Sunday September 10, 2023 | METCHOSIN, BC [Updated 11 am September 11, 2023]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends | COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
Today for the big Metchosin Community Day bash there was summer-like warm weather and big crowds. For the Sunday after Labour Day weekend it was a welcome relief to not have cool weather or rain.
But there was a persistent wind throughout the afternoon at the Metchosin Municipal Grounds which messed up a few hairstyles and blew over some displays and shook some tents out on the field.
The free family event drew well over 1,200 people over the course of the day, from 11 am through to 6 pm. That included a delicious barbecue featuring lamb and salmon.
What an amazing venue … on the fields behind the fire hall and municipal hall, with forest, ocean and mountains as the backdrop.
Community awards:
Metchosin Community Awards were announced from the stage at 1:40 pm, hosted by District of Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little and Councillors Shelly Donaldson, Sharie Epp, Steve Gray, and Jay Shukin.
Award winners:
The 2022/23 awards were presented by mayor and council:
| Award | Winners | Awarded by: |
| Citizen of the Year | Metchosin Muse Allen Jones and Johnny Carline and others) | Sharie Epp |
| Pioneer of the Year | Metchosin Museum Society (Bert Harrison, Judith van Manen, Jon Barrs, Ed Mclean.) | Jay Shukin |
| Volunteer of the Year | Metchosin Farmer’s Market (Jacqui Anderson and others) | Shelly Donaldson |
| Volunteer Group of the Year | Moralea’s Meadow Group (Katy Nelson, Marilee Hoen, Bill Cave, Linda Cave, Alison leDuc, Kristen Miskelly and others | Marie-Térèse Little |
| Friends of the Earth | Metchosin Invasive Species Cooperative (MISC; Neil and Brenda West and group) | Steve Gray |
| Youth of the Year | 14th Juan de Fuca Scouts (Laura St Jean and others) | Jay |
The 2020 awards were also presented (delayed by the pandemic):
| Award | Winner | Awarded by |
| Citizen of the year | Curtis Becker | Sharie |
| Volunteer of the year | Katie Nelson | Shelly |
| Volunteer group year | Metchosin Biodiversity project | Steve |
| Pioneer of the year | Ray Creasser | Marie-Térèse |
Awards emphasized volunteer commitment and action to improve the local ecosystems and environment.
Mayor Little was clearly pleased at the accomplishments of so many people in her community.
Judging for the produce and baking contests took place yesterday, for viewing today. | See Metchosin Community Day event schedule & entertainment (as posted Sept 8).
Music played throughout the day and into the early evening during the barbecue. District councillors helped serve on the barbecue line, as well as local MLA Mitzi Dean (Esquimalt-Metchosin) who cheerfully served the mint jelly sporting a ponytail which was smart given how windy it was all day on the open field.
Also there today was BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau who chatted with folks in the crowd for part of the afternoon. Colwood Councillors Kim Jordison and Misty Olsen toured around the displays for a while. Former Metchosin Mayor John Ranns showed up later in the afternoon to enjoy the festivities.
As a juxtaposition of old and new, there were displays of old-style farm life artifacts and even some shot guns, while overhead a drone was flying around taking video of the day’s events.
It took a large team of volunteers to pull off the event, which seemed to go off without a hitch. Some post-pandemic features included a hand-washing station (with water, soap and paper towels not sanitizer). There was management for displays, activities on stage, and parking.
The aroma of salmon and lamb cooking outdoors was delicious in itself, and the meal was ample and amazing: salmon and lamb, corn on the cob, coleslaw, large cherry tomatoes, a fresh-picked local apple, and crusty bun with butter. Beverages were sold separately.
After the barbecue, corn cobs were collected separately as people cleared their plates to be washed, no doubt for composting.
There was sheep shearing, pens with some pigs both sleepy and active, plenty of smaller animals in cages (such as rabbits, chickens, doves and guinea pigs) for a fashion show contest, horse-riding in the equestrian ring, and much more.
The weekly farmer’s market was on hand offering fresh produce and plants for sale. Some free native plants were available, for encouraging people to flesh out their own home yards with native species.
CRD Parks had an information booth about wild animal identification (tracks and droppings) including some 3D-printed and cast-mold samples to spur conversation.
The Metchosin Search and Rescue folks had a display booth as well. They provide rescue support to fire departments around the west shore and Greater Victoria region (including Metchosin, Colwood, Langford, Highlands out to Mount Work Park, Victoria, Esquimalt and Oak Bay) including for missing or lost persons and evidence searches; they are funded almost entirely by the District of Metchosin. They are sometimes also called by BC Ambulance to handle calls outside the BC Ambulance jurisdiction.
The Pearson College UWC private school was promoting their educational institution and looking for homestay hosts, including an on-stage speech by the school’s new president Jason McBride. Home stays can be as short as three to five days (just to give a break to students who are adjusting from places around the world) or a few weeks (over Christmas break).
Metchosin Co-op Preschool had an information booth, hosted by two parents of the preschool. There are two classes of 10 — one for 3-year-olds (four spots still open) and one for 4-year-olds (four spots still open).
One enterprising young man displayed his 3D-printer skills, making extra-large lifelike slugs in cheerful colours!
Tractor-drawn hay rides took folks around the spacious grounds, around and around, all day.
Overall, this is a day that people seem to look forward to each year, spend long hours there for an experience, and will chat about with their friends until next year’s Metchosin Community Day.
===== METCHOSIN LINKS:
District of Metchosin | Metchosin Fire Dept | Metchosin Community Day
===== ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS LINKS:
