One of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula’s charms is that it truly is a close-knit community that cares, and this was on display this past weekend at the Hearts of the Comunity Volunteer Awards. Hosted each year by Beacon Community Services, the awards provide recognition to the dozens and dozens of volunteers who help make Sidney such a wonderful place to live.

While the Peninsula News Review has devoted almost an entire issue to telling the stories of the folks who won awards this year (and Beacon Community Services also provides the names of runners-up, plus recipients from past years), we thought we would do a little blog post to let other around the world know more about the great people that make up our community. So, here is a little more about the winners of this year’s awards:

Roberta Hower accepted the community service by a group award on behalf of 63 volunteer drivers of Beacon Community Services. The drivers offer door-to-door service for people not easily able to get to doctor appointments, do banking or go shopping, or just enjoy Sidney’s great natural surroundings.

The team of volunteers who organize the Sendial service through Thrifty Foods received the service to seniors award. The Sendial team receives more than 100 orders a week for groceries. Often family members set clients up – whether they are in assisted living or their own homes – with the program that costs $5 added to the grocery bill. Thrifty’s drivers who make the deliveries will often put away the heavy stuff like kitty litter. That’s just one way the Thrifty’s staff help aid the Sendial program.

Lori Orr received the award for service to children and families. Lori has done everything from organizing support for parents of the first quadruplets born on Vancouver Island (the family resides in Sidney), to organizing a fundraiser for a sick toddler. “I believe in holding the door … look somebody in the eye and say hi. You could totally change somebody’s day,” she says.

Kaley Ram, a student at Parkland secondary school, received a trophy and the $1,000 Ardena Simpson scholarship as part of winning the outstanding youth volunteer award. Through her work with student council, as co-chair, she’s helped run spirit assemblies, benefits and fundraisers. It’s a trait she started just down McDonald Park Road at North Saanich middle school.

The overall service to the community award winner is Judy Beinder.

Judy Beinder holds her eight-year volunteer position with Sidney Sendial program at Thrifty Foods, she’s done voluntary peer counselling for five years, and three year stints with Best Babies and Woodwynn Farm. She offered her home for a garage sale to raise funds for scholarships through the Canadian Federation of University Women Saanich Peninsula and served as president for the group for two years.

Finally, Jeannette Hughes was honoured with the lifetime service award for decades of volunteering on the Saanich Peninsula despite living with multiple sclerosis. Hughes has volunteered tirelessly to help make Sidney more accessible to people living with disabilities, and one of her proudest accomplishments has been to make Sidney sidewalks and curbs easier to navigate for people living with disability issues.

So you’ve decided to spend the winter in Sidney BC, and you’re looking forward to a visit from you grandkids during Spring Break. Luckily, there are plenty of spring break activities near Sidney and the Cedarwood Inn. Exploring Glass Beach and fishing off Sidney Pier at the foot of Beacon Avenue are popular things to do with kids, and even on rainy days Sidney does not disappoint, thanks to a charming and very popular bowling alley and one of the best independent theatres on Vancouver Island.

But one destination for kids (of all ages!) on the Saanich Peninsula deserves a special mention: Victoria Butterfly Gardens!

Located on the way to world-famous Butchart Gardens, Victoria Butterfly Gardens is an amazing place, and is home to 75 species of butterflies. It’s also humid and warm, and the tropical plants can provide a brief respite to the (relatively) cold days that can suddenly make an appearance even in late March.

Butterfly Gardens is interesting as it provides an in-depth look at the biology of the butterfly lifecycle – the tour begins with a look at the “emerging” room, where butterfly pupae transform into mature adults, and moves on to an indoor garden of beautiful tropical plants that support these wonderful creatures.

There are 3000 butterflies that reside at the Gardens, and they’re kept company by variety of birds and fish, including flamingos, Japanese koi, and even an ibis. It’s a wonderful place to spend a few hours with children on one of the rainy days that characterize spring in Victoria (but it’s a light rain that is often followed by beautiful cherry blossoms!)

The gardens themselves are yet another attraction on the Saanich Peninsula, an area that is already famous for its botanical heritage. There are 200 species of orchids, thousands of tropical plants are featured, including foods of the world and carnivorous plant displays. This carefully planned combination of trees, bushes, vines and creepers is a balanced eco-system that flourishes without the use of herbicides and pesticides.

