
Various Dates | April & May 2025
West Shore Tomato Challenge
First batch of plants will be distributed on …
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Westshore Town Centre
(in conjunction with our Upcycled 2 event)
FREE Plant Starts! Pre-registration is Required.
Take a bite out of your food bill this year and have some fun while you’re at it?!
Join our West Shore Tomato Challenge and be part of the local food revolution … you can grow tomatoes almost anywhere!!! 🍅
How the Tomato Challenge works
ReImagine will give away local and organic tomato seedlings West Shore folks who want to grow their own, along with the juicy details on how to grow ’em. All we ask is that you let us know how you enjoy the experience by keeping us posted about your growing journey via our social media channels, email, or at our pop-up community events!
We’ll be getting people together to celebrate tomatoes throughout the growing season, and we plan to wrap it all up at the Luxton Fall Fair with a fresh tomato salsa contest come September!

We’re grateful to be collaborating with the Arts & Culture Colwood Society to make this special location at the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary available for our workshop.
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Exploring Citizen Science: For adults & kids 10 year and older
Sunday, April 6, 2025
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Goldfinch Arts Centre, 170 Goldfinch Road, Colwood
FREE! Space is Limited. Pre-registration Required
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
What is Citizen Science? How can we connect with the biodiversity in our neighbourhoods? In this workshop, Jeffrey Ellom from the Compost Education Centre will help participants conduct a biodiversity survey near Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary and learn how to publish the data they record using the iNaturalist platform.
We will discuss the importance of citizen science as a tool for deepening our understanding of the world around us, as well as connecting with other nature enthusiasts and contributing to scientific research and stewardship.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own smartphone or tablet to use, and to download and install the iNaturalist app on their device prior to the workshop. A limited number of devices will be available to borrow during the workshop for participants who need one.
Links to download the iNaturalist app on the Apple App store and Google Play Store can be found at the bottom of the iNaturalist homepage. https://www.inaturalist.org

Saturday, April 12, 2025
Composting Basics
Saturday, April 12, 2025
10:00 to 12:00 noon
Learning Commons (Room B215), Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Road, Langford
FREE! Space is Limited. Pre-registration Required
What is the recipe for compost success and why does composting matter? This workshop will explore the answer to these questions and will offer instructions on what it takes to produce an amendment* for your garden that is rich in beneficial microorganisms and nutrients!
Join Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Centre to learn about the 6 factors for composting success, how to choose the best composting system for your needs and how to increase the rodent resistance of your compost pile.
* Something which is added to soil to improve its texture or fertility.
Take a minute to get to know some of the common Beyond Blue Box recyclables you can ethically dispose of with Pacific Mobile the 2nd Saturday of each month at Belmont Secondary!
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Pacific Mobile Recycling Depot
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Rd, Langford, BC
Take your recycling game Beyond the Blue Box at the West Shore’s monthly (every 2nd Saturday) Pacific Mobile Depot
If you’re not quite sure what the depot accepts, please check out our short video and visit the PMD website for further info.

A community collaboration between ReImagine West Shore, Royal Bay Secondary School and the West Shore Arts Council. Thank you to the Capital Regional District, City of Langford, City of Colwood, Town of View Royal, District of Metchosin and District of Highlands for their financial support and to Westshore Town Centre for their generous contribution of space.
Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) to Saturday, April 26, 2025
Upcycled 2: Small Changes, Big Impact
Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) to Saturday, April 26, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday
Westshore Town Centre, 2945 Jacklin Road, Langford
UPCYCLED focuses on re-purposing materials to create something new. The art show featuring the work of Royal Bay Secondary School students highlights how people can positively impact the environment by developing circular economies, reducing waste,and minimizing their footprint.
The show features upcycled fashion, fibre arts, home décor, 2D and 3D works of art that tell a story. Visitors to the show will also have an opportunity to vote on the People’s Choice Award.
Awards Presentation | Saturday, April 26 (3:00 p.m.)
Also on Saturday, April 26th (the final day of UPCYCLED) we’ll have the first giveaway of West Shore Tomato Challenge plants (you have to pre-register, so be sure to sign-up to avoid disappointment! 🍅). You’ll also have a chance to connect with community organizations which work to support sustainable living, so drop by to learn about some of the ways you can ReThink Waste and Make Shift Happen in your world. Happy Earth Month! 🌎♻️💚

