Hotelier: Bill Lewis, Magnolia Hotel & Spa, Victoria

Hotelier Magazine recently featured our neighbouring property’s General Manager, Bill Lewis:

The words “fun” and “energy” seem to come up quite often in conversations with Bill Lewis. The GM of the Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria, B.C. is an entrepreneur at heart. He’s also adamant about not accepting the status quo as good enough. “We can always look for improvements and ways to better meet our guests’ needs every day.”

It’s that can-do philosophy that’s earned the 40-something hotelier plaudits from guests and critics alike. Having landed in the hotel industry in his teens via the restaurant industry, Lewis quickly determined hotels would be “fun” places to work. “I originally thought I’d go to business school later and pursue a different field,” but instead, he continued working in hotels, while earning a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship at Victoria’s Royal Roads University. He later returned to school to complete an MBA in Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Guelph, where it became clear to him hotels were his passion.

After nine years at the stunning Victoria hotel, situated a stone’s throw from the city’s inner harbour, Lewis still has fun being at the helm of a unique 64-room boutique property featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, bright spacious rooms with natural light and a tranquil spa setting that offers a soothing oasis.

The hotel is “locally owned and the owners are passionately involved. They provide the hotel every resource to ensure we continually pursue our goal — to maintain our place as one of Canada’s finest luxury boutiques.”

In April, the hotel opened a new restaurant called The Courtney Room, which celebrates local products with a classic-French twist. He’s hopeful the dining space will “set new trends in dining in our region.”

Lewis is proud and supportive of his team of 85 associates, who work tirelessly to keep customers happy. Clearly, it’s working: the Magnolia Hotel & Spa has consistently been voted one of the country’s top-five hotels by Conde Nast Traveler. One of Lewis’ biggest challenges is managing opportunities for his staff’s career growth. “I believe in promoting from within and mentoring strong talent but, based on our small size, we don’t have opportunity for advancement for all of our outstanding candidates.”

Delivering exceptional and personalized hospitality to each and every guest in a relaxed style is what drives the father of two. “I strive to create a service environment where guests’ expectations are always exceeded in a way that seems natural, not forced. When we get to know our guests, we can anticipate their every need,” he says. At the end of the day, “the key is to stick to your vision — in good times and bad — and not waver. Guests love consistency, which, in our case, builds loyal business.”

Union Club Car Show – A “WHEEL” Success

The Union Club held its first annual Car Show on Sunday, July 8.

With 23 cars and 1 motorcycle, Car Show organizer, Lee Ferreira, says that the show was a great success.

Please find below pictures taken by Club members Lee Ferreira and Bob MacFarlane:

CFB Esquimalt Museum 5th Annual Open House

Where: CFB Esquimalt
When: July 14, 2018 – 10:00AM to 4:00PM

CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum will be holding an open house on Saturday July 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The family-friendly event is free and features:

  • A bouncy castle
  • Button-making station
  • Military vehicles and re-enactors
  • Pirate camp
  • Artist-in-residence
  • Bubble blowing
  • Sno-cones
  • Cupcakes for early birds

The museum is located at CFB Esquimalt off of Admirals Road in Esquimalt. Enter at the Naden main gate and follow the blue lines. Please bring photo identification to gain admission.

Perfect-for-Summer Smoothies

With the summer temperatures arriving before summer, we thought it would be great to share the following article, pulled from the archives of Victoria’s Times Colonist newspaper:

A colourful array of smoothies, packed with nutrition. From left, Cucumber, Beet Green and Apple Smoothie; Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie with Oats; Beet, Blackberry and Island Yogurt Smoothie; Nectarine Smoothies with Tofu, Ginger and Hemp Seeds. Photograph By ERIC AKIS

When summer temperatures are soaring and your energy level is sinking, perk up by blending and sipping a cool, refreshing and nutritious smoothie. It’s also the perfect time of year to make this puréed drink because farm markets and food stores are filled with locally grown, ripe, just-picked fruits and vegetables to use in them.

For example, my four smoothie recipes here incorporate Island-grown produce such as beets, berries, rhubarb, apples and cucumber. I also added other nutritious ingredients to my smoothies, including soft tofu, Greek yogurt, coconut beverage, fruit juice, hemps seeds, flax seeds, oats and matcha tea powder.

