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Cougar Country
Let’s talk about cougars. Why cougars? After all, Victoria is a city of 300,000 people. But the cougars don’t know that, and they have been known – in fact, it’s getting to be a habit – to roam city streets and suburban areas. Pushed out of their natural habitat by encroaching growth, they go seeking new territory. Confused by the lights, the traffic, the houses, the noise, they become disoriented and end up visiting where they were not invited.
For instance, one decided to investigate the underground parking garage of the Empress Hotel – at least he knew quality when he saw it; another crashed through the window of a basement suite near downtown; others prefer the treed Oak Bay area and suburban neighborhoods that reach into undeveloped land.
For those of you visiting Victoria and going on hikes in Island parks or camping in Goldstream Park or any other wilderness area, it’s something you need to be well aware of. Cougars kill. In fact, sadly, there are one or more killings and several maulings each year in British Columbia and the province of Alberta. The most recent death was that of a woman on a ski trail in Banff, Alberta where two other attacks the same week were reported. Small dogs are a magnet for cougars, as are young children. In the wilder parts of Vancouver Island, there are times children cannot play outside due to cougar sitings.
So, if you plan to take in some of our wilderness, and not so wilderness, here are some things you should know. The cougar is strong – it can take down big game. It is solitary and strongly territorial and sees you as prey or as invading its territory. It needs its own undisturbed wilderness with plenty to eat available. Cougars – whose colourings range from reddish-brown to grey-brown and have long tails – like to silently stalk their prey, then pounce from behind or even from a tree, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
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Don’t let children wander away from you or go into the bush. Never turn your back on a cougar. If a cougar confronts you, make yourself look as big as possible by standing tall, opening your arms out, etc. Wave your arms and yell. Do not make eye contact – it will be seen as an act of aggression. If you have small children or a dog along, pick them up as quickly as possible. (It’s better not to take dogs with you into the wilderness – they attract bears). Back away slowly. If possible, travel with a group, never alone.
People have survived cougar attacks. If you are attacked, fight back. Try to not let the cougar get behind you. It will go for your neck.
For an excellent web site with cougar information go to http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/comptone/cougar.htm
For safety anytime remember these important hiking tips:
1. Know the trail: read maps, brochures and information panels
2. Allow time to return before dark
3. Don’t hike alone
4. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back
5. Stay on designated trails – it’s easy to get lost by getting turned around
6. If you do get lost, stay calm, make yourself visible and stay where you are until help arrives.
Events
Exhibits
Circus Magicus
Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville St.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 387-3701
Open House at the Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue
See, in historic photos presented in the Butchart’s own home, the transformation of a cement quarry into the world-famous Sunken Garden. Exhibit included in price of general admission.
Info: 652-4422
Festivals
Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival
Various Downtown Venues
A ten-day fun packed adventure in film. See fabulous features, make your own short film, or learn about the art of filmmaking.
Tickets $7.50/adult.
Info: 389-0444
Galleries
Slippage: Taras Polataiko, Gerhard Richter, Lucio Fontanta
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street
Through the work of three prominent international contemporary artists slippage addresses representation, the painted surface, and the device of the mirror in relation to the artists’ paintings, photographs, installations, and prints.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 384-4101
Send in the Clowns: The Circus in Print
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street
Send in the Clowns features a selection of video and graphic works exploring the theme of the circus in historical and contemporary art. The exhibition includes pieces by Picasso, Chagall, Dame Laura Knight, along with Colombian artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s highly entertaining video work, Flea Circus.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 384-4101
Music and Stage
Seagram Pops: English Music Hall
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
The orchestra will embellish the show with favourites from the British pops repertoire. Performances at 2:00 Thursday, 8:00pm Friday and Saturday.
Tickets $29.00, $21.00 and $16.00.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 385-6515 / 386-6121
How the Gimquat Found Her Song
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
A magician meets a bird without a song. Together they travel through the ages of music on a search for a suitable song. Performances at 2:00 and 3:30pm.
Tickets $14.00, $12.00 (children/seniors).
