British Columbia Canada Blog

Springtime in British Columbia is beautiful and we welcome it with open arms. To celebrate Spring in Victoria, British Columbia, Spinnakers Gastrobrewpub and Guesthouse (located on 308 Catherine St., Victoria, BC) invites craft beer lovers to share a day of extraordinary cask conditioned beers in its third Cask Festival, to be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010. 

The guests will be able to sample at least 20 different one-of-a-kind cask-conditioned beers made by brewers from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Washington and Oregon at this event.

Place: Spinnakers Gastrobrewpub

Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010

Time: 11:30am - 5pm

Price: $35/person and  $30 for CAMRA members*
*Get a $5 discount on admission by joining the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) at their website and click on “join”
Ticket price includes souvenir glass and first 3 drink tickets (drink tickets $1 afterwards)

For Ticket info. call: 250- 384-2739

WRA Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is hosting free Earth Fest family nature festival on Sunday, April 25^th 2010 at the Burnaby Lake Pavilion in Burnaby, BC located on 6871 Roberts St, from 11am to 3pm. This is Wildlife Rescue Association of BC’s 2nd annual free, fun-filled nature event where families can come and enjoy without worrying about admission fee. The Earth Festival 2010 will offer unique opportunities to people of all ages to have fun while learning about the local environment.

You can really look forward to: - chickadee and mason bee nest boxes to make and take home - local stewardship booths- snacks and refreshments- invasive plant removal ideas- exciting wildlife-themed games and crafts- community group exhibits - nature tours (with scavenger hunts!) - Mukutano drumming and singing group performers/ live music by local artists- raffle draws and much moreSo, connect with nature during Earth Festival 2010 in Burnaby! For more information, visit: Wild Life Rescue Association Events

LifeSciences, British Columbia supports and represents the biopharmaceutical, medical device, bioproducts & bioenergy, and greater life sciences community of British Columbia through leadership, advocacy and promotion of our world-class science and industry. This year they are hosting their annual Salmon BBQ on: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PST) at  Cecil Green Park House located:

6251 Cecil Green Park Road
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia

Held each June at the scenic Cecil Green House, LifeSciences British Columbia’s Annual Salmon Barbeque offers members of  life sciences community the chance to come out and enjoy a great meal in the company of peers in a breathtaking setting - and without the formality of a sit-down banquet. The tickets are priced at $65-$130/person.

For more information, visit: 14th Annual Lifesciences British Columbia Salmon BBQ

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Are you excited about New year 2010? Have you made any Travel Plans/ Weekend Getaways yet? Well, we already have a few shows on our list that we want to attend in 2010 and one of them is Fraser Valley Women Show  in Chilliwack, British Columbia which is being held from March 5-7th at Heritage Park. We have a feeling that it’s going to be a blast.

Check out some of the highlights of the show:

-Salon Stage, Free Hair Cuts & Makeovers
-Ask Vancouver’s very own certified Image & Style Guru Giovanni about his expert advice
-Photography for glamour, business and fun
-Shop from on onsite boutiques
-Women in Business Conference with guest Arlene Dickinson (CBC’s Dragons Den) Great Networking, Education, Inspiration and Empowerment Opportunity
-Don’t miss Singer/Songwriter Joe Taylor: “soulful and timeless, classic rock at it’s finest”
-Jewellery on sale
-Shop for unique gifts, quality jewellery, clothing, handbags and 1000’s of accessories from over 200 exhibitors
-Fashion Shows daily featuring the NEW spring fashions, hot new resort and swimwear
-Home & Interior Decorating “How To” Seminars, discover the new 2010 New Trends and Great New Colors
- Get Free Samples,  great door prizes and even a pre-show online contest

Doesn’t that sound fun? For more information, visit: Fraser Valley Women Show

Related Links:

Plan your next Girls Getaway with BC Travel Guide and British Columbia Tours.

Here in British Columbia, we appreciate good music and thoroughly enjoy it especially with friends and family. No doubt, we have several interesting music festivals and events  in the province throughout the year.

