Keira-anne.com

In 31 days I will walk.

In 31 days I will take a stand against the inhumane, cruel treatment of animals.

I have 31 days to raise my personal goal of $1,500. I’m at 13% of that goal.

Consider donating to my personal campaign today. Even the change from between your couch cushions could feed a litter of puppies.

Click here to make your donation.

While there are only a few ways by which to cross the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island, only one trip reveals the true beauty of the coast from a bird’s eye view. Forgoing a passage through the water, I climbed on board with Harbour Air Seaplanes and Westcoast Air last weekend for a unique perspective.

My travel motto has always been that it’s better to be 20 minutes early than two minutes late, so I arrived early at Vancouver’s seaplane terminal last Friday afternoon while the sun was shining brightly. Following a swift check-in, Jordy and I waited in the departure lounge: me with my complimentary coffee and newspaper, Jordy cuddled deep inside his carrier.

With planes arriving and departing every 10 minutes, many travelers came and went before it was our turn to board. I was beyond pleased to learn that, not only is the Harbour Air family pet-friendly, Jordy was warmly welcomed aboard into the cabin by our kind captain and all of the other passengers. Minutes later our sturdy craft lifted gently off the water and we soon found ourselves soaring high above Vancouver.

The 30-minute flight is no doubt the quickest route between Vancouver and Victoria, but I’d argue that it’s also the most breathtaking. Miles of blue stretched out before my eyes as the ocean met the mountains and the sky.

Cutting southwest across YVR, we were soon hundreds of metres above the sparkling Strait and gliding across the Southern Gulf Islands. In fact, I barely had time to take in everything below me before I noticed that Vancouver Island was upon us and soon it was instead the Victoria International Airport zig-zagging on the ground.

As our seaplane descended towards the Victoria Harbour, local hotels, the Empress and the Parliament Building quickly came into view. Touching down on the water, we streamed across the Inner Harbour and smoothly towards the dock. Moments later the hatch door was open and Jordy and I touched feet (and paws) on Victoria soil.

Two days in our Capital City passed far more quickly than I wished them to, but it was reassuring to know that I had a safe and reliable way home at the end of the weekend – and was back in Vancouver as quick as a wink!

Harbour Air Seaplanes and Westcoast Air have been providing daily, non-stop service between points on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland for more than 40 years! For more information, please visit each company online. You can also follow Harbour Air Seaplanes on Twitter and follow Westcoast Air on Twitter!

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2 (I was not paid to write this post but did receive my return flight compliments of Harbour Air Seaplanes/Westcoast Air.)

There are few gathering spots where people from all walks of life converge in Victoria more than Dallas Road. Sweeping vistas over the Juan De Fuca Strait are the perfect spot for long walks, hearty talks and playing around at the dog park.

This past Saturday I spent the afternoon with an old girlfriend, trotting Jordy along the Dallas Road seawall as Sarah and I caught up on the past few years. As we looped back to make our way to a late lunch date, we saw something that one only ever reads about in newspapers or catches on the 6 o’clock news.

Photo: Victoria Daily Photo

In an SUV parked at the side of the road were three small dogs, barking, yelping and climbing over one another. Refusing to ignore what we saw, Sarah and I crossed the street to see if the dogs had water. There was none. The windows were each open about two inches, so I stuck my hand in a rear window to find that the air in the vehicle was much hotter than the air outside, as I expected.

Upon immediately phoning the Victoria-area SPCA Branch, I was instructed to “phone the Victoria Police Department right away.” The VicPD report-taker on the other end sighed after I relayed the story, telling me that this was her second of such calls in as many days. Just the day before, local police broke a window to rescue a German Shepherd from an overheated vehicle.

Sarah and I hung around until the officer arrived, and by then nearly 30 minutes had passed. Another hour later, the officer phoned me to instruct me he still hadn’t been able to locate the vehicle’s owner. Who knows how much longer those dogs would have suffered, being that the owner clearly wasn’t on a five-minute errand.

