PUB
SAVE $ 200
6 only
LOWEST
10 YEAR
MONKEY TREE
RRANTY
WA
FROM THESE FINE LOCAL MERCHANTS
LOOK INSIDE FOR GREAT DEALS
the
KING
LOWEST
FOLLOW US
Monday - Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm Friday 9:30am - 9pm Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm Sunday & Holidays 11am - 5pm
DECEMBER 26
PAGE 6
Christmas wishes come true for youngster Page A3
PAGE 5
COMMUNITY: Christmas no holiday for ER staff /A2 NEWS: Fires damage pair of Saanich homes /A3 SPORTS: Midget Braves take the ice over holidays /A11
SAANICHNEWS SAANICH a c . t s o tc
tiresa
Friday, December 25, 2015
$
Euro Top with 1188 pocket coils
Join us for our latest commercials, promotions & monthly flyers!
Santa Scoot
Price
I
ALSO AVA
PRICE
WITH 3X’S MICRO SUPPORT GEL LAYERS Reg. $1998
Furnishing the Island since 1977 Locally Owned & Operated
PUB
Serving Victoria Since 1986
68
EVER!
Serving Victoria Since 1986
PAGE 6
$
8 only
DODD’S CREDIT
998
KING SIZE
SALE ALSO ON LIMITED
QUANTITIES
DODD’S FURNITURE & MATTRESS
“We Won’t Be Undersold!”
NANAIMO
6421 Applecross Rd (behind Ricky’s Restaurant)
250.390.1125
VICTORIA
715 Finlayson Street
250.388.6663
www.doddsfurniture.com
PAGE 16
Gray Rothnie
250 744 7034
www.graymatters.ca
Connected to More
®
Watch for breaking news at www.saanichnews.com
nline
Santa drops in on special kids Jacob Zinn News Staff
Santa usually travels by sleigh and reindeer, but last Thursday, he made an exception. Saint Nick took a Bell 429 C-GCQR helicopter for his annual visit to the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health in Saanich. Since 2001, the Coast Guard has arranged for Santa to visit the integrated child care programs in a helicopter, giving out teddy bears to about 60 children, many of whom have special needs. The yearly drop-in by Santa was started 15 years ago by Darcene Thirkell, superintendent of operational business with the Coast Guard, when her two children attended the child care program at the G.R. Pearkes Building. “It occurred to me that parents of children with special needs may find it difficult to take their children to see Santa in a busy mall,” said Thirkell of the inspiration behind the visit. While her children have grown up, Thirkell and the Coast Guard have continued the tradition of flying in Santa via helicopter. Jessica Woollard, communications officer with the
Jacob Zinn/News Staff
Cohen Mazzoni, 4, was delighted to meet Santa on Thursday when Kris Kringle himself dropped by the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. After making a stylish entrance in a helicopter, Santa visited dozens of kids at the centre’s child care programs, delivering teddy bears from his bag of toys. Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, said the drop-in gives the children an opportunity to meet Santa that they otherwise might not have. “Not all the children in the programs have special needs, but for those who do, it’s a lovely way for them to see Santa in a familiar environment,” she said. “A lot of the children that attend the child care programs are siblings or they’ve heard about this incredible thing that the Coast Guard does by bringing in Santa by helicopter. There’s a lot of excitement – it’s such a unique way to bring Santa to children.”
The event featured snacks and music, with the kids singing Christmas songs as they waited for Santa to come to their classrooms. 1. Duplex on 11,800sf View Lot 73 Woollard noted that while the kids were delighted to Sylvan Lane $1,099,000 MLS 351211 see Father Christmas, the parents’ faces light up too when they see the 2. joy in their Legal children’s Renovated Duplex eyes. with Views “It was especially1828 lovely for the adults, watchingMLS how Crescent Road $1,199,000 happy these children were,” she said. “This is a time 353190 of year when people turn their minds towards others, Gordon Point Executive and it’s lovely that 3.the Coast Guard has Home continued4516 this Gordon Pointat Drive $1,175,000 COMING tradition of thinking of kids Christmas.” SOON
SOLD
Fairfield Family Home
1461 Thurlow Road MLS 358508 $653,000
RE/MAX Camosun
Corner Unit Town Home #112-1196 Clovelly Terrace MLS 357666 $399,900
250.220.5061
Wonderful Cordova Bay Residence 773 Haliburton Road MLS 358480 $789,900
www.preferredhomes.ca
Guy
Scott
QU SIZ
Re
®
Firm 1320 pocket coil with Cool Action Dual Effects, gel memory foam, and Serta support foam
es o our tir
y
PRICE
EVER!
Karl
$
8