animals, and harvesting from the sea was a way of life. She continued this closeness to the land when she co-founded and operated Barking Dog Vineyard, the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island.

She has been an amazing advocate for food producers and food security for many years. So we were curious about her own garden and what her gardening secrets and tips might be; and Lana generously shared her trowel and errors with us. Good news - the horseradish is surviving!

So grab a piece of paper and pen for taking notes, and listen along as we talk green thumbs and clean fingernails.

There's been a lot of talk in the news lately regarding noise, and specifically about gas-powered garden and landscaping equipment. The District of Oak Bay Council recently voted to phase out the residential use of all gas-powered gardening tools, over the next 3 years. The whir of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and grass trimmers are just one type of noise pollution that we face. This episode we have Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff to talk about how noise affects people and the environment, how it impacts our ability to form community, as well as show the detrimental effects on our communities.

The connections that we form from having conversations in a quiet area, are the bedrock of community building, as these quieter opportunities foster engagement with each other. Teale shares examples of how quieter communities are more connected, healthier, and smarter (!) communities. 

He also answers the question, "Are boomboxes legal in the CRD?".

This is Meegan Read's closet set-up that I reference - and think of - when contemplating how to record a quieter podcast!

A few weeks back, Langford’s Mayor, Stew Young, sat down with us to talk about a specific park. As these podcasts do, the discussion wound around to other subjects.

This episode brings you all the rest of the conversation - some reminiscing about the Langford of old, and the actions and visions shaping Langford of the future.

The City has bold plans for housing, education - secondary and post, environment, traffic, jobs, and economy, which the Mayor describes as a full-service, sustainable, and self-sustained community and full-circle lifestyle.

This week we welcome Cora Hallsworth, Senior Associate with One Earth, and Lead on One Planet Saanich. She joins us to talk about the One Planet Student Challenge. 

One Planet BC helps communities across the province understand sustainability priorities – and take action. Speaking of action, you need to take action too, to get in on this Challenge, as it ends May 20th!

The Student Challenge is an invitation to any Middle or Secondary School student in the Capital Region area, to submit in video or illustration format, showing ways to bring One Planet Living ideas into our communities and personal lives.

One Planet Living is about creating a world where everyone, everywhere lives happy, healthy lives within the limits of the planet, while also leaving space for nature. Sounds like a wonderful way to live, and something we would all want to ascribe to!

Cora shares some jaw-dropping stats on our local situation with regard to sustainability, waste, and the potential we have to change at our household level. She gives you some ideas of how creative you can be in your Challenge submissions.

Listen to learn more about the challenge, how to enter, what the judges will be looking for in the entries, and lots more info on this amazing organisation!

Remember: May 20th deadline. 

This week’s episode started as a conversation at the memorial service for the late Langford Fire Chief Al LeQuesne (Ret’d). Langford Mayor Stew Young mentioned a new park being named in the Chief’s honour, in consideration of his 44 years of service to the community.

As someone who worked next to the Chief for a few of those years, I was happy to hear about the park, and wanted to learn more, and even happier to learn that what makes the park unique will be the fully-accessible features and equipment.

It will be a revamp of the former Cressida Park, which has seen better days. The City will update it to a modern park, with more amenities than before, and it will become the standard for all new and revamped parks in Langford.

The Mayor proudly notes that on southern Vancouver Island, Langford creates more parks than other jurisdictions - and has been doing that for over 15 years. With 21% of the city in parks and green spaces, they boast 2300 acres in 300 parks!

In addition to the Fire Chief Al LeQuesne Memorial Park (opening in September), the 130 acre Jordie Lunn Bike Park will celebrate the Grand Opening on May 10th. It will also be the host site in July for the Red Bull World Championship Qualifier for the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship in Chile - the only Canadian stop on the Qualifier circuit! Coming up, there will also be a dedication ceremony for the new Flying Firemen Park on Skirt Mountain, in honour of the 2 waterbomber pilots who died in a crash there in 1967. 

