Thinking of giving someone a few chickens for Christmas this year? Here’s how you can do that.

Chickens are among the items that can be donated to a Third World family through a Giving Machine, three of which will operate at the Tillicum Centre from Nov. 14 to Dec. 3. Closer to home, people can use the Giving Machines to donate to five local charities.

The local charities participating in this year’s campaign are Soap for Hope Canada, the Shelbourne Community Kitchen, James Bay New Horizons, the Victoria Cool Aid Society and Saanich Neighbourhood Place. Global charities are CARE Canada and UNICEF Canada

Giving Machines are customized red vending machines with a twist. Instead of dispensing a product to consume, they allow people to donate tangible items to help people in need, whether they live across the street or around the world. For instance, a Victoria family may choose to buy chickens for a family in a Third World country, or provide groceries for needy families locally.

Other items include clean water, shelter, gardening kits, agricultural items (seeds, trees, farming tools), clothing, health care, education, bedding, hygiene kits, and job and career training. Livestock, such as chickens and beehives, can also be purchased.

The Giving Machine campaign is part of the Light the World initiative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and operates in partnership with local and international charities. One hundred per cent of the donations goes directly to the charities involved, as the church covers all overhead costs and receives no financial benefit from this initiative.

The local campaign will be launched Nov. 14 at the Tillicum Centre on Tillicum Road, and will run until Dec. 3, after which the Giving Machines will be transferred to the Lower Mainland for the balance of the Christmas season.

Leading the Vancouver Island Giving Machine campaign this year are Kath Murray and Joyce Thomson.

“This is just such a fun way to make meaningful donations,” said Murray, “especially since donors can be assured every penny they give will go to the charities involved.”

“Kids especially like the Giving Machines,” said Thomson, “for a couple of reasons, they tend to be more comfortable and familiar with the technology as it is more like a large smartphone than a vending machine and secondly, they are generous by nature and get excited to have the power to help others. The machines are easy for anyone to operate, and volunteers will be standing by to explain and assist.” “Kids especially like the Giving Machines,” said Thomson, “as they tend to be more comfortable with the technology than some of us who are older. But the machines are easy for anyone to operate, and volunteers will be standing by to explain and assist.”

Since the first Giving Machine was a switched on 2017, more than $60 million CDN has been donated. This year, the machines will appear in more than 130 cities in 21 countries.

The post Giving Machines coming to Vancouver Island appeared first on islandparent.

Looking for a vehicle that makes commuting, running errands, school pickups, sports trips, and weekend getaways effortless – while saving you money on gas and oil changes? You’re going to love the 2025 Toyota bZ4X! This all-electric powerhouse combines zero-emissions driving with impressive range, super quick charging, and cutting-edge technology. Plus, with a new LE AWD grade and enhanced features on the XLE 2025 models, Toyota has made going electric more stylish, accessible, efficient, and fun than ever.

The Future of Driving is Here

Toyota is paving the way with electrified vehicles, ensuring there’s an option for every lifestyle. Its popular bZ4X is a BEV – or battery electric vehicle – running entirely on a large onboard battery instead of a gas engine. That means no oil changes, no emissions, and a smooth, quiet ride. It also opens up the possibility of enjoying HOV lanes when you travel province-wide. So just charge it up, and you’re ready to head to work, run errands, take your kids to sports games, or whatever else you need to do.

High Confidence During Every Drive

Whether you’re heading home from work, stocking up on groceries, or undertaking a weekend adventure, the bZ4X is packed with tech to keep you safe and confident on the road.

Toyota Safety Sense offers a wide range of features, including:

• A Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection;
• Lane Departure Alert;
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control;
• Lane Tracking Assist;
• Road Sign Assist.

There’s even automatic high beam functionality, which seamlessly switches to high-beam from low-beam and back again.

The LE AWD and XLE AWD models bring added all-weather confidence with all-wheel drive, meaning you’ll be able to navigate slippery roads or snowy conditions with control. Plus, XLE AWD Technology Package adds some cool perks like hands-free power tailgate and parking assistance.

Style, Tech & Space for the Everyday

Toyota has designed the bZ4X to be as stylish looking as it is practical. With sleek aerodynamic lines, LED lighting, and a modern, low-hood design, this futuristic looking vehicle certainly turns heads while improving visibility.

