I just sold this James Bay Condo at 308 225 Menzies Street, Victoria, British Columbia.  Located in the heart of the James Bay Village and only about a ten minute walk to Victoria Parliament Buildings.

View this recently sold Condo or see all my home sales.

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour April 16 - 17

Today and tomorrow Oak Bay welcomes you to the 12th annual Oak Bay Artists' Studio Spring Tour.  A self guided free event presented by Recreation Oak Bay.  Starting at noon until 4:30pm.  Twenty-two homes throughout Oak Bay to enjoy art.  Below are the names and locations of the Artists and a map to show their locations for you to enjoy.

1.  Victor Lotto - 2605 Cotswold Road located in the Uplands area of Oak Bay (off Uplands Road) 250.592.3585 www.victorlotto.ca  He is an award winning artist, who paints in watercolour and acrylic. His work is in collections in Canada and abroad. 

2.  Pam Stonehouse - 2995 Westdowne Road located in the 'Henderson Area' of Oak Bay 250.298.4218  Photographic images of nature trees, ocean, animals and flowers. Pam is inspired by the surrounding shorelines, Gulf Islands, forest paths and gardens.  Cards, prints, canvas (new).

3.  Eduard Kajdasz - 2042 Neil Street 250.370.5953  See my new work that reflects both whimsical and abstract themes.

3.   Marie Kajdasz - 2042 Neil Street 250.370.5953  Art quilts, story dolls and felted images. Colour, whimsy and humour abound in this award winning artist's studio.

4.  Donna Ion - 2682 Topp Avenue located in North Oak Bay (off Pacific Avenue) 250.592.4204 www.gallerdir.com/donnaion  Come and see my fresh, contemporary style of acrylic painting applied to our beautiful environment.  A work of art is compelling if it elicits memories and emotions of the viewer's own personal landscape.

5.  Claire Christinel - 2347 Hamiota Street located in North Oak Bay 250.595.6502 www.gallerydir.com/clairechristinel  Welcome to my studio.  View my latest directions in painting-small oils and large textural landscapes.  Claire is an award winning and FCA artist.

6.  Avis Rasmussen - 2576 Estevan Avenue located in the Estevan area of Oak Bay 250.598.3188 www.winchestergalleriesltd.com
Rubbings, Jazz linoprints, reliefs for 'The Elegance of Black,' Watermark Printmakers' April Show including 'Take Five Coast to Coast' illustrations exhibited in Burnaby 2010/11. Print Collection Cards.

7.  Sandi Madsen - 2527 Dalhousie Street located in North Oak Bay 250.598.7013  Blues, greens and earth tones complement elements of wonder in beautifully crafted pottery and accessories.

8.  Ingrid Fawcett - 2386 Dalhousie Street (North Oak Bay) 250.595.0025 www.in ordinance.com  Join Ingrid in her studio where she captures the florals of local gardens and the energy of Victoria's Chinatown in her big, bold, vibrant acrylics.  Her canvas bouquets burst forth with colour. 

9.  Anne Hansen - 2260 Dalhousie Street (North Oak Bay) 250.381.7313  "Many artists are painting whales, bears and eagles but who is painting oystercatchers?" asks Anne, whose bird art frequents the Oak Bay Library.

10. Jean Betts - 2215 Florence Street (North Oak Bay) 250.595.2726  Jean's work reflects time spent weaving in Japan.  She creates decorative and functional textiles with an emphasis on detail. Woven, spun and dyed with natural materials.

11. Ron Douglas - 1757 Armstrong Avenue 250.598.8769 www.douglaspottery.com  Ron's Creekside Pottery Studio is brimming with new works for Spring.  Come and see his beautifully handcrafted functional and decorative pottery for the home and garden. 

12. Karen Lynn Kaiser - 1766 Armstrong Avenue 250.384.1032
A collection of oil paintings of subjects observed across Canada. Currently focusing on the repetitive elements in landscapes and architechture in bright and colourful compositions.
 
12. Marshal Hugh Kaiser - 1766 Armstrong Avenue 250.384.1032 www.marshallhughkaiser.com  Canadian land and seascapes in oils.  Evocative pieces presented in a studio gallery demonstration format.

