Summer monthly rates available

Moving to Sidney and have no where to stay while waiting or looking for a house, Being relocated for work or just looking for a place on the beach to spend a month this summer? 

COME CHECK OUT THE CEDARWOOD!!!  

If you have an interest in monthly rate through the summer months please contact the Cedarwood Inn & Suites. 1877 656 5551

Manager’s Special

The Cedarwood Inn & Suites is having a Blow out Managers Special Rate for the rest of March and month of  April. Book  a Saltspring one bedroom suite for just  $99.00 plus tax and if you book for 3 or more nights get an additional ten dollars off per night. 

In addition we still have our long term rentals available on special as well, please contact our toll free number for monthly specials. 1 877 656 5551

Victoria’s winter gardens are gone at Butchart Gardens as it hosts its Spring Prelude.

This is the time of year to see the background shrubs and trees of summer standing out more prominently in the various gardens. You’ll be surprised what grows in a temperate winter climate on the wet West Coast, so hurry – winter will be over soon, replaced instead by daffodils, tulips, cherry trees and the other blooms of March.

Until the end of March, visit The Spring Prelude at Butchart Gardens, and enjoy an incredible 6,000 square foot indoor garden. The display includes many of favorite outdoor plants which have been brought indoors and forced into bloom well ahead of what nature would normally allow. Spring Prelude is filled with lush plants, trees, koi pond, water features and hundreds of fragrant blooms.

There will also be a historic display until Mar 15 in the main dining room at the Gardens. The display details the story of Butchart Gardens through photographs, letters and other mementos  The display is spread through several rooms of the Butchart’s former residence and gives you a glimpse of the rich history surrounding the wonderful gardens on the Saanich Peninsula.

Butchart Gardens was started by Ontario dry goods merchant, Robert Pim Butchart who began manufacturing cement. Attracted to the West Coast of Canada by rich limestone deposits vital for cement production, he built a factory at Tod Inlet, on Vancouver Island. There, in 1904, he and his family established their home. After many years they transformed the limestone quarry into Victoria’s beautiful gardens – famous in winter, spring, summer and fall.

The Sidney Museum’s Lego exhibit returns for its annual show on Beacon Avenue.

As usual, hundreds of sets will be on display, including an area where kids of all ages can build their own creations – plus other fun activities.

This is a one-of-a-kind event that is a true Island tradition –  visitors come from all throughout BC to see this exhibit.

The highlight of the show, which runs until the end of March, is Monday February 11th – BC’s first Family Day. Robin Sather, Canada’s only LEGO Pro, builds a life-size LEGO figure at a local venue (to be announced).

In 2012, the Sidney Museum began the Lego Creations Competition, and the contest will continue again this year.

Contestants submitted their best Lego Creation for a chance to win a Lego Set. With over 50 entries, competition was tight.

Here are the contest rules ( see the Facebook page for more details):

1. Contest runs January 1 – March 31; entries submitted on or after March 31 will not be accepted.

2. One creation per person; creations are eligible to win more than one prize.

The Lego exhibit runs January 1 – March 31, and admission is by donation.

If you’re looking for winter activities in Sidney (maybe something to do after visiting our Mt. Washington condo?) you might want to check out birding. Here is some information about winter birds near here, plus Victoria birding resources.

Blue herons

Herons are a frequent site along the shoreline of Bazan Bay, directly in front (east) of  The Cedarwood, where they search for small crustaceans and fish in the shallow water. Several colonies are located on the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria, and herons usually prefer stands of old-growth Douglas Fir to build their nests. One such colony exists at the eastern end of Mt Newton Cross Road, about 5 kilometers south of The Cedarwood in Sidney, although the best place to view herons is in Beacon Hill Park, about 40 minutes by car from Sidney.

Bald eagles

Bald eagles and blue herons share a complicated relationship on southern Vancouver Island. Since the pesticide DDT was banned about 40 years ago, herons, eagles and other large birds have staged a remarkable recovery in Victoria and on the Saanich Peninsula. Blue herons established a large colony in Beacon Hill Park, but about a decade ago the herons disappeared. Why? Their nests were targeted by Bald eagles, another common resident on the south island. For nearly a decade, heron numbers declined in Victoria, and it’s thought the herons relocated to the mid-Island. Happily, they have returned to the park.

As for Bald eagles, they can often be seen along Bazan Bay, and spend most of their time circling high above Gowland Todd park, about 10 kilometers southwest of Sidney. Gowland Park is part of an expansive greenway north of Victoria, connecting the Highlands and the Sooke Hills to central Saanich and the Peninsula.

Hermit Thrush

These common “little brown jobs” can be seen chirping cheerfully on the bare branches of bushes throughout the region, feeding on seeds and other fodder.

Gulls

While Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) are synonymous with the West Coast, in reality our coastline is home to at least half a dozen species of gulls. The Glaucous gull can often be confused with a Western gull (they look quite similar – see “ring species“), and it’s rewarding to be on the lookout for smaller, more delicate-looking gulls such as Thayer’s gull and the Mew gull. Here’s a handy website for identifying gulls in British Columbia.

Sidney BC birdwatching resources

• Birds of BC
• Wildlife of Vancouver Island
• BC Rare Bird Alert
• Flickr – Vancouver Island birds
• Avibase – BC Bird database
• Birding BC website

If you love the feel of a true small town shopping experience, join us in Sidney on November 30th from 5 – 8pm for the 2nd annual Christmas Open House, hosted by the Sidney Merchants Co-Op.

