Discover Magazine Spring 2019

Spring 2019

VANCOUVER ISLAND & THE GULF ISLANDS

Your Complete Guide

Where to play / What to see / Where to stay / What to eat

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EXPLORE YOUR LOCAL CANADIAN TIRE STORE

VANCOUVER ISLAND

EVERYTHING YOU NEED UNDER ONE ROOF…

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• Bicycles & Accessories • Boating & Water Sports

• Camping, Hunting & Fishing Gear

• GPS • *ROĠ QJ (TXLSPHQW 6XSSOLHV

VICTORIA 855 Langford Parkway VICTORIA 1519 Admirals Rd VICTORIA 1610 Hillside Ave VICTORIA 801 Royal Oak Dr

DUNCAN 2929 Green Rd NANAIMO 4585 Uplands Rd PARKSVILLE 822 Island Hwy COURTENAY 2801 Cliffe Ave

CAMPBELL RIVER 1444 Island Hwy PORT ALBERNI 3550 Johnston Rd NORTH SAANICH 10300 McDonald Park Rd

DISCOVER 2019

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VANCOUVER ISLAND

DISCOVER 2019

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VANCOUVER ISLAND

VANCOUVER ISLAND & THE GULF ISLANDS

Cape Scott Park

Port Hardy

Sointula

Port McNeill

NORTH ISLAND

Alert Bay Telegraph Cove

Sayward

Port Alice 19

Discovery Islands

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Quadra I.

Brooks Peninsula Park

Zeballos

Campbell River 28

Tahsis

19A

NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND

Gold River

Mt. Washington

Courtenay Comox Denman I. Hornby I.

Cumberland

Bowser

Qualicum Beach

Strathcona Park

Parksville 19

it

of

Nanaimo

Port Alberni

Tofino

G

eo

Gabriola I.

rg

ia

THE GULF ISLANDS

Valdes I.

Long Beach

Ucluelet

Thetis I. Ladysmith Galiano I. Chemainus Lake Ganges Mayne I. Cowichan 18 Saltspring I. Saturna Pender I. I. Duncan

Bamfield

COWICHAN Jua

n d e

Carmanah Pacific Park

Fuc

Jordan River

Langford Colwood Sooke

VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

Sidney 17

337 91

159

336 310 113 265 202 176 17

131

252 226 43

182

179 153 37

108

145 117 76

73

95

Vancouver Island Driving Times

DUNCAN GOLD RIVER 485 220 HOLBERG 106 400 591 JORDAN RIVER 28 266 457 134 LADYSMITH 30 317 508 136 51 LAKE COWICHAN 51 243 435 157 23 73 NANAIMO 87 208 399 192 58 109 36 PARKSVILLE 135 242 433 241 107 157 84 50 PORT ALBERNI 452 187 97 558 424 475 402 366 400 PORT ALICE 441 176 50 547 413 464 391 355 389 53 PORT HARDY 402 137 88 508 374 425 352 316 350 54 44 PORT MCNEILL 145 440 630 36 173 175 196 232 280 597 586 574 PORT RENFREW 97 197 388 203 69 120 47 11 45 355 344 305 242 QUALICUM BEACH 80 375 566 88 108 110 131 167 215 533 522 483 127 178 SIDNEY

281 136 294

528 282 472 326

151 122 106

495 248 439 293 484 238 428 282 445 198 389 243 375 349 152 304 140 107 84

62

310 284 96

239

305 279 88

234 75

370 561 31

403 157 347 202 360 66

103 105 126 162 210 527 517 478 70

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Shop Like The Locals

34

Gulf Islands

38

Gulf Islands Events

41

Attractions

42

Cowichan

44

Cowichan Events

47

Island Ale Trail

49

Central Island

52

Central Island Events

62 78-80

Pacific Rim

82

Pacific Rim Events

85

North Central Island

90

North Central Island Events

98

Getting Here

106

North Island

108

Victoria

On the Cover: Drifted Creations Peabody Racoon. Photo: Nadine Hoyt

ada Can .

U.S.A

172 57

VICTORIA TO: SOOKE 1 hr SIDNEY 35 min DUNCAN 45 min NANAIMO 1 hr 30 min PARKSVILLE 2 hr PORT ALBERNI 2 hr 30 min COURTENAY 3 hr CAMPBELL RIVER 3 hr 30 min TOFINO 5 hr PORT HARDY 6 hr 30 min Oceanside route is Hwy between Parksville and Campbell River

19A North Island route is Hwy between Campbell River and Port Hardy

SOOKE TAHSIS

286 466 332 383 309 274 308 253 242 203 506 263 441 436

TOFINO 191 248 218 203 231 338 529 337 203 253 180 146 96 496 485 446 376 141 311 306 404 42 UCLUELET 290 264 70 219 60 355 546 68 88 90 111 147 195 512 502 463 107 158 26 37 421 316 291 VICTORIA 442 196 387 241 400 135 170 506 372 422 349 313 347 136 126 87 545 303 480 475 201 469 444 460 ZEBALLOS 217 273 241 228 256 363 554 362 228 279 206 171 122 521 510 471 401 166 337 331 429

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South Island Events

VANCOUVER ISLAND & THE GULF ISLANDS

246

230 204 13

12

Metchosin

1km = 0.6 miles approx.

BAMFIELD CAMPBELL RIVER 217 191 CHEMAINUS 201 45 146 COURTENAY

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South Island

Swartz Bay

Shawnigan Lake Mill Bay

Port Renfrew

a S 14 tra it

Distance Chart in kilometres

Vancouver Island

Public Markets CENTRAL ISLAND S t r a

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PACIFIC RIM

Inside

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dave obee, Editor & Publisher 250.380.5201 dobee@timescolonist.com Peter baillie, Advertising Director 250.380.5329 pbaillie@timescolonist.com Cathy Webster, Advertising Sales 250.360.7759 cwebster@timescolonist.com Gary Johnston, Advertising Sales 250.213.5473 gjohnston@timescolonist.com DARRON KLOSTER, Editor dkloster@timescolonist.com Brian Pert, Graphic Designer bpert@timescolonist.com Discover is on the Web at www.timescolonist.com – follow the links.

Discover Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, published by the Times Colonist, is also distributed in the Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal and in Metro Vancouver and Greater Seattle.

DISCOVER 2019

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BAYVIEW PLACE IS A 20-ACRE MASTER PLANNED VANCOUVER ISLAND COMMUNITY OVERLOOKING VICTORIA’S INNER HARBOUR

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Introducing E&N, the first building on the historic CPR Roundhouse lands, will join the Bayview Place 20-acre master planned community and will offer convenient and unique residential, retail and community spaces.

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BAYVIEWPLACE.COM 250.388.9924 This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering can only be made with a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.

DISCOVER 2019

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VANCOUVER ISLAND VANCOUVER ISLAND

Vancouver Island It is consistently named one of the world’s best islands to visit and explore.

Vancouver Island has been described as equal parts romantic and wild.

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DISCOVER 2019

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VANCOUVER ISLAND

All about this big beautiful rock...

Vancouver Island is a large, populated Island with incredible diversity, wildlife and things to see, explore and do. Here are some fast facts about the Island and its different areas.

■ 460 kilometres long and 100 kilometres wide, Vancouver Island is almost the size of Holland.

It is the 11th largest island in Canada with about 32,000 square kilometres of area.

■ Vancouver Island has about 3,400 kilometres of coastline, making it a boater, beachcomber and diver’s dream.

Unparalleled beauty, unique charm.

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■ The Vancouver Island mountain range runs the length of the entire Island. It has an area of 45,373 square kilometres, with the highest point being the summit of the Golden Hinde at 2,195 metres. The mountains make for some great hiking.

he wild side is experienced in the deep old-growth rainforests, craggy mountain trails and the awe-inspiring power of open ocean swells. An abundance of wildlife is found in the forests, in the skies, in inland waterways and offshore. Challenge yourself with outdoor experiences such as hiking, climbing, diving, surfing, geocaching, kayaking or mountain biking. Or jump into the ‘wild side’ of a different sort and experience the energy of one of the many music festivals or cultural celebrations across the Island.

Enjoy the romantic side with barefoot walks along soft sandy beaches or a hike through misty rainforests. Indulge in modern creature comforts and a bit of personal pampering.

Book a restorative stay in resort lodgings or a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast.

Graze on the slowest of slow foods in unpretentious, quietly world-class restaurants or try out a hip new restaurant making its début. Tour award-winning wineries, cideries and meaderies, or visit one of the Island’s unique distilleries.

Enjoy live music, theatre and the fine arts.

Plan for some satisfying retail therapy excursions. And experience a world of gracious hospitality.

Explore the rich world of Vancouver Island’s Indigenous cultures by attending one of the many First Nations’ festivals. Glide the inland ocean passages in a dugout canoe or taste rich salmon roasted on a cedar fire.

There’s simply so much to see and do.

You will be sure to discover some unexpected aspect of Vancouver Island that will surprise and delight you.

■ As of 2016, 1,098,352 people lived on the Island in about 50 cities, towns, villages and remote areas.

■ There are three main First Nations groups on Vancouver Island. The Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish. Within the band are various other groups with unique cultures and governments.

■ Della Falls in Strathcona Park (North Central Island) is the highest waterfall in North America at 440 metres, or 1,443 feet.

■ Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park is home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees, reaching heights in excess of 95 metres or 310 feet. Additionally, the park is home to ancient, knotted cedars estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.

■ Hornby Island, Nootka Sound and Saanich Inlet are three of the very few places in the world where divers can encounter the six gilled shark, a primitive cousin of modern day sharks with six gills instead of five and only one dorsal fin near its tail. Six gilled sharks are deep water creatures, known to dive over 1,800-metre depths (6,000 feet) but around Hornby and Nootka, they come up to shallower depths for reasons unknown.

■ Strong support for all things local: Vancouver Island has more than 2,800 farms, with nearly 1,000 in the Greater Victoria region.

The Englishman River tumbles through a rocky gorge in the Englishman River Falls Provincial Park.

It is located west of Parksville and borders the town of Errington. Short hiking trails and bridges access both upper and lower falls. The campground has 103 sites and about half can be reserved.

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■ From the South Island, through the Cowichan Valley and to Comox Valley, there are around 37 licensed wineries.

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■ More than 40 farmer’s markets take place on the Island. The Duncan Farmer’s Market is considered one of the top markets in British Columbia.

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VANCOUVER ISLAND VANCOUVER ISLAND

■ The Vancouver Island Marmot is unique to its namesake and is distinct from other marmot types. They are considered an endangered species, and large conservation programs are working to re-establish their population.

Rick Hudson

■ Duncan is home to the world’s largest hockey stick originally created for Expo 1986. The stick is 62.48 metres long, weighs 28.12 tonnes (62,000 pounds) and is therefore 40 times the size of a regular hockey stick.

■ Vancouver Island sees over 20,000mm of rain per year, with Port Renfrew and Tofino seeing the most. Victoria, thanks to the rain shadow of the mountains and the mainland, sees the least.

■ Sidney has the title of Canada’s only booktown in existence. Twelve bookstores exist within a four-block radius, right in the middle of the town. Each is unique and you’re guaranteed to find the perfect read for your traveling downtime. Booktown was established in 1996 and is one of just a few that exists in the entire world.

Doug Fisk/Fiskfotos

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■ Nanaimo is the Bathtub Racing capital of the world. Races date back to 1967.

■ Vancouver Island’s rainfall, vegetation, soil cover and topography have resulted in thousands of well-developed caves, including some of Canada’s deepest and longest cave systems. It has the largest concentration of karst caves in North America with more than 10,000 caves making up nearly four per cent of the Island’s terrain.

Handcrafted individually in Victoria BC INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING JEWELLERY DESIGNERS • SINCE 1972 946 Fort St, Victoria, BC • 250-383-3414 • www.idar.com 8

Jewellery Designs © 2019 IDAR.

The Summer Series

DISCOVER 2019

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VANCOUVER ISLAND

■ National Geographic recognizes Vancouver Island as one of the best cold-water diving destinations on earth and the renowned Jacques Cousteau Society rates the area second only to the Red Sea for diversity of marine life and water clarity.

■ More than 7,000 known species inhabit the coastal waters of Vancouver Island.

This includes more than 200 species of migratory birds and 33 species of land mammals.

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DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

Experience Victoria’s Seaside Neighbourhood A vibrant cultural hub and a year-round recreational haven... right along Victoria’s coast.

J ST 10 JU MINS FROM DOWNTOWN VIICTORIA!

DOWNTOWN VICTORIA

OAK BAY

GETTING HERE IS EASY, IT IS LEAVING THAT IS HARD. Oak Bay boasts 8 miles of coastline, mineral baths, sandy beaches, year-round golf, boutique shopping, gourmet ocean-wise cuisine, live outdoor music, night markets, and plenty of arts and culture!

Stay

Play

Get Away

Find suggested day tours and itineraries at 10

www.OakBayTourism.com DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

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Enjoy the tranquility of a traditional English home in the heart of Oak Bay Village, steps from the Sea, yet just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Empress Hotel. Our reasonable rates and complimentary hearty breakfasts will make us your home-away-from-home!

See hotel packages at OakBayGuestHouse.com DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

Welcome to the

City of Gardens

Rich in culture, steeped in history.

Walk along Government Street to Bastion Square and you will find bricks embedded in the pavement tracing the outline of the original Fort Victoria, a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. Picturesque heritage buildings, horse-drawn carriages, double-decker sight-seeing bus tours, two castles and the quintessential treat — tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel overlooking the Inner Harbour — are all reminiscent of our British heritage.

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DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

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Named after Queen Victoria and the main point of entry for Vancouver Island, Victoria is proud of its history, overflowing flower pots, nautical beauty and old English charm.

Come and stay a while ...

With a perfect growing climate, Victoria is known internationally as the City of Gardens. And there are many more reasons to visit:

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■ Beacon Hill Park is a jewel in Victoria’s crown.

The 200-acre park has meticulously manicured gardens, as well as Garry Oak meadows and grasslands, lakes, bridges, fountains and an impressive variety of exotic and native trees.

Goodacre and Fountain Lakes are home to a variety of waterfowl, and wild peacocks roam the park. The children’s petting farm is a favourite with families with its lively goats, donkeys, piglets and more.

■ Victoria has been named both the Most Romantic City in Canada (eight years running), one of the top 15 Friendliest Cities in the World and Canada’s Best City to Live in for Women.

■ 1,500 lamp posts across the city hold hanging flower baskets every summer.

■ Victoria is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, with hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths, bike lanes and routes in the city, including the incomparable Galloping Goose Regional Trail.

■ There are 18 golf courses in Victoria. Winters are mild, so you can play year round.

■ Victoria gets 2,183 hours of sunshine per year and eight months that are frost free.

■ First Nations have a long and storied history here. Victoria is the home of the Lekwungen People, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nation. The Victoria Capital Region encompasses the traditional territories of Coast Salish First Nations bands (Esquimalt, Songhees, Pauguachin, Tseycum, Tsawout, Tsartlip, Scia’new, T’souke and Malahat), and one Nuu-chach-Nulth First Nations band (Pacheedaht).

■ Half a million cups of tea are served annually at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

■ The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has the most comprehensive collection of Asian art in Canada.

■ The Royal British Columbia Museum, founded in 1886, is one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world.

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■ More than one million annual visitors a year flock to the internationally renowned Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada.

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South Island

■ Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco. You will find the narrowest commercial street in all of Canada here, Fan Tan Alley, where you can revel in the small boutiques and shops.

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■ Bastion Square, the historic, pedestrian-only site of the original Fort Victoria, is home to shops, restaurants, and a busy summer artisan market and talented buskers.

■ The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is a 15-minute stroll from downtown. Known for its touring exhibits and a permanent collection of 18,000 objets d’art from Asia, Europe and North America.

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DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

VICTORIA | BC | CANADA

THE BLUES IN ALL SHADES FOR YOUR SOUL! th

26 Edition ■ Victoria has more restaurants per capita than any other place in the country and rivals the foodie scene in San Francisco.

■ Carr House, Emily Carr’s birthplace in historic James Bay, is open from May 1 to Sept. 30, Tuesday through Saturday and is just a short stroll along Government Street from the Inner Harbour.

■ St. Ann’s Academy, the city’s first Catholic school, features lovely walkways and gardens, not far from Beacon Hill Park.

■ Craigdarroch Castle was built for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, B.C.’s first millionaire. This 39-room Victorian-era mansion has been meticulously restored and is open for tours.

Blues Bash Vancouver

Island

‘ 19

August 31 - September 2

OUTDOOR STAGE @ SHIP POINT VICTORIA’S INNER HARBOUR FREE AFTERNOON PERFORMANCES SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY TICKETED EVENING PERFORMANCES SATURDAY & SUNDAY On-site beverage garden & food vendors

■ Downtown is home to one of the province’s biggest technology clusters with hundreds of small companies and thousands of employees contributing millions to the local economy.

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■ Mile 0 of the Trans Canada Highway is next to Beacon Hill Park, at Douglas Street and Dallas Road. Look for a statue of national hero and cancer fighting crusader Terry Fox.

■ Fisherman’s Wharf in James Bay, steps from the Inner Harbour, is a great place to buy fresh seafood. Lunch on delicious fish’n’chips right on the dock or enjoy an ice cream from Victoria’s only floating ice cream store as you take in the colourful collection of house boats.

Curious harbour seals keep watch for fishy handouts. The pier is a stop for the Victoria Harbour Ferry. You can hop on to take a unique tour of the harbour.

Complete lineup and schedule available early July! w w w.jazz vic toria.c a Produced by:

FESTIVAL INFO: 1-250-388-4423 DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

Bruce Morgan

Oak Bay Marina

Oak Bay

Experience Victoria’s Seaside Neighbourhood.

■ ART With a long history of arts and culture, Oak Bay features rotating and collective art galleries for Canadian artists, The David Foster Foundation Theatre, seasonal live Dinner Theatre shows, weekly movie nights paired with gourmet popcorn and spirits and craft beer, artfully prepared local cuisine, summer outdoor concerts, ArtsAlive outdoor sculptures, resident artist tours, and the full month of August is dedicated to Art and Culture.

Oak Bay is home to many renowned local artists, with a high concentration of galleries and studios and year-round performances, exhibits and events. Oak Bay has long inspired many of BC’s well-known artists. Emily Carr would retreat to her summer cottage here, and Amos, Taylor and Rasmussen call tranquil, easy-paced Oak Bay ‘home.’

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■ 8 miles of coastline Imagine a getaway with miles of beach, boutique shops, art galleries, tasty food and wine, bakeries and coffee shops to linger in, a charming hotel and an inn all within a kilometer.

Plenty of cool, relaxed things to do with family and friends within easy walking distance.

Surround yourself with spectacular seaside, vibrant village centres, tree-lined boulevards and iconic Edwardian architecture. Unhurried and tranquil, Oak Bay is the perfect place to explore at your own pace.

■ colourful heritage Oak Bay proudly holds onto its colourful heritage with traditional gardens, Edwardian architecture and a touch of tweed. Explore Oak Bay’s Gallery Row, where endless treasures can be found in an impressive collection of galleries and studios set among the boutique shops and eateries of historic Oak Bay Avenue. A variety of guided tours by land and sea offer a great way to experience the First Nations and colonial history and learn how the culture has evolved over time. All are invited to join in the many local celebrations and events held year round.

■ UNWIND For those seeking to unwind, the beautiful Boathouse Spa and Mineral Baths and quiet beaches await. Why not come and stay awhile?

Whether you choose five-star oceanfront luxury or a guesthouse, rich with old world charm, you’ll find memorable hospitality and wake up rested and ready to experience a West Coast paradise at your doorstep.

From downtown Victoria, Oak Bay is easily reached by bike, a leisurely seaside drive, or with one of the hop-on hop-off tour bus services departing frequently from the Inner Harbour.

■ CULTURE Oak Bay is easy-paced but lively, especially when locals spill into the streets and parks for gallery walks, street performances, market nights, music nights, stargazing, picnics, and festivals. Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s movie nights and dinner theatre are a local favourite.

Guided tours offer wonderful opportunities to experience the cultural flavour of Oak Bay. Oak Bay Tea Party

Times COlonist

■ shopping villages Oak Bay Avenue, Estevan, and Cadboro Bay are reminiscent of the British high streets of days gone by, but with a very modern twist of high style and culinary cool. Shop for fashion and gifts, visit the galleries, and taste the mouth-watering creations of charcutiers, chefs and bakers found throughout the area. The tradition of afternoon tea is still a local favourite.

Kayaking in Oak Bay waters

Tourism Oak Bay

A

vibrant cultural hub and a year-round recreational haven right along Victoria’s coast, Oak Bay is a nature lover’s delight.

Easy cycling, endless trails, barefoot beach strolls, marine life viewing, fishing and a gentle paddling along the shoreline are everyday adventures for locals and visitors alike.

DISCOVER 2019

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South Island / Events

We are Oak Bay. the old, the new, out there, and the open air.

Royal Victoria Yacht Club May 27, N48 27.2' W123 17.7' Opening Day features many activities to kick off the boating season Oak Bay Spring Nosh May 12, Oak Bay Avenue Local food vendors and chefs stage an outdoor food festival.

Oak Bay Half Marathon May 26 The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. at Windsor Park. After winding its way through the charming downtown core and historic residential setting of Oak Bay, the course loops out and back along the scenic seaside route of Beach Drive and finishes back at Windsor Park. The course is certified.

57th Oak Bay Tea Party June 1-2, Willows Beach Two days of fun along the beach, including midway rides from Friday afternoon until Sunday.

Tea Party Parade on Saturday morning along Oak Bay Avenue.

Vintage Car Festival July 28, Oak Bay Avenue Vintage car collectors from across Canada and the U.S. Arts & Culture Fortnight Festival Starting Aug. 8 A collection of art and cultural events throughout all of Oak Bay for two weeks.

Oak Bay Village Pumpkin Carvings Oct. 26-31 Oak Bay Avenue is decorated with professional pumpkin carvings and shops hand out treats.

Festival of lights Nov. 30 Royal Victoria Yacht Club parades a sea of lit-up boats around the coast of Oak Bay

“10 HOT DAYS & NIGHTS OF THE COOLEST MUSIC IN TOWN”

Tourism Oak Bay

Oak Bay Painted Piano

VICTORIA | BC | CANADA

JOEY ALEXANDER JACOB COLLIER RAUL MIDÓN LIONEL LOUEKE THE PATRICIA BARBER TRIO DONNY MCCASLIN MARQUIS HILL BLACKTET MAKAYA MCCRAVEN DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS MELISSA ALDANA

LAILA BIALI

NAUGHTY PROFESSOR

STEVE SMITH’S GROOVE BLUE ORGAN TRIO ERIC ALEXANDER QUARTET w. ERIC REED ALEX PANGMAN AND MANY, MANY MORE ...INCLUDING FREE PERFORMANCES! The 36th edition of the TD Victoria International JazzFest will feature the jazz, blues and world music of over 350 musicians from around the world in over 80 performances at various venues throughout downtown Victoria.

