Explore Canada’s oldest synagogue (1863), Congregation Emanu-El

Explore Canada’s oldest synagogue (1863), Congregation Emanu-El (1461 Blanshard Street), the last standing brick building designed by the prolific Scottish architect, John Wright, in Romanesque Revival style. This sanctuary overflows with the vibrant history of its congregants, including the first Jewish Judge in Canada (Samuel Davies Schultz), the first Jewish mayor of any city in British North America (Lumley Franklin), and the first Jew to sit in the Canadian House of Commons (Henry Nathan Jr). Most tours will be led by Canada’s first ordained Maggidah (female Jewish storyteller), Shoshana Litman www.maggidah.com, who skillfully weaves local history and Jewish customs with tales both ancient and modern, highlighting the arrival of Victoria’s first Jews and the development of a dynamic congregation over 150 years to the present. Synagogue tours run on the hour, Wednesdays 12 to 3 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June through August, 2013. There will also be tours offered on Sundays at 8 p.m. in July and August. Cost is $10 per person and children under 12 are free. Reservations are not required. Please contact stories@maggidah.com or call 250-382-0615 to book a tour at another time or visit http://www.congregationemanu-el.ca/community/synagogue-tours/ for more information.  For more pictures, please go to our Facebook Page.

Mount Washington Ski Report

Check out the conditions on Mount Washington.

The Victoria Keg...a great place for dinner

Members of the Victoria Guest Services Network met for a familiarization (FAM) tour of the Victoria Keg Restaurant, starting in the bar with drinks expertly mixed by the affable bartender Atif.  We then moved upstairs to a large table in the fashionably decorated restaurant.  Both floors look out over the Inner Harbour and it is especially beautiful at sunset and in the dark looking over the harbour.  What a beautiful spot for a romantic dinner.

Breanne Marsh, the Marketing and Promotions manager addressed our group and explained how the Keg menu works.  It is a comprehensive list with lots of choice and flexibility.  When the food arrived we shared sample bites with each other to get to know the menu and the quality of the food served at the Keg.

The drink menu is not huge but is comprehensive with some unique cocktails and there is an extensive wine list.  Everyone certainly enjoyed their drinks of choice.   The pictures that follow will demonstrate the quality of plated presentations and the comments from VGSN members certainly attest to the great taste and superior quality of the food.  The Keg has a history of good quality food and consistency throughout the years. 

Lauren was our server and she did a fantastic job explaining choices and making sure the food kept coming and that our drinks were always full.  She managed our large group with aplomb and kept us informed of the timing of our courses.  Lauren is an excellent example of what a great server can aspire to.   Well done, Lauren.

We were visited several times during the meal by the marketing team of John Tinker and Breanne Marsh to make sure we were being treated well and enjoying our meals.  Thanks to all the staff at the Keg for a most enjoyable evening.  We will certainly be recommending the keg to our friends and guests who visit Victoria.

for more pictures, please visit our Facebook Page.

Victoria Tea Festival Saturday Feb 9th

WHAT: 7th Annual Victoria Tea Festival

WHEN: Saturday, February 9, 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas Street

Victoria Tea Festival still steeping after 7 years!

VICTORIA, BC:  A one-stop shop for all things tea, the Victoria Tea Festival celebrates its seventh year on February 9^th at the Crystal Garden. Expecting over 3,000 attendees, the festival invites attendees to discover, taste, and experience all things tea in this exclusive, interactive and educational experience. While discovering both the traditions and trends of tea, attendees will also be able to purchase a wide variety of teas, accessories, wares and other related products. Festival goers can steep themselves in tea and coffee lore by taking in a complimentary presentation by experts who will share their knowledge on the presentation stage.

Presentation Schedule:

12 p.m. Planning the Perfect Tea Celebration (Lorna Reeves, TeaTime Magazine)

Lorna, editor of TeaTime magazine, will share expert tips and techniques for planning the perfect tea party.

1 p.m. Tasty Teas for Home Health (David Caudwell, Pacific Rim College)

David will take attendees on a fun and informative learning journey as they discover how to blend teas that help fight winter coughs and colds, provide energy, and assist with sleep.

2 p.m. Cooking With Tea (Chef Michael Williams, Country Grocer)

Chef Michael will be making delicious recipes using chai, oolong, and green teas as well as demonstrating various cooking techniques.