13. Imke Pearson - 2525 Cranmore Road (North Oak Bay) 250.592.7657 www.bcwomenartists.ca  Come and enjoy my new spring watercolours, Newfy rowhouses, unique "Eco-Planet" monotypes and abstract, terraced acrylics.

14. Bonnie-Anne Goodwin - 1871 St. Ann Street located in North Oak Bay 250.592.0832  Bonnie has traveled and lived in different countries where she collected antique and spiritual beads.  She is home now creating bracelets and necklaces which will bring harmony into your life.

14. Flo-Elle Watson - 1871 St. Ann Street (North Oak Bay) 250. 592.0832  In the creative hands of Flo-Elle, the centuries old tradition of China painting is given life.  A gift to yourself or another, each one is an original, permanent, non-toxic and functional piece of art.

15. Jill Alexander - 2032 Beach Drive 250.884.2405 www.jillalexanderart.com  Jill welcomes you to her studio to see her newest collection of West Coast inspired paintings.  She works with some unique techniques in soft pastel on archival sanded paper. 

16. Joanie McCorry - Showing at 1900 Bowker Place 250.294.1944 www.peridotulips.com  Visit Joanie to discover the new magic she has created via her three dimensional paper castings, collages and photos of Oak Bay and beyond.  New greeting cards on display.

16. Joan Turner - 1900 Bowker Place located in North Oak Bay 250.592.7757 www.madelainebythesea.com  Spring is the season of renewal. Joan is inspired to apaint the beauty of it - bright, joyful acrylics.  She welcomes you to come and visit.

17. Pat Martin Bates - Showing at "Eclectic" SUNDAY only 2170 Oak Bay Avenue 250.590.8095 www.electicgallery.ca  This one person show features her latest work plus signature pieces. Winner of Queen Elizabeth's Gold and Silver Jubilee Medals, artist Pat Martin Bates, touts international status renowned for original works of visual art perforated and illuminated, suggesting mystic passage.

18. Marion Evamy - 2033 Oak Bay Avenue 250.294.6864 www.marionevamy.com  "Freedom and verve!" Join in the apprciation of warm colours and new surroundings of this 'tour favourite artist' at her new space - Red Art Gallery.

19. Maryam Barker - 2226 Windsor Road located in South Oak Bay 250.370.0605 www.lampshade-art.com  Stunning selection of hand crafted Lampshade Art created by Maryam.  View a wonderful selection of carefully chosen works with various effects and beaded trim.

20. Paul Shepherd - 957 Byng Street located in South Oak Bay 250.592.8419 www.shep-art.com  Expressive acrylic landscapes, large and small, drawn from local scenery and rendered in the restrained shades of the coast.  Also a selection of paintings inspired by travels in Canada and abroad.

21. Caroline Hunter - 877 Island Road (South Oak Bay) 250.595.8658  An award winning artist, Caroline welcomes you to her home to view her watercolour and acrylic paintings and cards.

22. Karen Prager - 668 Falkland Road located in South Oak Bay 250.592.2282  Terra cotta provides the medium for my pursuit of figurative sculpture.  Each piece is an opportunity to embrace the endless variation of form and spirit in the human body.

This Oak Bay Map outlines the artists' location via the numbers.
I hope this is helpful for you, enjoy your Sunday and look for the Fall 2011 Oak Bay Artists' Tour.

I was raised in Oak Bay and have been licensed since 1990 (21 years). Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty, 1933 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC V8R 1C8. My direct number is 250.744.4556 or toll free at 1.800.550.0585 if I can help, be happy to. Victoria Market Update may be helpful if you are curious about Victoria Real Estate.  Please stay tuned for more Oak Bay updates. 

 

 

I just finished uploading this waterfront House for sale, 2832 Murray Drive, Victoria, BC

This amazing waterfront home is on Portage Inlet. Which feels like a get a way but is ten minutes from downtown Victoria. The photographs barely do it justice but they convey the ease and comfort of this wonderful sanctuary. Built in the 50's of solid old world construction. Generous lot ensures total privacy and yet is till very low maintenance. Separate two car garage. Spacious sundeck. Stairs to the dock. Improvements include gas furnace & fireplace, hot water tank, decks, concrete walks around entire home w/planters and so much more. This home is perfect for the water enthusiast and a kayak heaven with the waterway connecting to the Inner Harbor. This ideal location is not only private but quite and yet just minutes to the highway.