Complete festival lineup and schedule available April 11

www.jazzvictoria.ca Produced by:

FESTIVAL INFO: 1-250-388-4423 DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

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Stay Here Forever

You loved the visit to Victoria You walked the beaches, explored the trails and forests, visited the museums, galleries and enjoyed the cuisine and craft beer.

The locals are friendly. It’s a great vibe.

A perfect fit. And now you’re saying: ‘I want to live here.’ There are heritage buildings, gleaming new condominium towers with spectacular views, waterfront homes and cozy cottage-style houses in quaint neighbourhoods.

When hunting to find your new nest, the choices are vast. The region has 13 different municipalities and each has its charms.

People flock to Victoria as tourists and often find it’s also the perfect place to live.

And whether that’s for retirement or for work, there are plenty of good reasons to call the capital of British Columbia home.

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5 good reasons to call Victoria home 1. Let’s start with the climate.

It’s always the top draw because it’s simply the best in Canada. The city is located at the tip of Vancouver Island and on the northern limit of a subtropical zone. This means a cool, dry summer with temperatures rarely climbing above 30 degrees Celsius and only sinking below -2 degrees Celsius a few nights of the year. What’s more, Victoria experiences about half the rainfall of Vancouver due to its prime location in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, just 17 kilometres across the Juan de Fuca Strait. That often means golfing and hiking and other activities all year-round. It’s the perfect weather for growing fruits and vegetables — and we are the City of Gardens.

2. The economy is diverse and always booming. Victoria has the stability of being a government town — the provincial legislature is here and several federal offices are dotted around the core — as well as the thriving industries of tourism, technology, research, education, forestry, marine technology and entrepreneurial enterprise.

Greater Victoria has consistently boasted the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, with a workforce of about 200,000, and a forecast of thousands of new job openings in the next decade.

3. The arts and culture scene is second to none for a city of its size, with a well-established symphony, the province’s main museum, one of Canada’s best art galleries as well as musical and dramatic theatres.

4. Get fit. Victoria prides itself on the young and the young at heart. We are Canada’s most bicycle friendly community and a vast network of riding and biking trails spread like a web throughout the region, that make getting anywhere a breeze. Abundant natural beauty is good for the soul, and there is no shortage of beautiful parks and beaches around Victoria.

It’s surrounded by the sea, so find your favourite beach. There is a network of parks, including our signature 200-acre Beacon Hill Park, with native Garry oak ecosystem that provide you with the most breathtaking views and adventures.

5. World-class education. The city has a progressive public school system and many are attracted to the post-secondary education that isn’t available to them in their hometowns.

From career colleges and trade schools, to technical schools and universities, the area is abundant in educational opportunities.

Many high school graduates move to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria, Camosun College and trade and technical schools that will further education and skills in their chosen career.

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BRIGGS & STRATTON

& ASSOCIATES Rebecca, Nancy & Sophia Together this dynamic team offers their clients in-depth knowledge of Victoria’s real estate market and the characteristics of the array of neighbourhoods under consideration.

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SOTHEBYSREALTY.CA

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Great Bear Rainforest A visual journey to B.C.’s wild coast.

A

My Oh Maya!

GETTY

udiences will experience one of the planet’s most exquisite and secluded wildernesses — British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest — when the new giant-screen documentary Great Bear Rainforest opens at IMAX Victoria.

Great Bear Rainforest is narrated by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds with music composed and arranged by the legendary Academy Award-winning composer, Hans Zimmer, and Anzˇe Rozman.

Hidden from the outside world, the Great Bear Rainforest is home to an immense array of wildlife, including the fabled all-white spirit bear — the rarest bear on Earth — and the First Nations people, who have provided stewardship of the forest for millennia. It is the largest temperate coastal rainforest in the world and has remained relatively unchanged for more than 10,000 years.

From the underwater ocean world, through the salmon river valleys to the ice-capped peaks of the Coast Mountains, their unprecedented close-up footage of the spirit bear, along with stunning shots of the forest’s coastal wolves, grizzlies, sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, salmon and the annual herring spawn will thrill audiences who may not even know such a world exists.

IMAX Victoria is located in the Royal B.C. Museum. Information and showtimes are available online at imaxvictoria.com

The Great Jaguar rises Get ready for an eye-opening season at the Royal British Columbia Museum.

The world-famous attraction — widely known for its incredible collecion of First Nations and natural history collections — now brings you a powerful Mayan culture that rose in the tropical rainforests of Central America thousands of years ago. Explore Maya identity from ancient times to the present day and see how science and belief have shaped the Maya world.

Celebrating UNESCO’s Year of Indigenous Languages, Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition will highlight 30 Maya languages spoken today. It runs May 17 to Dec. 31.

Experience the resilience and genius of Maya art and culture at this remarkable exhibition, presented in North America for the first time. Works — some never before shown outside Guatemala — include elaborate incense burners, striking jade-and-gold jewellery and an astonishing three-metre-long sculpture of a man with jaguar attributes.

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DISCOVER 2019

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South Island / Events

Capital City Comic Con March 22-24 Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Garden Capital City Comic Con is dedicated to comics, toys, games, family fun, science fiction, special guests and pop culture of all kinds. The region will play host to three days of panels, signings, cosplay, vendors and more.

Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival April 3 to May 10 For six weeks, more than 9,000 Victoria-area students of music, dance and dramatic arts are on stages throughout the city receiving adjudications from renowned experts in the arts.

Daily throughout the Festival, talented young people and adults perform in brass, classical guitar, choral, composition, dance, fiddle, musical theatre, piano, dramatic arts, strings, voice and woodwinds.

Adrian Lam , TIMES COLONIST

TC 10K/Thrifty Foods Family Run April 28, Downtown Victoria 30th Annual TC10K. Join 9,000 participants in one of the world’s most scenic and spectacular events. The whole family can enjoy the Thrifty Foods Family Run. Walk, run or stroll the 1.5-kilometre course. You can register in person at the runsport/tc10k.ca Zach Wright tees off during the Bayview Place DC bank Open at Uplands Golf Club.

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Uno Fest May 1-11, Victoria From parties to soundscapes, from performance art to a salsa lesson, this 11-day festival is packed to the brim with genre-defying, boundary-pushing solo performance from across North America. intrepidtheatre.com Esquimalt Buccaneer Days May 10–12, Downtown Esquimalt Pirate-themed fun-filled weekend loaded with events for all ages. Midway, beer garden, rugby tournament, sky divers, kids’ playzone, races and the Buccaneer Days Parade. esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca

The Embassy Inn Inner Harbour Victoria

156th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival May 18-20, Topaz Park, Victoria Channel your inner Scot. The annual Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival is one of the oldest festivals in North America and one of the very few three-full day Highland Games.

The 156th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival will be the largest in its history with an expanded list of activities and events. victoriahighlandgames.com

37th Bayview Place DC Bank Open Golf Tournament May 26-June 2, Uplands Golf Club Victoria is the longest-serving city on the Canadian professional golf tour circuit. And in a city of beautiful year-round golf courses, Uplands is a jewel everyone loves to play, including some of the best young players in the world. Come out and walk the course, enjoy the fresh air and take in the skills of professional players from around the globe on the Mckenzie PGA Canada tour.

121st Island Farms Victoria Day Parade May 20, Downtown Victoria Celebrate Victoria Day in British Columbia’s capital city at the 121st Island Farms Victoria Day Parade. This is Victoria’s largest parade, attracting well over 100,000 people. It features Canadian and American marching bands, community and commercial floats, cultural shows and festive clowns. Led by the Canadian Forces, this annual event is free and fun for the whole family.

Oak Bay Tea Party June 1-2, Willows Beach Activities at this popular family event include an air show, bathtub race, parade through Oak Bay, carnival, free live music, raffle draw and so much more. The Oak Bay Tea Party provides a fun-filled weekend for the community and helps to raise funds for service organizations. This year the Tea Party will be celebrating its 57th anniversary.

76th Swiftsure International Yacht Race May 23-27, Victoria The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is the premier long-distance sailing race in the Pacific Northwest and B.C., and is organized by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. swiftsure.org

DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

South Island / Events

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• Salmon and halibut fishing in the famous waters of Sooke, Victoria and Port Renfrew.

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DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival June 20-22 Join the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations in celebrating the National Indigenous Day weekend with music, dance, food and the arts, and best of all, it’s all free! Royal B.C. Museum.

TD Victoria International JazzFest June 21–30, multiple venues in Victoria The Victoria Jazz Society organizes one of the country’s best festivals of its kind, with local and international artists. jazzvictoria.ca/jazz-fest

Spectacular Summer Evenings at Butchart Gardens June 30-Sept. 1 The two-month entertainment calendar at Butchart Gardens (shows are included with paid admission to the gardens) is rich with nightly offerings all summer. butchartgardens.com Sidney Days Canada Day Parade July 1, Sidney Experience all the fun of Canada Day and the parade in Sidney. BBQ, opening ceremonies and Family Fun Fair in Iroquois Park in Sidney.

Following the parade, the fun continues with a variety of activities for the entire family, including inflatable obstacle course, carnival-style games, dog show, watermelon eating contest, life-size hamster balls and more. peninsulacelebrations.ca 25th annual Pride Parade and Festival July 8 From a dragball baseball game to the Big Gay Dog Walk, Victoria Pride Week offers a week-long run of events capped by the massively popular Pride Parade on July 8.

Join the thousands of people enjoying a multifaceted festival, with two stages of entertainment, beer garden, food court, giant vendor area and youth pride/kids camp areas, downtown and Macdonald Park in James Bay. victoriapridesociety.org

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Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival June 19-23 The 20th annual Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival always has an impressive and varied lineup, which fills the festival’s main stage area at Ship Point. There's plenty happening off site as well, from workshops and guest speakers to visual arts showcases.

Northwest Deuce Days July 18-21 Prepare yourself for some automotive eye candy.

Started in 1998, the ever popular Northwest Deuce Days takes place every three years in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, attracting classic car owners from North America and across the world.

Local and international spectators have the unique opportunity to view 1,200 spectacular pre-1952 collector vehicles, more than 500 of which are Deuces.

32nd TD Art Gallery Paint-In July 20, Moss Street, Victoria More than 170 artists bring their studios onto Moss Street and mingle with the people. Be part of the biggest art event of the year. aggv.ca

A Natural Way to Spend Your Summer Island View Beach Regional Park

Jordan River Regional Park

Sooke Potholes Regional Park

Panoramic Seascape Views

Idyllic West Coast Beauty

Spring Salmon Place [KWL-UCHUN]

• Long sandy beach & seascape views

• Cobble beach with views of the

• Local favourite for swimming,

• Close to ferry, airport, downtown

• Hemlock & cedar forest trails

• Adjacent to the Galloping Goose

Book online at crd.bc.ca/islandviewbeach

• Open year-round

• Trails along the Sooke River &

• Excellent bird watching area

Victoria, Lochside Regional Trail

Olympic Peninsula

• Local favourite for camping & surfing

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South Island / Events

6th annual Victoria Flamenco Festival July 26-29.

Flamenco music and dance in Centennial Square and Beacon Hill Park. victoriaflamencofestival.com The Phillips Backyard Weekender July 26-28, Downtown Victoria Head to the Phillips Backyard for one of the favourite weekends of the year. The Backyard and surrounding streets are turned into one giant block party in the heart of downtown Victoria.

Stage, food trucks and plenty of tasty craft brews. phillipsbeer.com

33rd annual 2018 Sooke Fine Arts Show July 26 - Aug. 5 SEAPARC Leisure Complex, Sooke The Sooke Fine Arts Show brings together the finest artists from Vancouver Island and B.C.’s coastal islands to showcase and sell their work.

This is Vancouver Island’s longest-running juried fine art show and the Island’s premier summer arts event. The 11-day art show and sale draws more than 9,000 art lovers from Canada, the U.S. and abroad. sookefinearts.com

Adrian Lam , TIMES COLONIST

Adrian Lam , TIMES COLONIST

Symphony Splash Aug. 5, Victoria Inner Harbour Tens of thousands of people will take to Victoria’s Inner Harbour for the annual Victoria Symphony Splash. From a floating stage in the Inner Harbour, Maestro Christian Kluxen, the Symphony and special guests will perform, ending with the grand finale performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with fireworks. victoriasymphony.ca

25th Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Aug. 9-11, Downtown Victoria Teams race from Laurel Point toward the Fairmont Empress Hotel in an intense display of strength and teamwork. The festival of sport, music and ceremonies helps support the B.C. Cancer Foundation. victoriadragonboat.com

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South Island / Events

Victoria Fringe Festival Aug. 21 to Sept. 1, Downtown Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival takes over downtown Victoria each summer for a 12-day celebration of live performance from around the world, featuring an eclectic mixture of spoken word, drama, musicals, dance, comedy, magic, theatre for young audiences and more. intrepidtheatre.com/festivals/fringe-festival Saanich Fair Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Saanich Fairgrounds, Saanichton Western Canada’s oldest continuous country fair celebrates 151 years! saanichfair.ca

DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

42nd Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Victoria Inner Harbour The Maritime Museum of BC is proud to host the annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival on the docks.

View 100+ classic boats, visit the floating exhibits, cheer on your favourite boats in the races, and take part in the many activities, workshops and events. The Pacific Northwest on both sides of the border is blessed with an enormous number of traditional boats of all descriptions. The wonderful craft – both yachts and workboats – are cared for by their owners and a supportive community of boatyards, trades people and admirers. classicboatfestival.ca

The Capital City Center Hotel is a 4-story, full service hotel with an on-site restaurant, lounge, and conference rooms.

We offer the only pool-side food & beverage service in Victoria.

1961 Douglas St., Victoria B.C. 1.250.953.1000 1.888.877.9444 reservations@capitalcenterhotel.com www.capitalcitycenterhotel.com Free parking for hotel guests and patrons.

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DISCOVER 2019

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South Island / Events

Vancouver Island Blues Bash Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, Inner Harbour, various venues Dance into the night with the sun setting on the Inner Harbour as blues music ripples across the water. It’s one of the best concert settings of the season, and the lineup of musicians is always top notch.

12th annual Rifflandia Festival Sept. 12-15, Royal Athletic Park Annual four-day festival features a multitude of events celebrating the art and music community. Highlights include art installations, a cinema area, food vendors, an art area called Artlandia featuring local arts and crafts and several stages presenting a diverse lineup of internationally renowned rock, pop and Indie musical acts. rifflandia.com

There is a lumberjack in all of us Experience the thrill of axe throwing!

Birthday parties, bachelor(ette) parties, corporate events or drop ins.

Sidney Fine Arts Show Oct. 12 to 14, Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney Presented by the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula. World class juried art show for serious artists and patrons of the arts. sidneyfineartshow.ca

910 Government St., Victoria 250.590.3229 www.axeandgrind.org

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! r e v o c s i D A unique, historic destination with local boutiques and tasty eateries...

560 Johnson Street • Victoria

250-480-4887 • imaxvictoria.com IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

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South Island Located in the famous Fairmont EMPRESS HOTEL

Inner Harbour

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Opening March 29

The Island’s Crown Jewel

The beauty of Butchart Gardens will leave a lasting impression.

N

o trip to Vancouver Island is complete without a visit to Butchart Gardens.

Take it from the millions of tourists — and locals, this will be an experience you will never forget.

Now a National Historic Site, the gardens all began in 1904 with one woman’s vision and passion.

With a former limestone quarry for her backyard, Jennie Butchart envisioned landscaping a sunken garden in its place, transforming the property for her family — and visitors — for generations to come.

Husband and wife, Robert and Jennie Pim Butchart moved to Vancouver Island from Ontario to build a cement plant on a rich limestone deposit at Tod Inlet.

As cement production exhausted the limestone deposits, Jennie envisioned a grand garden in its place and began transferring top soil by horse and cart. Little by little, the quarry blossomed into today’s Sunken Garden.

Between 1906 and 1929, the Butcharts expanded the Gardens to 55 acres, designing the Japanese Garden on the seaside, the Italian Garden on their former tennis court and the fragrant, overflowing Rose Garden.

Gifted the Gardens on his 21st birthday, grandson Ian Ross transformed Butchart Gardens into the world-renowned attraction we know today, adding outdoor concerts and night lighting in the summers, and the Magic of Christmas in the winters.

Beginning in 1977, great-grandson Christopher began producing a choreographed fireworks show every year. In 2009, his sister, and current owner of the gardens, Robin Clarke, added the Children’s Pavilion and Menagerie Carousel.

An outdoor skating rink was also added, much to the delight of Christmas revellers.

Today, the Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada. You will find remnants of the original cement plant and more than a million bedding plants in over 900 varieties awaiting you as you wander the gardens.

Spend the day and walk at your own pace.

Enjoy the dining options and take some seeds and other gifts home after a trip through the garden’s incredible gift shop.

QUICK FACTS ■ More than a million visitors annually ■ Over 600 staff during peak season ■ 290 staff during off season ■ 50 full-time gardeners ■ 20 seasonal gardeners ■ 26 greenhouses

250-480-4887 • imaxvictoria.com IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

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■ 110 million litres of non-municipal water used from reservoirs ■ Spring welcomes more than 300,00 bulbs, blooming in brilliant colours

DISCOVER 2019

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South Island

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High Tea

A grand Victoria tradition.

■ The Fairmont Empress Hotel has served afternoon tea to royalty, celebrities and dignitaries. Tea at the Empress is among the world’s unique tea experiences.

Complement the house-made signature Empress scones, pastries, clotted creams and strawberry preserves with fresh lavender from the rooftop herb garden.

There are 21 of the finest loose leaf teas available. Featuring the original blend of Empress Tea and the exceptionally rare Tong Mu Phoenix Lapsang Souchong blend, the tea list is ethically sourced and certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership. Tea at the Empress is an absolute must-do event in Victoria.

■ The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden offers four-star guest service and exceptional food in a beautiful setting, giving guests a memory to cherish. Seasonal menus showcase regional or Abkhazi Gardengrown produce, complementing the garden’s appearance when it is in bloom.

Serves Silk Road loose leaf teas.

1964 Fairfield Road.

■ The White Heather Tea Room is known for its artistically arranged tea plates on an

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intimate white-linen setting. On offer are a wonderful selection of teas, from traditional favourites to special blends, herbal teas, green teas and more. If coffee is “your cup of tea,” don’t despair as they also offer freshly brewed coffee.

1885 Oak Bay Avenue ■ Butchart Gardens High Tea. Step into the Dining Room restaurant located in the former residence of the Butcharts and enjoy the English tradition of afternoon tea, during the warmer weather, or High Tea with its hot delicacies during the cooler months.

They also have a vegetarian, a gluten-free, children's version and a version for Mother’s Day. Admission to the Gardens is required.

■ Venus Sophia. Enjoy a homey experience with finger sandwiches, fresh cakes, hot scones and array of organic teas. Afternoon tea is an informal affair of the highest standard. Indulge in a tea-time experience whether you are celebrating a special day or if you just feel like stopping for a little while. The ambience inside is warm, elegant and regal. Gather with loved ones for the full high tea experience in a beautiful dining room. 540 Fisgard St., Chinatown.

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South Island The history of afternoon tea originates in the 1800s in England, where it was customary to only eat two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. The idea first started when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, famously complained of “having that sinking feeling” during late afternoon. Her solution was to have a pot of tea with a light sandwich or cake privately. Soon she started to invite friends to join her for tea and sandwiches.

GETTY

HELIJET CHARTERS has the people, expertise, and equipment to meet your flight requirements.

Providing charter aerial support for business, industry, filming and sightseeing, Helijet is ready to help develop your flight plans. Our pilots and crews are highly experienced with West Coast terrain and conditions, and ready to take off from our bases in Richmond-YVR, Vancouver Harbour, Victoria Harbour, Prince Rupert or Sandspit-Haida Gwaii.

Fresh-Air Strolls

Best Walks in Downtown Victoria.

■ Ogden Point Breakwater: A short walk from Dallas Road out onto the Ogden Point breakwater. Built in 1916, the breakwater has been a popular spot for wildlife watching.

Expect to see whales, herons, seals and otters.

The west side wall is decorated with the enormous First Nations Land and Sea Mural.

DISCOVER VANCOUVER ISLAND SPECTACULAR, SCENIC, SCHEDULED HELICOPTER FLIGHTS

■ Dallas Road runs from Erie Street along the waterfront to Hollywood Crescent in Fairfield.

It will take you past Beacon Hill Park, Clover Point (a popular kite-flying spot) and historic Ross Bay Cemetery. Views are of the snowcapped mountains of Olympic Peninsula to the south. It’s a long walk, but there is angled parking all along so you can stop and stroll.

■ Westsong Walkway begins just across Victoria’s new Johnson Street Bridge, at the Songhees totems, and follows along the harbour up to the float homes at West Bay Marina. It’s six kilometres there and back and includes spectacular views of the Inner Harbour and downtown Victoria, waterfowl and other wild life, as well as float planes, water taxis, ferries and cruise ships.

■ Fisherman’s Wharf/David Foster Harbour Path: Start at Erie Street at Fisherman’s Wharf, then follow the harbour around in front of the Empress Hotel either on Government Street or below on the causeway. The causeway is bustling with artists, crafts, and buskers.

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South Island

Victoria’s Hidden Treasures ■ Ghost Tours Ghostly Walks were developed by John Adams, one of Victoria’s foremost historians and storytellers. The tours are conducted by John and his expert guides, and will take you to downtown Victoria’s most haunted spots.

The city has some amazing stories of murder, love and hangings. discoverthepast.com

■ Dragon Alley Chinatown’s mysterious passageway connects Fisgard and Herald Streets and is home to an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, studios and residential units. Look for the red “Dragon Alley” sign on the north side of Fisgard Street.

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■ Christ Church Cathedral Large, gothic cathedral at 930 Burdett Avenue is one of Canada’s largest churches.

Self-guided tour lets you explore the grandeur and history of this architectural gem.

GETTY

■ Thunderbird Park Located next to the Royal BC Museum, on the corner of Belleville and Douglas streets, Thunderbird Park is home to an impressive display of totem poles and First Nations monuments, as well as two historic buildings; Helmcken House and St. Anne’s Schoolhouse.

■ Ross Bay Cemetery Ross Bay Cemetery at 1516 Fairfield Road is one of the most historic places in Victoria, and the final resting place of Emily Carr, Sir James Douglas (B.C.’s first governor), Billy Barker (discoverer of gold at Barkerville) and Robert Dunsmuir (Craigdarroch Castle).

