Discover Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands 2015

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What’s Inside: Victoria and South Island . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Directory of Advertisers . 12 Regional Map of Vancouver Island . . . . . . . 13 Island Attractions . . . . . . 14 Gulf Islands . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cowichan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Discover the Lifestyle . . . 29 Central Island . . . . . . . . . 31 North Central Island . . . . 35 North Island . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Pacific Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

The first step is a memorable part of the adventure …

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njoy the famously scenic ride however you travel to North America’s favourite island (confirmed again in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2014 World’s Best Awards). A first-class transportation grid makes trips here fast, convenient and economical. Sail with your vehicle, in the comfort of a tour bus or as a foot passenger via full-service ferry systems operating from the B.C. mainland and Washington state. Fly into international and regional airports by commercial airliner. Or make the puddle jump in memorable style aboard a floatplane or helicopter soaring across the Salish Sea and Puget Sound.

Getting here and there

About Discover Cover Design Gord Faller Times Colonist Creative Department Photo:The hike up Lone Cone (Meares Island) Jeremy Koreski/Tourism Tofino Contact: Martin Olivier, advertising 250-380-5243 molivier@timescolonist.com Lorna Williamson, editor 250-995-4437 lewilliamson@timescolonist.com Discover is on the Web at: www.timescolonist.com – follow the links.

Discover Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, published by the Victoria Times Colonist, is also distributed in the Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal and Lower Mainland Publishing. In addition, it is distributed in the Greater Seattle area.

Ferry service within British Columbia BC Ferries provides vehicle and passenger ferry service between Vancouver (Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay) and Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay near Victoria and the Nanaimo terminals at Duke Point and Departure Bay). Transporting nearly 20 million passenger in 2013/14, BC Ferries also provides yearround connections between various Island communities and the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, Haida Gwaii, and mainland northern B.C. Other routes sail from Comox to Powell River on the mainland, and between the Island and the northern Gulf Islands (Denman, Hornby, Quadra and Cortes). Vessels can accommodate cars, RVs, trucks, buses, bikes and pets. On-board services on the Vancouver runs to Victoria and Nanaimo include cafeterias, buffet dining, gift shops and exclusive lounges.

Ferry service from Washington State Black Ball Ferry Line’s MV Coho delivers cars and passengers year-round (except for a dry dock period in late January) to Victoria’s Inner Harbour from Port Angeles. Victoria is also the departure point for passenger-only Clipper Navigation runs to Seattle and back. Washington State Ferries offers car ferry service between Sidney and Anacortes in spring, summer and fall.

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By air Major airlines utilize Victoria International Airport (YYJ), Nanaimo Airport (YCD), Comox Valley Airport (YQQ), Campbell River Airport (YBL) and Port Hardy Airport (YZT). Harbour-toharbour floatplane and helicopter services are also available to these towns as well as the Island’s west coast. Chartered and scheduled flights can be booked to smaller islands and communities in the region.

By motorcoach Motorcoach services carry passengers from downtown Vancouver to Victoria and Nanaimo via BC Ferries. Inter-city and local bus services are available across the Island. Other motorcoach options range from group charters to sightseeing and activity tours. Shuttle buses take backpackers to the trailheads for the West Coast Trail, Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, Cape Scott Trail and North Coast Trail.

By cruise ship More than 200 cruise ships dock annually at Ogden Point in Victoria, allowing passengers to disembark for excursions.

Nanaimo’s new cruise ship facility also invites visitors to step direct to shore for daytrips around the Harbour City.

By automobile Bring your own vehicle via BC Ferries. Rent a car or pre-book an RV or camper van for pick up upon your arrival. The Island’s highway system stretches from Swartz Bay and Victoria in the south to Port Hardy in the far north along the eastern coastline; it also cuts across the Island’s midsection to Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet. Follow the major, multi-lane routes or head off the beaten path. The Oceanside Route (Hwy 19A) follows the picturesque coastline from Parksville to Campbell River. The North Island Route extends from Campbell River to Port Hardy along a fast track lined with lakes, dense forest and mountain vistas. One more scenic detour: Along the east coast of the Cowichan Valley between Cobble Hill and Ladysmith.

Outdoor adventure or city sophistication – Vancouver Island offers it all.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Everyone needs a little Island time

expeditions, ziplines, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding makes the “roughing” part of the equation a rare and special delight.

As for the pampering, Vancouver Island delivers big time. Shop in unique retail outlets selling local fashion, food, wine, crafts and art.

Book restorative stays in resort lodgings, welcoming B&Bs and funky hostels. Graze on the slowest of slow foods in unpretentious, quietly worldclass restaurants. Sip award-winning wine, cider and spirits on vineyard tours. Enjoy live music, theatre and the fine arts. Or simply chill with friends and family at getaway retreats far from the hurly-burly of the modern world.

Warm Pacific Ocean currents give Vancouver Island one of the mildest climates in Canada. Spring, summer and fall deliver shirt-sleeve days and cool evenings. Conditions turn dry and pleasantly toasty in July and August, perfect for trips to the beach, camping excursions, open-air markets and a multitude of festivals. All this makes the Island one of Canada’s favourite escapes.

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elcome to Canada’s far west (read as ‘best’) coast. Paddle through serene coastal waters. Backpack in majestic wilderness parks. Marvel at the furred, feathered and finned wildlife on land and out to sea. Gaze at distant snowcapped mountains while striding barefoot along softly curving beaches.

Bomb down mountain bike trails, surf the big waves and swim with the salmon. Inhale crisp, clean ocean breezes and the mossy fragrance of old-growth rainforests.

Once you’ve had your day’s fill of nature, head for cosmopolitan centres, small towns and snug harbours to shop, dine, wine, educate and amuse yourself. Paradise for travellers seeking authentic, go-anywhere adventures both outdoors and in supreme indoor comfort has a new name: Vancouver Island. To prove it, the Island has yet

again retained its status as the #1 Island in Continental US and Canada in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2014 World’s Best Awards.

The warm welcome our visitors receive from locals is a big part of the appeal, and it’s no surprise that Victoria was recently voted the third friendliest city on the planet behind only Melbourne and Auckland in a CN Traveler readers’ poll.

The Island stretches for 460km/285mi from charmingly sophisticated Victoria in the southwest to Cape Scott’s windswept beaches and rugged headlands at its northern tip. Many visitors mix it up in spontaneous, unscripted style by combining crunchy outdoor experiences with the smoothest of refined pleasures. Epic oceanfront hiking trails, wilderness camping, rock climbing, cycling, wildlife watching

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VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

South Island U

nexpected discoveries are part of every explorer’s Vancouver Island experience, and they pile up in exciting clusters in a region centred around charmingly cosmopolitan Victoria, B.C.’s capital. Expect a warm welcome in a city voted third friendliest in the world (behind only Melbourne and Auckland) in a 2014 Condé Nast Traveler reader’s poll.

The South Island includes the pastoral Saanich peninsula and a wild southwest coastline framed by postcard views of the

Juan de Fuca Strait and the craggy peaks of Washington State’s Olympic Mountain range. Such is the density of must-see attractions, in fact, that it’s tempting to settle into comfortable lodgings in Victoria (aka “the City of Gardens”) and explore this end of the Island at leisurely length by car, on foot or two wheels.

The Victoria vibe is unlike any other.

Steeped in rich history, the city marries old-world charm with trendy new-world experiences. Picturesque 19th century

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heritage buildings are home to the finest in galleries, boutique shopping, cocktail lounges and brewpubs. An events calendar marked by diverse festivals and a pulsing arts scene is busy year-round.

Victoria has an extraordinary assortment of cuisine ranging from elegant fine dining to casual bistros, waterfront pubs and gourmet food trucks. Victoria chefs are blessed with an abundance of local fare including outstanding locally made wines, ciders, beers and spirits.

In Victoria there is never a shortage of things to do. From international icons such as national historic site The Butchart Gardens to hidden gems like Canada’s oldest Chinatown, your days in Victoria can be as busy or relaxed as you want. Marvel at the Royal B.C. Museum’s exhibits. Stroll past the artisans and entertainers lining the Inner Harbour, then rocket out to sea in a Zodiac for a chance to view orcas and humpback whales. Shop downtown or head out to lovely seaside neighbourhoods like Oak Bay and Estevan Village to experience a

British High Street experience with a modern twist of style and culinary cool.

Many visitors unpack once and wander about at their leisure. Others balance the urban pleasures with daytrip excursions.

Head north into Saanich for a roadtrip tour of farmgates and wineries, stopping for a waterside lunch in Brentwood Bay, a visit to one of Canada’s most beloved public gardens and a tour of Sidney’s delightful book stores and unique boutiques.

Or head west on the Pacific Marine Circle Route (which loops through dramatic wilderness to the Cowichan region and back to Victoria over the course of a long day or, better still, a multi-night excursion). Pleasures along the way include Metchosin’s rural utopia (sheep farms, home arts studios) and Sooke’s spectacular riverside potholes and acclaimed slow-food restaurants. Further still along the coast are a series of beaches and coastal hiking trails stretching all the way to Port Renfrew’s tidal pools and oldgrowth giants.

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• Salmon and halibut fishing in the famous waters of Sooke, Victoria and Port Renfrew • Chinook salmon from 20-60 lbs.

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VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

Greater Victoria and Downtown Unpack, take a deep breath, then let the sightseeing begin.

The people-pleasing mix here includes walking tours, shopping, art galleries, horsedrawn carriage rides and a fantastic range of dining options. The focal point downtown is the Inner Harbour, lined with historic stone buildings (including the B.C. legislature, which at night is lit up like a palace by 3,333 lights) and buzzing with floatplanes, boats, passenger ferries and whale-watching Zodiacs. Stroll with the ducks and peacocks in Beacon Hill Park before stopping at the children’s farm to mingle with the goats and sheep.

Victoria’s vibrant Inner Harbour

Bruce Stotesbury/Times Colonist

OV ER 10 0 E XQUISIT E P R E -HISPA NIC A R T IFAC T S F ROM THE MUSEO DEL ORO, B OGO TĂ , C OL OMBI A

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IMAX Theatre Victoria In IMAX you don’t just see it - you experience it! The immense size of the IMAX screen and crystal clear surround sound takes you to places you can only imagine! Shows play hourly from 10am into the evening. Hollywood feature-length ďŹ lms play most evenings Concession and National Geographic Store onsite.

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VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

Cycling on the Saanich Peninsula.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Saanich Peninsula The farm and food shopping basket of the South Island extends north from Victoria to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. Transit it end-to-end in a quick half hour on the multi-lane Highway 17 (aka the Pat Bay Highway). Or hit the backroads to see rolling farmland, vineyards, home studios and exquisite valley views. Mt. Newton Cross Road rates as one of the nation’s most scenic drives.

The District of North Saanich is home to the Victoria International Airport and the ferry terminals in Swartz Bay (connecting to the B.C. mainland) and Sidney (to Anacortes in Washington state). The rewards of detouring off the fast track here include 60km of coastline, million-dollar

Top things to see and do on the South Island

homes (and views) in Ardmore and Deep Cove, and opportunities to picnic on the beach at Cole’s Bay or while watching seals laze on the piers at Patricia Bay’s Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Sidney is known as “Canada’s Only Booktown” thanks to its array of new, used and rare bookstores. Linger in shops, cafés and restaurants on the walkable main street as it leads towards the ocean. At the water’s edge are pubs, hotels, two piers and a long seaside promenade lined with sculptures. Visit the aquarium at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. A thriving arts community showcases its work in local galleries and at the open-air Sidney Street Market, held every Thursday night from mid-May to the end of August.

Brentwood Bay is perched at the edge of the

kayak-friendly Saanich Inlet not far from The Butchart Gardens, a floral wonderland in a reclaimed limestone quarry that has welcomed visitors since 1904. Widely rated as one of the world’s premier public gardens, it’s open yearround as native and exotic plants bloom indoors and out. The gardens are especially popular during a summer season marked by displays and concert performances, and Saturday evening fireworks.

Brentwood Bay’s resort and spa is a favourite getaway for foodies, who also enjoy touring area farmgates and wineries. Shop at boutiques along the pretty, roundabout-serviced main street, and dine at pubs, cafés and a waterside bistro. The Instagram moments pile up fast during BC Ferries crossings to Mill Bay in the Cowichan region.

• Take an awe-inspiring journey back in time at the Royal BC Museum.

• Get up-close and personal with marine life at Sidney’s Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre.

• Whale-watching outings invite close encounters with orcas, humpbacks, sea lions and more.

• The Butchart Gardens, open since 1904, is one of the world’s most beloved public gardens.

• Craigdarroch Castle was built in the 1880’s by B.C.’s first millionaire.

• The Sooke Fine Arts Show in August is B.C.’s largest adjudicated visual arts event.

• Visit Canada’s oldest Chinatown, home to the country’s narrowest street, Fan Tan Alley.

• The B.C. legislature and the Fairmont Empress Hotel are two of architect Francis Rattenbury’s magnificent Inner Harbour landmarks.

• Go for the big pink ones on salmon fishing charters.

• Port Renfrew’s Botanical Beach is a true off-the-beaten-path marine wonderland.

• Culinary experiences include fine West Coast cuisine, spicy foodtruck fare, wine and beer tastings, afternoon tea at The Empress and lingering visits to the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson.

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VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

What’s on in the South Island region Culinaire

26th Annual TC10k

March 19, Early Event: 5:15 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Late Event: 8 p.m.–10:15 p.m.