I just sold this House at 11262 Hedgerow Drive located in Lands End which is part of North Saanich, Victoria, BC

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales. 

 

I just sold this Penthouse Condominium at 304 2589 Penrhyn Street, Victoria, BC. Located in the Cadboro Bay area of Victoria.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

 

Victoria's Butchart Gardens Dec. 1 - Jan. 6, 2011

The Butchart Gardens is a wonderful place to enjoy during the Holiday Season.  It is a National Historic Site of Canada and has been in bloom over 100 years. My son and I toured 'The Magic of Christmas' for the first time this year.  It was very chilly the evening we went so we walked quickly through the gardens and noticed many activities one can enjoy while viewing the Christmas lights.  From December 1 - January 6, 2011.

Ice Skating at the Butchart Gardens. Enjoy 3,300 sq. ft. open air ice skating rink from 9am - 9 pm and Christmas Day 1pm - 9pm.
Skate times run on the hour and last for 40 minutes.  The rink capacity is fifty, so be sure to bring your friends.  Skate rentals are availalbe on a first come basis.  Helmet and writst guards are availalbe at no charge. (Visit the Inormation Centre for more details)

Traditional Carollers and Festive Brass performs nightly from 5pm - 9pm in the Piazza.

The Rose Carousell is open daily 9:30 am - 9:30 pm at $2.00 per ride.  Late opening on December 25th at 1:30pm.  Tokens may be purchased in the Children's Pavilion.

You can enjoy a decadent dinner with innovative dishes built around local Island-raised food at the Holiday Dining Room Restaurant.  Dinner is served 5pm - 8pm and on December 25th set menu 3pm - 8pm and reservations are recommended.  High Tea is served daily at 12pm - 3pm and on December 25th tea time is from 1pm - 1:30pm.  Also offered is The Blue Poppy Restaurant, a beautiful, poinsettia-filled restaurant perfect for families, offering children's favourites.  Cafeteria-style.  Dinner is served from 4pm - 8pm.  The Coffee Shop is open daily from 9am - 10pm and hot foods served from 11am - 3pm.

The Magic of Christmas Walk - Children, 12 years and under, will be given a list at the admission gate to identify each of the Christmas highlights displayed throughout The Gardens.  Upon presentation of their list at the Information Centre participants will receive a Christmas treat. To contact The Butchart Gardens the phone number is 250.652.5256 Toll free: 866.652.4422 or email them @butchartgardens.com

If you get a chance I highly recommend it, it was really fun and even if you don't I wish you the best of the Holiday Season!

Oak Bay Real Estate Update - December 2010

This next graph will show all the Condominiums sold year to date and current month of November in the Victoria and Oak Bay areas.

I just finished uploading this Penthouse Ocean View Condo for sale, 302 2589 Penrhyn Street, Victoria, BC

Beautifully located in Cadboro Bay - West Coast Modern Contemporary Architecture built by Award Winning CASA PROJECTS. A stunning seaside Penthouse condo features Panoramic Ocean and Park Views. Close by everything including University of Victoria (UVIC), Uplands and Henderson Golf Course, and The Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Separated Bedrooms, Over-Height Ceilings 9-14 ft, Hardwood Engineered Flooring, Full height custom detailed Cabinets to Ceiling with Brushed Nickel Handles and Soft-close Doors and Drawers, Quartz Slab Countertops with return to floor, Contemporary Under-Cabinet Recessed Puck Lighting, High-end Franke Brushed Nickel Gourmet Kitchen Recessed Faucet, Modern Glass Tile Backsplash, Breakfast Bar Accented with High-End Stylish Over-Counter Pendant Lights, Counter Mounted Soap Dispenser, Spa Inspired Bathrooms with Heated Porcelain Floors, Quartz Countertop and Backsplash with under-Mounted Square sink, Single Level Euro-Style Faucets, Ensuite offers Walk-in Shower with 10mm Frameless Glass, ceiling height Tile Surround, Dual Body Sprays, Rain Style Shower Heads and Double Sinks. Pets and Rentals allowed. New Home Warranty. Rainscreen Technology on the Exterior. Click to view a google map.

