Issuu

2015

BEST CITY OF THE

As Voted By Our Readers

Thank You

Victoria!

Proud to be your Auto Service Specialists!

Best City

of the

Voted

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Service Manager, Royal Oak

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MEET THE VIEW ROYAL TEAM

Best City

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h 19t

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

250.381.5055

Voted

2013

1519 Admirals Road

1 R YEA

2959 Douglas Street

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h 19t

VICTORIA NEWS

2013

MEET THE DOUGLAS STREET TEAM

1 R YEA

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2013

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Service Manager, Cedar Hill

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VICTORIA NEWS

3993 Cedar Hill Road

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2 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Voted

R YEA

MEET THE CEDAR HILL TEAM

VICTORIA NEWS

250.474.2291

Service Manager, Langford

Service Manager, View Royal

B Best City

of the

Westshore Town Centre

NOEL O’LEARY

SCOTT BASTIEN

Voted

2013

MEET THE LANGFORD TEAM

h 19t

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The summer delight of fresh strawberries at the Saanich Strawberry Festival. This year’s festival is July 12.

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NE WS

Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015 44••Best

YEAR

201 5

21st

How to contact us: Black Press 818 Broughton St. Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E4 Phone: 250-381-3484 Email: editor@vicnews.com Web: vicnews.com Group Publisher Penny Sakamoto Associate Pubisher Oliver Sommer Editor Kevin Laird Photo Editor Don Denton Production Manager Janice Marshall Winners in the 21st 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 PressVancouver 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.

FEATURES 6 Heart and Soul

Greater Victorians give their time, talent and treasures to the greater community

Nations 7 First communities put

out the welcome mat

say the 13 Tourists darndest things There are a lot of common misconceptions about Victoria that many tourists still believe are true

Victoria’s 16 Greater top 10 hidden gems We sent out our reporters to find some of our region’s lesser known outdoor getaways

19 A star is born

You won’t find all of Victoria’s stars in the sky – we’ve produced some pretty good human ones too

33 must-have 29 10 Victoria experiences from a West 41 Arts Coast perspective markets 42 Victoria ‘tourism on a human scale’

And the survey says ... The much-anticipated Best of the City Survey is covered with seven pages of results

“Tourists want to learn, taste, see and experience,” says the president of Tourism Victoria

THE SHELBOURNE PLAZA deep in the

of the Shelbourne Valley

Shelbourne at Cedar Hill X Road

A&W TD Canada Fairway Grocery & Bakery & BakeryGrocery & Bakery Restaurant Trust Grocery Frontrunners Cards Cards&&Gifts Gifts Cards & Gifts Sports Sports &&Bikes SportsMarket & Bikes Lizzy Lee &Bikes Me

Heart Pharmacy

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Grocery & Bakery

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Booster Mac’s Cycle Ink & Toner Medic Little Thai Liquor Oregano’s Pizza Grocery & Bakery Grocery Grocery & Bakery Grocery & Bakery Grocery &&Bakery & Bakery Juice Wild&& Birds Centre Place City Nails Merit Cards &Bakery GiftsGrocery Sports & Bikes Cards Gifts Cards & Gifts Cards Gifts Sports Bikes Sports Bikes Sports & Bikes Sports & BikesDistribution Br. Cards Cards &Travel &Gifts Gifts Cards Gifts Sports Sports & &Bikes BikesSports & Bikes and& Bistro Unlimited

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

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 5

rts & Bikes

Best of the City

Red Art Gallery’s Marion Evamy goes over some of the pieces in the Holiday Art Exchange with Victoria Women’s Transition House board member Laura Atkinson and development director Susan Howard.

Giving time, talent and treasures

Heart & Soul Clarence (Butch) Dick’s biggest passion is mentoring children. The Songhees master carver worked as a First Nation art and culture teacher in School District 61 for 25 years before retiring nine years ago. This year he earned the Leadership Victoria Lifetime Achievement award for his work in the community. Greater Victoria Public Library CEO Maureen Sawa earned the United Way of Greater Victoria Award for Collaboration and Partnership, recognizing an individual leader in a non-profit organization building community. Alex Harned, winner of the VanCity Youth Award that recognizes a young person between the ages of 20 and 30 who demonstrates leadership by helping to redefine wealth in a way that furthers the financial, social and environmental well-being of our members and their communities. The Saunders Family Foundation consistently donates to organizations such as KidSport or area ball leagues to keep youngsters who might otherwise not be able to enjoy organized sports or arts programs. It also donate to causes such as the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents’ Association and the Saunders Comfy Kids program that supports families battling with cancer.

6 • Best of the City Summer 2015

As Reynolds High school viceprincipal, Dean Norris-Jones leads students in community spirit. Defeating thyroid cancer more than 10 years ago, he sparked a steamroller that saw students raise more than $100,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society Tour de Rock last year alone.

The David Foster Foundation provides financial support to Canadian families with children undergoing life-saving organ transplants. Over the past 25 years the foundation has helped more than 700 families and provided millions of dollars in support. Malcolm Barker, general manager and vice-president of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards earned United Way’s inaugural Chair’s Award of Distinction this year. His leadership and commitment to community is best demonstrated by his ongoing support of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards’ United Way workplace campaign over the last 20 years that has raised $740,000 to help support a network of social services in Greater Victoria. Seaspan also won United Way’s Outstanding Workplace Campaign Spirit Award for last year’s campaign. Barker retired April 17. UVic professor and author Grant has been Rebecca Grant, involved with the United Way since 2002, has chaired the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the University Club board and volunteers with Ballet Victoria. Young philanthropist Krigolson then Owen Krigolson, in Grade 1 at Campus View elementary, raised more than $2,500 last year for The Prostate Centre on his ‘Poppa’ Dave Ferguson’s behalf after the former teacher was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer. Fiona Hyslop spent six years on the board of the Victoria Foundation, has been chair of the board of the NEED Crisis line and a board member of Pacific Opera Malcolm Barker, left of Victoria Shipyards, leads a tour of the shipyards. Barker and the company were awarded this year for giving time and treasures to some of the region’s most vulnerable.

Victoria and the Victoria Business and Professional Women’s Club. Before taking the helm as mayor of Victoria, Lisa Helps was a volunteer with the Leadership Victoria Society and executive director of the Community Micro Lending Society. She’s also worked as a facilitator with groups such as Lifecycles Project and AIDS Vancouver Island. Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria ICA offers services for immigrant and refugee newcomers, provides outreach and education through arts and community development workshops on anti-racism, diversity awareness and human rights. Rupert Yakelashek, 11, was recognized this year as one of Canada’s top environmentalists under 25 by The Starfish Canada. His largest environmental contributions are connected with the Blue Dot Movement, a program that focuses on the importance of healthy food, water and air for Canadians. An active member of the community, Ron Lou-Poy is a proponent of the McPherson Foundation, Victoria Police Board, Victoria Chinese community, and the Royal B.C. Museum. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2003. Mel Cooper’s community leadership for events such as the Victoria Commonwealth Games contributed to his receiving both the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. Naz Rayani is a champion of philanthropy and a community leader who helped bring the Partnership Walk to Victoria to increase public awareness about global poverty and to help raise funds to support Third World economic development programs by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada. Rev. Tom Oshiro is a staunch supporter of business, directed camp ministries and built a retreat centre. He was awarded Citizen of the Year for Victoria in 2002 and a Leadership Victoria Lifetime Achievement Award

in 2010. Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi was the inaugural director of the Office of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Victoria and was the Manager of the First Peoples House at UVic (2007-2012). She has served on numerous provincial and national boards and committees. Fran was also the founding chair of the Indigenous Adult & Higher Learning Association. In January 2015 she was selected to participate in an initiative for the Native Women’s Association of Canada called The IT Journal, for the Aboriginal Women’s Business Entrepreneur Network. Bobb Hamilton and artist Marion Evamy of Red Art Gallery created the Holiday Art Exchange, purchasing artwork to turn around and sell, with 100 per cent of sales going to Victoria Women’s Transition House. Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island raises funds for facilities, services and urgently needed medical equipment to support the health and wellbeing of children and youth on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The Rudi and Sylvia Hoenson Foundation has donated more than $3 million benefitting the Victoria Hospital Foundation, the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, B.C. Children’s Hospital and Rudi’s fellow veterans at the Lodge at Broadmead. Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson has a distinguished career as a fundraising professional. She was invited into the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem and received of the Royal Roads University Community Leadership Award, UVic Distinguished Alumni Award and Rotary Community Leadership Award. Former deputy attorney general Ted Hughes has acted as chair for various hospital boards and health-care organizations. He actively advocates for the Victoria homeless, acting previously with the mayor of Victoria as co-chair of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness.

Elders Gathering

First Nations communities put out the welcome mat

itu Furn re Sto st

Voted

Best City

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VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

2015

st 21

way to pass on their knowledge to another generation.” Underwood, from Tsawout, is one of the main organizers and has taken on a lead role for the community. Her own mother, 86-year-old Geraldine Underwood, is an elder and the oldest in her community. The area’s oldest elder, she notes, is 95-yearold Bea Elliott of the Tsartlip nation. In all, there are around 120 elders on the Peninsula. Organizer Perry LaFortune, who made the successful bid in 2013 to bring the Elders Gathering to the Peninsula, adds there’s always a political aspect to the event – from health care and recognition of wartime service, to the overall social justice movement within Canada’s aboriginal community. “It’s not supposed to be political,” adds Underwood, “but social change is always a part of our lives.” A variety of workshops will be on offer during the Gathering – discussing languages, story-telling and more. Learn more about the Elders Gathering at bcelders2015.ca. The Elders Gathering will be held at Panorama Recreation Centre

Doug and Kathy LaFortune are the the King and Queen of the 39th Elders Gathering.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUSINESS PROFILE: Dodd’s Furniture

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

Dodd’s Furniture offers shoppers more local selection Keeping it Canadian at Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress

When it comes to shopping Canadian, going local for your furniture offers a wealth of benefits. Not only are there the environmental benefits when your new sofa needn’t cross oceans to reach you, but there are significant financial and design benefits as well, notes Love Dodd, store manager at Dodd’s Furniture and son of company founder Gordy Dodd.

“A lot of the manufacturers have a great selection of styles and fabrics and many offer the opportunity to ﬁne-tune exactly what you’re looking for, choosing the style, wood and fabrics to create the perfect piece of furniture for your style and space,” Love says, pointing to quality BC and Canadian-made sofas and solid wood bedroom sets from names like Palliser and Elite. Customizing each piece is simple, thanks to in-store samples and knowledgeable sales staff to walk you through the process. And, being local, Dodd’s can even offer two-week delivery on orders using in-stock fabric.

In fact, few places in Victoria likely offer as much experience as Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress, a ﬁxture in Victoria for close to 40 years and regularly voted one of the Best in the City. Through the decades, the

“local” message has come through loud and clear, thanks to Gordy’s deep involvement in the community, demonstrated through Dodd’s support for community organizations, its numerous fundraisers and events like the annual Thanksgiving dinner. “Supporting community was a founding principle at Dodd’s, so to be able to extend that more and more into the products we offer just makes sense to us.”

The local message doesn’t stop at sofas and bedroom suites, however. Dodd’s is Canada’s largest independent seller of madein-Vancouver Serta mattress and B.C.’s largest gallery for Simmons mattresses.

And good news for those wanting to improve their indoor air quality, those same mattresses are also made with more sustainable, natural soy-based materials, rather than with off-gassing synthetics typical of some overseas-produced products, Love points out.

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.