The Crystal Garden, Victoria

April 26, Victoria

Victoria’s Premier Food Tasting Experience offers guests the opportunity to experience a selection of the most unique restaurants and purveyors of fine food and beverage the region has to offer. Featured presenters from Victoria, the Cowichan Valley and Saltspring Island serve their inspired creations and signature dishes for you to enjoy. Discover new restaurants and cooking methods, interact with chefs and restaurateurs, sample from a wide variety of amazing cuisine, and enjoy a great evening in a relaxed environment. Culinaire is a 19+ event – no minors permitted. culinairevictoria.com

Fourth Annual Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival April 25&26 The English Inn, 429 Lampson St., Esquimalt

Creatively United for the Planet is a registered not-for-profit society dedicated to empowering communities and individuals to take better care of the Earth. creativelyunited.org

Three courses for experienced and recreational runners and walkers to choose from – TC10K, the Half Marathon and the Thrifty Foods Family Run. Starting in downtown Victoria beside the B.C. Legislature, the course winds through the downtown core and residential areas before circling around to Dallas Road and the water, where the route hugs the shoreline for the last 4 km of the race. The sprint to the finish line is fast and straight with the back drop of the Legislative Buildings. The TC10K is hosted by the Victoria International Running Society, a nonprofit group that supports and organizes many of Vancouver Island’s track and field athletes and events. tc10k.ca

Uno Fest May 8–24

Uno Fest is North America’s longest running festival of solo performance, and a highlight of the season for local audiences with it’s carefully curated mix of the personal, the profound and the unexpected. intrepidtheatre.com

152nd Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival

2nd annual Victoria International Kite Festival

53rd Annual Oak Bay Tea Party

May 16,17&18, Topaz Park, Victoria

May 29–31 Clover Point, Victoria

June 6, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

June 7, 7 am.–7 p.m.

Willows Beach, Oak Bay

The largest display of Scottish culture in Western Canada. Top-level pipe bands, dancers and athletes from across North America and upwards of 25,000 attendees. victoriahighlandgames.com

Victoria Day Parade May 18 9 a.m.–noon, Douglas St., Victoria

Celebrate Victoria Day with the 117th consecutive Island Farms Victoria Day Parade. Victoria’s largest parade event, complete with marching bands, floats, clowns, and more. The whole parade will take a few hours to pass by, so come prepared – bring a blanket or a folding chair, drinks, and snacks. islandfarms.com

72nd Swiftsure International Yacht Race May 23–25

Four long courses (Swiftsure Lightship Classic, Hein Bank, Cape Flattery, and Juan de Fuca), and the NOR for the one-day Swiftsure Inshore Classic. The new Hein Bank Race is for those yachts wanting a longer course but not wishing to race to Swiftsure Bank. This race stays within the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Fun for the whole family and featuring some of the world’s top professional kite flyers, kite making for children, an open sky event for the general public and much more!

The festival is in support of those living in our community who are affected by epilepsy, a condition which affects one of every 100 people. Donations will be welcomed onsite by HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre. victoriakitefestival.com

Victoria Conservatory of Music: Jubilee Grand Finale May 30, 7:30 p.m.

Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Ave., Victoria

Featuring the world premiere of a new Canadian work (piano quintet) by renowned Canadian artist and composer Stephen Brown, and commissioned by the VCM to commemorate their 50th Anniversary. Followed by a popular/contemporary music showcase featuring fiddler/jazz artist Daniel Lapp and friends – a fitting performance as the VCM celebrates its place on the national landscape.

The Tea Party Parade begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Windsor Park. The parade winds through the streets of Oak Bay, ending at Willows Park about 45 minutes later. Before the parade, at 10:15 a.m., watch the Mad Hatter Fun Run along the parade route organized by St. Patrick’s School. Enjoy live entertainment, a bathtub race on Sunday at 1 p.m., and an air show at 2 p.m. One of the highlights of the annual Oak Bay Tea Party is the famous Baron of Beef – barbecued right on the beach. The Capital City Lions Club offers its annual pancake breakfast Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the Royal Oak Lions Club provides delicious corn on the cob. There’s candy floss and popcorn, and what Tea Party would be complete without tea? Girl Guides will be serving tea in the Tetley Tea tent. The midway will run at Willows Park on Fri. June 5 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sat. June 6 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. June 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. oakbayteaparty.com

Con’t on page 10 …

vcm.bc.ca

swiftsure.org

Spectators at Clover Point watch the Swiftsure International Yacht Race.

Adrian Lam/Times Colonist

Vancouver Island ATTRACTIONS NORTH VANCOUVER ISLAND

CAMPBELL RIVER

Seasmoke Whale Watching & Alert Bay Accommodations Ecologically friendly 4-5 hour tours in the pristine waters of Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound.

This critical habitat area is one of the best places to find Northern Resident Orcas and is where Humpback, Minke, and Biggs (Transient ) Orcas are also seen. Departing from Alert Bay and Alder Bay (15 minutes south of Port McNeill) our tours include fresh baked muffins and a Devonshire Tea, a treat that we have been serving on board since 1986!

1-800-668-6722 www.seasmokewhalewatching.com www.alertbayaccommodations.com

Chances Campbell River Live it UP! Downtown on the exciting slot floor.

Meet friends, relax and share good times at Coasters Bar + Bistro. Must be 19+

111 St. Ann’s Road 250-286-1442 playtimegaming.com

SUNSHINE COAST Powell River Sea Kayak Ltd.

Cabana Desolation Eco Resort

Experience the warm waters and wildlife of Desolation Sound Marine Park! All-inclusive guided kayak-camping tours, snorkel with the stars or rent kayaks and explore idyllic islands on your own.

In the heart of Desolation Sound, nestled into lush rainforest on an uninhabited island, lies Cabana Desolation, a comfortably designed, exclusive eco resort. All-inclusive packages available to Chill & Immerse in Desolation.

1-866-617-4444 info@bcseakayak.com www.bcseakayak.com

1-866-617-4444 Cabana Desolation www.bcseakayak.com/tours-packages/cabana-desolation-eco-resort/

COMOX VALLEY Ride Vancouver Island Active travel is the difference between looking at life and living it. Experience our island up close and personal with Island Joy Rides: Unique Vancouver Island Cycling Tours. Cycle quiet seaside and country roads, savour fresh and delicious local flavours, visit family-run farms and award-winning wineries. It’s simply the best way to experience an area.

www.islandjoyrides.com 1-250-830-8522 bike@islandjoyrides.com

Chances Courtenay Bring on the fun from the exciting slot floor.

Meet friends, relax and share good time at RED21 Gaming Tap + Grill. Must be 19+

361 Hunt Road, Courtenay 250-334-4531 playtimegaming.com

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A perfect fishing destination Jeremy Koreski/Tourism Tofino photo

T

he waters surrounding Vancouver Island offer some of the best saltwater fishing available in North America.

From Victoria in the south to Port Hardy in the north, this is an fisher’s heaven. Salmon is the most sought-after prize, along with halibut and lingcod. Excellent saltwater fishing charters, boat rentals, supply stores, and licensing outlets are widely available.

And if you’re a freshwater angler, you’ll love the many streams, rivers and lakes found throughout the Island. Whether an experienced angler or novice fisher, you’ll find the perfect fishing destination here on Vancouver Island. Start planning your next fishing getaway!

Vancouver Island FISHING CHARTERS NORTH WEST VANCOUVER ISLAND

NORTH CENTRAL VANCOUVER ISLAND

Trophy Salmon, Halibut, Steelhead, Trout Deluxe accommodation, Top Guides

526 Thulin St. Campbell River BC 1.250.287.6089 or 1.250.287.4497 www.seabeyond.ca

1.250.203.0429 c.elementscharters@gmail.com www.coastalelementscharters.com

PORT RENFREW

PACIFIC RIM Wild Pacific Charters Enjoy a day or more on the West Coast waters fishing for Salmon, Halibut or Bottom Fish. Local experienced fishing guide will take you out on your saltwater fishing adventure out of the Ucluelet area. We accommodate all experience levels and ages. Boating fun and breathtaking Wild West Coast BC scenery is the hallmark of every trip.

www.WildPacificCharters.com

The fishing trip of a life time. Year round saltwater fishing in a 24’ Grady White, with a full weather enclosure, comfortable seating, washroom, fully insured, experienced second-generation fishing guide with excellent knowledge of the area specializing in salmon, halibut and cod fishing.

Sea Beyond Adventures is your year round, full service fishing charter service. We offer fully guided salmon fishing, flyfishing, rafting, heli fishing and historic tyee fishing in world famous Campbell River, the Salmon Capital of the World.

World Class Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing Adventures on Vancouver Island

Toll free 1.888.934.6999 www.fishingvancouverisland.ca info@fishingvancouverisland.ca

Coastal Elements Charters

Sea Beyond Adventures Ltd.

Island Tides Outdoor Lodge

Contact AL @ 250-735-9453

Halibut & Salmon Fishing Lodge West Coast Vancouver Island With over 20 years experience we take care of all the details, excellent guides, quality fishing equipment, comfy lodging, delicious meals & fish processing.

Trailhead Resort & Charters Port Renfrew, BC • 250-647-5468 www.trailhead-resort.com

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VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

What’s on in the South Island region … con’t from page 7

Saunders Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria Triathlon June 14 Victoria

The second race in the Subaru Western Triathlon Series is the Saunders Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria, held on the edge of beautiful Victoria at scenic Elk Lake. ironman.com

Sidney Canada Day Parade July 1, 11:30 a.m.

Beacon Ave. and Resthaven Dr., Sidney

Sidney Canada Day Parade – start at Beacon Ave. and Resthaven Dr. Wheelchair viewing at Beacon and Fifth. peninsulacelebrations.ca

Taste, Victoria’s Seventh Annual Festival of Food and Wine July 16–19 Victoria

A local taste of Vancouver Island and the wine regions of B.C.. Taste uncorks July 16 with an evening tasting of more than 100 B.C. wines and local cuisine prepared by top Vancouver Island chefs. victoriataste.com

Victoria International Buskers Festival July 17–26

Professional street performers from around the region, as well as from across Canada, Europe, Sweden, Australia, South America and the U.S. will converge for the fifth annual Victoria International Buskers Festival.

Victoria Symphony Splash

Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

The Victoria International Chalk Art Festival

Aug. 2 Inner Harbour, Victoria

Aug. 27–Sept.6

Sept. 12–13, downtown Victoria

Victoria hosts one of the oldest Fringes in Canada. Eleven days of uncensored, untamed and uncut live comedy, drama, dance, magic, music, spoken word, and physical theatre this summer.

Canada’s largest street painting festival! This family friendly, free-toattend arts celebration presents some of the world’s top international chalk artists as well as those from across B.C. and the local region.

This year the festival’s First Nation’s theme is “Nature’s Spirits”, a celebration of art, wonder and adventure. There is an outdoor performance stage at the intersection of Government and View Street, and a kids chalk zone on Langley Street

by Bastion Square.

Tens of thousands of people will take to Victoria’s Inner Harbour for the 26th annual Victoria Symphony Splash. From a floating stage in the Inner Harbour, Maestra Tania Miller, the Symphony and special guests will perform, ending with a grand finale performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture – with fireworks of course! victoriasymphony.ca

Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Aug. 14–16 Victoria Inner Harbour

2015 marks 21 years of Dragon Boating in Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

June 13,14&15 Esquimalt

Pirate-themed fun-filled weekend loaded with events for all ages.

Midway, beer garden, rugby tournament, sky divers, kids’ play zone, races and the Buccaneer Days parade. www.esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca

28th Annual TD Art Gallery Paint-In July 18 Moss St., Victoria

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s annual Paint-In on Moss Street features invited professional and emerging artists from Victoria and region who “bring their studios to the street” and demonstrate their art to over 35,000 visitors strolling Moss St. from Fort St. to Dallas Rd. aggv.ca

Saanich Fair Sept. 5&6, Gates Open: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Buildings Open: 9 a.m.–9 p.m Sept. 7, Gates Open: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Buildings Open: 9 a.m.–6 p.m Saanich Fairground, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd. Saanichton

Western Canada’s oldest continuous agricultural fair. saanichfair.ca

victoriadragonboat.com

victoriabuskers.com

Buccaneer Days

victoriafringe.com

Arts & Music in the Gardens Aug. 15&16, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. both days Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd, Victoria

View wonderful art on display, music, LandArt designs, vintage cars and bonsai during this major fundraiser for the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. hcp.ca

38th Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival Sept. 4–6, Victoria Inner Harbour

Celebrating our maritime heritage – proudly presented by Canoe Cove Marina and Boatyard. A number of the vessels will be open to the public over the weekend. classicboatfestival.ca

victoriachalkfestival.com

Luxton Fall Fair Sept. 18, 19 &20 Luxton Fairgrounds

Celebrating 105 years of Fall Fairs in the Western Communities. Displays and exhibits, midway rides and games, blacksmithing and antique farm equipment and live stage entertainment. Admission by donation. luxtonfair.ca

Sidney Fine Arts Show Oct. 17–19 Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney

Presented by the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula, this is a world-class juried art show for serious artists and patrons of the arts. sidneyfineartshow.ca

The Victoria Symphony plays to enthusiastic crowds at Symphony Splash.

Darren Stone/Times Colonist

11

VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

North Saanich Jubilee – celebrating 50 years

O

fficially incorporated Aug. 19, 1965, the District of North Saanich celebrates its 50th birthday in 2015 with many events being held throughout the year.

North Saanich Jubilee Storytelling Event Wed., May 6, 7 p.m.–9 p.m.

Ardmore Golf Course, 930 Ardmore Dr., North Saanich

North Saanich pioneer families tell their historical personal stories. RSVP Dawn Gould 250-655-5459. Small charge for appetizers.

