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The Volunteers of the PNC organize a variety of activities. There is something for everyone. Browse the list, you are sure to find something of interest. If you have any questions or want to start your own group, you can contact pnc87.activities@gmail.com
American Mahjong
American Mah Jongg (or mahjong) is a variant of the Chinese game mahjong. It follows the National Mah Jongg League rules.
We welcome experienced players that have knowledge of the game. The game uses racks to hold each player's tiles, jokers and 'Hands and Rules' score cards. The card describes the winning combinations of tiles. The goal of the game is to match your tiles with one of these combinations.
Artist Discovery Group
Our beautiful corner of the world boasts many fabulous artists, both professional and amateur who work with a variety of medium, so let’s discover them together.
A weekly visit to the ArtSea Gallery every Monday at 10:30am where we will meet with the various wonderful artists showing their work after which we could go for coffee at a local coffee shop to get to know one another and discuss our mutual interest in art.
In addition, we will occasionally visit with a specific artist at local galleries or their studio. We will also strive to keep you informed about the many art shows and studio tour weekends on the Peninsula and surrounding communities.
Book Club
“Into a world of words, I tread anew
A bookclub’s embrace, where stories brew
With strangers at first, but soon to be friends
In the realm of pages, our journey extends.”
Would you like to build community and make connections through reading and conversation? PNC book clubs offer the opportunity to get together in small groups where new chapters await.
Joining a book club will be slightly different than other activities. The sign up process will be overseen by a Convenor that will place a member in an existing group if there is space or facilitate the start of a new group. Groups may be organized depending on preferences for fiction/nonfiction, time of day/evening location etc. Visit our Members/Activities/Book Clubs page for contact information.
Butchart Gardens Walking Group
The Butchart Gardens offers 55 acres of spectacular floral display. Join us to walk and explore the four seasons, from spring with its thousands of flowering bulbs to summer with its beautiful hanging baskets and Rose Garden. Then there is the autumn when the leaves on the trees turn an incredible red, orange and gold. In winter the trees and shrubs are showcased as well as access to historical documents and an indoor tropical garden. A 12 month pass is recommended which gives you 10% discount on food, gifts and tickets for friends. Two visits pay for an annual pass. This group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00am. Please wear your name tags.
Couples Connecting
This group invites members and their spouses or significant others to participate in a variety of activities throughout the year. Examples of activities may include a walk in a park followed by a picnic, mini-golf, bowling, a scavenger hunt, a Christmas party... The list can be as varied as the interests of the group. Members are encouraged to suggest ideas for any activities they would like to see included.
NOTE: The convenor of this activity is travelling in September. She will email the group members when she returns.
Evening Supper Group
This is a casual evening out at a restaurant with the focus primarily on friendship and chatting, rather than the food. The venues are yet to be decided, but it is envisaged that it will probably be a few regular alternating restaurants. The group would meet once a month on a Wednesday evening. Those who are interested should sign up and the Convenor Lisa will be in touch.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
This Group meets 3 or 4 times a year. Enjoy a dinner with PNC members and partners and leave with new friends! The convenor of the group will send out a SAVE THE DATE email to members of the group several weeks before the selected date. Then, about 2 weeks before the dinner, you'll get the chance to sign up to be a host or be a guest. For each dinner, the host provides the main and the guests complete the meal, bringing an appie, a salad or a dessert, as assigned by the convenor.
NOTE: The convenor of this activity is travelling in September. She will email the group members when she returns.
Monday Morning Hiking
Every Monday from September to June a “fitness based" hike on nature trails in the parks, hills and mountains of Southern Vancouver Island, takes place from 9am for approximately 1.5 - 2.5 hours. The hikes vary in length and level of difficulty, although they are typically moderate. This group is run on member participation. A sign-up sheet is circulated each week giving members an opportunity to lead the group on their favourite hikes. Members new to the area will have the opportunity to pre-hike the trails with returning members
Movie Club
Want to watch a movie and have a lively discussion about it? This group meets once a month. Members will be notified via email prior to the event with details of the movie and venue. Members of the group are asked to recommend a movie/documentary for our future meetings, prepare the questions and lead the discussion with regard to the movie. Unless otherwise notified, members are requested to watch the movie independently prior to the meeting. However, members may wish to recommend a movie showing at a local cinema.
Non-Fiction Book Club
This is a bit of a different format for a book club. Rather than all reading the same book each member reads a book of their choice each month and then comes prepared to discuss, explore the impact of the book and what they learned from it. In this group last year we found that this format led to some fascinating and timely discussions. Limited to 14 people for now to have either in-person or Zoom meeting.