715 Finlayson St., Victoria 250.388.6663 www.doddsfurniture.com Hours: Mon, Tues, Sat 9-6 Wed-Fri 9-9, Sun & Hol 12-5

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

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 7

Yes, there’s the overall economic beneﬁts of supporting the Canadian economy, but with the recent adjustments in the Canadian dollar compared to its US counterpart, buying Canadian is now a lot more affordable too, Love notes. “People are appreciating the opportunity to choose Canadian; you don’t have to look overseas for affordable, quality furniture,” he notes.

Neither are you giving up style.

7 • Best of the City Summer 2015

First Nations communities on the Saanich Peninsula will welcome an estimated 5,000 people from across B.C., Washington State and Alberta for the 39th annual Elders Gathering. Close to 2,000 aboriginal elders will be arriving on Vancouver Island July 7 to 9 for the 2015 Elders Gathering, hosted by the Tsawout, Tsartlip, Pauquatchin and Tseycum communities. Preparing the way for them is a huge undertaking – a challenge happily accepted by the Tsawout First Nation and a committee of volunteers and leaders from all four aboriginal communities on the Saanich Peninsula. It’s mainly a social gathering, says Mavis Underwood, but there’s more to it. “The event is a way for elders and their families to reunite with others they haven’t seen for a long time,” Underwood says. And some may never see family again, she notes, as their age may preclude another meeting. And while the Gathering will focus mostly on socialization, Underwood says there are more serious aspects. “For some, it can be about healing and recovery between the generations. It’s a chance to share the strengths of the elders, a

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A food affair

Take a tastebud trip around the world with global food Floyd’s Diner, John’s Place Restaurant and Spoons Diner earn votes each year in our Best of the City tally. They’re mainstays for breakfast or that diner dinner, but in Victoria we have the world at our door step. Enjoy a little Chinese at Ming’s, Greek at Eugene’s; Italian at Il Terrazzo; the fare at Japanese Village Restaurant or Café Mexico and add a dash of Ukranian, French, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian and Thai available throughout the region. We’ve got the world smorgasbord. Each Canada Day Victoria throws a bash around the Inner Harbour

that features an international food fair. But it’s not something foodies in the region need to wait once a year for some area of our region only a short jaunt, by foot or car, to find a plethora of worldly food at the doorstep. Filipino, Italian, Greek food cavorting alongside our different available foods, old school diners and straight up traditional Canadian Chinese to trendy new noodle houses. In the newest venue – a testament to the value of myriad flavours in Victoria – Creole mingles with salmon barbecue as food trucks fill a space behind the Royal BC Museum. The RBCM rolls out its first Food Truck Festival, a tasty summer-long event now through October. Newcombe Plaza is transformed into an outdoor international food fair, featuring some of the finest food trucks and vendors in Victoria. Local favourite eats include Pig, DeadBeetz, A Streetcar Named New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta Amigos, The Love Perogy and Wild West BBQ Salmon.

Thanks Victoria, we think YOU’RE THE BEST!

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The Oak Bay Collector Car Festival celebrates vintage and collector cars of all makes and models. On Aug. 9 Oak Bay Avenue will be transformed into a pedestrian walkway as 250 to 300 cars are showcased to admiring spectators and aficionados. Not-yet-finished cars and the shiny and spotless begin arriving on the Avenue at 8 a.m. and hang around until about 4 p.m. Entertainment takes place throughout the day as the Avenue comes alive with festivities, including live entertainment

Thousands descended on the Inner Harbour last year for Canada Day celebrations in Victoria.

Celebrate the nation’s 148th birthday July 1 with fireworks, music, food and much more along Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The Canada Day Kid’s Zone returns to Belleville Street with plenty of interactive family activities. The ever-popular Living Flag will return to the B.C. legislature lawn and 1,500 red and white Tshirts will be available to participants. Main Stage performances will provide a multicultural experience, taking place on the legislature lawns. Headlining this year’s is Vancouver’s cultural-fusion, the energetic and mutli-faceted Delhi 2 Dublin. Montreal-based francophone electronic pop band, Monogrenade, will take to the Canada Day main stage shortly before sunset. A strong mix of local and cultural acts will be showcased on the Main Stage throughout the day, including Vancouver’s soul, funk boys The Boom Booms, presented in partnership with Victoria’s Ska and Reggae Festival; Vancouver-based “FairyFolk” musician Jordan Klassen; Juno award-winning and Island-based children’s performer Helen Austin; Victoria-native Mike Edel; Island favourites Carmanah, and the Taiko Drummers. “There is something for everyone at Victoria Celebrates Canada Day and we invite the community to join us downtown in celebrating this special day for all Canadians.” said Charlayne Thornton-Joe, City of Victoria councillor and Canada Day organizer.

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Marathon brings thousands to Capital City Thousands of runners will descend on the Capital for the annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Oct. 14 event will also include a half-marathon, an 8K run and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run. This marks the marathon’s 36th year. The first marathon in 1980 drew 700 runners. This year more than 14,000 are expected to take part. The marathon’s Charity Pledge Program, sponsored by CHEK News, returns for an 11th year with a goal of raising $175,000 for 22 local charities. The program has raised $1.5 million since 2006. The marathon also has four official charities: KidSport, the Times Colonist Raise a Reader fund, the GoodLife Kids Foundation and the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group. For more information on the marathon, please go online to runvictoriamarathon.com

Mmm ribs. If you have a hankering to dig into a plate of ribs, you can’t miss the Esquimalt Ribfest from Sept. 11 to 13. The first thing you notice about Ribfest is the wonderful smell of barbecued ribs. The Ribbers, as the professional barbecue teams are known, gently smoke their ribs and brisket for hours. This family event is a fundraiser for numerous local charitable organizations through the Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation. Along with ribs the event also includes live entertainment, a kid zone, local vendors, Rugby Canada Combine for Kids and cold craft brews and cider.

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Bes

• Faux Wood Blinds

IN A • Faux•Wood Blinds • Draperies • Valances Wood Blinds ROW • Wood Blinds • Valances 6 22 • Venetian Blinds • Roman Shades YEA6 YEARS • Venetian Blinds • Roman Shades 0 IN ARS •• Faux Wood Blinds •• Draperies 0 RIN A Faux Wood BlindsShades 1 RO • Pleated • Drapery Rods • Pleated Shades •Draperies Drapery Rods OW W 1 •• Wood Blinds • Valances Wood Blinds • Valances 4 4 • Cellular Shades •Roman InteriorShades Shutters •• Venetian Blinds • • Cellular Shades • Interior Shutters Venetian Blinds • Roman Shades 2 7 • Woven Woods Motorization YEA •• Pleated Shades •••Drapery 0 Pleated Shades Woods Drapery Rods Rods • Motorization IN RS • Blinds Woven ROWA •• Cellular Shades • Interior Shutters • Roller • Upholstery 1 Cellular Shades • Interior Shutters •• Woven Woods •••Motorization 5 •Price Roller Blinds • Upholstery • Best Policy Repair & Service Woven Woods Motorization •• Roller Blinds •••Upholstery • Sheers Soft Shadings Roller Blinds Upholstery • Best Price Policy • Repair & Service

2 0 1 4 Butter Cookies

T ES

CHI

NESE F O

Thank You Victoria for Choosing

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

2015

Victoria’s Choice for ﬁne Chinese Cuisine

Cafe Mexico

Voted

Best 1 City of the

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

S IA NEW VICTOR

AR YE

2015

s 21

Grill & Cantina

What makes this WBU Hummingbird Feeder The Best In The City?

SINCE 1985

OPENING JANUARY 2016

THANK YOU VICTORIA

It’s the new high perch for unobstructed view of the birds.

Breakfast & Lunch SERVED WITH A LATIN FLARE

 BREAKFAST & LUNCH



5 LY 201 U J G PENIN

12 • Best of the City Summer 2015



open 8-4 daily



Fuego



1435 Store Street

OLD TOWN



• • • •

Lifetime Guarantee Easy to Clean Bee and Wasp Resistant Ant-Moat - Blocks Crawling Insects • Made in U.S.A. • 4 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz and 16 oz

hummingbird HIGH PERCH™

FEEDER

EATERY

will be... open 8-4 daily licensed



OLD TOWN MARKET SQUARE Victoria BC

cafemexico.com .

250-595-3595 • 3631 SHELBOURNE PLAZA

Victoria Tourism

Tourists say darndest things – and we love them for it Tourism season in Greater Victoria is a year-round venture. Tourism Victoria expects more than three million visitors will come to Greater Victoria this year, with a $1.9-billion impact on the local economy. The harbour is also picking up speed with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority estimating 229 ships will bring more than 513,000 passengers to the area during the 2015 season. There’s also no shortage of ways to get around and explore the city – everything from pedicabs, horse-drawn carriage tours, boat and ferry rides, and double-decker tours that will take you to all the most popular tourist attractions and give visitors a sample of the city’s rich history. But there are a host of common misconceptions about Victoria, that many tourists still believe are true. Locals who work for adventure and touring companies tend to hear some funny questions come out of tourists’ mouths year-round. And there are some of the best ones:

From the mouths of tourists …

1. 2.

Where is the bridge to Vancouver?

Is Canada its own separate country or is it part of America?

What we tell tourists …

I want to hike Mount Whistler today.

4. 5.

Does Britain still run Canada?

Why aren’t there any children or hospitals on Vancouver Island?

6. 7.

Why is your money coloured? Why aren’t you speaking French?

Victoria boasts the mildest climate in Canada. Greater Victoria is one of Canada’s driest areas, with an average snowfall of only 25 centimetres and an average rainfall of 592 millimetres. ••• Greater Victoria covers an area of 695.35 square kilometers. The City of Victoria’s population is 82,653. The Capital Region population is 366,162. The population of Vancouver Island is 857,157 (2007).

••• Victoria’s primary industries are government, information technology and tourism. ••• There are 48 regional, provincial and federal parks in Greater Victoria, totalling more than 7,600 hectares. Victoria was established as Fort Victoria in 1843 by the Hudson’s Bay Fur Trading Company and was incorporated as a city in 1862. Source: Tourism Victoria

RUSSELL BOOKS Thanks Victoria for letting us know we stack up!

Voted

Best 1 City WS

Romance

IA NEWS VICTOR

Voted

VICTOR IA NEWS

YEAR

20 13

AR YE

2012

th 18

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTOR IA NEWS

Recreation Oak Bay was chosen by you in these categories: Best Recreation Centre Best Swimming Pool Recreation Oak Bay Annual Passes: ADULT ANNUAL PASS $385 ($34/month) 19 years & over

YOUTH ANNUAL PASS $169 ($16/month) 6-18 years

250-595-7946

recreation.oakbay.ca

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 13

YEAR

20 11

17th

Thank-you Victoria for choosing Recreation Oak Bay!

st 21

R YEA

IA NE VICTOR

2015

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

Voted

Best 1 City WS

734 Fort St. 361-4447 Check out our Vintage Room at 738 Fort Street

of the

19th

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

www.russellbooks.com

Best City

13 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Voted

of the

Non-Fiction

Now with over 16,000 square feet!

Best City

Childrens Biography Western

AR YE

Reference Atlas

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

AR YE

Voted

of the

Fiction

History Science-Fiction

st 21

Best 1 City 2014

Novels

IA NE VICTOR

2015

Mystery Horror

of the

14 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Your Community.

WE BUILD STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES

851 Broughton Street, Victoria • Ph: 250-386-7511 • www.victoriay.com

JAPANESE VILLAGE Voted

Best City

of the

NEWS VICTORIA

AR YE

2015

s 21

Little swashbucklers always enjoy the festivities during Esquimalt’s annual Buccaneer Days festivities, held every June.

A Chef at Every Table Dazzling Sleight-of-Hand Chop! Season! Sizzle!

Voted

Best 1 City of the

S IA NEW VICTOR

AR YE

2015

Teppanyaki Dining and Sushi Dining

s 21

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

Free shipping with minimum $70 order. Anywhere in Canada.