All my smoothie recipes could be made in a regular blender, or in the cup that came with your immersion (hand) blender. Feel free to adjust the recipes to your liking or to substitute one ingredient for one you might have on hand. For example, if you have raspberries on hand, but not blackberries, use them in the beet smoothie.

Happy blending and keep cool!

 

BEET, BLACKBERRY & ISLAND YOGURT SMOOTHIES

These deep purple, nutrient-rich smoothies, flavoured with earthy beets, sweet berries and tangy yogurt, also contain heart healthy, ground flax seeds. They are sold at health-food stores and supermarkets.  I used Vancouver Island-made Tree Island brand yogurt in these smoothies.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: None

Makes: Two one-cup servings

1 cup loosely packed, grated raw, peeled fresh beet (about 1 medium beet)

1 cup blackberries or marionberries

1/2 cup pomegranate juice (see Note)

2 tsp ground flax seeds (see Note)

2 tsp honey, or to taste

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

3 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender or in the cup that came with your immersion (hand) blender). Pulse until very smooth. Taste smoothie and adjust flavourings as needed. Pour into glasses and serve.

Note: Pomegranate juice is sold at most large supermarkets in the produce department.

 

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SMOOTHIES WITH OATS

Flavoured with nutritious oats and cinnamon, these sweet and tangy smoothies taste similar to strawberry rhubarb crumble in a glass.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: None

Makes: Two one-cup servings

1 1/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 cup sliced fresh rhubarb

3/4 cup coconut or almond beverage, or milk

2 Tbsp large flake rolled oats

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp honey, or taste

3 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender or in the cup that came with your immersion (hand) blender). Pulse until very smooth. Taste smoothie and adjust flavourings as needed. Pour into glasses and serve.

 

CUCUMBER, BEET GREEN & APPLE SMOOTHIES

If you’ve bought a bunch of beets with the tops attached and are wondering what to do with some of those greens, these rich-green smoothies provide a solution. The antioxidant-rich matcha tea powder used in these smoothies is sold at specialty tea stores and at some supermarkets.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: None

Makes: Two one-cup servings

1 cup coarsely chopped, packed beet greens (just leafy parts; no tough rib sections)

1 cup cubed English cucumber

1 cup cubed, peeled apple

1/2 cup unsweetened apple cider or juice

3/4 tsp matcha tea powder (optional)

4 to 5 fresh mint leaves

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp honey, or to taste (optional)

3 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender or in the cup that came with you immersion (hand) blender). Pulse until very smooth. Taste smoothie and adjust flavourings as needed. Pour into glasses and serve.

Eric options: Instead of beet greens, use chopped kale or chard in these smoothies.

NECTARINE SMOOTHIES WITH TOFU, GINGER & HEMP SEEDS

The hemp seeds in these sustaining, orange-hued smoothies add a slightly nutty flavour and provide essential fatty acids, protein and fibre.

Hemp seeds are sold in small bags at health-food stores and supermarkets.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: None

Makes: Two one- cup servings

2 cups ripe, cubed fresh nectarine, skins on

1 medium banana, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup soft tofu

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

2 tsp hemp seeds

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

honey, to taste

3 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender or in the cup that came with your immersion (hand) blender).

Pulse until very smooth. Taste smoothie and adjust flavourings as needed. Pour into glasses and serve.

Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His columns appear in the Times Colonist’s Life section Wednesday and Sunday.

Past President – In Memoriam…

KNIGHTED BY QUEEN VICTORIA

Judge Matthew Baillie-Begbie was born in 1819 and travelled from England in 1858 to become one of the first officials of the new Crown Colony of British Columbia.

He walked and rode hundreds of miles getting to know the miners and mining camps, and judging cases everywhere.

He was an artist who drew sketches of the witnesses in his “courtroom”–often a tent or a clearing. He was an opera singer who gave concerts in Victoria.
He was a linguist who heard cases in the Shuswap and Chilcotin languages without needing an interpreter—and he often defended the rights of First Nations people, who called him “Big Chief”.