■ Government House 1401 Rockland Avenue, Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. The grounds include formal gardens and a rare Garry oak ecosystem. Explore the gardens anytime, from sunrise to sunset, free of charge.

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South Island

WHY NOT

TONIGHT? Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, we’ll always make you feel celebrated. From consistently delicious dinners to exceptional service, why not make The Keg the next stop on your journey?

3940 Quadra Street 250.479.1651

500 Fort Street 250.386.7789

kegsteakhouse.com DISCOVER 2019

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Shop Like The Locals

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Supporting small business builds a thriving economy.

W

hether you are a tourist or a resident, there is one thing we can all agree upon — we all love to enjoy the side of Vancouver Island that people around the world are talking about.

The things that make our region a bucket-list destination; the unique experiences, shops and services that Greater Victoria offers, from Sooke to Sidney, from the Westshore to Oak Bay. We all want to discover the local gems, eat where the locals eat and create memories.

Greater Victoria would not be the diverse and remarkable community it is without the local, independent businesses that provide everything from groceries, stationery, clothes, and shoes to accounting services and auto repair. These business owners take the time to understand their customers’ needs because they live here too. Their products and services are geared for life in Greater Victoria, and they deliver them in a way that works for the people in their community.

There can be a real sense of connection when you buy from a local business. In fact, you might see the owners of Russell Books at a weekend soccer game with their kids, or the CEO of Monk Office eating lunch at a local café, or one of the fourth-generation owners of Robinson’s Outdoor

JAPANESE VILLAGE

Store at a charity event. Their passion for their business directly translates into passion for their community’s growth and prosperity.

At Think Local First, our goal is to support these local, independent businesses and help everyone understand the huge impact that spending our money with local businesses has on the prosperity of our region. We aim to raise the awareness of local businesses because they each contribute to the success and sustainability of our economy. We are working with other likeminded organizations to build neighbourhoods that flourish for those who live in them and those who visit.

Getting the message out about the benefits of shopping locally is a full-time endeavour.

We are always looking for new avenues to leverage. One new tool we have is a mobile app powered by Vancity that launched in 2017.

“If we want people to think and shop local first, we need tools that make it easy and rewarding to do so — for residents and tourists alike,” said Paul Hadfield, president of Think Local First.

“The Think Local First app allows us to create incentives to explore what’s unique about Greater Victoria in a way that’s fun and highlights our local businesses.”

buddiestoys.ca

Magic Shows Every Tuesday Night

A Chef at Every Table Dazzling Sleight-of-Hand Chop! Season! Sizzle!

250.382.5165

734 Broughton Street, Victoria, B.C. japanesevillage.bc.ca 34

VICTORIA

SIDNEY

#103 1131 Oak Bay Ave.

2494 Beacon Ave.

250.595.6501

250.655.7171

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Shop Like The Locals

Open Monday - Saturday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm

718 Fort Street • 250.385.1012 www.thedutchbakery.com

LOCALLY OWNED. COMMUNITY DRIVEN.

Frontrunners Locations: Victoria

Frontrunners Footwear is Vancouver Island’s most comprehensive running and athletic footwear establishment, with a knowledgeable and experienced staff to help you find the footwear and technical clothing that will suit your needs.

1200 Vancouver St, Victoria T 250.382.8181

Langford

755 Goldstream Ave, Suite 123, Victoria T 250.391.7373

Shelbourne

3659 Shelbourne St, Victoria T 250.384.4786

Nick Walker

Rob Reid

frontrunners.ca

Walking, Running & Lifestyle Store

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Shop Like The Locals

This free Think Local First app rewards people for visiting more than 250 locally owned businesses as well as points of interest that make Greater Victoria one of B.C.’s most popular destinations.

The app is both a wayfinding tool and a gamified way to reward people for shopping locally. The app’s Explore button takes you to a map of Greater Victoria, which has pins indicating the location of local businesses and the area’s unique points of interest, from heritage sites to places for outdoor recreation.

When you click on each pin on the map you get more information about that place. Locations are assigned a point value. Tap the Collect Points button while physically visiting a location and the app will add the location’s points to your point total. Your accumulated points can be redeemed for goods or services at any of the Rewards locations listed in the app.

When you use the Think Local First app, not only are you discovering local gems, you are directly helping to strengthen and enhance the local economy. You are also contributing to making Greater Victoria a place where new and diverse local businesses can thrive. This adds to the unique character of our region, so it continues to draw the attention of people around Vancouver Island, Canada and the world.

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South Island

Ken Wu

Walk Among The Giants The Avatar Grove was identified by the Ancient Forest Alliance in 2009.

This magnificent forest, within the traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation, is located near Port Renfrew, and shouldn't be missed.

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he forest contains a stunning and impressive grove of unprotected, monumental old-growth trees. It lies adjacent to Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Provincial Park and its popular coastal hiking trail not far from Highway 14 in the traditional territory of the Pacheedaht band.

Port Renfrew is a small community on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, a 90 minute drive west of Victoria. It is most famous as the trail head for both the West Coast Trail and the Juan de Fuca Trail, as well as for being home to some of the best saltwater salmon and halibut fishing.

Fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts descend on the town every summer from around the globe.

Botanical Beach and Botany Bay feature many geological marvels, such as its ridges of shale and quartz that marble through the black basalt, producing some of the most picturesque terrain.

Low tide offers the best viewing opportunities of the many organisms that inhabit the shoreline and tide pools - sea urchins, starfish, chitons and anemones, as well as mussels, barnacles and snails.

The temperate coastal rainforest community is dominated by old growth spruce, hemlock and cedar. “Canada’s Tall Tree Capital,” Port Renfrew has some of the tallest and largest trees in Canada. Avatar Grove, Big Lonely Doug and the Red Creek Fir are just a few of the iconic attractions.

Located on the Juan de Fuca Strait, the open waters of the Pacific Ocean are abundant with orca, grey and humpback whales in the same waters where Spanish and English galleons once explored the New World. Bear, cougar and elk live in the shelter of the massive fir, cedar and hemlock trees which tower hundreds of feet above the moss covered forest floor; their limbs reaching out to the eagles and osprey flying overhead.

Drive the Pacific Marine Circle Route, tracing the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and Port Renfrew, turning east past Avatar Grove and along former logging roads out to Lake Cowichan and onwards to the Cowichan Valley.

From there the road winds back to Victoria. The 255-kilometre trip can be enjoyed in a long day, or better still, on a multi-night excursion.

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Gulf Islands

Island hopping 38

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Gulf Islands

Diamonds in the Salish Sea

Immerse yourself in nature, good food and the slow, laid-back life of Gulf Islanders.

Located between Vancouver Island and B.C.’s Mainland, Gulf Island communities are creative meccas where you can meet local artists at markets or at their home studios.

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he Gulf Islands, ocean and farm-fresh culinary bounty is presented by chefs and food producers who prepare local ingredients with unique west-coast flair. Live music can be heard year-round at unique venues and pubs.

Known as “the healing islands,” they offer alternative and traditional healing arts, yoga, meditation and spiritual pursuits.

Beautifully appointed B&B’s abound in forest, farm or ocean settings with inspired breakfasts featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Lakefront cabins and cottages are great for families and groups.

Camping is very popular in the Gulf Islands and includes B.C. Provincial Parks, National Parks and private campgrounds. There are also yurts, tipis and converted Airstream trailers.

Resorts, hotels and spas round out the mix, with choices that meet the needs of higher-end travellers. Weddings are popular here as are wellness retreats, business meetings and family reunions.

With year-round daily service by BC Ferries, float plane and water taxis, getting to and around these islands in the Salish Sea is half the fun. southerngulfislands.com.

The Salish Sea is the intricate network of coastal waterways located between the south-western region of British Columbia, and the north-western region of the U.S. state of Washington. Its major bodies of water are the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound.

The inland waterways of the Salish Sea are partially separated from the open Pacific Ocean by Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula, and are thus partially shielded from Pacific Ocean storms.

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Gulf Islands

IMMERSE YOURSELF In Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

■ Go Geocaching Try a Geocaching program, and embark on a self-guided trip to experience some of the park’s most interesting cultural and natural hotspots. Choose from a family-friendly treasure hunt or a more strenuous route.

■ Take a scenic road trip Drive to the top of Mount Warburton Pike on Saturna Island and enjoy the breathtaking bird’s eye view. Or cruise along the stunning ocean-side road to East Point on Saturna Island where you will find an unmatched view of the Strait of Georgia.

■ Hike Mount Norman, South Pender Island Step up to a challenging 2.4-kilometre hike at Mount Norman on South Pender Island.

Ascend 244 metres as you explore beautiful forest scenery and be rewarded by jawdropping panoramic views.

■ McDonald Campground, North Saanich Camping mini-break: Gather the gang around a crackling campfire at McDonald Campground, a lush forest setting only minutes away from Sidney and Victoria.

■ Explore the backcountry Get away from it all at one of 10 backcountry campgrounds at Narvaez Bay on Saturna Island, a peaceful forest trail leads you down onto a beautiful rocky point, surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters and tall echoing cliffs. Take a seat, breathe in the clean forest air and admire your stunning surroundings.

■ Family getaway at Sidney Spit Mediterranean on a shoestring: Grab the clan and a gourmet picnic for a “cruise” by passenger ferry to Sidney Spit’s warm sandy beaches and inviting blue waters. Lie back and unwind on your beach blanket or catch up with a favourite book. Reserve your favourite campsite and settle in.

■ Paddle through the park reserve Cruise to Cabbage Island and enjoy the peace and quiet or circumnavigate Princess Margaret (Portland Island) for 360 degrees of stunning views. If you don’t have your own boat, hire a kayak guide for the day or treat yourself to a guided eco-tour.

Parks Canada/Christian J. Stewart

■ Explore the local history Book a kayak guide or water taxi, and head to Russell Island where a forested trail takes you to a historic Hawaiian Homestead. On summer afternoons and evenings, descendants of the original settlers will regale you with stories of their ancestors’ lives on the island. Or take a ferry to visit the Pender Island Museum or the Fog Alarm Building at East Point (Saturna Island) where you will hear local tall tales of the islands.

■ Wildlife watching Pack your camera and a lunch and head to East Point, Saturna Island, Georgina Point, Mayne Island or Sidney Spit for your best chance to see everything from birds to sea lions to whales.

On Salt Sprin g Islan d,art is a w ay oflife.

OPEN YEAR ROUND

MAYNE ISLAND

The Studio Touris a self-guided tradition ofart,craft,cheese and w ine,now in its 29th year!

Enterthe studios,talk w ith the artists,and take hom e a piece oftheirpassion. w w w .sa ltsprin gstu d io to u r.co m : : sa ltsprin gstu d io to u r@ gm a il.co m 40

9 fully equipped cottages

Perfect For Family Getaways!

www.bluevistaresort.com bluevista@bluevistaresort.com

1-877-535-2424 250-539-2463

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gulf Islands / Events

Gumboot Gala April 24, Salt Spring Folk Club, Fulford Hall, Salt Spring Island The Gumboot Gala, dubbed for the typical footwear for this time of the year. A wonderful way to end a great season with great performances by hosts Bill Henderson and Valdy. Backed by all the local usual suspects weaving their particular brand of musical magic. saltspringfolkclub.com Gulf Islands Tour des Îles June 21-23, Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna and Salt Spring Islands Three days of special events, local music, natural beauty and art displays on Southern Gulf Islands.

Each island will offer transportation, special events, music and fun. galianoisland.com Saturna Lamb BBQ July 1, Saturna Island A joyous celebration of Canada Day centred around a traditionally prepared barbeque lamb meal, with an old-fashioned country fair flavour. saturnalambbarbeque.com

www.theglassfoundry.com

DEREK LUNDY

Gabriola Isle of the Arts Festival April 4-14, Gabriola Island Ten days with more than 50 hands-on creative workshops. Literary evenings, night markets, concerts, professional development and more.

Don’t miss it. artsgabriola.ca

20th annual Salt Spring Island Apple Festival Sept. 27-29, Salt Spring Island Fulford Hall, 2591 Fulford Ganges Rd., A chance to visit Apple Heaven while still on earth! More than 500 organically-grown apple varieties. The Salt Spring Island Apple Festival is an incredible community event, attracting about 1,500 apple lovers, celebrating the apples (and food) of Salt Spring Island and connecting you with the farms and farmers that produce this very special diversity of tasty, healthy food. saltspringmarket.com

250-537-9200

A studio gallery where art is blown, cast and pressed from recycled glass.

TOURS • DEMOS • CLASSES 401 Upper Ganges Rd., Salt Spring Island, BC DISCOVER 2019

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Vancouver Island attractions SOUTH ISLAND Abkhazi Garden conservancy.bc.ca

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria aggv.ca Beacon Hill Park, Victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parks/ beacon-hill.html BC Aviation Museum bcam.net The Butchart Gardens butchartgardens.com Capital Regional District Parks crd.bc.ca/parks Craigdarroch Castle thecastle.ca Emily Carr House emilycarr.com Finnerty Gardens uvic.ca/finnerty

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill Government House ltgov.bc.ca Hatley Park National Historic Site hatleycastle.com IMAX Victoria Theatre imaxvictoria.com Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, leg.bc.ca Miniature World miniatureworld.com Point Ellice House pointellicehouse.ca Royal BC Museum, royalbcmuseum.bc.ca St. Ann’s Academy, stannsacademy.com Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, salishseacentre.org

Sooke Region Museum, sookeregionmuseum.com Victoria Bug Zoo, victoriabugzoo.ca Victoria Butterfly Gardens, butterflygardens.com Victoria Harbour Ferries, victoriaharbourferry.com

GULF ISLANDS

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/gulf Helen Point Peninsula Japanese Gardens, Mayne Island, mayneisland.com/places/ japanesegarden/index.html Ruckle Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church mayneisland.com/stmarymagdalene

The Island’s Hidden Jewel

COWICHAN

BC Forest Discovery Centre bcforestdiscoverycentre.com Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca Chemainus Murals chemainus.com/arts/murals Chemainus Theatre Festival chemainustheatrefestival.ca Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre classicboats.org Cowichan Estuary cowichanestuary.ca Cowichan Valley Museum cowichanvalleymuseum.bc.ca Duncan Farmers’ Market duncanfarmersmarket.ca

Amazing Tours

Mild to Wild!

OPEN YEAR ROUND

Kaatza Station Museum cowichanlake.ca/2014/05/ kaatza-station-museum

Ranked #1 by tripadvisor

Kinsol Trestle, cvrd.bc.ca/1379/Kinsol-Trestle

hornelake.com 250.248.7829 42

Duncan Totem Tours duncan.ca/visitors/totems-tour/ totem-tour-walk/

Ladysmith Community Marina Maritime Museum and Heritage Vessels, Lmsmarina.ca

Mayo Creek Gardens mayocreekgardens.ca Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre quwutsun.ca and cowichanculture.ca/quw_utsun Shawnigan Lake Museum shawniganlakemuseum.com Somenos Marsh somenosmarsh.com Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve www.env.gov.bc.ca The Raptors Flying Birds of Prey pnwraptors.com West Coast Trail pc.gc.ca Butterfly World and Gardens, nature-world.com Coombs Goats On the Roof, oldcountrymarket.com Deep Bay Marine Field Station, viu.ca/deepbay Englishman River Falls Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca Horne Lake Caves, Campground and Outdoor Centre hornelake.com Milner Gardens & Woodland viu.ca/milnergardens

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Vancouver Island attractions CENTRAL ISLAND Nanaimo Museum nanaimomuseum.ca

Newcastle Island Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/ parkpgs/newcastle North Island Wildlife Recovery Association niwra.org

NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND

The Alberni Project – HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial, alberniproject.org Campbell River Maritime Heritage Centre maritimeheritagecentre.ca Comox Air Force Museum, comoxairforcemuseum.ca

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca

Comox Museum and Archives, comoxmuseum.ca

Tiger Lily Farm, tigerlilyfarm.ca

Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre, courtenaymuseum.ca

PACIFIC RIM

Port Alberni Harbour Quay portalberniportauthority.ca Alberni Valley Museum alberniheritage.com Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, bamfieldmsc.com Broken Group Islands, www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/ activ/visit4c/activ4 Cathedral Grove, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/ parkpgs/macmillan Hot Spring Cove, tourismtofino.com McLean Mill National Historic Site alberniheritage.com Pacific Rim National Park Reserve www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim Robertson Lake Fish Hatchery www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca The Whale Centre & Museum tofinowhalecentre.com Tofino Botanical Gardens tbgf.org Ucluelet Aquarium uclueletaquarium.org Walk the Wildside Trail, Flores Island wildsidetrail.com Wild Pacific Trail wildpacifictrail.com

Cumberland Museum & Archives, cumberlandmuseum.ca Discovery Fishing Pier, campbellriver.travel Elk Falls Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca

NORTH ISLAND

Cape Scott Park, capescottpark.com Little Huson Caves Regional Park rdmw.bc.ca/regional-services/parks Mount Cain Ski Area, mountcain.com Port Alice Heritage Centre, portalice.ca/visitors/visitor-centre Port Hardy Museum & Archives, porthardymuseum.com Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre & Hatchery, thesalmoncentre.org Raft Cove Provincial Park env.gov.bc.ca Ronning Gardens, Holberg vancouverislandnorth.ca/communities/holberg U’Mista Cultural Centre, umista.ca Whale Interpretive Centre, Telegraph Cove, killerwhalecentre.org

Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, filberg.com Haig-Brown BC Heritage Property, haig-brown.bc.ca Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, woodlandgardens.ca Miracle Beach Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca Mount Washington Ski Resort, mountwashington.ca Museum at Campbell River crmuseum.ca Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre nuyumbalees.com Pier Street Historic Mile pierstreet.ca Quinsam Salmon Hatchery www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca Ripple Rock Hiking Trail campbellrivertourism.com Seaview Game Farm, Black Creek seaviewgamefarm.com

Whale Watching, Grizzly Bears, Fishing Charters, Ocean Rapids AND MORE…

Sightings Guaranteed

Smith Lake Farm smithlakefarm.com Strathcona Provincial Park www.env.gov.bc.ca TyeeClub, Tyee Spit tyeeclub.org

C A M P BE L L RRIVER IVE R CAMPBELL

WHALE WATCHING

Adventure Tours

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Cowichan

The Warm Land 44

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Cowichan

cowichan tourism

Slow down, savour life in ‘Canada’s Provence.’

The Cowichan Region takes its name from Quw’utsun’, an aboriginal word that means “the warm land.”

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he First People knew their land well.

Just 40 minutes north of Victoria, Cowichan is located in Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone and is home to the warmest year-round temperature anywhere in the country.

It’s no wonder it is so well suited to growing things, including an incredible array of food and an unmatched quality of life. For decades, Cowichan has been producing amazing artisanal food and drink from the region’s burgeoning farms, wineries, cideries, distilleries, fishers and artists.

In fact, Cowichan is home to Westholme Tea, Canada’s first tea farm, as well as Merridale Ciderworks, B.C.’s first craft cidery and first certified craft distillery.

With regard to Cowichan’s growing number of wineries, comparisons are regularly made to the Napa and Barossa Valleys. Referring to

the entire culinary package, legendary foodie James Barber once referred to Cowichan as “Canada’s Provence.”

When it comes to things to experience here, food and drink are just the beginning.

From concerts and festivals to many outdoor activities such as mountain biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, golfing and more, Cowichan features myriad attractions that can be enjoyed year-round.

When you consider that everything that happens here — from the eclectic to the extreme — is packaged with some of the most breathtaking scenery anywhere, Cowichan becomes a destination that competes with the best that the world has to offer.

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Cowichan

The City of Totems Duncan’s downtown is lined with shops, galleries, bookstores, restaurants, cafés and has popular brew pubs and wine bars. Verse yourself in local history at the downtown museum next to the train station before taking a self-guided or free group tour of 38 First Nations’ totems.

Along the way, sample Duncan’s water (voted the best in Canada in a national competition) from a remarkable water fountain known locally as “Quench.”

cowichan tourism

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far the largest of those found on Vancouver Island is the 144-foot-high Kinsol Trestle that spans the Koksilah River north of Shawnigan Lake. Completed in 1920 and named for the short-lived “King Solomon Mine,” it is an impressive engineering feat even by today’s standards and remains one of the loftiest wooden railway trestles in the world. The Kinsol Trestle is part of the Trans Canada Trail network that skirts Shawnigan Lake and winds its way to Cowichan Lake, North Cowichan and Ladysmith. forestry history B.C. Forest Discovery Centre is a 100-acre, open air museum with an operational railway in Duncan. The Centre features forest and marsh trails with excellent bird watching opportunities.

The Forests Forever Exhibit provides an immersive experience that will enhance visitors’ understanding of B.C.’s forests.

cowichan tourism

The incredible Kinsol Trestle Although Cowichan has always been ideally suited for growing timber, its rugged topography has made hauling logs particularly difficult. In order to transport timber by rail, wooden trestles were built to span the area’s massive chasms. By

Stop, shop and soak it all in Charming communities dot the Cowichan region. Find wineries, fantastic restaurants, interesting boutiques, stunning murals and galleries, quaint marinas, secret swimming holes and delicious seafood along your journey in Cobble Hill, Cowichan Lake, Crofton, Genoa Bay, Ladysmith, Maple Bay, Mill Bay, North Cowichan, Shawnigan Lake and Thetis Island.

MEET A RAPTOR

THIS CLOSE

Eat, drink, enjoy Perched high above the sparkling Saanich Inlet, Cobble Hill is tucked into a pastoral landscape of parks, farmland and vineyards. Sample local award-winning cider, wine and food. Visit a lavender farm. Shop for antiques, contemporary art and local produce, including the creamy milk and cheese crafted at Fairburn Farm, Canada’s first water-buffalo dairy farm.

Summer Camps For All Ages

Jump into the adventure and let friendship fill each day!

Experience over 75 activities all with an amazing staff in a spectacular setting.

The best of a Canadian west-coast summer!

ENCOUNTERS FLYING DEMOS 46

THE-RAPTORS.COM 1877 HERD ROAD, DUNCAN, BC

Crofton, BC www.qwanoes.ca

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COWICHAN / Events

Boater’s dream Spend the day in Cowichan Bay, home to boating enthusiasts, artisans and an eclectic community of locals, some dwelling in floating residences. The relaxed vibe and waterfront charm of main street is magnified by a selection of favourite foodie haunts. Walk the pier and visit the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre. Go whalewatching. View the paintings of internationally known artists. Take the kids to the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Visit the monument to famed Canadian poet Robert Service (a one-time shopkeeper here).

