Space is limited, so make haste - register early!
Single Event Passes will be available on April 15.
Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run
will certainly have the laugh on her side.
~ Jane Austen
Come celebrate the Wit & Wisdom of Jane Austen in beautiful Victoria, BC!
Friday, June 13 - Sunday, June 15, 2025

White Eagle Polish Hall - 90 Dock Street

There will be interesting talks given by JASNA members, a Regency Ball,
an afternoon with celebrated fashion historian Ivan Sayers, a Costumed Promenade... and more!

Regency attire encouraged & admired, but not required!
Please note that while the White Eagle Hall is wheelchair accessible, the washroom cubicles are not.
Schedule of Events
Friday, June 13
9:30 - 11:30 am

Workshop: The Art of Beetle Wing Embroidery
  • Ann Edelstein, of Petite Rose Costumes, will guide you through how to use jewel beetle wing casings to create a Regency design that can be used to adorn a reticule, slippers, sash, bodice, or repeated on a gown hem.
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No beetles harmed! Wing casings are collected after the natural life cycle and are ethically sourced.
Workshop cost $25
All materials will be supplied.
Participants are asked to bring nail clippers and scissors, if possible.

Workshop limited to 30 participants.
Ann's specific area of interest is the history of women's fashion in the west, especially from the 18th century to pre-WW1. For her MA thesis, she researched and examined British gowns made of Indian muslin with beetle wing embroidery. Ann enjoys creating historical clothing using historical methods and materials.
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Regency Refinement: A Fashion Talk with Ivan Sayers
  • Join esteemed fashion historian Ivan Sayers for an immersive look at the clothing and accessories of Jane Austen's world.  Covering both men's and women's fashion, this talk will transport you to a time of elegance, etiquette, and exquisite craftsmanship.
 
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Ivan Sayers
7:00 - 10:00 pm
Reception at Goward House - 2495 Arbutus Road
   • Meet & Mingle with your fellow Janeites while indulging in a complimentary signature cocktail, delicious appetizers, desserts, tea & coffee!  Wine will also be available at the no-host bar.
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Goward House



• Enjoy a performance of Yes and Yesteryear: An Improvised Jane Austen  by Paper Street Theatre.
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Paper Street Theatre
Saturday, June 14
10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Ball Dance Workshop

  • A chance to practice the ball dances under the guidance of Laura Mé Smith so that you will shine on the dance floor!
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Laura Mé Smith
1:30 - 2:30 pm

What P&P Readers of 1813 Thought Was Normal - Carol Roberts, JASNA Victoria
   • Carol will share legal and historical facts about life in 1813 which weren't in Pride & Prejudice that readers of the time would know, but readers now don't, which colour our current reading experience differently than theirs.

She will focus on characters and situations from the novel as examples, including Wickham's absconding with the two young ladies, Lady Catherine's pontifications at Rosings, and Mr. Darcy's times alone with Elizabeth.
Carol Roberts (aka author Suzan Lauder) first read a tattered copy of Northanger Abbey in 2009 and quickly became caught in Austen's net.  As a life member of JASNA, she enjoys the research prospects as well as the costuming fun. Carol writes Regency romance novels, and is working on her 10th book, "Relentless Gratitude", which has its roots in Pride & Prejudice.  She, Mr. Suze, and their rescue tabby split their time between a loft condo in Victoria and a 150-year-old Spanish colonial casita in Mexico.
2:30 - 3:30 pm

Write On: The How and Why of Writing Jane Austen Fan Fiction - Samantha Adkins, JASNA Victoria
   • I am not at all in a humour for writing: I must write on till I am. ~ from Jane Austen’s letters to Cassandra, 26 October, 1813

Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) seems to be pouring from every bookshop, Jane Austen website and blog. Should you try your hand at the pastime? And if so, how should you go about it?

Join Samantha Adkins, author of Expectations: A Continuation of Pride and Prejudice, Suspiciously Reserved, A Twist on Jane Austen’s Emma, Banff Springs Abbey, and The Jane Austen Contest as she discusses the reasons for and against writing JAFF.

Once you’ve made up your mind, she will offer a few tips to those who are currently writing or would like to write an Austen-inspired piece in the future.
Samantha Adkins is a writer living on Vancouver Island. She has published four Jane Austen-inspired women's fiction novels: The Jane Austen Contest, Expectation, Suspiciously Reserved, and Banff Springs Abbey, She has also written two historical novels inspired by her grandmothers: Enough, and Emmy in Harding. Her novel After His Heart won the 2019 Christian Indie Award for Fiction Romance.
3:30 - 4:30 pm

The Witty Woman: Jane Austen's Dilemma - Lona Manning, JASNA Vancouver
   • The heroine in Jane Austen's satirical Plan of a Novel is "perfectly good, with much tenderness and sentiment, and not the least Wit." In Austen's time, many people such as Hannah More advised that women should not be witty.