Often called “the hanging Judge”, Begbie, at 6’5″ tall, certainly looked the part. But truth be known, only 27 of the 52 murder cases he heard in the history of the Colony ended in hangings–and hanging was the punishment required by law for the crime of murder at that time. So if the verdict was guilty, the Judge didn’t have a choice….

In 1875 Begbie went on holiday to Europe and was knighted by Queen Victoria-Sir Matthew! Soon afterwards Judge Begbie was back at work, and kept judging cases for another two decades until he died on June 11, 1894, when the city of Victoria mounted a magnificent funeral procession for him.

AGM 2018 Results

Please take notice that the 139th Annual General Meeting of The Union Club of British Columbia was held in the Centennial Ballroom of the Union Club, on June 7, 2018, at 4:30pm.

With a special “Thank you” to those who let their names stand for election, the results of the General Committee election are as follows:

 

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

LCdr Angus Fedoruk

Rick Sousa

Jon Watson

 

President Lawrence Graham, Vice-President Grace Van den Brink and the Club’s General Committee look forward to welcoming Mr. Fedoruk, Mr. Sousa and Mr. Watson to the General Committee.

Canadians to Gather in Churches, Theatres and Halls for Royal Wedding Viewing Parties

David Spence (UC Member) is the president of the Royal Commonwealth Society and organizer of a wedding reception being held on the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. His wife Donna Otto (UC Member) will be one of many Canadians who will wake up early to catch the royal wedding. “I’m going to enjoy every bit of it,” she says. (CHAD HIPOLITO / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.—Donna Otto hasn’t decided on wearing a fascinator or a new hat on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding day, but she knows where she’ll be at 4 a.m. on Saturday when the royal couple say their “I dos.”

Otto, like most Canadians, is thousands of kilometres and many time zones away from the ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, but she says she’ll be up early in Victoria to toast the newlyweds.

Theatres, cathedrals, libraries, hotels and banquet halls across Canada are booked for morning wedding celebration parties, with the hearty souls on the West Coast rising before dawn for the noon-hour ceremony in Great Britain.

“I’m going to enjoy every bit of it,” says Otto, a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Vancouver Island branch. “Embrace it. My dress is a work in progress. I’m sure I’ll have either a fascinator or I’m seriously thinking of getting a brand new hat.”

The Royal Commonwealth Society and the Victoria chapter of the Monarchist League of Canada have teamed up to host a royal wedding breakfast buffet bash at the city’s 139-year-old Union Club.

Guests are invited to arrive at 3 a.m. They should be dressed in appropriate wedding attire, where they’ll watch a live television broadcast of the wedding.

“I call it fun, frivolous and foolish,” Otto says. “Why not? Sometimes life is too serious and we just need to … interject something that’s really fun to do. It’s an opportunity to focus on something very positive and that part of it is wonderful because there is such negative news in the world all the time.”

Wendy Hart says she’s excited about the wedding, but staging a viewing party at 6 a.m. in Winnipeg wasn’t generating much buzz.

Instead, the Manitoba wings of the Monarchist League, United Empire Loyalists and Royal Commonwealth Society will gather at noon Central time for a champagne luncheon to view the wedding on tape delay at the castle-like University of Winnipeg Club, she says.

“People were not that keen to get up that early in the morning,” Hart says. “It’s going to be so pleasant to watch it at a reasonable time of day.”

She says Prince Harry and Meghan have captivated millions around the world with their love story and the bonds they created.

“It’s not just a royal wedding,” Hart says. “It’s a union involving North America and the United Kingdom. We’re crossing the ocean on this one.”

In Toronto, where Harry and Meghan’s romance blossomed, a 7 a.m. viewing party is being held at the Duke of Cornwall pub, which has room for about 160 people. Participants will watch the ceremony on television, feast on English-style breakfasts and participate in a royal trivia quiz.

U.K. expat Paulo Antunes, who operates the Toronto online site Typically British, says he expects long-time royal enthusiasts and younger Harry and Meghan fans to gather for the celebration.

“Our event is a mixed bag,” he says. “We’re getting older people who have been following all the major royal events for years and there’s these young people who are excited for Harry and they’re excited for Meghan who lived 20 minutes down the street.”

Markle resided in Toronto for several years while filming the television series Suits.