THE SOUND OF MUSIC FEB 15 - APR 6

THE FOREIGNER APR 18 - MAY 9

BRENTWOOD INTERNATIONAL ROWING REGATTA April 26-28, Brentwood Bay Every year, the regatta grows with more than 1,600 athletes and coaches traveling from the United States and from all over British Columbia to participate. This is the regatta’s 48th year.

HERITAGE BOAT FESTIVAL May 25, Ladysmith Community Marina Enjoy vintage vessels from all over the Pacific Northwest.

MAY 24 - AUG 31

MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION

LAKETOWN ROCK Lake Cowichan Watch for dates and the lineup for 2019.

Last year’s event was a huge success. laketownrock.com COWICHAN CRUSHER June 23, Duncan Cowichan Crusher Gravel Fondo Bike Race takes riders through beautiful and challenging terrain.

COWICHAN VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL June 14-16 The inaugural Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival will take place at Laketown Ranch Father’s Day weekend.

34TH ANNUAL WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL July 6-7, Cowichan Bay A historical and very nautical weekend at Cowichan Bay’s Heritage Pier.

CHEMAINUS BLUEGRASS EXTRAVAGANZA July 13, Waterwheel Park Check the website for lineup, times and tickets. chemainusbluegrass.com

SEP 13 - OCT 5

LUMBERJACKS IN LOVE OCT 18 - NOV 2

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET NOV 15 - DEC 29

35TH ANNUAL ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL July 26-28, Providence Farm, Duncan One of the longest and best music festivals on Vancouver Island. islandsfolkfestival.ca SUNFEST COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL Aug. 1-4, Lake Cowichan One of Canada’s premier country music festivals.

This year’s headliners include Jason Aldean, Maren Morris, Kip Moore and Terri Clark. sunfestconcerts.com

LUXUSIOUS THEATRE GETAWAYS! 1.800.565.7738

chemainustheatre.ca

Dinner, Theatre, Accomodation & Breakfast from $136 per person

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Photo credit to The Raptors

Cowichan

Want special experiences, sights, tastes, and scenes?

Cowichan delivers them all.

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ISLAND ALE TRAIL

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Craft beer has been part of Vancouver Island culture since the earliest days of the microbrewing movement in the 1980s.

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on the highway into town, is a great spot to meet locals and taste delicious beers with names inspired by local maritime history and the forestry industry. And if you are a cyclist, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail is the ideal way to get to and from Sooke (55 kilometres each way).

If you’re into island hopping, you can visit two small breweries located on the Gulf Islands.

Mayne Island Brewing is a small, family-run operation; and Salt Spring Island Ales is based in a converted barn at the base of Mount Bruce — the brewery uses water from a spring on the mountainside above and harvests hops and other ingredients grown on the island.

Heading up Island, as the locals say, you’ll first arrive in the Cowichan Valley. Farm markets, wineries and cideries abound — and so do breweries, including three in Duncan and another, Riot Brewing, in Chemainus.

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oday, more than 30 breweries dot the map of the Island from Victoria and Sooke in the south out to Tofino in the west, and as far north as Campbell River, along with two more located in the Southern Gulf Islands chain.

Victoria is the “cradle of the craft beer revolution,” home to Canada’s original brewpub, Spinnakers, which opened in 1984, along with a diverse mix of brewpubs and breweries. At Phillips Brewing’s beautiful tasting room, visitors can sample a wide range of creative and delicious beers, served in flights of tasters or by the glass, along with warm pretzels or even paired with locally produced cheeses.

The town of Sooke is home to three breweries of its own, each with its own unique vibe, making it the ideal spot for a day trip or overnight excursion. The tasting room at Sooke Oceanside Brewery, which is located next to a gas station

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ISLAND ALE TRAIL

The port city of Nanaimo is the second-largest urban centre on the Island, acting as a hub for the mid-Island region with ferries to the Mainland, the Vancouver Island University campus and a lively arts and culture scene.

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Brewing here dates back to 2000 when the Longwood Brewpub opened. An off-shoot called Longwood Brewing opened in 2013. Led by longtime brewer Harley Smith, Longwood produces a strong and diverse range of beers, many of which feature local ingredients prominently, including hops as well as barley grown and malted nearby. Stop by Longwood’s tasting room to have a taste — you’ll be sure to leave with a few bottles or cans of your favourites.

Nanaimo has two other breweries, too: Wolf Brewing and White Sails Brewing.

Arrive thirsty

Leave inspired MELANIE RANSOME

Sooke’s original brewery, S.O.B., is an award-winning indie brewery dedicated to the craft of beer since 2016.

TASTING ROOM HOURS SUN - THURS Noon - 6:00pm FRI - SAT Noon - 7:00pm

778-352-2739 #1-5529 Sooke Rd.

sookeoceansidebrewery.com

Follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook @SookeBrew 50

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GEOFF TOMLIN

-HOOD

ISLAND ALE TRAIL

Vancouver Island breweries Victoria & Sooke

North of Nanaimo, the beautiful sandy expanse of Rathtrevor Beach beckons. Nearby, plan to visit Mount Arrowsmith Brewing in Parksville and the quirky and fun tasting room at LoveShack Libations in Qualicum Beach.

And then be sure to take Highway 4 out to Port Alberni, home to Twin City Brewing.

Although only a couple years old, this little brewery took home the Best in Show award at the 2018 BC Beer Awards for its Late Bloomer Tart Fruit Ale. All of Twin City’s beers are delicious, as are the creative pizzas made on-site — lunch or dinner anyone?

Whether you continue west to Tofino or head north to the Comox Valley and beyond, more craft breweries beckon on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail, including four in the Comox Valley alone. Use the BC Ale Trail website or app to plan your visit — there is a suggested itinerary for Victoria along with two separate ale trails for the rest of Vancouver Island, which list all the breweries along with numerous outdoor activities, recommended sites to visit, and liquor stores, restaurants and tap houses.

– Joe Wiebe

4 Mile Brewpub, Victoria, 2014 Axe and Barrel Brewing, Langford, 2015 Bad Dog Brewing, Sooke, 2017 Canoe Brewpub, Victoria, 1996 Category 12 Brewing, Victoria, 2014 Driftwood Brewery, Victoria, 2008 Howl Brewing, North Saanich, 2018 Hoyne Brewing, Victoria, 2011 Ïle Sauvage Brewing, Victoria, 2018 Lighthouse Brewing, Victoria, 1998 Moon Under Water, Victoria, 2011 Phillips Brewing & Distilling, Victoria, 2001 Sooke Brewing, Sooke, 2017 Sooke Oceanside Brewing, Sooke, 2016 Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, Victoria, 1984 Swans Brewpub, Victoria, 1989 Vancouver Island Brewery, Victoria, 1984 Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery, 2016

Gulf Islands

Mayne Island Brewing, 2016 Salt Spring Island Ales, 1998

Cowichan Valley

Craig Street Brew Pub, Duncan, 2006 Red Arrow Brewing, Duncan, 2015 Riot Brewing, Chemainus, 2016 Small Block Brewing, Duncan, 2018

Nanaimo/Mid-Island

Longwood Brewing, Nanaimo, 2013 Longwood Brewpub, Nanaimo, 2000 LoveShack Libations, Qualicum Beach, 2017 Mount Arrowsmith Brewing, Parksville, 2017 Tofino Brewing, Tofino, 2011 Twin City Brewing, Port Alberni, 2017 White Sails Brewing, Nanaimo, 2015 Wolf Brewing, Nanaimo, 2000

Comox Valley/North Island

Beach Fire Brewing, Campbell River, 2016 Cumberland Brewing, Cumberland, 2014 Forbidden Brewing, Courtenay, 2015 Gladstone Brewing, Courtenay, 2015 Land and Sea Brewing, Comox, 2018

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Central Island

Nanaimo

The heart of the Island

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Jeremiah Patton‚Cinnabar Vista Production

Central Island

The Harbour City is your convenient entry point and home base for an Island getaway.

Whether you arrive by boat (two ferry terminals dock ships from Vancouver), sea plane into the city’s stunning harbour or arrive through Nanaimo’s airport, the people of Nanaimo and the exciting activities found there are ready to welcome you.

N

MIKE ANDERSON

MIKE ANDERSON

It’s the many options from sea to sky that attract visitors to Nanaimo, where bicycle over trails and the soles of your boots take you down to the base of rainforest waterfalls.

And yet all will find the stillness to rejuvenate when kicking back on the beach to watch the ferry dock, or enjoying a cold handmade beverage at one of several craft breweries.

When you’re ready to feel the ocean air, set sail from Nanaimo’s harbour — one of Vancouver Island’s most industrious and beautiful ports — on a catamaran, fishing boat or pleasure craft. It’s just one of the ways to catch a glimpse of Nanaimo’s locals — the wildlife of British Columbia who call the Salish Sea home. Get up close and personal with the

MIKE ANDERSON

anaimo’s outdoor playground is unparalleled. This harbour city opens the door on 360 degrees of adventure: paddle the calm waters of more than 18 lakes in and around Nanaimo, then set your nautical compass for Newcastle Island (Saysutshun), traditional land of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Stand tall after climbing 1,000 meters to the peak of Mount Benson, and feel the immensity of the full circle view. The thrill-seeking travellers surmount heartpounding challenges with adventure courses, bungee jumping and zip-lining through the tree-tops. harbour seals when you dive off Snake Island with a knowledgeable guide.

Sample Nanaimo’s culture, history and unique way of life and then find your peace at one of the accommodations. Pamper yourself in a luxury hotel, watching the harbour world thrive while you sip your favourite beverage, or choose a bed and breakfast; each has something unique to offer.

The well-run and popular campgrounds provide a private camping experience just minutes away from the city centre. Whether you are pitching a tent or pulling a rig, camping in Nanaimo is a naturally beautiful experience.

MIKE ANDERSON

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Central Island

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Central Island

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Central Island

Tourism Nanaimo / Ted Kuzemski

A Heavenly Harbour

Sail into Nanaimo’s calm waters.

Feel the history, stay for the experience.

■ Nanaimo’s harbour is calm and gentle due to the natural breakwaters of Saysutshun (Newcastle) and Protection Islands.

Our community is rich with land and marine-based activities that appeal to a wide range of boaters’ needs and appetites, and we see many ships return to port year after year.

■ You can quickly and easily find all of the amenities the discerning boater needs, including a five-kilometre harbour walkway that joins our marinas, multiple fuel barges, and two museums — one to curate culture and the other to share Canada’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts around the world.

■ Sail in and discover why Nanaimo is known around the world as the Harbour City.

■ You will find a chandlery, farmers market and an evening street market, grocery stores, a post office, laundry services, private showers, a medical clinic and drug store, computer store, and so much more, all within walking distance of your craft, with buses, taxis, and vehicle rentals nearby to explore the city.

■ International exploration of the Port of Nanaimo began a few hundred years ago when Spaniard Francisco de Eliza arrived in the late 1700s and mapped what is now the Nanaimo Harbour.

Almost a century later, the Hudson’s Bay Company established a post in Nanaimo to claim the rich coal deposits. Mining became a major economic driver for Vancouver Island, leading to the official creation of the town of Nanaimo in 1860.

■ The 1870s established Nanaimo’s port as a maritime shipping hub for both coal and timber for decades to come. By 1880, a harbour master and collector of customs were in place to manage access to the port.

■ The shoreline and amenities may have changed since then, but the warm welcome and gentle waters are still readily available to all who choose to explore our harbour haven.

■ Restaurants and pubs are plentiful in the Harbour City.

Within steps of your dock, you can enjoy floating restaurants, bistros with sidewalk cafes, authentic ethnic experiences, and eateries that feature healthy cuisine and local treats that beg for repeat indulgences.

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■ Customs, seaplane connections, and adventure activities are right where you need them. Boaters can also find an eco-barge, featuring electrical services and secured dock facilities for kayaks to super yachts, Internet, short-term courtesy ties, haul-out services, and specialized contractors that call on vessels.

■ If you prefer being “on the hook” in a safe and private bay, you can enjoy the best views of Nanaimo, greeting the morning sun in the inner harbour between Saysutshun and Protection Island.

Make time to enjoy the sparkling lights of Nanaimo in the sunsetsilhouette of Mount Benson — available nightly to all who choose to enjoy life at sea.

■ The Harbour City is a marina community with a long and proud tradition of welcoming mariners. Stop by, tie up, and prepare for offshore experiences that will have you coming back year after year.

— David Mailloux, Nanaimo Port

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Central Island

Come Discover For Yourself EXPLORE EXPERIENCE

Saysutshun is a Special Place of Natural Wonders with a Rich Cultural History.

Enjoy the beautiful sunrise and calming sounds of the Salish Sea while you camp with your friends, family or large group at the beautiful oceanside campground.

Hike or bike on one of the many trails with panoramic views and explore the tidal pools and beaches, forest ecology or one of the many historic sites including Snuneymuxw village sites, sandstone quarries, fish saltery and coal mine sites. +PJO VT PO BO JOUFSQSFUJWF

VISIT

XBMLJOH UPVS UP MFBSO BCPVU PVS TIBSFE IJTUPSZ BOE UIF TQFDJBM TJHOJGJDBODF PG 4BZTVUTIVO

· 22 kilometers of trails – explore tidal pools, beaches, parklands and historic sites · Walk-in and group camp sites – with fresh water and hot showers · Cultural experiences – interpretive walking tours, traditional salmon barbecues and more · Tasty treats at our Saysutshun Bistro · .PPSBHF BWBJMBCMF BU EPDLT BOE CVPZT GPS VQXBSET PG CPBUT

Check out our website and plan your trip today! www.newcastleisland.ca Accessing the beautiful Island of Saysutshun is made possible by ferry service located at Maffeo Sutton Park Dock.

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Central Island

Good Vibrations

© 2018 HA Photography

© 2018 HA Photography

Night market adds sparkle to downtown Nanaimo.

■ Nanaimo’s heart of the city always beats stronger when the Commercial Street Night Market begins its 11-week run on Thursdays through the summer.

■ Join the feet on the street at this free event when the downtown is closed to cars and the community celebrates summer in Nanaimo’s beautiful core.

■ Commercial Street is turned into a pedestrianonly boulevard of artisan vendors, crafters, food-and-beverage purveyors and downtown merchants with everything from fashions and crafts to curios and fun.

■ Play some street games, visit the food trucks, sample some beverages and check out the local organic farmed food in Diana Krall Plaza.

Meet the farmers, fishers, market-gardeners, bakers, pretzel makers and ice creameries, as well as the people behind local wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries.

■ The entertainment will surprise and entertain you. From ‘piano man’ Marty Steele to fiddlers, singer/songwriters, ukulele players, the Big Mess — a father and son team featuring trumpet and beat box and huge audience

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interaction, to our unicyclist jokester Akron the Barbarian and the incredibly talented Jake West, our juggler with a message.

And the hundreds we have dancing in the streets during the salsa/tango and hip-hop demonstrations.

■ Last year, more than 50,000 people attended the night markets, making every Thursday a vibrant, fun-filled way to kick off a weekend in the Harbour City.

■ Live entertainment runs through the evening and families with little ones will enjoy bouncy castles, climbing walls, face painters and balloon and bubble artists. A self-guided Arts & Culture Crawl highlights the downtown Arts District. Restaurants and cafés join in and bring their hospitality out onto the street.

■ Thursday night festivities continue through to Aug. 29. Festivities run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with traffic and parking prohibited on Commercial, Skinner, Wharf and Museum Way starting at 2 p.m. Free parking is available at the Bastion Parkade, inexpensive pay parking can be found at the Port Theatre and VICC underground parking garages.

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Central Island

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Central Island

A Little Island Paradise

Saysutshun: Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.

GETTY

Located within Nanaimo’s Harbour, the island is breathtaking and unique, offering a natural, historical and cultural experience for visitors.

With spectacular panoramic views of Snuneymuxw Territory, the Harbour City and Coast Mountains, activities on the Island include a 11+ kilometre adventure trail, playground, picnicking and many other activities. The island has many Snuneymuxw sacred village sites and historical sites underscoring the rich heritage.

Cultural programs and services offered on the Island are a Saysutshun Interpretive Tour and a Salmon BBQ.

K

nown as Saysutshun by the Snuneymuxw First Nation people, Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park is a family friendly park accessible by the Newcastle Island Ferry or boat. The Snuneymuxw are a Coast Salish people who live on Vancouver Island and speak the Hul’qumi’num dialect. Prior to European contact, the Snuneymuxw had many winter villages along the Nanaimo Harbour, each one consisting of several longhouses.

■ Pitch a tent. Enjoy the sunrise and a warm campfire at the beautiful oceanside Newcastle Island campground. All the facilities are within walking distance. Stay up to 14 days starting May 1 each year.

■ Hike or bike on one of the many trails with panoramic views and take a break at the Giovando Lookout viewpoint.

■ Kayak around the island’s sandstone cliffs and sandy beaches.

UNIQUE TO THE ISLAND Newcastle Island is one of the only places in B.C. known to have racoons with blonde fur, a colour believed to be caused by a doublerecessive gene. Sightings take timing and a little luck, but the blonde raccoons are on the beach regularly.

Discover 10 Harbour-Life Activities 1. Browse Marina Life - Yachts, Commercial Fishing, Tugs & Recreational Vessels 2. 5 KM Harbour-side Walkway - Parks & Lagoon - Fishing Pier - Whale-Watching Expeditions 3. Shops, Coffee Bistros, Tea Rooms, Ice Cream at Parkade Pioneer Waterfront Plaza 4. Canada’s Floating Pub “Dinghy Dock Pub” & SAYSUTSHUN Experience on Newcastle Island 5. Lighthouse Bistro & Floating Restaurants – Penny’s Palapa & Troller’s Fish & Chips 6. Sightseeing Tours - Harbour Air - Sunshine Coast Air - Helijet 7. Farmer’s Market – The “Bastion” - Museums & Art Galleries 8. Connections to Mainland & Gabriola Island by BC Ferries 9. Beautiful Departure Bay - Newcastle Channel Marinas - Pubs – Restaurants 10. Harbour-based Festivals & Events - 360 degrees of regional attractions

npa.ca/marina LOCAL BENEFITS – GLOBAL REACH

AHOYBC.COM > CHART-YOUR-COURSE/Communities/Nanaimo/ON-THE-WATERFRONT Photo - Arrowsmith Media

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Central Island

■ Explore tidal pools and beaches, forest ecology or one of the many historic sites including Snuneymuxw village sites, sandstone quarries, fish saltery sites and coal mine sites.

■ Swim at various locales around the island, including sandy Kanaka Bay or Midden Bay, or pebble beaches at Brownie Bay and Mark Bay.

ANDREW NIXON

■ Replenish and refuel after a busy day exploring the Island at the Saysutshun Bistro, located in the restored 1930’s teahouse in the dance pavilion.

Discover the OCQ!

Sarah Étoile

Saysutshun has always had a special place or mustiyuxw in the hearts of Snuneymuxw people. It has been used as a place of healing. When someone passed away in the community, the loved ones would go to Newcastle Island to yu’thuy’thut, or fix up their heart, mind and body and let go of their tears.

Saysutshun was also used as a training ground by the competitive canoe pullers who would run the trails to keep themselves in top physical shape.

In order to maintain Saysutshun, a Snuneymuxw family would live on the island to ensure the traditional medicines were not over picked and the trails had been kept clear and free from debris.

The Snuneymuxw (Snoo-NAY-muk) are a vibrant First Nation of the Coast Salish People, located in the centre of Coast Salish territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Fraser River.

Snuneymuxw territory encompasses one of the most productive and resource-rich areas at the heart of the Salish Sea. The Snuneymuxw First Nation is one of the largest Nations in B.C., with a population of more than 1,700 people.

#lifeintheOCQ

www.oldcityquarter.com

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Life in the OCQ is hard

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Nanaimo’s destination shopping,

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CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Brant Wildlife Festival March–April, Parksville and Qualicum Beach A Spring Celebration of Nature. Welcome the arrival of thousands of migratory birds, fish and marine mammals to the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach. The Brant geese come to rest and feed before continuing their arduous northern journey to their nesting grounds.

Gabriola Isle of the Arts Festival April 4-14 A celebration of the arts with 30 workshops and 10 events. Make, learn and play with Gabriola Island artists.

Nanaimo Farmer’s Market Pioneer Plaza Starts May 17 and continues every Friday Enjoy the bounties of Central island farms and artisans.

Nanaimo Heritage Festival May 19 Enjoy gourmet food and live music, Maffeo Sutton Park.

20th Van Isle 360 Yacht Race June 1-15 Sail boaters compete in a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island with a series of point to point legs.

Nanaimo Pride Festival June 4-9, Various locations Dances, parties, picnics and parades.

GETTY

Cannon firings May 17- Sept. 2, Nanaimo Bastion The Nanaimo tradition of firing off a cannon at noon continues until Sept, 2. The historic Nanaimo Bastion also opens for the season.

Jeremiah Patton

Nanaimo Boat Show April 4-7, Waterfront Suites and Marina, Nanaimo Hosted by The Waterfront Suites and Marina, the Nanaimo Boat Show is Vancouver Island’s most exciting floating and land-based event. nanaimoboatshow.com

Escapism Nanaimo almost the most fun you can have indoors...

2 Professionally Designed Escape Rooms:

SHAFTED & THE SORCERER'S STUDY ESCAPE ROOMS LOCATED AT BRECHIN LANES

BOOK ONLINE: escapismnanaimo.ca 1870 E Wellington Rd Nanaimo BC

brechinlanes.ca 250-753-2341 62

5-Pin Bowling Cosmic Bowling Group Events & Parties Dining & Snack items Licensed

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Welcome to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Enjoy an exciting array of arts & culture on the waterfront!

See your favourite artists in our intimate 800-seat theatre Experience excellent acoustics & great sightlines from every seat Choose from 250+ events a year Check out our nationally acclaimed Spotlight Series — journey to unknown places of music, dance, theatre & art!

Visit us today! porttheatre.com | 250-754-8550 | 125 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC DISCOVER 2019

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CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

the perfect home base for both business and pleasure Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival July 5-7 It’s wet. It’s wild. Fun for the entire family at the Maffeo Sutton Park. Dragon boat racing is one of the most amazing sports you will ever witness, so take the time to come down and cheer on up to 72 teams from the Island, western Canada and the western U.S. Then stay for the Shriners pancake breakfast, food trucks, candle and carnation ceremonies, beer gardens and more.

Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA & Blue Crab Seafood House, Victoria

Beachfest July 12-Aug. 18 Parksville’s sandsculpting competition dates back to 1982 when it hosted its first B.C. Open. Since then, it has evolved into a world-class event, last year attracting nearly 150,000 visitors and competitors from around the globe. This is an event for master sand sculptors and an official qualifying event for the World Championship of Sand Scultpting. Sculptors have 30 hours over four days to create their masterpieces from just sand and water (and a lot of ingenuity). parksvillebeachfest.ca

Coast Bastion Hotel & Minnoz Restaurant & Lounge, Nanaimo

At Coast Hotels, great service, comfortable rooms and friendly faces await!

