Mezzanine Gallery and Reception Walls
Andrea Simmonds
About the Artwork / Artist:
"Herbarium" This show is inspired by plants and will focus on local ecology, native species and invasive species and the tension between them. It will be an interpretation of the positive impacts of restoration and a study on current plant life and their populations in the Saanich area.
Andrea Simmonds is a painter who focuses on local ecology to inform her practice. Using fieldwork, reference guides, 
and experience, she explores the intersection
of ecology and abstraction. She studies plant relationships with complementary species and interprets this into paintings. Much of her work is focused on the Garry oak ecosystem, capturing some of the rare and unique plants it encompasses.
Website
Instagram
Upper Gallery Wall
Sia Xia
About the Artwork / Artist:
This exhibition began in 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It started as a quiet creative routine between mother and child—practicing ink calligraphy and painting simple scenes on rice paper. Over time, our work shifted from soft ink tones to bright, colorful oil pastels, reflecting a journey from fear to joy, from stillness to growth. We are not professional artists, but through these moments, we found healing, connection, and strength. These works tell the story of change—not just in the world, but within us. This is not about perfect art. It is about being alive and growing together.
We are two people who love life, and who have lived slowly and deeply on Vancouver Island. Our journey with art began in 2020, during the first quiet months of the pandemic. What started as a way to pass time together
- a mother and her child painting
side by side - became a ritual of connection, healing, and growth. Through ink, brush, and later oil pastel, we expressed not skill but feeling. Our work traces the seasons of parenting, immigration, and rediscovering the self. We believe
that everyone who pays attention to life is already an artist. This exhibition invites others not to judge, but to see. To see how ordinary days, when looked at with care, can become extraordinary.
Window Gallery
Victoria Quilters Guild
About the Artwork / Artists:
Victoria Quilters’ Guild members, here on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, vary from traditional hand quilters to fabric artists. Our mandate is to promote and encourage interest in the art of quilting through dissemination of related information; to work together in harmony with mutual respect; and to continue the education of ourselves and the public in the art of quilting.
Website
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Accessibility: Accessible washrooms, Wheelchair access on main and second floor, and disabled parking stalls. Limited access to mezzanine and upper gallery spaces
For inquiries related to exhibitions, please contact Shantael Sleight at shantael.sleight@saanich.ca or call 778-584-3756.