And on the inside of the vehicle, it’s all about comfort and convenience:

• Spacious seating for five with extra legroom (even in the back!)
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats for groceries, sports gear, and much more;
• Wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ for seamless connectivity;
• Dual-zone climate control and heated steering wheel for ultimate comfort.

The Toyota bZ4X is Your Smart Choice

Starting at $46,515, the 2025 Toyota bZ4X is proof that going electric isn’t just smart, it’s fun, and built for the way you and your family live. Plus government rebate programs like CleanBC can provide up to $4,000 in additional savings. Save time and money by not having to gas up your vehicle, and plug into the future with your stylish, safe, reliable, comfortable 2025 Toyota bZ4X? Get started here.

The post The 2025 Toyota bZ4X: Your Ultimate Daily Drive, Electrified appeared first on islandparent.

The Toyota bZ4X is clearly one of the most innovative vehicle designs to date! This family friendly economical battery electric vehicle (BEV) offers an incredible driving range of up to 406 km in ideal conditions, and provides quick and easy charging options. 

Lower mainland resident and sport fishing expert Rodney Hsu is a longtime Toyota truck owner who was considering adding the Toyota bZ4X to his driveway. He was reluctant because he wasn’t sure how it would work out as a family vehicle and if it would have enough storage space. 

Seven months ago, he took the plunge and purchased the 2023 Toyota bZ4X and hasn’t looked back since. 

“We couldn’t be happier with our bZ4X since it was purchased in September. Having the ability to ‘fuel’ up at home has been a game changer. We’ve been enjoying both the savings and convenience this family vehicle brings,” says Rodney.

The vehicle is surprisingly spacious and has plenty of room for his entire family – and all their gear with lots of leg room and a larger than expected cargo area. It’s a great grocery runner and he can go several days between charges.

And, best of all, he estimates he has saved $3,000 in his 7 months of ownership!

Rodney loves the ease of driving his kids around and running errands without worrying about charging. And when he does need to charge, he simply does it overnight at his home.

So, what about if he is away from home? Does he ever get “range anxiety”? 

Well, Rodney recently took a trip to Vancouver Island in his EV and was able to charge his Toyota bZ4X at one of the many charging stations located throughout BC – with even more coming soon! It was simple to do quick charges while his family ate in restaurants or picked up necessities at local stores. These batteries are able to charge up to 80% in only 30 to 60 minutes! And –  with  one charge lasting up to 406 km – that  gives you plenty of time to explore new areas before you need to charge again.

Find more information about the many benefits of the Toyota bZ4X here, or follow along on Instagram.

The post The Toyota bZ4X BEV – the ULTIMATE vehicle! appeared first on islandparent.

Learn new skills, discover a passion, and make new friends with St. Margaret’s co-ed camps. 

With more than 30 camps to choose from this summer at SMS it’s more like a choose your own adventure! Ready to master tennis? We can provide coaching, courts and the time to perfect that back swing.

How about becoming the chef you always knew you could be? From the basics to international cuisine – learn the culinary arts with fellow foodies. Don’t forget the sciences and technology – explore engineering, robotics, programming or join the action in Minecraft games. Young creators can paint nature or produce their own graphic novel.

The SMS camps offer topics to appeal to all age groups. The experience of meeting new friend while building a brand-new skill or discovering an exciting hobby or sport makes it even more fun. You can still enjoy a lazy afternoon at the beach or hike woodland trails so why not make this a summer filled with activity and friends at SMS? 

Summer CoderGirl Camps

Summer CoderGirl camps with Science Venture are available to all age groups including 16–18 year-olds. The cost has been fully covered by government programs. This is to encourage more girls to see if working with code is a skill they can apply and use.

“We partner with amazing groups like Engineering for Kids-Vancouver Island, Epic Sports, Science Venture, Rex Sports, Story Studio and Wilkinson Sports who give their unique expertise to create a truly exciting line up of camps for young people to enjoy. This kind of experiential learning is what our school is known for,” explained Alejandra Sanoja, External Programs Manager. “Every camper can have fun at their own pace, learn something and carry on into the rest of the year with that new skill. We take pride in listening to parents and campers about the kind of activities they want to see on the calendar every summer. Our goal is to deliver an inspiring but totally engaging experience for SMS campers!”

For more details visit stmarg.ca/camps/

The post St. Margaret’s Co-Ed camps appeared first on islandparent.