Victoria Market Watch

Urban Chickens

Urban chickens may soon be a common sight in Saanich.

Well, if you are living in Saanich or plan to move there, you can now start farming. This reminds me of my early years in Nelson, BC.  There it seemed every house either had chickens or dogs who ate the neighbour’s chickens.

A special meeting was held solely to deal with proposed amendments to several animal bylaws. Politicians received hundreds of emails and letters, some from people who don’t even live in Canada, and residents packed council chambers for the lengthy meeting that saw all amendments unanimously approved.

“Talk about pets and ... you will get passion,” Coun. Dean Murdock said Wednesday. “People were very thoughtful and articulate on their definite points of view, but the feathers didn’t fly.”

After hours of input and debate, those at Tuesday’s meeting gave Saanich’s director of legislative services, Carrie MacPhee, who had written the majority of animal reports and recommendations, a round of applause.

Once municipal staff amend the bylaws, Saanich residents will be:

— allowed to have five hens on property larger than 557 square metres;

The changes still have to be given a final reading by the council, but are expected to be in place by summer.

About 90 per cent of Saanich residents will now be allowed to have up to five hens. Saanich joins several other municipalities in the region that allow hens on urban lots, with some restrictions.

“This is a step towards food security in Saanich,” said Murdock, who brought forward the idea of allowing more urban chickens. More people are interested in food security and want the chance to be more self-sufficient by having hens for their eggs, he said.

Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Central Saanich all allow hens on smaller, residential-sized lots.

 “While there is a lot of opportunity for people to have chickens, I think the uptake won’t be enormous,” said Coun. Susan Brice.

Which came first, the egg or the chicken?  That’s still a hot debate.  According to Genesis 1:20-22 the chicken came before the egg.  At least now in Saanich, both are available.

To view the voting on the issue, see:   http://www.saanich.ca/living/community/chickens.html

 

Wash Your Haggis Down In Style

First off, I don’t drink whisky myself.  If you want to see my son Devin’s eyes light up, just  mention the Macallan 18 Single Malt Whisky (Sherry Oak) and he would be able to read the fine print on the bottle during a power outage.  Ah-h-h, the tradition of whisky drinkers is alive and well in Victoria.

 If you are looking for something unique to do in the month of January in Victoria, the Annual Whisky Festival held at the luxurious Grand Pacific Hotel might just be for you.  WARNING: acquiring tickets requires advance planning and strategy.  SECOND WARNING:  put the number of a taxi cab into your cell phone before you attend.

 This event is sold out every year and quickly.  Out of town attendees are given advance opportunity.  Local keeners are often members of the Companions of the Quaich (whisky club), a group you may wish to research.  This society has events scheduled throughout the year.  Consider them conditioning stints for the big event in January.

 Most attend the evening portion, where a plethora of whisky’s are available for your sampling.  Real aficionados book tickets to “whiskey seminars” scheduled in the afternoon.   Such an event wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to dig into some authentic haggis.  Yum-m-m-m says my imagination when pressed to the limit.

 
Yummy Haggis !

 So, whether you are from here or far away, consider attending the annual Victoria Whisky Festival.  It promises to be an event to remember.  Well . . . the first half anyway.

 You can check out the Victoria Whisky Festival by clicking on the following link:

http://www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com/

Skate On The Wild Side

It is a marvel to watch.  If you venture on the wild side, consider kite boarding.  I'm uncertain  who gains more from this, the kite boarders or the spectators, the latter category of which I am a member.  I have yet to see them collide, but there's always a first time.  This is probably the closest you can get to being a bird skimming the water off Beacon Hill Park.  Majesty, control, grace:  it's all here as you will see by viewing the following:

http://www.blip.tv/file/82203

Delicious History

Most who venture to the City of Victoria pay a visit to the Royal B.C. Museum.  Pay is the operative word.  A number of years ago this museum was free and back then they would receive thousands of dollars each year from visitors, mostly Americans, stunned that such an exhibition came without a fee.  It is still worth the time and money and the exhibitions are changing all the time.  If my yard were bigger and times were different, I would have a woolly mammoth for a pet.  Locals can consider joining for about 3 times the price of regular admission.  Check out the link below and find out why a visit to the Royal B.C. Museum rarely disappoints.

http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/MainSite/

 

 

When you visit the Museum and the Inner Harbour of Victoria, you may hear the bells of the Netherlands Centennial Carillon, donated by the Dutch community of B.C., charting the hours.  Sometimes these magical bells do  much more than keep time and the following three minute video will show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN0HCI3Gc5k

Victoria's Best Soft Ice Cream

It is common for native Victorians and tourists alike to visit the Beacon Drive-In once or twice a year.  Some have been visiting this unique eatery since the 1970's.  This is not the home of fine dining, it is a burger joint that also offers fish and sandwiches.  If you are in the Beacon Park vicinity or near the waterfront at Dallas Road, whether you are contemplating an outdoor movie or coming back from an afternoon of cricket, this is a logical stop. By all means try their ice cream that has been voted number one in Victoria for 10 years running.

Fisherman's Wharf Can Seal Your Fate

One thing many Victorians do once or twice a year is wander around the pungent atmosphere of Fisherman's Wharf.  Here you can sign up for whale watching or kyaking.  Artists and photographers are often found here observing the classic fishing boats and unique floathomes.  It's a great place to have lunch or supper and one of the best places to treat yourself to fish and chips.  There is a fabulous fish market here also so you can take some fresh catch back home.  Tourists and native Victorians love this place.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

       

 

 Watch the seals in the video below:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec_lD8kHDSE

 

 

Escape to Winter

It seldom snows in Victoria itself.  In the winter of 2009/2010 we didn't get any snow.  But those who love winter sports often visit Mt. Washington, north of Victoria near the town of Courtenay.  Last winter when Victoria stayed green, Mt. Washington had the second most snow of any ski mountain in North America.  Both downhill and nordic trails are available.  Winter enthusiasts can drive there or take a train or take a bus early in the morning from Victoria and return later the same day.  It's the kind of winter experience most Victorians can relate to.

http://www.mountwashington.ca/

The Flower Child in Everyone

Some of you may have seen billboards for Victoria's Butchart Gardens as far away as the Arizona desert.  I know I have.  A million visitors a year visit this spectacular garden that employs 55 full time gardeners.  Many local Victorians buy a season's pass every year because the gardens have a different feel at different times of the year.  At Christmas it is a magical place with an outdoor skating venue--yes even in Victoria!

The following short video gives you a sense of its summer time demeanor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaQzArDXpHY

Have a Whale of a Time

One popular Victoria local adventure is whale watching.  Several companies will take you out to the bountiful sea so you can experience these mammals first hand.  The following link is a good place to start:

http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/whales.htm#orca

This short video clip will give you an idea of what the experience is like.  Believe me, though, there is nothing like seeing it live and in person.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS8PALHNx4E

Symphony Splash

One fun thing to do is to attend the annual Symphony Splash on the B.C. Day long weekend.  The performance is often a day or two ahead of the actual holiday Monday in early August.  More than 40,000 Victorians attend and watch in boats, in chairs or on foot.  The evening is capped off with fireworks and you will not want to miss it.  Two videos give you a taste:

The first is the set up leading to the gala event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEhbTivLgwY

The second provides sights and sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEPkCJWb5_M