Travelling frequently? Ask about corporate rates.

Book direct at coasthotels.com or call 1.800.663.1144 64

Jack Harynuk

• free high-speed Wi-Fi • triple sheeting • earn Coast Rewards points for free stays, room upgrades and enjoy priority check-in

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Arrowsmith Media

CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Bathtub Festival and World Championship Bathtub Race July 19-21 Since the inaugural race of 1967, Nanaimo has been home to the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race and Nanaimo Marine Festival. Everyone is welcome to our whirlwind 2019 Bathtub Weekend including concerts in the park, street fair, kids zone, vendors, the big race and much more. Without a doubt, this is one of the best weekends to spend downtown in the harbour city.

OVER 55 EVENTS MARCH 2019

Nanaimo, BC

Best Western Dorchester Hotel Boutique Hotel in the heart of Downtown Nanaimo

5TH ANNUAL

1O Signature Events!

Great Entertainment Culinary Events with Whisk(e)y, Bacon, Bevies & Nanaimo Bars Galore!

Music, Dance, Theatre, Comedy, Visual Art, St. Paddy’s Day, Guided Forest & Heritage Walks, Nanaimo Mysteries and so much more!

Located in the heart of Downtown Nanaimo Inner Harbour, walking distance from Harbour Air terminal, Convention Centre, Port Theatre, Historic attractions, & Variety boutique stores and restaurants. On Site restaurant, Free WiFi, Free Parking included.

Come Stay & Play in the Heart of the Island! www.festivalnanaimo.com DISCOVER 2019

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CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

46th Annual St. Mark’s Community Fair July 27, Downtown Qualicum Beach This fun community fair has been held in Qualicum Beach since 1972 with vendors and crafters from all over Vancouver Island and beyond. More than 125 stalls for you to visit, browse and from which to buy antiques, collectibles, arts and crafts, furniture and garden items. There’s food and entertainment for the whole family.

125th Vancouver Island Exhibition Aug. 23-25, Beban Park Concerts, events, food, animals and a midway at this traditional country fair.

Nanaimo Blues Festival Aug. 22-25 Four-day festival of great blues music, Maffeo Sutton Park.

Doug Fetherston

Red Bull Pump Track World Championship, Qualifier Aug. 24-25 Watch these thrilling daredevil cyclists in one of the qualifiers taking place all around the world with more than 20 events in Europe, North America and South America.

Sean Fenzl

Symphony by the Sea Aug. 10 Each year more than 5,000 people head to Maffeo Sutton Park with picnic blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy the glorious music of the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Longwoodstock Sept. 21 Now in its fifth year behind the venerable Longwood Brewery in central Nanaimo, Longwoodstock is a day-long schedule of bands, food trucks, party games and hundreds of revelers hanging onto one last summer hurrah.

Funk, rock, ska and pop acts. In addition to Longwood Brewery’s core lineup and highlights from Merridale Cidery, the brewing team comes up with annual surprises and specialty one-off brews. longwoodstock.com

WELCOME TO THE W ATERFRONT SUITES & MARINA! NANAIMO’S PREMIERE MARINA

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1000 Stewart Avenue, Nanaimo, BC V9S 4C9 | 250-753-7111 | www.waterfrontnanaimo.com | marina@waterfrontnanaimo.com 66

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EXPLORE!

Natural beauty, fresh air is all you need.

Tourism Nanaimo / Ted Kuzemski

CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Natural wonders fuel incredible adventures in and around Nanaimo. Take a deep breath and take in a real island experience. There are mountains to summit, calm bays to paddle and hidden waterfalls to discover.

■ History rocks: Petroglyph Provincial Park has the most concentrated collection of rock art on Vancouver Island created by previous generations of First Nations. A marked trail leads you to the petroglyphs. Bring your own piece of paper to rub a copy.

■ Hike to Ammonite Falls, Abyss Trail or summit the 1,000-metre Mount Benson. The views from both are absolutely awe-inspiring.

■ Stroll along the Harbourfront Walkway. Stop to swim in the lagoon, watch locals crabbing on the pier, or catch an outdoor concert.

■ See a sunset at Neck Point Park.

An easy loop trail skirts the ocean shore and leads to spectacular viewpoints.

■ Eat at Canada’s only floating pub.

Get there on downtown’s tiny 10-min. passenger ferry to Protection Island.

■ Snorkel with the Harbour seals.

Guided tours gear you up and put you face-to-face with these playful creatures.

■ Bungee jump or zip line over a canyon. Fly through the West Coast rainforest above the Nanaimo River canyon.

■ See Spawning Salmon. In the fall, head to Nanaimo River or Bowen Park’s Millstone River fish ladder.

■ Drive the Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail. A country road leads to studios, galleries, a honey farm, cranberry bog and more.

■ Top Biking Trails Best for long rides: Parkway Trail: This 20-kilometre paved, tree-lined trail runs adjacent to the Parkway Highway.

Lakeview favourite: Westwood Lake Trails.

Follow the 5.5-km loop trail around the lake or connect with the more hard-core Mount Benson foothills network.

Technical single-track: Doumont Trails.

This extensive forested area offers a wide variety of downhill and cross-country trails.

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Central Island

Fish Nanaimo (But don’t tell anyone)

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year is around 130 to 200 feet of depth, which means attentive fishing or lost gear; it’s a good challenge and skill-sharpener. While most Chinook are in the eight to 15 pound range, you might pull in a mid 20 pounder or even a Tyee (over 30 pounds).

August typically means schools of pink salmon.

You might think the season is over after the Labour Day weekend, but it’s not. You can fish for springs through the mild winter months.

t’s a good bet that you haven’t considered — or even heard of — the Nanaimo area as a fishing destination. Whether you come by ferry, float plane or Helijet, you will arrive at one of the best, most accessible fishing grounds that Vancouver Island has to offer: Nanaimo, hiding in plain sight.

Certain areas on Vancouver Island, including Gabriola Island and Nanaimo, were formed 65 million years ago, mainly by sediment from the volcanic, intrusive and metamorphic rock of the mainland. Throw in a few million years and you’ve got an ecological paradise. As for a marine environment, it’s an underwater nirvana.

A Pacific Salmon Paradise Pretty much every year brings another tremendous rod-bending salmon season in Nanaimo, with Chinook, coho, pinks and Fraser sockeye. Runs past Nanaimo start as early as March, and things tend to heat up in May as several runs intersect and overlap as they make their way to B.C. and U.S. coastal rivers. Bottom-bouncing the 150 to 200 foot depth contours along the northeast side of Gabriola Island is reliably productive, but you’ll find that most of the early season fishing is done just a few miles offshore from Nanaimo.

June offers a great answer to the ‘guy who has everything’ problem: The annual Silva Bay Derby on Father’s Day weekend. Most fishing this time of

Phenomenal Freshwater Fishing If you prefer freshwater fishing, the Nanaimo River sees fall runs of Chinook (no retention), coho (limited retention area), pink, cutthroat, and even summer rainbow trout in the upper sections above the lakes.

One of easiest places to take a little one for some bobber-and-worm trout is the fishing pier at Diver Lake, on the southwest side of the Island Highway, within five minutes of Country Club Center. Long Lake is great, too, with a great sandy beach for picnics, quick dips or kayaking fun. Westwood Lake is outstanding for canoe fishing and has a wonderful hiking trail with an off-leash section on the back side too, so bring your furry friend while you are at it. Just be sure to always check the regulations and carry a valid fishing license with you at all times.

But for those of us that live here, let’s not let the word get out, OK? Wait, did I just…

–Joel Unickow

Experience Vancouver Island No matter what your interests are, there is a tour for everyone at Vancouver Island Expeditions.

Local food, craft beer, winery or hiking tours

Did you know w? ?

that will excite your senses and leave you longing to return.

Let us show you our backyard and help you discover the places that will inspire stories that last a lifetime!

vancouverislandexpeditions.com 250-739-9659

The earliest matching recipe to the present Nanaimo Bar goes to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary’s 1952 Cookbook.

100 Museum Way • 250.753.1821 NanaimoMuseum.ca 68

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Summertime

Central Island

Ben Giesbrecht, Jordan Dyck

FESTIVAL

August 23rd-25th Maffeo Sutton Park NANAIMO B.C.

August 23, 24 & 25, 2019 Live Music, Food, Rides & More

Get involved or send inquiries to info@viex.ca

www.viex.ca

Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues - Tas Cru - The Proven Ones Brandon Santini - Lindsay Beaver - David Gogo - Walter Trout Crystal Shawanda - Jona Kristinsson - Eric Gales - Judy Brown Anni Piper - Ana Popovic - Chris Eger - Miss Emily - Sue Foley Raoul and the Bigtime - Harpdog Brown and the Uptown Blues Band Wicked Grin - Mr. Sipp Complete lineup and Bios on website

Nanaimo

lues

Society

www.nanaimobluesfestival.ca Tickets available now

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North Island Recovery Centre

Central Island

Your way to explore Vancouver Island

Take a walk on the wild side Get up close and personal to raptors, bears and turtles at the world-class North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington.

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ur map brochure will guide you on an educational stroll through the wheelchair accessible Discovery Campus with its amazing wildlife and habitat displays, peaceful gardens and best of all, introduce you to the centre’s amazing resident animals.

The museum, interactive kiosks and Learning Centre and Eco Centre will engage the whole family with plenty of learning and fun. Along the way, you will meet friendly and knowledgeable volunteers.

Meet Knut, a mature black bear who was born in captivity and rejected by his mother. He would not have survived in the wild and has lived here his whole life, teaching us about the needs and habits of black bears and allowing us to successfully release rehabilitated cubs to the wild.

You will also meet other non-releasable resident animals: Sandor the bald eagle, Elsa the snowy owl, Rae, the two-year-old black bear cub, Vladimir and Igor, the turkey vultures, and so many more amazing animals with fascinating life stories.

Prepare to be amazed when you peek into our eagle flight cage (the largest in Canada) and watch recovering eagles regain condition and build muscles before being released into the wild.

If you are lucky, you may meet Emily, our gorgeous Saker falcon and other glove-trained raptor ambassadors as their handlers take them on a stroll through the facility. July and August are always hopping with special presentations all around the centre.

Plan to spend at least a couple of hours or bring a picnic basket and enjoy a whole day.

Top off your adventure with a visit to the Bear Den Gift Shop. You will find unique clothing, lots of books about wildlife and nature and, of course, plenty of souvenirs to remember your visit.

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True Locals

Central Island

Wildlife abounds across Central Island.

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ith a mild Mediterranean climate, rich and diverse ecosystem, and a west coast mentality of live and let live, it’s no surprise that there’s an abundance of creatures living in and around Nanaimo and the Central island. Wherever you stop, you will see local wildlife peacefully enjoying their habitat.

Some of the true locals you might meet include: ■ Bigg’s (transient) orca: The black-andwhite transient killer whales that hunt and visit in the waters of Nanaimo are the movie stars of the ocean — and live atop the food chain.

Local whale-watching groups, such as Vancouver Island Whale Watch, bring you to a safe distance to see them in their natural habitat.

Fun Facts: Significantly larger than resident Bigg’s orcas; are silent hunters and tend to vocalize less frequently.

■ Humpback Whales: When you think of whales, chances are you are imagining the profile of a humpback whale; its massive form breaching the water or unique tail waving to the world. These gorgeous mammals are a familiar sight in the waters around Nanaimo, where their population is gradually recovering from the commercial whaling activities of the past.

Fun Facts: Each humpback whale’s tail is unique, just like a human fingerprint; Humpback whales eat krill, salmon, herring, and other small fish. If you’re lucky, you might see them bubble-net fishing.

■ Steller Sea Lion: If you took the ferry to Nanaimo, you may have already seen — and heard — Steller sea lions barking and basking on the rocky beaches through Active Pass.

Whale watching skippers often include a trip to a rookery or two for guests to observe these playful pinnipeds.

Fun Facts: Largest of the eared seals and the largest sea lion; listed as an endangered species in 1997, and removed in 2013 due to a major population comeback.

■ Bald Eagle: Watch for the distinct silhouette of these gorgeous creatures near the Nanaimo River estuary, in craggy trees along Pipers Lagoon, or on a whale watching tour, and visit the Pacific Northwest Raptor Centre to meet and learn about rehabilitating eagles and other local birds of prey.

Fun Facts: Males weigh, on average, 25 per cent less than females; Fast Feathers! Can hit 160 kilometres per hour when diving for prey.

■ Harbour Seal: Darting in and around the docks and wharves in Nanaimo Harbour, the harbour seal is the most commonly seen marine mammal on the west coast. Watch for their big black eyes, puppy-dog faces, and roly-poly bodies whenever you’re near a quiet spot on the water.

Fun Facts: Can dive 300 feet and stay underwater for nearly half an hour; pups can swim and dive within hours of being born.

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Central Island / VISITORS LOG

Crafting a farm-fresh experience in Nanaimo

Goat yoga, delicious coffee and fresh salmon from the sea – following the food trail in the harbour city.

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sean fenzl

o discover the unique experiences available from the creative craftspeople and businesses of Nanaimo, you need to venture ever-so-slightly off the beaten path.

As I did.

This is the Nanaimo I needed to discover, filled with farm-fresh ingredients and inspiring conversations with the creative locals I met while travelling through.

On arrival to Nanaimo by plane, a spot that can’t be missed is Yellow Point Farms.

I grabbed a delectable cup of cider, then met the farm animals as I toured the property.

A not-to-miss experience? Goat yoga. The name says it all, but it’s an “Animal-Assisted Therapy in a natural setting” with the cutest miniature Nigerian goats. Brilliant.

After saying goodbye to the goats, I headed into town, stopping at Regard Coffee Roasters for a to-go cup of delicious joe before we made our way around the city.

Vancouver Island Expeditions makes touring Nanaimo easy, with tailored experiences to take your group wherever you want to go.

St. Jean’s Cannery is a unique island experience where you can watch fresh salmon come in from the local waters and then be

processed for delivery to very happy customers.

The staff are pretty great too, and I saw plenty of smiles as I walked through the brightly lit building.

It’s incredible to see the ingredients carefully selected by the local artisans in Nanaimo, such as at Longwood Brewery, where they serve vegan beer made from local ingredients from farms around the island. It was remarkably delicious.

A more recent addition to Nanaimo’s food scene, Eve Olive, strives to serve locally sourced and organic food using 100 per cent plant-based ingredients. The chef may or may not have just picked up some king oyster mushrooms, and I may or may not have sampled a few before they hit the menus. They were to die for.

All in all, by going a bit off the beaten path, Nanaimo gives you more than a few unique and wonderful experiences that will make your stomach happy and relax your mind. You may be tempted to stop by a drive-thru on your way to another Island destination, but you would miss out on the most delicious, unique, creative businesses, and people that inhabit this coastal city. One comes to Vancouver Island to explore, and I encourage you to try something new on your next visit to this diverse city.

— Jordan Dyck

Gather. Connect. Grow.

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre is an ideal environment for reflections, networking and decision making.

Meetings Conferences/Conventions Trade/Consumer Show Special Events/Festivals Let us help you plan your next event 250-244-4050

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Central Island

A Little Island Paradise Harbour City boasts a flourishing art scene.

sean fenzl

Horseshoe Bay to the Harbour City with an aim to discover Nanaimo’s must-see artworks and galleries. I had day-tripped here before, but this was my first in-depth tour around Nanaimo, exploring the temporary public artworks in Maffeo Sutton Park; the towering Kwakwaka’wakw, Coast Salish, and Nuu-chah-nulth totem poles at Vancouver Island University’s Aboriginal Gathering Place; and the lively Urban Art Gallery’s Humanity in Community public mural project.

Supernatural Eagle Bringing the Sun Back to the World by father-son team William and Joel Good.

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anaimo is increasingly becoming an art destination worthy of regional and international attention.

To see firsthand how the city’s cultural scene is hitting its stride, I took a morning ferry from

Indigenous Beauty Arriving at the Departure Bay ferry terminal, it’s a quick drive north to local artist Joel Good’s totem structure on the walkway at Departure Bay Beach, formerly the site of St’litlup, the original village of Snuneymuxw First Nation. Good’s carved, red cedar house posts face the ocean, with eagle, raven, wolf and sea serpent imagery, interconnected by a steel frog portal.

Accomplished with the guidance of Good’s father, master carver and cultural historian William Good, the artwork serves as the entrance to a longhouse, welcoming visitors arriving by sea.

From behind, it also serves as a framing device for looking out toward Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park). Honouring the history of Coast Salish people and traditional

Snuneymuxw territory, the sculpture’s importance here is deeply felt.

With the St’litlup house posts, the Goods have made their skillful mark on Nanaimo’s public art inventory, and they continue to collaborate.

Shortly after my visit, a large-scale carving, titled Supernatural Eagle Bringing the Sun Back to the World, was installed above Nanaimo Art Gallery’s entrance way.

Local Talent Nanaimo Art Gallery’s staff are experts at providing moments of discovery for every guest from locals looking for outside inspiration, to visitors in search of local history or insight. Recent exhibitions have presented works by regional, Canadian and international artists, together under one roof, showcasing clear connections through materials or ideas. Dream Islands, for example, was a 2017 group exhibition that took inspiration from the work of late Salt Spring Island-based potter Lari Robson (1942-2012). Spirit Gum, another group exhibition in 2015, was about performers and costumes, and included a miniature version of Jack Harman’s statue of former Nanaimo mayor, Frank Ney — visit the full-sized public sculpture at Swy-a-Lana Lagoon in Maffeo Sutton Park.

– Lucien Durey

Curl with us in the Harbour City!

Host of the 2019 Connect Hearing BC Masters Curling Championship

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Central Island

Kick back, relax in Parksville It’s time to reconnect with nature.

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This world class event attracts master sculptors from around the world to create large masterpieces out of sand and water. The event includes live entertainment and other activities throughout the month-long summer exhibition.

Reconnect ...

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reath in the salty sea air, bury your toes in the warm sand and feel the stories of the land.

There’s a reason Parksville is known as Canada’s Riviera. Few beaches outside Mexico and the Caribbean compare with our kilometres of serene sandy beaches at Parksville Bay and Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.

Parksville’s Community Park, as the name suggests, is a gathering place for all who live and visit here. Stroll the waterfront walkway and visit the new Lion’s Venture Playground & Waterpark.

There’s beach volleyball courts and even an outdoor fitness gym and a skateboard park where all ages can enjoy many happy hours.

Just up from the beach is Parksville’s downtown. Ask a local to point you toward one of the many restaurants and modern boutiques.

Browse shops selling soaps, sustainable local products and rustic beach decor.

And spend Tuesday evenings from mid-June to late August at the Summer by the Sea Street Market. All just a few minutes walk from the sandy shore!

Take in some history and local food at the Mid-Island Public Market on Sunday afternoons from May until September.

tigh-na-mara.com Vancouver Island’s Natural tural Choice Guaranteed Lowest Price: 1-800-663-7373

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Central Island

Parksville-Qualicum Beach Get away from it all.

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RELAXATION AND SPAS Discover real tranquility at one of the many local spas. The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara, voted the No. 1 spa in Canada according to Spas of America, is the largest resort spa in British Columbia and features a 2,500-square-foot mineral pool fed by a cascading waterfall.

AquaTerre Spa at Pacific Shores Resort & Spa has a hand-carved granite relaxation tub.

And find out more about Stonewater Spa’s Oxygeneo facial technology.

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emember when vacations meant actually getting away from it all? No voicemail to check, no emails to respond to. No stress, no worries, just good times and great memories.

In Parksville Qualicum Beach, you can still find that vacation.

Get into the local culture and unique experiences. Sample fresh local cheeses and wines, or discover vintage excellence in a cute boutique. Play eighteen holes, or listen to nature as you hike a scenic path to the falls. You don’t need to instabook or twitagram your time in Parksville Qualicum Beach – but you can if you want to.

LOCAL LIBATIONS Embark on a self-guided tour highlighting local craft breweries, a fruit winery, coffee roasters, and even probiotic wildcrafted soda pop.

Between stops you will find any number of pubs, restaurants and cafes to serve you a remarkable Vancouver Island flavour experience.

Try the World Beer Award’s Best Golden Ale, Arrowsmith Blonde, at Parksville’s Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company, featuring a tasting room, growler fills and bottles on-site and at local liquor stores. Enjoy the B.C. Beer Award’s German Pils bronze-winning Post Ride Pilsner at LoveShack Libations, a nano-brewery in Qualicum Beach.

STREET MARKETS Local summer markets are cultural and entertaining events where farm-fresh products meet creative, hand-made treasures. These markets often include live music or other entertainment.

Be sure to catch the Craig Street Summer by the Sea Market, Qualicum Beach Uptown Summer Market, Qualicum Beach Friday Night Artisan Market, Magnolia Court Summer Market in Bowser and Nanoose Monthly Market.

FAMILY FUN ZONES Feel like a Formula One racer at Fast Time Grand Prix, a 1,650-foot outdoor kart racing track located just outside Parksville ... Make a splash in one of Paradise Fun Park’s water-squirting bumper boats or wind your way through two worldclass mini-golf courses ... Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf will whisk you away to another land filled with mini-golf, bumper cars and arcade machines ... In Qualicum Beach, Riverside Resort and Campground has a waterslide and a mini-golf course.

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Central Island

Quaint Qualicum Beach It’s something that residents hear a lot.

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Just steps from downtown Qualicum Beach is the town’s playground, swimming pool, skate park, BMX track, sports fields, and off-leash dog walking trails.

Join the locals and walk the waterfront promenade. It is lined with picnic tables and shade trees, and there is a wash/change room, and lots of parking.

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hat a quaint town! It’s something that residents hear a lot. And it’s true.

Explore downtown Qualicum Beach and find unique, independent boutiques, shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants — with no big box or franchise stores in sight.

The streets are lined by traditional architecture and there is always a colourful array of flowers, trees, planters and gardens found on every corner.

Experience the magic of Milner Gardens and Woodland — 28 hectares of unspoiled natural

beauty steeped in royal history perched on the edge of an oceanfront bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia.

Visit the Qualicum Beach Museum, featuring an extensive and renowned paleontology exhibit as well as the social history of the town of Qualicum Beach and area.

Oral history videos let visitors discover what Qualicum Beach was like when it was a retreat for the rich and famous, including Bob Hope and the King of Siam.

Rustic charms North of Qualicum Beach, you will discover the charming and rustic Lighthouse Country.