Sunday, May 25, 2025
Pop-Up Sewing Makerspace
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Group #1: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. OR Group #2: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
DIY Room, Metchosin Arts & Cultural Centre,
4495 Happy Valley Road, Metchosin, BC
Join Heather Ireland (tailor, upcycler and costume-designer) of Langford-based Mythrose for a fantastic opportunity to get some expert help, learn new techniques, and connect with fellow sewing enthusiasts. Heather will offer valuable guidance, answer your questions and help you tackle your sewing projects … and she’ll bring along a few sewing machines, a serger and other equipment!
Get inspired and enjoy a supportive space where your sewing ideas can come to life.
What you should bring:
• Fabric(s)
• Notions (thread, buttons, zippers, etc.)
• Sewing machine if you have one.
Mythrose will provide:
• 3 Sewing Machines
• Serger
• Scissors and other equipment (maybe even an Embroidery Machine!)
Register below for Group #1 or Group #2 and please click on the Project Background Form button to share information that will help us better prepare for your participation in the workshop.
Got a question or curiosity about this workshop session? Drop us a note.

Saturday, May 31, 2025
Food Preservation Basics
Saturday, May 31, 2025
10:00 to 12:00 noon
Learning Commons (Room B215), Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Road, Langford
FREE! Space is Limited. Pre-registration Required
Come learn the basics of how to preserve the summer and autumn abundance.
We will learn the basics of dehydrating, cover how best to freeze foods, store foods, and the science behind hot water bath canning and fermenting, too.
Join Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Centre to learn why preserving foods is not only a delicious way to taste summer in the dark rainy days of winter, but it is also an act of sustainability and creates more security in the food system.

We’re grateful to be collaborating with the Arts & Culture Colwood Society to make this special location at the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary available for our workshop.
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Gardening for Pollinators and Other Wildlife
Sunday, August 10, 2025
10:00 to 11:30am
Goldfinch Arts Centre, 170 Goldfinch Road, Colwood
FREE! Space is Limited. Pre-registration Required
If you’re done with the Kentucky bluegrass and ready to make a welcoming space for BC pollinators and birds, ReImagine West Shore member and retired ecological restoration professional, Judy Nault might be able to help!
Plenty of people are interested in becoming better stewards of the environment, and that can include actions like creating beneficial habitat in your own yard, or ‘Naturescaping’.
There’s lots you can do to invite more nature into your life, and it’s fun to chat with other nature-lovers, too!
Join Judy for this free introductory workshop at Esquimalt Lagoon to discover what you can do to support pollinators and other wildlife in your own backyard!

Thursday, September 11, 2025
Get Canned! Hot Water Bath Canning Workshop
Thursday, September 11, 2025
6:30 to 8:30pm
Foods Room – 1124, Royal Bay Secondary School,
3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way, Colwood
FREE! Space is Limited. Pre-registration Required
Ever wonder what to do with all those tomatoes? Or just want to make your own berry jam to enjoy in the dark days of winter? Come learn the safe steps to successfully make home canned goods using the hot water bath method as we make some delish jam together!
You will come away with a basic idea of how to can the season’s abundance safely, and have a list of resources to consult for further learning.
Presented by Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Centre.

Not quite sure what a Repair Cafe is all about? Watch our short video for details!
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Repair Café West Shore
Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Gordon United Church, 935 Goldstream Avenue, Langford
A ReImagine West Shore community collaboration with the Langford Residents Association.
What do you do with a broken toaster? Or a bike wheel that’s out of alignment … and what about a sweater full of moth holes? Toss it? No way! Bring them to the Repair Café, where our fantastic volunteer repair team can assess and more than likely help you get your item repaired. And for those who want to give DIY a try, there will be tools and materials on hand for you to work on fixing some things yourself!
Got the tools and some time? If you’re a Handy Superhero like our mascot Reggie the Wrench Guy, we’d love to have you join our righteous repair quest. Repair Café ReImagine West Shore could use more handy volunteers and we’re looking for local residents with different skills who can serve as repair experts during our Repair Café meetings. Check out our Call to Handyfolk and let us know if you can lend us a hand at an upcoming Repair Café!
Sponsored by the Capital Regional District, City of Colwood, City of Langford, Town of View Royal, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands and Vancity. Thank you also to WD-40 for providing terrific product supplies to support our volunteer Handyfolk! 🙏🏼🛠️💚

Grow Your Own Food 101 Workshop
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Learning Commons – B215 – Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Rd, Langford
FREE! Pre-registration Required
Want to grow your own groceries but not sure where to even start?
This tip and info-rich workshop is designed for beginners who want to get their hands dirty and start producing fresh produce in their backyards or in containers.
We’ll cover soil health, basic gardening techniques like watering, weeding and mulching and so much more.
Presented by Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Centre.