Double digits equal double trouble! According to the SPCA, brain damage and even death can occur in as little as 10 minutes in a hot car. [source]

Do your beloved pets a favour and leave them at home on hot days. They don’t have the ability to cool themselves properly and it’s simply not worth the risk. If you see an animal in such a situation, phone your local police department immediately. For more information on how to help dogs in hot cars, read the SPCA’s article with quick tips.

Naturally, all of this goes without saying ten-fold when children are involved. The risk is never, ever worth it.

There are some things that no summer of mine would be complete without: flip flops, camping trips, BBQs and the Filberg Festival. It’s become an essential part of the hot months since I was a small child.

This year I was fortunate enough to bring my niece with me, though with her abundant energy and non-existent attention span, our time there was limited. After a cuddly visit to the Hands-On Farm, a pink balloon painted on her cheek and a roam of the grounds, she was ready to go.

My mom and I returned the next day, ready for savoury treats and a little bit of spending. My first stop has always been Lemon Heaven. Fresh-squeezed fruit and a little bit of sunshine (I swear) goes into every cup. I’m partial to the cherry lemonade.

Embracing social media, Lemon Heaven is now on Twitter and on Facebook!

Choosing what to eat can always be the most difficult part of visiting the Filberg Festival. Offering up everything from decadent ice cream and sizzling burgers to pad Thai noodles and perogies, my mom and I settled on Greek goodness. My hope for next year is that a vendor will add authentic Mexican food to the mix!

While the Filberg Festival is no doubt the highlight of each year at Filberg Lodge and Park, it’s impossible to ignore what makes this place so special. Shady trees, bushes and shrubs, brightly-blooming flowers and trickling streams are everywhere you turn.

With full tummies and excited anticipation, we spent the remainder of our afternoon wandering from booth to booth. This is is not your grandmother’s craft fair. The Filberg Festival highlights vibrant painters, knitters, jewelers, sculptors, woodworkers and glass-blowers among others. Textile arts have also seen a resurgence in recent years.

While some people visit the Filberg Festival for art and food, others visit it for the non-stop entertainment and music. With two stages and a children’s performance area, there’s no shortage of mega-watt talent. I managed to catch the end of Comox Valley-native Sue Medley‘s acoustic set before making time to rock out with the Russell Jackson Band.

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee and raised in Wichita, Kansas, rhythm and blues are in Russell Jackson’s blood. His knee-clapping, foot-stomping, funked-out set had the audience captivated!

Another exhibitor well worth stopping for is West Coast artist Monk. Her mythical, paint-swept landscapes are earning her international acclaim. Each year at the Filberg Festival, a piece of hers is contributed while attendees can add to it, making it a unique group effort.

Last year‘s Filberg Festival painting was created in memory of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the fallen Georgian luger who tragically lost his life at the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Earlier this summer, Monk traveled to Kumaritashvili’s hometown to present the painting to his family. You can learn more about the painting known as “Nodar’s Spirit” here.

As we continued to make our way through the exhibits, I no doubt had to stop at Saltspring Soapworks. For years this homegrown company has been creating delicious, natural products for the body, hair, skin and even pets!

Lured by the tempting scents of their body gelato scrubs, I indulged in the Rose Provencal and hand therapy lotion (for those long days at the office). Thanks to the body gelato, if my skin could purr, it certainly would.

Reflecting on my photos and remembering the sights and sounds of this year’s Filberg Festival already incites nostalgia. 365 days seems like a long time, but as they say, good lemonade comes to those who wait…

You can see the rest of my photos on my Flickr set.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/6 (I was not paid to write this post but did receive my weekend passes compliments of the Filberg Festival.)

