Havelock Enterprises - The Education Specialists

The Homestay Association is NOT a traditional homestay company. A number of ESL schools got together in 1997 and spoke about creating an organisation to assist the schools in working more closely together. We originally charged a nominal fee to our member schools but have since dropped that fee and now provide our services, which are mostly free of charge, to each ESL and homestay programme on the island.

One of the services that we have been providing over the past years is homestay referral: we will gladly refer quality families to each of the homestay companies in town.

We will also provide emergency homestay: if you need to place a student in a hurry and your first rate families are unavailable, call us - we can help! If we don’t have someone readily available, one of our associated homestay companies will.

We offer special rates at local activities. When planning your outing and / or school curriculum, how would you like to save a significant amount of money? Look through the Programmers’ Guide and the advertisements in this newsletter to see what our sponsors have to offer. You can call us anytime to find out what coupons or deals we can offer you from our sponsors. We regularly have new discounts or coupons. Whether you are a student, host family, school programmer, homestay co-ordinator or anyone else for that matter, we welcome your requests for discount rates from our supporters or even an updated list of our sponsors as their numbers grow everyday.

We sponsor special events for staff and students alike. In the past we sponsored a fantastic High tea at the Blethering Place and a Christmas Light Tour from Wilson’s Transportation for the students from different schools. We are currently discussing the possibility of sponsoring the next meeting of the BC Homestay Association and are working on a ‘fam’ tour for the schools.

We work to help everyone in the international education business through networking. Our events, services and special deals often provide opportunities for students, staff and families from the different programmes to meet one another.

We produce a number of interesting publications. This newsletter often contains interesting tips for families and students. It also has many coupons and important advertisements. The Programmers’ Guide delineates our sponsors and the services that they have to offer. As our association has become quite popular, we thought this was the best way to make known the many businesses that are willing to offer special deals to the international education community. For more information, please view our web site (www.havelock-viha.com) or call our Victoria office (382 2055).

A number of people have mentioned to us the need for a QUALITY horse stable that is able to accommodate large and small groups. WE FOUND ONE! FINALLY! Stables provide a first rate experience for the students. Lessons and can be a lot of fun if they are run properly. There is a new, very large stable now on Central Saanich Road.

Westside Stables has great new facilities that can easily accommodate a large number of people and provide interesting things for students to do while awaiting their turn to ride.

HISTORIC ARTICLES:

These articles are taken from The Vancouver Daily Province, Friday, November 27, 1942.

BOYHOOD DAYS OF COLUMBUS.

Playing Cards have been defined as "oblong pieces of cardboard bearing certain spots and figures which are used in games of chance."

Those words give a small idea about playing cards, but they fail to tell the full story. There is much more to cards, and they have spread sorrow as well as pleasure through the world. The sorrow has come as a result of gambling. Cards can be played without gambling, and in that case they may be used to pass spare hours pleasantly.

Looking back into history, we find that the early records are far from clear. A Swiss Monk made a note about a card game played in Switzerland in 1377, and people in Italy played cards before that. It has been suggested that the game first arose in China or India, but this has not been proved.

The early playing cards in Europe were different from those which are standard today. Some decks were printed with Carnations, Hares, Columbines and Bells as the suits, instead of Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs. People spoke of "the Ace of Carnations" and "the Knave of Hares."

Other early cards had suits of Cups, Money, Clubs and Swords. Still others had Hearts, Bells, Leaves and Acorns.

When Christopher Columbus was a boy, people in Venice, Italy, played with a deck of 78 cards. Of these, 56 were numbered and the rest had pictures or designs on the face. The Italian decks included "court cards" with kings, queens, chevaliers and valets printed on them.

As the game spread through Europe, the decks were changed in size, and the pictures were altered from time to time. The Spaniards left out the queens, but kept the kings chevaliers and valets. The French, on the other hand, left out the chevaliers and kept the rest. The valets later turned into "knaves" or "jacks."

Frenchmen made other changes in card suits, and so did the English. One change turned the "Money" suit into "Diamonds." Today the common deck has 52 cards.