Jubilee Park Dedication and Pancake Breakfast Sat., Aug. 22, 8 a.m.–10 a.m.

Bring the whole family! Devour a pancake breakfast hosted by the popular Sidney Lions Club, entertainment for the kids with Panorama Play in the Park, and park dedication at 9 a.m. to our Jubilee Park. Pancake flipping by North Saanich Mayor and Council. northsaanich.ca Jubilee

Jubilee Halloween Fireworks

northsaanich.ca Jubilee

Sat., Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m.

North Saanich Wain Road Fire Hall, 986 Wain Rd., North Saanich

North Saanich Jubilee Display

Enjoy the hot dogs, bonfire and explosive firework display in celebration of North Saanich Jubilee.

Month of May Sidney Museum, 2423 Beacon Ave., Sidney

With this being North Saanich Jubilee, there will be even more events and fun at this popular annual community event! northsaanich.ca Jubilee

NOR 250.479.2688 (

www.northsaanich.ca Jubilee

Sat. July 25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

(1 p.m. cake cutting).

Darren Stone/Times Colonist

northsaanich.ca Jubilee

Private collections from North Saanich residents will be on display.

Year of the Jubilee – BC Aviation Museum Open House and BBQ

North Saanich Jubilee celebrations include an Open House and barbecue at the BC Aviation Museum.

4633 Prospect Lake Road Victoria B.C. V9E 1J5 FAREWELL SEASON

golfprospect.com

Re-Opening on April 18

10-game pass $175

4-40-4 Pass $40

10 X 9-hole rounds

4 rounds for $40 after 4pm

Weekly 9 & Dine Events Available May 12 to September 30

North Saanich Jubilee Flavour Trail and Wine Fest

Tuesdays - Men’s Night Wednesdays - Women’s Night

Aug. 21–23

9 holes, B.B.Q. dinner & prizes!

It promises to be a Jubilee special with the favoured foot-stompin’ Friday night BBQ at Muse Winery, followed by the Jubilee Park dedication, free farm and winery tours, Roost Farm pizza and wine fest. Pedal the Flavour Cycle (electric bike tours). Don’t miss this event!

Golfers of all levels welcome!

northsaanich.ca Flavour Trail

3:00pm start 2:30pm start

$40 golf & dinner $25 dinner only

Licensed Patio Restaurant Open May 4 to October 4 Hours 11:30am to 5:00pm daily

No golf nor reservations required!

Victoria’s Fun & Unique 9-hole Golf Course

ILEE TH SA B U J H A N IC 1965-2015

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

12

Advertiser Directory Victoria and the South Island District of North Saanich..............11 Horticultural Centre of the Pacific..14 idar Jewellers ..............................3 IMAX ..........................................5 Island Outfitters ............................4 Prospect Lake Golf Course ..........11 Robin Hood Motel ........................4 Royal BC Museum........................5 Sooke Fine Arts ..........................17 The Butchart Gardens ................56 Trailhead Resort &Charters ............9 Victoria Harbour Ferry ................15 Wings Restaurant ........................2

Cowichan Averill Creek Vineyard ................22 Best Western Chemainus Festival inn ..............27 Blue Grouse Estate Winery ..........22 Cowichan Valley Artisans ............27 Cowichan Bed & Breakfast Assoc. ..............27 Enrico Winery ............................22 LA Limousines............................22 Merridale Cider & Bistro ..............22 Tourism Cowichan......................27 Unsworth Vineyards ....................22

Central Island The Gulf Islands Blue Vista Resort ........................23 Sea Star Vineyards......................23

Sunshine Coast Cabana Desolation Eco Resort ......8 Powell River Sea Kayaking............8

Lifestyles Fairwinds ..................................29

Feature Pages Island Bed & Breakfast and Vacation Rentals ..................19 Public Markets, Events & Craft Fairs ............18 & 19

Bard 2 Broadway Theatre ..........30 Deep Bay Marine Centre..............30 Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa..............................37 Milner Gardens ..........................30 North Island Wildlife Recovery Assoc. ............30 Ocean Sands Resort ..................32 Ocean Trails Resort ....................30 Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism ....................................30 Value Lodge Motel......................32 Tigh Na Mara Seaside Spa Resort ....................34

A listing of advertisers by region, and where to find them in Discover North Central Island Best Western Plus Austrian Chalet ..........................44 Browns Bay Resort ....................44 Campbell River Whale Watching ........................44 Chances Campbell River ..............8 Chances Courtenay ......................8 Coastal Elements Charters ............9 Comox Business in Action ..........43 Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community............38 Discovery Marine Safaris ............44 Haig-Brown House B&B..............44 Holiday Inn Express & Suites ....................................38 Island Joy Rides ..........................8 Komoks First Nation ..................40 Marine Link Tours ......................44 Museum at Campbell River ........40 Old House Village & Suites ..........39 Salmon Point Resort ..................44 Sea Beyond Adventures Ltd. ..........9 Storey Creek Golf Club ................45 Stubbs Island Whale Watching ....44 Tourism Campbell River & Region ..................................44 Hiking the waterfront at French Beach, Sooke.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

North Island Corporation of the District of Zeballos ......................45 Island Tides Outdoor Lodge .......... 9 Sailcone’s Grizzly Bear Lodge......45 Sea Wolf Adventures ....................8 Seasmoke Whale Watching ..........8

Pacific Rim Alberni Valley Tourism ................49 Black Rock Oceanfront Resort......54 Coombs Country Candy ..............52 Della Falls Water Taxi ................54 Lady Rose Marine Services..........53 Mark Hobson Gallery ..................51 Port Alberni Port Authority............52 Terrace Beach Resort ..................51 Wickaninnish Inn ......................51 Wild Pacific Charters .................. 9 Wine Steam Train ......................53

13

VANCOUVER ISLAND Cape Scott Park

& GULF ISLANDS

Port Hardy

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Alert Bay Telegraph Cove

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14

Vancouver Island Attractions SOUTH ISLAND

COWICHAN

GULF ISLANDS

Abkhazi Garden, Victoria, blog.conservancy.bc.ca ALL FUN-Karts-Cages-Clubs-Camping at Western Speedway, www.allfun.bc.ca Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, aggv.ca Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, www.beaconhillpark.ca British Columbia Aviation Museum, Sidney, www.bcam.net The Butchart Gardens, Saanich Peninsula, www.butchartgardens.com See ad on page 56 Capital Regional District Parks, Greater Victoria, www.crd.bc.ca/parks Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, www.thecastle.ca Emily Carr House,Victoria, emilycarr.com Finnerty Gardens, Victoria, www.uvic.ca/finnerty Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, Colwood, www.pc.gc.ca Government House, Victoria, www.ltgov.bc.ca Hatley Park National Historic Site, Colwood, www.hatleycastle.com Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Victoria, www.leg.bc.ca Miniature World, Victoria, www.miniatureworld.com Point Ellice House, Victoria, www.pointellicehouse.ca Royal BC Museum, Victoria, www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca See ad on page 5 St. Ann’s Academy, Victoria, www.stannsacademy.com Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Sidney, www.oceandiscovery.ca Sooke Region Museum, Sooke, www.sookeregionmuseum.com Victoria Bug Zoo, Victoria, www.victoriabugzoo.ca Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Saanich Peninsula, www.butterflygardens.com Victoria Harbour Ferries, Victoria, victoriaharbourferry.com See ad on page 15

BC Forest Discovery Centre, Duncan, www.discoveryforest.com

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, www.pc.gc.ca

Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks

Helen Point Peninsula, Mayne Island

Chemainus Murals, Downtown Chemainus, www.chemainus.com/arts/murals Chemainus Theatre Festival, Chemainus, chemainustheatrefestival.ca Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre, Cowichan Bay, www.classicboats.org

Japanese Gardens, Mayne Island, www.mayneisland.com/places/japanesegarden Ruckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Mayne Island, www.mayneisland.com/stmarymagdalene

Cowichan Estuary, Cowichan Bay, www.cowichanestuary.ca Cowichan Valley Museum, Duncan, www.cowichanvalleymuseum.bc.ca Duncan Totem Tours, Duncan, www.cvrd.bc.ca Kaatza Station Museum, Lake Cowichan, www.kaatzamuseum.ca Kinsol Trestle, www.kinsol.ca Mayo Creek Gardens, mayocreekgardens.ca Old Koksilah School Museum, Duncan, www.koksilah.iwarp.com Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre, Duncan, www.quwutsun.ca Somenos Marsh, www.somenosmarsh.com Sutton Creek Wildflower Reserve, Honeymoon Bay, www.honeymoonbay.com The Raptors Flying Birds of Prey, Duncan, www.pnwraptors.com West Coast Trail, www.pc.gc.ca World’s Largest Hockey Stick, Duncan

Japanese Memorial Gardens on Mayne Island Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

CENTRAL ISLAND Butterfly World and Gardens, Coombs, www.nature-world.com Coombs Goats On the Roof, Coombs, www.oldcountrymarket.com Deep Bay Marine Field Station, Bowser, www.viu.ca/deepbay See ad on page 30 Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks

The year-round Gardens at HCP – just 12 km from downtown

Horne Lake Caves, Campground and Outdoor Centre. www.hornelake.com

Named Named one one of of the the best best gardens gardens in Canada Canada by by the the Ottawa Ottawa Citizen Citizen

Milner Gardens & Woodland, Qualicum Beach, www.viu.ca/milnergardens See ad on page 30

• 9 acres of demonstration gardens • 100 acre nature conservancy • the Pacific Horticulture College, a unique center of learning • a captivating pavilion available for weddings, celebrations, meetings • enjoy a latte or lunch at Nourish café

505 Quayle Road 250.479.6162

www.hcp.ca

Nanaimo Museum, Nanaimo, www.nanaimomuseum.ca Newcastle Island Provincial Park, Nanaimo, www.newcastleisland.ca

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Parksville

North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, Errington, www.niwra.org See ad on page 30 Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks Tiger Lily Farm, Errington, www.tigerlilyfarm.ca World Parrot Refuge, Coombs, worldparrotrefuge.org

15

PACIFIC RIM

NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND

Alberni Harbour Quay, Port Alberni

The Alberni Project – HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial , Comox, www.alberniproject.org

Alberni Pacific Railway, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com See ad on page 52 Alberni Valley Museum, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, www.bms.bc.ca Broken Island Group, Ucluelet, www.pc.gc.ca Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park, env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks

Campbell River Maritime Heritage Centre, Campbell River, www.maritimeheritagecentre.ca Comox Museum and Archives, Comox, www.comoxmuseum.ca Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre, Courtenay, www.courtenaymuseum.ca

Hot Spring Cove, Tofino, www.tourismtofino.com

Cumberland Museum & Archives, Cumberland, www.cumberlandmuseum.ca

McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com

Discovery Fishing Pier, Campbell River

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, www.pc.gc.ca Robertson Lake Fish Hatchery, Port Alberni, www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sep-pmvs/projectsprojets/robertson/robertson-eng.htm

Elk Falls Provincial Park, env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park,, Comox, filberg.com Haig-Brown BC Heritage Property, Campbell River, www.haig-brown.bc.ca See ad on page 44

The Whale Centre & Museum, Tofino, www.tofinowhalecentre.com

Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, Comox Valley, www.woodlandgardens.ca

Tofino Botanical Gardens, Tofino, www.tbgf.org

Maritime Heritage Centre, Campbell River, www.bcp45.org

Ucluelet Aquarium, Ucluelet, www.uclueletaquarium.org

Miracle Beach Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks

Walk the Wildside Trail, Flores Island, www.wildsidetrail.com

Mount Washington Ski Resort, www.mountwashington.ca

Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, www.wildpacifictrail.com

The Museum at Campbell River, Campbell River, www.crmuseum.ca See ad on page 40 Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, Quadra Island. www.nuyumbalees.com Pier Street Historic Mile, Campbell River, www.pierstreet.com Quinsam Salmon Hatchery, Campbell River, www.rivercorp.ca/visitor-centre/quinsam-hatchery Ripple Rock Hiking Trail, North of Campbell River, Hwy. 19 Seaview Game Farm, Black Creek, www.seaviewgamefarm.com Smith Lake Farm, Merville, www.smithlakefarm.com Strathcona Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks TyeeClub, Tyee Spit, Campbell River, www.tyeeclub.org

Totem poles at Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre on Quadra Island. Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Just some of the many incredible attractions found on the Island and Gulf Islands

An immense Fin whale skeleton at the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

NORTH ISLAND Cape Scott Park and the North Coast Trail, www.capescottpark.com Little Huson Cave Regional Park, www.rdmw.bc.ca/regional-services/parks Mount Cain Ski Area, www.mountcain.com Port Alice Heritage Centre, Port Alice, portalice.ca/visitors/visitor-centre Port Hardy Museum & Archives, Port Hardy, porthardymuseum.com Port McNeill Heritage Museum, Port McNeill, www.rdmw.bc.ca Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre & Hatchery, Port Hardy, www.thesalmoncentre.org Raft Cove Provincial Park, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks Ronning Gardens, Holberg, vancouverisland.com U’Mista Cultural Centre, Alert Bay, www.umista.ca Whale Interpretive Centre, Telegraph Cove, www.killerwhalecentre.org

VICTORIA HARBOUR FERRY offers locals and tourists the best view in town.

Celebrating its 25th year, VHF looks forward to showing you some hidden and magnificent locations in our beautiful city.

We are Victoria’s biggest little secret.

Tel: 250-708-0201 | Fax: 250-708-0401 | victoriaharbourferry.com

16

GULF ISLANDS

Gold Rush!