Best Best ofof the the City City Summer Summer 2015 2015 •• 15 15

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

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTO RIA N EWS

Fresh, Local and Delicious

YEAR

20 15

Produce

Thank you for voting us “Best of the City”

21th

SATISFY YOUR CRAVINGS®

ALI BABA HOTLINE:

704-2-704

From farm to table, the farm fresh produce is overflowing at Pepper’s. Working daily with local farmers to bring you the freshest, locally grown produce available, Pepper’s is focused on putting the highest quality produce on your table. Join us in supporting our local farmers and keep our community vibrant and growing. From crunchy green lettuce to bright red Saanich tomatoes, you will find Pepper’s shelves bursting with local goodness.

Visit us today and taste the difference local makes.

Vancouver Island’s Premier Pizza Company Online Ordering

AliBabaPizza.com Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

2012

18th

VICTORIA NEWS

Chinese Food Buffet

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA th

Seats up to 120 People Over 50 items including Dim Sum, Salad & Soft Ice Cream

Buffet All Day

of the

VICTOR IA NEW S

YEAR

Szechuan Chilli Fish Beijing Roast Duck Szechuan Hot Pot

Voted

Best City

20 15

Ask about our senior and student discounts

2014

ting Over 50 Years of Good Food

R YEA

2013

Celebra

Best City

of the

& Largest

Thanks Victoria!

Voted

Best City

of the

Voted

Victoria’s Best

21st

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Dinner Menu also available Seafood Buffet Fri. - Sun. & Holidays

16 • Best of the City Summer 2015

250-477-6513 3829 Cadboro Bay Road www.peppers-foods.com

Hours Mon-Fri: 8 am–9 pm, Sat: 8 am–7:30 pm, Sun: 8 am–7:30 pm

Quality & Service Guaranteed – 100% Victoria Owned

Raymond’s Restaurant 212 - 815 Cloverdale Avenue next to Michael’s

250-380-1881

Behind the scenes

Greater Victoria’s top 10

Hidden Gems The Capital Region is an outdoor lover’s paradise, especially in summer when the days are long and even the rain takes a vacation. Check out some of the region’s lesser outdoor getaways to escape the sun-loving crowds.

Moss Rock Park (Victoria). Nestled between residential properties, this rocky public park overlooks picturesque Fairfield in all its undisturbed post-war glory. The backdrop of the Olympic mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca makes for an epic picnic or afternoon reading spot. TO GET THERE: Head to Masters Road off Fairfield Road and follow the signs. Parking is tight so best to leave the car nearby and make the five-minute hike by foot.

Bear Hill Regional Park (Saanich). The summit of Bear Hill offers panoramic views of Mount Baker, the nearby Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. The Garry oak tree microclimate offers shade for native plants like camas, sea blush and chocolate lilies. Much more isolated than a jaunt up Pkols (Mount Doug).

Francis/King Regional Park (Saanich). Stroll up to 11 kilometres under ancient Douglas firs as you make your way to the beautiful cedar boardwalk along Elsie King trail. This self-guided interpretive trail with frequent rest areas is fully accessible for people with limited mobility as well.

Rockcrest Park (Esquimalt). This one hectare park is the smallest natural area in Esquimalt. Wildflowers such as camas and shooting star appear each spring nestled among Douglas fir trees and in a small Garry oak meadow. The panoramic views offer a reason to stay for the afternoon. TO GET THERE: Rockcrest is accessible by foot from Rockcrest Place or Highrock Avenue.

6. 4.

Mystic Vale (Saanich). This 11-acre bog and coniferous woodland on the University of Victoria campus is frozen in time. The Coast Salish peoples used the fertile area for harvesting plants, hunting and fishing for thousands of years. TO GET THERE: Enter off Cedar Hill Cross Road near the southeast UVic entrance.

Galloping Goose Regional Trail and E&N Rail Trail (Victoria, Saanich, Westshore). Not so hidden perhaps, but there are dozens of side trips available along this well-used cycling path. So dust off or rent a bike and start exploring this incredible region.

Hollydene Beach (Saanich). This hidden beach has possibly the softest sand in the Capital Region, and it’s only a five-minute walk from Gordon Head Road. You don’t find more clear sea water in this idyllic setting. Bring some snacks and drinking water, as there’s not much else around.

10.

Cole Island (off Esquimalt Harbour). This small island is viewable from Parson’s Bridge in View Royal and accessible only by boat. The former Royal Navy munitions depot used to house 17 structures as old as 1860, but the buildings have been beaten by the West Coast winters. The ghost island makes for a perfect sea kayak adventure.

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 17

Entrance Park (Oak Bay Avenue and Foul Bay Road). This tiny parkette offers surprising reprieve from the busy nearby traffic. Take a few minutes to smell the roses from a hidden bench en route to Oak Bay’s many boutique storefront shops.

Queen Alexandra Cove (Saanich). Another hidden gem behind Queen Alexandra Children’s Hospital, this untouched paradise would have you believing you’re on Denman Island, not minutes from downtown. It’s a perfect summer spot to avoid the busy beach crowds at Thetis Lake or Willows Beach.

Abra-Kid-Abra your professionalsAbra-Kid-Abra Everything for Kids

Everything for Kids

Abra-Kid-Abra

2024 Oak Bay Ave.,Victoria, BC 250-595-1613

Abra-Kid-Abra Everything for Kids

Everything for Kids

Abra-Kid-Abra you’ll At Abra-Kid-AbraAt you’ll find “Everything for Kids” along with caring and helpful find “Everything forour knowledgeable staff. service from Kids” along with caring We sell a variety and helpful service from of new products inour knowledgeable staff. apparel, dress-up, dance, cluding children’s

We sell a variety of new swim & sunwear, hats, shoes, toys, baby products including children’s layette and much much more! apparel, dress-up, dance, swim Have you our consignment section? & sunwear, hats,checked shoes, toys, We haveand a fabulous baby layette much muchselection of gently-used secondhand clothing, baby equipment and toys. more!

30 OFF FURNACE &

DUCT CLEANING

Do you you checked have visitors coming this summer? Use our rental services for baby furniture, Have our consignment section? car seats, etc.ofBook early to avoid disappointment Westrollers, have a fabulous selection gently-used secondhand baby equipment toys. Do you clothing, have visitors comingand this summer? DoUse youour have visitors coming summer? rental services forthis baby furniture, strollers, car Use our rental servicesearly for baby furniture, strollers, car seats, etc. Book to avoid disappointment seats, etc. Book early to avoid disappointment.

FREE CHIMNEY SWEEP When you order a furnace and air duct cleaning

DRYER VENT CLEANING

AERO Furnace, Duct & Chimney Cleaning

One per customer. May not be combined with any other offer or promotion. Expires July 31, 2015.

CLEAN, FAST SERVICE ANYWHERE IN VICTORIA

250-479-0090 • aeroservices.ca

FURNACES AND AIR DUCTS • DRYER VENTS • CHIMNEY FLUES • HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS 2024 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, BC • 250-595-1613

We’re Well Known 2024 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, BC • 250-595-1613 For Our Tires

COLUMBIA FUELS.

2024 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, BC • 250-595-1613

But

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We’re Also Equipped With

Service Excellence Since 1993. Residential & Commercial • Earn AIR MILES® reward miles on all residential purchases

Licenced Technicans

• Automatic Delivery Program

• Electrical Problems • Brakes & Mufflers • Steering & Suspensions • Tune-Ups & Maintenance • RV’s & Trailers and So Much More!

• Same day delivery (some conditions apply) • Comfort Service Plan: - 24 Hour Emergency Service is just a call away

• Equipment Sales & Installation • Commercial Delivery, Cardlock, On-Site Refueling & Lubricants • New Website Design • New Secure Billing Portal

250-474-3533 • 1-877-500 HEAT (4328) SIDNEY

250-656-5544

Columbia Fuels has many offices throughout BC. We’re just a phone call away!

VICTORIA

250-386-6367

www.columbiafuels.com

VICTORIA

250-386-6367

elping peopleattain attainoptimum optimumhealth. health. lping people

Helping people attain optimum he SIDNEY 250-656-5544

Helping people attain optimum health. Helping people attain optimum health. Helping people attain optimum health. Helping people attain optimum health. Kenrico Lifetime Ion Shower Head

18 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Springless Mini Trampoline

New Designer Series Blender

Everything you could want in a juicer - can handle wheatgrass, pasta and baby foods... all without destructive heat.

The Real Champion of Juicers

Weighted Acu Hula Hoops®

Earthing Products

Structured Water Units

Patented Insoles

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

250-370-1818 | 770 Spruce Ave., Victoria | trianglehealingproducts.com

Forever Alkaline Water Stick

Teeter Hang Ups

Famous Victorians

Voted

BeVsotetd BC esi Citty

of the of the

VICTO R VICTO IA NEW S RIA N E WS

Y AR R EA YE

2 2 01 0 1 5

21thst 21

David Foster leads a classroom discussion with UVic students prior to receiving his award as the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year.

City boasts its share of stars Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Rod Stewart, Madonna and Barbra Streisand. Foster was born in Victoria and attended Mount Douglas Secondary. ROY HENRY VICKERS – Vickers is one of Canada’s most celebrated artists. Vickers – class of ‘65. The world-renowned artist’s work can be found in private and public collections and galleries around the world including the National Museum of Man (Ottawa, Ont.), University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (Vancouver), the McMichael Canadian Art Collection (Kleinburg, Ont.) and the National Museum of Japan (Osaka). Vickers, who graduated from Oak Bay High, has been awarded the Order of B.C. and Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

19 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Victoria’s claim to some of Canada’s best and brightest isn’t anything new. PIERRE BURTON – Burton was one of Canada’s most prolific and popular authors. Along with writing 50 books, Burton was also the managing editor of Macleans and appeared in numerous TV shows. His family moved to Victoria when he was 12 and he went on to graduate from Oak Bay High. EMILY CARR – Carr is a legend in Canadian art. Carr is remembered primarily for her painting. She was one of the first artists to attempt to capture the spirit of Canada in a modern style, with nature and aboriginal culture being a predominant theme in her work. Carr was born in Victoria. The Carr home was on Birdcage Walk, (now Government Street) in the James Bay district of Victoria.

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 19

Victoria has played a significant role in the lives of many who have gone on to make a name for themselves in the world of the business, sports and the arts. STEVE NASH – Nash was an eighttime NBA All-Star and a two-time recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Nash moved to Victoria when he was very young, going on to star in basketball, soccer and rugby at St. Michaels University School. NELLY FURTADO – Furtado has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and won numerous awards and accolades, including two Grammy Awards, 10 Juno Awards, three MuchMusic Video Awards and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Furtado was born in Victoria and graduated from Mount Douglas Secondary. JEFFREY MALLETT –Mallett is a Canadian entrepreneur and investor, best known for building internet giant Yahoo. Mallet grew up in Victoria, attending Mount Douglas Secondary and playing baseball and soccer in Gordon Head before going on to the University of Victoria. JAMIE BENN – Benn captured this year’s Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer. The captain of the Dallas Stars also brought home Olympic Gold with the Canadian men’s team at the Sochi Games. Benn grew up playing hockey for the Peninsula Eagles minor hockey association and attended Stelly’s Secondary School as a teenager. DAVID FOSTER – Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards and has produced albums for the like of Christina Aguilera, Michael Bublé,

Thank you Victoria! Celebrating 29 Years of Good Food, Great Service, and Really Cold Beer.

TREE

the

MONKEY TREE

PUB

REE

oria Since 1986

Serving Victoria Since 1986

4025 Borden Street at Mckenzie 250.727.3550 Liquor Store 9 am - 11 pm Pub Open 7 days a week, 11 am - 12 am, 363 days a year

the

MONKEY TREE

Victoria is known as one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the country, with the annual Bike to Work Week and the Victoria International Cycling Festival.

