David Zimmerman, a professor of military history at UVic, will talk about how technological failures can explain the conduct of military operations during the Second World War. (Courtesy of David Zimmerman LinkedIn)
With the dawn of a new year and the holiday season winding down, many communities find January a quieter and darker time of the year.
But not in Sidney.
The town is kicking off 2026 with a full lineup of engaging events and activities, making January an exciting month for residents and visitors alike.
Island Song Winter Choir Concert – Glorious & Free
Island Song, a non-auditioned women’s pop choir on the Saanich Peninsula, presents its winter concert, Glorious & Free.
It celebrates Canada’s musical heritage with in-house arrangements of homegrown songs from coast to coast.
Island Song is a non-audition pop choir where self-identified women, non-binary, and two-spirit individuals can sing for a hobby.
The choir sings pop, folk, and other contemporary genres, with songs arranged by the community for the community.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.
More information and tickets are available on their website: islandsongchoir.ca/season-14-fall-2025/season-14-concert.
Scientists in Residence
The community is invited to join scientist-in-residence Dr. Sophia Johannessen for a free illustrated talk called Science at the Bottom of the World: The Canadian Antarctic Research Expedition 2025 on Jan. 20, from 2-3 p.m.
Last year, 15 Canadian scientists, including Johannessen, spent a month in Antarctica on the Canadian navy ship HMCS Margaret Brooke.
The expedition focused on science diplomacy and investigating the effects of climate change on Antarctic coastal waters.
Johannessen is a geochemical oceanographer at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Institute of Ocean Sciences in North Saanich.
Her research focuses on the impacts of climate change and human activities on coastal oceans. Her work includes studies of productivity changes in the Salish Sea and the potential for blue carbon storage in seagrass meadows. While she primarily works in British Columbia’s coastal waters, she has also conducted research in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
The Fretless at the Mary Winspear Centre
Music lovers can also look forward to The Fretless performing on Jan. 22 as part of the Mary Winspear Centre Presenters Series.
The award-winning Canadian quartet is touring in support of their sixth album, Glasswing, which represents a decade-long journey of developing their singular sound.
Known internationally for their masterful compositions, iconic collaborations, and live performances, The Fretless continues to expand the boundaries of what a string quartet can be.
Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 7:30. Tickets are $40.
20th Annual Lego Brick Exhibition
The Sidney Museum and Archives is bringing back its popular Lego Brick Exhibition, celebrating 20 years of creativity and community connection. Admission is by donation
The exhibition opened on Dec. 20 and is running until April 6. It showcases both brand-new and repeating Lego sets from Star Wars and Batman to architecture, florals, and vehicles alongside interactive activities like scavenger hunts and a “Guess the Number of Bricks” challenge.
Community members are invited to submit their own original Lego creations for display as part of the Community Creations exhibit.
Visit the Sidney Museum and Archives at 2423 Beacon Ave. or learn more at sidneymuseum.ca.
BC Aviation Museum – January Speaker Night
The BC Aviation Museum invites the community to its January Speaker Night on Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. The speaker of the month is David Zimmerman, a professor of military history at the University of Victoria, for a speech titled “Defiants and Death Rays.”
Zimmerman will explore how technological failures can illuminate the conduct of military operations during the Second World War. His lecture will look into two Royal Air Force case studies: the pursuit of so-called “death rays” and the troubled history of the Boulton Paul Defiant fighter.
With concerts, scientific discussions, and live performances, Sidney is proving that winter can be exciting, inspiring, educational, and artistic.
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