Dear Harry and Meghan (may we call you that now?), Welcome to Vancouver Island, a place that combines the best of England and Canada on one lush rock in the Pacific Ocean. You’re not the first Brits to be lured here after a holiday and you certainly won’t be the last. As an import to ... Read More
When four Victoria friends found their yards overflowing with dahlias last summer, they had a bright idea: why not start an urban flower farm? A year later, City Fields Flower Farm is in full swing and is launching a flower subscription service for the months of July, August and September. Here’s how it works: sign ... Read More
So far as winters in Victoria go, this has been a pretty, ummm, enduring one. Thankfully, there’s light on the horizon. No, not actual warmth, but Dine Around — an excuse for locals to get out of their jammies and hit the town for some ridiculously good grub. Here’s how it works: dozens of Victoria’s ... Read More
It’s no secret Fernwood Bites is one of Victoria’s standout events of the year: it’s a blissful mix of eats, drinks and hob nob in one of the city’s most cherished neighbourhoods. Our only gripe? Waiting the 12 long months until it rolls around again. Not anymore. It’s as if event organizer Fernwood NRG heard ... Read More
When I moved to the West Coast from Calgary six years ago, I left my little 2001 Volkswagen Golf TDI on the other side of the Rockies. I had visions of cycling around quaint streets carrying an artfully placed baguette in my basket, looking effortlessly chic (while birds serenaded me). The reality was not quite ... Read More
If you’re a fan of Victoria’s Langham Court Theatre Costume Loft, we’re about to blow your best-kept secret (know we’re torn about sharing, too). If it’s not on your radar, get ready to thank us. The loft is Langham’s epic one-stop costume rental shop that’s open to the public. In the run-up to Halloween, you ... Read More
First of all, please accept our apology for the hiatus. We got really busy with, well, loving the bejeebus out of summer. You know that feeling that you need to make the most of every last bit of sunshine? Yea, that. Now with just a few weeks left of summer, we’ve rounded up five things ... Read More
Victoria has long been spoiled for talented artists, creators, and makers. Now a new creative class is adding to the artsy quotient and upping the city’s game. Here are six ways to better your Victoria ‘AQ.’ 1) Trounce Alley Gallery is a new addition to the historic downtown laneway that shares its name. Small and vibrant, ... Read More
“Looks like we’re the only ones here,” Drea Gibson says, switching off the engine of her 1994 Mitsubishi Delica turbo-diesel Spacegear L400. As the dogs clamour for the doors, we three passengers grab our daypacks and tumble out behind. We’re standing in a rough cul-de-sac carved off the side of a logging road a half-hour’s ... Read More
A life-long love of tea has taken me to some of my favourite exotic landscapes: the Zomba plateau (Malawi); the lush interior hills of Sri Lanka (Ceylon); south India’s Western Ghats; and the misty Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling. While it’s the exact same plant (Camellia sinensis) that blankets these and so many other hills from ... Read More