PUB

1986

Our Customers Tell Us WE ARE THE BEST IN THE CITY!

50% off All Frames INCLUDING IN-STOCK DESIGNERS

EYE EXAMS AT GREAT RATES

20 20••Best Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015

DIAMOND OPTICAL EYECARE DIAMOND OPTICAL EYECARE DIAMOND EYECARE OAK BAY

DIAMOND OPTICAL DIAMOND OPTICALEYECARE VICTORIA

1964 Fort St. • Across from Save-On-Foods • 250.590.2932 1320 Douglas St. • Downtown • 250.380-6919

2015 RESULTS The Best of the City

Voted

Bestty Ci of the

NEWS A I R VICTO

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2015 Best free fun

AR YE

2015

1 Dallas Road/Beacon Hill Park 2 Inner Harbour 3 Busker’s Festival

Best place to worship 1 Christ Church Cathedral 2 St. Andrews 3 Glad Tidings

Best Museum 1 Royal BC Museum 2 Maritime Museum 3 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Best adventure tourism

LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Victoria’s Inner Harbour with the Fairmont Empress in the background.

Best tourist attraction

Best place for afternoon tea

Best place to walk your dog

Best place to meet a mate

1 The Fairmont Empress 2 White Heather Tea Room 3 Murchies

1 Dallas Road/Beacon Hill Dog Park 2 Elk/Beaver Lake 3 Thetis Lake

1 Dallas Road/Beacon Hill Park 2 Thrifty Foods 3 Starbucks

1 Butchart Gardens 2 Royal BC Museum 3 Inner Harbour

1 Prince of Whales Whale Watching 2 Adrenaline 3 Wild Play

Best place to spot a celebrity 1 The Fairmont Empress 2 Downtown 3 Inner Harbour

Close enough to visit... far enough to get away.

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 21

250.391.3920 santespavictoria.com 1999 Country Club Way | Victoria, BC

Voted

Bestty Ci of the

WS IA NE R O T VIC

AR YE

2015

The Best of the City 2015 Results AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2015

Best local TV personality

1 Ed Bain 2 David Foster 3 Steve Nash

Best place to spot a ghost 1 Ross Bay Cemetery 2 Chinatown 3 Craigdarroch Castle

Best urban hiking trail 1 Mount Douglas 2 Galloping Goose 3 Thetis Lake

Best local radio personality 1 Ed Bain and Cliff Lesquesne 2 Jason Lamb and Dylan Willows 3 Robin Farrell

Best for appliances

1 Value Village 2 Salvation Army 3 Win Shops

SHOPPING

Best consignment shop

1 2 3 3

Best shop for vitamins & nutrition

1 Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana 2 My Sister’s Closet 3 Good Things Consignments

Best for hardware (independent)

1 The Vitamin Shop 2 Lifestyle Market 3 Popeye’s Supplements

Local celebrity you’d like to invite to dinner

Best thrift shop

1 Ed Bain 2 Gordie Tupper 3 Astrid Braunschmidt

1 Capital Iron 2 Cook Street Castle 3 Lumberworld

Best new car dealership 1 Jim Pattison Toyota 2 Campus Honda 3 Wille Dodge Chrysler Ltd.

Best bookstore 1 Bolen Books 2 Munro’s Books 3 Chapters

Best used car dealership 1 Galaxy Motors 2 Jim Pattison Toyota 3 Howie’s Car Corral

Best used bookstore 1 Russell Books 2 Penelope’s 3 The Smart Bookshop

Best for motorcycles/ scooters

Best flower shop 1 Brown’s the Florist 2 Thrifty Foods 3 Harry’s Flowers

1 Steve Drane Harley-Davidson 2 Action Motorcycles 3 SG Power

Best garden shop

Best boat/marine

1 Garden Works 2 Dig This 3 Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre at Cannor Nursery

1 SG Power 2 Sherwood Marine 3 Trotac Marine

Sears Canada Trail Appliances Coast Wholesale Appliances The Brick

Best RV

Best for hardware (chain)

1 Arbutus RV 2 Peden RV Superstore 3 Triangle RV Centre

1 Home Depot 2 Rona 3 Home Hardware

Best eyewear 1 Optics International 2 Maycock Eyecare 3 Goo Goo Goggles Optical

Best kitchen shop 1 Capital Iron 2 Cook Culture 3 Penna & Co.

Best bicycle shop 1 Oak Bay Bicycles 2 Russ Hays The Bicycle Shop 3 Farifield Bicycle Shop

Best for your pets 1 Bosley’s Pets 2 Pets West 3 PetSmart

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

BUSINESS PROFILE: Capital Iron

Regency fireplace dealer – a natural extension of its longstanding reputation as the go-to place for barbecues – a move that has proven extremely popular with customers, Black notes. “It’s a natural fit; it’s the kind of business where you need to have the experts to provide the service, and we have that.” Offering both gas and wood fireplaces, customers appreciate the store’s ability to provide knowledgeable sales, installation and service all from one location, much as it’s done with barbecues for years. In fact, the promise that has made them famous for two decades – for any barbecue over $400, you’ll receive a cover, delivery, set-up and removal of the old barbecue – really resonates, Black notes. “People love that. They also love our selection and that we know what we’re talking about.”

of the

WS VICTORIA NE

On the Peninsula, Capital Iron’s st Sidney customers are enjoying the 21 return of the Sidney Summer Sale, across Beacon Avenue from the main store in the former Snapdragon Nursery location, always fun to explore and pick up something new for patio, garden or cottage. “We really appreciate the support we’ve enjoyed from across Greater Victoria. We’ve been around for 81 years now and we’re very thankful for our customers,” says Black, a Think Local First board member. “When you do shop locally with us, more of your money stays right here in this community.” AR YE

As one of Victoria’s favourite shopping destinations for more than 80 years, Capital Iron’s well-known promise – “There’s no store like it!” – rings true. Alongside a giant, colourful metal T-Rex at the Store Street location this summer, you’ll also find one of the city’s best hardware selections, housewares you won’t find everywhere else, the well-stocked garden section, and of course, barbecues! And with summer’s arrival, the outdoor recreation department is also bustling with enthusiasts looking for tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and accessories...always lots of accessories! And did we mention custom furniture? Yes, they do that too, with made-in-Canada Decor-Rest allowing customers to choose their ideal style, size and fabric. It’s the store’s uniqueness – that “you-never-knowwhat-you-might-find” quality – that has kept Capital Iron a Victoria favourite for decades. At the same time, the staff choose very carefully what they provide, and back it with exceptional service, notes owner Mike Black. Being local allows the store to respond directly to customers, key to why last year’s expansion to the West Shore has been such a success. At a bright and airy 25,000sq.ft., the store is about half the size of the downtown store, but is chock-full of most of the favourites customers have come to know Capital Iron for – kitchen goodies and gadgets, patio furnishings and accessories, hot tubs, outdoor gear and barbecues. It’s also been a year since Capital Iron became a

Best City

2015

22 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Capital Iron: Celebrating 81 years of selection & service

Voted

L I RO PITLA N A C ESTAB ISHED 1934

THERE’SNO NO STORE LIKELIKE IT! THERE’S STORE IT...

VICTORIA

1900 Store St 250.385.9703

WEST SHORE

975 Langford Pkwy 778.433.1941

SIDNEY

Sidney Centre 250.655.7115

www.capitaliron.net

Best independent shoe store 1 The Cobbler 2 Footloose Shoes 3 Baggins Shoes

Best fashion boutique 1 Still Life 2 True 3 Hughes

Best furniture store (chain) 1 The Brick 2 Sears Canada 3 La Z Boy 1 Sleep Country Canada 2 The Brick 3 Dodd’s

Best paint store

1 Moss Street Market 2 Red Barn 2 The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd. 3 Sidney Market

1 Pacific Paint Store 2 Benjamin Moore 3 General Paints

Best for window coverings 1 Ruffell and Brown 2 Budget Blinds 3 Sears Canada

1 2 2 3

Best for barbeques 1 Capital Iron 2 Home Depot 3 Canadian Tire

Best for lighting

Best for musical instruments

Best furniture store (independent) 1 Dodd’s 2 Gabriel Ross Inc. 3 Standard Furniture

Best old school diner

Best for first date

Capital Iron Borton’s Spas and Pools Ltd. Vintage Hot tubs Aqua Pacific Pools and Spas Ltd.

1 Home Depot 2 island Flooring 3 End of the Roll

1 Bin 4 Burger Lounge 2 Be Love 3 Brown’s Social House 1 Floyd’s Diner 2 John’s Place 3 Spoons Diner

Best for pool/spa

Best for flooring

1 McLaren Lighting 2 Illuminations Lighting Solutions 3 Pine Lighting

Best new restaurant

Best mattress store

Best farmers market

RESTAURANTS/ FOOD & DRINK

Best Italian

1 Il Terazzo 2 Milestones 3 The Keg

1 Il Terrazzo 2 Pagiliaccis 3 Romeo’s

Best seafood

Best Japanese

1 Nautical Nellies 2 Red Fish Blue Fish 3 Pescatores

1 Japanese Village 2 Azuma 3 Shizen

Best for steak

Best Mexican

1 The Keg 2 Brasserie L’Ecole 3 Nautical Nellies

1 Café Mexico 2 Hernandez 3 La Taquisa

Best Chinese

Best Vietnamese

1 Long & McQuade 2 Larsen Music 3 Tom Lee Music

1 Ming’s 2 JJ Wonton Noodle House 3 Don Mee

Best for jewellery

Best Greek

Best Indian

1 Peoples Jewellers 2 Violette 3 Idar

1 Eugene’s 2 Ithaka Greek Restaurant 3 Millo’s

1 Sizzling Tandoor 2 Da Tandoor 3 Tumeric

1 Pho Vy 2 Green Leaf Bistro 3 Pho Ever

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

Best for breakfast 1 Jam 2 Floyd’s Diner 3 John’s Place

Best vegetarian/vegan 1 Re-bar 2 Be Love 3 Lotus Pond

Best “all you can eat” 1 2 2 3

Sizzling Tandoor May Gold Village Raymond’s Marina Restaurant

Thank you Victoria for years of faithful business! From the Jim Pattison Toyota & Lexus Victoria Family

1 st

TESTIMONIAL

The whole team was great. We went in with a specific budget in mind and they worked with us to make it possible to get what we wanted”

Wonderful experience. Your lounge was wonderful to wait in with fresh coffee.”