In case your kids decide to pepper you with questions about the anatomy of the butterfly (and they *will* ask you about the feeding habits of the Apefly (Spalgis epius) an actual carnivorous butterfly found across Southeast Asia, but, thankfully, not at the butterfly gardens), there are guided tours that run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm daily. These tours are a great way to learn about many of the wonderful but less obvious features of the gardens.

So, if you’re looking for Spring Break activities near Sidney, Butterfly Gardens is the place to be.

If you’re already starting plan your next big summer adventure, you might consider kayaking the San Juan Islands, and using the Cedarwood Inn and Suites as your home base – we’re more than just a Victoria airport hotel.

Why kayak the San Juan Islands? The islands are a beautiful, tranquil part of America that really represents a different way of life. It’s a nautical culture that is centered around boats and other marine craft. The summers are warm, and, thanks to a “rain shadow” provided by the Olympic Mountains, the summertime is warm and dry, perfect for camping (although there are many bed and breakfasts located throughout the islands) and paddling.

There are 172 islands in San Juan County, however the four ferry served Islands; San Juan Island (with the county seat Friday Harbor), Orcas Island, Lopez Island and Shaw Island are the most populous and feature the largest number of hotels and other places to stay.

So, it’s possible to kayak from town to town in the San Juans. You can rent a kayak when you arrive, or bring your own. And the things to see! There is one “resident pod” of killer whales that reside in the region, plus harbor seals, sea lions, elephant seals, porpoises, as well as a large number of resident bald eagles.

Summer is salmon fishing time as well (these salmon are the prime attraction for many of the larger species of wildlife), so you can look forward to excellent seafood, and, if you’re lucky, excellent fishing.

And if you’re looking for something to do, the official tourism website Visit San Juan Islands says:

In the San Juan Islands, you’ll find it’s less a question of where’s a park than of where isn’t a park. From the 5,252 acres of Moran State Park on Orcas to the national historical parks of American and English Camps on San Juan to Shaw’s secluded campsites by the beach to the variety of shoreside parks on Lopez, the islands’ parks offer you unspoiled natural beauty and diversity. Camp . . . watch whales . . . walk the beaches . . . step back into history . . . hike . . . enjoy.

It’s a fantastic place. But what’s the Sidney connection?

What’s the Sidney connection?

First of all, Sidney and the Cedarwood are located just across Haro Strait from San Juan Island, and we’re about 20 kilometers from Friday Harbour. It’s not necessary to cross Haro Strait to reach the San Juans. Instead, you can hop from island to island on the Canadian side of the line, heading for James Island or Sidney Spit, and then across to San Juan Island, avoiding more relatively open stretches of water.

Sidney is also close to YYJ, an international airport (we like to bill ourselves as a “Sidney airport hotel”), so you can fly in, stay overnight at the Cedarwood to get set up, and rent kayaks right in town.

As well, the Cedarwood is located just across the street from the Anacortes ferry terminal. So, it’s possible to drive up to Anacortes, near Bellingham, hop on the ferry, and get off in Sidney. Retrace your ferry route by kayak (since Friday Harbor is so close it may be a little more convenient than starting your kayaking trip in Anacortes.

But whatever you do when kayaking the San Juan Islands, be sure to make Sidney part of your travel itinerary, and try out the Cedarwood – we’re much more than a Victoria airport hotel.

Snow is in the forecast for Sidney and the rest of southern Vancouver Island this week. Snow is so rare here that many people stayed home, meaning silent streets and empty (but green!) golf courses. Still, the temperature is forecast to dip as low as the freezing point (com

Copyright EJ Hughes

pared with a steady -37 degrees in Edmonton) with a little bit of snow. This doesn’t mean you have to stay in your Sidney hotel room with the television. There are still plenty of things to do in our pretty little town when the white stuff coats everything:

1. Storm watching
No part of Sidney is more than a 5 minute walk from the ocean, and a good winter blast from the east can create some big waves. One of the best spots for storm watching in Sidney is just steps from our front door, just across Lochside Drive, where the Anacortes ferry terminal is. Other stormwatching spots include Glass Beach, or the rocky sandstone beaches along Beaufort Avenue.