Planning Your Year-Round Veggie Garden
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Learning Commons – B215 – Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Rd, Langford
FREE! Pre-registration Required
Here on the West Shore good planning makes it possible to harvest produce from our gardens during every month of the year. Knowing when to sow seeds is important. But it’s just as crucial to know when and how to transition one crop to another. This presentation will show you how to plan to grow year-round, care for your soil, protect your crops in winter, and we’ll even touch on pests and diseases!
Presented by Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Centre.

If you’re interested in exploring the possibility of sharing your garden or farm, please be sure to check out the land matching programs being run by the Young Agrarians.
Garden Sharing
Finding that you’ve now got too much yard or garden to handle and curious about what it would take to share part of it with others? Garden Sharing is an innovative way to save money and grow more nutritious food locally while building stronger community connections. And the Young Agrarians of Canada already have a system in place to support it!
The Young Agrarians are a nation-wide non-profit farmer resource organization, which has extended its farmland mapping program (UMAP) to include both rural and urban gardens, centralizing information for those looking for garden space to use and those with garden space to share.
The UMAP shows locations of gardens and farms with extra space or in need of helpers, listing the size, type and nature of the land for those looking, who can also post specifics of what they want. So far only a handful of Greater Victoria locations are listed, but ReImagine West Shore is hoping the resource may find fresh interest on the West Shore, so are working with the Young Agrarians to promote the resource for interested community members.
Past Events

Saturday, March 8, 2025
West Shore Seedy Saturday 2025
Victory Garden Edition – WE CAN Grow Our Own 🇨🇦
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Belmont Secondary School
3041 Langford Lake Road, Langford, BC
General Admission is FREE or By Donation
Click Below for Exhibitor Registration (couple of spots left)
Come and connect with farmers, seed vendors, gardeners, and community groups to find your local seeds for the season, swap seeds and seed origin stories, learn how to grow more of your own food, and create nurturing spaces for pollinators.
For this 2nd Annual West Shore Seedy Saturday, we have more space for our exhibitors and a dedicated area for speakers to share knowledge throughout the day. And the Seedy Bistro will be serving tasty snacks from Flourish!, including flavourful soups prepared by the students of Royal Bay Secondary School! It takes a village … 👩🏻🌾🥣❤️
Short Sessions in our 🌱 Presentation Space
11:30 a.m. – Kayla Siefried (Compost Education Centre) talks about the importance of Starting with Healthy Soil.
12:30 p.m. – Mary Alice Johnson (ALM Organics/Full Circle Seeds) talks about Growing Amazing Tomatoes! 🍅
1:30 p.m. – Garry Fletcher (Metchosin Mason Bees) talks about the many Benefits of Mason Bees.
2:30 p.m. – Fiona Hamersley Chambers (Metchosin Farm) talking about the Unique Tomato Varieties they’ve developed and how to grow ‘em! 🍅
Check the toggle below for a full list of Exhibitors!
West Shore Seedy Saturday is a ReImagine West Shore community collaboration with Flourish! School Food Society.
West Shore Seedy Saturday Exhibitors
(Confirmed as of Mar 1/25)
Bedwetters Irrigation | Bees Please Farms | Belmont Sustainability Students | Bountiful Bay Farm and Nursery | Colwood Garden Society | Compost Education Centre | Cooper Cove Gardens | Capital Regional District (Invasive Species & Water Conservation) | FarmFolk/CityFolk & BC EcoSeed Co-op | FED Urban Agriculture | Flourish! School Food Society | Flying Dutchman Market | Full Circle Seeds | Got Any Plants? Landscaping & Adam’s Landscaping | Metchosin Grown Society & Metchosin Community Garden | Metchosin Farm | Metchosin Mason Bees | Murder Bay Mushrooms | RUSH Initiative Community Mapping Happening | Seeds of Diversity | Seed Swap Table | Small Island Seed Co. | Titan Terrace Tree Farm | Vermicomposting (Red Wigglers!)