JPToyotaVictoria.com 3050 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC | (250) 386-3516

JPLexusVictoria.com 623 Finlayson Street, Victoria, BC | (250) 386-3700

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 23

TESTIMONIAL

Voted

The Best of the City 2015 Results

Bestty Ci of the

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2015

S A NEW I R O VICT

AR YE

2015

Best patio bar

Best ice cream/gelato 1 Beacon Drive-In 2 Cold Comfort 3 Ottavio

1 Canoe Club Brew Pub 2 Glo 3 The Rooftop Surfclub

Best wings

Best sports bar

1 2 3 3

Best business lunch 1 Cactus Club 2 Moxie’s 3 Milestones

1 The Games Room 2 Shark Club 3 Tally Ho Sports Bar and Grill

The Tartan Toque Hecklers Bar and Grill 1550’s Monkey Tree Pub

Best for a martini 1 Veneto Tapa Lounge 2 Clive’s Classic Lounge 3 The Bengal Lounge

Best fish & chips 1 Barb’s Fish and Chips 2 Red Fish Blue Fish 3 Haultain Fish and Chips

Best for your sweet tooth 1 Dutch Bakery 2 Rogers’ Chocolates 3 Murchies

Best pub 1 Bard and Banker 2 Irish Times 3 Penny Farthing Public House

Best burger 1 Bin 4 Burger Lounge 2 The Pink Bicycle 3 Big Wheel Burgers

Best coffee/latte/ cappuccino(independent)

Best for scotch 1 Bard and Banker 2 Bengal Lounge 3 Clive’s Classic Lounge

Best pizza

1 Discovery Coffee 2 Habit Coffee 3 Café Fantastico

1 Pizzeria Prima Strada 2 Romeo’s 3 Ali Baba Pizza

FOOD SERVICE Best grocery store 1 Thrifty Foods 2 The Market Stores 3 Quality Foods

Best bulk food store 1 Bulk Barn 2 Costco 3 For Good Measure

Best for meat 1 Glenwood Meats 2 Thrifty Foods 3 Red Barn Market

Best for seafood 1 Thrifty Foods 2 Finest at Sea 3 The Market Stores

Best for produce 1 The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd. 2 Red Barn Market 3 Thrifty Foods

THANKIt’s aYOU privilege to s t Best for Mea

Voted

Best City

of the

WS VICTORIA NE

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

2015

of the

Best City

of the

R YEA

2015

Voted

Best City

Voted

VICTORIA NEWS

Voted

Best City

of the

YEAR

21st

Best Grocery Store

YEAR

VICTO RIA N EWS

VICTORIA NEWS

20 15

Best City

of the

20 15

24 • Best of the City Summer 2015

YEAR

20 15

Best Flower Shop

21st

Best for Seafood

Custom

Best organic grocer 1 The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd. 2 Red Barn Market 3 Planet Organic

Best place for picture framing

Best bakery 1 Cobs 2 Dutch Bakery 3 Fol Epi

1 Michaels 2 Island Blue Print 3 Prestige Picture Framing

Best specialty deli

Best custom home builder

1 Italian Deli 2 Red Barn Market 3 The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd.

1 Abstract Developments 2 Seba Construction 3 Zebra Construction

Best condo development

Best local brewery/winery

1 Travino 2 Promontory 3 Uptown

1 Phillips Brewing Company 2 Hoyne Brewing Company 3 Spinnakers

Best retirement residence

Best wine store 1 Everything Wine 2 BC Liquor Stores 3 Cascadia

Best for making your own wine 1 2 3 3

Cook Street Wine Works The Thirsty Vintner The Wine Maker Wine Kitz

Best U-Brew 1 Goldstream U-Brew 2 West Coast Brew Shop 3 Happy Home Brewer

Best spa

SERVICE

1 Willow Stream Spa 2 Sante Spa 3 The Spa at Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe

Best hotel 1 The Fairmont Empress 2 Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel Resort & Spa 3 Hotel Grand Pacific

Best manicure/pedicure 1 Sante Spa 2 Willow Stream Spa 3 Deco de Mode

Best barbershop 1 Victory Barbers and Brand 2 Status Barber Shop 3 Jimmy’s Barber Shop

1 Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic 2 Oak Bay Shoe Clinic 3 Hillside Shoe Clinic

1 Berwick Retirement Communities 2 Carlton House 3 The Victorian 3 The Wellesley of Victoria

Best pharmacy

Best tattoo/piercing parlour

Best shoe repair

1 Shoppers Drug Mart 2 London Drugs 3 Pharmasave

Best for photo finishing

Best hair salon

1 London Drugs 2 Walmart 3 Costco

1 Fish Hair Salon 2 Lab Salon 3 Chatters

1 Urge 2 Wolf Sheep 3 Permanent Makeup by Dunja

Best tire store 1 Kal Tire 2 Canadian Tire 3 WestCoast Tire & Wheel

VICTORIA! serve you! Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NE WS

Best Place to m eet

PARTNER SINCE

2013

21st

osito

p s E in m ja n e B & ie Debb es Benjamin’s Bit

Benjamin’s Bites Victoria, BC

GLUTEN FREE ALLERGY FRIENDLY COOKIES

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 25

mer Care: 250.544.1234 | thriftyfoods.com

a Mate

YEAR

201 5

uce Best for Prod

The Best of the City 2015 Results

Voted

Bestty Ci of the

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2015

S A NEW I R O VICT

Best public washroom

AR YE

2015

Best yoga studio

1 The Bay Centre 2 Hillside Mall 3 The Fairmont Empress

1 Moksha Yoga Victoria 2 Bikram Yoga 3 MokSana Yoga Centre

Best pet clinic

Best rec centre

1 Hillside Veterinary Hospital 2 McKenzie Veterinary Services 3 Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic

1 Oak Bay Recreation Centre 2 Saanich Commonweath Place 3 Westshore Parks and Recreation

Best weight loss cente Best automotive service (chain) 1 Canadian Tire 2 Midas 3 Jim Pattison Toyota

Best gym/fitness studio

1 Weight Watchers 2 Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centre 3 Dr. Bernstein Diet and Health Clinic

1 Steve Nash Fitness World 2 YMCA of Greater Victoria 3 Studio 4 Athletics

Best 18-hole golf course

Best bank/financial institution

Best automotive service (independent) 1 Searles Auto Repairs 2 Galaxy Motors 3 Progressive Auto Repair

Best place to improve your smile 1 Academy Dental 2 Hillside Dental Centre 3 Colwood Dental Group

1 Coast Capital Savings 2 RBC Royal Bank 3 TD Canada Trust

Victoria Royals’ Joe Hicketts assumes a defensive position in front of goalie Coleman Vollrath.

Best swimming pool

Best for insurance 1 Coast Capital Savings 2 Megson FitzPatrick 3 BCAA

Best storage company 1 Adams Storage 2 U-Haul Moving and Storage 3 Westshore U-Lock

1 The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa 2 Cordova Bay Golf Course 3 Olympic View Golf Club

Best moving company 1 2 Burley Men Moving and Hauling 2 U-Haul Moving and Storage 3 Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving

RECREATION

1 Saanich Commonweath Place 2 Oak Bay Recreation Centre 3 Crystal Pool and Fitness

Favourite local sports team

Best for martial arts

1 Victoria Royals 2 Victoria HarbourCats 3 Victoria Shamrocks

1 Fierce Studio 2 Canada’s Best Karate 3 Crusher Combat Sports

Don’t Trust Your Vehicle to Just Anyone. Voted

Best City

of the

WS VICTORIA NE

26 • Best of the City Summer 2015

AR YE

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s 21

Thank Yo!u V ictoria

517 Kelvin Rd • SearlesAuto.ca

250.475.2000

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUSINESS PROFILE: Romeo’s

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

Romeo’s embarks on the next decade…

250-383-2121 250-744-1177 250-595-0212 250-474-2121 250-746-9944

WS VICTORIA NE

take-out and delivery opst tions also allow you to enjoy 21 Romeo’s delicious cuisine from the comfort of your home. Customers’ response to the fresh, modern feel for one of their favourite restaurants has exceeded expectations, Dimitri says. And there’s more on the horizon for Romeo’s, all thanks to the support the Island-grown restaurant has enjoyed over the last four decades. “Everything we have built over our first 40 years has come from the community,” Dimitri says. “We could never have done this without our loyal staff, friends, family & thousands of wonderful customers, we thank you!” AR YE

Downtown Broadmead Hillside Langford Duncan

supporting us all these years,” Dimitri says. “More than anything, I think our success comes from the commitment we have to the food we serve and to our community,” he reflects, noting the support given over the years to invaluable local organizations like Santas Anonymous, The Mustard Seed, The United Way & many many more. In addition to their signature pizza and pasta developed from recipes and techniques passed down through the family, their steaks, chicken, burgers, salads and delicious Greek dishes also earn accolades. And while newly refurbished restaurants welcome guests inside,

Best City

of the

2015

With its four Victoria-area restaurants newly renovated for its 40th anniversary, Romeo’s embarks on the next decade with a fresh look, but the same commitment to exceptional food and service second-to-none. A labour of love for Dimitri Mavrikos and his two brothers, Steve and George, the three launched Romeo’s in 1974 with a focus on excellent food, great service and a fun, casual atmosphere. Today, with the help of growing families and franchisees Nick and Chris Kamaretsos, Romeo’s enjoys five Island locations. All serve time-tested recipes crafted from quality ingredients that have brought them a legion of loyal customers who time and again vote Romeo’s one of the Best in the City. “We’re are a local, family-run business and we really want to thank our customers for

Voted

your professionals Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

Let us change your backyard into your favourite vacation spot

R YEA

2015

PROVIDING A LIFESTYLE OF EXCEPTIONAL LIVING PROVIDING ACALL US TODAY 250.595.1914 OR VISIT WWW.CARLTONHOUSE.CA LIFESTYLE OF CALL US TODAY EXCEPTIONAL 250.595.1914 OR VISIT LIVING WWW.CARLTONHOUSE .CA

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PROVIDING A LIFESTYLE OF EXCEPTIONAL LIVING CALL US TODAY 250.595.1914 OR VISIT WWW.CARLTONHOUSE.CA

Helping you take care of your home !

Call 250-920 -7877

www.swiftplumbing.com

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 27

Professional Service You Can Trust

• PLUMBING • HEATING - GAS • HOT WATER HEATERS • FIXTURES • DRAINAGE • FURNACES • FIREPLACES • BOILERS

r making us o f u o y k n a Th y again! it C e h t in Best

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORI A NEW S

YEAR

20 15

21st

Victoria’s Downtown Sushi Destination 615 Yates (at Broad Street)

250.382.8768 www.azumasushi.ca

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

Cycling – both competitive and recreational – is enjoyed by thousands of Greater Victoria residents year-round.

t Indian Foo d es Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

2828••Best Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015

R YEA

2015

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUSINESS PROFILE: Sizzling Tandoor

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

Sizzling Tandoor serves up award-winning cuisine

Some delicious new flavours are delighting diners at Sizzling Tandoor – just one more reason why the Indian restaurant continues to be voted one of Victoria’s best. Today, their mixed berry ice cream joins other favourites like mango, rose and coconut as the ideal finish to a meal lovingly crafted from recipes handed down through Gurinder and Narpinder Bawa’s families. Serving fragrant and flavourful North Indian cuisine from locations in Uptown and Lower Johnson Street, Sizzling Tandoor is popular with the lunch crowd who enjoy the fresh, delicious ingredients crafted into their favourite Indian dishes – especially the hearty, quick and affordable Indian buffet, featuring favourites like butter chicken, beef curry, dal makhani, vegetables, pakoras, rice,

naan bread, green salad and fruit salad. In the evening, the Sizzling Tandoor’s friendly staff welcome an appreciative dinner clientele who enjoy a more intimate atmosphere and a full menu, including Sizzling Tandoor celebrated butter chicken, which diners say is the best in town. Together, the Bawas have created a pair of restaurants that have quickly risen to the top of the local restaurant scene; in fact, they’ve been honoured to be named “Best of the City” for Indian food for the last three years, including their first in business! However, the two are quick to thank their hard-working staff and their customers for their success. Through the extensive menu, Sizzling Tandoor can easily cater to a wide variety of dietary needs, and most recipes can be modified for those who are gluten-free or vegan, for example. Specialty Indian food

is available by request and all have an adjustable spice level to suit each diner’s palate. Customer favourites include the filled naan, appetizers like samosas, mussels, pakoras and a delicious array of entrees such as chicken tikka, fish tikka, lamb kebab, tandoori prawns and the vegetarian paneer tikka. For those looking to enjoy Sizzling Tandoor at home or the office, the restaurant is pleased to offer take-out, or delivery through Dine In Victoria; they also offer a catering service for groups large and small, Gurinder notes. For those dining in the restaurant, Sizzling Tandoor is also fully licensed with your domestic and international favourites. To learn more about one of the Best in the City, visit Sizzling Tandoor’s new website, www. sizzlingtandoor.ca

Gurinder and Narpinder Bawa welcome guests to Sizzling Tandoor.