PALS has been organized to maintain past connections and facilitate new ones, primarily among graduates of the Peninsula Newcomers Club. All graduates, former and current members of the Peninsula Newcomers Club are eligible to join PALS. There is no membership fee. Members receive a description of the group ( including information on joining, transferring or starting an activity), a membership list, and a current activity list with convener contact information. If you wish to be included on the PALS membership list, and/or join a PALS activity, please send a request to newcomerpals@gmail.com
Pub Night
To receive information about the Pub Night join our Facebook group (you must be a member of the PNC to be accepted into the Facebook Group).
Quilters Plus
We’re excited to announce that our quilting group has expanded to welcome all crafters—quilters, knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, and more! Our meeting space is a large, bright room in a local church hall, complete with an elevator for easy access. The space includes plenty of long tables, chairs, and outlets for everyone. Whether you’re working on a project or just want to bring a book to read, we’d love for you to join us. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.at Peace Lutheran Church, 2295 Weiler Avenue, Sidney
Special Events
Sign up for this group if you like adventures, surprises and trying new fun things. Examples of our activities include; Tall Ship Sailing, Mini Golf, Paint Nights, Fashion Show, Line Dancing, Hawaii Luau, Christmas High Tea, Floral Arranging, Theme Movie events like “Devil Wears Prada II”, Happy Hours Around Town. Some of our excursions include Picnicing, light hiking, swimming and games at the Sidney Spit, Malahat Skywalking, Parksville Beach Strolls and Sand Sculpture viewing, Shopping in Vancouver, Chemanius Murals & Ice cream, Granville Island Market Going and St. Ann’s Academy Tour among others. To get notified of our upcoming special events, please sign up for this group and you’ll get an email notification.
Travel Inspirations
Do you love to travel? Would you be interested in sharing your travel experiences in an informative way with other PNC members? This new activity is an evening with logistics similar to the ever popular Wine and Appies. Club members share their travel adventures with invaluable information on itineraries, lessons learned, timing and not to be missed experiences. Group members must be willing to present their experiences and host an evening event. The premiere event will be held in July 2025 with a full launch of monthly get togethers beginning in September 2025.
Tuesday Trekkers
We meet on Tuesdays @ 1:30 p.m. This is a hiking group that will undertake mostly moderate walks with an occasional challenging one. The length of the walk/hike is usually between 1-1 1/2 hours. Our main objectives are to get outside, enjoy nature, meet people and get some exercise. We're looking for suggestions on walks and hikes - there are so many in the area and we’d love to hear of more places to go..
Volunteer With the PNC
Are you looking for a way to help out the Club, learn something new and make new friends? You've come to the right place!
We are looking for people who can lend a little time or skill to the occasional job that comes up. Whilst some can be done solo, most work on the 'buddy' system - much more fun! Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Hand delivering our flyers and business cards to local businesses;
- Buddying up with someone to collect door prizes from local businesses;
- Helping a fellow club member explain how the website works and, for example, showing a member how to upload their avatar, ie technical assistance;
- Running an occasional errand;
- Meet and greet new members at luncheons and answering questions they may have about the Club; or
- Baking for a our spring or fall open houses
If so, sign up by selecting this Activity Group in your profile to receive notices!
Volunteering in the Community
On the Sidney By the Sea website there is a page dedicated to volunteer opportunities around the Saanich Peninsula.
Other opportunities:
Friends of the Environment Foundation
Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation provides information about the services offered at the hospital. Volunteers are often needed and they have amazing community events.
Visit our community page on the PNC website for more opportunities.
Wednesday Waterfront Walkers
The walkers meet at the same place, at the rainbow crosswalk by the
bandshell every Wednesday at 9:30. Any member wishing to join this group should turn up at the start of the walk. No notifications are sent out.
If you have any questions, contact Janet at jcfast1957@gmail.com
Welcome Committee
Calling all members, looking for volunteers! With the popularity of our club, this year we discovered that welcoming newcomers took a team of people.
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Do you have a home large enough to host 12-15 people indoors or outdoors for our Welcome Teas?
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Do you have a recipe for cookies or tarts or squares that you would like to bake and share at our Welcome Teas each month?
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Do you have an eye for décor and table settings and would be willing to continue helping make our luncheons a beautiful event?
Wine and Appies
Meet and mingle with PNC members and couples. Generally the first Friday of every month two or three Hosts open their homes to an evening of Wine and Appies . Everyone contributes by bringing a plated appetizer and a bottle of wine (or preferred beverage for personal consumption) to the designated Host’s home. A nice way to get to know members and their spouses!