2. Drink a coffee
Sidney has  an exceptional number of coffee shops for its size. There’s everything from Starbucks to locally operated chains such as Serious Coffee. Plus, there are small specialty shops to choose from. It’s said that Victoria has the most coffee shops per capital in North America, and Sidney is definitely not far behind. And if you’re looking for something to read while you sip your coffee as you wait out a snowstorm…

3. Go to a bookstore
There are at least 8 bookstores in a 2-block area in Sidney, and all of them specialize in different kinds of books. Tanners Books is one of the largest bookstores on Vancouver Island, and claims to offer 2000 different magazines. There is also an excellent children’s bookstore, a military bookstore, a “haunted” bookstore (that always seems to have the book you’re looking for, no matter how obscure), and more.

4. Drive around Victoria airport to Pat Bay
Assuming the roads aren’t too icy (for that one rare day a year when it snows here), try taking a drive to the other side of the peninsula to Pat Bay – it takes less than 10 minutes. There are great views of beautiful Saanich Inlet, plus the snowy mountains in the middle of the island. The west side of the Peninsula is also great for birdwatching, as many species of birds splash down to rest in the sheltered bays and coves of the inlet while heading south, or back up north. You can also watch the planes land as well,

5. Go to a movie
The Sidney Star Theatre is a great way to pass a snowy (by Sidney’s lax standards) afternoon in style. This special theatre has preserved the movie-going experience from days past, with beautiful seats, a friendly staff, and, most importantly, cheap popcorn and drinks. The movies are generally the cream of the crop, so it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

The Cedarwood thinks there are always plenty of things to do in Sidney, rain, shine or snow.

You want some Sidney information? Well, it’s our favourite time of the year again (right after Christmas, New Year’s and the opening of ski season). Yes, that’s right – Sidney’s excellent museum and archives is hosting its annual Lego Exhibit, and this year promises to be the best one yet! And it’s all thanks to the Victoria Lego Users Group (VicLUG), who have set up an amazing array of street scenes and more – all created out of Lego. According to VicLUG:

On from now until the end of March, the Sidney Museum and Archives is featuring their annual display of LEGO-mania daily from 10-4. As always admission is by donation. And as has been the case for several years now VicLUG members have also provided an array of sets and MOCs (My Own Creations) for the enjoyment of LEGO-fans young and old.

In addition to the display, the museum is also hoping to inspire builders of all ages with a contest on their FaceBook page. Build a MOC and the one with the most “likes” by the end of the exhibition will win. Details will be posted soon so make sure to “like” the museum FB page and get building!

This year the Super Star Destroyer is the feature exhibit (over four feet long!), and more models join the over 250 Lego models from pirates to Star Wars, cranes to castle that are on display in Sidney Museum.

The Sidney Museum is devoted to the history of the early lives of Sidney and North Saanich pioneers, portrayed through photographs and artifacts, and in addition to the displays, Sidney Museum and Archives has very active educational programs for students in grades K – 12. The programs are available by reservation from September to June. The museum is located (underground!) at 2423 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, and is open from 10am to 4pm. It’s the perfect place to take grandchildren if they come out to visit you during your long-term stay.

Courtesy Flickr

Christmas is a magical time of year on the Saanich Peninsula – there’s nothing better than winter garden viewing at a Sidney BC hotel. There’s no snow, and as steady rains of November and early December begin to diminish in preparation for the dry winter months of January and February, a beautiful greenness has returned to the land. The early winter rainy season has provided fields and meadows with plenty of water – the blond, dry hues of summer and early fall have been replaced by beautiful vibrant greens.

The weather is more changeable around Christmastime, with frequent easterly squalls blowing through, and leaving beautiful blue sky in their wake. The angle of the sunlight that gives the region its short days also provides striking, high-contrast colours that are perfect for taking beautiful photos (the summer sunlight, while welcome, is also dazzlingly bright, and tends to wash out darker hues).

Common winter plants in the area include:

Holly Shrubs
Holly shrubs, or evergreen holly, is popular in the winter months for its holiday-inspired look.

Red Osier Dogwood
Red osier dogwood is a hardy plant that is also gorgeous in the spring. In May, it yields white blooms followed by white fruit. In the winter, the deep red and burgundy bark is massively beautifully, reaching a height of up to 10 feet, and a width of up to the same.

Bayberry
Bayberry shrubs can spread out to 6 feet long. It has glossy and aromatic foliage with a waxy, grey fruit.

Birch Trees
Paper birch trees have that characteristic “shabby chic” look; white strips of bark peels from the trunk.

