Recreation facilities throughout the Cowichan Valley have free access planned for the Family Day long weekend.
In Duncan, the Cowichan Community Centre is partnering with Cowichan Tribes to offer two skating sessions, crafts and cultural activities, floor hockey, face painting and pizza. It takes place on Feb. 20 from noon until 3 p.m.
Next door at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre on Feb. 20 there are free two-hour swim sessions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In Lake Cowichan there’s a free family day skate on Feb. 20 at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena. Skate rentals are also free. Helmets are recommended but not supplied. There will also be free hot chocolate and an off-ice games area. The event runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Then at Youbou Community Bowling Alley there’s free admission and shoe rentals at this four-lane handset facility. A maximum of five people are permitted per lane. There will be a small concession available. The event runs from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
At the Kerry Park Recreation Centre in Mill Bay families are invited to a free skate and an opportunity to learn to curl. There will be a scavenger hunt and a variety of on ice games. Skate rentals are also free. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. on Feb. 20. To register in advance, call 250-743-5922.
Up Chemainus way there a family skate offered at the Fuller Lake arena. Admission and rentals are both free. The event runs from noon until 2 p.m. on Feb. 20.
All events are possible through the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
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The Cowichan Valley Naturalists are hosting Bruce Whittington, who will speak on “Photographer as Naturalist” on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in an online presentation.
Whittington will explain how anyone with a camera can become a citizen scientist by documenting the flora and fauna they encounter in nature by submitting their photos to iNaturalist.
The event is free. You can get the Zoom link by emailing cvns@naturecowichan.net
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The Anglican Parish of St. Peter’s is taking part in World Day of Prayer, and inviting the community to join them.
The World Day of Prayer is celebrated on March 3 and “is an opportunity for Christians of different denominations to come together to pray and learn,” said a press release for the event.
The day has a long history.
“The origins of World Day of Prayer date back to the 19th century when a group of Christian women from the United States and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities designed to support women in need,” explained Jim Holland, priest at St. Peter’s, in a press release. “There was resistance from the all male church boards of the time, but in 1861 and the following years, numerous and effective women’s organizations were formed that began to support women throughout the world.
“These activities eventually led to the first World Day of Prayer in 1927. It was seen as a way of bringing women together to pray, learn and listen to one another.”
Each year, organizers choose one country in the world to focus on, and this year it is Taiwan.
“It is always good when people step out of their religious bubbles and gather together to celebrate their common faith and their common hope for a better world,” said Holland. “It is a chance to move away from the divisiveness we see around us and contribute to building a community in which compassion and dignity replace fear and violence. It is an affirmation of the biblical notion that we are all one, all brothers and sisters.”
The service starts at 1:30 p.m. The church is located at 5800 Church Rd. in Duncan. For more information contact admin@stpeterduncan.ca.
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Cowichan Hospice is holding a free advanced care planning workshop, to help people not leave their families guessing when they die or are incapacitated.
“They will be asked to make choices on your behalf if you are unable,” said a poster for the event. “Plan ahead for your future health care and end-of-life wishes.”
The workshop is in person and in two sessions on March 10 and March 31 from 10 a.m, to noon at the Cowichan Hospice Community Services Centre at 3122 Gibbins Rd. in Duncan.
Seats are limited so people are encouraged to register early.
Do so at 250-701-4242 or email frontdesk@cowichanhospice.org