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This Newsletter is going to all VRMNC Paid-Up Members.
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DECEMBER GENERAL NEWSLETTER
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"All the VRMNC News that's fit to print"
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Message from the President
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On behalf of the Executive Committee, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, filled with the people and traditions that you love. Also, here's wishing you and yours a healthy and Happy New Year!
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Membership Report
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Our total membership stands at 287 paid members.
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For the new members please feel free to ask any questions you may have about our club by contacting myself at the email address noted below.
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It is also important to take this opportunity to remind our members that for the Club to continue to operate in a manner acceptable to all members, we must be aware and understand our Bylaws. Here is a quick link to the VRMNC Bylaws so you can remain up to date. https://www.vrmnc,ca/bylaws
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Members are also asked to notify the Membership Director (membership@vrmnc.ca) if they are no longer interested in participating in the VRMNC which will allow us to maintain an accurate membership list. If you know of Members that have left the area, please notify the Membership Director.
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In the unfortunate situation where a Member has passed away, please let us know so we may take appropriate actions.
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Activities Updates
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Is there an activity your passionate about that is not part of the current VRMNC activities?
You might consider starting a new group. We're here to help and coach you on how to set up for a new activity.
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New Activity:
AD-HOC PICKLEBALL
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3 Games Played Todate, 2 More Planned
NEW ACTIVITY SIGN-UP
We are a large club scattered across wide Victoria Region, several already playing Pickleball and their partners or want to try/learn, why not have a VRMNC Pickleball Activity?
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1) Members and their partners who also want to learn or play sign up for the Activity Email.
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2) Anyone on email list can book an Ad-Hoc court ie Henderson, or Pearkes or outdoors etc, on any day / time and is that Game's Host.
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3) That Game's Host emails time / location / cost ie $5 pp to ahpickleball@vrmnc.ca which auto-forwards to the group.
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4) Players who want to play reply Just To The Host Yes.
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4) When full, that Game's Host re-emails ahpickleball@vrmnc.ca that full / closed, and lists the players.
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THREE SOCIAL BRIDGE GROUPS
New Members Welcome
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Bridge Group: The Unconventionals.
Our bridge group, The Unconventionals, Continue to get together at a member's home on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
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Sometimes we do not have enough for 2 tables but always at least one and the host provides some kind of snack or refreshment.
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We have a number of regular players each of whom would host on a semiannual basis. We also have a number of spares to fill in. We play a very basic bridge but have knowledge of basic conventions.
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We welcome new players either as regulars or as spares
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VRMNC has three social Bridge Clubs: The focus of all three is on the social side of bridge, not the competitive side. New members are welcome in all the groups. Some playing experience is preferred.
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The first group plays on the every Monday afternoon, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm .... Coordinator Fred Stepchuk <stepchuk.fred@shaw.ca>
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The second group plays on the every Tuesday evening, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm .... Coordinator Bruce Thomson <bthomson99@gmail.com>
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The third group plays on the every "other" Thursday afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm .... Coordinator Dave Nicholds <jdnicholds@gmail.com>
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Keith Beange, Overall VRMNC Bridge Coordinator
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Appy Gang
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Gangers - you have done it again. Thanks to our hosts, Murray Webb & Tricia Millman, the November event was a great success. And thanks to Ritchie Boyd for covering Tim's duties for the evening. I think you are “Appie Gang coordinator in waiting”!
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We have had 11 appie events this past year. For 2026 we are now scheduled for all months excluding February and December.
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Our next evening will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at Paul and Isobel St. Georges.
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Tim Allen
Appy Gang & Golf Tournament
Email: aggt@vrmnc.ca
Phone: +1 (416) 540-8782
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Bon Vivants
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The Bons Vivants Group just seems to get better every month. November was no exception where members pretending to be Greek chefs put on quite a spread for themselves and their spouses. Dinner consisted of fried calamari and dolmades for starters, followed by roasted lamb, potatoes and vegetables, a Greek salad and of course the obligatory baklava for dessert. Traditional Retsina white and Merlot were served with the meal. Of course, one cannot forget to mention great camaraderie and enjoyable conversations.