DOWNTOWN • 637 Johnson Street • 250-388-5450 UPTOWN • 123–3600 Uptown Boulevard • 778-265-7775 www.sizzlingtandoor.ca FREE 1 HOUR PARKING HHHHH

Thing to do

10 must-have Victoria

Don your helmet, kick the tires and head out for a bicycle tour of Victoria’s urban parks, quiet neighbourhoods and shorelines.

Experiences 2.

Hop across the border to charming Port Angeles, Washington. In less than three hours the MV Coho ferry will have you touring Olympic National Park, strolling historic districts and tasting local fare.

Escape urban life just a short distance from downtown in Goldstream Provincial Park’s 379 hectares, including hiking

trails, salmon streams and plenty of wildlife.

recognize, candies whose labels you can’t read and fresh, authentic Asian cuisine.

Fairmont Empress, and while you are there take a stroll along the Inner Harbour – just watch out for the seagulls.

Learn about our province’s past, present and future history at the Royal B.C. Museum. And don’t be surprised if you see a gold digger or two.

Spy on the commercial fishermen at Fisherman’s Wharf in the Inner Harbour, and then head to the nearby seafood restaurants to taste their catch. Head to Victoria’s Chinatown, the second largest in British Columbia. Take a chance on foods you don’t

Snap a picture or two of the city’s best landmarks the B.C. legislature and the

10.

Time to smell the roses? Share in Jennie Butchart’s love of gardening at the iconic Butchart Gardens in Central Saanich.

mom and pop shops in downtown Victoria, the Bay Centre, Mayfair Mall Hillside shopping centre, and many, many more shopping boutiques.

Weigh yourself down with shopping bags from chain stores to small

Quench your thirst at one of the more than 100 brew pubs and craft beer makers in the region. Just a warning: the beer’s so good you’ll need to find a safe ride home. Bottoms up!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Service and selection make Sears a Victoria favourite

WS VICTORIA NE

one of the Best in the City, st and both Michele and Romy 21 Bawa, General Manager of the Sears Home store on Tolmie Avenue, thank the community for their support. From a customer perspective, delivering a stress-free shopping experience is vital to the Sears vision, Romy emphasizes. With a welcoming in-store atmosphere, customers are encouraged to browse and get the information they need to make the right choices for their home and family, Romy notes. But the relationship doesn’t end once the purchases are made. With Sears’ solid warranty and service network, customers rest assured knowing that if the need arises, Sears will be there to help. “Driven by great service and great products, we’re creating customers for life.” AR YE

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 29

HOME STORE 250-380-7100 DEPARTMENT 250-595-9111 PARTS DEPOT 800-469-4663

and the BC Children’s Hospital. “It’s our life and it’s what Sears stands for as a company. We’ve been around a long time – we’re where your mom, dad and grandma shopped – and with the same commitment to service and quality products, we want to be the store where you shop too,” Michele says. It’s this customer-first philosophy that has secured Sears and Sears Home its position as

of the

2015

When you consistently provide customers with terrific service, and can back that up with quality products, knowledge and experience, you know you have a winning combination. And that’s the philosophy that guides Sears each and every day. From the customer associates in men’s wear to the knowledgeable experts in the appliance department – and every department in between – the goal of providing exceptional service is always top of mind, explains Michele Venables, General Manager of Sears Victoria. That philosophy continues out into the community, where Sears’ Victoria team is active in its support of both the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria

Voted

Best City

29 • Best of the City Summer 2015

BUSINESS PROFILE: Sears

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

6th Annual Lyall Street Service

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

Car Wash • BBQ • Cold Drinks ~ B Y D O N AT I O N ~

Chevy Grillverado on-site

Saturday July 11th 10am to 3pm All proceeds to the ALS Society of Victoria (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

presented by

Lyall Street Service

1480 Lyall St • 250.382.0015 • www.lyallstreetservice.com

Victoria Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe always shows her true colours on Canada Day.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

BUSINESS PROFILE: Adams Storage

30 • Best of the City Summer 2015

#1 Adams Place Victoria, BC V9B 6P6 adamsstorage.com Ph: (250) 474-4477 Tf: 1(800) 796-3901

storage containers, “it works for just about anything,” Scott says. “We’re even been able to provide moves for those in need. The cost is comparable to a moving truck but instead of needing to load and unload everything within a day, MoBox is delivered and you can pack it over the course of weeks, if needed. It then gets delivered to your new location for the same leisurely unpacking. “It’s been going really well, and we felt MoBox needed its own office and depot, so we’ve recently taken over Williams Moving & Storage, which provides us with a central, Royal Oak location,” Scott says. The family dynamic works well for the Adams crew, which also includes Jim’s son, Tyler, and more than a dozen employees. “I think my brother and I work well together and we believe that if the customers are happy, they’re going

WS VICTORIA NE

to come back,” Scott says. st “We now have five storage 21 locations so when someone phones us and says they’re moving from Langford to Esquimalt, we have options in both of those communities, plus others in between! We’re really committed to working with the customer to tailor our services to their needs. At the end of the day, it’s always about doing the best job we can.” AR YE

It’s been a busy few years for the staff and owners within the Adams Storage Group. Setting out several years ago with a plan for growth, brothers Jim and Scott, with dad Gord Adams, have built a strong foundation based on good old-fashioned hard work and a commitment to customer service. In 2009 they purchased a 60,000 sq.ft industrial complex, a move they followed in 2011 with a complete renovation of their Town & Country location, refurbished and re-branded as Uptown Storage, Scott notes. At completion of this renovation they purchased Old Winery Storage, moving those clients into their brand new digs, and in 2013, bought Hub Storage, creating instead Adams Storage Esquimalt. Least year, the family-run business made the move into portable storage, bring to Greater Victoria the MoBox brand. Featuring large, secure, weather resistant

Best City

of the

2015

30 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Service fuels business growth at Adams Storage

Voted

Culture

Global communities make Victoria a multicultural mecca Victoria may traditionally have a reputation as a tea-sipping, crumpet-eating little England on the Pacific, but it’s actually quite a multicultural region. For instance, did you know that 10 per cent of locals identify German as their Mother tongue? Or that Victoria has thriving Chinese, Punjabi and Filipino communities? By now, you’ve probably taken a stroll through Victoria’s historic Chinatown. That bustling village is the oldest Chinatown in Canada and second in age only to San Francisco in North America. You can thank the famous gold rush of 1858 for transforming Victoria from a frontier colonial town into a launchpad for prospectors, as business boomed for farmers, merchants, hotel owners and builders during that period. Venture out of downtown and you’ll find legendary Indian hospitality at the Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple (1210 Topaz Ave.). The Punjabispeaking community of Greater Victoria is about 4,000-strong, and every April/May about 200 students from the Shan-e-Punjab Dance, Performing Arts & Heritage School put on a visual spectacle for Vasaiki – also known as the Sikh New Year. Both Sikh and Hindu communities also celebrate Diwali, a festival of lights that takes place in October of each year. If you’re in Victoria near the end of June,

check out the Victoria Hindu Temple (1934 Cultra Ave.) during the Festival of India, or discover the Victoria MeLa Festival in downtown Victoria each August.

FOODIE CULTURE CRAWL: 1. Bayanihan Community Centre (1709 Blanshard St.): This small but welcoming centre offers a weekly Filipino Sunday lunch starting at noon. Taste traditional Southeast Asian fare and feel like part of the family. 2. Ukrainian Cultural Centre (3277 Douglas St., 250-475-2585) and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church (1112 Caledonia Ave., 250-384-2255): Traditional Ukrainian supper – perogies, cabbage rolls and more – are offered regularly at both locations. Call for more details. 3. Victoria Edelweiss Club (108 Niagara St.): Head on over to this hidden German hideout for a schnitzel Abend on the first Thursday of each month. Reservations must be made the prior Sunday by calling 250-380-9158. 4. Norway House (1110 Hillside Ave., 250-386-9812): See their website (eidsvoldsofn.com) for monthly events, which include a Scandinavian Craft Fair (October), a Lutefisk Dinner (November) and Juletrefest (December).

A dancer with the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Association Sampaguita Dance Group performs during Sidney Days on the Saanich Peninsula.

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Best of the City Summer 2015 • 31

WHEELCHAIRS

31 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Your Home Health Care Store

Thank you Victoria

Victoria is full of stunning architecture, including the Lee’s Benevolent Association building at 614 Fisgard St. located in historic Chinatown. It was originally designed by architect C. Elwood Watkins in 1911.

For voting us for the past 6 years.

hank you to all our patients for your continued support!

For over 55 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.

Voted

3244••Best Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

VICTORIA NEWS

Voted

1 th

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

R YEA

VICTORIA NEWS

2013

R YEA

2015

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

2014

VICTORIA NEWS

of the

Voted

Best City

of the

2010

Best City

of the

Best City

Voted

Best City

2011

of the

Voted

2012

Best City

Voted

• Caring about the person behind the smile since 1984. • We would love to show you the difference that our professional service can make in your life.

250-384-1154 VICTORIA 3400 DOUGLAS ST 250.475.2561 mclarenlighting.com

Open Weekends and Evenings, New Patients Welcome 186 – 3147 Douglas Street, in Mayfair Mall www.mayfairdental.ca

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

Nature Victoria

Of fauna, fawns and wildlife

a tH

rdware/In d

Voted

Best City of the

A buck and a fawn relax within the safe walls of Government House during the 2015 spring season. While there are a few less deer in Oak Bay this year, the regional population continues to thrive.

Just 1.8 per cent remains across the Captial Region, there are other places. Saanich touts Mount Tolmie as a last bastion of the native Garry oak ecosystem. Oh deer Urban wildlife is an ongoing topic of concern in the region, as six-point bucks are making permanent homes in back yards. Meanwhile, cougars and deer

play out the story of prey and predator in the woods of Mount Douglas Park. For that and other reasons Oak Bay permitted a contractor to cull up to 25 deer earlier this year. It comes just four years after the University of Victoria’s culled many hundreds of rabbits on campus. And yet deer and rabbit continue to be a visible part of daily life in Greater Victoria.

Camas are significant in Greater Victoria for their unique beauty, which has earned it a royal status among the area’s plants. Camas bulbs were a staple food harvested by local First Nations.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUSINESS PROFILE: Castle Building Centres

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

ent end ep

Be s

Camas queen of the native plants Christmas Hill and the Swan Lake sanctuary in Saanich provide Garry Oak meadows, sweeping views of the region, and a moderate 30 minute walk around the lake. Swan Lake was one of the first areas in Greater Victoria, possibly the first, to be recognized as polluted by the European invasion of the 1850s. The riparian ecosytems of Swan Lake are protected and on the mend, with native marine species and as a healthy home for water fowl. For camas, there’s no need to go further than Beacon Hill Park, home to the Victoria Natural History Society’s annual Camas Day, which celebrated its 24th year on May 2. Camas Day is an opportunity to learn how First Nations people of this area worked for centuries to encourage camas growth as a crop. However, the Garry oak ecosystem isn’t limited to Beacon Hill and occurred naturally across most of the region.

S IA NEW VICTOR

AR YE

2015

Castle thanks customers for support and growth owned buying group established in 1963 to equal the playing field for independently owned hardware and building material dealers across the country. “As a co-operative we achieve better buying power, which allows us to provide better pricing for customers,” says long-time General Manager of the company, Brent Cowling. “This freedom also allows us to support Island businesses from Sooke to Nanaimo, and buying locally is good for everyone. “We’re honoured to be recognized as one of the Best in the City, and it really is a testament to our staff ’s efforts to create a welcoming store that has the products Victorians need,” Cowling notes. The community focus allows Victoria’s Castle stores to really

localize the store’s stock to what’s important to local homeowners. Located near some of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, whose homes have some unique product needs, “we can source and provide what Victoria really needs” says Vicki Hagel, (co-owner). “We love helping customers get their project done, and being part of their success. We’d like to thank the people of Victoria for their patronage over the last 30 years. Their support has led to our recent acquisition and we look forward to serving our community from both locations.” Also on hand are numerous brand-named products and sought-after lines, from lumber and hardware to garden supplies and home accessories, plus a full paint department featuring Para and Sikkens products.