‘Music & Friends’ is one such exciting, annual, family-friendly event founded by the North Pacific Music Festival Society in 2005 which captures and compliments the spirit of Northwest British Columbia. In 2010, this BC music festival will be celebrated on July 16-17th in Terrace, BC at the Terrace-Kitimat Regional Airport lands.

Although the goal of the festival is to provide exposure to BC artists from the North Pacific region and to provide them a chance to develop their musical skills through performance and public appearance, it has hosted musical acts from all over Canada and the United States.

As per organizers:

Over the years the natural beauty of the festival backdrop has captivated thousands of regional and international visitors. The sights and sounds of the festival are complimented by the regional flair that the various vendors provide. Offering a wide range of ethnic goodies, the scrumptious offerings of the numerous food merchants feed the senses. Festival goers can also shop for one of a kind crafts and handmade souveneirs courtesy of the local sellers.

Also, the festival organizers continue to dedicate profits each year to a charity of choice. So, if you haven’t been to ‘Music and Friends’ before, then make plans to check it out this BC music festival in 2010 and enjoy!

Related links:

Plan your BC trip today with BC Travel Guide

Silver Star and Big White Ski resorts are a great place to spend holidays with family and friends. They have accommodations ranging from hotel rooms to big chalets which can accommodate everyone’s needs and budgets.

 Also, gift cards for these resorts can be a wonderful holiday gift. Cliff Chair opened at Big White this year on Dec 21st and Falcon Chair is scheduled for Dec 23rd.  The grooming crew have been spreading some Christmas cheer opening the Snowcross course in TELUS Park as they continue to work on other features.

Up at Silver Star the 3 gladed runs on Silver Woods are now open bringing the total run count to 100. For those that just can’t get enough, night Skiing is in full swing at both mountains. At Silver Star night skiing operates every Friday and Saturday evening (except Dec 25th) from 3:30pm – 8:30pm on the Summit and Silver Queen. At Big White night skiing runs straight through until 8:00pm on the Bullet, Plaza Chairs and from 5:00pm to 8:00pm in TELUS Park every night over Christmas (except Christmas Eve and New Years Eve).

Christmas celebrations at Big White will include: Family Photos with Santa, an indoor Church service at the Village Centre Mall, Christmas carolling, the torchlight parade followed by a fireworks show with hot chestnuts roasting on an open fire and hot chocolate. Elves permitting, even Santa Claus himself will be there. This is a must attend event and it is all free. Photos will take place all day and the festivities kick off with the church service at 4:30 pm.

Christmas Eve at Silver Star is always a night to remember. The first delight is the Torchlight Parade and the spectacular Fireworks display getting underway shortly after 4pm. As the last sparkle dims in the evening sky, Santa will lead the kids to the NATC for Santa’s Gift Giving and Photos.

Plan your holiday trip today with BC travel Guide.

This November, BC residents and visitors will be able to enjoy abundance of food and wine in Whistler during their food and wine event called Cornucopia. The celebration of food and wine in Whistler will take place from November 12-15, 2009. The tickets for various events during Cornucopia start from $40/person

If you love food and wine then don’t miss this unique opportunity to mingle, mix and learn from acclaimed chefs, sommeliers, vintners and restaurateurs’ visiting Whistler or Whistler locals. The variety of events during Cornucopia include, hands-on seminars, fascinating winemaker dinners, gala tasting events and sizzling after-parties.

Cornucopia’s Crush Gala Grand Tasting, a festival highlight, will be presented on Friday, November 13th as an exclusive Premiere event, and on Saturday, November 14th to accommodate the high demand for tickets to the event.

Plan your Whistler trip today with BC Travel Guide

 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is one of it’s own kind and the largest Fall wine Festival in North America, therefore a must visit for all wine lovers. This year Okanagan Fall Wine Festival  is being celebrated from October 1st to 11th, 2009 across 92 wineries in the Okanagan. The Okanagan wine Festival society is gearing up to organize and host about 150 different events.