Antunes says the pub will serve royal-flavoured non-alcoholic drinks, including Ginger and Tonic, Long Island High Tea, Harry Wallbanger and Bloody Meghan.

You’ll find festivities east of Ontario too. The historic British restaurant Bar George in Montreal is hosting a viewing party, complete with platters of scones and sandwiches. The Delta Halifax in Nova Scotia is hosting a breakfast spread with their live screening.

David Spence, a retired United Church minister, says he’s going to be wearing his McDuff tartan kilt to the breakfast wedding ceremony at Victoria’s Union Club.

At his Brentwood Bay home, just 20 kilometres northwest of Victoria, Spence, who performed the wedding ceremony for Paralympian and activist Rick Hansen and Amanda Reid, says he’s become enamoured with Harry and Meghan and what they represent to the world.

“People are infatuated with a young couple who reflects the diversity of what the modern Commonwealth is all about,” says Spence, who is the Vancouver Island president of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

“They have an energy level they are sharing with the world. They’ve gone through some difficult parts of their lives in order to reach this level of identity with people.”

The Union Club; Present Past and Future: the Billiards Memorial Totem and Time-Capsule

The Billiard Room – past, present and future…

During the 24 years that I have been a member of the Union Club, I have gradually become aware that one of the qualities I like best about the Club is the retro-style ambiance. I often point out to my friends and guests that coming into the Union Club is like entering the set of a Humphrey Bogart movie in terms of surroundings and general ambiance! It is beautiful, and also reflects and respects the style and good taste of the past. This authentic milieu is distinct and set apart, it is a retreat from the faster and more voracious Body-Politic that surrounds us.

Shakespeare quotation located on the Billiards Memorial Totem

The Billiards Room at the Union Club contributes to and is a part of this retro milieu; the room has  been in continual use for billiards and snooker-related activities for over a century! The tables and the soft green lights contribute to the general authentic retro ambiance. The same type of full size tables still grace many historic homes and castles in Europe. As such, the billiards room has a kind of understated elegance, and quietly contributes to the retro style that graces the building as a whole.

As part of the Union Club we respect the past and honour those who are no longer with us. For example, we have a Billiards Memorial Totem located on the east wall of the Billiard Room. This is an antique cue case that we use to honour the memory, by way of a small brass inscribed plaque, of the names of players who are no longer with us.

Billiards Memorial Totem; located on the east wall of the Billiards room.

We have also inserted a time-capsule tube into this totem! It is scheduled to be opened in 100 years time. This adds character and depth to the already excellent totem. We are using an anodized aluminium tube as a protective cover for rolled pages. Once it is sealed it will be both water tight and air tight and, hopefully, it will protect and maintain the enclosed information for 100 years.

We have included information related to three themes:

  • The billiards room milieu is highlighted because this is a billiards memorial Totem. We have included pictures and statistics related to our billiards and snooker activities. We review our activities, and this may be interesting for comparison purposes. Some things change over time, and some do not. If there is a group of people playing snooker at the Union Club in 2118 they may well be interested in these types of comparisons. We also have included some individual player page profiles of current member/players; these are interspersed throughout, and add a personal touch.
  • The purpose of a time capsule is mainly to provide “a snapshot in time” and therefore we are including information and references to current events at the Union Club. We are focusing on the first six months of 2018 as our snapshot in time. For example, the recently established custom of giving featured artists increased visibility at the Union Club is colourful and progressive, and I know they enjoy having their work displayed in our beautiful retro milieu.  Other current developments, such as the possible election of our first female President, would surely be a sign of the times at the Union Club!  There are many other samples of information that are suitable such as the recent heritage designation of the building, the Union Club finances, formal menu, and so on.
  • The City of Victoria. We are located in Victoria, at the Union Club, and some of the details related to occurrences that coincide with our “snapshot in time” provide genuine context and perspective. For example the “100 Year Johnson Street Bridge” is a perfect story to coincide with the launching of our (100 year) time-capsule.  Another example is in regard to the current Victoria real estate market; this may be of interest to future residents! In fact, there is much more relevant information than there is space (ie: pages). In the end, it is very interesting to select and locate information that will provide some anchor points to this “moment in time”.

