Our Community: New art installation unveiled, collecting socks for those in need

Art installation unveiled in Commercial Alley

The newest addition to the ever-changing outdoor art “gallery” in Victoria’s Commercial Alley is now on ­display.

Feeling Fuzzy Inside by Eliska Liska, which ­consists of four panels, was selected after a call for entries from emerging artists and artist teams.

Nichola Reddington, the city’s senior cultural ­planner, called Liska’s piece “a cheerful ­meditation on things that bring joy to young people in our ­community.”

“We invite residents and visitors alike to pop by Commercial Alley when downtown to spend a few minutes connecting with this art, that is free for all to enjoy.”

Artwork has been displayed for the past 10 years in the alley on the west wall of the Youth Empowerment Society building on Yates Street. The outdoor gallery, located between the 500 block of Yates and Bastion Square, showcases a new temporary art installation every year.

Liska is originally from the Czech Republic and spent five years travelling in Europe and Mexico, ­painting murals as she went. She has a master’s degree in contemporary art and new media from Ostrava ­University in the Czech Republic, and works in such mediums as painting, pottery, printing and drawing.

Liska, who runs Full Sink Pottery and is an art designer and teacher at the McTavish Academy of Art, says she has a special fondness for public art.

“Creating in public spaces, where art talks to the wider public and also influences the visual side of the city, has always been the most appealing art to me,” she said. “Each of the panels show different activities that have ability to consume us and help us learn who we are and where we stand, as well as simply to make us feel good.”

Former Montessori teacher gets PM’s award for excellence

Former Selkirk Montessori School teacher Amabel De Lara has been given a Prime Minister’s Award for excellence in early childhood education.

De Lara, who was at the school for over 40 years before retiring in June, received a certificate of achievement for what was described as “a career of enriching children’s lives.”

One of her former colleagues said they were inspired to become a Montessori teacher after being in De Lara’s kindergarten class many years ago.

“The amount of effort she put into training, modelling and caring for me is the greatest gift I could have received, and I hope I can be an ‘Amabel’ to someone else one day,” the colleague said.

Collecting socks for those in need

The recent drop in temperatures means it’s time for the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s annual effort to collect 10,000 pairs of socks for people in need.

The campaign, now in its 16th year, brings together Cool Aid, Kia Victoria, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries and PVH Legwear Canada, the company that makes McGregor socks. Michael Bloomfield and Congregation Emanu-El launched the initiative in 2006.

The goal is to raise $10,000 for 10,000 pairs of warm socks for those who are homeless or in poverty. Socks will be given to 25 organizations in Victoria, Nanaimo and Salt Spring Island to distribute.

Foot-care nurse Miranda Berniaz, who owns Victoria Foot Care and provides services at the Cool Aid Community Health Centre once a week, says warm, dry feet might not be glamorous, but they’re an important part of health care.

“And for people on the streets who spend so much time moving from one place to another with all their belongings, the challenges are even greater, said Berniaz, adding foot problems can be an indicator of other issues, like poor circulation or nerve damage.

“Clean, dry footwear makes all the difference.”

Since it began, the campaign has distributed 122,500 pairs of socks worth $572,500. Cool Aid buys the socks at a deep discount from PVH Legwear Canada, with La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries providing shipping.

Kia Victoria got involved last year, matching every $5 donated up to $5,000. The company will do the same this year, and also store and deliver socks.

The campaign runs until Nov. 30. Funds can be donated online at coolaid.org/socks or by calling Kia Victoria at 250-383-1977.

Grocers Going Beyond drive supports cancer research

Grocers are working with the B.C. Cancer Foundation for a second year to help with cancer research and care on Vancouver Island.

Through Nov. 11, the Grocers Going Beyond Campaign will be raising funds for the Innovation Research Fund, which is part of the foundation’s ongoing Beyond Belief Campaign.

Thrifty Foods, Tru Value Foods, Red Barn Market, Fairway Market and the 49th Parallel Grocery are all taking part.

Go to bccancerfoundation.com/grocers or visit a participating store to find out how to support the campaign.

Thrifty Foods will match donations up to $50,000 during the Grocers Going Beyond Campaign.

More than 6,000 people on the Island will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022.

Young artists vie to be Victoria mayor for a day

The City of Victoria is offering kids 12 and under a chance to be mayor for a day.

Three of the artists from the Victoria Votes 2022 Kids Colouring Contest will be selected at random to serve as mayor for the day, and artwork from the contest will be displayed around city hall in December.

The deadline to enter the colouring contest is Nov. 25.

Early in the new year, the winners will get the chance to learn how local government works and sit down for a pizza lunch with Mayor Marianne Alto, where they can talk about missing middle housing, among other things.

Colouring sheets, which were made available at voting places on election day, can also be picked up at city hall or the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre. The colouring sheet is also available online at victoria.ca/election.

Finished artwork can be submitted at the Public Service Centre at city hall or the front desk at Crystal Pool, or it can be mailed to Victoria Votes 2022 Kids Colouring Contest, City of Victoria, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1P6.

Queen Elizabeth’s Fashion Reign wears well in Saanichton

The Saanich Pioneer Society, which operates the Log Cabin Museum in Saanichton, is holding the first in a series of Talk & Tea events Nov. 6, called Queen Elizabeth’s Fashion Reign.

Donna Otto will speak at 2 p.m. on outfits worn by the Queen over the years, and will give background on royal sites in Britain where she saw them displayed.

The museum is also open Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. with demonstrations from spinners and knitters. It is located at 7910 Polo Park Cres., in the park behind Thrifty Foods.

Admission is $5 for members and $7 for non-members.

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