A sign explaining Rosie Holoiday’s summer project, and Roxy the rock snake itself, garner attention along the walking path near Willows Beach. The six-year-old hopes the community will help Roxy grow by adding painted rocks to its tail. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A sign explaining Rosie Holoiday’s summer project, and Roxy the rock snake itself, garner attention along the walking path near Willows Beach. The six-year-old hopes the community will help Roxy grow by adding painted rocks to its tail. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosie Holoiday, 6, hopes her community will come through, growing Roxy the rock snake with colourful painted stones. The project sits close to the walking path from Bowker Road and Willows Beach. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A sign explaining Rosie Holoiday’s summer project, and Roxy the rock snake itself, garner attention along the walking path near Willows Beach. The six-year-old hopes the community will help Roxy grow by adding painted rocks to its tail. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
By the end of summer, Rosie Holoiday hopes to see colourful rocks wind around the tree and bench near the Bowker Avenue entrance to Willows Beach.
The six-year-old planted the seed of a winding rock snake by starting it herself – with dad’s help – using her personal collection near the Oak Bay waterfront.
“I really like art and wanted to do this with my dad,” Rosie explained.
The Willows elementary student has been painting rocks for years. She can name her partner in art for each rock in her collection – now lined up behind one painted especially as the head of her rock snake named Roxie.
“I wanted her to see the power of putting yourself out there,” said dad Chase. Her parents are prepared should the project hit any hiccups, but anticipate primarily positive.
Regular visitors to the popular beach, the family hopes to watch it grow all summer.
The rocks – for the moment the one with the heart is her favourite – spur memories with family, friends and now hopefully community. As of Monday afternoon, a short Roxie – and a sign outlining the project – sat near the beach volleyball courts at Willows, calling on the community to build the snake by adding their own painted rocks. Rosie would love to see Roxie wind around a large nearby tree and get as far as the public bench.
