Saanich is trading in its traditional, somewhat stuffy, New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day lev茅e B次元官网网址� a meet-and-greet with the mayor and council B次元官网网址� for something the whole family can enjoy.
Families are instead invited to Saanich Commonwealth Place for a free swim from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 1, 2013.
B次元官网网址淟ev茅es have been fading in popularity for some time, so we said to our staff, B次元官网网址楩or the little bit of money weB次元官网网址檙e spending, what other ideas do you have so we can reach some more people and some new people?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Mayor Frank Leonard. B次元官网网址淭hey came back with this suggestion, and IB次元官网网址檓 hoping it becomes a new tradition.B次元官网网址�
In Canada, lev茅es are held on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day and stem from a custom that dates back to the fur trade, when traders would pay their respects to their government representatives on January 1.
Leonard says Saanich has been hosting lev茅es as far back as he can remember, but heB次元官网网址檚 optimistic that a free family swim is more suitable for families in this day and age.
B次元官网网址淚 would be willing to see how it goes (this year) and then expand it to other rec centres,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 really like to see this grow so that New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day morning is a real family outing for folks.B次元官网网址�
Oak Bay isnB次元官网网址檛 hosting a lev茅e, either. Instead, an hour-long community walk with mayor and council will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by a free skate and swim beginning at 1:30 at the Oak Bay rec centre.
Victoria and Esquimalt will both host traditional lev茅es in their respective council chambers on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day.
Leonard says he and council will be at Commonwealth during the free swim and light refreshments, but it wonB次元官网网址檛 be in a formal meet-and-greet. He said he hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet decided whether Saanichites will get to jump in the pool with their mayor.
Regardless, heB次元官网网址檚 optimistic the event will be popular, adding that itB次元官网网址檒l be a much more pleasant swim than the annual Polar Bear Swim at Elk Lake. The 37th annual Polar Bear Swim happens Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. at Hamsterly Beach.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day lev茅es around the region
-9 to 10 a.m.: HMCS Malahat, The Wardroom, 20 Huron St.
-10 a.m. to noon: Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave.
-10 to 11 a.m.: Canadian Scottish Regiment, Bay Street Armoury, 715 Bay St.
-10:30 a.m. to noon: 11 Victoria Field Ambulance, 11 Service Battalion and 12 Military Police Platoon, Lt.-Gen. E.C. Ashton Armoury, 724 Vanalman Ave.
-Noon to 1:30 p.m.: City of Victoria, City Hall, 1 Centennial Square
n 1 to 2:30 p.m. Township of Esquimalt, Municipal Hall, 1229 Esquimalt Rd.
