Don’t miss the Saanich Fair happening this weekend, September 3-5, 2011 at the Saanich Fairgrounds.  The fair is open Saturday and Sunday from 8 am – 9 pm and Monday from 8 am to 6 pm.

Featured attractions include the 28 Midway Rides, Duct Tape Contest, Horse Shows, Dog Shows, Eating Contests, and 5,000+ Exhibits.

Featured Entertainment includes:

Saturday

• 5:00 pm Rainbow the Blow
• 6:00 pm Rukus
• 8:00 pm Honeyloaf

Sunday

• 5:00 pm Montgomery Country
• 6:15 pm Que Bola Magic
• 7:30 pm The Timebenders

Please visit the Saanich Fair for further details.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is from September 17 – 25, 2011.  This initiative started with a small team of volunteers, coordinated by the Vancouver Aquarium, who cleaned up Vancouver’s Stanley Park in 1994.  Since then the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup has become a national program with Canadians volunteering their time and energy to keep their shoreline clean.

There are two ways you can get involved.  One is to become a Site Coordinator and the other is to be a Cleanup Participant.  Please visit the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup for further details on how to become involved in this wonderful and much needed program.

Search for a site cleanup in your area and volunteer!

The Sidney Museum has a new exhibit on display for August 2011 called Beacon Beckons: The History of Beacon Avenue 1891-1920.  This exhibit is a pictorial display using photographs, adverts and articles showing what Beacon looked like soon after Sidney was established.

Visit the Sidney Museum this month to discover what Beacon looked like in the late 1800s!

Open Daily 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Lower Floor
2423 Beacon Avenue
Admission by Donation

Galiano Island International Wine Festival is on Saturday August 13th, 2011 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm located at the Lions’ Park near the ferry terminal.  This is a wonderful outdoor wine and food event that is held annually and is a major fundraiser for the Health Care Centre on Galiano Island.

The festivities include wine tasting, musical entertainment by Brad Prevedoros, an Art Show and Sale, artisan cheeses and breads, a Silent Auction, and a selection of wine and food related gifts.

Tickets can be purchased in advanced.  Please visit Galiano Wine Festival for further information.

The 2011 Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival is on August 12th-14th at the Inner Harbour.  Visit the Inner Harbour and watch 90 dragon boat teams from across North America race across a 500-metre water course.  This is the only dragon boat festival in Canada that takes place in a Working Harbour.

Dragon Boat Festival includes:

• Dragon Boat Races
• Live Multicultural Entertainment
• Fun Crafts in the Children’s Tent
• Food from Forbidden City
• Lights of Courage Lantern Campaign
• Paddler’s Air Band Competition
• Silk Road Tea Classical Chinese Tea Garden

The Canadian Boarder Services Agency offers a program called CANPASS that provides expedited border clearance for private boats that are listed as low-risk and have been pre-screened.  You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States and have lived in either country continuously for the last three years.  Please visit CANPASS for further eligibility requirements.

How CANPASS works is that the boat owner/operator in charge contacts the telephone reporting centre (TRC) at least 30 minutes to 4 hours before arrival at a designated marine reporting or customs site in Canada.  The boat owner/operator can then make their declarations to the CBSA by telephone.

Please visit CANPASS for further information about the program and designated marine reporting sites.