QUADRA ISLAND STUDIO TOUR 2012

Quadra Island Artists are hosting their tenth annual Studio Tour on the first weekend of June. Quadra is situated in the beautiful Discovery Islands, just a short ferry ride from Campbell River. Visitors can enjoy exploring the island (with its beautiful vistas to both the coastal ranges on the mainland and to Vancouver Island’s peaks to the west) and check out the work done by the island’s many fine artists. The Tour presents work in many talents – blown glass, stone sculpture, pottery, photography, printmaking, painting and more – and an opportunity to meet the creative people behind the artwork. Add a picnic on Rebecca Spit, gazing across the waters of Sutil Chanel, and it is a perfect weekend outing.

Mark your calendars for June 2nd and 3rd on Quadra Island. Tickets can be purchased for $5 per person (kids under 12 are free) from:

 Hummingbird Office and Art Supply

 Quadra Tourist Info Centre

 Campbell River Public Art Gallery

 Comox Valley Art Gallery (Courtenay)

 And at Quadra Island resorts

More details can be found at http://www.quadraislandarts.com/.

Or check us out on Facebook at Quadra Island Studio Tour

Can’t make the Studio Tour weekend? Many of the studios are open to visitors throughout the summer.

Contact: Kathryn Manry, Cell Phone: 250/205-1002


Email: kamanry@gmail.com

Amazing- Octopus eats a seagull...

To see more pictures of this amazing event, please go to our Facebook page. Sidney, BC, March 22, 2012: It’s well known that birds feast on marine life, but what about the other way around? Ginger Morneau of Langford was walking on the breakwater at Ogden Point with family from out of town when the sound of splash...ing caught their attention. Nothing could have prepared them for what they saw when they looked into the water. “The orange tentacle of an octopus wrapped around a seagull and they were struggling. It felt like time stopped as we watched the encounter.” Morneau was fortunate enough to have her camera on hand to document what in actuality took less than a minute. The octopus drowned the bird and pulled it down into the water. “My husband laughed at me, but I wanted to save the seagull. It was very shocking to watch.” Says Morneau. While it’s rare for this feeding activity to be caught on camera, it’s not that unusual for an octopus to eat a bird. “Octopuses are smart and if they see a bird that consistently lands on a rock they can access then they may have a go at catching it. Birds, on the other hand, are not all that smart and often will not move when an arm comes out of the water because they do not recognize it as a threat.” Say Jim Cosgrove, author of Super Suckers, the go-to guide on Giant Pacific Octopus. The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney has a large male giant pacific octopus, fondly known as “The Dude”. He has shown his aquarists first hand just how clever these creatures can be “The Dude learned how to open a jar and retrieve a crab within a minute of us showing him how to do it!" says Paula Romagosa, Head Aquarist. “They’re also incredibly strong, there has been more than one occasion in which it has taken several people to retrieve the cleaning pole when he decides to hold on to the end." Says Romagosa. The Centre will be releasing The Dude soon so that he’s able to continue to grow and complete his breeding cycle in the wild. A wild giant pacific octopus captures a Seagull at Ogden Point -30- About Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is an aquarium and marine education centre focused on the amazing ecosystem of the Salish Sea. The Centre operates as a not-for-profit community facility that is self-supporting through admission fees, grants and donations. The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is governed, funded and owned by the New Marine Centre Society. Capital funds for the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre were raised through generous community support. The Centre is located in a spectacular waterfront building in Sidney, BC. Media Contact: Leshell Michaluk, Sales & Marketing Director marketing@oceandiscovery.ca 250-665-7511 Ext. 109
Thanks to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre for passing along this story.

There are many more photos like this on our new Vancouver Island homepage.   Check it out and tell your friends.  We are gradually transforming all of our key pages to this format to try to simplify navigation through our site.  Enjoy the pics. 

Victoria Inner Harbour Floating Boat Show

Here are two good reasons for you to take in this year's boat show. You can still make it today until 5 pm and all day tomorrow from 10 am until 5 pm. Pick up a boat for 2.5 million or perhaps something less luxurious, your choice! Or just float through the choices with dreams of sugar plums dancing through your head. Enjoy the photos, but check it out for real, it is a lot better. There are lots of great exhibits demonstrating the latest and greatest in boating. For more pictures, please visit or Facebook Page for 42 more good reasons to attend the show.

Malbec World Day at the Victoria Union Club an Industry Tasting

One Day, One Celebration and one Global Superstar...a day to celebrate Argentine wines and the Malbec grape that produces some of the finest wines in the world.  The stately Union Club is a fitting place to hold such an event.  A great venue, with great staff, table of excellent tapas, and some amazing wines.  If you missed it, that is unfortunate. For more photos please go to the VGSN Facebook page. 

Quadra Village Day Saturday May 12

• • Saturday, May 12, 2012- 9:30am

• Kings Road between Quadra and Dowler, Victoria BC

• JOIN US SATURDAY, MAY 12, 9:30am - 1:00pm FOR QUADRA VILLAGE DAY 2012! Drop by Kings Road between Quadra and Dowler, and enjoy fun, free, all-ages activities.