Dismal skies and low temperatures plagued coastal BC throughout June and July, but all was not lost. Vancouver Islanders know that sunshine and heat are never necessary to enjoy the best of summer. Here’s some photographic evidence I dug up on Flickr…

Photo: alykat on Flickr

Photo: Martin Naroznik on Flickr

Photo: Phil and Pam on Flickr

Photo: Espresso Photography on Flickr

Photo: Nick on Flickr

Photo: Doug Hay on Flickr

Photo: Mike Gifford on Flickr

Photos L-R: Shari Green and Richard Baer on Flickr

Photo: m+A+s on Flickr

Photo: Doug Hay on Flickr

Photo: Christopher Porter on Flickr

Photo: Richard Powell on Flickr

Photos: m+A+s on Flickr

Photo: Jo & Joey for TUAPA on Flickr

Photo: Feet wet on Flickr

So far August has been nothing but terrific. My fingers are crossed that this weather will carry us well into the Autumn months!

After a two-year hiatus, the Bearclaw Invitational Slopestyle mountain bike competition is returning to the slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort – and not a moment too soon. Bearclaw organizer and Parksville native Darren Berrecloth has already faced one of his most challenging summers yet, including training, competing, filming, suffering from a broken back, trail building, pneumonia, and a chronic lung infection. Yet the show must go on…

Photo: © Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Getting ready to host Vancouver Island’s largest mountain bike event is no easy feat. Crews have been working their fingers to the bone prepping dirt, building trails and completely rebuilding the course.

The Bearclaw Invitational Slopestyle is not for the faint of heart either.

“This will definitely be one of the most challenging courses on the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour,” points out Berrecloth. “Since it’s a gold level event, expect to see all the world’s top athletes battling it out for the points and the $20,000 prize purse.”

Photo: © Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Berrecloth has personally selected the world’s best freeride mountain bikers, inviting them to compete on his signature course, on his home turf, and in front of his home crowd. Starting Friday, August 5th, the hills will be alive with the qualifying round at this fiercely competitive invite-only event. The top 18 riders will then advance to the Slopestyle finals, beginning Saturday, August 6th at 1:00 p.m.

This weekend guarantees to be one you don’t want to miss!

For more information, visit Mount Washington Alpine Resort online or follow Darren’s updates on Twitter. Also visit the official Bearclaw Invitational Slopestyle event page for more photos and information.

Hot on the tails of the popularity of Vancouver’s Night Market phenomenon, Victoria has created a summer night market all its own. Surprising to some, Victoria’s Chinatown is actually the oldest Chinatown in Canada. It never fails to intrigue and boasts hole-in-the-wall eateries, mystical imported items and even the famed Fan Tan Alley (which measures 0.9 metres across at its narrowest point).

Merchants, vendors and artisans take over the streets of Victoria’s Chinatown on the last Wednesday of each month, solidifying a partnership between the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association and the area businesses that make Victoria’s Chinatown so one-of-a-kind. The Night Market will be highlighted with tai chi demonstrations, brush painting, calligraphy and vibrant entertainment!

Where: 500 block of Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC [map]
When: Wednesday, August 31st and Wednesday, September 28th from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Who: Everyone is welcome to this free event!
How: Transit is always your best, hassle-free option. Plan your route in advance online.

For more information, visit Downtown Victoria‘s official website listing.

This morning I woke to the bright sun and a clear blue sky at my family’s home on Northern Vancouver Island. As I took the dogs outside, slivers of warm sun through the trees warmed my bare shoulders while dew in the grass sprinkled my feet. It was impossible to ignore the natural beauty that surrounded me. Knowing that BC is my home is, in my opinion, one of the greatest blessings I’ve got.

Photo: Difei Li on Flickr

Today we celebrate the Province of British Columbia and all the beauty and wonder it holds. We have windswept and rugged shores, jagged peaks that tower high over lush valleys and an incredible population of unique and interesting people. I am proud to call BC home and to all those that do too, I wish you a very happy BC Day!

See you tomorrow for more posts…