BC Islands Mensa
Website for Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Members
Regular Events

Wednesday Lunches
This event occurs every Wednesday at a specified location For details see the Announcements page under the Upcoming Events heading.
Movie Nights
Some volunteer member organizes attendance at a movie for members.
GAMES NIGHT
Members gather at a member’s residence for an evening of fun and games. Volunteer organizer wanted.

TGIF
This event happens every Friday, members and guests meet at a designated restaurant and time for an evening meal.
Potluck
Members and guests gather at a the residence of the Hosting member for a potluck dinner and games/conversations.
Explore the World of Mensa
There are two ways to join Mensa:
- Take a supervised entrance test.
- Provide evidence of eligibility. Details at : mensa.ca/join/ Contact us for more info.
Upcoming events
Victoria Region TGIF
December ‘23 TGIFs
Every Friday
18:00 – 20:00
at
Purple Gardens
#138 – 1551 Cedar Hill + Rd
250-477-8866
Extensive [all you can eat] Chinese Buffet
Ample underground parking
Senior Discount
Quiet enough for conversation
Nov. Wed. Lunch
Chew & Chat
Will be at the White Spot
3965 Quadra St, Saanich
[nr. Mackenzie]
Third Sunday PotLuck, Nov.
This month ‘s potluck is on, Nov. 26th the 4 th Sunday. Joe Seewald is the host. Arrive any time after 5 pm. Potluck dinner at 6 pm. Please RSVP before 25 th Nov. Phone 250-709-2831 or email seewald.joe@gmail.com;
Address: 29 Saanich Ridge Dr Saanichton, BC
Directions: Take the Qwus Chus exit, [off the Pat Bay Hwy] just north of the Saanich Heritage Museum. If coming from Sidney, come in from Mount Newton X Rd, then turn right on Tetayut.
Please note since Qwus Chus is a one-way road all must depart via Mount Newton X Rd.

- Weather depending, we will meet at the Mafeo-Sutton parking lot, by the Welcome Pole, @ 10 AM.
- We’ll stroll the park and waterfront – bring your cameras! -and see the sights, including the historic Bastion.
- Hopefully, the Protection Island ferry will be running, and for those interested, we can take the ferry to the Dinghy Dock Pub for lunch. Details are here.
- The park is very family and kid-friendly – there’s a wonderful playground – feel free to hike and bike about!
- Dress for the weather – it will be cool the last week of November – 🤞 for sunny skies! (If it’s really bad, I’ll send out a postponement notice, and we’ll rebook for the spring.)
- If you need to carpool and don’t know an attending M, please contact me, (jjpugh57@gmail.com), and I’ll do my best to connect you with a ride from another M.
- Please confirm by email only if you are attending, thanks.
- Any questions? – please give me an email or a call (204-881-0089)
Victoria Region TGIF
November ‘23 TGIFs
Every Friday
18:00 – 20:00
at
Purple Gardens
#138 – 1551 Cedar Hill + Rd
250-477-8866
Extensive [all you can eat] Chinese Buffet
Ample underground parking
Senior Discount
Quiet enough for conversation
We will be having a Mid Island Mensa Experience (MIME) at the Courtenay Museum & Paleontology Centre on Saturday, October 21st.
All are welcome – please join us and visit with your Island Ms!
(This is a no-cost event, unless you book a museum fossil tour – see below.)
Details:
The museum offers two fossil tours: 9 AM (before museum opening); and 1 PM.
The museum fossil tours need to be booked and paid for in advance: $40 + tax for adults; $30 + tax for kids over 4 (there are family rates as well- please see link above).
Those who want museum fossil tours need to book themselves for their preferred time.
The museum opens @ 10 AM – entrance by donation.
I suggest that we connect at the museum for an indoor visit @ noon – those who have taken the early museum fossil tour will have returned by noon and can join up for a museum tour; or you could take a museum tour @ noon, followed by a museum fossil tour @ 1 PM.
In either case, we could meet for a coffee/lunch before noon across from the museum at the Gladstone Brewing Co., or the Early Bird Cafe a block away, at 4th St & Duncan, if that interests you. Please let me know your preference, and we’ll go with the majority choice.
Also, Charlotte, who is from Courtenay, very familiar with the area and quite the naturalist, is offering a walkabout that includes fossils and forests!
There’s plenty of flexibility, and you are welcome to choose what best suits you – you may arrive and leave whenever you like.
- Dress for the weather – it may be cool this week in October –
for sunny skies!
- If you need to carpool and don’t know an attending M, please contact me, (jjpugh57@gmail.com), and I’ll do my best to connect you with a ride from another M.
Confirmation of your attendance is appreciated for numbers – please let me know by email. (I don’t need to know if you’re not attending, thanks.)
Any questions? – please give me an email or a call (204-881-0089)
(And – any ideas for a MIME in November? We’ll pause for December, and begin again in January.)
Hope to see you soon in Courtenay!
Jeffery Pugh
- We have booked Group Picnic Area S1-Picnic Shelter (see Group Sites & Picnic Shelters map here🙂
- Directions to Rathtrevor PP here:
- It’s a potluck event – bring your own food and (non-alcoholic) beverages; (smoking/vaping is prohibited, as is alcohol consumption.)
- If you want to grill, please bring your own bbq and propane – there are no cooking facilities at the Group Picnic Shelters.
- Games and activities are welcome, and the beach is nearby – very family and kid-friendly – feel free to hike and bike about!
- Dress for the weather – it may be cool the last week of September – 🤞 for sunny skies!
- If you need to carpool and don’t know an attending M, please contact me, (jjpugh57@gmail.com), and I’ll do my best to connect you with a ride from another M.
- Confirmation of your attendance is appreciated for numbers – please let me know by email.
- Any questions? – please give me an email or a call (204-881-0089)
The Second BC Islands Mensa Picnic (pending site confirmation).
The event will be held on the 6th August 3:30 to 7:30 pm at Gyro Park. Free hamburgers, hot-dogs and soft-drinks will be provided but attendees are encouraged to bring extra food to share.
Third Sunday Potluck July 16th 6 pm.
Mary Freeman is hosting this month’s Potluck. All Members welcome. Mary’s address is 9-909 Carolwood Drive, Saanich, BC.