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 385-6515 / 386-6121
Terri Clark
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
With special guest, Jason McCoy.
Performance at 7:30pm. Tickets are $32.25
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 3856-6121
The Moffatts
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Performance at 8:00pm, tickets are $35.25.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
One World 2001
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Person College of the Pacific presents One World, an annual international entertainment showcase.
Tickets $20.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
February 25
Matthew Johnson
Alix Golden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Ave
The Kaleidoscope Family concert series presents this performance at 2pm.
Tickets are $9.50, general admission.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
A Passion for Classics: Concert V
Farquhar Auditorium, University of Victoria
Victoria Symphony performs Bach’s St. John Passion with the CapriCCio Vocal Ensemble.
Performances at 2:30 Sunday, 8:00pm Monday.
Tickets $29.00, $21.00, $16.00.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 385-6515 / 386-6121
The Cripple of Inishmaan
Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
A strange comic tale, The Cripple of Inishmaan both celebrates and sends up the myth of romantic Ireland.
Nightly performances Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm
Matinees on Saturday at 4pm, and Sunday at 2pm.
Tickets $14-$27.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 385-6815
Forever Plaid
McPherson Playhouse, #3 Centennial Square
This musical production features favourite tunes of yesteryear. Nightly performances 8pm.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
The Taming of the Shrew
McPherson Playhouse, #3 Centennial Square
Join the Pacific Opera Victoria for Gianni’s adaptation of the classic tale of Petruchio’s efforts to calm the heart and tame the spirit of Katherine.
Performances at 8:00pm.
Tickets $77.50, $67.50, $53.50, $34.50 and $23.50.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
Lawrence Welk Show
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Tickets are $42.25.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
Belfry Theatre: Festival 2001
Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
Festival 2001 features three new shows plus late night theatre and a host of other events. Nightly performances Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm, matinees on Saturday at 4pm, Sunday at 2pm and March 7th at 12pm.
Tickets are $45 for all three shows, or $10-$15 for individual shows.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 385-6815
Festival 2001: Cirque Poule
Canada’s first all female clown circus is coming to the Belfry Theatre. This spirited, dynamic company brings together clowns, acrobats, trapeze artists, Flamenco dancers and accordionists. Cirque Poule is good clean fun for anyone 10 and up.
Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chemainus Theatre, 9737 Chemainus Theatre Rd.
Lady Hillary is heir to the Baskerville fortune and to its curse: death caused by the legendary hound that prowls the moor.
Info: 1-800-565-7738
Royal Winnipeg Ballet – Butterfly
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Part of the 2000-2001 Victoria Dance series. Performance at 7:30pm.
Tickets $48, $41, $35, & $25, with $3.00 off for students.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 386-6121
Sports and Leisure
Victoria Salsa Hockey
Victoria Memorial Arena, 1925 Blanshard Street
BC Junior Hockey League Action.
Games time 7:30pm nightly, except for a 2:00pm game on Sunday, February 11.
Info: 361-0537
Victoria Boat Show and Sale
Pearkes Recreation Centre, Tillicum Mall
New boats, marine products and sportfishing information, including short seminars and demonstrations.
Info: 370-2983
Arbutus Jumpers Equestrian Shows
Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Centre, 1515 E Island Highway, Nanoose Bay, BC.
Two full days of equestrian competition. Saturday is jumper competition and Sunday is hunter competition. No charge for admission.
Info: 250-248-1805
Victoria’s 8th Annual Community Seed Show
James Bay Community Center, 140 Oswego St
Organic Vegetables seeds, old fashioned flower seeds, specialty plants, herbs, roses, native plants and seeds, local farm produce, Seedy Café and more! Free workshops on seeds and gardening. Bring your own seeds to barter.
Admission $3, kids are free.
Info: 381-5323
Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown
Admission gets you into a variety of Victoria’s favourite attractions during this weekend.
Tickets Available at Tourism Victoria
Info: 381-6610
Quirky Stuff
Poetry in motion: City buses will now display poems next to their advertising panels placed above passenger seats. Poems are selected by the Association of Book Publishers of BC from books of published poetry by BC poets.
