Creating Connection in Victoria

By: Debra Donohue
Creating Connection Director for Western Canada

I hope everyone had a great Canada Day weekend. I spent this past weekend in Victoria. Though their church building has been sold, the congregation still gets together and experiences community with each other.

My weekend began with a picnic dinner at Butchart Gardens with my sister Dana’s family. Butchart Gardens has free live music in the amphitheatre Tuesday through Friday throughout the summer. The four-piece string quartet, called Medusa, played music from around the world and shared great stories. I can think of a few fiddlers in our midst who would have loved it!

On Saturday, the Victoria congregation gathered at Sally Glasier’s home in Mill Bay for a ‘white elephant’ gift exchange, lunch, and visiting. The white elephant gift exchange is usually played at Victoria’s annual Christmas party. Each person brought a wrapped gift of something gently used or new. The rule is not to go out and purchase something new but rather to find something in your home that you’re not using. In this game, people have the opportunity to ‘steal’ a gift someone else has already chosen and opened. There were lots of full-belly laughs and squeals of disappointment (all in fun) as some of the gifts made their way around the room several times. Sally’s house was packed, and 7 people were under 25 years old.

Kelly Duff, you may remember, used to host Creating Connection’s online book club. Kelly had some great ideas for a new Creating Connection group she is interested in hosting in the coming months. Quilting, knitting, and crochet are at the top of her list. We’ll be sure to let you know when Kelly starts up her new group.

Just a reminder that you can find Creating Connection events at the links below on our Meetup pages. We have both in-person and online groups:

• Edmonton
• Calgary
• Chilliwack
• Vancouver

Or reach out to me, Debra Donohue, at [email protected], and I’ll be happy to help you.
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P.S. I just have to share this video of my nephew James Donohue setting off his homemade air/water pressure rocket. It’s very short; you can see it here.