Many stories might be told of losses which have been suffered through gambling with cards. When a loss takes money from a family which needs it, we have proof that such gambling is bad.

-from Uncle Ray’s Column

RECTOR LOSES GREEN MOUSE

HURSTMONCEAUX, SUSSEX, ENGLAND, NOV. 27, 1942 - AP)- Through sun and storm, peace and war, Rev. Francis Rosslyn Bruce always wanted to breed a green mouse.

Fifty generations of mice contributed to his experiment. When he finally developed the green mouse - just one - his satisfaction was complete. The rector of Hurstmonceaux would take it easy from then on.

Then his talent, unsurpassed in the world in the fascinating profession of breeding fine mice, turned against him. For some time he had been toying with a breed of pink rats. One morning when he went to call on his green mouse, he found a pink rat in the case.

Someone had made a mistake, had exposed the precious green mouse to the pink rat. The green mouse was no more.

So today the disconsolate rector is back in the harness, pursuing again the lost secret of his greatest triumph - the green mouse.

Recipe of the Issue: Special Popovers

Makes 2 Popovers

Here is a wonderful recipe for popovers. We tried them not too long ago. They were wonderful. I still am not sure what makes them popovers instead of Yorkshire puddings.

ingredients:

1/3 cup of skim milk;

1 egg;

1 1/2 teaspoons of instant minced onion, reconstituted in 2 tablespoons warm water;

1 teaspoon vegetable oil;

1/8 teaspoons of salt;

1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour.

instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400* F. Spray two 6-ounce custard cups with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a small mixing bowl combine all ingredients except flour; add flour and, using electric mixer, beat until blended. Divide mixture into sprayed cups; place cups on baking sheet and bake until firm and golden brown, 40 - 45 minutes.

Serve warm.

QUALITY THINGS TO DO:

Before leaving Victoria, every visitor should visit the Imax theatre and experience whale-watching. How would you like to do both of these activities in conjunction and save a lot of money? You can watch the Imax film Whales and then go and see some real whales! Right now you can do both for only $48.00. Also showing at the Imax in this season are Blue Planet, Journey into Amazing Caves and Alaska. The Mysteries of Egypt returns in November. Teachers’ Guides are available for most of these shows. There are also special educators’ screenings that you won’t want to miss. For more information you can either call us at the Association or you can contact the Imax Theatre directly by phone (480 4887) or by e-mail (catherines@imaxvictoria.com).

Are you a baseball fan? Would you like to see a professional baseball game? Wilson’s Transportation has a deal for you. You can see the Seattle Mariners play the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on September 16th. How about football? Are you a fan? If so, we have a chance for you to see the Seahawks play the Kansas City Chiefs on September 16th or the Philadelphia Eagles on September 23rd. For more information please call Wilson’s transportation at (250) 475 2911.

Craigdarroch Castle announces its upcoming fall production of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, adapted for stage by Giggling Iquana Productions. This was SOLD OUT last year!

The play is staged using the Castle's exterior and interior as the backdrop for the unfolding drama of the Usher household--the mental deterioration of the Master Roderick, the physical failing of the Mistress Madelaine, the machinations of the evil family Doctor and the growing horror of the intrepid Narrator. Audiences will be ushered (pun intended) through a walking tour of the four floors of the Castle as scenes of Poe's classic work unfold around them. See www.craigdarrochcastle.com

You also don’t want ot miss dinner and a show at the Chemainus Theatre. Barefoot in the Park runs until November 3rd. During the Christmas season, after November 16th, you can see It’s a Wonderful Life. Call 1 800 565 7738 for more information.

CANADIAN TRIVIA

1. Who was Canada’s First Prime Minister?

2. What is our National sport?

3. Which lady is famous for warning Canadians of an impending 19th Century American invasion?

4. For what discovery are Banting and Best famous?

5. Name the political parties who have held seats in the Canadian Senate.

ANSWERS

1. Sir John A. MacDonald

2. Lacrosse

3. Laura Secord

4. Penicillin (Banting also invented the ejection seat and ironically died in a plane crash)

5. Liberal, Conservative, Progressive Conservative, Reform / Alliance (Pat Carney).