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All VRMNC members can join the Bons Vivants. We meet every month on the second Thursday. You just need to either like to cook or want to learn to cook, to share this with others and have a good time.
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Field Trips
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November's Field Trip: Wentworth Villa
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December 5th Craigdarroch Castle
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On Thursday, November 27th, thirteen VRMNC members attended a tour of the Architectural Heritage Museum on Fort Street. Wentworth Villa, originally built in 1863, is a landmark heritage house in Victoria that was extensively renovated and restored to its original historic character in 2012. The museum includes exhibits of early 19th century building forms, highlighting the work of key architects including James Rattenbury, Samuel Maclure, Thomas Hooper and Charles Watkins.
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Next up on the field trip schedule is a tour of Craigdarroch Castle on Friday, December 5th at 11:00 a.m. This legendary Victorian mansion, built between 1887 and 1890, has been meticulously restored and will be appropriately decorated for an authentic Victorian-era Christmas. Registration for this field trip is now open.
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Our final field trip for 2025 will be another hockey game on Thursday, December 18th when the Victoria Royals play host to the Vancouver Giants at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena.
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Please stay tuned as we put together our 2026 field trip schedule and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any ideas for future field trips.
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Three field trips have been organized this fall to date, with two more scheduled before
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Going forward, we will be prioritizing members first on these field trips, with guests welcome to join if space allows.
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THURSDAY PUB LUNCH
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THURSDAY DECEMBER 4 PUB LUNCH:
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The Monkey Tree Pub, Victoria
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Pub Lunches are held every two weeks.
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A great way to connect with fellow VRMNC Members.
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VRMNC History Book Club.
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At our November 12 meeting Michael Randerston led a discussion of Dead Reckoning by Ken McGoogan. Michael pointed out that McGoogan is a prolific writer who treats many themes in Canadian history. Introducing the book, Michael observed that the author lucidly described the blundering, as well as the brilliant explorers of the Canadian far north. All suffered extreme conditions in order to map the Arctic coast and rivers feeding it.
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McGoogan focused on the futile attempts by John Franklin's party to open the NorthWest Passage. This account led to a discussion contrasting those explorers who listened to the advice of the local Inuit regarding proper clothing, shelter and food to survive the winter, with the arrogance of British naval officers leading to the deaths of some or all of their crew members. McGoogan argues that the greatest explorer was John Rae, a Scot from the Orkney Islands, who is little known, because he was incautious enough to mention in his report that Franklin's party had taken to cannibalism. This fact was later borne out by physical evidence. John Rae also discovered the strait later used by the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amondsen, at the beginning of the 20th century. In another achievement, Rae's testimony also described the likely location of Franklin's two sunken ships, which were found during this last decade.
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On December 10, Terry Carson will lead a discussion on Thomas Ricks' 2017 book Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom. This will be our last meeting of the year. The History Book Club will meet on December 3 to discuss and decide on our 2026 roster of books.
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History & Historical Fiction Book Club
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The History: Fact or Fiction Book Club meets 10 times per year with a hiatus in July and August when many of the members are vacationing. The membership is limited to 10 members at any one time. Those interested in joining are welcome to add their name to the waiting list.
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In December David Riley and David Buffett will co-host leading the discussion on Caste: The Origins of Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
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Cameron Berry; Coordinator
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Luncheon Speakers Series
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Bob MacDonald addressing our sold out VRMNC event
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Bob McDonald, host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks for the past 33 years, was our November speaker. There was a strong turnout of Club members, with 67 in attendance at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Instead of speaking on a specific science subject, Bob talked about his life and career, based on his recently released memoir, "Just Say Yes". He recounted how a university dropout from a poor family became a household name in science broadcasting by seizing opportunities and saying "yes" at the right time. His career started as a demonstrator at the Ontario Science Centre. He went on to host kid's science shows and being a science reporter on CTV, CBC and Global. When he had the opportunity to produce science shorts for a US network, he seized the chance and set up his own production company. Semi retired in Victoria since 2011, Bob continues to broadcast weekly. He recounted how topics are chosen for the show, interviews lined up and the show produced each week. At Bob's request, the Club made a charitable contribution to Oceanwise.
