Sunday, December 17th was the day the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit held its first annual Christmas Open House, welcoming almost 700 members of the Cowichan Community to tour the facility and revel in the Spirit of Christmas!
Many of our younger attendees enjoyed telling Santa their secrets and sharing their hopes of what will be under the Christmas tree on that special day. Mrs Claus was there also to provide hugs and Hot Wheels kiddy toys to some very good children (aren’t they all good children in the Cowichan Valley?). Many also left with a very special photo memento capturing their visit with Santa.
Over 200 of our attendees were passengers in a circuit taxi, enjoying two laps around the circuit driven by a professional driver in one of our professional circuit vehicles. We also had go-karts for the younger folks, which was very popular.
Our staff prepared home-baked Christmas cookies and butter tarts (over 1500), and ladled out hundreds of cups of steaming hot chocolate and mulled cider. Averill Creek Vineyards was on hand to provide samples of their delicious award-winning wines.
The Jam Factory Band, Bob and Leon, got everyone into the Christmas spirit with their Christmas Carols, and the dulcet tones of our carolers from the Duncan Choral Society warmed everyone’s hearts.
The Salvation Army Kettle was on hand, and the community demonstrated their incredible generosity by providing $1,286. The Circuit is proud to match that donation and our staff will continue to man the Kettles at Canadian Tire until a few days before Christmas.
The Circuit wishes to thank our community partners and local suppliers for helping us welcome neighbours and friends to our Christmas Open House.
They included:
- Averill Creek Vineyard
- BC Forest Discovery Centre
- Cowichan Capitals Hockey Team
- The Salvation Army
- Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce
- Cowichan Lake Chamber of Commerce
- Tourism Cowichan
- Print Craft
- NK Photography
- Jam Factory Band
- The Cowichan Valley Drifters
- The Duncan Wildcats
- Alan and Allison Crisp
- The Duncan Choral Society
- The Duncan Market
- Merit Home Furniture
- The Cowichan Valley Citizen and the Lake Cowichan Gazette