Our full conversation illustrated that Langford has bold plans not just for their Parks and Recreation opportunities, but also housing, education - secondary and post, environment, traffic, jobs, and economy. Too much for this episode, so stay tuned for a future episode where the rest of the conversation will show the full-service, self-sustained community and full-circle lifestyle that Langford aims for. The term “From Dogpatch to Desirable” is the teaser that we’ll leave you with.

Introducing Week on Wednesday with Amazing Places.

Sometimes there’s interesting events happening in the region that we’re interested in, but aren’t able to turn into a podcast, or a representative isn’t available. So we thought we’d round up a few each week and let you know some highlights.

Emergency Preparedness Week   until May 7th

Federal, provincial, regional, and many municipal governments have information and activities for Emergency Preparedness Week. You can find preparedness tips, YouTube videos, prizes, classes/info sessions, etc. Some are through your local fire department or Emergency Programme. For individual municipalities, contact your local government.

Hills To Shore Artists Tour   May 7th & 8th

The Hills to Shore Artists Tour has been happening for over 15 years. Open to artists in the Gordon Head, Cadboro Bay, and Mt Tolmie areas, they’re very excited to be back for 2022! Featuring artists: Janet Anderson, Clare Attwell, Andrea England, Sheryl Fisher, Kari Frazer, Ginny Glover, Judi Macleod, Jenny Miller, Carol Sherwood, Sandhu Singh, and Marcela Strasdas.

Mother's Day Concert   May 8th 2-4pm

If you’ve never attended the Mother’s Day concert at Playfair Park in Saanich, this year would be a great time to do so! Featuring the renowned Reynolds High School Orchestra, playing against a backdrop of beautiful rhododendrons. It’s a Spring tradition for many. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the free open air concert.

Jordie Lunn Bike Park Grand Opening   May 10th

Straight from Langford Mayor Stew Young himself, he let us know about the Grand Opening for the Jordie Lunn Bike Park. The Park is a free, one-of-a-kind recreational cycling space that caters to cyclists of all ages and abilities. Located off Irwin Rd in Langford.

Curb Appeal   until May 14th

A community art event in the Gorge/Tillicum/Burnside neighbourhood, the Gorge Tillicum Community Association are inviting area residents to display something creative in your yard or window, on the theme “Spring Fantasy”

One Planet Student Challenge   Deadline for submissions: May 20th

The City of Victoria and the Municipality of Saanich have teamed up with OneEarth, to host One Planet Student Challenge. Students in Grades 6-12 in Greater Victoria are invited to enter submissions - either video or illustration -  to explore the question: How can we bring One Planet Living ideas into our communities and personal lives? Stay tuned for details on next week’s podcast on Friday!

Museums are not dusty relics of the past - they are us;  reflecting our history, showcasing what we value, helping us understand and appreciate the past. They give us a sense of our place in the world, and help us learn lessons of those who have gone before.

International Museum Day is coming up on May 18th, so this episode we have archivist Sonia Nicholson from the Saanich Pioneer Society & Log Cabin Museum.

The Society has been around since the late 1860s, with the Saanich Pioneer Museum built in 1933. Although located in what is now Central Saanich, the Municipality was actually Ward 6 of Saanich. So while Ward 6 seceded from Saanich in 1950, the Society name continued, as that was their history.

Listen as Sonia talks about some of the challenges that small museums and archives face, especially when they are stand-alone not-for-profits. We also discuss what is coming up with the Saanich Pioneer Society as they prepare to re-open from the pandemic, the power of museums, what you can do to get involved (it's also National Volunteer Week!), and we touch on how the spark was lit for Sonia to write a book involving local history! 

Links for what we discuss:

Saanich Pioneer Society 

Twitter: @SaanichPioneerS

Instagram: @saanichpioneersociety

Facebook: Saanich Pioneer Society @SaanichPioneerSoc

International Council of Museums 

Twitter: @IcomOfficiel

Instagram: @icomofficiel

Facebook: International Council of Museums - ICOM @IcomOfficiel

International Council of Museums - Canada 

Twitter: @ICOMCanada

Facebook: ICOM Canada @ICOMCanada

#IMD2022 #InternationalMuseumsDay #InternationalMuseumDay