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There will be no monthly speaker lunch in December. The next lunch will be on Thursday, January 22, at the Oak Bay Rec Centre Sportsview Lounge. The speaker will be John Ducker, driving columnist for the Times-Colonist and former Deputy Chief of the Victoria Police Department. John will talk on aging and driving: how to keep your license and drive safely. Watch for the announcement.
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Tennis
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VMNC Tennis group short a few players for December with one returning to England and another to nearby Ireland and both will be missed. Our groups block booking at Oak Bay tennis bubbles enjoyed by all as the assurance of available indoor courts Monday and Friday and the likely extension into 2026 looks promising.
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Newcomers tennis in our group of sixteen provides both excellent physical exercise as well as pleasant coffee breaks following most ninety minute matches Monday and Friday mornings. We do have room for additional players in a group ranging in ages between sixties and nineties and various skill levels some come and join in.
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Call Des at 250-721-1496 for details
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Tuesday Hikers
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The reward of a VRMNC hike: a Great View of Mt Baker.
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Tuesday hikes begin at 9:00 a.m. and are approximately three hours in duration. The number of participants tends to range between six and 15.
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With the exception of our last hike of the month with continuous rain, we had generally good weather for Tuesday hikes throughout November. Our hikes included a wide variety of settings at the following locations:
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Lighthouse trail to Stewart Mountain in Thetis Lake Regional Park, with a good view of Mount Baker - led by Keith Knowles
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Babbington Hill, Coast and Interior trails in East Sooke Regional Park, with great views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains - led by Lou Sanche
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Mike Hill loop trail in Sooke Hills Wilderness Park, with much of the route through lush western hemlock forest - led by Gord Begg
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Goldstream River, Arbutus, Gold Mine and Arbutus loop trails in Goldstream Provincial Park, with Goldstream Falls well on its way to peak flow - led by Keith Knowles
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Monday Ramblers
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The Monday Ramblers group have been enjoying various areas around greater Victoria over the past month including hikes at Royal Roads, Saxe Point, Mystic Vale and Esquimalt Gorge park. As is often the case, our numbers increase in the winter, when fewer people are travelling. We have had up to 17 members participating weekly.
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Each week, our hikes are led by various volunteers, coordinated by Ted Mathie (mathie@uregina.ca, if you wish to join our activity). Typically we hike for 2 to 2.5 hrs, about eight km distance, starting out at 09:30 Mondays. An invitation is prepared by the volunteer leader three days ahead of each hike and sent to the whole ramblers mailing list. The invitation includes the exact meeting location and some advice about the hike. Those who want to participate, register with the leader, who normally follows up the evening before the hike with a note listing those registered in case anyone wants to sort out car pooling.
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Wednesday Nine Hole Golf
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Open for additional players !
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We had a good November again this year. We had one cancellation because of rain but have managed to dodge the wet weather. We have three more rounds left to play in December.
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We are having a year end luncheon on December the 12th. This is to wrap up our 2025 season and plan for 2026.
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We have room for more golfers next season. We are a very casual social group. All levels of golf abilities are welcome.
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You can also contact Garry Shaw by phone at 778-584-4171.
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Sunday Hike and Pub for Members/Couples
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On November 09, a large contingent of 20 hikers tackled some Thetis Lake Trails led by our leaders Keith Knowles and Yvonne Beaubien. Lunch was in our own private alcove at the Log House Pub.
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Planned for December 07 is a Mount Douglas hike followed by lunch at a The Monkey Tree Pub.
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This Activity is not just for couples; individual VRMNC members are absolutely welcome. If you would like to be on the mailing list, contact Coordinator Greg Bosecker at gregorybosecker@gmail.com
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Friday Coffee Chat Group
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A great opportunity to meet some fellow members and enjoy some stimulating conversations over coffee. The Coffee Chat Group meets every Friday at 10:00am on the second floor at Quality Foods in View Royal. (just next to the Victoria General Hospital). There's ample free parking and a separate quiet space where we meet on the 2nd floor above the deli. Come out and enjoy the comradery and conversation.
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We talk about a lot of topics and solve all the world's problems. Given the different backgrounds of everyone the discussions can be very informative. There are also a lot of laughs.
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E-Bike Brigade
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Wine Making Group
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Hello to all wine lovers.