Some of the events, I am looking forward to include:

1. Valley First Credit Union Grand Finale Consumer tastings on October 9th and 10th 2009 at Penticton Trade and Convention centre (273 Power Street). This is one of the largest event with over 60 wineries present and over 240 wines to sample. The ticket includes: enjoyable live entertainment, souvenir wine glass, all your wine tasting, bread and cheese and a free taxi ride home. This is a great event for those trying wines for the first time as well as those who want to expand their wine knowledge.

The advanced tickets are priced at $50/person. Call : 877-763-2849 to get your tickets today.

2. An evening of Fine Italian Cuisine and the wines of Tinhorn Creek on Thursday, October 1st 2009. The Villa Rosa Ristorante voted Best Italian Restaurant 9 years in a row. Each year during Wine Festival, there is a series of extraordinary multiple course menus, paired with the exceptional wines of the Okanagan’s finest wineries. You can experience all the rich flavors of authentic Italian food and full bodied wines. To enhance the evening winery representatives from Tinhorn Creek will be on hand to introduce each wine and answer any questions that you may have, as each course is being introduced.  To get tickets, call: 250-490-9595 and the tickets are priced at $99.95/ person  

3. Not everything has a price attached to it. Some events are free. Join fellow residents and tourists at the breathtaking Greata Ranch, located just south of Peachland, for wine tasting and a lovely artwork show and sale from well known Okanagan Artists Louise Lambert, Julia Trops, Rebekah Wilkinson and Charlotte LaFleur, Saturday and Sunday October 3 & 4, 10-4 pm (or 6 pm). For more information, email: julia@juliatrops.com

4. Enjoy fall Sampler plate at Little Straw Vineyards Estate Winery on October 6th, 7th and 8th 2009 from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. Take time from your hectic wine touring to savour the flavors of fall. Relax on Little Straw Vinyeyards Estate Winery’s spacious deck with a glass of one of  newest releases and  “Fall Sampler Plate” as you gaze out over the vineyards and lake . Later take a look at local artist’s work featured in the gallery. For more information, call: 250-769-0404.

5. All you need is Cheese and the Rhone Ranger scheduled for Monday, October 5th 2009 at Manteo Resort from 6.30 to 8.30 pm. The tickets are priced at $40.00/person and can be bought at Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 250-860-1470. At this event, the guests will be able to evaluate variety of wines from the Rhone region of France grown and produced in the Okanagan Valley. These will be paired with fine Canadian cheeses like long aged Cheddars, mixed rinds, Aged Gouda along with a few unique Blue Cheeses. Wines will include Syrah/Shiraz, Viognier, Mourvedre and Grenache to name a few.

For more information, visit: Okanagan Fall Wine Festival

Related Links:

Okanagan Wineries

Okanagan Accommodation

Are you ready for SERF 2009 ?

This weekend, on Saturday, September 19th the Squamish Equinox Rock Festival is going to be the hottest event in British Columbia. The Squamish Equinox Rock Festival is an outdoor concert on the Squamish waterfront featuring live music, a beach bar, bonfire, and amazing 360 degree views.

An all-ages Squamish Music Festival starts at 2 pm and will continue till wee hours of the night. This year BC residents and tourists can enjoy 8 bands, DJ Riddim, Slackers slacklining, Play & Trade’s tricked out gaming car, an awesome Kid’s Zone (about 2000 Sq. feet), a healing drum circle, food vendors and SERF city marketplace. SERF has a community vibe inclusive of all. So take one last juicy bite out of summer and shake fall’s hand with your dancing shoes on at Squamish Music Festival 2009.

 If you are one of the first 1000 people to attend SERF between 2 - 5pm and get a chance to win a $500 Travel Voucher from Sunsational Vacations!

Check out the bands playing at Squamish Equinox Rock Festival this year:

1. Wassabi is a spicy five-piece, alternative-thinking band from small town of Nelson, B.C and they have been busy spreading their positive west coast vibes.  The band’s sound fuses everything from roots reggae, funk, jazz, hip hop, rock and everything in between. Hailed as one of Canada’s best live independent bands, Wassabi draws crowds of good people, positive thinkers and happy souls. 

