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Affordable housing on the menu at Crooked Goose

This weekend’s Brunch for the Housing Crunch benefits Greater Victoria Housing Society
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Gina and Steve Watson, who operate the Crooked Goose Bistro on 4136 Wilkinson Rd., will host the Brunch for the Housing Crunch on Saturday and Sunday morning. Travis Paterson/News Staff

It’s as simple as ordering breakfast for two, but the goal is to cook up some new apartments where people in need of housing can make breakfast for themselves.

This Saturday and Sunday the Crooked Goose Bistro in Saanich is hosting the fourth annual Brunch for the Housing Crunch, the second straight year at the Crooked Goose. Partial proceeds from sales will be donated to the Greater Victoria Housing Society, which is planning to replace the Townley Lodge complex with a $20.6 million development.

“It’s a big deal for a restaurant to sponsor this and give up some of their proceeds,” said Kaye Melliship, executive director for GVHS. “Last year’s event was great. We raised $1800 which is a lot for a small business to donate from two days of sales. They are wonderful hosts and really spend a lot of time trying to engage the customers about the cause.”

Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring brunch dishes and traditional pub fare.

Proprietors Steve and Gina Watson opened the restaurant four years ago with partners Andrew Moffat and Ben Peterson, who run the Heron Rock restaurant in James Bay.

“….It’s impossible to live in this town if you don’t have lots of money,” Steve said. “We have our regular brunch customers and this event brings in a few more faces, which is nice, especially right now [with the housing crunch].”

The funds raised aren’t lucrative, but Melliship says it’s about awareness as much as it is fundraising. That said, the goal is to eventually expand the Brunch for the Housing Crunch weekend into several restaurants across the region.

“These restaurants are small businesses with small [profit] margins, and we have to be respectful that they’re making a decent living as well, but in a way that makes it even nicer that they’re contributing,” Melliship said. “The brunch is about people being aware of housing needs in our region and that there are solutions, including the work being done by GVHS.”

The Crooked Goose Bistro is located at 4136 Wilkinson Rd. at the intersection of Interurban and Wilkinson.

Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve a table call 250-590-4556.