220 Bay Street Victoria • 250.595.1225 Hours: Mon-Sat 8 am - 6 pm and Sun 9 am - 5 pm

1720 Cook Street, Victoria • 250.384.8181

Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am - 5:30 pm, Sat 9 am - 5:30 pm, Sun 10 am - 5 pm

Above: back row Vicki Hagel, Brent Cowling, Robert Stefanini, Hannah Martin, Levi Hayes, Stephanie Parker and Derek Hurst. Front row Tina Dekkers and Emily Kimball.

Above: back row left to right Brian Kochems, Maria Lee, Keijo Rannankari, Frank Hagel, Vicki Hagel and Brent Cowling. Front row left to right Jay Davis, Michele Cryderman, Ashely Erskine, Jordan Soles and Colby Venn.

Best Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015••33 33

The Castle Building Centre crew prides themselves on being a valued part of their neighbourhood. Their commitment to quality, paired with exceptional customer service has not only fueled growth over the last year, but also another nod as one of the Best in the City. Earlier this spring, Castle’s Frank and Vicki Hagel built on the success of the flagship location on Cook Street, purchasing the assets of Baywest Rona from its retiring owner, local businessman Brian Higgins. The Castle Building Centres Group is a Canadian dealer-

your professionals EFFORT = CONCRETE RESULTS Locally Owned and Operated

Ready-Mixed Concrete Concrete Accessories Victoria’s Only Liquid Colouring System Gravity Wall Blocks Gravel Mart OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY 765 Industrial Way • 250-478-0555 • www.iconcrete.ca

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2015

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BUSINESS PROFILE: Galaxy Motors

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

Vote Voted d

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wantedtreat to be treated.”the way they wanted to be treated.” always customers For general manager David Galaxy’s inventory For general manager David King,King, Galaxy’s inventory of of 620-plus vehicles – worth upwards of million $10 620-plus usedused vehicles – worth upwards of $10 – million – allows to match with their desired allows it to match itclients withclients their desired vehicle in a vehicle in away similar to new car dealerships. way similar to new car dealerships. “We’re like alike newa car that doesn’t sell new “We’re newdealer car dealer that doesn’t sellcars, new” he explains. cars,” he explains. While Galaxy happily accepts trade-ins, this isthis notisanot comWhile Galaxy happily accepts trade-ins, pany in the business of refurbishing tired, older vehicles. a company in the business of refurbishing tired, older With few exceptions, its general rule is to avoid selling vehicles. vehicles older than 10 years, or those with more than With few exceptions, its general rule is to avoid 175,000 kilometres. selling vehicles older than 10 years, or those with more It also spends approximately $750 per car in refurbishing than 175,000 kilometres. costs, which includes a 155-point pre-sale inspection, far also spends approximately $750 perofcar moreIt intensive than the industry average 42 in points, refurbishing costs, which includes a 155-point pre-sale King says. inspection, far more intensive than the industry average of 42 points, King says.

“Each dealership operates if they have “Each dealership operates as ifasthey have 600600 cars,cars, and at and at the end of the day, they’re all Galaxy cars,” the end of the day, they’re all Galaxy cars,” he says. he “What says. “What usability apart istothe ability marry the presets us apartsets is the marry theto pre-approval of a approval of aa vehicle. client with client with ” a vehicle.” And that speaks other driver And that speaks to to thethe other keykey driver of of thethe company’s company’s business, furtheritsboosting its manyand business, and furtherand boosting many referrals referrals and return customers. return customers. A major underpinning forfor thethe company, like most carcar A major underpinning company, like most dealers, is its long-standing ability to arrange fi nancing dealers, is its long-standing ability to arrange financing forits its diverse diverse customer customer base, base, from from those those with with credit credit or or for income challenges to those with solid credit history. income challenges to those with solid credit history. Building even further onon that long-standing business reBuilding even further that long-standing business lationship are Galaxy’s skilled mechanics, technicians and relationship are Galaxy’s skilled mechanics, technicians service advisors who work together to ensure customers and service advisors who work together to ensure can servicecan their vehicle where theywhere bought it, enjoying customers service their vehicle they bought their new wheels for years to come. it, enjoying their new wheels for years to come.

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Best Bestofofthe theCity CitySummer Summer2015 2015••35 35

Regularly recognized of the region’s best for Regularly recognized as oneas of one the region’s best sources sources for quality pre-owned vehicles, it’s no surprise quality pre-owned vehicles, it’s no surprise Galaxy Motors Galaxy to Motors continues grow. continues to grow. An industry by repeat and referral An industry leaderleader fuelledfuelled by repeat and referral business, the Galaxy is nowup recognized thebusiness, Galaxy brand is nowbrand recognized and downup theand down for its commitment providing both Island forthe its Island commitment to providing to both exceptional exceptional qualityservice. and customer service. quality and customer In addition to its fltoagship Colwood location servingserving GreatIn addition its flagship Colwood location er Victoria, recently opened lots in Courtenay and Langley Greater Victoria, recently opened lots in Courtenay and have joined have thosejoined in Nanaimo Duncanand to bring theto Langley those inand Nanaimo Duncan Galaxy total to fi ve. bring the Galaxy total to five. Don’t Don’t expectexpect Galaxy’s orbit toorbit stop to expanding any time Galaxy’s stop expanding any soon. time soon. “This is a passion for me, something I thoroughly enjoy. “ This is a passion for me, something I thoroughly We’re going to keep growing,” says owner Phil Dagger. Reenjoy. We’re going to keep growing,” says owner Phil flecting on Galaxy’s recipe for success, “I like to think we Dagger. Reflecting on Galaxy’s recipe for success, “I like to think we always treat customers the way they

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Antique Victoria

Old is always new in the city Victoria is known around North America as place to find quality antiques, particularly those of British origin. Because of the region’s historic links with England, and its status as a pre-eminent retirement centre, Greater Victoria has always attracted citizens who own exceptional collections of porcelain, furniture, silver, jewelry, and objets d’art. Now in its third generation of ownership, Faith Grant’s on the Avenue is a traditional haunt for antique collectors from around the world. “We get customers from all over the world,” says Heather Graham of the family business that started in 1929. “A lot of people find Victoria a more pleasant place to shop than Vancouver.” Faith Grant was her grandmother, who started the business in a time it “would have been a shaky venture”. “It was a different kind of market. In those days Victoria was very much a tourist city and tourist attraction. She did a lot of business at that time with American customers. Now, we’re dealing with local clientele more and more.” “Victoria’s a much more cosmopolitan city in itself now, so we get a lot of people coming here to retire and that kind of thing so new customers are

emerging all the time.” People seek the useful, but still purchase the pretty these days. “[Unlike] the days of collecting snuff boxes or things that used to be sought after, it’s more people are looking to buy things that are beautiful and functional,” she says. “We’re often a go-to for people packing up big houses and going to smaller homes.” The Avenue provides a smaller storefront than her former 6,000 square feet in downtown Victoria. “We were many, many years in a heritage building on Fort Street and we’re just starting our third year here on Oak Bay Avenue,” Grant says. Signs indicating Antique Row still point visitors up Fort Street from Blanshard to Cook, but it’s become an antiquated term in the city. The area is now known as the Mosaic Village. The streetscape remains a destination as now visitors can peruse remaining antique stores alongside cafe’s and boutique shops. Fabulous Fort is a viable – even vital – tourist stop. And the existing antique stores still get hits. On a regular winter weekday about 100 browsers will come through the antique mall that features multiple vendors, while the numbers jump around Christmas and summer holidays.

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Come support your Island Grown Everyday Specialty Store!

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Why we love our fleet

Life in Victoria perfect for sailor Leading Seaman Stefanie Nicol isn’t shy about pretty good start. her love for CFB Esquimalt. “I love the military in general, it provides such It means living in Victoria, her de-facto variety in what I do,” Nicol says. “If I was doing it Canadian hometown where she spent the outside the military I’d be stuck behind a desk all formative years of her Canadian upbringing (she day.” finished high school at a NATO base in Italy). And Nicol joined the navy soon out of high school, if you weren’t aware, the winters here are pretty just as her dad did. He was a navy logistics officer mild. who served 32 years and her mom “Love it here. It’s home for me,” was a doctor who transferred from Posting in VicNicol says. toria is a bless- the air force to the navy. The 25-year-old was at Pacific Nicol’s upbringing was mobile, ing, you’ll hear but moving wasn’t as normal for Christian School before her family that across the country the Nicol family as it was for other uprooted to the NATO base in from anyone who has proximity of Naples, Italy. families. Nicol lived here from 1994 spent a winter here. Nicol comes from a family with to 2003 before uprooting to Italy. a long line of history in the military. Her oldest brother is a naval combat It dates back to both grandfathers, who were in information operator and next oldest is a resource the Canadian and British wartime air forces. But it management support clerk in the air force. was dad and mom, who both served in the Royal And all are posted at CFB Esquimalt. Canadian Navy, that influenced Nicol’s decision to “Moving has always been a constant in my life. go seaward. It’s part of what led me to joining, but I love it “Posting in Victoria is a blessing, you’ll hear that here. I’m happy to be posted here. It’s home for across the country from anyone who has spent a me.” winter here.” Not everyone in Nicol’s family is in the Forces. Victoria is home for her but she understands the But two of her cousins, both women, decided to nature of her role. Nicol is a resource management marry men who are. Her friends are similar. Most support clerk on HMCS Calgary, a frigate enjoying are military but she has friends from outside the its 20th anniversary. She’s been with HMCS Calgary Forces, and appreciates the city’s livelihood. for a year (even when docked, she still reports “Victoria is very supportive of our military to daily duty on board) and, as of late May, had which is nice. Being at sea all the time, I’m not accumulated about 135 days at sea. able to integrate as much with the city. I’m often It’s nothing compared to some in the navy – one thanked for being in the service when I’m out ship just returned after a 220-day sail – but it’s a around town.”

Leading Seaman Stefanie Nicol, 25, comes from a family with a long line of history in the Canadian military.

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40 • Best of the City Summer 2015

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BUSINESS PROFILE: True Boutique

True Boutique celebrates casually chic fashion

Fairone Bateman has a sense of style and commitment to exceptional service that resonates with her True Boutique customers. Celebrating five years in the Broadmead Village and 11 years in “I love the Victoria fashion, True Boutique has been named one of this year’s Best in the City. thrill of While the boutique is known for its casually chic tops and beautiful, affordable finding new dresses, there’s plenty more in store as well, including gorgeous shoes and accessories. fashions that “Our customers really appreciate the fact that they can find everything they need to complete are fun and a fabulous outfit – a dress, with a belt and a cute pair of boots – all in one store,” Fairone says. From a day at the office to date night on the interesting for town to park time with the kids, True Boutique offers unique fashions that will have you feeling our clients.” fabulous but also comfortable. “I love the thrill of finding new fashions that are fun and interesting for our clients,” says Fairone, who enjoys regular buying trips to find quality, North American-made fashions her customers are looking for. That means new items are also arriving regularly, so there’s always something new to discover. For those in need of an expert eye, store manager Deanna and True Boutique’s friendly, experienced staff are pleased to help put together the perfect outfit. “It’s fast and it’s easy and they get something they really feel good about.” Customers also appreciated the local feel to the store, the location in the beautiful Broadmead Village, with lots of parking, patios to relax on and everything they need in one location. “I’m loving the location; it’s really a neighbourhood shop,” Fairone says.