El Dorado in BC Catch gold fever at Gold Rush! El Dorado in BC, the Royal BC Museum’s look at how the B.C. gold rushes of the late 1800s forever changed the political, geographical and social landscape of the province. Taking a uniquely global view of these transformative events, the Royal BC Museum delves into the passions roused by the alluring ore through interactive displays and rare artifacts.

Gold Rush! also includes the exclusive North American engagement of Allure of Gold from the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, Colombia. www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/gold Photo courtesy Royal BC Museum

IMAX Theatre Victoria Victoria is home to the largest IMAX screen in all of Western Canada; in fact it may well be one of the biggest in the world. The theatre first opened in 1998 and was an immediate hit with locals and visitors, introducing the IMAX Experience to Victoria with the perennial favourite film, Whales. In 2014, a new screen and sound system were installed and two new digital projectors were added in preparation for the IMAX state-of-the-art laser projection system, which is expected to be completed in 2016.

IMAX was invented by Canadians who knew the immense screen and surround sound would envelop people and carry them to places in the world that very few ever get to see. At IMAX Victoria documentary style films play during the day with a Hollywood feature film playing most evenings.

Full schedule and showtimes can be found at imaxvictoria.com

Fan Tan Alley, Victoria.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Did you know?

Victoria’s Chinatown is Canada’s oldest, and is home to the country’s narrowest street – Fan Tan Alley.

The Gate of Harmonious Interest, entrance to Victoria’s Chinatown.

Photo courtesy IMAX Victoria

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

17

VICTORIA AND THE SOUTH ISLAND

A rewarding day of fishing in the waters off of Sooke Harbour.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Sooke to Port Renfrew

Drive the Pacific Marine Circle Route Port Renfrew beach.

Boomer Jerritt/ Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Backpackers embark on the multi-day Juan de Fuca Marine Trail at its China Beach trailhead. And surfers ride the waves in Jordan River and at Sombrio Beach.

Port Renfrew, like Sooke, is a sport fishing mecca where experienced guides know exactly where the salmon and halibut are biting. Two must-sees here: the tidal pools at Botanical Beach and Avatar Grove’s Western red cedar and Douglas fir giants. From here, the Pacific Marine Circle Route continues through the island’s interior past Cowichan Lake before looping back to the South Island.

The Pacific Marine Circle Route traces the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and Port Renfrew, then turns east past Avatar Grove (old-growth giants) and along former forestry roads (paved) out to Lake Cowichan and onwards to the Cowichan Valley.

From here the road winds back to Victoria. Do the 255km trip in a long day or over a multi-day itinerary.

Show & Sale July 24 - August 3 SEAPARC Sooke, BC 3 Pieces of original artwork 375 bby artists on Vancouver Island & BC's Coastal Islands IRIS NAR DINI - RH YMING

The quickest getaway to west coast wilderness from Victoria begins in Sooke, about an hour’s drive from the Inner Harbour. Fly through the trees on ziplines. Swim and explore the geological wonders at Sooke Potholes Regional Park (accessible by car or after biking along the flat, forested Galloping Goose trail).

Head out to sea on a whale-watching or sport fishing boat. And enjoy a meal in casual bistros or several of Canada’s bestreviewed slow-food restaurants. Further along the majestically scenic West Coast Road is French Beach, an easy access spot for family picnics by the sea.

Vancouver V ancouver Island’s Isl premier juried art show

S website See b it or callll 250-642-7256 250 642 7256 ffor titimes andd iinformation f ti www.sookefinearts.com Join Sooke Fine Arts Society and enjoy many added benefits!

AArtist Demos ¸ Artist Talks ¸ Live Music !GQRPM ¸ Gallery Shop

Special Events Purchaser's Preview Open to Public Artz4Kidz Artz4Youth Seniors Teas Taste of Sooke Last Day of the Show

Thursday, July 23 Friday, July 24 Tuesday, July 28 Tuesday, July 28 Wed/Thur, July 29/30 Thursday, July 30 Monday, Aug 3

Spring and Summer Markets, Events & Craft Fairs Public Markets

Pender Islands Farmers’ Market Come and discover spectacular Pender Island. Every Saturday, rain or shine, from Easter to Thanksgiving you can visit and buy local at the Pender Islands Farmers’ Market.

A Winter Market at the Hall is now open every Saturday as well. Held at the Pender Islands Rec and Ag Hall, the market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Local vendors including farmers, craftspeople, artists and community groups offer fresh fruit and vegetables, farm produce and preserves, crafts and art of all varieties. The Island’s famous all day Fall Fair is on August 22.

Public Markets FERNWOOD MARKET Fridays: May 1 to September 25 4-8 pm Victoria High School Plaza Fernwood Rd. at Vining St. Start your weekend right in Friendly Fernwood Sample what we have to offer: food, crafts, music Practical to Esoteric No market on Sept. 11 Sept. 13 is the Vining St. Party on the Plaza Family Friendly Fun contact: lrubin@shaw.ca

Every Saturday, May to October 10 9 am to 3 pm Corner of Menzies & Superior Fresh Local Produce, Specialty Foods Local Award Winning Artisans Great Live Music & Lots of Parking Come support your LOCAL farmers, food producers and artisans and share in the fun! www.jamesbaymarket.com VISIT VANCOUVER ISLAND’S BIGGEST SWAP MEET ALL FUN SWAP & SHOP Browse through the myriad of vendors who feature everything from fresh produce, plants & flowers, lawn & garden items, household goods & jewelry to all manner of collectibles & unexpected treasures. Pets are not permitted in the shopping area Smoking is prohibited on entire grounds. Table rentals available. $2 to buy – $15 to sell.

SUNDAYS – 7:00am – 1:00pm April – September, weather permitting On the track at Western Speedway 2207 Millstream Road, Victoria, B.C. 250-474-4546 allfun.bc.ca The Bastion Square Public Market opens Thurs, April 30th-Sept 26th & is open every Thurs, Fri & Sat from 11-4:30 pm.

This market features some of the Islands’ finest artisans. Come and meet the artists!

The Sunday Market at Bastion Square opens May 3rd-Sept 27th from 11am-4pm.

This eclectic market features arts, crafts, imports, vintage and a farmers market.

Starting May 17th we will feature an ‘Artist of the Day’.

VICTORIA FLEA MARKET Downtown all weather open air Market Sundays May 3rd - Sept. 26th from 10am to 4pm Market Square courtyard 560 Johnson St. An authentic urban flea market with a modern twist. Find funky vintage things & a curated selection of locally made goods. On site security, wheelchair access. FREE ADMISSION. For more information Victoria Flea Market 250-381-5033

Sooke Country Market Every Saturday 10AM to 2PM May 9th through October Otter Point Rd (right at 3rd traffic light, across from Eustace Rd). Fresh local produce, plants, seeds, eggs, breads, jams, honey, needlecrafts, woodcrafts, jewellery, soaps, etc.

Info: sookecountrymarket.com

Metchosin Farmers’ Market May 10 - October 25 Sunday 11am - 2pm Located on Happy Valley Rd. behind the firehall - only 30 minutes from Victoria.

Lovely country market featuring local produce, meat products, handicrafts, honey, fresh baking and much more. Live entertainment. Join us and enjoy our relaxed rural atmosphere!

Public Markets

2015 Sidney Street Market May 14th to August 27th 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 Peninsula Country Market Your Central Saanich Community Market Since 1991 Saturdays, June 6 to Oct 10, 9am - 1pm June 6: Look for us in Pioneer Park, Brentwood Bay, at the Brentwood Festival.

June 13 - Oct 10: Saanich Fairground (1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd, Saanichton) - no market September 5 (Saanich Fair). Enjoy a country morning among friends. Local produce, fine crafts, baked goods, hot coffee and treats, awesome music. www.peninsulacountrymarket.ca Facebook: /PeninsulaCountryMarket Tel 250-216-0521

April 25

May 22

St. Luke’s Anglican Church Spring Fair Saturday, April 25th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 3821 Cedar Hill X Rd. Featuring plants, antiques and collectibles, silent auction, jewellry, floral 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

Tillicum Centre Antique and Collectible Show and Sale May 22 - 30 September 18 - 26 Mall hours Knowledgeable Dealers on Both Levels.

Free Admission - Free Appraisals China, Crystal, Jewellery, Art Glass, Kitchenalia, Silverware, Art, small furniture items, and many items from yester-year

May 24

May 8 Victoria Cactus & Succulent Society Spring Show and Sale Tillicum Mall lower level Friday 8 May & Saturday 9 May Member’s plants on display.

Large selection of cacti and other succulent plants for sale.

Hardy varieties & outdoor planters too!

25th Anniversary Victoria Model Railway Show 2015 Sunday, May 24, 10am-4pm Curling Rink at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, 1767 Island Highway, Colwood.

Free Parking. BC Transit Bus #50 Operating model Railrooad, Commercial and Individual sales and displays. Admission: adults $7, family $14, Children free with adult 250-595-4070

May 9

June 5

April 5

EASTER SUNDAY, April 5th Winspear Centre, Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC Over 100 tables/60 vendors at the islands longest running vintage/retro & collectible show/sale. Gen Admission: $4 @ 9:30am.

Early Birds: $20 @ 8:30am.

Contact: (250) 744-1807 josiejones@shaw.ca Like us on Facebook or visit http://vintageretro-andcollectibleshowandsale. shawwebspace.ca

PACIFIC RIM POTTERS 29th Annual Spring Show & Sale Saturday, May 9 - 10am to 4pm Knox Presbyterian Church Hall, 2964 Richmond Rd. Eleven professional Island ceramic artists invite you to their annual Spring show and sale. Come, enjoy and select from the wide variety of handcrafted items for your home and garden. FREE Admission. Door prizes, Refreshments. Mastercard & VISA accepted.

Info: 250-382-0974

April 11

May 16

CONSIDER THE LILIES XIII April 11th - 19th A textile art show and sale by the twelve members of Fibres & Beyond. Wall pieces, art dolls, and wearables in a variety of technique and media incorporating fibre. Planned to coincide with the fawn lilies blooming at historic St Mary’s Church 4354 Metchosin Rd. Sat. - Fri., 10 - 4:30, Sun. April 12, 12 - 4:30, Sun. April 19, 12 - 4pm.

250-642-2058 or 250-642-4323 Young Life’s 25th Annual Victoria Home Design and Renovation Tour Sat. & Sun. April 11 & 12, 2015 11am-4pm 10 Custom designed/ renovated homes on tour. Weekend passport $25. Meet the designers & decorators in each home.

Tickets available at Lumber World, Cloverdale Paint & Home Hardware.

Call Young Life at 250-634-3223 www.hometour.younglife.ca

For your home, body and soul: the Cowichan Artisans create the professional quality fine craft you desire: functional and decorative ceramics by Cathi Jefferson and Mary Fox; glass vessels by Jo Ludwig and glass jewellery by Peggy Brackett; original paintings and prints by Jennifer Lawson and Cheryl Painter; studio furniture by Karen Trickett and live edge furniture by John Lore; wood bowls and utensils by Ken Broadland; and fine wine and traditional balsamic vinegar

by Venturi-Schulze Estate Vineyard. All these available on their Open House weekend June 5 - 7 and Nov. 7 & 8 and their yearround Studio tour. 250-246-3991 www.CowichanValleyArtisans.com

June 6 Scattered Artists Tour 2015 May 16, 17, 2015 Noon to 5pm The 12th annual ‘Scattered Tour’ of 25 local artists invites you into their studios to showcase and sell their art. A perfect opportunity to start your collection! A wide range of media - fiber art, gourd creations, basketry, watercolour & acrylic paintings, photography & illustration. Artists will donate a work of art to a gift basket that a lucky visitor will receive. www.gobc.ca/tours (map & locations) Contact seavisions@shaw.ca

19th Annual Brentwood Bay Festival Saturday, June 6, 2015 Pioneer Park, Brentwood Bay Come out and experience the beautiful village of Brentwood Bay! Flip out at the Lions’ Pancake Breakfast at 8a.m.

Awesome Festival Parade at 10a.m.

Fun family activities and live music in the park, plus the popular Peninsula Country Market, 10a.m. - 3p.m. www.brentwoodbay.info Information: 250-652-0185

Spring and Summer Markets, Events & Craft Fairs June 13

August 15

16th Annual Guild Pottery Sale On June 13th, 2015, join local potters from the South Vancouver Island Potters Guild at their annual pottery sale, Clay Connects, at the Fairfield Community Centre (1335 Thurlow), beside the Moss Street Market, 10 am to 3 pm. Admission is free.

With over 30 participating potters, ranging from emerging artists to well established potters, you can be assured to find the perfect piece for you or your loved ones.

For more information about the event, please contact Libby Wray at eswray@shaw.ca

Central Saanich Family Festival @ Peninsula Country Market.

Saturday, August 15, 2015, 9am - 1pm.

Bouncy castles, games and prizes! Enjoy a country morning with family and friends.

Local produce, fine crafts, baked goods, hot coffee and treats, awesome music.

Saanich Fairground (1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd, Saanichton) www.peninsulacountrymarket.ca Facebook: /PeninsulaCountryMarket Tel 250-216-0521

Jane Austen Tea in an English Country Garden Saturday June 20 & Sunday June 21, 1- 4 Starling Lane Vineyard, 5271 Old West Saanich Road Tickets: Adult $25; Children (5-12) $15; free under 5. Includes dainty sandwiches, sweets, punch, unlimited tea. For photos and more details www.pldca.ca. Hats, period costumes, parasols, florals highly encouraged. A fundraiser for the restoration of the Prospect Lake Hall. Tickets available at DigThis Stores, City Scribe in Brentwood or www.pldca.ca.

