By Waheeda Harris
Born and raised in St. Catharines in the heart of Niagara’s wine region, Jeff Van Geest learned the benefits of local ingredients early on from his grandparents, who were farmers. In 1992, he moved across the country to work as a cook in Vancouver, where he completed culinary training, did an apprenticeship at Bishop’s and in 2004 opened his first restaurant, award-winning, local-food-focused Aurora Bistro, which was fiercely adored by locals. (more…)
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is one of the CTC's Signature Experiences (Jean-François Leblanc, PQ/CNW Group/Canadian Tourism Commission)
In July the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) launched its Signature Experiences Collection, highlighting 48 “authentic” and singular Canadian experiences, from cruising the Inside Passage in BC to seeing the northern lights by dogsled in the Northwest Territories. (more…)
Okanagan Valley ©Tourism BC/JF Bergeron
Fall is the perfect time for forest hikes, Sunday drives, wine tours and tucking into autumn harvest meals. But did you know it’s also prime polar-bear-viewing season? From our favourite foliage tours to some unexpected adventures, we’ve rounded up the best fall getaways Canada has to offer. (more…)
Sometimes you need to get away from it all. These nearby destinations are the perfect escape from the city
By Kristina Urquhart
It's anchors aweigh on the Sunshine Coast, where a boat tours Sechelt Inlet. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism British Columbia
Whistler
Car 2 hours
Train 3.5 hours via Rocky Mountaineer
The scenic Sea to Sky Highway winds from Vancouver to Whistler, a top-rated ski resort with plenty to do in the summer. Settle onto a sun-soaked patio to people-watch in the pedestrian-only village, relax with a massage at a world-class spa, tee up for golf on emerald fairways or navigate the vertiginous cliffs on a mountain bike. Don’t miss a ride on the 4.4-km- (2.7-mi-) long Peak 2 Peak Gondola; you’ll need to pick your jaw up off the glass-bottomed floor as the seemingly endless valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains stretches beyond. Halfway between Vancouver and Whistler lies Squamish—the recreation capital of Canada—so suit up for whitewater rafting, wind surfing, diving and rock climbing. A hike up the Stawamus Chief, the world’s second-largest granite monolith, yields panoramic views of Howe Sound. (more…)
Photo copyright Igor Klimov/Fotolia.com
BC’s principal wine region, the Okanagan Valley recently celebrated 20 years since the introduction of the province’s DOC-styled VQA wine laws helped revolutionise the industry. Most of those founding wineries are still around. And these widely available labels and varieties still exemplify the best of BC in the glass. (Many smaller, long-running producers choose not to enter the VQA program, but their 100 percent BC-grown wines—harder to find—are still worth hunting down.)
Gray Monk Gewürztraminer
Calona Vineyards Artist Series Sovereign Opal
Cedar Creek Merlot
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut
Gehringer Brothers Dry Riesling
Hainle Vineyards Icewine
Mission Hill SLC Syrah
Quails Gate Pinot Noir
Sumac Ridge Black Sage Merlot
Wild Goose Gewürztraminer
—Tim Pawsey
Laughing Stock wine
BC’s wine culture continues to boom, particularly on the sun-kissed, lakeside, southwest-facing plateau of the Naramata Bench. This is home to some of the Okanagan’s older plantings, as well as a few more inventive labels. Leading the pack in this year’s releases are Nichol Vineyard Syrah 08, Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc 07, La Frenz Shiraz 08 and Laughing Stock Blind Trust Red 08 (pictured)—a well-balanced blend that reveals its actual varieties only when you sneak a peek under the capsule. Look for them on better wine lists.—Tim Pawsey
Plan a tour of the Okanagan Valley with this handy wine tour guide
Chances are nobody knows more about BC’s burgeoning wine scene than John Schreiner. His latest edition (number three) of The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide offers a comprehensive summary of the Okanagan’s wineries, numbering 130—and counting. The author, a true raconteur, injects a personal element into every story. Whether you’re planning a tour or just looking for a vintage souvenir, don’t leave town without it. Available at local bookstores.—Tim Pawsey
View of Okanagan Lake and vineyards near Naramata. Photo by Don Weixl courtesy Tourism BC
Fruit-forward, food-friendly BC wines continue to surprise and delight, winning medals in prestigious competitions from San Francisco to London and beyond. Most grapes are grown in the picturesque Okanagan Valley (a five-hour drive east of Vancouver), with varieties ranging from cool-climate Germanics, Burgundians such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Rhone and Bordeaux styles from the semi-arid, desert south. (more…)
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Stay, Dine, Do