Named for the lighthouses on Sisters Island and Chrome Island, the region includes the communities of Dashwood, Qualicum Bay, Dunsmuir, Bowser and Deep Bay. This peaceful stretch of coast is home to Island Scallops, which produces rock scallops, native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.

There are no flashy tourist sites in this neck of the woods, instead you will find stunning wood carvings peppered throughout the area, a few cozy restaurants, LoveShack Libations nano-brewery, and a quaint village centre in Bowser called Magnolia Court.

Stop there for a coffee, shop for gifts and feed your artistic spirit

Beautiful Family Resort One, Two & Three Bedroom Condos In-Suite Washer/Dryers; Fully Equipped

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info@ocean-trails.com 1 - 888 - 248 - 6212 76

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Central Island

Arrowsmith Coombs Country

South and west of Parksville is Arrowsmith Coombs Country, named after towering Mount Arrowsmith.

■ Goats on the Roof? Coombs Country Market, the log building with grass on the roof, is where you will find them. A delight for young and old. Famous for its Old Country Market, the shops in this area can best be described as eclectic, from groceries and household goods to imported goods and great dining. See the giant statues at the Emporium.

The surrounding businesses are equally as quirky, so plan to spend some time wandering.

■ Walk or ride between Coombs and Parksville on the new Rail Trail. Arrowsmith Coombs Country is a collection of rural communities including Coombs, Errington, Hilliers, Meadowood and Whiskey Creek.

■ Englishman River and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Parks are a highlight for many visitors to this part of the region where they find easy wilderness hiking and spectacular waterfalls.

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■ Take a dip in Cameron Lake and see if you can spot the Loch Ness monster-like creature that has been sighted for centuries.

■ Stop at MacMillan Provincial Park for a view of 800-year-old trees towering 80 metres high, and you will get a taste of what all of Vancouver Island’s forests used to be like. And you will also understand where the park got its familiar name, Cathedral Grove.

o t 2 1 y l u J st 1 8 Augu 2 0 1 9 JUL 13 & 14 Sandsculpting Demonstrations JUL 19 – AUG 17 Fri & Sat evenings • 6:30 – 8:30pm Tim Hortons Summer Concerts JUL 27 & 28 – Art in the Park AUG 16 & 17 Sculpture “Light Up”

Gates Open • 2 pm, JUL 12 Competition • JUL 11 – 14 Exhibition • JUL 15 – AUG 18

AUG 17 Quality Foods Festival of Lights

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Central Island

SPRING & SUMMER PUBLIC MARKETS

VICTORIA FLEA MARKET Every Sunday 9am to 2pm Indoor & Outdoor Vintage recycled and handmade Admission $2 Children Free Royal Canadian Legion, 411 Gorge Rd. E. New Sellers Welcome $20 tables 250-381-5033 info@victoriaeamarket.com

Every Saturday, May 4 to September 28 9 am to 3 pm Corner of Menzies & Superior Fresh Local Produce, Specialty Foods Local Award Winning Artisans Great Live Music Come support your LOCAL Farmers, Food Producers and Artisans and share in the fun! www.jamesbaymarket.com

Honeymoon Bay Market Saturdays 10am - 2pm, May thru Sept 10 mins. west of Lake Cowichan on South Shore Road A rustic, outdoor market with a wide range of locally made items: Alpaca products; bread, pies & fresh baking; candles, creams, soaps & essential oils; jewelry; note cards; quilts; preserves; plants & garden decor; hand-picked fruits & vegetables; wooden toys; lovingly-made children’s clothes; chair massages.

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Veterans’ Memorial Park, Langford Handmade - Homemade - Homegrown Every Saturday 10am - 2pm May 11 - October 12, 2019

Saturdays 10am-2pm May Long Weekend Through Thanksgiving Tono Village Green www.tonomarket.com

From our Hands to Yours Fresh Local Produce, Baked Goods, Ciders & Meads, Plants, Crafts, Local Food Trucks, Music & More!

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram

Metchosin Farmers’ Market May 12 - October 27 Every Sunday 11am - 2pm Located on Happy Valley Rd. behind the rehall - only 30 minutes from Victoria.

Lovely country market featuring: Local produce, honey, cider, maple syrup, fresh baking, fudge, pet treats, a wide array of artisan works and much more.

Live island music.

Join us in our relaxed rural atmosphere.

Esquimalt Farmers Market provides a marketplace and gathering point that builds relationships, and encourages healthy, local living.

Join us on select Thursdays, 4:30-7:30pm inside Esquimalt Rec. Centre, 527 Fraser St. Sept - May, and outdoors at Memorial Park 1230 Esquimalt Rd., weekly from May 16 Sept 19! Find locally grown produce, live music, food trucks and artisans, all year!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @EsquimaltMarket or visit esquimaltmarket.com for weekly lineups and full dates.

Peninsula Country Market Farm Fresh since 1991 Saturdays, June 1 - Oct 12 9am - 1 pm June 1: Look for us in Pioneer Park at the Brentwood Bay Festival!

June 8 - Oct 12: Saanich Fairground 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd, Saanichton NO MARKET AUG 31 (Saanich Fair) Enjoy a country morning among friends!

Local farm produce and meats, artisan crafts, baked goods, hot coffee, food service, market music, family activities! www.peninsulacountrymarket.ca Tel 250-216-0521

Celebrating our 20th Year June 6th to August 29th Every Thursday Night 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Beacon Avenue In Beautiful Sidney by the Sea There is something for Everyone!

COME AND JOIN THE FUN! www.sidneystreetmarket.com

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Central Island

MARKETS•EVENTS•CRAFT FAIRS MARCH

APRIL

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS Come out and try dragon boating We are all survivors With a goal for tness, friendship and fun

St. Luke’s Anglican Church Spring Fair Saturday, April 27th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 3821 Cedar Hill X Rd. Featuring plants, antiques and collectibles, silent auction, jewellery, oral arrangements, needlework, handicrafts, home baking, jams & jellies, books, toys, white elephant and more! Lunch is available - admission is FREE. Wheelchair accessible.

For more information call: (250)-592-2842

MAY Check us out ~ get in a boat~ questions?

Vic West Community Centre March 9, April 6 0900 RSVP Contact anytime: ibspaddler@gmail.com www.islandbreaststrokers.com Victoria Rock & Gem Show March 15-17, 2019 Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street Fri. 12:30 - 8:30 pm Sat. 10am - 6pm, Sun. 9:30am - 4pm Canadian Vendors Specimens from all over the world Adults $5, Seniors & Students $4, Family (4) $12, Age 12 and under FREE Weekend pass $10. Cash only please.

APRIL Consider the Lilies XVII April 6 - 14, 2019 4354 Metchosin Road 10 - 4:30 each day, Sundays 12 - 4:00 A show and sale of textile art by Fibres and Beyond held in the heritage St. Mary the Virgin Church to coincide with the fawn lilies blooming in the church yard.

The members of Fibres and Beyond will consider the many aspects of “Heritage” for this year’s group challenge piece. There are many avenues to pursue; as a person, as an artist, ethnically, geographically, individually or as a group member. Each textile artist will interpret “Heritage” in her own preferred technique.

Info: 250-642-2058, 250-642-4323

#modernlove with THE SOOKE COMMUNITY CHOIR #modernlove is inspired by rhythmic modern pop music recorded by artists as well-known as Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Bruno Mars.

The 50+ voice ensemble will be joined by talented collaborative pianist Kathy Russell and multi-instrumentalist, Jeff Poynter.

This is going to be an exciting, upbeat, toe-tapping show and denitely one not to be missed!

In Sooke: May 3 @ 7:30pm May 4 @ 7:30pm May 5 @ 2:00pm Community Hall 2037 Shields Road In Parksville: May 11 @ 2:00 pm Tickets: $20, 16 & under free Online: www.eventbrite.com Shoppers Drug Mart, Sooke (cash only) The Stick, Sooke (cash only) Or at the door (cash only) Parksville tickets at the door only Details at: www.sookecommunitychoir.com

MAY

Swan Lake Spring Craft Sale Just in time for Mother’s Day Shopping!

Saturday, May 4, 12-4 PM at the Nature House, 3873 Swan Lake Rd. Unique handcrafted totes, quilts and fabric home accessories created by the Silver Swans craft group.

All proceeds go to Swan Lake Sanctuary. www.swanlake.bc.ca 250-479-0211 Plan now to attend the 2018 Westie Walk event Date: Sunday, May 5, 2019 Registration: 12:30 PM Time: 1 - 3 PM Location: Dominion Brook Park North Saanich Please bring your camera for taking souvenir photos. $5.00 draw tickets - all proceeds for Westie Rescue. All dogs must be on leads, and all owners will receive a free draw ticket.

Victoria Model Railway Show 2019 29th Anniversary Sunday, May 5, 10am - 4pm Curling Rink at Juan de Fuca Rec Centre FREE Parking. BC Transit Bus #50 Operating model railroad, commercial & individual sales and displays.

Adults $7, family $15, children free with adult 250-595-4070 St. Aidan’s United Church 3703 St. Aidan’s Place Annual Spring Book Sale Saturday, May 25, 2019, 10am-2pm Hundreds of fabulous books Thrift Shop Open Tea/coffee mufns available Annual Market Bazaar: November 2

JUNE EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 21st Winspear Centre, Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC Over 100 tables/60 vendors at the islands longest running vintage/retro & collectible show/sale. Gen Admission: $5 @ 9:30am.

Early Birds: $20 @ 8:30am.

Contact: (250) 744-1807 josiejones@shaw.ca Like us on Facebook VintageRetroCollectible

20th Annual Potters Guild Show & Sale Saturday, June 8th, 2019 10am - 3pm Faireld Community Centre beside Moss St Market Where art and function are uniquely expressed by over 25 potters from The South Vancouver Island Potters Guild Come see their latest work FREE admission - FREE parking For more information visit www.victoriapotters.ca or contact lcharman@telus.net

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Central Island

SPRING & SUMMER

SEND US

YOUR PHOTOS

OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

MARKETS•EVENTS•CRAFT FAIRS JUNE The 12th Annual Fernwood Art Stroll Public is welcome to tour artists and artisans studios for a show and sale of unique, hand-made artworks: Paintings, drawings, furniture, baskets, prints, sculpture Enjoy a stroll of Fernwood, with its heritage houses, cafes, pub, beautiful gardens and tree lined streets.

Sat. June 8th & Sun. June 9th, 11 to 4 For more info and to get the map: fernwoodartstroll.ca

JUNE 14 - 16, 2019 Laketown Ranch Music Park 20 minutes west of Duncan, B.C. at Lake Cowichan SATURDAY NIGHT SQUARE DANCE unlimited camping - jamming tents 5,800 sq. ft. covered performance area for comfort, rain or shine!

COWICHANBLUEGRASS.COM

20th Annual Potters Guild Show & Sale Saturday, June 8th, 2019 10am - 3pm Faireld Community Centre beside Moss St Market Where art and function are uniquely expressed by over 25 potters from The South Vancouver Island Potters Guild Come see their latest work FREE admission - FREE parking For more information visit www.victoriapotters.ca or contact lcharman@telus.net

Victoria Cat Rescue Corps Strawberry Tea Saturday, June 15th, 2019 1pm - 4pm Knox Presbyterian Church 2964 Richmond Road (between Lansdowne and Taylor) Treasures, Crafts, Books, White Elephant, and more. Strawberry Shortcake and Beverage $5.50. For further info call 250-656-1100 or www.victoriacatrescue.com

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JULY

Patio Gardens Vendors Market Saturday, July 13 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM 6536 West Saanich Rd., Saanichton 250-652-8338 Local artisans and vendors will set up throughout the garden centre, featuring a wide variety of products. Paintings, glass, wood signs, upcycled items and much more.

Lots of parking. Free admission.

We’ll publish a selection of

St. Mark’s Fair The Qualicum Beach Community Fair July 27, 8:30am to 3:30pm Downtown Qualicum Beach Veterans Way and Memorial Avenue With 120+ vendors from the Island and Mainland, food, entertainment and children’s activities, it is one of the biggest fairs on Vancouver Island.

Come and celebrate our 47th year!

next year’s edition

SEPTEMBER

of Discover

reader photos in

Send a high-quality JPG (at least 5 megapixels) to dkloster@timescolonist.com The Esquimalt Ribfest Society and the Esquimalt Fireghters Charitable Foundation invite you to join us for the SEVENTH ANNUAL ESQUIMALT RIBFEST September 6th, 7th and 8th, 2019 Bullen Park, Esquimalt, BC FREE ADMISSION Six world-class, big-rig barbequers serving the best ribs you’ve ever tasted; a craft brewery garden featuring local beer and cider; live music; kid zone with free games and crafts; vendors and entertainment for all ages. Proceeds from this family event go to local charities and school sponsored events.

Check us out at: www.esquimaltribfest.com

by Dec. 31, 2019

If your photo is used, we will give you a photo credit

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Pacific Rim

TOURS

Journey to Kiixin, the ancient traditional village site of the Huu-ay-aht people.

Explore the west coast of Vancouver Island’s pristine rainforest and spectacular beaches as you share in the Huu-ay-aht’s knowledge, history, and culture.

WALK. LEARN. EXPERIENCE.

Inhabited by Huu-ay-aht ancestors for over 5,000 years, Kiixin is the only known remaining complete traditional First Nations village on the southern BC Coast and is commemorated as a National Historic Site.

For more information please visit our website

BAMFIELD, BC

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Pacific Rim

Wild West Here, every day is a beach day Sandy beaches that seem to go on forever while waves crash on the shore and into rocky headlands. Surfers sitting up on their boards, waiting for the next swell. A celebrated food culture that reaches beyond the size of our village. Then, there are the distinctly West Coast restaurants, cabins and galleries dotting our salt-bathed streets. It’s out there, and it’s a place you’ll never forget. On the remote west coast of Vancouver Island, within the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, sits the village of Tofino. Nestled in the heart of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (British

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Columbia’s first), Tofino is a prime destination for year-round surfing, beach time, exploring the outdoors through a number of guided activities and seeking inspiration from the wild.

If you play hard, you deserve to rest well Visit Tofino, and find the right place for you: cozy cabins, bed and breakfasts, vacation homes, hostels, campgrounds, and renowned resorts.

We can help set you up with the accommodation to make your trip an unforgettable one. tourismtofino.com

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Pacific Rim

Harbour Air / Mitch Winton

The pound of the ocean surf is calling. Beautiful sand beaches, ancient trees, abundant wildlife and the power of nature will leave lasting memories.

NHendrickson NHendrickson

GETTY

Pacific Perfection Stroll the perfect beaches and explore dense coastal rainforest on winding boardwalk trails at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Marvel at the riot of life in inter-tidal zones and paddle out to one of the world’s best kayaking and wilderness camping spots in the Broken Islands Group. The national park spans three distinct sections along 130 kilometres of pristine West Coast Terrain.

Long Beach is world famous for its vast, sandy beaches within Wickaninnish and Florencia Bays.

It features boardwalks twisting through lush forests, waves for the beginner or avid surfer and dazzling sunsets.

Broken Islands Group is accessible only by boat and you can paddle through more than 100 islands in the middle of Barkley Sound, visiting forested islands and shell beaches in this stunning archipelago, which contains many sites of spiritual and cultural significance. The Tsehaht Beachkeepers provide a welcome and orientation to visitors from May until September.

Life on the edge Ucluelet (pronounced you-clue-let) is a First Nations word for safe harbour and visitors flock here for its small-town charm, breath-taking scenery and world-class resorts and dining.

Enjoy the Wild Pacific Trail, a family-friendly pathway that runs along the rocky and rugged Pacific Coast and provides incredible views of the Broken Islands Group, Barkley Sound and Amphitrite Point. The trail has two main sections.

The 2.6-kilometre Lighthouse Loop, combined with the adjoining Terrace Beach Interpretive Trail, takes an easy grade along the coast and inland hills and includes the site of an ancient First Nations canoe beach. The Big Beach to Rocky Bluffs route (five kilometres one way) is a moderate hike with small hills and stairs.

The final loop offers cliffside views of rocky headlands, and a smaller loop meanders through ancient cedars and sitka spruce.

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SET SAIL FOR SPECTACULAR WEST COAST SCENERY

Whale of a time Barkley Sound is home to resident gray whales and transient orcas. Every spring, Ucluelet and Tofino holds the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, celebrating the arrival of migrating humpback and gray whales between March and May. Plenty of tours are available to view the great creatures as well as porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, black bear and eagles.

Cruise spectacular Barkley Sound on the Frances Barkley. There are year-round sailings to Bamfield, and June to September sailings for Ucluelet and the Broken Group.

EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS OF BARKLEY SOUND

Sechart Lodge Enjoy a relaxing and affordable retreat in a scenic wilderness setting Kayak rentals and water taxi services available Closest Accommodations to the Broken Group Islands

Departure to Sechart available through Lady Rose Marine Services

250-723-8313 Toll Free: 1-800-663-7192 April to September Tel:

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Living Culture The awe-inspiring coastal landscape of the Pacific Rim region remain integral to the livelihood and heritage of the Nuu-chah-nulth people. Pacific Rim Park Reserve and First Nations partners are working together to continue the age-long practice of welcoming and sharing Nuu-chahnulth history, traditions and culture with visitors.

Take a self-guided interpretive walk along the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail and learn about the land and seas so essential to the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples’ survival. Marvel at the unique, hand-crafted totem pole depicting the land (bear with salmon), sea (orca) and sky (thunderbird) of this beautiful area.

The Kwisitis Visitor Centre is perched on the south end of Wickaninnish Beach. The outside deck is the perfect year-round spot to view whales, storms and surfers. Inside the centre, there are exhibits about the land, sea, sky and people. Listen to stories, see a replica of a longhouse and go on a whale hunt. Examine the tracks of bear, wolves and cougars that prowl the beaches for food. And find out how salmon nurtures the rainforest.

Jody Scriver

Frances Barkley –

Hot Springs Cove Natural hot springs are located in Maquinna Provincial Park in the remote northern end of Clayoquot Sound, 37 kilometres northwest of Tofino. Enjoy the undeveloped natural hot mineral spring pools in their natural state, reached by a pleasant two-kilometre boardwalk through oldgrowth rain forest. The geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into a half dozen rocky pools. The delightful hot pools flow down from one level to another, becoming gradually cooler as the fresh spring water is cooled by ocean swells. The hot springs are accessible by boat, water taxi, helicopter or float plane.

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PACIFIC RIM / Events Tofino Public Market Saturdays from May 21 to Oct. 8 Fresh food, crafts and entertainment.

Cultural Heritage Festival May 18-June 1 The Cultural Heritage Festival’s goal is to explore and exhibit the various art forms that depict West Coast culture.

Tofino Sup Challenge June 14-16, Tofino Join the fun and fast-growing sport of standup paddleboarding. Off-the-beach sprint races, fun relays and long-distance courses. tofinopaddlesurf.com Rip Curl Pro Tofino May 10-12 This annual surf competition provides an arena for competitive surfing in Canada.

Tofino Food and Wine Festival June 7-9, Tofino Botanical Gardens 16th annual festival celebrates the marriage of food and wine. tofinofoodandwinefestival.com Pacific Rim Summer Festival June 30-July 7 A full week celebrating the arts with live performances in Tofino, Ucluelet and area, includes Canada Day celebrations and art markets. pacificrimarts.ca Tofino Saltwater Classic July 5-7 Community fundraiser fishing derby.

100 ft Converted Tugboat

Floating Bed & Breakfast Docked at the Harbour Quay in Port Alberni, beside Lady Rose Marine Services Seating & Group Events

By Reservation

French/Moroccan Restaurant l tiona i d a r 5 T Deluxe & 2 rooms State WWW. SWEPTAWAYINN.COM

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The allure of Alberni Valley

Ted Kuzemski

Friendly people, big fish, plenty of adventure.

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elcome to the Alberni Valley, the ultimate retreat. A prized fishing and water-sports destination, we’re also in the centre of Vancouver Island, so we’re a great hub for exploring the rest of the Island. Best of all, the Alberni Valley is like home — a genuine B.C. town rich in culture and heritage, where you will always feel welcome.

There’s plenty to do and see: ■ Find out about the 1964 Port Alberni Tsunami at the Maritime Heritage Museum.

■ Visit the McLean Sawmill National Heritage Museum where they sawed the big timber.

■ Hike to the Alberni Lookout for a magnificent view of the entire valley.

■ Watch salmon jumping at Stamp Falls Provincial Park.

■ Taste wine at our winery or a pint at our award winning brewery.

■ Take a day-long cruise down the inlet to see the stunning scenery of Barkley Sound aboard the M.V. Frances Barkley.

■ Check out the galleries in the Arts District, or shop at Harbour Quay.

■ Enjoy a warm swim and camp at Sproat Lake Provincial Park.

■ Whet your appetite for wind-surfing in the Alberni Inlet.

■ Try a guided hike into the back country.

■ Visit one of our many amazing waterfalls.

■ Are you a music fan?

Then the Fire Acer Shaker is for you.

■ The Alberni Valley is home to many car enthusiasts with beautiful car shows all summer long, not to mention Thunder in The Valley drag races in August.

■ The Alberni Valley has become known for some excellent mountain biking circuits, including winding, ultra-challenging routes.

■ The Alberni Valley has two golf courses to suit a variety of styles and levels of expertise.

■ Have you tried ATVing ? The great outdoors offers the ultimate escape from the day to day challenges of the world, in a stress free environment, leaving you feeling revitalized and rejuvenated.

■ Looking for a little more adventure – why not try Gliding?

■ There’s an incredible zip line over canyons on the Kennedy River, river rafting tours and sightseeing by float plane.

Port Alberni, also known as the Salmon Capital of the World, was designated as the World Fishing Network’s first “Ultimate Fishing Town 2010.” Anglers can find an abundance of both river and ocean fishing in the Alberni Valley because the port is located at the end of a long arm of the ocean with many rivers flowing in to it.

Port Day June 15, Port Alberni Come on down to Tyee Landing and Maritime Heritage Discover Centre on Port Alberni’s dynamic, mixed use waterfront for the fourth annual Port Day. The event features activities for the family throughout the area such as music, games, food, vendors and more surprises to come!

Port Alberni Canada Day Parade July 1 Parade starts with steam whistle from 1929 Baldwin Locomotive. At the same time, runners from all over B.C. will race the train on a 10k race to the McLean Mill National Historic Site.

Salmon Festival Labour Day Weekend, Port Alberni Big prizing available for the 48th annual Salmon Derby held over Labour Day Weekend every year.

Prizes will be given out for biggest fish, as well as raffles to be won. After a great day of fishing, take in some of the great entertainment, music and other activities throughout the weekend.

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Pacific Rim

The Schooner

History, hospitality and great food.