Canadian Hemlocks
You can always tell them by their tilting top!

So, winter garden viewing at a Sidney BC hotel with a camera in hand is a great activity – provided the sun cooperates!

There is less than a week to go until the big day, so here are some Sidney Christmas shopping ideas (and remember – most Sidney businesses are open until 8:00 pm every week night until Christmas!):

Buddies Toys
Buddies Toys is probably the best toy store on Vancouver Island, and it’s located right here in Sidney on Beacon Avenue. They carry everything from Playmobil and Lego to Melissa & Doug and wooden dollhouses. When we’ve got kids in tow, we always make a point of stopping at Buddies Toys (and more often than not leave with a new treasure!) Here’s a link to their Facebook page. Be sure to like it!

Bubba Loo Children’s Boutique
Bubba Loo Children’s Boutique is another must-visit Sidney shop, especially at Christmastime.  Besides awesome original and unique children’s clothing, the Bubba Loo store frequently hosts readings by childrens’ book authors and other fun stuff for you kids – once again, well worth checking out, especially in the final mad shopping week before Christmas. Check out their Facebook page and be sure to like it!

Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop
If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, the Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop in Sidney is a fun candy wonderland with a huge range of retro candy, British Sweets, Dutch licorice, sugar free candy, novelty candy and the largest range of Jelly Bellies on Vancouver Island. It has candy gifts and treats for every occasion and every age. Here’s a link to their Facebook page.

Ooh La La Cupcakes
Ooh la la Cupcakes is a locally owned and operated boutique cupcake bakery with three locations conveniently located in Sidney, Langford, and Victoria. All of their cupcakes are made with fresh ingredients and contain no additives – perfect treats for the holidays. Here’s a link to their Facebook page.

Dragon Horse
For entirely original gift ideas, check out Dragon Horse, which features books, gifts, music, greeting cards, feng shui, space clearing, crystals and stones, wind chimes and more. They also carry Buddha Boards, Walltalk, Escents, Sonja Picard Jewelery, Etheric Weavers, Britto teapots and accessories, Simplicity Soy Candles, dozens of card decks and singing bowls. And it’s all in a soothing and beautiful environment. Here’s a link to their Facebook page.

So you’ve decided to stay for the winter at our beautiful hotel in Sidney BC. We have the warmest winter in Canada, with virtually no snow and temperatures balmy enough to allow you to play golf in shirtsleeves in February.

Everything’s great, except for one thing: what about your grandchildren? Perhaps their parents are also dreaming of ways to escape the winter snow and ice, and enjoy life a little during the long, dark winter. Instead of an expensive trip to Disneyland or Hawaii, why not invite everyone to spend some time in Sidney. There’s plenty for children to do here.

So, here are the top 3 kids activities in Sidney:

1. Go to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is a world-class aquarium and marine education centre focused on the amazing ecosystem of the Salish Sea (the body of water just off Sidney that encompasses the Gulf Islands, the Strait of Georgia – and more). The Ocean Discovery Centre is located right on Sidney’s waterfront, and features a stunning collection of local fish, as well as touch pools and a “wet lab” that lets children find out more about the ocean environment around them. More here

Here’s a video of the centre:

2. Go to Mineral World

Located quite close to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Mineral World continues to be one of the Peninsula’s most popular attractions. All visitors, including children are encouraged to play, discover, and learn. There’s also great shopping opportunities!  At this geology themed shop you can discover one-of-a-kind semi-precious jewellery or make your own with natural gemstone beads and sterling silver findings. Kids of all ages will play in the Scratch Patch while collecting their own rock and shell treasures. Others will want to browse the rocks and fossils or explore the stone-based home decor ideas. More here

3.  Catch a matinee at the Sidney Star Theatre

Sidney is lucky to have its own independent movie theatre that shows a wide variety of mainstream and “art house” films, for very low prices. There are childrens matinees every Saturday and Sunday, so it’s the perfect place to take kids on one of those rare rainy days once the weather starts to dry in mid-January. More here

Of course, Sidney is just one big ocean playground, with miles of walking paths, right along the water, as well as Glass Beach, a rock and pebble beach right at the foot of Beacon Avenue, that’s perfect for exploring and beachcombing with grandchildren, even in winter.

The Cedarwood Inn and Suites is a hotel in Sidney BC.