Our plan is to complete the assembly of the time capsule by mid-summer of 2018. Following this, which includes adding pages to the outside as well as the inside of the anodized aluminium tube, we will shrink wrap the whole package, and it will be placed in the billiards memorial totem for posterity; scheduled to be opened in 2118!  Once this is accomplished we will seal the totem, probably in the early fall season and well before the end of the calendar year.

So, this is a small project, and very local to the billiards room, but it seemed a good candidate for a UC blog post! Thank you for taking time to read about our remembrance totem.

Best Wishes to enjoy the spectacular blush of the spring and summer season on beautiful Vancouver Island!

Brian W. Johnson, Club member

Shakespeare quote inscribed on the Billiards Memorial Totem.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting

Please take notice that the 139th Annual General Meeting of The Union Club of British Columbia will be held in the Centennial Ballroom of the Union Club, on June 7, 2018, at 4:30pm for the purpose of transacting the following business:

1) To receive the report of the General Committee for the past year and the Audited Financial Statements of the Club for the year ending March 31st, 2018, together with the report of the auditors thereon.

2) To appoint an auditor.

3) To elect a President, Vice-President and three Members of the General Committee.

4) Generally to take into consideration the position and the prospects of the Club.

5) To consider and resolve any special business of which due notice has been given.

By the General Committee
Dated at Victoria, BC, May 1st, 2018

Notes: Members in default as defined in the By-Laws shall be disqualified from attending or voting at any meeting of the Members. The following categories are entitled to vote: Life, Senior, Resident, Resident-Intermediate, Intermediate, Firm & Privileged.

Victoria’s-Own Cliff Thorburn Triumphs in Seniors Masters

Cliff Thorburn (center) with the John Spencer Trophy.

Cliff Thorburn rolled back the years to claim the inaugural Seniors Masters title at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

The Canadian, who memorably won the prestigious Masters three times in four years between 1983 and 1986, dramatically overcame Jonathan Bagley 2-1 in the final after potting the re-spotted black in the decider.

Thorburn had earlier in the day received a bye in the quarter-finals after the late withdrawal of 1986 world champion Joe Johnson, who was taken ill on Wednesday and had to be admitted to hospital.

The 70 year-old faced John Parrott in the last four and a break of 51 helped him to a 2-0 victory over the Liverpudlian.

Bagley, who also lost in the final of the Irish Seniors Mastersearlier this season, had reached the final thanks to victories over Dennis Taylor and Michael Judge, the latter having previously accounted for favourite Stephen Hendry in a tense last eight clash that was settled after the Scot went in-off with the cueball on the final black.

Bagley took the lead in the showdown for glory but Thorburn managed to level and, after a long and tense safety battle, the “Grinder” completed a routine pot to complete the triumph to the delight of the crowd.

With the greatest of respects to the likes of Bagley, who has taken to the World Seniors Tour like a duck to water, or Jersey’s Aaron Canavan, who emerged as a surprise candidate to brilliantly lift the World Seniors Championship trophy aloft last month, Thorburn’s glory will go down as one of the most popular of the entire campaign and is a just reward for the fans who forked out in the hope of seeing some of the legends of yesteryear performing on centre stage again.

Thorburn certainly enjoyed his winning moment as, upon seeing the black disappear, raised his arms over his head akin to how he celebrated his famous maiden 147 break at the Crucible more than three decades ago.

The 1980 world champion said: “It’s very meaningful for me being back here at the Crucible. Jonathan actually beat me the last few times but I just felt good being here – there are lots of good memories here.”

“I’m 70 now and I get a little nervy but I’m just so proud to win the first John Spencer Trophy. John helped me to turn pro and he was a great friend for all of my life, he was a classy individual.”

It brings to a conclusion the inaugural season in the World Seniors Tour and, barring a few unfortunate withdrawals from some of the legends that couldn’t be helped, it has appeared to have been a roaring success.

Snooker Legends promoter Jason Francis has worked wonderfully at getting this initiative off the ground and there’s a foundation there now from which to build on and grow the tour into a long-term project.

With triumphs during this campaign for Thorburn in the Seniors Masters, Steve Davis in the Irish Seniors Masters, and Jimmy White in the UK Seniors Championship, it just goes to show that there’s plenty of competitive spirit left in the old dogs yet.