Here’s the homestyle recipe: ■ In a food processor, use two handfuls of cheesy crackers and blend for 7 to 10 seconds until you have a fine crumb.

Schooner

■ Put into a cake pan and add blackening spice, black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds. (How much you want to add of each ingredient depends on how spicy you want your oyster to be.)

■ On a clean cutting board, cut each oyster into three pieces, then dredge them in the crumb mix.

Do not press on the oyster as the crumbs will fall off when cooking.

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eventy years ago, Jerry Gautier hung his backlit, neon sign advertising the Schooner Restaurant’s “Candlelit Room” to Tofino’s then 500 residents. Great food has always been part of this historic building and continues today.

The Schooner has been part of the Bruce family since 1968, and still serves the home-cooked seafood that’s made it famous.

The family’s legendary blackened fried oysters have been famous among locals and visitors alike for more than a quarter century. Known as the gateway oyster, the Nami Nori oysters have transitioned many non-believers to oyster lovers.

It’s finished with a honey wasabi mayo, pacific rim sauce and tabikio. Try it in Tofino and at home.

■ Heat up a flat top grill or a large frying pan until hot, then add quite a bit of oil. If the oil smokes, the pan is too hot.

■ Gently place each oyster piece on the pan, making sure they do not touch, otherwise the oyster will not be crunchy.

■ Top each oyster with clarified butter (just melt whole butter and skim the clear butter from the top).

■ Fry until dark brown and then flip, being careful not to crowd them.

■ Pacific Rim Sauce: Mayo and Sriracha

■ Wasabi Mayo: Mayo, liquid honey and wasabi ■ Put mayos into a squirt bottle, then make a pretty design on a plate, gently place each oyster on top, then put a dab of both sauces on each piece of oyster and then top with Tabiko (flying fish roe).

■ Garnish with pickled ginger and seaweed salad.

We know they’re pretty, but they have a short shelf life, please enjoy immediately!

ABOUT THE CHEF: Chef Maré Bruce loves her job.

For generations of locals and visitors alike, the Schooner became their home away from home, a place of work and of play; of long laughter and lasting memories. She creates a menu of delicious seafoods, steaks and hearty soups to warm you after a windy day at the beach. Although everything around Tofino is changing, her commitment to warm, West Coast hospitality will always be here.

“This is an incredible Island we live on and we are proud and honoured to be your hosts. With old friends remembered and new friends to come the Schooner sails on into her next half century.”

JASON PRIESTLEY &

FAMILY WELCOME YOU TO OUR BEACHFRONT RESORT IN UCLUELET,

www.blackrockresort.com

• • • • • •

BC

Children 12 & under – FREE Jetted tubs Cozy Fireplaces Private outdoor hot tubs Amazing storms Fabulous sunsets • Pets welcome – $20/stay

HOTEL DINING SPA

Reservations 1.877.762.5011 596 Marine Dr., Ucluelet, BC. V0R 3A0 88

TOLL FREE: 1-866-726-2901

www.terracebeachresort.ca

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Ocean Fresh

Wickaninnish Inn

Wickaninnish Inn’s famous West Coast Seafood Chowder.

A

visit to the Pacific Rim is not complete without a hearty bowl of the delicious delight. Try it at The Pointe, and even at home. Here’s how: In a large pot with a lid, bring the stock to a boil.

Add the mussels, cover and steam until the shells open, four to five minutes.

Remove the mussels from the liquid and allow to cool slightly. Discard any mussels that have not opened. Strain the liquid, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. Remove the mussel meat from the shells, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

If you like, you can set aside a few in the shell for garnish.

Rinse out and dry the pot and return it to the stove. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon, leaving the fat in the pot, and dry on a paper towel.

Add the butter to the bacon fat and heat until foamy. Add the diced onions, fennel and celery; cook until soft and translucent, eight to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with sea salt.

Meanwhile, in a medium-size saucepan, place the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, but do not allow to boil.

Stir the flour into the vegetables and cook, stirring, until thickened — this will create a liaison and prevent the chunky bits of vegetable and seafood from sinking to the bottom of your bowl later.

Pour the hot milk mixture slowly into the vegetables, stirring constantly until well blended and smooth. Bring back to a simmer, stirring frequently.

Stir in the potatoes, bacon and reserved cooking liquid from the mussels. Return to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

Add the cooked mussels, chopped oyster meat, and cubed fish and cook for four to five minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper and, if you like, a few dashes of hot sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce.

Serves: Four to eight ■ 1 cup (250 mL) chicken or fish stock ■ 2 lb (900 g) Salt Spring Island mussels, rinsed well in cold water, any opened shells discarded ■ 6 to 7 oz (175 to 200 g) good quality bacon, diced ■ 6 Tbsp (85 g) butter ■ 1 large yellow onion, finely diced ■ 1/2 medium bulb fennel, finely diced ■ 2 medium stalks celery, finely diced ■ Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste ■ 6 cups (1.5 L) milk ■ 2 cups (500 mL) cream ■ 1/2 cup (65 g) flour ■ 3 medium yellow-fleshed potatoes, unpeeled, diced small ■ 1/2 lb (225 g) oyster meat (or 12 beach oysters, shucked), roughly chopped ■ 1 lb (450 g) fresh halibut or cod, cubed ■ Tabasco or other hot sauce (optional) ■ Worcestershire sauce (optional)

SECRET BEACH Campground & Kayak Launch

Welcome to Secret Beach, the gateway to the world-famous Broken Group Islands.

Come and experience the rugged west coast.

Secret Beach features 67 campsites with ample parking for RVs, a kayak launch, a boat launch, and marina.

Launch from Secret Beach campground and marina into beautiful Toquaht Bay and Barkley Sound. Whether you are making your way to the Broken Group Islands in Pacific Rim National Park or doing family friendly day trips in Toquaht Bay, Secret Beach is the perfect place to start.

Watch for our brand new marina at the campsite opening this season in May of 2019.

Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island outside Ucluelet in Toquaht territory, getting here is easy.

SECRET BEACH CAMPGROUND & KAYAK LAUNCH

Owned and operated by Toquaht Marina & Campground Toquaht Bay, Ucluelet, BC P:1.250.726.8349 E: secretbeach@toquaht.ca

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North Central Island

Comox Valley

Four Seasons of Fantastic

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North Central Island

The Juliens Photography

A place that inspires creativity, tempts the taste buds, soothes the soul and fires the imagination of adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Winter, spring, summer and fall — this region really has it all.

Boomer Jerritt / Tourism Vancouver Island

Cade Stewart

S

ituated halfway up the east coast of Vancouver Island, this community of 66,000 faces the sea and embraces the mountains.

It has the charm of a small town, but a touch of urban sophistication and taste.

The Comox Valley is comprised of three communities, each one diverse and unique— the city of Courtenay, town of Comox, village of Cumberland and the surrounding rural farm areas.

From full on-adventure to blissful relaxation, you will find four seasons of fun in the Comox Valley. Carve down an alpine ski run with an ocean view, Nordic ski through an ancient forest, scuba dive in crystal clear waters, mountain bike or hike along a river, paddle kilometers of shoreline or tee off at one of many scenic golf courses.

You will also find time and space for relaxation and pampering. Enjoy a day of arts and culture at museums, galleries, and artists’ studios, curl up on the beach with a favourite book, tour the local wineries and distilleries or sample what’s on tap at the craft breweries. Browse boutique shops, enjoy a cappuccino at a sidewalk cafe and book a much deserved spa treatment.

Festivals throughout the year celebrate everything from music and shellfish to fine art and aviation. With more than 400 farmers and food producers in the region, Comox Valley’s diverse selection of restaurants exemplify the farm-to-fork and tide-to-table culinary tradition, with menus featuring the freshest of seasonally local ingredients. The Comox Valley offers four seasons of fantastic experiences.

Comox is quickly becoming one of the hottest vacation and relocation destinations on Vancouver Island. It is characterized by a fresh, spirited energy, an infectious joie de vivre and a modern facelift spurred by millions of new dollars

in capital investment. It is island living at its finest: boutique shopping, quaint cafes, oceanside activities, beach fires after dark and a tantalizing array of award-winning restaurants.

Visit Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park — nine acres of breathtakingly landscaped waterfront green space, gardens and heritage buildings; the site of numerous arts and culture events throughout the year.

Downtown Courtenay is best known for its locally owned shops, abundance of cafes and award winning restaurants, but it’s also known for its street markets and events, making it one of the most vibrant and popular downtowns on Vancouver Island.

Comox Valley Arts plan a fun night market that runs from 4 to 9 p.m. every Friday night from mid-June to first week of September. This market is located in the centre of Downtown Courtenay and fills the street with vendors of all sorts, unique and entertaining buskers, food, farmers, DJ’s and special events too. Each Friday is a different experience so come to downtown Courtenay and experience something new.

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Fly this summer on amazing ziplines Mount Washington Zip-Tour, the longest zipline on Vancouver Island is set to open this summer on July 1. The 2.3 kilometres multi-stage zipline will offer guests unique access to the mountain with the opportunity to experience it in a whole new and exciting way.

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Courtesy of Terra-Nova LLC of Utah

Paradise in powder at Mount Washington Mount Washington is home to one of the deepest snowpacks in North America, with a yearly average of more than 11 metres. Mount Washington Alpine Resort sports an ocean view like no other and is serviced by five lifts, five Magic Carpets, 81 marked trails, 22 kilometres of pristine snowshoe trails and 55 kilometres of Nordic trails that have attracted Olympic-level athletes to 1,700 acres of terrain.

Skiers and boarders can choose between deep powder on black diamond terrain or groomed runs fit for all ability levels.

Get a grip on one of B.C.’s best mountain bike destinations The Comox Valley’s extensive mountain-bike trails draw riders from near and far.

The trail network is surrounded by massive forests and offers masterfully-crafted trails for all abilities.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort’s Bike Park opens in July and riders can choose from a range of epic expert runs to easy beginner trails. Take a tour with a local guide or visit the many bike shops for rental bikes and insider tips only the local riders know.

From multi-day Sip & Savour Tours to threehour Wine & Chocolate rides, the region’s meandering, rider-friendly country roads are dotted with a multitude of farms and wineries and offer the perfect pairing for road riders of all ages and fitness levels. The annual Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour allows cyclists behind the scenes access to numerous farms, wineries and other food & beverage producers.

Slipstream Images

Jody Scriver

openimage.ca

Valley Adventures

Alpine-to-ocean hiking From the rugged wilderness areas, glaciers, snowfields and mountains of Strathcona Provincial Park, to coastal walks in Seal Bay Nature Park, the Comox Valley is a paradise of extensive provincial and regional parks for adventure hikers or for those looking for a casual stroll through stunning, pristine B.C. wilderness. A full-service, year-round resort with astounding alpine-to-ocean views, you can enjoy scenic chairlift rides to the top of the mountain where family-friendly hiking trails provide easy access to the stunning panorama.

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BOOK TOURS & PACKAGES

All-Suite, West Coast-Inspired Hotel with unmatched amenities & warm hospitality

1.888.703.0202 oldhousehotel.com Courtenay, BC

Play.

Host facility of the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School

Stay. Dine. Live.

Come for a tee time. Stay for a lifetime.

CrownIsle.com

| 250-703-5000 |

TF

1-888-338-8439 DISCOVER 2019

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Tucked away on Vancouver Island, Comox By The Sea is full of surprises, everything from wild adventures to one of Canada’s finest First Nations galleries, great shopping, restaurants and silver sand. Check out all our hidden gems at comoxbythesea.com

BC’s Hidden Treasure.

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THIS IS

COMOX Comox is characterized by a fresh, spirited energy, an infectious joie de vivre and a modern facelift spurred by millions of new dollars in capital investment. It’s island living at its finest: boutique shopping, quaint cafes, ocean side activities, beach fires after dark and a tantalizing array of award-winning restaurants.

This seaside community of 14,000 (and growing) is quickly becoming one of the hottest vacation and relocation destinations on Vancouver Island.

It’s true - This is Comox.

TASTE THIS If wining and dining is part of your ideal vacation, you’ll be glad you chose Comox. Sip award-winning local wines; indulge in fresh from the sea shellfish, farm-to-plate produce and soak up the scenery on the Comox Valley’s most spectacular ocean side patios. Whether you’re craving sumptuous meats, impossibly fresh sushi or freshly baked delights and a cappuccino, Comox has you covered. For a uniquely Island experience, explore Comox’s own Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can choose fresh-from-the-dock seafood right from the fishers who call these waters home.

EXPERIENCE THIS Stand-up paddleboard the shimmering waters of Comox Harbour, kite surf the wind-whipped waves at Goose Spit or try catamaran sailing amongst the islets and inlets of the Salish Sea. Bring the kiddies to the only seaside Splash Park and playground in the Comox Valley located in the beautiful Marina Park. Take a stroll along the ocean side boardwalk; enjoy the gourmet food trucks, live music and fun for the whole family.

Tee off at our immaculately groomed year-round golf course or lace up your runners and take in the extraordinary ocean views on Comox’s renowned self-guided walking tours.

DISCOVER THIS Looking for that special something? You’ll find it in one of Comox’s many independently owned galleries, bookstores and eclectic boutiques.

And if you time your visit right you’ll hit festival season in Comox, headlined by Nautical Days and the Filberg Festival on BC Day weekend.

They’re just two of the wildly popular summer festivals that keep Comox buzzing with live music, artisan crafts and ocean side adventures.

Once you discover Comox and experience its rugged coastal beauty and breathtaking mountain views, spot seals from the marina while the kids cool off at a seaside splash park you’ll understand why Comox has become one of the hottest vacation and oceanfront real estate markets in BC.

Start creating your own adventure today at discovercomoxvalley.com.

Photo courtesy DeLuca Veal Investment Council

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Valley Adventures

The ocean, lakes and rivers of the Comox Valley are your playground.

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■ Scenic kayak tours: Enjoy popular paddles around Comox Harbour and the scenic waters surrounding Goose Spit, which is home to seals, bald eagles and blue herons. Head to the historic Royston Wrecks ghost ships or experience the intertidal marine life in and around the Courtenay River. Day trips to Tree Island, Denman or Chrome Island are great options for the more adventurous.

■ Ocean sports adventures for all ages: With beautiful sandy beaches and extensive ocean activities available, head to Comox and rent a stand-up paddleboard, kayak or sailboat for a day of adventure.

■ Marine adventures: From SUP rentals to boat charters, or from marine ecotours to guided kayak and fishing excursions, the Comox Valley’s harbours, ocean water ways, rivers and estuary offer adventures to suit every age, skill and budget.

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■ Diving excursions: The waters surrounding the Comox Valley offer some of the most pristine, clear cold-water diving in the world. Local dives include the Capilano Wreck (1915), Vivian Island Sponge Wall, Norris Rocks with its mischievous seals and the memorable Wolf Eel Alley. Get under the surface and discover the temperate, colourful waters of the Pacific.

Earn Rewards with every stay!

Proudly owned by Bayview Hotel Group Ltd

• • • • • •

Indoor Pool, Whirlpool and Waterslide 91 Deluxe Rooms & One-Bedroom Suites In-Room Fridge and Microwave Free High-Speed Internet Access Fitness Facility In-Hotel Guest Laundry

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Comox Valley

778.225.0010 or 1.800.465.4329 www.hiexpress.com/courtenayse 2200 Cliffe Ave., Courtenay, BC

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filleting. For visitors who bring their own boats, head to Comox Harbour, Courtenay Airpark, Union Bay, Kitty Coleman or Saratoga Beach for launch access points to the ocean.

Comox Lake in Cumberland offers excellent fresh-water boating and swimming.

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■ Marine wildlife tours: Take a tour on a zodiac or covered boat for a unique family experience. The surrounding waters of Desolation Sound and the Salish Sea boast extensive marine wildlife, both big and small including marine birds, seals, sea lions, porpoises and even orca or grey whales, which frequent the area.

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■ Comox Harbour tours and charters: Try a sublime sunset or scenic tour around the Comox Harbour or up the Courtenay River Estuary, or journey to a Deep Water Oyster Farm in Baynes Sound. Private boat charters deliver 40 minute cruises to Tree Island, where passengers can go ashore and explore this unique, uninhabited sand island.

■ World-famous fishing and boating: Summer is salmon season on Vancouver Island. Fishing charters feature knowledgeable captains and expert guides to deliver you to prime fishing hot-spots. Charters include bait, fishing gear, fish bags, plus cleaning and

■ Sweet swimming holes: There is some awesome river swimming found at both Nymph Falls Nature Park and Barber’s Hole on the Puntledge River. The park on Forbidden Plateau Road, about 11 kilometres from Courtenay, is popular with locals. The falls are the result of a fish ladder built in the 1950s and has easy access and waistdeep sections. The Barber’s Hole is a harder climb. Swimming and exploring along the Puntledge River is at your own risk. There are no lifeguards and the Puntledge can be susceptible to sudden releases of water from the reservoir dam operated upstream by B.C. Hydro. Another popular swimming hole near Nymph Falls Park on the Browns River is called the Medicine Bowls.

COMOX VA LLE Y VA NCO U V ER ISL A N D, BC

KINGFISHERSPA.COM

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Something for Everyone Communities of the Comox Valley.

K’omoks First Nation ■ The people of K’ómoks First Nation are the traditional inhabitants of the Comox Valley.

Belonging to the group culturally known as Northern Coast Salish, the K’ómoks describe their territory as kw’umalha, meaning plentiful, rich or wealthy. The K’ómoks people remain integral to the cultural and economic life of the Comox Valley.

■ I-hos Gallery: Owned by the K’omoks First Nation and located on the site of the original Comox Village. Traditional and contemporary artwork and masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry, wood carvings, textiles and clothing produced by Indigenous artists.

■ Puntledge RV Campground and Nim Nim Interpretive Centre: Family oriented, group camping, walking trails, fishing, swimming, firepits and spacious grassy sites. See the cultural treasures of the K’omoks people and family of the late Chief Nim Nim. Courtenay ■ Courtenay is the Comox Valley’s largest urban centre with urban amenities wrapped in small-town charm and character. Shoppers will find one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, pubs and cafes in the downtown core.

The city is blessed with many walking trails, playgrounds, parks, and green areas.

A vibrant arts and culture scene is on display in galleries, including the newly renovated Comox Valley Art Gallery, festivals and special events throughout the year.

Union Bay, Fanny Bay and Royston ■ Visitors can still see remnants of the Royston Wrecks, Royston Museum, and admire the century old buildings of Heritage Row in Union Bay, not far from where coal was once loaded onto steamships. From Union Bay and Fanny Bay, you can enjoy panoramic views of Denman Island, Comox Harbour and Baynes Sound, known worldwide for shellfish including oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. Seafood lovers can get their fill at Fanny Bay Oysters Seafood Shop in Buckley Bay or tour the processing plant.

Cumberland ■ Cumberland celebrates its coal mining past while embracing the hip and contemporary.

You can buff up on history at the Cumberland Museum and Archives or on self-guided tours, or enjoy an espresso and a handmade chocolate on Dunsmuir Avenue. Festivals throughout the year and many kilometres of mountain biking trails, hiking, lakeside camping and water sports on nearby Comox Lake, have turned the village into an outdoor recreational hub.

Black Creek & Saratoga ■ North of Courtenay, many of the original Black Creek farms continue to provide produce, meat, dairy and other products for Comox Valley residents. Campers at Miracle Beach Provincial Park can explore a salmon bearing stream, trails through old growth forest and beaches, while the soft sand and tidal pools at Saratoga Beach offer hours of summertime fun.

Merville ■ Merville is a beautiful rural community of farmers’ fields, deep green forests, and sandy beaches, 13 kilometres from Courtenay. This fertile region is home to many of the Comox Valley’s food producers, dairy farmers, and wineries. At Kitty Coleman Provincial Park, fishermen can launch boats and campers will find delightful oceanfront sites beneath towering Douglas fir and Western red cedar.

Comox ■ This seaside community attracts recreational mariners to the Comox Marina where the catch of the day is readily available.

Quaint boutiques, cafes, restaurants, pubs and golf course are located in downtown Comox. Beautiful parks provide wonderful opportunities for a peaceful walk. When the wind blows, see sailboats tacking in Comox Bay and kite boarders soaring at Goose Spit.

Comox is also home to the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) which is serviced by Air Canada, WestJet, and Pacific Coastal Airlines. Also, Harbour Air provides services to and from Vancouver flying into the Comox marina harbour.

19 Wing Comox ■ 19 Wing is an important part of contemporary life in the Comox Valley. Operations from its 10,000-foot runway include long range patrol, transport and rescue, air maintenance, the Canadian Armed Forces School of Search and Rescue and the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Flying Program. Aviation buffs can head to the Comox Air Force Museum for a close up view of vintage aircraft like the T-33 Canadair Silver Star, Douglas DC-3 and CF-100 Avro Canuck.

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Into the Wild

Hiking in the fresh mountain air of Strathcona Park.

Panoramic view from Mt. Albert Edward Trail on Vancouver Island

the northwest end of Great Central Lake.

And the highest point on Vancouver Island, the Golden Hinde (elevation 2,200 metres), stands almost in the centre of Strathcona to the west of Buttle Lake.

Three roadless tracts within Strathcon Provincial Park — Big Den, Central Strathcona and Comox Glacier — have been designated as nature conservancy areas. Each tract contains outstanding examples of scenery and natural history that remain uninfluenced by human

activity. The three areas, totalling 122,500 hectares, are dedicated to the preservation of the undisturbed natural environment.

Strathcona Park benefits from excellent adjoining commercial facilities such as the Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre, which offers outdoor education and wilderness skills training. The nearby communities of Campbell River, the Comox Valley and Gold River offer a full range of visitor services.

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trathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, established in 1911 and is in the centre of Vancouver Island. It is a rugged mountain wilderness comprising more than 250,000 hectares. Mountain peaks — some perpetually mantled with snow — dominate the park.

Lakes and alpine tarns dot a landscape laced with rivers, creeks and streams.

This area is the traditional territory of the Mowachaht and Muchalaht people of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation.

Two areas — Buttle Lake and vicinity and Forbidden Plateau — offer a variety of visitororiented developments. The rest of the park is largely undeveloped and appeals primarily to people seeking wilderness surroundings. To see and enjoy much of the scenic splendor requires hiking or backpacking into the alpine regions.

Buttle Lake, the major body of water in the park, and many other lakes and waterways provide good fishing in season for cutthroat, rainbow and Dolly Varden trout. Della Falls, whose drop of 440 metres over three cascades makes it the highest waterfall in Canada, is located in the southern remote section of the park with the trailhead only accessible by boat at

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Campbell River

Matt Lena

Pacific Playground.