 

Royal LePage Shattered Records For Women's Shelter!

Sandra Diaz, Executive Director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation announced that last week at our National Sales Conference in Montreal we shattered all previous records to raise more than $145,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation!

Thank you to all of you that brought items last week to Montreal's Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Auction and those of you who contributed so generously and enthusiastically to help families across Canada!  Everything is helpful.  By helping others we are actually the ones getting the gift.  I know the Shelter feels that they are receiving the gift but I feel I am getting the gift. The fun and fundraising were contagious on the party trian, jet boat, scotch tastings, suite parties and the auctions.  Special thank you to our auctioneer extraordinaire, Kent Browne, and friends at the Royal LePage Team and Gale who raised $50,000. in their special inhouse contest and draw.

Half of Canadian women will experience abuse in their lifetime and 360,000. children are exposed to domestic violence each year.  Watch this short video to hear some real life experiences of how this is making a difference.

Since 1999, The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has donated more than $10 million to support women's shelters, violence prevention and education programs across Canada.  Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company with its own charity, empowers its sales representatives making a tangible difference on both local and national levels.  Here's how it works:  In every transaction I am involved in a portion of my fees are donated to The Womens Shelter for Victoria.  It's that simple and is obviously very effective. 

Let's face it,  we live in times that are complex and often can be very harsh.  I think all of us know someone, or have ourselves been involved in an abusive relationship at some point in our lives, whether it is someone taking your money from you, throwing furniture across the room while you are holding your baby on your hip or more slowly and insidiously taking control of your life by isolating you from your family and friends. Maybe it is all of those things.  Maybe it is being humiliated in front of your child by your boyfriend or spouse. Maybe it is rape or some other form of violence then escalating to murder.  Abuse comes in many forms.

No one should have to live with abuse - ever.  It takes an incredible amount of courage to step away and stay away from the abuser.  It can be done and must be done.  From that moment you are a different women and are changed forever. 

If you have any questions about the Womens Shelter or Victoria Real Estate please call me to discuss.  I am an experienced award winning REALTOR® licenced since 1990.  I look forward to hearing from you and until then please stay tuned for more updates or you can follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/brussell6 or call direct at 250.744.4556 and know that together we can make a difference.

                    

 

            

 

2010 Canada ranked No 3 as a favoured destination among Chinese tourists

 

 

Chinese international travellers, especially those travelling long distance are not travelling for their personal enjoyment. More important are trips with a major purpose of business, education or Visiting Friends and Relatives.

 

But even the “leisure” trips to Europe, Australia, North America or Africa are not performed by “holiday makers”. To have a good time with decent food and people who understand the Chinese language and culture is easier, cheaper and more convenient to get within the “Chinese world” of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Intercontinental travel is first of all for prestige and status, for the traveller him/herself and for China as a whole, demonstrating Soft Power by the number of Chinese who can afford to go abroad.

 

Having prestige and status is not just vanity, but a necessary precondition to be a successful member of the in-groups of the different part of the Chinese upper class. Accumulation of social and cultural capital is needed especially in a group-orientated society with only weakly established rule of law.

 

For western leisure tourists, to economize on travel expenses is a private decision, for affluent Chinese it would be a sign of weakness to the surrounding society. An economic downturn might hurt the sales of Rolls Royce in China, but a few thousand dollars for an international trip will still be seen as a necessary and affordable investment.

 

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Hong Kong Report

 

China's leading online travel service said the country's tourism industry is booming, and it expects a 50 per cent jump in mainland customers travelling to Hong Kong this year.

That will come as good news for Hong Kong, whose tourism industry is powered by the millions of visitors who cross the border each year.

 

China's top online travel service Ctrip.com and Hong Kong beauty products retailer Bonjour, have joined hands to promote tourism on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

The two firms are launching a joint VIP card with special deals for cardholders travelling around China, Hong Kong and Macau.

 

After a pick-up in 2009, Ctrip.com said tourism business is booming, especially with customers travelling to Hong Kong.