2. Brave New Waves Reggae , surf and ska-influenced band from Victoria is floating through its second year. They say keep your dancing shoes on always, and don’t be afraid to sing anywhere!

3. Jam ’n’ Tonics: Converging in Squamish, the five folks who are the Jam ‘n’ Tonics create an energetic, bilingual, organic sound. Their vocal harmonies and sharp insightful lyrics are influenced by folk, rock and happy hour on the patio.

4. Lotus is an indie female band from Vancouver, BC. Formed in 2000 their music is an up-tempo mix of lyrical realism, winsome vocals, and sleek musical grooves. Lotus’s music is a fusion of “urban folk, rock, pop, and blues into one uniquely Canadian genre.”

5. Mindil Beach Markets is a rock/reggae/folk/hip hop group based out of Victoria, BC. They are a band that is difficult to cram into a nutshell, with song styles ranging from funky and bumping to powerfully emotive. Having grown up on the serene Sunshine Coast, all five band members are accustomed to a laid back lifestyle and exhibit an innate appreciation for the simple beauty found in nature. This perspective clearly manifests in their music, lending an organic and pure harmony to the nostalgic summer time vibe of their songs.

6. Zombie’s Locker is the essence of a ‘local band’ built on the exceptional songwriting talents of bass player Todd drummer. The guitar player Ben Lens of Davy’s Locker fame, another local favourite, has joined the original Zombie’s roof band to make a statement with classic rock roots and current political themes.

7. The Dead Heathers formed as a group a couple of years ago in the Squamish Valley. The Dead Heathers are a 5 piece band with an original sound, one could say “a unique blend of country, blues, and rock”.  Playing a wide variety of instruments, the band has a high energy, driving new sound, with groovy bass patterns and explosive drumming.

8. The Overcomers are a band with a pop-rock sound and a Nashville edge with Mario Iacovone on guitar and his wife Anne on lead vocals and guitar. Together the couple have been composing new tunes for their up and coming album with fellow bass player and composer, Andre Chamberlain. As a trio, they found jamming together to be a favouritepastime and many of the songs are born out of those jam sessions. Recently, The Overcomers have added drummer Jeremy Radawiec and backing vocalist Naomi Lang to complete a full band ensemble

9. DJ Riddim Fernandez began music with his trusted hand drum and progressed into drum machines and then to record players and now after DJing for several years have started creating music.

Hope you have fun at Squamish Music Festival 2009. Don’t forget to share your pictures with us.

Just came across a very interesting article about availability of free flowers in British Columbia tomorrow since it’s Good Neighbor Day (courtesy: FTD). Did we even know that Good Neighbor Day existed? Icing on the cake- Did we know free flowers can be sent to someone? Yes, it can be done. Tomorrow- September 9th 2009 some florists in BC and Ontario will provide free flowers. Check out the list below:

All My Flowers, Salmon Arm, BC
K&J Flowers And Gifts, Langley, BC
Sooke Flower House, Sooke, BC
Vernon Flower Shop Ltd., Vernon, BC
Dreamweavers, Etobicoke, ON
Durant’s Flowers, Winchester, ON
Flowers By Lady Di, Alliston, ON
Fort Floral, Fort Francces, ON
Jeans Flower Shop, Hamilton, ON
Kara’s Rose Garden, Tilbury, ON
Laura Sharpe Flowers, Kitchener, ON
Manotick Florists, Manotick, ON
Mills Flowers, Gananoque, ON
OMNI Flowers, Brampton, ON
Patti’s Flower Boutique, Guelph, ON
Shalimar Flower Shop, East Brampton, ON
Sublime Flowers & Décor, Fergus, ON
Tim Clark’s Flowers, Markham, ON
VanWees Mostly Roses, Woodstock, ON

And it turns out that FTD has been celebrating ‘Good Neighbor Day’ since 1994. I didn’t know. Did you?