Info or tickets: Jackie Wrinch 250-479-4769

Duncan

Jacquie Gordon’s Bed & Breakfast

June 20

Victoria Cat Rescue Corps Strawberry Tea Saturday, June 20th, 2015 1pm - 4pm Knox Presbyterian Church 2964 Richmond Road. (between Lansdowne and Taylor) Crafts, Treasures, Books, White Elephant, and more. Strawberry Shortcake and Beverage $5.00. For further info call 250-656-1100 or www.victoriacatrescue.com

Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Bed & Breakfasts and Vacation Homes

Guests become friends at Jacquie’s spacious Heritage home and garden.

Awesome Fireside Breakfast after a rest in Vista Room: queen and two twin beds; Heritage Room: comfy antique double bed.

Cozy dressing gowns. WiFi. Your host will direct you to unique restaurants and local features.

2 km east of downtown Duncan and VIU. www.jacquiegordon.com (250) 746-7736

Port Alberni August 21 North Saanich Jubilee Flavour Trail & Wine Fest.

Friday August 21-Sunday August 23, 2015 Join our celebratory North Saanich Jubilee rural ramble through beautiful North Saanich - explore and experience local foods, farms and wines. Free tour map available July 2015.

A Partner on the Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails. www.FlavourTrails.com info@flavourtrails.com. Tel 250-812-1312

September 11

Strawberries and Wine June 20-21, 2015 Join our solstice celebration of Saanich Peninsula farms, food and wine! Create your own Peninsula experience. Choose farms, wineries and restaurants you want to visit, then enjoy a rural ramble across our bountiful landscape! No admission fees. Festival details and map available at www.flavourtrails.com. Tel 250-812-1312

The Esquimalt Ribfest Committee and the Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation invite you to join us for the THIRD ANNUAL ESQUIMALT RIBFEST September 11th, 12th and 13th, 2015 Bullen Park, Esquimalt, BC FREE ADMISSION Five 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. All proceeds from this family event go to local charities.

Check us out at: www.esquimaltribfest.com

July 26

September 12

St. Mark’s Fair The Qualicum Beach Community Fair July 26, 8:30am - 3:00pm.

Downtown Qualicum Beach, Veteran’s Way and Memorial Ave. 43 years. old, one of the biggest fairs on Vancouver Island!

140+ vendors from the Island and Mainland.

Food, Entertainment and Children’s corner. www.stmarksqualicum.bc.ca

SOOKE FALL FAIR Embraces Soil & Light 2015 Biggest Little Fair Auction, Baked Goods, Animals, Food, Games & Entertainment Saturday, September 12 (1-6pm) Sunday, September 13 (10am-5pm) Sooke Community Hall & Upper Legion Hall Sheilds & Euctace Rd. www.sookefallfair.com

Pender Island

Salmonberry Inn

Pender Island’s number one oceanfront luxury accommodation offers beautiful, ecofriendly, self-contained suites in the quiet of the BC Rainforest. Marvel at the spectacular ocean views while eagles soar overhead and seals swim below. Each large suite features a view, private entrance, king and queen beds, ensuite with double shower and kitchenette and boasts natural BC wood and organic amenities. Enjoy a delicious farm-to-table breakfast on your own patio. Pet friendly.

Discover and relax on our Pender Island, a truly memorable experience. www.salmonberryinn.ca 250-629-6774

Ladysmith

Hawley Place B&B

Close to beach and many activities, kayaking, golfing, hiking, live theatre, antiquing, shopping and great restaurants. Great rates in a perfect mid island location for interesting day trips. Come stay in a beautiful Victorian replica B&B, with 3 well-appointed guest rooms, each with private en-suite. Served breakfasts, porch rockers and garden.

302 Hawley Place (off Gill Rd) Ladysmith, BC V9G 1X9 1-877-244-4431 www.hawleyplacebandb.com hawleyplacebnb@gmail.com

Campbell River

Join us on Pender Island Two islands...countless treasures

Stamp Falls B&B

Comfortable, Natural and Friendly We are located in the beautiful Alberni Valley in the rainforest heart of Vancouver Island, a short 1 hour drive on-route to Tofino and Ucluelet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Enjoy the comfort and convenience brought to you by a English, German and Dutch speaking family.

7890 Beaver Creek Road, Port Alberni, BC. www: stampfalls.ca e-mail:info@stampfalla.ca phone: 778-421-0774

Salt Spring

` Salt Spring Island’s MAPLE RIDGE COTTAGES

Our quiet lakefront setting offers a perfect backdrop to relax and unwind. You’ll love our cozy, well equipped cottages with kitchen, linens, towels, comfortable beds, tv, fireplace, deck, bbq and FREE wifi. Swim, fish, canoe, kayak or sit and soak up sun and nature. Golf, hiking, wineries, markets, restaurants just 5-7 mins away.

(250) 537-5977 www.mapleridgecottages.com

A variety of amazing accommodation is available to suit all your holiday dreams.

Please contact any of our Chamber of Commerce Members - For full details visit www.penderislandchamber.com Ainslie Point Cottage Shangri-la Oceanfront Gnomes Hollow B and B Inn on Pender Artwood Cottage Little Log Cabin Logan’s Hideaway Beach House B and B Breakaway Vacations Salmonberry Inn Poet’s Cove Resort Shingle Bay B and B Sunshine Hills B and B Port Browning Resort Pender House

Seaside Cottage

A Beautiful Beachfront Setting with Stunning Views. Two private Cottages, each with 2 queen bedrooms & queen sofa bed, Hot tubs, gas fireplace, TV, Stereo, Wifi, laundry, Modern Kitchens. Whale watch, Hike, Golf, ski Mount Washington - fine dining. Good beach fishing for sea run cutthroat trout and salmon. We also offer Charter Fishing - ocean and river. ( 30 yrs experience) 250-286-0702 Toll free 1-866-663-1800 E-mail: Info@seasidecottage.com website: www.seasidecottage.com

20

GULF ISLANDS

T

he southern Gulf Islands stretch along Vancouver Island’s eastern coastline from Saturna near the Canada/U.S. maritime border north to Gabriola offshore from Nanaimo. A half dozen of the larger islands are home to vibrant communities and are full-service vacation destinations for weekenders and long-stay visitors. Several hundred smaller, uninhabited islands serve ocean kayakers, pleasure boaters, seabirds and slumbering colonies of sea lions.

Getting here by ferry or floatplane is part of the adventure and practical proof that you’ve made the great escape. Settle in to the welcoming embrace of a B&B, inn, resort or campground, then do as little or as much exploring as you like – either actively (hiking, biking, kayaking) or in more relaxed fashion while birdwatching, beachcombing or catching rays in a deckchair.

Inhale the fresh air and scenery.

Snap photos of apple orchards, sheepfilled fields and the panoramic views along cliffside hiking trails. Wander through rare Garry Oak and Arbutus ecosystems. Hang out with the locals in coffee shops and pubs while learning best-kept island secrets direct from the source.

Meet creative folk in galleries and home art studios. Linger over regionally sourced food and drink on oceanfront patios. Or simply find a quiet spot on

GULF ISLANDS Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

land or by the sea to picnic with loved ones and/or a good book.

Holidaying on a Gulf Island guarantees rest and relaxation – healthy, creative or pampered, it’s up to you. These three options mix and mingle at spas and wellness facilities specializing in all manner of holistic therapies – hydrotherapy, sea-salt scrubs, Reiki, aromatherapy, reflexology, mineral baths and more.

Book one-time sessions or dedicate an entire vacation to optimizing mind, body and soul. Sign up for yoga classes or a meditation retreat. Daily exposure to nature on the water or in the vast green spaces that have been smartly preserved for future generations speeds the relaxation process.

Concerts, readings, theatre productions, culinary offerings, gallery openings and a busy spring, summer and fall schedule of festivals – literary, musical, nautical, arts and apples included – keep residents and visitors entertained. Buying local is a pleasure at weekend markets where artisans, gardeners, farmers, cooks and musicians strut their island style.

Immerse yourself for a weekend or longer in a refreshingly different way of life. Enjoy a variety of easily accessible experiences. And stack up the quality time with friends and family.

Guarantee: Once you’ve visited one island, you’ll want to collect experiences on them all.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve camping history in the making

G

ulf Islands National Park Reserve will be offering a new camping opportunity on Pender Island in 2015. Work is underway to bring visitors a waterfront backcountry camping experience at Shingle Bay, located only a few minutes south of the ferry terminal. Ten new paddle-in/walk-in campsites with breathtaking views of the bay are scheduled to open May 15.

This camping area will be similar to other backcountry sites in the park reserve with rustic facilities (tent pads, picnic tables and pit privy) – a

Shingle Bay on Pender Island.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve photo

parking area will also be available with walk-in trail access. The sites will be first-come, first-served only and hopefully be available on the reservation service for the 2016 season. The Gulf Islands NPR looks forward to welcoming you this summer!

Explore other Parks Canada camping opportunities on Vancouver Island – check-out the cozy tent cabins at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site (parkscanada.gc.ca/fortroddhill) or the worryfree equipped campsites at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. parkscanada.gc.ca/pacificrim

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GULF ISLANDS

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve – your nature adventure awaits!

Miles Ritter/Gulf Islands National Park Reserve photo

Playing on the beach at Sidney Spit.

Christian J. Stewart/Parks Canada photo

L

et the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve awaken your family’s sense of wonder. Listen to baby seals under the moonlight. Watch campfire magic flicker on young faces. Stroke an owl feather over your cheek. Fall in love with an orca – especially when you hear its unique life story.

Whether you get outdoors on your own time or take part in a scheduled program, your adventure awaits. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has pulled together its top 10 experiences to get you started: 1. If you love the beach, spend at least one day on car-free Sidney Island. A 15minute passenger ferry from Sidney Pier gets you there fast, but you will feel miles (or kilometres) away. For an overnight retreat, pack your gear into a wheelbarrow and head for your campsite by the sea.

2. Rusty camping skills? Mountain Equipment Co-op and other groups will show you how it’s done at an overnight Learn to Camp event on Sat. June 20 at McDonald Campground. Learn how to rain-proof your site, cook gourmet campfire meals and choose the right equipment. Equipment provided. Check the website for registration information.

3. Let’s talk about hiking. It’s really just a walk in the park, and at Gulf Islands NPR it usually comes with panoramic ocean views. Start with a stroll along a sandy beach, follow up with a walk through a lush forest trail and pretty soon you will be ready to climb Mount Norman or Warburton Pike. Check out the Gulf Islands NPR’s Hiking, Camping and Boating Guide for all the details.

4. Perhaps you enjoy exploring at your own pace? Get the family engaged with quizzes, photos and fun facts via a trail guide app – just download the Parks Canada Explora app onto your smart phone – new trails will be added this season. Or, satisfy your “inner nerd” on a geocaching treasure hunt. Complete the route to see the park’s top ten destinations and earn your own Parks Canada geocoin.

5. Float your boat at one of Canada’s most

popular boating destinations. Hire a guide to paddle or sail along spectacular coastlines and detour into quiet coves and empty beaches. Then head to Russell Island to explore a historic Hawaiian homestead.

6. Meet the wildlife! Water travel may bring you closer to Orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions, eagles, and blue herons, yet landlubbers can also spot critters through powerful view scopes located at key locations in the park.

7. Be sure not to miss the legendary whale watching from land at East Point, Saturna Island. If you go, check out the weekly interpretive programs held in July and August (Orca News and Sunset Wildlife Watch) at East Point, where you will also find a historic Fog Alarm Interpretive Centre run by local volunteers. Stay overnight at Narvaez Bay campground or at a local B& B. Take time to soak in the local culture to better understand why Saturna Island is one of the West Coast’s best kept secrets.

8. A quick recharge? Try camping at McDonald Campground – its tall cedars and lush fern-lined campsites are only 25 minutes from Victoria and just a stone’s throw away from downtown Sidney. Pitch a tent, read a book and get back to

nature. Where else can you take your kids to the local park or even catch a movie and then end the evening with a cozy campfire? If camping isn’t your thing, bring the family for a free weekly interpretive program Campfire Magic at McDonald Campground on Friday evenings in July and August.

9. Brush up on your birding skills!

Georgina Point on Mayne Island – an important bird area overlooking Active Pass is a great location to spot Harlequin ducks, pacific loons and black oystercatchers. Check out the website to learn more about why Gulf Island NPR is a birder’s paradise.

10. Free interpretation programs are offered throughout the park reserve and many other adventures await. For program times, full itineraries and to plan your trip, visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulfislands or contact the office at 250-654-4000, toll free at 1-866-944-1744. To reserve a campsite (McDonald, Sidney Island and Prior Centennial), visit reservation.parkscanada.gc.ca or phone at 1-877-737-3783.

Leave ordinary and your passport behind. Discover your Parks Canada at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Taste the passion – Savour the experience Averill Creek Vineyard Vancouver Island’s largest estate winery with spectacular views of the Cowichan Valley. Award-winning wines, a relaxing garden patio and picturesque scenery make this an essential stop on any wine tour.

Enrico Winery Located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, Enrico Winery offers award winning wine, plus a warm and friendly atmosphere and great people. Set on a stunning 50 acre property, over looking a pond, life could not be better.

Open daily, 11am to 5pm Please contact the winery for winter hours.