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Cheers from your wine maker,
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Billiards Group
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Enjoy the fun and camaraderie of shooting pool with fellow Members! Ability ranges from beginner to experienced. After the games we socialize over an optional light lunch in the Legion lounge.
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We play billiards at the Pro Patrica Legion at the corner of Gorge and Jutland. A legion membership will be required if you join the Billiards club.
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Tuesday Billiards are full. We have 3 full size tables reserved for use. (12 players when all are in attendance). There are 3 smaller 8 ball tables for overflow which have not been used to date.
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On Friday we play Ukrainian Billiard (learn the rules as you play). Currently we have several openings available. We have no reserved tables, first come gets a table. We usually have 2 full size tables in use (8 players, sometimes less than 8)
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For both days, play starts at 11:00 am to ensure we get the necessary tables (for Friday’s only). We play until 1:00 pm and then have a lunch and refreshments (optional) in the main lounge.
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We play billiards on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 am sharp. We can accommodate a total of 16 players.
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We play at the Trafalgar Pro Patria Legion on Gorge Road at Jutland. New members are welcome. (New members may require to be signed in at the Legion).
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WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion, 411 Gorge Road E. (corner of Gorge and Jutland). PARKING: At Legion, free. WHEN: Weekly every Friday at 11:00am – 2:30pm. WHO: Open to all.
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To be Humble
Article Submitted by Wally Lazaruk
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A healthy lifestyle is a balanced approach to living that consists of a combination of behaviors and habits that promote physical, mental and social well-being.
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Key components of a healthy lifestyle include:
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1. Eating a balanced diet
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3. Staying physically active
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6. Adopting healthy habits
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1. Eating a balanced diet
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· Emphasizing vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins.
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· Reducing processed foods, red meat, sugar and saturated fats.
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· Enjoying foods in the different colours such as blue and purple, green, white, tan and brown, orange and yellow and red.
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· Adding flavor to our food with the use of herbs, spices, nuts and seeds.
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· Eating appropriate portion sizes, healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water.
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· Considering aspects of the MIND, Mediterranean and DASH diets.
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Quality sleep can be achieved by:
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· Maintaining a sleep diary to understand our sleep patterns.
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· Aiming for 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep per night.
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· Addressing medical conditions affecting our sleep such as sleep apnea, enlarged prostate and urinary tract infections.
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· Establishing a regular time for going to sleep (e.g. 11:00 p.m.) and a regular time for waking up and physically getting out of bed. (e.g. 7:00 a.m.)
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· Associating the bed with sleeping and relaxation and avoiding electronic equipment prior to going to bed.
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· Leaving the bed and going to another room to read, if not asleep within 20 minutes and returning to bed when tired.
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· Taking a short nap (no longer than 45 minutes) in the afternoon, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. if sleepiness is significant during the day.
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3. Staying physically active
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Suggestions for physical activity involve:
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· Striving for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking, cycling, hiking, dancing, swimming or gentle yoga or tai chi if mobility is reduced.
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· Adding strength training at least two days a week: e.g. lifting weights, yoga or using resistance bands.
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· Choosing activities and sports that we enjoy.
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· Planning out physical activity with someone we know.
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- Breaking up long periods of sitting by stretching, walking around or other movements on a regular basis.
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Being mentally active encompasses:
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· Trying mentally stimulating activities such as reading, solving problems, learning a new language, or taking a class.
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· Learning new things and taking up new hobbies.
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· Playing brain-challenging games such as chess, tabletop games, video games, word and number games, crosswords, Sudoku, brain training exercises and memory games.
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· Engaging in cultural activities such as community celebrations, music events or art shows.
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Being socially active means:
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· Interacting with others on a regular basis to stay connected mentally, to reduce stress and to keep our relationships strong.
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· Making the most of our daily opportunities to socialize: e.g. chatting with our neighbour.
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- Finding time to volunteer, participating in service clubs or joining a hobby group.
- Combing social interaction with an activity: e.g. walking together or a fitness class, book club or asking someone to try a brain-challenging game together.
- Maintaining old friendships and making new ones.
- Being open to new experiences and maintaining a positive outlook.
