Sooke: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Event Sept 30 (Tue) @John Phillips Memorial Park, 2201 Otter Point Rd. 12-4pm 

Victoria: 4^th Annual South Island Powwow Sept 30 (Tue) - Celebrate traditional Indigenous cultures and resiliency through song, dance, and education (Free Admission) @Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave 10am-10pm 

+ Truth & Reconciliation – Presented by SNIWWOC Sept 30 (Tue) - An evening of cultural celebration and community gathering @Kwench Club, 2031 Store St. 6-8pm

Victoria: Inter-Tidal Relations Concert Series Oct 1 (Wed) - Uplifting Indigenous and global cultures through music and storytelling. Curated by Indigenous femmes Nikky Ermineskin (Cree) and Raven Natraoro (Coast Salish) @Ship Point 4-6pm

Metchosin: Road Trip to the Secret Lives of Wolves (Guided Walk) All Ages - Explore the importance of wolves in First Nations culture and learn how sea wolves survive on the dynamic coastal landscape Oct 4 (Sat) - @Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, $16 fee covers roundtrip transportation and you must pre-register here 1-4:30pm

University of Victoria Events: First Nations Climate Leadership: A Ceremony and Conversation with Hereditary Chief Frank Brown Oct 1 (Wed) @First Peoples House, Ceremonial Hall, UVic 3:30-5pm (Hybrid Option: In-person at UVic or online via Facebook Live

+ Haa huupa Lunch Oct 7 (Tue) - Bring your lunch and digest some Indigenous knowledge along with your food. With Sm Łoodm ‘Nüüsm (Dr. Mique’l Dangeli) UVic Fine Arts (FIA) Room 106 12:30-1:30pm

+ New UVic Centre Indigenous Law Open House Oct 8 (Wed) - Building tours, public art projects, concurrent Indigenous Law panel discussions 2-4:15pm (to attend RSVP by Oct 3)

+ Fireside Chat: Law in Reconciliation Oct 8 (Wed) - Fireside chat will highlight the intersections of law, language, music, and cultural resurgence @Uvic Faculty of Law 7:30pm (Free but ticket required, click here)

Victoria: Victoria International Wine Festival Oct 3-4 (Fri/Sat) @Victoria Conference Centre, 721 Government St.

+ The Victoria Tea Festival Revival Oct 4 (Sat) @633 Courtney St. 11am-5pm

+ Psychic, Spirit & Wellness Fair Oct 4-5 (Sat/Sun) @The Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street 10am-5pm

Sidney: Monster Mash Halloween Vintage Fair Oct 4 (Sat) @Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave 9:30am-4pm

Metchosin: The Blackberry Pie Festival Oct 4 (Sat) @4125 Metchosin Rd 11am-2pm

Langford: 9^th Annual Lantern Festival: Light up the Hills Oct 4 (Sat) @Belmont Secondary School, 3041 Langford Lake Rd 7:30-9:30pm

+ Gratitude at the Langford Station Oct 4 (Sat) @720 Station Ave 11am-4pm

Saanich: Light Em’Up.TV Mayfair Rooftop Season Ender Car Show Oct 5 (Sun) @Mayfair Shopping Centre Rooftop, 3147 Douglas St. 11am-5pm (Pre-register your show vehicles here)

Saanich: Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms Oct 4 (Sat) @ Galey Farms, 4150 Blenkinsop Rd 10am

Central Saanich: Celebrate the Harvest Oct 4 (Sat) @2834 Island View Rd, Saanichton, 10am-2pm

North Saanich: FREE Meet the Peninsula Panthers: Everyone Welcome Skate Oct 4 (Sat) - Admission and skate rentals included @Panorama Recreation 1885 Forest Drive 12-1:15pm

Victoria: Octoberfest at Oaklands Oct 4 (Sat) @Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave 5:30-10pm

+ Fall Fun at Royal Athletic Park Oct 4 (Sat) – a community playground of fall festivals @1014 Caledonia Ave 1-4pm

Saanich: Native Plant Workshop Oct 4 (Sat) - Pre-registration required + $5 @Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd 12-3pm

+ Nuts about Squirrels (Guided Walk) All Ages Oct 5 (Sun) - No fee @Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park 1:30-3pm (Meet at the Nature Centre near the Beaver Beach parking lot)                

Esquimalt: Esquimalt Farmers Market Oct 2 (Thur) @Esquimalt Recreational Centre 4:30-7pm

Colwood: Soup’s On! Fundraiser & Very Early Christmas Market Oct 4 (Sat) @Royal Bay Secondary School, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way 11am-3pm

Central Saanich: Peninsula Country Market Oct 4 (Sat) @Saanich Fairgrounds, Saanichton 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road 9am-1pm

Langford: Goldstream Farmers Market Oct 4 (Sat) @Veterans’ Memorial Park 10am-2pm

Sooke: Sooke Country Market Oct 4 (Sat) @Grass Field Above Sooke Fire Hall 10am-2pm

Victoria: ISSAMBA Multicultural Food & Craft Fall Market Oct 4-5 (Sat/Sun) @Market Square, 540 Johnson St. 10am-7pm

Metchosin: Metchosin Farmers Market Oct 5 (Sun) @4450 Happy Valley Road 11am-2pm

Three (FREE) family experiences we're excited about this week:

🍂 Fall Fun at Royal Athletic Park - Community fall festival with cider pressing, lawn games, bouncy castle, and warm drinks.

🏒 Meet the Peninsula Panthers: Everyone Welcome Skate - Admission and skate rentals included!

🐿️ Nuts about Squirrels Guided Walk – Learn what it takes to survive as a squirrel through fun games and activities. Discover what keeps these furry creatures busy this time of year.

UVic's brand new National Centre for Indigenous Laws is hosting an open house next week! While the Centre took five years to build after the BC government's September 2020 announcement, UVic kept busy developing the world's first law program combining Indigenous and non-Indigenous legal studies. The open house features Indigenous art, law panels, and fireside chats exploring law, language, music, and cultural resurgence. RSVP early!

Maynard Park in Cadboro Bay just unveiled its spectacular playground upgrade, complete with sensory gardens and biodiversity features that'll turn playtime into learning time. The opening celebration had Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock noting, "It was wonderful to see people of all ages join us at the park to celebrate...". Judging by the opening weekend turnout, this upgrade hit the mark. [Read full story].

Canada's women's rugby team played in the Rugby World Cup final before a record-breaking crowd of nearly 82,000 in England this past weekend. The squad includes several Greater Victoria players and trains locally in Langford. While they were just shy of the championship, this historic run will inspire the next generation of local rugby players. Well done, Team Canada!