6552 North Rd. Duncan 250-709-9986 www.averillcreek.ca

merridale Cider, Distillery & Bistro Spend a day making discoveries -Sample Craft cider & spirits at the tasting bar; Savour comfort food at the orchard bistro; Indulge in fresh baked goods from the brick ovens; Discover local treasures at the farmhouse store; Explore selfguided cellar, & orchard walks –perfect for the kids; Open Feb–Dec. Visit our website for special events and hours.

merridale ciderworks corp 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill 1-800-998-9908 www.merridalecider.com

Luxury Wine Tours

By L.A. Limousines Enjoy the countryside of the Saanich Peninsula or Cowichan Valley as we whisk you and your guests away in luxury. We’ll take you to the finest wineries, distilleries and Cider Houses; lunch and tastings included.

250-391-9000 info@luxurywinetours.ca www.luxurywinetours.ca

EnricoWinery.com 3280 Telegraph Rd, Mill Bay 250.733.2356

Blue Grouse Old Island Vines. New Classic Wines. Blue Grouse is a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery established as one of the founding Estate wineries of Vancouver Island.

2182 Lakeside Road Duncan 250-743-3834 info@bluegrouse.ca www.bluegrouse.ca

Unsworth Vineyards Located off a picturesque country road winding through working farms and rolling hills, Unsworth Vineyards & Restaurant is whimsically nestled in the heart of Cowichan Valley’s wine country. Dedicated to crafting wines of distinction that reflect the exceptional soil and growing conditions of the region, Unsworth’s award-winning, family-owned and operated winery is complemented by their own restaurant - a restored early 1900s farmhouse serving natural local foods. A delicious wine and culinary destination, and a spectacular setting for intimate weddings and events - warm and welcoming with plenty of charm and heritage.

2915 Cameron-Taggart Rd, Mill Bay www.unsworthvineyards.com 250.929.2292

23

GULF ISLANDS

Gabriola Island A short ferry ride from Nanaimo, Gabriola is known as “Isle of the Arts” thanks to the many artists, sculptors, photographers, writers and musicians who reside here. Pick up the Gabriola Loop map for cycling and driving tours that wind past numerous galleries and home studios. Relax on warm sandstone beaches, pluck mussels from the shore and hike the Petroglyph Trail in search of Coast Salish history. Plan visits for the Gabriola Theatre Festival in August and the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend studio tour.

Salt Spring Island Life on the most populated (just over 10,000 full-time residents) of the Gulf Islands is centred in Ganges Village, a bustling harbour town known for its shops, galleries, restaurants and a truly legendary Saturday market. Peace and pastoral quiet is the norm elsewhere on this postcard-scenic refuge. Hike Mount Maxwell’s cliffside trail, picnic at Beddis Beach, dine by the water in Fulford Harbour and tour the island on two wheels. Visit spas, yoga studios and a wellness centre for healing and spiritual rejuvenation. Drop into the Visitor Centre for details on the North End and South End loop tours. Then relax and stay in one of dozens of B&Bs or after pitching a tent oceanside near Ruckle Heritage Farm, B.C.’s oldest working farm.

Pender Island Pender Island boasts numerous public beach accesses and a thriving local farmers’ market at its Community Hall on summer Saturdays. Golf a round at the beautifully maintained nine-hole course followed by a visit to Pender’s disc golf park or walks along forested trails to cliff viewpoints. Enjoy the good life at the newly opened, award-winning winery or any of a full complement of resorts, cafés, bistros, bakery, pub, and the shops at Driftwood Centre, Medicine Beach and Hope Bay. Some 30 artist studios and galleries are dotted across the landscape.

Kayak the shoreline, visit the public whale-watching area, hike the mountains, swim the lakes or relax in privacy.

Galiano Island

Saturna Island

Direct service in under an hour from the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen makes Galiano the most accessible of the southern Gulf Islands. Steps from the ferry dock, Sturdies Bay is home to most of the amenities on this long, lean island, including a resort hotel, art galleries, dining options, bookstore and quaint neighbourhood pub. Ferry foot passengers can rent mopeds, bikes and Smart cars to explore beaches, parks and hiking trails further up-island. Don’t miss the astronomically aligned standing stones and decorative rocks at Stoneworld.

A bit removed from the main BC Ferries routes, Saturna is a year-round hideaway for visitors who arrive at Lyall Harbour either by a ferry transfer at Mayne Island or by floatplane.

Almost half of the island is protected parkland, and that includes forest, oceanside parks and Brown Ridge’s see-forever views. A winery, bistro restaurant, art studios, pub and general store provide diversions, as do the orcas swimming past the East Point lighthouse. Boats pack into Winter Cove for the island’s famous Canada Day Lamb Barbecue.

Kayaking from Port Browning Marina on Pender Island.A guide shows off a purple starfish.

Landon Sveinson/ Tourism Vancouver Island photo

N ew Isla n d -H o ppin g Pa cka ges Ava ila ble

Mayne Island Uncrowded even during peak season, Mayne and its landmark lighthouse are a first Gulf Island sighting for ferry passengers as they sail into Active Pass from the BC mainland. Enjoy a handful of good restaurants, shops and galleries while knowing that uncomplicated restorative rest is the island’s best medicine. Cycle past the sheep farms.

Visit a remarkable animal rescue facility.

And take a contemplative stroll through a Japanese memorial garden. Please book ahead: Accommodations are limited.

M AY N E ISLAN D Recognized by the 2014 Northwest Wine Summit as one of the

8 B.C. Wineries of Distinction!

SEA S TA R V I N E YA R D S

Pender Isla nd w w w.s e a st a r vineya rds.ca 250.62 9.69 60

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GULF ISLANDS

Young apple connoisseurs enjoy the Salt Spring Island Apple Festival.

Derek Lundy photo

What’s on in the Gulf Islands GuMBoOT GaLA March 16, 7p.m.

Salt Spring Folk Club, Fulford Community Hall saltspringfolkclub.com

Salt Spring Easter Art Tour Open Studios April 3–5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Salt Spring Island

The Salt Spring Easter Art Tour is an annual self-guided Artist Studio and Gallery tour. It is a sponsored program of the Salt Spring Arts Council and showcases the fine arts including painting, sculpture and photography. Each year, a special exhibit is held at Historic Mahon Hall in Ganges featuring a single artist or group of artists. It’s a great way to begin your tour! Self guided Tour maps as well as info about the participating studios and galleries are available at Mahon Hall, the location of the anchor exhibition. saltspringeasterarttour.com

Active Pass Nature and Arts Festival 2015 April 17–19 Mayne Island

A ‘must do” event for naturalists, artists and enthusiasts, families and children. Features exhibitions, performances, excursions and workshops including local artists, boat and land-based nature explorations of the region, workshops, island food, music and live theatre; gallery and studio tours, family oriented activities and more. festivalactivepass.com

Saturna Island Lamb Barbeque July 1, Canada Day Winter Cove, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Saturna Island

Country-fair flavoured outdoor picnic celebrating Canada Day. Lamb Barbeque dinner – hot dogs, refreshments, booths and games all day. saturnalambbarbeque.com

Gabriola Theatre Fest Aug. 13–16 Gabriola Island

Seventh annual Garbiola Theatre Festival! Bold, inclusive, innovative. Incredible energy – incredible theatre.

Take the plunge on B.C.’s beautiful Gabriola Island! artsgabriola.ca

16th Annual Salt Spring Island Apple Festival Oct. 4 Salt Spring Island. Start at Fulford Hall on the Fulford Ganges Rd.

Salt Spring Island grows over 350 varieties of apples organically, with an apple history dating back to 1860.

Every year locals celebrate apples at The Salt Spring Island Apple Festival. This year, the theme is ‘Let the Kid Inside You Escape’. This is an incredible little community event, attracting about 1500 apple lovers, celebrating the apples (and food) of Salt

Spring Island and connecting visitors with the farms and farmers that produce this very special diversity of tasty, healthy food. Apple tastings, apple pies, educational information on organic apple growing, apple identification services, apple art by local artists, and theatrical performances. Orchard bee and honey bee experts. saltspringapplefestival.org

Gabriola Island’s 19th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour

A gravel lane way, lined with trees and fences, leads to the Ruckle Heritage Farm.The road has been worn in by years of farm use.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Did you know?

Ruckle Heritage Farm on Salt Spring Island is B.C.’s oldest working farm still owned by the original family.

Oct. 10–12

Gabriola Island—the “Isle of the Arts”—has the sixth highest concentration of artists in Canada. On Thanksgiving weekend, the studios of sixty artists are open for visiting and viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Look for the distinctive flags and road signs to guide you to each destination.

Download a map at artsgabriola.ca

A mother and her fawn near Ruckle Provincial Park.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

25

COWICHAN

F

oodie nirvana. A lively music and arts scene. And outdoor pursuits by the dozen. That’s the Cowichan region in Vancouver Island’s southeastern front pocket. Sheltered by mountain ranges and blessed with Canada’s longest growing season, this green and fertile valley is named after a Coast Salish First Nations’ word meaning “the land warmed by the sun.” Summers are surprisingly hot by moderate West Coast standards. And when there’s a nip in the air, every fashionista with an eye for comfort and style knows that it’s Cowichan sweater weather.

Culinary tourism has been on the upswing here for years, and foodies the world over have the region on their radar now that Italy’s Cittaslow International has formally recognized the village of Cowichan Bay for its rich, sustainable, wonderfully diverse farm and culinary scenes.

Dine in cafés and bistros serving local food from land and sea. Step into tasting rooms to sample cider, spirits and awardwinning wine. Satisfy gourmet longings at food and wine festivals, among them the week-long Savour Cowichan Festival in September. Enjoy oysters, salmon and “scow” (frybread) at a riverside First Nations restaurant. Or team up with the culinary pros to forage for wild foods, mushrooms especially, before learning how to cook your own exquisite dishes.

Share breakfast in a rural B&B with its friendly owners, then head out on day trips that will make the taste buds sing.

The pleasures range from artfully prepared, locally sourced bistro meals to the most satisfying of sweet treats: baked goods, fudge and doorstop-sized cinnamon buns. Take home hand-crafted preserves, vinegars and even salt from the seawater off Cherry Point.

All these bonus calories might lead to sloth and torpor if there weren’t so many invigorating ways to work off the excess baggage. Play golf on a half-dozen smartly groomed courses year-round. Cycle along the Cowichan Valley Trail and over the historic Kinsol Trestle, one of the highest wooden trestles in the world. Tackle the challenging mountain biking routes on Mount Tzouhalem and Maple Mountain.

Hike to your heart’s content in parks and along wilderness trails. And dance long

COWICHAN

Guests at the Unsworth Winery in the Cowichan Valley enjoy a meal at Amuse Restaurant.The out door patio has view of the surrounding vineyard and mountain valley on beautiful Vancouver Island Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

into the night at music festivals.

On the aquatic front, try diving, snorkeling, tubing and pleasure boating.

Saltwater kayaking launch spots are easy to find from Mill Bay to Ladysmith, and numerous kayak tour and rental companies serve visitors. Test your standup paddling skills by renting a SUP board.

Canoe on Shawnigan and Cowichan lakes or challenge the whitewater along the Chemainus and Cowichan rivers. The latter is one of the most consistent fishing rivers on the Island; a fishing/hiking path stretches 31km along the riverbank.

Expect to reel in brown, rainbow, and steelhead trout, or to hook the chinook and coho salmon that return via Cowichan Bay. The region’s unofficial capital is

Duncan, home to a splendid array of restaurants and clothing, giftware and art retailers in the smartly revitalized downtown core. View more than three dozen totem poles (the world’s largest urban collection) on city streets.

Experience authentic First Nations’ traditions and cuisine at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre. Enjoy a steam train ride at the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, right next door to which is the new Cowichan Region Visitor Centre. This fun interpretive centre features unique, interactive exhibits of the region’s attractions and activities, plus all the information you need to make the most of your stay in Cowichan.

History buffs are well served in Chemainus, globally renowned as “mural town” thanks to its 41 wall-sized tableaux

(a mix of historic scenes including reproductions of paintings by iconic B.C. artist Emily Carr). Walking along Ladysmith’s heritage main street is like stepping back a century into the Edwardian era.

Major roads and highways provide quick connections throughout the region (and the Island as a whole), but why not explore the immersive pleasures of the scenic backroads? Along the meandering way, drop (along with your designated driver or on a tour) into 16 vineyard, orchard and distillery tasting rooms.

Numerous farms and six weekly farm markets allow one to shop for local produce direct from the source. Best advice to all visitors – pack an appetite!

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COWICHAN

travellers can head for the wild back country of Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park or explore the Pacific Marine Circle Route, which links the wild west and calm east coasts of the South Island. Spectacular scenery and stops at towering roadside attractions as the Harris Creek Spruce, Avatar Grove and the San Juan Spruce (the world’s second-largest such tree) are among the circle route’s highlights.

South Cowichan The South Island region morphs into the Cowichan Valley as Hwy #1 from Victoria crests the top of the Malahat mountain range and begins its winding descent to the Island’s east coast. Be sure to pull over at the viewpoints for spectacular panoramic views. Or exit the highway at Bamberton for a peaceful oceanside route.

Mill Bay is the first stop – the seaside village is the terminus for ferry runs from Brentwood Bay in Central Saanich. Enjoy a stroll at Mill Bay Nature Park or launch a kayak to explore the coastal waters. Walk the docks at the new Mill Bay Marina and try your hand at prawning, then enjoy the views of Mt. Baker while dining alfresco in a waterfront bistro.

Once summer cottage country, Shawnigan Lake is now home to full-time residents who treasure the lake’s recreational boating and fishing. Learn about the village’s history at Old Mill Park.