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6. Adopting healthy habits
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· Quitting smoking to benefit our health.
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· Limiting alcohol intake for better health. See Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, updated in 2023.
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· Managing blood pressure.
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· Protecting our head. Wearing a helmet if we are engaging in intense physical activity like skating, skiing, skateboarding, scootering, rollerblading or cycling.
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· Treating hearing loss. Protecting our hearing from loud noises and wearing hearing aids if needed.
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· Assessing the safety of the environment around us: e.g. vehicle pollution, accessibility and fall prevention in a house.
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· Maintaining a healthy weight through a combination of diet and exercise to reduce the risks of developing diabetes, high blood pressure...
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· Seeing our doctor regularly for checkups and to address any specific health concerns we may have.
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· Seeing our dentist and dental hygienist regularly to maintain good oral hygiene.
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- Recognizing the symptoms of chronic stress such as depression, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, poor concentration, memory loss or alcohol and/or drug abuse.
- Taking personal time for ourselves to exercise, relax, participate in hobbies and to socialize.
- Exploring a variety of stress reduction techniques such meditation, deep breathing, massage and physical exercise.
- Getting enough sleep to maintain our memory, mood and function.
- Identifying what we can change in our lives and what we cannot change to establish realistic expectations.
- Obtaining appropriate support to deal with stress, such as talking with a friend or family member or seeing a doctor.
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Experts contend that a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of chronic diseases, improves mental and emotional well-being, increases energy levels and supports a longer, independent life.
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“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi
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What's Missing from Medicine: Six Lifestyle Changes to Overcome Chronic Illness Hardcover (2021) – by Saray Stancic
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Healthy Living - Canada.ca
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www.canada.ca › services › healthy-livingHealthy Living - Canada.ca
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Brain-healthy tips to reduce your risk of dementia | Alzheimer Society
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Alzheimer Society of B.C.
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Webmaster’s Corner! Did-You-Know:
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Re-Newed Website Feature: CLUB CHAT
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VRMNC has reinstalled our Chat feature on our website but on a dedicated webpage. To access it just click on Club Chat in Menu Bar and type away!!
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We encourage all members to sign into our website and check out this newest feature. Note that you need to sign in to post a chat.
If you stay signed in you will not need to repeat this step in the future. If you make a post and a fellow member replies it will be forwarded to your email.
Please give it a try and let your Coordinators and club Executive know your thoughts.
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1) car pool to a Field Trip
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2) discuss an existing Activity
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3) brain-storm / start a new regular or one off activity (ie Happy Hour Group, Cooking Class, Volunteer with Our Place, travel ideas to Portugal, Nova Scotia . . . ).
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4) New Joiner just posted asking for interest in Trip to Phoenix for Baseball Spring Training.
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NOTE: If you are logged-in when post, you can tick the small Bell button beside "Post Comment" button to be notified of responses.
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PRO-TRICK: When logging-in to our website, tick the "Remember Me" tick box so you stay logged in and don't have to next time visit. You can tell if you are logged in as top right beside Menu will say "Welcome Back Orlie".
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QUESTIONS: Please contact:
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OTHER WEBSITE INFO:
- New arrival to Victoria? Check out our Members Area > Useful Web Links webpage.
- VRMNC Branding - Need our Logo? Several formats available at Members Area > Branding.
- VRMNC Assets / Signage - Need a screen projector or pull-up banners or other signage, see all our assets and their custodian in Members Area > Assets.
- CONTACT DETAILS CHANGE: Please contact Membership@VRMNC.ca with any email, phone number or address change (no need to make these changes yourself).
- MISSED / LOST A NEWSLETTER: Go to website > News > Newsletters to see all of them.
- EXEC MEETING MINUTES: are published on Website > Members Area > Meeting Minutes.
- CONTACT LIST: This is maintained and updated on website by Membership Director Dennis Aitken just Log-In to website and go to Members Area > Contact Book. Please do not share this outside the club!
- FAQS: These have been updated on our website under Members Area, have a look, and please suggest any additions / changes!
- VRMNC GROUPS: Anyone can start a new VRMNC Group, just email email Activity Coordinator Bruce Shore at bruceshore@gmail.com with your ideas!
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