 

Tang Lan, VP of Sales & Marketing at Ctrip.com said: "Now we are the number one travel agency for mainland China travellers going to Hong Kong. And the number in 2008 was about 90,000. And 2009, it reached 150,000."

 

    

 

Ctrip.com expects to see a 50 per cent jump this year in mainland customers travelling to Hong Kong. Mainland visitors are a key driver of Hong Kong's tourism industry. An estimated 17 million of them flock across the border each year.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-grown Bonjour has seen sales jump by 33 per cent in the first half of the year.

 

And with a growing number of Mainland Chinese tourists in Hong Kong, it is keeping positive on its sales outlook.

 

"Up to now, (sales) is about 35 per cent. We expect the percentage will increase to about 50 per cent in the next few years," said Alan Chan, executive director of Bonjour.

In the first half of this year, more than 10 million mainland tourists visited Hong Kong, an increase of 23 per cent compared to a year ago.

 

They all want to see Niagara falls

 

Top 10 Canadian Attractions

 

1.     The Canadian Rockies

2.     Niagara Falls

3.     Pacific Rim National Park

4.     Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia)

5.     Baffin Island (Oikiqtaaluk)

6.     Vancouver/Victoria

7.     The Prairies

8.     The Rocky Mountaineer

9.     Old Québec City

10. Bay of Fundy

President: James McNaught, MBA, MTH

Catherine Yan Xu, B.Sc., Dip. Int'l Trade

Nancy Rajabian, BSN, MSC, PHD, ABMPP

Brenda Russell, REALTOR®

Sarah Yan Ping Gu, MA

Jane Wang, MBA

Mandy Li, MA

PacWest International Management Inc
Government and Corporate Development
America-Canada-England-Switzerland-China
Since 1985

Canada now ranks third as the most popular tourist destination among Chinese looking to travel abroad.

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  PacWest International Management Inc

Forty years of International Expertise

Twenty years in China

   By Referral Only

Canada-United States-China-Europe

Corporate and Government Consultants

 

Hotel Development-Real Estate-Natural Resources-Tourism

Economic Development-University Programs-Health Care

 

James McNaught MBA, MTH President

Nancy Rajabian, BSN, MSC, PHD, ABMPP, Vice-President

 Canada 604-779-0028

pacwest@consultant.com

PacWest International Real Estate Referral Division

Canada-United States-China-Europe

International Executive Director

English – Mandarin - Cantonese

Catherine Esther Yan Xu, B.Sc.Dip.Int'l Trade

Cell: 778-839-1126

catherine.xu@consultant.com

PacWest Victoria B.C. Real Estate Representative

Brenda Russell, Royal Le Page

brenda@brendarussell.ca

Cell: 250.744.4556

www,brendarussell.ca

PacWest Vancouver Mortgage Representative

Sarah Yanping Gu, MA

Dominion Lending Centres

Smartymortgage

Cell: 604-506-7210

sgu@smartymortgage.com

www.sweethomeloan.com

 PacWest Hotel Development and Consulting Division

The People’s Republic of China and Canada

李  萌
Mandy Li ,MA
北京分公司总经理
General Manager Beijing
华美酒店顾问公司
Hotel Solution Consultant
Cell: 13901336409

Oak Bay's Blethering Place Collector Car Festival 2010

Oak Bay Avenue was closed to regular traffic today from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm to display about 300 collector cars ranging from the earliest, hot rods, english, muscle, and classic...all sorts of eras.  It was about 32 degrees of hot sun today and that didn't stop the crowd from showing up to enjoy the cars, hearing the stories and history of the cars from the owners, listening to the entertainment, participating in the raffles and prizes.  This has turned out to be an annual event so if you missed it, come next year.  The Blethering Place Tea Room and Restaurant is located at 2250 Oak Bay Avenue. On the corner of Monterey Avenue 250.598.1314  or toll free at 1.888.598.1413 to reach them direct.  The Blethering Place is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 8am-9pm.  It is about a 10 minutes drive from Downtown Victoria.

The majority of the cars come from local enthusiasts but some came from up island, mainland BC and the United States .  Attached are a few samplings of collector cars I took a photo of today, which I hope you enjoy if you missed today's Oak Bay event.