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n Campbell River, on the traditional territories of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai people, there are no borders between city and nature.

The city is surrounded by five provincial parks and six kilometres of accessible waterfront trail

along Discovery Passage. The area provides endless exploration opportunities by land, sea and air. Campbell River is truly nestled in nature, surrounded by the wild, with all the comforts of home.

Vancouver Island’s Best Kept Secret

Whale Watching, Grizzly Bears, Fishing Charters, Ocean Rapids AND MORE…

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• Oceanfront Rental Cabins & Glamping Tents • Full Service Marina • Fishing • Wildlife Viewing • Boat Launch • Oceanfront RV Park• Hot Tub • Restaurant

1-800-620-6739 | www.brownsbayresort.com Located 12 mi. (19.3 km) north of Campbell River

C A M P BE L L RRIVER IVE R CAMPBELL

WHALE WATCHING

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CATCH A BIG ONE Fishing is woven into Campbell River’s history and culture. One of the best ways to get a sense of the region’s roots is by getting out on the water. Try casting some lines with local anglers at the Discovery Pier (Canada’s oldest and longest saltwater fishing pier) or hire a local guide to take you out and show you local hot spots — fresh or saltwater. For those looking for a challenge, try fishing in the Tyee Pool for a chance at a coveted membership into the prestigious Tyee Club, where anglers must fish from a rowed boat (no motors or electric gear allowed) and catch a salmon that weighs over 30 pounds. Watching from shore is also entertaining!

GREAT HIKES No shortage of hiking trails here — everything from seaside walks, mountain views, waterfalls and coastal scenery is on the menu. Elk Falls Provincial Park is only a 10-minute drive from the heart of downtown. Get epic views of the waterfall from the 64-metre high suspension bridge, then continue deeper into the park to find a significant stand of old growth trees. In the fall, walk along the river to witness fly-fishers casting their lines.

Take in the Quinsam River hatchery to learn about the return of the salmon as they spawn in the river. For those wanting to reconnect with nature, Strathcona Provincial Park has options for all skill levels. Drive along Buttle Lake and wander along the many trails that lead to unique waterfalls; or challenge yourself with more strenuous hikes, such as Crest Mountain or Flower Ridge and be rewarded with jaw-dropping views.

Eugene Chung

Chris Istace

North Central Island

• Full Service Sites with Basic Cable TV & Wi-Fi available • Cottages & RV Accommodation • Jacuzzi & Heated Pool • Restrooms with Free Hot Showers • Fishing Charters Arranged • Playground & Games Room • Waterfront Restaurant & Pub • Sheltered Boat Moorage Open • Recreation Hall Year • Laundromat Round!

• Boat Rentals • Off Season Rates

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Van city Wild

North Central Island

SOAK IN THE HISTORY The region clearly represents the significant connection to Vancouver Island’s rich coastal history. Get to know the roots of the community better at the Museum at Campbell River, where galleries cover everything from the history of local First Nations and the beginnings of logging and fishing industries on our coast to the infamous Ripple Rock Explosion. Not to be missed while taking in history, is the Maritime Heritage Centre, where you can see the BCP45, the famous fishing boat that was featured on the Canadian $5 bill in the 1970s.

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Let our wilderness

Campbell Campbell River’s River’s Only Only Boutique Boutique Hotel Hotel • Oceanfront • Private balconies • Full size kitchens • Ideal for longer stays • Signature pillow top beds • Free phone calls & wireless internet • Complimentary breakfast • Non-smoking • Coin laundry • Elevator • Underground parking • 5 minutes to downtown

www.heronslandinghotel.com Heron’s Landing Hotels Ltd. 492 South Island Highway Campbell River, B.C. V9W 1A5

250-923-2848

Toll Free 1-888-923-2849

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DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY PASSAGE The waters of the Discovery Passage are home to a variety of marine life. While out on the water, it is often possible to spot humpback whales, orcas, white sided dolphins, porpoises, bald eagles and bears. All of this is backdropped by the stunning landscape of the Discovery Islands and Coastal Mountain Range, an exceptional view for guests enjoying one of our safe, comfortable and entertaining guided tours, and also for avid independent recreational boaters. While there’s

certainly much to see above sea level, exploring the depths below the surface is worth the effort.

With an experienced local dive charter, you can discover an incredible underwater treasure trove. The marine life is colourful and varied.

Wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, rockfish, sea stars and brightly coloured coral are just some of the species who provide a rainbow beneath the waves. With healthy tidal exchanges in Discovery Passage, it makes this one the best cold-water diving spots in the world.

VancityWild

Tyler Cave

Tyler Cave

North Central Island

UNWIND After your day of adventure, unwind at one of Campbell River’s cafes, waterfront restaurants, local craft brewery or have a marshmallow roast on the beach (check fire ban status in summer), and enjoy reflecting on your time in our city nestled in nature.

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NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Art and Bloom Festival May long weekend, Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, Courtenay This is a perfect time to visit the gardens as many of the more than 3,500 rhododendrons and wildflowers are in full bloom. The highlight of the weekend though is the fantastic display of work by artists and artisans who set up their booths throughout the nearly 24 acres of informal gardens.

Pier Street Farmers Market Campbell River, Every Sunday from May to September, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Merville Gumboot Market Mondays starting June 3, Merville Join us for an old fashioned country-style market where you will find many well know vendors selling the freshest vegetables, chicken, meats, eggs, bedding plants, flowers, herbs, spices and a variety of hand crafted original goods.

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B.C. Seafood and Shellfish Festival June 7-16, Comox Valley Proudly held in the Comox Valley since 2006, it’s the largest seafood festival in western Canada and loaded with amazing chefs and food.

The Comox valley produces more oysters than anywhere else in Canada.

Campbell River Salmon Derby June 8 Join the fun and festivities in the Salmon Capital of the World.

Transformations on the Shore June 19-23, Frank James Park, Campbell River Started in 1997, visitors and local residents can watch chainsaw and chisel carvers at work and enjoy the carvings that are left along the Sea Walk and throughout the City of Campbell River.

NEW DELUXE COTTAGES

Each With a So much to see … whales, Private Hot Tub bald eagles and cruise ships passing by.

• Full Service RV Sites • Spotless Washrooms • WiFi • Fishing Charters/Eco Tours • Licensed Restaurant

www.thunderbirdrvpark.com Campbell River 250-286-3344 104 DISCOVER 2019

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NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND / Events

Hornby Island Festival Aug. 1-10, Hornby Island Ten days of magic featuring jazz, classical, world beat and traditional genres of music, modern dance, children’s programming and spoken word. hornbyfestival.com

National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21, 2019, Campbell River Spirit Square Dancing, food and plenty of history.

Salmon Enhancement Derby June 29-30, Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet This family-friendly event is designed to raise funds for salmon enhancement and habitat restoration within the Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet watershed. Participants target the larger Columbia River Chinook as they migrate south. Prizes will be awarded to the three largest fish caught over the course of the derby.

Vancouver Island Musicfest July 12-14, Comox Valley Fairgrounds Produced by the Comox Valley Folk Society, the musicfest has been bringing great roots and world music to the Island since 1995. islandmusicfest.com

Filberg Festival Aug. 2-5, Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, Comox Art, crafts and music come together in a magical setting. Some of this year’s musical guests include Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes and Delhi to Dublin. The featured guest artist at the 37th annual event is painter Linda Skalenda. filbergfestival.com Log Carving Expedition Aug. 3-4, Brown’s Bay Resort The sixth annual event attracts local carving artists from Vancouver Island who have all won various events all across B.C. Salmon Festival, Logger Sports and Highland Games Aug. 9-11, Campbell River This three-day events celebrates the North Central Island’s prime industries of logging and fishing, and adds a Scottish twist with Highland Games events. Fun for everyone, including an amazing salmon barbecue.

The Artisan’s Festival Labour Day weekend, Courtenay One of Vancouver Island’s premiere events is set to go on the coming long Labour Day weekend. The Kitty Coleman Annual Artisan Festival is one of our favourite attractions, bringing together a spectacular 24-acre venue, dozens of talented artists working in many genres and a panorama of colour and visual delight.

MOMAR Sept. 28, Cumberland The Atmosphere Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR) is an incredible weekend experience that will test your mental and physical limits in the wilds of the West Coast terrain. Teams must navigate their way through a series of checkpoints on either the 30-kilometre Sport course or 50-kilometre Enduro course.

This race will require teams to paddle, mountain bike and trek their way through a challenging course with only the aid of map and their wits.

Got what it takes?

Brown’s Bay Chum Derby Oct. 25-27, Brown’s Bay Resort The 17th annual charity salmon derby is a popular event on the water and land. The resort has raised more than $100,000 at this event benefiting the Greenways Land Trust.

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GETTING HERE

Getting here is half the fun

F

ly into international and regional airports by commercial airliner either direct or on a connecting flight from Vancouver or Seattle. Or make the puddle jump in memorable style aboard a Harbour Air floatplane or a Helijet helicopter soaring across the Salish Sea and Puget Sound.

There are daily flights from Canadian and American airports to Victoria (YYJ), Nanaimo (YCD) and Comox (YQQ), while scheduled and chartered connections provide quick access to many Island communities, including Qualicum Beach (XQU), Tofino/Long Beach (YAZ), Port Alberni (YPB), Campbell River (YBL), Alert Bay (YAL), and Port Hardy (YZT).

B.C. Ferries provides vehicle and passenger ferry service between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. They also provide year-round connections between various Island communities and the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, Haida Gwaii and mainland northern B.C.

Ferry connections from Washington State include Black Ball Ferry Line’s MV Coho, connecting Victoria’s Inner Harbour with Port Angeles, and the passenger-only Victoria Clipper which runs to Seattle and back. Washington State Ferries offers car ferry service between Sidney and Anacortes in spring, summer and fall.

V2V is a premium cruise service connecting downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria, and provides a uniquely beautiful, comfortable and convenient journey for travellers seeking a highly personalized and authentic experience with seating classes, local cuisine and free on-board Wi-Fi. The voyage meanders through beautiful islands and Active Pass, and sails across the Salish Sea. Sail a private vessel to the Island and visit many of the communities connected to the 3,340 kilometres of coastline. Moor at a secure port and enjoy a harbourside community or at a private cove to enjoy a secluded beach.

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GETTING HERE

Clipper Vacations

Sail with your vehicle, as a passenger aboard a tour bus or as a foot traveller via full-service ferry systems operating from the B.C. mainland and Washington State.

TRAVEL SAVVY Passports and Visas: Visitors from countries outside of Canada must have a valid passport and, in some cases visas. For the most up to date information, see U.S. Customs and the Canada Border Service Agency websites.

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Currency: British Columbia uses Canadian currency. Most businesses offer exchange rates for U.S. dollars and there are currency exchange businesses and banks who offer rates on several currencies.

Customs: All people entering Canada must complete a Canada Customs declaration form.

You may bring into Canada 40 ounces of liquor, 45 ounces of wine and 288 ounces of beer.

You may also bring in up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and seven ounces of tobacco.

TAXES: A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% and a provincial sales tax of 7% apply to most products and services in the province.

There are also additional taxes on short-term accommodation that is applied to the prices of hotels and lodging.

For more info, visit cbsa-asfc.gc.ca Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise: Victoria downtown branch, 400-1321 Blanshard St. Victoria International Airport: 201-1321 Electra Blvd. Sidney; Canada Customs airport office 250-363-6644.

Patrick Kuschfeld

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B.C. Liquor Regulations: The legal age to buy and consume liquor in British Columbia is 19. Two pieces of picture identification are usually required.

B.C. Cannabis Regulations: Recreational cannabis use became legal in Canada on Oct. 17, 2017. You must be 19 years or older to buy, use, possess, or grow non-medical cannabis in B.C. Non-medical cannabis is sold exclusively at government-run stores, licensed private retailers and the B.C. government’s online store.

It is illegal to take cannabis across Canada’s national borders, whether you are entering or leaving Canada.

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North Island

Get lost, find yourself on the North Island

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SEA WOLF ADVENTURES

North Island

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Vancouver Island North is the first word and last stop in western Canada for relaxed and spontaneous eco-adventure.

Tourism Vancouver Island/Boomer Jerritt

Get Lost in Culture Vancouver Island North boasts a rich and colourful culture and history. Its various museums and cultural and interpretive centres chronicle a saga of human habitation dating back thousands of years. Alert Bay’s incomparable U’mista Cultural Centre is internationally renowned for its collection of potlatch artifacts.

The community museums in Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice, Sointula, Quatsino and Alert Bay, all do their vital part in keeping the history and traditions of the region alive with displays, rotating exhibits and extensive archives.

Vancouver Island North exerts a magnetic pull on easygoing adventurers seeking authentic tours

vancouver island north

he upper third of North America’s largest island is unspoiled and largely undiscovered yet just a day’s travel from Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle. It offers a breathtaking palette of parks, forests, lakes, saltwater inlets and jigsaw-puzzle coastline.

Black bears forage for berries, whales splash at sea and eagles glide overhead. The region also stretches past the shores of Vancouver Island to include magnificent Knight Inlet and a swath of the Great Bear Rainforest on the mainland of British Columbia. and experiences in a spectacularly panoramic natural setting. The variety of things to do here is remarkably diverse, especially when exploring the outdoors by land, sea and, when floatplanes and flightseeing trips are factored in, air as well.

Get Lost in Nature Vancouver Island North is a landscape that has remained virtually untouched for centuries.

A land rich with both history and culture, made for adventurers, explorers and for the truly wild at heart. It represents an opportunity to disconnect and reconnect with nature again. For those that visit this rugged landscape, it’s about a journey of discovery, a journey to find adventure, tranquility or to submerse yourself in the ancient cultures and traditions that have existed here for thousands of years. On Vancouver Island North, trails penetrate deep into the landscape, offering access to remote forests, streams, beaches and lakes. Stop along the pristine shorelines and inhale the freshest ocean air.

Get Lost in Wildlife Wild things roam here. Expect your first sightings to be majestic bald eagles riding the updrafts overhead or perhaps a black bear munching on sweet grass at the edge of Highway 19 (locally known as Bear Alley). The Roosevelt Elk and Vancouver Island Marmot are unique to the region. Great blue herons fish at the edge of estuaries that echo with the sweet call of songbirds. getlostfindyourself.ca

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KIMBERLEY KUFAAS

North Island

Authentic Adventures Experience the North island with the First Peoples.

Sea Wolf Adventures Sea Wolf Adventures connects travellers to destinations in the Great Bear Rain Forest and Broughton Archipelago areas for grizzly bear viewing, whale watching and local First Nations cultural tours. Safe. True. Educational.

Owner Mike Willie is from the remote village of Kingcome Inlet and a member of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nation.

He has a deep connection to the culture, history and original land of his ancestors. This is the basis of his work and dreams today. Willie is an educator and teaches the local language and culture at an elementary school in Port Hardy.

Sea Wolf Adventures travels through the Broughton Archipelago toward the mainland fjords, abundant with opportunities to see other wildlife that reside on B.C.’s coast, such as humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions, eagles and wolves.

KIMBERLEY KUFAAS

U’mista Cultural Centre In earlier days, people were sometimes taken captive by raiding parties. When they returned to their homes, either through payment of ransom or by a raid, they were said to have u’mista. The return of our treasures from distant museums is a form of u’mista. The potlatch was banned in Canada between 1885 and 1951. The masks and other regalia that you see here were all confiscated after an illegal potlatch in 1921.

After the ban was lifted, the Kwakwaka’wakw people fought for decades for the return of their sacred regalia that had ended up in museum and private collections around the world. Most of the regalia has come home and it is shown here at the U’mista Cultural Centre and at the Nuyumbalees Museum.

‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations to share their history, culture and passion for their traditional territory in a meaningful and permanent way by showcasing and celebrating it in a beautiful, comfortable space that is representative of their community.

This premier First Nations four-star destination hotel, offers high-end amenities and services.

Located in downtown Port Hardy, Kwa’lilas is a traditional word meaning ‘a place to sleep.’ After a day of exploring, refresh with their West Coast, Aboriginal inspired menu in their restaurant Ha’me’.

Alert Bay Connected by a ferry ride from Port McNeill, Alert Bay offers a trove of First Nations culture and history. See the U’mista Cultural Centre and the ‘Namgis original burial grounds. Explore the marshland boardwalk trails in the Ecological Park and then stop and savour an authentic First Nations salmon barbecue.

KIMBERLEY KUFAAS

KIMBERLEY KUFAAS

Kwa’lilas The Kwa’lilas Hotel is located in the traditional territories of the Kwakiutl people and is a demonstration of the commitment of the Gwa’sala

K’awatsi Tours Experience the wild beauty of British Columbia’s coastal rainforests through the eyes of your First Nations guide as they share their culture, history and traditions. Get out on the water to view wildlife, roam remote beaches, or listen to stories and learn how to weave cedar or make drums. K’awat’si Tours is your connection to Indigenous culture in Port Hardy.

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North Island

Copper Maker Gallery Located in the picturesque village of Fort Henry, located just outside of Port Hardy, Copper Maker Gallery is home to internationally renowned artist Calvin Hunt. The Copper Maker Gallery was created by Calvin and Marie Hunt as a way to teach the Kwakwakw’waka children their “Gwa’layu”, their reason for living. This Gallery provides the children with a creative, inspiring environment that generates knowledge of their crests, legends, songs and dances, giving them a sound foundation of their identity.

Cluxewe Resort Welcome to Cluxewe, a natural wonder, in the land of the Kwakiutl people, who own and manage the Resort. Cluxewe has two different, but related, meanings: ‘Place of the changing

river mouth’ and ‘place of refuge.’ Change and refuge — you can find both in this spectacular and peaceful setting, where the Cluxewe River meets the sea at Broughton Strait, along British Columbia’s famous Inside Passage. Whether you need a change from your day-to-day experience or a natural refuge from the strains of urban life, come to this magical place. Share in the hospitality of the Kwakiutl. Make this natural wonder your special place to pause, to fish, to enjoy wildlife and to relax. From its accessible, central location, you can also explore other wild wonders of Northern Vancouver Island.

You will feel as though you are a world away at Cluxewe Resort. You are on the edge of a wilderness. Yet, you are just one kilometre from the Vancouver Island Highway and a 12-minute drive from the modern, well-appointed town of Port McNeill. Shops, restaurants, art galleries, museums, a bank, marina – even golf courses – are just short distances away.

KIMBERLEY KUFAAS

Golden Gate Dubbed the Golden Gate to the West Coast, Zeballos is nestled among towering forestcloaked mountains at the head of Zabellos Inlet, gateway to Nootka Sound, world famous for salmon fishing, kayaking, caving and scuba diving. Gold was discovered here in 1931, but all the glitter is now found in its rustic natural beauty.

Zeballos is a favourite destination for kayakers, sportsfishers and nature lovers who want to leave the crowds behind and experience the wild west coast of Vancouver Island.

Here, at the gateway to Nootka Sound, rock-climbing, caving and scuba-diving adventures attract visitors from around the world.

Advertiser Directory Victoria/South Island Aura Residences By Homewood Axe & Grind Bayview Place BC Smoke Shop Breeze By The Sea By Homewood Briggs & Stratton Sotheby’s Buddies Toy Store Inc Butchart Gardens Ltd Canadian Tire Capital City Center Hotel Capital Regional District Chateau Victoria Craigdarroch Castle Dutch Bakery & Coffee Shop Embassy Inn Frontrunners Great Canadian Casinos Inc Greater Victoria Harbour Authority Helijet International Inc. Idar Jewellers Imax/Destination Cinema Canada Imax/Destination Cinema Canada Island Open Golf Society Island Outfitters Ltd It’s Only Natural I.O.N Japanese Village Restaurant Market Square Miniature World Nyla Fresh Thread Oak Bay Marine Group Oak Bay Tourism Oak Bay Tourism Ocean River Sports Phillips Brewing & Malting Co Prince Of Whales Whale Watching Royal BC Museum SG Power Products Ltd Sooke Oceanside Brewery The Keg Treck Wear Victoria Jazz Society Bluesfest Victoria Jazz Society Jazzfest

20 27 5 36 20 19 34 112 2 26 24 36 9 35 23 35 54 30 31 8 27 28 25 23 34 34 27 28 3 21 10 11 34 51 9 14 29 50 33 29 15 17

Victoria/South Island (continued) Westin Bear Mountain Resort Wild Renfrew Gulf Islands Blue Vista Resort Salt Spring Island Chamber Of Commerce Salt Spring Studio Tour The Glass Foundry

Cowichan Camp Qwanoes Chemainus Theatre Society Longwood Brewery Pacific Northwest Raptors Tourism Cowichan Nanaimo/ Central Island Auction/Tigh Na Mara Resort Best Western Dorchester Hotel Bethlehem Centre Brechin Lanes Coast Hotel Great Canadian Casino Inc Nanaimo Airport Nanaimo Blues Society Nanaimo Chamber Of Commerce Nanaimo Curling Club Nanaimo Jazz Festival Nanaimo Museum North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Ocean Trails Resort Ocean Village Resort Old City Quarter Parksville Beach Festival Port Of Nanaimo Qualicum Beach Inn Snuneymuxw First Nation Summer Markets The Port Threatre Society Vancouver Island Coach Lines Vancouver Island Conference Centre

22 32 40 41 40 41 46 47 50 46 48 74 65 65 62 64 55 71 69 59 73 67 68 73 76 76 61 77 60 75 57 78-80 63 70 72

Nanaimo/ Central Island (continued) Vancouver Island Exhibition Vancouver Island Expeditions Vancouver Island Symphony Waterfront Holdings Ltd

69 68 65 66

Pacfic Rim Black Rock Oceanfront Resort City Of Port Alberni Huu- Ay- Aht First Nations Lady Rose Marine Services Secret Beach Campground Swept Away Inn Terrace Beach Resort Inc Twin City Brewing

88 85 81 84 89 85 88 51

North Central Island Browns Bay Resort Campbell River Whale Watching Campbell River Whale Watching Comox By The Sea Comox By The Sea Comox Valley Airport Crown Isle Resort & Golf Destination Campbell River Destination Campbell River Destination Campbell River Discover Comox Valley Discovery Marine Safaris Discovery Marine Safaris Filberg Festival Heron’s Landing Holiday Inn & Suites Comox Valley Horne Lake Caves Il Falcone Restaurant Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa Old House Hotel & Spa Salmon Point Resort RV Park & Marina Ltd Thunderbird Rv Park & Resort North Island The Village Of Zeballos

100 100 43 94 95 93 93 101 102 104 93 99 105 98 102 96 42 103 97 93 101 104 111

DISCOVER 2019

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North Island

A Garden for all Seasons

Saturday Fireworks July and August

Night Illuminations June 1st - September 15th

Open daily at 9am 112 DISCOVER 2019

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