There are over 40 stores participating this year, offering extended hours and incentives such as sweet treats, snacks & beverages, promotions and in-store specials.

Many stores will continue to extend their hours on Thursday’s and Friday’s in December before Christmas.

Passport to the North Pole

On this evening, the long awaited Passport to the North Pole will be available! Collect 12 unique signatures or stamps from participating merchants for a chance to win a $2000 Sidney Shopping Spree and a $250 gift certificate to Haro’s Restaurant and Bar in the Sidney Pier Hotel. Watch for the Gingerbread Man, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer, and Fir the Christmas Tree handing out the passports. The draw will be made on December 20th, during Hark the Haro’s Angels Sing at Haro’s Restaurant.

Enjoy the streets of Sidney on a romantic carriage ride with Black Beauty Carriage Company during the Christmas Open House and throughout the holiday season!

Bring cheer to all by singing along with our carollers again this year!

All in all it’s going to be a fun festive evening, and everyone is invited!

Open House Participating Merchants:

1. Beacon Books
2. Brown’s The Florist
3. Bubba Loo Children’s Boutique
4. Buddies Toys
5. Cameron Rose
6. Christine Laurent Jewellers
7. Connie’s Petites
8. Cottons and Blues
9. d.g. Bremner & Co.
10. Dig This
11. Donatello’s
12. Fiorenza Flowers
13. Flush Bathroom Essentials
14. Hemp & Company
15. Hypersort
16. In Touch Cards & Gifts
17. Janet’s Special Teas
18. Knickerbockers
19. Lilaberry Home Decor
20. Lolly Gobble
21. Marmalade Tart Boutique
22. Miss Bliss Boutique
23. Muffet & Louisa
24. Ohh La La Cupcakes
25. Papyrus Cards & Gifts
26. Pebbles at Mineral World
27. Peninsula Gallery
28. Pitt & Hobbs
29. Rogers Chocolates
30. Seaside Home & Garden
31. Sidney’s Pet Centre
32. Smashin’ Fashion
33. Sweet Talk & Lace
34. Tanner’s Bargain Books
35. Tanner’s Books
36. Tatum & Olivia
37. The Children’s Bookshop
38. The Dancing Orchid
39. The Sidney Fashion Exchange
40. WaterLily Shoes
41. WestCoast Eco Home

http://www.peninsulacelebrations.ca/events/sidney-sparkles/

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.

The annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards has voted Vancouver Island the top island in Canada and No. 6 in the world. Vancouver Island has remained among the top islands since 2000.

Nestled along Canada’s West Coast, the Vancouver Island region is a paradise of tranquil islands, pristine coastlines, and emerald forests, where the ever-present Pacific Ocean shapes the scenery and softens the climate. Lush old-growth rainforests where the trees form a cool canopy over hiking trails, sparkling wave-swept beaches that stretch for miles, majestic mountains with glittering glaciers and snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear rivers teeming with fish, sun-dappled lakes surrounded by parkland, alpine meadows filled with wildflowers, rolling vistas of farmland and vineyards — it’s one awe-inspiring view after another. And whether you are strolling on a beach or cycling a country lane, watching an artist at work or enjoying a seafood feast on a sunny patio, you feel the magic of being on an island surrounded by the magnificence of the Pacific Ocean.

Geographically, the Vancouver Island region is situated just 45 minutes by air from Seattle and 20 minutes by air from Vancouver. The region encompasses Vancouver Island itself, a huge island measuring 32,261 square kilometres (19,356 square miles) and the location of Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city; hundreds of islands and islets, among which are the Gulf Islands and the Discovery Islands; and a sizable portion of the mainland’s fjord-like coastline.
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The Christmas Vintage, Retro & Collectible Show and Sale

Sunday, November 18 at the Mary Winspear Centre: 120 tables/80 vendors.

Get a jump-start on your Christmas Shopping at the Vintage, Retro and Collectible Show and Sale in Sidney on November 18!
Everything is unique and different, an excellent place to scope out with family and friends.

This show is a great mix of collectibles; everything from:

• pre and post war jewelry
• dinky toys and paper collectibles
• More and more 50′s vintage clothes and collectibles
• furniture and art, lamps and ornaments
• Exotic Thai and Japanese pieces and more local
• First Nations collectibles

Mary Winspear Centre, Beacon Ave, Sidney. 9:30 am – 4 pm Entrance $3. Earlybirds: 8:30 am $20.

More Info? email: dnlock@shaw.ca David/Josie: 250-744-1807.

Children free with adults/wheelchair accessible venue. Come by and check it out!

This is the 22nd year that Oldfield Orchard and Bakery has hosted it’s own Octoberfest. The festival will run through two weekends October 20th & 21st and October 27th & 28th 10am – 4pm on location at Oldfield Orchard and Bakery:

Daily Admission is:

• $9 for adults
• $6.75 for children (children 2 & under – free)
• $28 as a family rate (2 adults & 2 children)

Activities and events included with admission:

• Hayrides
• Labyrinth-Cedar Tree Maze
• Graveyard Alley
• Hay Maze
• Candy Toss
• Tractor Displays
• Pumpkin Ring Toss
• Kid’s Stage
• 4H Clubs Displays & Animals
• Saanich Historical Artifacts

Raph & Kelsie, the new operators of the Oldfield Farm and Bakery, have been working for the Scotts for several years before taking over the farm.

Oldfield Farm is a fun family farm with a petting farm, a very delicious bakery, good for you vegetables, and the best strawberries in town!

 Contact Kelsie Guite photos@oldfieldorchardandbakery.com