Clearly, Austen is laughing at this idea in her parody which recapitulates some of the formulaic tropes of the sentimental novel. But Austen just happened to be an incredibly gifted wit. How did this social disapproval of wit affect her personally?

This talk will give examples of the strictures against wittiness prevalent at the time. As well, we'll look at witty women in Austen's novels, Austen's correspondence and some of the prayers she wrote.

We’ll leave time for audience reflections about Austen and her reaction to a society that discouraged wittiness in women.
Lona Manning was a speaker at the 2023 and 2024 JASNA AGMs, sharing her research into the forgotten 18th century novels that Austen read. Her articles have appeared in Persuasions and in Jane Austen's Regency World magazine. She is the author of four novels based on Mansfield Park and has contributed short stories for Christina Boyd's Quill Ink Collective. Her blog is "Clutching My Pearls". She is completing her master's degree through York University in England. Lona and her husband live in Kelowna, BC.
7:30 - 10:30 pm
Regency Ball

   • Put on your finery and your dancing slippers and enjoy the pleasures of the ball at the White Eagle Hall, led by our lovely Dance Mistress, Laura Mé Smith, with inspiring music by The Dancehall Players! 
Regency attire encouraged & admired, but not required!
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White Eagle Hall
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The Dancehall Players
Sunday, June 15
9:00 - 10:00 am
Costumed Promenade to the Breakwater

  • Join us in your best Regency walking outfit for a stroll on Victoria's version of The Cobb - you may even encounter Anne Elliot or Captain Wentworth while you are there!
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Regency Public Breakfast

  • Experience a Regency public breakfast with a selection of cakes, buns, butter, jam, tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate!
Please note: Gluten-free or Vegan options will not be available at the Breakfast. 
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
The Wit & Wisdom of Jane's Coverlet - Rebecca McAlpine, JASNA Victoria
  • Jane Austen's patchwork coverlet, made by Jane, her sister and their mother in approximately 1810, provides an interesting glimpse into her domestic life. Although not a work of wit or wisdom in the literary sense, it can be viewed as an extension of Jane’s character and a reflection of both personality traits. The cleverness in this extraordinary colourful piece of craftwork, along with the subtle elements of humor reflect Jane’s wit. Jane’s wisdom is reflected in the object’s enduring practicality and the sisterly bonding behind its creation.

This presentation will let Jane’s coverlet tell its story. We will explore the cultural significance, artistic foundations and historical evolution of coverlet and quilt creations in Jane’s time. By exploring the socio-cultural context, the design, materials and techniques, in which the coverlet was made, we learn why it is worth celebrating - just like her novels.
Rebecca is a Certified Quilt Judge with the Canadian Quilter's Association (CQA/ACC). Having worked and practiced in the textile art for over 40 years, Rebecca brings a deep understanding and practical experience of multiple craft genres and quilting history. One of her popular presentations is "Quilting Through the Ages: Speaking in Their Time" which explores the cultural significance and artistic foundations of quilting from the 14th century to the present. Rebecca resides in Victoria, BC, where she is active in the quilting community.
JASNA Victoria is pleased to be able to highly subsidize the weekend's events to keep costs affordable for all.
We also gratefully acknowledge JASNA Canada for awarding us a grant,
which has enabled us to celebrate Jane Austen in style!
Full Weekend Pass
          $175 CAD

We encourage you to take advantage of the Full Weekend Pass, which gives you access to all events.
Space permitting, single event passes will become available on April 15.
Single Event Passes
Friday:
  • Workshop: The Art of Beetle Wing Embroidery - $25
  • Ivan Sayers: Regency Refinement Presentation - $30
  • Reception & Theatrical Performance - $35
Saturday:
  • Talks
       ~ What P&P Readers of 1813 Thought Was Normal - $15
       ~ Write On: The How and Why of Writing Jane Austen Fan Fiction - $15
       ~ The Witty Woman: Jane Austen's Dilemma - $15
        OR... All three talks - $40
  • Regency Ball & Dance Workshop - $50
Sunday:
  • Costumed Promenade on the Breakwater - Free!
  • Regency Public Breakfast & Talk - $30
  • Talk ~ The Wit & Wisdom of Jane's Coverlet - $15
Questions?
Send us an email: [email protected]