We’ve talked a lot about different things to do in Sidney all winter, from biking to hiking to enjoying gardens, and we’ve even managed to cover great things to eat! However, there’s one important activity we seem to have left out: golfing.

The Saanich Peninsula (Sidney is located on its northernmost tip) is truly a paradise for golfers. Compared to the rest of Canada, it’s warm right through the winter, and we’re also surrounded by magnificent scenery.

There are 3 golf courses located with in a 10 minute drive of the Cedarwood Inn: Glen Meadows Golf Course, Ardmore Golf Course, and Cordova bay Golf Course are the closest.

And, if you don’t mind the 30 minute drive through gardens and the occasional herd deer to Victoria, there are also some of the finest golf courses on Vancouver Island with in a 30 to 40 minute drive.

Royal Oak Golf Club
The Royal Oak Golf Club is hidden behind a beautiful stand of old-growth Douglas Firs, quite close to the highway, but also at the edge of the small organic farms that line West Saanich Road as it winds up and down the peninsula. It’s a a beautiful, and challenging 9 Hole Golf Course with a great location.

Prospect Lake Golf Course
The Prospect Lake Golf Course is a fun and unique 9 hole golf course located just outside of Victoria on the scenic shores of Prospect Lake. Come experience winding fairways and lush greens, and keep your eyes open for the diverse including eagles, deer, and heron.

Uplands Golf Course
Probably the most famous golf course in Victoria, Uplands Golf Course, established in 1922,  is an exclusive shrine to a game that has provoked passion in people all over the world. While playing on the Uplands course is reserved for members, the club does accept reciprocal memberships, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Victoria Golf Club
Established in 1893, Victoria Golf Club presents spectacular views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. Once again a club reserved for members (but observing reciprocal memberships), this is Canada’s true golf mecca.

Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain is probably Victoria’s premier (and only) luxury golf resort. Vancouver Island’s only 36 holes of Nicklaus Design golf, at Bear Mountain Resort you can choose between the Jack & Steve Nicklaus co-designed Mountain Course or the Nicklaus Design Valley Course – both offering amazing views of Vancouver Island’s breathtaking landscape.

Other golf courses close to the Cedarwood include:

• Olympic View Golf Club
• Highland Pacific Golf Course
• Gorge Vale Golf Club
• Cedarhill Golf Course

So, as you can see, there are plenty of Sidney and Victoria golf courses to choose from. It’s a great way to spend the winter when everyone else is freezing.

At the Cedarwood Inn and Suites, we feel pretty lucky to be located on the Saanich Peninsula just north of Victoria. For one thing, Sidney is a beautiful place with beautiful ocean views, just like Victoria. We love our slower pace of life, as well as the more intimate and friendly feeling of living in a small community.

We also like our status as “Victoria’s back yard.” In Sidney, we’re really close to the rich farmland of the Saanich Peninsula that produces all sorts of treats for “locavores”, and we want everyone to know about the great food that is available here. So, here is a short (and far from complete) list of different farms and eateries that offer some amazing things to eat!

Oldfield Orchard and Bakery
Recently taken over by a young couple, the Oldfield Orchard and Bakery has been a favourite off local residents searching for apples and other fruit, as well as home-baked pies fresh from their bakery. It also features a petting zoo, and a wonderful fall fair. Learn more here

Saanich Organics
Saanich Organics is a community of farmers from small, certified organic farms who work together. Robin Tunnicliffe of Feisty Field Organic Farm, Rachel Fisher of Three Oaks Farm, and Heather Stretch of Northbrook Farm are the owners of the business and we work with several other farmers in and around greater Victoria. Learn more here

Beacon and Eggs
The newest all-day breakfast restaurant anywhere in Victoria, we’re lucky to call this Sidney restaurant our own. Delicious food, huge portions, and a bright atmosphere all mean you can’t go wrong by visiting this place. As an added bonus, it’s just a short walk from the Cedarwood. Learn more here

Eat Magazine
This great Victoria publication offers plenty of insight on where to eat in and around the capital, and, for some reason, restaurants and eateries on the Saanich Peninsula always seem to do well. Learn more here

So, besides the nice weather, and the bookstores, and the diving, and the sailing, and the biking, and the golfing, and the utter lack of snow, Sidney is also proud to boast a terrific food culture. What are you waiting for? Join us for a farm tour now!

The Cedarwood is a Sidney BC hotel