Opening on October 9, 2003 and running until January 4, 2004 at the Royal BC Museum, Victoria, is a travelling exhibit titled Brewer's Gold: A History of the Hop Industry in British Columiba. As part of the exhibit, three evening events are scheduled for October 15, 30 and November 13. Tickets for these evening events can be purchased at the Museum between 9 am and 8 pm any day of the week.

On Saturday, October 4, come join the the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition on a fun and informative historical bicycle tour of Victoria. The tour starts at 10:00 AM at the Moka House Caf? (345 Cook Street) and follows a 13 km route which will include stops at Ross Bay Cemetery, Beacon Hill Park, the Parliament Buildings, Chinatown, and Point Ellice House. Bill Huot, the former Senior Policy Analyst with the BC Government's Heritage Branch, will provide historical interpretation along the route. The tour ends at Craigflower Manor, with participants having the option of lunch afterwards. There is no cost to participate in the tour, but lunch is extra. Cyclists of all abilities are welcome. Riding a heritage bicycle or dressing in period costume is optional. The tour will be held rain or shine. For more information or to register, please contact Darren Marr at 380-0768.

Margaret Macpherson, author of a new biography on Neillie McClung (XYZ Publishing), will sign copies of her book at the Royal BC Museum Shop, 675 Belleville, Victoria, from 1 to 3 pm, on October 1, 2003. This event is in celebration of Canadian Women's History Month.

Congratulations to Victoria author and archivist Kathryn Bridge for winning honourable mention in the 2003 VanCity Book Prize for Phyllis Munday: Mountaineer (XYZ Publishing, April 2003). Source: BC BookWorld, Autumn 2003.

On September 8, 2003, the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation, based in Victoria, BC, received new funding for its First Voices Online project to digitize Aboriginal language learning resources. The Hon. Sheila Copps, Department of Canadian Heritage Minister, committed $774,000 to the foundation for its Internet-based archive.