Marvel at the newly restored Kinsol Trestle railway bridge while hiking or biking the Cowichan Valley Trail. Plan a visit for the triathalon in late May or get rolling from Shawnigan Lake School on the Grape Escape wine tour in July.

Also perched high above the sparkling Saanich Inlet, Cobble Hill is tucked into a pastoral landscape of parks, farmland and vineyards. Sample award-winning cider and wine, visit a lavender farm and shop for antiques, contemporary art and local produce. One taste treat: The creamy milk and cheese available from Fairburn Farm, Canada’s first water-buffalo dairy farm.

Cowichan Bay This delightful seaside village is home to boating enthusiasts, artisans and an eclectic community of locals. Relaxed vibes, waterfront charm and tasty, locally produced eats are hallmarks of main street’s favourite haunts, which include a cheese shop, ice cream parlour and acclaimed organic bakery. Walk the pier and visit the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre’s museum. Serve aces on one of the oldest active lawn tennis courts in the world. And take the kids to the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and its fun touch tables. Visit the monument to poet Robert Service (a one-time shopkeeper here).

North Cowichan

Fresh cut lavender from Damali Lavender Farm in the Cowichan Valley.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Duncan

Chemainus

Detour off the Trans Canada Highway and explore the City of Totems. The streets of Duncan’s revitalized downtown are lined with shops, galleries, bookstores, restaurants, cafés and a popular brew pub and wine bar. Verse yourself in local history at the downtown museum next to the train station before taking a free, selfguided or group tour of 38 First Nations’ totems that line downtown streets. 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.”

Downtown shopping options include toys, fashions, books, Cowichan sweaters and First Nations’ art. Don’t miss the Duncan Farmer’s Market, a year-round Saturday tradition in City Square that features live entertainment and more than 120 vendors selling local produce, crafts, baked goods, fashion, jewelry and more.

A short drive north is the BC Forest Discovery Centre. Set on grounds that can be circled aboard a steam train, the centre honours the Island’s forestry industry with exhibits, special events and an open-air museum that houses vintage locomotives.

Further down the road, birds of prey perform incredible aerial feats under the guidance of skilled handlers at Pacific Northwest Raptors. Country music fans flock to the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds in late July for SunFest, the largest country music festival west of the Prairies.

Welcome to “the world’s largest outdoor art gallery.” Vividly colourful murals fill every available wall in town while documenting local history in fascinating detail. The murals spurred this seaside mill town’s renaissance two decades ago and its main streets are today lined with dozens of one-of-a-kind shops selling antiques, art, candy, giftware and locally made clothing. Visitors on Wednesdays in the summer can also shop at the open-air market in Waterwheel Park. Nearby is the Chemainus Theatre and its year-round schedule of first-rate musicals and dramas.

A short walk downhill towards the ocean leads to the charming shops and eateries of the Old Town as well as the seaside pleasures of Kin Beach Park.

Cowichan Lake This beloved family getaway spot is renowned for its water sports and is just 90 minutes highway drivetime from Victoria. Settle in for the duration in vacation lodgings or after pitching a tent in a lakeside campground, or rent a houseboat. Circle the lake by car on a scenic drive (mostly on unpaved forestry roads) around “Kaatza” (or “big lake” as it was originally known to the First Nations).

Along the way stop and enjoy the amenities found in Youbou, Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake and the town of Lake Cowichan. The latter is the largest of the area’s communities. Further west,

The scenic coastal area between Duncan and Ladysmith features rolling farm land and several small oceanfront communities established on the edge of calm waters ideal for boating, fishing, diving and kayaking. One highlight among many: Inspirational walkabouts of the gardens and old-fashioned general store at Providence Farm, a former convent turned working organic farm and therapeutic community.

Genoa Bay and Maple Bay look out over picturesque Sansum Narrows. Fullservice marinas in these two snug harbours are also home to cappuccino bars, art galleries and an upscale café.

Take a boat shuttle from Genoa Bay to Cowichan Bay (or vice versa).

Further north, Crofton is a resilient little community founded in the early 1900s as a copper-smelting town. Visit the Old School House Museum. Stroll along the waterfront Seawalk and linger in the town’s new pub. An hourly ferry runs from here to neighbouring Salt Spring Island.

Ladysmith Step back a century in time when wandering a town voted one of the ten prettiest in Canada by Harrowsmith Country Life magazine. With panoramic views across an oyster bay to the southern Gulf Islands, Ladysmith’s heritage main street is lined with Edwardian-era architecture, unique shops and a tempting array of restaurants. Transfer Beach Park is the town’s waterfront gem with its kidfriendly green space and water-spray park along with kayak rentals, a community art gallery and dockside maritime museum.

Harbour tours provide a unique way to see the town from a different angle and learn the history of the area.

Wine & Culinary Touring - Hiking & Cycling - Totem Tours - Diving - Whale Watching - Farm Markets - Art Studios Murals - Kayaking - Museums Boating - Live Theatre

Winery and far m tour s

Hundreds of kilometers of spectacular hiking and cycling

sonal is l and sea enu! a c o .l .. g inin on the m Seaside d

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COWICHAN

What’s on in Cowichan Cowichan Artisans Studio Tour Cowichan Artisans self-guided year-round studio tour through the stunning Cowichan Valley takes you to amazingly diverse fulltime artists studios and galleries. You’ll see artisans wood turning, furniture being made with live edges or exquisite marquetry, throwing on the potter’s wheel or sculpting with clay, painting ‘plein air’ watercolours or acrylics, beautiful dichroic glass jewelry and glass vessels (some with metal), as well as the best organic balsamic vinegar and wines. In addition to being open year round, there are two special Open Studio Weekend Tours: June 5,6,and 7 and Nov 7 and 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cowichan Artisan Studio Guide can be picked up at over 200 locations from Parksville to Tofino, to Victoria. For Studio Guide locations and map go to www.cowichanvalleyartisans.com

Cowichan Aboriginal Festival of Film & Art

Ladysmith Maritime Festival May 29–30 Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Drive, Ladysmith

Activities, boats, speakers and food!

Ladysmith Days

2015 Cowichan Lake Days

Aug. 1&2 Ladysmith, Transfer Beach

June 7–14

2015 marks the 71st anniversary of Cowichan Lake Days. Games and entertainment for every age. cowichanlakedays.com

Labyrinth 2015 June 20&21 (Solstice weekend) Damali Lavender & Winery, 3500 Telegraph Rd., Cobble Hill

Solstice Pilgrimage:Walking the labyrinth gives rise to a sense of calm. damali.ca

Cowichan Valley Grape Escape July 4&5

Art show will be on display April 1–30; original films will be screened April 22–26. aff.cowichan.net

cowichanvalleygrapeescape.com

4th Annual Cowichan Valley Whiskey Festival

Chemainus Rockabilly Festival

April 18, 7p.m.–10 p.m.

Ocean Front Suites at Cowichan Bay

July 11, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Waterwheel Park, Chemainus

Whiskey Tasting event with appetizers and door prizes. The Cowichan Highland Dance Association will be performing.

Whiskey classes available. cvwhiskeyfest.ca

20th Annual Maple Bay Wooden Boat Festival May 16&17 Maple Bay Marina, 6145 Genoa Bay Rd., Maple Bay

Rendezvous for wooden boat owners. All wood boat designs welcome. Public welcome – ‘walk the docks’ and vote for your favourite boat! Live music, vendors and artisans, model boat show and pool. maplebaymarina.com

Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon May 24 Shawnigan Lake

Internationally acclaimed races set in Canada’s scenic west. The series kicks off with Canada’s first open water triathlon in picturesque Shawnigan Lake. ap.ironman.com/#axzz3MBgr5mXE

sunfestconcerts.com

lmsmarina.ca

Come experience the beautiful Southern Vancouver Island hospitality, wines, artisans, cuisine and breathtaking scenery while helping raise money for Canadian research into the cause and cure of multiple sclerosis.

April 1–30 Cowichan Theatre, Duncan

class entertainment and showcases local artists. Sunfest is more than just a concert, it’s a vacation destination.

A wonderful day of fifties rockabilly music with a show of old cars. chemainusrockabilly.com

15th Annual Brits on the Beach July 12, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Transfer Beach, Ladysmith

Hundreds of British cars, trucks and motorcycles from all over B.C. and beyond. oecc.ca/cib/brits_on_the_beach.htm

Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza July 18&19, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Waterwheel Park, Chemainus

A great line-up of outstanding talent in the world of bluegrass music. chemainusbluegrass.com

Sunfest Country Music Festival July 30–Aug. 2 Cowichan Exhibition Fair Grounds

The ultimate Country music festival in the Cowichan Valley. Sunfest welcomes world

The theme for Ladysmith Days 2015 is “Blast from the Past” featuring fun and games from many years ago. Ladysmith Days will once again be held on the August long weekend, so mark your calendars and celebrate a blast from the past! An exhilarating annual event for over 40 years, Ladysmith Days celebrates the abundant pool of resident entertainers in Ladysmith with an exciting line-up of musicians, singers, and dancers. ladysmithdays.com

2015 Island Star Party Starts Aug. 14, 4 p.m., ends Aug. 16, 10 a.m.

Bright Angel Park, The Hub of the Universe at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Rd., Duncan

Twentieth annual Island Star Party, with added events and workshops. Please note, no food or water available on site.

Throughout the day you can enjoy swimming, hiking and outdoor fitness park. Historic Kinsol Trestle nearby. starfinders.ca/wp

Chemainus Jazz Festival Aug. 22 Waterwheel Park, Chemainus chemainusjazzfestival.com

17th Annual Arts on the Avenue Aug. 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

First Ave., Ladysmith

Over 50 artists gather on First Ave. from Buller to Warren. This year’s guest artist is well known carver, Jack Fisher.

The Historic Kinsol Trestle, part of the Cowichan Valley Trail, is open to cyclists, hikers and equestrians.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

artsontheavenue.ca

Savour Cowichan Communities: Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Bay, Duncan, Mill Bay Sept. 25–Oct. 4 savourcowichan.com

Salmon and Mushroom Festival 2015 Sept. 26&27, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Lake Cowichan Centennial Hall

Celebrate the “Wild Edible” treats of the Cowichan Valley – mushrooms and salmon. Local arts and crafts, baked goods and a variety of local mushrooms. salmonmushroomfestival.com

Did you know?

The Kinsol Trestle is the largest of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley Trail. It is one of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail trestle structures in the world, measuring 614 feet in length and standing 145 feet above the Koksilah River.

THE LIFESTYLE – LIVING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE GULF ISLANDS

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Recreation opportunities abound on the Island

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Whether exploring a mountain wilderness or a spectacular seashore, hiking is one way to actively experience Vancouver Island’s jaw-dropping natural beauty.

Chris Cheadle photo

or those with an active lifestyle, Vancouver Island is a mecca for outdoor sports and recreation. Surrounded by ocean, it’s small wonder that Vancouver Island offers exceptional fishing. Campbell River, on the east coast of the North Central Island region is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, and is home to the Tyee Club – ‘Tyee’ is a term describing Chinook or Spring salmon that weigh 30 lbs. or more. For freshwater fishing, the Cowichan River near Duncan is the Fly Fishing Capital of Canada, and is considered the best trout stream on the Island.

Rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout are caught there.

Also in the North Central Island region you’ll find the Mount Washington Alpine Resort, one of the top skiing resorts in the province. It consistently has the deepest snow base in Canada. During the summer months, Mt. Washington is home to one of North America’s

premier Mountain Bike parks.

Vancouver Island is renowned as well for having the best diving on the continent. The Strait of Georgia is home to the greatest diversity of marine life in North America, “second only to the Red Sea” according to Jacques Cousteau.

Hiking is also popular on the Island, with many excellent trails of varying difficulty. The historic 75-km West Coast Trail was originally constructed for the rescue of shipwrecked mariners along a section of the ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’. It is one of the most arduous trails in the country, and Parks Canada advises that it is not for beginner or novice hikers.

Victoria and Vancouver Island are also home to many of Canada’s most beautiful and challenging golf courses, several boasting spectacular lake, mountain and ocean views.

With the region’s mild climate, golf can be played 12 months of the year.

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CENTRAL ISLAND

CENTRAL ISLAND A view of Nanaimo’s harbour from Newcastle Island.

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hop, eat and sleep in style while exploring a historic harbour city.

Stroll miles of shallow, sandy coastline ideal for beachcombing and family fun with shovel and pail. Fly a kite in fresh ocean breezes. Dine at Canada’s only floating pub and restaurant. Hurtle down forested mountain bike trails. Meet artists in their home studios. Canoe across still blue lakes. Giggle at the delightful sight of goats on the grass-covered roof of a country market jammed with unique imported and local goods. Or simply relax, dig toes into warm sand and surrender with a satisfied sigh.

Action-packed weekend getaways and restorative weeks can fly by without a dull moment here on the central eastern coastline. Nanaimo, the Island’s second largest city, has evolved into a lively cosmopolitan centre with its smartly restored downtown and walkable harbourfront. Not far north, along the beach-lined Oceanside Route, is the popular beachfront town of Parksville and quiet, classy Qualicum Beach. Inland is raw nature, including lakes, rivers, parks and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that embraces five distinct climatic zones between sea-level gardens and alpine meadows.

Days here typically start slowly with lazabout mornings followed by a therapeutic fresh-air hike by the sea and then brunch or lunch at one of numerous bistros, coffee shops and diners. Then head out for active exercise or gentle diversions. Gaze up in wonder at Cathedral Grove’s old-growth giants in MacMillan Provincial Park. Descend deep underground while spelunking at Horne Lake Caves. Play multiple rounds of minigolf on Parksville’s delightful storybook courses, then check out the ancient amphibian bones at the Qualicum Beach Museum.

