A howling good forecast, Vic
It’s almost time for the Monster Mash, but this lovably ghoulish part of year isn’t just an excuse to dress up as anyone you want for practically the whole weekend — what’s not to love? — it’s also a chance to turn your costume into a good-cause generator.
Still feel a ghostly craving to go trick-or-treating when the pumpkins pop out? Kids of all ages are invited to take part in UVic’s “Trick Or Eat” campaign, sponsored by the Meal Exchange Program and nearing its 10th year in Victoria. Treaters meet at 5:30 p.m. on campus (Social Science/Math Building, room A120), then go door-to-door Halloween night to collect not candy but nonperishable and canned food items in the Gordon Head, Cadboro Bay and Oak Bay area. Join in the search, or offer up your house as a canned-food goodie stop at trickoreat.ca. All proceeds go to local community food banks, like the much-in-need Mustard Seed.
If trick-or-treating makes you feel like a creep at this age, fear not. Throw on that same costume Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. and join team Monday and the Victoria Royals for a costume contest hockey game fit for ghouls. Tables will be set up inside Save On Foods Memorial Centre to collect donations for the Mustard Seed, and to enter your costume to win a number of prize packs, including family tickets to future games. With Victoria battling the Seattle Thunderbirds, the game could give fans a good scare.
And, if dressing up just isn’t your thing, toss the responsibility to Rover and dress up your pooch for the Victoria Bulldog Walk on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m. at Pearkes Rec Centre. Dogs and owners will have access to a large indoor area and walking trails. Donations will be collected to benefit the BC SPCA. Register your haunting attendance at victoriabulldogwalks.weebly.com, and have a howling good time.
Candidates no match for us
Speaking of scares this season, one of the most terrifying possibilities is that we could pass through another municipal election with a spookily low voter turnout — but not if some citizens have their say.
For anyone who ever felt too shy to walk up and ask your municipal politicians exactly what they think, Tyler Trent Heward has mapped it out for all of us. Heward, who has been a part of the People’s Assembly of Victoria (Occupy Victoria) since the initial rallies, has spearheaded his own all-candidates awareness initiative by requesting that all Victoria mayoral and council candidates come to the Occupy headquarters in Centennial Square this Saturday, Oct. 29, and face a question-and-answer period that will clear up any voter confusion.
As of press time, Heward received a yes from three out of four mayoral candidates: Paul Brown, Steve Filipovic and David Shebib (current Mayor Dean Fortin is expected to show at another date). Councillor-hopefuls who bit as of press time include: Christopher Coleman, Shellie Gudgeon, Arron Hall, Linda McGrew, Charlayne Thornton-Joe, John C. Turner and Jon Valentine. Each candidate will be given one hour to speak and receive questions, both from Heward — who will act as emcee — and all interested community members.
“The world needs change, and any platform that offers that is good,” says Heward. “This is not only a chance for us to learn how these people — who very likely will be voted into office — intend to operate our city, but it’s also a chance for them to learn about us and see what’s important here.”
Heward says the event may be stretched over the weekend if the topics drag on. A full schedule of speaking times can be found at occupyvictoria.ca.
We haven’t forgotten Kim
It’s been just over a year and a half since news of Kimberly Proctor’s murder hit Langford residents and devastated the Island community, but some are hoping to turn the teen’s legacy into something that can save other youth.
Jo-Anne Landolt, aunt of Proctor, has entered an online competition to get a child safety program called “Kids in the Know” into every B.C. school.
The project (kidsintheknow.ca) was entered to win an Aviva Community Fund grant, which would see Landolt’s campaign cinch $150,000 if chosen by online voters. She has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which already has implemented the program in select schools across the country. Now, Landolt is asking the B.C. government to support bringing the program here (at a cost of $300,000), and is looking to Aviva for help. The program teaches school children to recognize healthy and unsafe situations and relationships, trust their intuition and seek help from parents and staff.
“My niece was murdered last March by two people she thought weren’t a threat to her,” says Landolt. “I want to get a safety program into my children’s school, and into schools all over B.C.”
Learn more and vote by Nov. 9 at avivacommunityfund.org, idea number 11490. M
