Greetings! Welcome to the October 2022 newsletter of the SGI EDA (Electoral District Association) Green Party!
In this edition, we have news of our upcoming Annual General Meeting, a learning opportunity about the GPC leadership contestants, upcoming BC Greens events and a gardening update! We also have some regional events to promote (one is this Thursday), so be sure to read right to the very end…..
Saanich-Gulf Islands Annual General Meeting
Save the date – The SGI Greens AGM is coming up!
Date: Sunday, November 27th at 2 pm (rescheduled from November 20th).
Come join Elizabeth and fellow Greens to celebrate our wonderful EDA. We will have new executive members to elect, exciting speakers including, of course, our MP Elizabeth May, and yummy refreshments.
Location: The Central Saanich Seniors Centre, 1229 Clarke Rd, Brentwood Bay.
More details will be released closer to the date, but you can RSVP here now. Registrants will be kept informed of program details such as candidates for the executive and a proposed constitutional amendment.
Would you like to find out what it means to be on the executive? Do you know someone who might be interested? Please spread the word, and contact Dan for more details. Some of our long-serving executive members will be “retiring” to take a well-earned break or have reached their maximum term length, and we welcome and value new ideas and enthusiasm. No experience necessary!!
Green Party of Canada Leadership Contest
Want to read weekly missives from all six amazing candidates? If you don’t already receive it, sign up for the SGI Greens weekly publication “Good Sunday Morning” here. Previously a weekly newsletter from Elizabeth, Good Sunday Morning now welcomes articles by all candidates until the end of the leadership contest. Back issues can be read here.
BC Greens News and Events
Saanich North and the Islands
Our BC Greens cousins in Saanich North and the Islands are celebrating because MLA Adam Olsen is confirmed as their candidate in the next provincial election! Come join them for some fun, entertainment and refreshments.
Date: Saturday, October 22nd
Time: Doors open at 1:30 pm for a 2 pm start.
Location: RCMP barn, Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stellys Cross Road, Saanichton BC.
Please RSVP here if you plan to attend – it’s important for the organizers to know how many chairs they will need, and of course, they don’t want to run out of refreshments!!
Oak Bay – Gordon Head
Hosted by the Oak Bay Gordon Head Riding Association via Zoom:
Notice! This Thursday, October 20, 7 pm
Peninsula Streams Society and the Future of Greater Victoria’s Streams and Shorelines
Gardening with Gary and Nancy
October in the Garden
Who would have thought we would be asking for rain in October? Well, our ask is for rain at night. It can stay sunny and warm during the day. Our garden is parched, but still producing after its late spring start. We have all of our winter veggies planted (just transplanted lettuce, spinach and green onions today). The beds we do not plan to use this winter are all sowed to a winter cover crop. That will just leave the tomato bed to either heavily mulch or try to get a cover crop established when the tomatoes finally come out (wouldn’t it be nice to get some fresh tomatoes off the vine in November?).
And then about all that is left is to plant garlic when the weather gets cooler. We usually get ours in about now, but this year it may not happen for a couple more weeks. Then, after a small break and many meals with the delicious veggies from the garden and fruit from the orchard, we will be ready to browse the garden catalogues to start the planning process for next year. We like to have all our garden seeds in hand in December because we need to start planting in January.
While gardening is a rather solitary activity, we are always enriched when we get to talk to other gardeners and see how they approach this wonderful and productive endeavour. Even after 50 years of gardening, we learn something new each year not only by experimenting in our own garden but by visiting other gardens and talking to other gardeners. We have always been a bit jealous of gardening clubs because of the wonderful connections and interactions forged amongst flower gardeners. So we thought, why not start a food garden club? So if you are interested in joining with others at any level of veggie and fruit gardening for a monthly get-together, send us an e-mail and we will begin organizing an event for November. Just put “Food Garden Club” in the subject line and send it to gfs@airportwildlife.ca.
Elizabeth May’s Constituency office is hiring!
Elizabeth May‘s MP Constituency office in Sidney has a job opportunity. One of our current team members is going on maternity leave for a period of 12-18 months. We are seeking to fill a temporary part-time Constituent Advocate position in November 2022.
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please send your letter of interest and resume to Debra Eindiguer, Chief of Staff by Monday, October 24th, 2022.
Regional information
Where Do We Stand? video series
The Sovereignty of the Six Mountains is a video series about the future of the rare Coastal Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock forests of North Cowichan, including Mt. Tzouhalem, Prevost, Stoney Hill, Maple, Richards and Sicker. These endangered forests are unique in Canada, owned not by a private forest company or the provincial government, but by the community; and yet in 2018 few citizens knew this.
Stunning visuals and clear messaging come together to create six poignant and pointed videos about the future of the six Cowichan mountains, once designated public parks in perpetuity and now being mercilessly logged.
Construction of new Centre for Plant Health
A new research facility, slated for completion in 2025 in North Saanich, promises to support agriculture by advancing research into plants. Plants used in the landscaping will be native or locally adapted species that take inspiration from Indigenous stories and traditional uses.
Gordon Head
Maxwell Davies: The Turn of the Tide
Saturday, November 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Farquhar Auditorium, UVic.
Climate change is an issue of concern for us all, but most of all to the youth who will inherit the planet. British composer Peter Maxwell Davies was an outspoken voice for protecting the environment for these future generations. His 1992 work The Turn of the Tide engages young musicians and choristers, alongside the musicians of the Victoria Symphony, in a creation story that sets out the diverging paths before us. It is shared alongside similar meditations on ecosystems and impacts. You can purchase tickets here.
North Saanich
The Greater Victoria Green Team would like to invite you and your community members to an upcoming habitat restoration activity in North Saanich!
On Sunday, October 23 from 9:45 am – 1:00 pm we will be removing invasive Himalayan Blackberry at Patricia Bay Park. All ages, abilities, and experience levels are welcome—we will provide tools, training and refreshments!
Anyone interested should RSVP on the Meetup Page.
This activity is a great opportunity for community members to spend time outside, meet new people, and make a real difference in the world by helping our local ecosystems! Please share this information with others who might be interested!
For further information contact:
Kaitlin Warren (she/her), Program Coordinator, Greater Victoria Green Team
250-608-0731 | kaitlin@greenteamscanada.ca, W̱SÁNEĆ Territory | Central Saanich, BC