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…)
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. Names to watch for include majors such as Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin Okanagan, Mission Hill Family Estate, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and Sandhill, as well as producers such as Blue Mountain Vineyard Cellars, Black Hills Estate Winery and Laughing Stock Vineyards, along with any number of smaller, family wineries. Winners of the 2009 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines, a keenly contested competition, were Bounty Cellars 2007 Pinot Blanc; Cedar Creek Estate 2006 Platinum Reserve Merlot; Church & State 2006 Syrah; Howling Bluff 2006 Pinot Noir; Joie 2007 Reserve Chardonnay and Joie 2008 Riesling; Peller Estates 2007 Private Reserve Pinot Noir; Road 13 2006 Fifth Element Meritage; Sandhill 2007 Small Lots Syrah; See Ya Later Ranch 2008 Gewurztraminer; Stoneboat 2007 Pinotage; Wild Goose 2008 Pinot Gris. At local liquor stores.—Tim Pawsey
If you think Vancouver is beautiful right now, just wait until you see the city in the summer
by Sheri Radford, Jennifer Patterson and Kristina Urquhart
Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains, as seen from the oceanfront between Kitsilano Beach and Vanier Park. Photo copyright Ann Badjura/Dreamstime.com
1 Gorgeous Scenery
Vancouver has no shortage of breathtaking outdoor escapes: the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean, the almost-year-round snow-capped mountains, and greenery as far as the eye can see. Wriggle your toes in the sand at one of the many public beaches, including Kits Beach—rated one of North America’s top 10 sexiest beaches by Forbes Traveler—or Wreck Beach, where clothing is optional. Head up the mountains for scenic 360-degree views, challenging hikes and glimpses of local wildlife. Grab your camera and visit one of the city’s many green spaces, including VanDusen Botanical Garden and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Bike, walk or run Vancouver’s famous seawall, a 22-km (13.7-mi) shoreline stretch that wraps around Stanley Park, past Science World and Granville Island, finishing up at Kits Beach.—J.P.
2 Major Attractions
Seek refuge in Stanley Park, where you can see summertime displays of roses and rhododendrons, catch outdoor theatre
A team races in the annual Dragon Boat Festival in front of Science World at Telus World of Science. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism BC
shows, frolic on beaches and ogle baby beluga whales at Vancouver Aquarium. Views abound at Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain, where observing the antics of Grinder and Coola—two orphaned grizzly bears—is a popular summer activity. False Creek forms the backdrop for Granville Island, a hub for artist studios. Impromptu street performances are common, the Public Market boasts seasonal bounty from local farmers and the public fish sales dock is a local favourite for buying fresh, in-season seafood. Closed through most of March, Science World is spending our Winter Games as the pavilion for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. This iconic “golf ball” is a fixture in the Vancouver skyline; inside you’ll find hands-on exhibits, science demos and educational films in the OMNIMAX Theatre.—K.U.
3 Festivals & Special Events
July and August brim with outdoor events that take full advantage of the long, sun-soaked days. Bard on the Beach presents Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, Falstaff and Henry V against a stunning ocean-and-mountains backdrop. Theatre Under the Stars mounts Joseph and the
The ferris wheel at the PNE. Photo by Sheri Radford
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Singin’ in the Rain on alternating nights in Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl. The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) celebrates its 100th anniversary with rides, midway games, outdoor concerts, parades, the PNE prize home, mini-donuts and, of course, the Superdogs. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival brings musicians from around the world to Jericho Beach Park for three days of groovy sounds. Pride Week bursts with a rainbow of gay-pride events, culminating in the Pride Parade and Sunset Beach Festival. The HSBC Celebration of Light marks its 20th anniversary with fireworks over English Bay that light up Metro Vancouver.—S.R.