Green Friday Map & Tip Sheet
Online initiative to promote shopping local for the holidays! 🎄
The time has come to turn Black Friday 💚 GREEN 💚 in the West Shore!
ReImagine’s Green Friday Tip Sheet includes over 90 local vendors, experiences, and businesses. There’s something for everyone – and we all get to lend a hand in supporting great local enterprises! And keep an eye out for listings with a star 🌟 for special Green Friday deals!

ReImagine Swap & Shop
Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
DIY Room, Metchosin Arts & Cultural Centre, 4495 Happy Valley Road, Metchosin, BC
Part of the Very Merry Makers Market
Bring stuff to swap, pay what you can, or take something home for free!
Donations of your gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, as well as small non-plastic and very gently used toys (under 8″ diameter) will be gratefully accepted (please no stained, ripped, or broken items).
Donation Drop-Off
From December 9 to 13 folks are invited to drop off their items in the bins under the front stairs of the Metchosin Arts & Culture Centre at 4495 Happy Valley Rd. If you’re uncertain about whether a donation will be accepted, please message us to check. Thank you! 🎄🧑🏻🎄

MAYOR VS MAYOR, View Royal vs Colwood – Chef Sid Tobias is Ready!
Colwood vs View Royal Mayors will be FACING OFF LIVE for the Power Chef title (judged by the other West Shore Mayors! 😮) on induction cook tops hooked to electric Ford F-150 Lightnings, in our 21st century version of a tail gate party!
Who will reign supreme? Check out Chef Kobayashi’s response below …
Sunday, July 28, 2024
POWER PLAY: Family Festival Celebrating Community and All Things Electric
Sunday, July 28, 2024, Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Victoria Scottish Community Centre
1803 Admirals Road, View Royal
FREE! Upcycled Costumes are Encouraged!
It’s a costume party with a purpose! Dress up as your fave superhero (the more electric and shiny the better … you could even win a PRIZE!) and enjoy a free family festival celebrating community and all things electric. We’ll have funky live music from HOT POT, a chance to cruise cool exhibits, hang out in the KIDZONE, and watch a culinary throw-down between Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi and View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias … who will reign supreme?!?
It’ll be a clash of culinary titans in our 21st century take on tailgating when these two local politicos face off at 1pm on electric induction cooktops powered by two Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up trucks! The mayors will be preparing their best small plate dishes to be judged by Executive Chef Ken Nakano of the Inn at Laurel Point (Aura Waterfront Restaurant & Patio) together with Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson, Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little, and Sooke Mayor Maja Tait.
Playful people of all ages are encouraged to come in a costume and enjoy a whimsical afternoon with us, then at 3pm costumed folk of all ages will be asked to assemble at our event performance space where the audience will help us select the BEST COSTUME for the Grand Prize of a $50 Gift Card courtesy of Lee Valley. We’ll have some cool runner up giveaways too, courtesy of Emotive.
So, if you’re jonesing for a chill afternoon of tunes, cool community groups, and the latest in electrified and sustainable living like EVs, E-bikes, solar power, heat pumps and great info about government rebates and how you can save money and conserve energy, this is the West Shore event for you!
A community collaboration with the Town of View Royal, City of Colwood, Capital Regional District, View Royal Climate Coalition, and the South Island Climate Action Network. We are also grateful for the event sponsorship of BC Hydro, Gablecraft Homes, Canadian Tire, Thrifty Foods, Four Mile BrewPub, Campus Auto Group, Westhills, Glenoak Ford and Vancity.
POWER PLAY Exhibitors
- Ask an Electrician
- BC Hydro
- BC Sustainable Energy Association (Victoria Chapter)
- Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
- Capital Regional District – Charge Your Ride
- Capital Regional District – Home Energy Navigator
- Citizens Environment Network in Colwood (CENiC)
- City of Colwood
- Clean Air Yard Care
- Creatively United for the Planet
- Goldstream Bicycles
- Hakai Energy Solutions
- Lifecycles Project / Welland Orchard
- ReImagine West Shore
- The RUSH Initiative
- Sasquatch Heat Pumps
- South Island Climate Action Network (SICAN)
- Town of View Royal
- Victoria Electric Vehicle Association
- View Royal Climate Coalition
Get Event Notifications
Subscribe to the ReImagine West Shore e-newsletter to receive the latest news and information about our workshops, events, and community conversations.