True Boutique owner Fairone Bateman holds her son Hudson, while standing with Deanna Kurtz, left, and Sydney Lamarsh.

315-777 Royal Oak Dr. 250-590-6445

First Nation mastery

Art from a West Coast perspective The idea for Darlene Gait’s first original piece of art came to her in a dream. It was a portrait of a man that she created when she was only 11 years old, a distant memory that came to her while she was sleeping. “You know when you dream of people that you’ve never met. I remembered a person, he was really kind to me in the dream and as a child, you paint it and you’re all open,” says Gait, a Coast Salish First Nation who grew up on Vancouver Island. After Gait’s mother saw the painting, she dug through some old photographs to find out the man that she painted was a great uncle that passed away recently. “It was a strange piece because I’d never really met the relative,” she says. “My mom asked me where I got the inspiration and I think it came from a dream … That was the first piece that sent me on my way in my art. It was a special piece in our family.” Shortly after that, Gait sold that piece – her first to be sold at an art show. “It was very inspiring for a child to create something with their hands and that there would be someone who would want to buy it. I decided that I wanted to be a painter after that and it was

a journey that I’ve been on since then,” she says. For decades, Gait has incorporated her Coast Salish culture into her work, creating images of the beauty of the North West Coast landscape, its wildlife and the art of First Nations people. Her art has become well-known on the Island. She has illustrated a number of children’s books such as Secret of the Dance and Who is in Maxine’s Tree and co-designed a peace mural for the Creative Peace Mural Society, alongside master Coast Salish carver Butch Dick of the Songees Nation. Recently, she was commissioned by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to design the Land and Sea mural that stretches along Odgen point breakwater at the Victoria Harbour. She also helped create B.C Hydro’s mural on Pandora and Government streets, a historical piece depicting the types of healing plants First Nations on the Island use for medicine and remedies. Her work can also be viewed at One Moon showroom in Esquimalt and includes more than 100 of Gait’s images. The style of First Nations art on the Island is unique to the region. “There’s pretty much no one in the world who

Darlene Gait in her studio. “There’s pretty much no one in the world who can do the same style that we do here on the coast,” she says of First Nations’ art.

can do the same style that we do here on the coast. I’m not just talking about my tribe, but all the way down to the other side of the Island,” says Gait. “We have this special style that can’t be seen anywhere else in Canada. “It’s just there and Victoria emanates that. The first thing people see when they come off a ship is the wall, and then they go into Victoria and they see different art pieces. I think Victoria is very inspiring to many different provinces across Canada.”

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Best of the City Summer 2015 • 41

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Our visitors

Victoria markets ‘tourism on a human scale’ While world events and demographics have spurred changes in the tourism industry internationally over the last decade, Greater Victoria is poised to capitalize in a big way. “In the last 10 years the travel industry has changed,” notes Paul Nursey, CEO of Tourism Victoria. In many ways, that change has come from an evolution of tourists themselves. While earlier tourists were content to travel to see a destination, today, it’s all about the experience. “[Tourists] want to learn, taste, see and experience,” Nursey says. In demographics ranging from millennials to baby boomers, today’s tourists are more active and community-oriented, and “you’re starting to see tourism adapt to that.” It’s in this respect Greater Victoria has a leg up on many other destinations: much of what visitors want to experience, we’re already doing quite well. Behind-the scenes-tours, local wine pairing dinners, the Royal B.C. Museum’s special Valentine’s programming or Night at the Museum events are all perfect examples of

Tourism Victoria CEO Paul Nursey at the Inner Harbour: “(Tourists) want to learn, taste, see and experience.”

what tourists want, Nursey says. “It’s tourism on a human scale. “I think we’re really well-posi-

tioned in our destination because we have such great (draws),” from cultural experiences to world-class

The votes are in and we are ranked as a Top 3 finalist in the following categories: 1

Best Urban Hiking Trail Mount Douglas Park

Best Recreation Centre

42 • Best of the City Summer 2015

Saanich Commonwealth Place

Best Swimming Pool

Saanich Commonwealth Place

Cedar Hill Golf 250-475-7150 | Cedar Hill Recreation Centre 250-475-7121 Gordon Head Recreation Centre 250-475-7100 | G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre 250-475-5400 Saanich Commonwealth Place 250-475-7600 | Parks 250-475-5522

dining to an award-winning wine, cider and craft brewing culture. Add to that outdoor experiences like whale watching, ziplining, kayaking, hiking and golf that guests come to enjoy from around the world, and it’s easy to see why Victoria has enjoyed several years of improving tourism numbers, despite downturns elsewhere. “We are on track for a record year. If all things continue and we don’t see a serious disruption we are on track for very strong growth,” Nursey says, noting that this follows what was already a strong 2014, with growing markets that include China, the Western U.S. and Australia. Much of that success is also attributed to Tourism Victoria’s innovative marketing. Clear and focused both on Victoria’s unique selling points and who they’re marketing to, the message sells the city as a great relaxation destination that at the same time is modern and hip in its offerings – messages resonating through both social media and traditional travel media and building on similar promotions around nearby cities like Seattle and Portland.

Inexpensive fun

Victoria on the cheap The weekend you’d like to do something more than sit at home. One problem: the wallets a bit light, so how can you afford to get out and enjoy yourself. We’re used to paying big bucks for our entertainment and often overlook the fact that Victoria has lots of affordable and often free activities. Let’s start with our markets. Most weekends and certain weeknights are showcases for local food and crafts. It’s true that it costs to buy but it’s free to look. Vendors are more than happy to talk and explain their wares or even offer you a sample. Most markets provide entertainment of varying sorts as well so you can stop while browsing and take a listen or watch a local entertainer. Check out the weekend Moss Street Market or on Thursday nights take a walk down Beacon Avenue for Sidney’s Street Market or Esquimalt’s Farmers Market. Oak Bay hosts it’s Oak Bay Night Market every second Wednesday of the month starting at 4 p.m. If a festival is more to your liking Victoria hosts a variety especially in the summer months. Some of our festivals are kind of pricey to attend

Voted

Best City

of the

VICTORIA NEWS

but many are free. You can wander around our Chalk festival gratis and even the Busker Festival. One of Victoria’s great experiences, for adults too, although it is marketed to a younger set, is the Beacon

Hill Children’s Farm. Where else can you go and be nibbled by a baby goat or watch the twice daily goat stampede. Admission is by donation. When you’re done in the farm, just keep walking and enjoy Beacon

BUSINESS PROFILE: Hillside Veterinary Hospital

BEST of the CITY FINALIST

Holistic approach puts your pet’s needs first

While a holistic approach has long been touted as the best practice in human health care, the doctors and staff at Hillside Veterinary Hospital believe pets deserve the same care. Serving dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and a full range of “pocket pets” since 1982, the committed, compassionate doctors and technicians provide virtually all the services your pet might need, including on-site exam and treatment rooms, surgery, radiology and diagnostics lab space upstairs. Hospital services include patient examinations, anesthesia, surgery, dentistry, digital radiology, nursing care and a full pharmacy, including herbal medicines, plus a full range of complementary and rehabilitation services. No wonder Hillside Veterinary Hospital has been voted among the region’s top-three vet facilities since 2009! Complementing its full range of traditional veterinary services are acupuncture and chiropractic services, not to mention Vancouver Island’s first comprehensive veterinary rehabilitation centre, providing mobility assessment, hydrotreadmill therapy, massage therapy, sports therapy and more. It’s this holistic approach, with its accompanying emphasis on preventive care, that resonates with clients. “When we started, we were offering rehab three days

a week, now it’s every day, plus we’ve opened up more evening appointments,” says Dr. Sylvie Abrioux, who with Drs. Jennifer Chan and Glynis Newman bought the practice in 2004. Joining them are veterinary associates Drs. Jane Vermeulen, Laurie Gaines, Lesia Hyzka, Kevin Keller and Horace Yeung and a full support team committed to your

HILLSIDE VETERINARY HOSPITAL 1700 Kings Rd. • 250-598-4477

pet’s heath needs. Popular with dogs recovering from surgery or injury, or with conditions like arthritis, the rehab treadmill runs in water to allow the animals to move without extra strain on their joints. Police and agility dogs even come for the extra training. Believing in community outreach and continuing education, Hillside Veterinary Hospital staff host workshops for others in the field and volunteer with various animal wellness initiatives. They also share information each month about a different animal health topic, Dr. Abrioux notes. “People appreciate the different services we provide and our holistic approach. We’re very accessible and we’re really focused on our client and what’s best for the pet,” she says. “We have clients who have been with us for 20 years and we have clients who drive all the way from Sooke; they like our friendly, knowledgeable staff, that we take the time to speak with them and answer questions, and that they can get virtually everything under one roof.” Hillside Veterinary Hospital is open daily, evenings and weekends on Kings Road at Shelbourne, with ample parking along Shelbourne, call 250-598-4477 for details or visit online at www.hillsidevethospital.com

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

Best of the City Summer 2015 • 43

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Beacon Hill Children’s Farm’s famous Goat Stampede is popular with both children and adults alike.

Hill Park, one of the areas many free parks. Enjoy the scenery, the gardens, the ducks and turtles in the ponds, the toddler playground and water park or take in a free concert or watch an evening baseball game. If you’re looking for an animal experience but aren’t interested in farm animals, drop by Fisherman’s Wharf or the Oak Bay Marina and feed the seals. These sea mammals have loads of personality and will try and win over your attention (and food) with their antics. If your interests are more on the cultural side the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria offers entry by donation on the first Tuesday of every month. Don’t forget the annual TD Art Gallery paint-In event that turns the length of Moss Street into a giant gallery and artist studio. This year’s event is July 18. Finally, why not take a mini-road trip around Victoria. Pile everyone in the car and take in the free views from some of Greater Victoria’s high spots. The tops of Mt. Tolmie and Mt. Doug and the viewpoint at King George Terrace offer expansive views over the area. Follow Dallas Road and Beach Drive for amazing ocean vistas.

Behind the scenes

Things to see:

Esquimalt

CFB Esquimalt — For history buffs, a visit to the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum at Naden is a must. Turning 30 this year, with a special celebration planned for July 5, the museum explores several distinct military groups that have made an impact on Canada’s history and heritage: Canada’s Navy on the West Coast; Canadian Women’s Army Corps; Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service; and the West Coast Defences.

Despite its somewhat compact size, the Municipality of Esquimalt is blessed with a diverse landscape that delivers many special places worth exploring. Popular outdoor choices range from the glorious waterfront gardens and paths at Saxe Point – inspiration to innumerable plein air painters! – to Memorial Park in the heart of the township, but what about some of the other must-see places worth exploring?

Highrock Park — the highest point in Esquimalt, offering 360-degree views – is a 7.1-hectare natural oasis whose Garry Oak habitat is brimming with swaths of the springblooming purple camus, red-barked arbutus and Douglas fir. Get away from it all within the heart of Esquimalt’s Rockheights neighbourhood.

For a waterfront view — the West Bay Walkway is a fully accessible pathway with arbutus and Douglas fir trees, picturesque glimpses of the marina and harbour, and rest stops with benches. Access the walkway in Esquimalt from the foot of Head Street, or make the township your ultimate destination by starting off along downtown Victoria’s West Song Walkway. Taken together, the two allow for a 2.9 kilometre walk.

Esquimalt Gorge Park — The Japanese Garden is a beautiful place of inspiration or quiet reflection. The park has a long Japanese heritage, beginning in 1907 with Takata Japanese Tea Gardens – North America’s first Japanese Garden, Esquimalt Parks and Recreation notes. The municipality set about re-creating elements of this historic space, including an ornamental stream, traditional Japanese bridge and Japanese entry gate.

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