4 Outdoor Adventures
When the temperature rises, outdoor enthusiasts take to the seas for kayaking, scuba diving and whale watching. From late April through October, the waters surrounding Vancouver and Vancouver Island are abundant with orcas (formerly called killer whales). Whale-watching trips offer glimpses of other wildlife, too, including porpoises, sea lions, harbour seals and eagles. Thrill-seekers in both Vancouver and Whistler ride high above the treetops of rainforests while
A pod of orcas. Photo copyright Lazareva Evgeniya/Istockphoto.com
harnessed to a cable called a zipline. Avid cyclist? Participate in myriad bike races, or head to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for 1,507 m (4,946 ft) of bike trails and a jump park. Hike the mountains and nearby national parks, or take a low-key stroll around the seawall. After a long day in the sun, relax like a Vancouverite with a yoga session on the beach.—K.U.
5 Golfing, Sailing & Skiing
You might have heard a rumour that it’s possible to golf, sail and ski in Metro Vancouver, all on the same day. Unlike most rumours, this one is true. Highly rated courses such as University Golf Club, Westwood Plateau, Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, and Nicklaus North Golf Course boast views so stunning that it may be difficult to keep your eye on the ball. Local companies such as Sewell’s Marina can take you on a sea safari or—if you’re up to the job of captain—rent you a boat to go exploring on your own. As for catching
Nicklaus North Golf Course in Whistler
some powder in the summertime, Whistler Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier stays open for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders through July.—S.R.
6 Winter Games Sites
Relive exciting moments from the 2010 Winter Games with a tour of Olympic and Paralympic venues, either by yourself or guided by Enjoy Tour and Travel. Canada Hockey Place, otherwise known as GM Place, is home to our NHL team, the Canucks, and sits alongside BC Place. Up on Cypress Mountain, take in the view of the Vancouver Convention Centre. To the east is the Pacific Coliseum, the showcase for figure skating. Experience your own medal-worthy moment with a lap around the Richmond Olympic Oval, open to all levels of fitness after the Games. In Whistler, follow the path of gold-medal bobsledders with a guided tour of the Sliding Centre and Olympic/Paralympic Park.—J.P.
7 Sports Teams
You’ll hear the hoots and hollers of Vancouver Canucks fans until regular-season games wrap up Apr. 10—but if the team advances to the Stanley Cup playoffs, ’Nucks fever can last into June. September marks the start of the 2011 game season for both the Canucks and the Vancouver Giants, the city’s major junior hockey team. Football fans root for the BC Lions
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. Photo by Jeff Vinnick courtesy Vancouver Canucks
(Jun. to Nov.), and the Vancouver Canadians play the ol’ ball game at historic Nat Bailey Stadium (Jun. to Sep.). The Vancouver Whitecaps don their cleats this summer (Apr. to Oct.) before beginning their major-league soccer career in 2011.—K.U.
8 Day Trips
Head to Squamish and Whistler for outdoor activities aplenty, including windsurfing, mountain biking and canoeing. Hop aboard BC Ferries for a trip to Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia and home to our historic parliament buildings. A skip-and-a-jump between Vancouver and Vancouver Island are the Gulf Islands, and there’s no shortage of charming getaways on Salt Spring, Galiano and Mayne islands. The Fraser Valley is the perfect spot to grab farm-fresh cheese and u-pick raspberries. The province’s wine region can be found in the Okanagan, known for its dry, sunny climate. South of the border is Seattle, home to rock legends Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, as well as the iconic Space Needle.—J.P.
9 Restaurants
Vancouver boasts world-class cuisine, but many of our best restaurants are rented out or booked solid during the 2010 Winter Games. Return in the warmer months, then, for an eating-and-drinking tour of the city featuring summer’s cornucopia of fresh
The seaside neighbourhood of Yaletwon, with Burrard Bridge in the background. Photo copyright KWest/Fotolia.com
local produce and sun-kissed patios with breathtaking views. Your stomach will thank you.—S.R.
10 Sunshine
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t always rain in Vancouver. But July and August are especially bright for sun worshippers.
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