Ça Va Restaurant Victoria BC

Last night I had the opportunity to visit Ça Va Bistro Moderne located in the heart of Fernwood in Victoria BC. Ça Va offers fine modern French cuisine. It has been a while since I have frequented Fernwood but it is a buzz of activity. It looks like a great place for a Bistro like Ça Va. Entering Ça Va I found a small restaurant with simple décor providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Our group, the Victoria Guest Services Network, was hosted by Fauna Martin (Chef/Owner) and Patrick Allard (Manager). Our congenial hosts are obviously proud of what they have created and rightly so. The service was excellent, the food superb and the presentation outstanding. Everyone in our group agreed. Ça Va is a unique restaurant and well worth a visit. Ça Va makes every effort to use local organic produce and antibiotic and hormone free protein when available. Their list of suppliers includes many of the best on Vancouver Island. Ça Va is open for Brunch from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday and Sunday, Lunch from 11:30 am to 2 pm Tuesday to Friday and for Dinner 5 pm to 9 pm Tuesday through Thursday and 5 pm to 10 pm Friday and Saturday. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food presented.



I always measure the quality of a business by those extra special “touches”. Two that I noticed at Ça Va were the interesting palette cleanser served between courses and the sweet they provide at the end of the meal (delicious brownie bite). As the evening progressed it became apparent that Fauna Martin is undoubtedly one of the best chefs in Victoria. She is amazingly creative. Fauna is trained in classic French technique and specializes in 'modern Australian' cuisine. These skills combine for a unique representation of the 'West Coast' style. It will be easy to recommend Ça Va to our family, friends and out of town guests. It is just that good! Ça Va is located at 1296 Gladstone Ave, right across the square from the Belfry Theatre. ©heck out our photos below to set your appetite!  For more pictures please go to our Facebook site.

Olympic View Golf Course - Forester's Bistro

Are you looking for a great place for lunch or brunch. Try Forester's at the Olympic View Golf Course. The Bistro has great food and is often not busy, especially during the winter. There are great views from the Bistro and from the surrounding deck. The golf course is beautiful and scenic and the Bistro sits behind the 18th green. Ron had chicken strips and Kenebec Fries which both were delicious. Linda had a great salad, also delicious. All the meals we have had there have been top quality. It is a special place to take your freinds and guests. Give it a try, you will be glad you did. There is a lot to see on the West Shore and more great resaturants like this. Check it out. For more pictures visit our Facebook Page.

Dominion Brook Park North Saanich BC

Dominion Brook Park is an amazing 11 acres on the Saanich Peninsula. It was created by the Canadian Department of Agriculture as a public demonstration arboretum and ornamental garden 1912 and immediately readied for planting under the direction of W.T. Macoun, Dominion Horticulturist, son of the world famous botanist, John Macoun.

Plant material was ordered from well known nurseries in Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Japan and the USA.  Of the hundreds of species planted many have not survived but an amazing number have grown to maturity.  The plant selections and the layout of the park is incredible and masterly landscaped in the extensive variation of terrain which combines glades, dells and vistas with ponds and pools and Dominion Brook.  The park has some interesting stonework as well.

During the 80’s maintenance was reduced and the unique plantings began to disappear under ivy and blackberry. In the late 1990's a citizens group spearheaded by John and Katie Dawson led to the formation in 2000 of a volunteer non-profit society, "Friends of Dominion Brook Park Society" which now has over 200 members.  In July 2009, a renegotiated lease for 25 years, with an option for a further 25 years, was signed between the Federal Government and the District of North Saanich.

Dominion Brook Park has been part of Peninsula history from its inception when the B.C. Electric Railway stopped at the bottom of the park and brought large groups for picnics and holiday outings.  Today, the park's popularity continues to grow with visitors and groups as diverse as the Basset Hound picnics, weddings, school outings, family gatherings, Geocaching and Easter Egg Hunts. The Park is open to anyone and if you would like to have a group function there, it is advisable to contact the District of North Saanich. 

If you want to join the "Friends of Dominion Brook Park Society" email at contactus@dominionbrookpark.ca or

You are invited to hold social functions such as group picnics, club outings, family celebrations in this lovely oasis in North Saanich.  Contact:  brobinson@northsaanich.ca. telephone 250-656-4185.   This great little park is a gem in North Saanch just across from the Panorama Recreation Centre and is waiting to be discovered by you.  Pictures have been provided by John Aston.