3 p.m. Korean Tea Ceremony (Greg Demmons)

Experience the history and cultural significance of the Korean Tea Ceremony which will include a demonstration of the rarely-witnessed meditation tea ceremony.

4 p.m. Coffee: From Field to Cup (Josh del Sol, Level Ground Trading)

Josh will provide an adventurous overview of the critical steps taken in coffee cultivation, harvest, shipping, and roasting that directly impact the quality and flavour of every cup of coffee.

Whether one prefers tasting, shopping, or learning about tea, the Victoria Tea Festival will open up the senses to all things tea. Visitors are sure to find the perfect cuppa to match their tastes and lifestyles.

Tickets are $20. Advance tickets provide a VIP entrance to the festival. Tickets will also be available at the door on a first come, first serve basis. For a complete list of ticket outlets, event details and presentation descriptions, visit www.victoriateafestival.com.  

The Victoria Tea Festival is a fundraiser for Camosun College’s Child Care Services and is sponsored by Vancity, Times Colonist, Chek News, Ocean 98.5, and TeaTime Magazine.

Great Snow at Mount Washington

Check out conditions at http://youtu.be/lz5Wwvlc3vc
then get in your car and head for Mount Washington.

Mount Washington Avalance Training

Avalanche Awareness Day Timely

Image: A Mount Washington Patroller examines some terrain off the backside of the mountain.
Photo Credit: Mount Washington Alpine Resort
In light of recent events in the BC backcountry and closer to home at Strathcona Provincial Park, the timing of Avalanche Awareness Day on Mount Washington couldn't be better.

The one day event takes place this Sunday, January 20th from 11am to 2pm and features demos designed to educate and promote snow safety for those interested in mountain travel.

“We've been running our Avalanche Awareness Days for a number of years now in partnership with the Canadian Avalanche Association,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “And in light of what we've seen lately in the headlines, we hope to see increased interest from skiers and boarders looking to learn more about how to do these activities safely.”

Mount Washington's Avalanche Awareness Day will offer a variety of demos designed to introduce attendees to everything from technical backcountry gear to digging and analyzing snow pits. A beacon race will add an element of fun to the event and give bragging rights to the fastest person using a transceiver.

“If there's one key point we need to get across to any new backcountry user on Vancouver Island- it's the fact that avalanches do happen here,” says Mount Washington Patrol Director Jesse Percival. “We perform daily assessments of snow stability and hazard and when it's required we will perform control techniques that include ski cutting and explosive deployment.”

That happens within the resort but Percival warns about the potential dangers facing backcountry users.

“Once you head into the backcountry there are no safeguards in place. Good judgment, training and knowledge are essential for those considering backcountry travel. Plus you should never head out alone.”

On Mount Washington, steeper terrain in the popular Outback and West Basin areas are part of the regular curriculum of avalanche control work. Mount Washington's Pro Patrol employ trained Avalanche Forecasters and Technicians to perform control work on the mountain. These Avy Techs are frequently used by Comox Valley Search and Rescue to assist in backcountry rescue.

Mount Washington Avalanche Forecaster Bill Phipps volunteered his time in the recent rescue last week in Strathcona Provincial Park. “Having trained forecasters and technicians are essential in operating a mountain like Mount Washington,” says Percival. “They assess and control the avalanche hazard within the resort and frequently support rescue efforts in the surrounding area.”

In the backcountry and beyond the patrolled boundaries of the Resort, the slopes are not controlled and this is where the greater risks exist for skiers and boarders. “You need the proper training and tools to perform self-rescue when venturing into uncontrolled terrain,” adds Percival.

In addition to the demos, a silent auction will run on Sunday and offer guests a chance to bid on various items used for enjoying your time on snow. Grab some extra cash and bid on some items as all proceeds will go to the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). The CAA uses the money to continue providing snow safety educational programs and maintenance of various avalanche bulletins for all regions of the province through the Canadian Avalanche Centre.

To sign up for the demos or to bid on the silent auction items, visit the tents on the flats in front of Mtn Tek on Sunday. All clinics will be held in the Beacon Basin on the Whiskey Jack flats, which is a short walk from the Alpine Lodge. For more information on the Avy Awareness Day, visit the events calendar online at mountwashington.ca.

Mount Washington is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Central Mountain Air, and Pacific Coastal Airlines service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). To find out about accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 250-338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including live webcams.