Many visitors arrive in Nanaimo via its ferry terminals, floatplane services, new cruise ship terminal and revitalized airport.

Weekenders enjoy booking a room and doing leisurely walkabouts punctuated by shopping, dining and shows. Great hiking, cycling, kayaking, boating, ziplines and even a bungy jump are within minutes of downtown. Explore the Old City Quarter before catching a passenger ferry to Protection Island for a pint at Canada’s only floating pub and restaurant (while you wait for your meal, the kids can fish through the floor!). Between May to September, some locals like to time their first sip with the roar of the noon-hour

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

cannon fired from the 1852 Hudson Bay Company Bastion fortress.

Those eager to shut out the world head straight for Parksville’s check-in and chillout nirvanas in search of maximal rest, relaxation and stare-at-the-horizon peace.

Further along the coastal road to Qualicum Beach are a series of charming inns and motels not far above tideline.

Elsewhere in the region, stay in an RV park, camp at Rathtrevor Beach and Englishman River Falls, or try something a little different by overnighting in a yurt or pod-shaped tree house.

Outdoor pursuits are close at hand wherever you’re based. Milner Gardens and Woodland is a highlight of the Vancouver Island Garden Trail. Scuba divers can explore artificial reefs in Nanaimo’s harbour. Meet locals and their canine companions on beachside promenades. Golfers select from 19 courses in the region while their nongolfing partners opt for whatever pleases them: from shopping, culinary tours, birdwatching and kidtastic outings to parrot, butterfly, wildlife and barnyard refuges. Many simply curl up with a good book and call it a holiday.

Nanaimo Newcomers and travelers who’ve not been here in awhile are delighted at the remarkable urban revival this historic city – the third oldest in B.C. – has undergone in the last decade. Get to know it on selfguided walking tours through downtown streets lined with heritage storefronts and bars, art galleries, independent shops and fabulous dining. Stop in at a museum to explore ancient Coast Salish traditions, Canadian military history or a replica 19th century coal mine. Pick up an ice cream and stroll the Harbour Walkway. Take in a show at the Port Theatre or catch a free concert in the park. Picnic on Newcastle Island, or participate in numerous festivals – dragonboats, blues music, multicultural celebrations, food, wine and the legendary Great International World Championship Bathtub Race included.

Those who love to meet local artisans are welcome along Gabriola Island’s winding rural roads and when following the Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail south of town.

As for the city’s ultimate sweet spot, find it on the Nanaimo Bar Trail, a collection of 34 bakeries, cafés, restaurants, spas and shops offering creative spins on the city’s namesake treat.

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CENTRAL ISLAND

Parksville All styles and ages of pleasure seeker get their relaxed kicks in one of Canada’s top beach holiday destinations. Choose from a wide variety of affordable, intermediate and deluxe accommodations, some with luxury spas, others with kitchenette units within steps of the sand. Seaside and forest camping caters to families and those who enjoy singing campfire songs under the stars.

Dine and shop in a town centre directly across the road from Parksville’s many waterside attractions, including playgrounds, a spray park, oceanfront boardwalk, new meditation labyrinth, and acres of kite-flying and sandcastleconstruction zones. The latter two activities have their own annual summer festivals that attract thousands. Foodies with a nose for cheese and wine head for award-winning Morningstar Farm.

Favourite water sports are backed with full-service rental and instruction options for kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders and skimboarders.

Goats on the roof at the Coombs Country Market are a popular photo subject.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Errington, Coombs and Mount Arrowsmith

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Inland within easy hailing distance of the coastal communities is the charmingly rural area collectively known as Arrowsmith Coombs Country. First stop closest to Parksville is Errington with its petting zoo, trail rides, wildlife recovery centre and waterfall loop trails at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park.

Further along Highway 4A is delightfully eclectic Coombs, renowned for its rooftop goats, butterfly and parrot refuges, and a shopping strip that will thrill those seeking curios and good eats. Coombs Rodeo

Grounds features music festivals and other events nearly every summer weekend.

Tour a fragrant coffee roasting facility, then explore the peaceful grounds of the Kathok Buddhist Meditation Centre.

Beyond here the road winds through thick forest past Mount Arrowsmith towards Port Alberni. Swimmers and boaters splash in Cameron Lake. Towering Douglas firs cast their ancient shadows along Cathedral Grove’s famous trails. And campers flock to Horne Lake Regional Park and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.

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33

CENTRAL ISLAND

What’s on in the Central Island Red Lights & Roulette Until May 1 Nanaimo Museum 100 Museum Way, Nanaimo

Get a glimpse into the history of prostitution and gambling in Nanaimo.

The exhibit features stories from the Red Light District from the 1890s–1920s and the history of gambling from the 1870s to the present. Featuring stories from Nanaimo at the turn of the 20th century. nanaimomuseum.ca

Crimson Coast Dance Society’s 12th Annual Wee Tipple Party Nanaimo’s Scotch Whisky Event April 17, 7 p.m.–10 p.m Grand Hotel, 4898 Rutherford Rd., Nanaimo

Nanaimo Whisk(e)y Festival – with a WEE taste of fine wines, beer and spirits, too.

Sipping, sampling and tasting takes place from 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Options for a ‘safe ride home’ will be available, and the Grand Hotel is offering a Wee Tipple rate for guests who wish to just ‘take the elevator home’.

used locomotives, rolling stock and structures. Talk with experienced model railroaders to learn about the hobby. pnr.nmra.org

Cascadia Poetry Festival April 30–May 3 VIU and Downtown Nanaimo

The Cascadia Poetry Festival is an international event which seeks to bioregionally animate and culturally construct Cascadia by gathering writers, artists, scientists and activists to collaborate, discover and foster deeper connection between all inhabitants and the place itself. Over four days the fest features academic, democratic and performance components, late night readings, a Small Press Fair and several workshops. Some of the best poetry minds in the bioregion will gather, discuss this place and begin to better understand Cascadia and our role here. cascadiapoetryfestival.org

Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition Competition: July 10 – 12 Exhibition: July 13 – Aug. 16, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily

Proudly organized by the Parksville Beach Festival Society. The Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition is a world class event for Master Sand Sculptors and is an official qualifying event for the World Championship of Sand Sculpting! Master Sand Sculptors travel from all corners of the globe to participate in this remarkable competition and exhibition in Parksville.

Sculptors will have 30 hours over four days to create their masterpieces from just sand and water (and a lot of ingenuity!). parksvillebeachfest.ca

Nanaimo Marine Festival and World Championship Bathtub Race July 23–26, Various venues, Nanaimo

crimsoncoastdance.org

The Annual Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society (MARS) Garden Tour

2015 Symphony Community Day

May 9&10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. both days 11 gardens between Qualicum Beach and Parksville

April 18, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Port Theatre, 125 Front St. Nanaimo Musical Instrument Zoo, 11 a.m.–noon

MARS Mothers’ Day Weekend Garden Tour. Featuring gardens from Eaglecrest to Columbia Beach in Qualicum Beach.

50th annual Great International World Championship Bathtub Race. Food vendors, arts and crafts fair, children’s craft tent, displays, Kiddies Karnival, military displays. Sailpast on Wheels Fun Parade Saturday morning, fireworks Saturday evening, and Bathtub Race Sunday morning.

You’ve always wanted to know what it feels and sounds like to play a trumpet?

Come along and find out. Symphony musicians will be in the lobby of the Port Theatre to help kids try out instruments – brass, wind, strings, or try some rhythm with percussion precision.

mars.rhodos.ca

bathtubbing.com

The River Run

St. Mark’s Fair

June 7, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Englishman River Regional Park, Allsbrooke Rd., Parksville

July 25, Downtown Qualicum Beach, Fir St. and Memorial

Meet Composer Dorothy Chang, 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Symphony Rehearsal, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.

Find a seat in the theatre, take in a symphony rehearsal, and watch as all the musicians and their instruments come together to make music.

Hosted by Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society (mvihes.bc.ca). The run takes place along the trails in the Englishman River Regional Park close to the river. A fun family activity where kids are free when accompanied by an adult.

TheRiverRun.ca

vancouverislandsymphony.com

Model Railroad Show April 26 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Beban Park Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo

This event will appeal to the inner child in everyone. You will see operating, fully sceniced layouts in N, HO and O scales as well as trains that can run in your garden. There will be vendors of new and

43rd annual community fair. The fair has been held in July in Qualicum Beach since 1972, when it was started as a flea market. It has evolved into a really fun event for the whole family, with free entertainment, delicious food, a children’s area, and new surprises every year! stmarksqualicum.bc.ca

5th Annual Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival June 26–28, Lighthouse Festival Grounds, 240 Lions Way, Qualicum

Enjoy camping for the weekend at this popular event. Yodel a tune or drag out that dusty ol’ banjo. Make new friends and meet up with old ones. Excellent bluegrass music. lighthousebluegrass.com

2015 Vancouver Island Exhibition Fair Aug. 21, 22&23 2300 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo

For three fun-filled packed days, over 20,000 fair-goers will get to experience the biggest and best event that Nanaimo has to offer!! viex.ca

A totem pole on Newcastle Island.

Landon Sveinson/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Did you know?

Newcastle Island is located in Nanaimo Harbour, just minutes from downtown Nanaimo. Nanaimo Harbour Ferries take visitors to Newcastle Island from Maffeo Sutton Park by an enjoyable 10 minute crossing.

The Island was designated a Provincial Marine Park in 1961. With a shoreline dominated by sandstone cliffs, gravel beaches and caverns, plus an extensive network of walking/hiking trails and a rich history as Snuneymuxw First Nation traditional territory, the island has much to interest visitors. To find out more, visit newcastleisland.ca

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Qualicum Beach Peace, quiet and community life reign in this pretty seaside village, a repeat winner in the Canada-wide Communities In Bloom competition. Main streets are lined with restaurants, hanging flower baskets, unique independent retail outlets and friendly townsfolk. A lively cultural scene is based out of The Old School House Arts Centre with its performance space, educational studios and year-round galleries. Seawall walks, beachcombing and rambles through an old-growth forest not far from the town centre are on everyone’s daily to-do list. Birdwatchers flock to the Brant Wildlife Festival each spring and the songbirds cheerily greet visitors to Milner Gardens, a stately oceanfront property rated as one of Canada’s top public gardens. After an evening meal, enjoy a show at the Village Theatre, home each summer to the Bard to Broadway Theatre Society festival.

Lighthouse Country and Fanny Bay Those seeking even deeper measures of peace and quiet head for a coastal stretch north of Qualicum Beach named for the offshore Sisters and Chrome Island lighthouses. Settle into a resort or B&B in Qualicum Bay, Bowser and Deep Bay. Stroll out to the waterfall at Rosewall Creek Provincial Park. Walk miles of deserted beaches. And enjoy a serenity broken only by the bark of sea lions.

Vancouver Island University’s new clamshell-shaped Deep Bay Marine Field Station doubles as a research station and museum that welcomes visits to its aquariums, touch tanks and mammoth grey whale skeleton. Further along the Oceanside Route facing Denman Island is Fanny Bay, internationally known for its oysters. And a short drive inland leads to Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, a favourite family destination for camping, water sports, outdoor education and caving adventures.

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NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND

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our fertile valleys dotted with farmgates, vineyards, bistros and markets. Track pods of orcas as they swim past picturesque northern Gulf Islands. Discover First Nations culture and visit museums dedicated to regional history, then embark on a dig for prehistoric fossils. Enjoy exhilarating mountain biking, alpine skiing, diving and whitewater rafting. Line up putts on championship golf courses. And get busy with some of the best salmon fishing in the world. Add it up and you’ve got a taste of the many getaway pleasures in Vancouver Island’s North Central region.

This band of varied terrain stretches coast-to-coast across the Island’s mountainous spine just above its geographic waistline. On the easyaccess east coast are three cities packed with character and creature

comforts. Courtenay and Comox sit in close proximity on either side of the Comox Harbour; both are known for their boutiques, spas, cafés and bistros serving fresh food sourced from nearby farms in the valley (named after a K’omoks First Nation word meaning “land of plenty’).

Further north is Campbell River with its waterfront trails, cycling paths, community festivals and world-class fishing. It’s an excellent base for exploring the neighbouring ocean, rivers, lakes and wilderness.

Offshore from the east coast is a collection of hospitable, B&Bendowed islands where one can de-stress and tune out the world. Not far inland is Mount Washington, a full-service ski resort with plenty of summertime alpine appeal. Driving and cycling tours circle through the revitalized heritage town of Cumberland (a mountain-biking

hotspot) and quaint Merville and Black Creek.

The region is watched over by the Golden Hinde, the highest point on the Island (2,200 metres) in the heart of Strathcona Provincial Park, B.C.’s first such park when it was founded in 1911. This is classic wilderness terrain complete with pristine lakes, alpine meadows and old-growth forest. Head off on challenging adventures or explore the park at a comfortable pace with friends and family at access points near Mount Washington (Forbidden Plateau) or southwest of Campbell River (Buttle Lake). Young people can study kayaking, rock climbing, backcountry basics and leadership skills at the outdoor education centre.

On the far western side of the North Central region is the open

NORTH CENTRAL

Pacific coastline. The highlight excursion takes cultural explorers to Yuquot (Friendly Cove), site of an ancient First Nations summer village and whaling centre. It was here in 1778 that Captain James Cook first met the area’s indigenous inhabitants.

There’s few more exciting daytrips for history buffs than booking passage on the comfortable freight boat from Gold River and sailing via Nootka Sound to this historic destination with its sentinel lighthouse.

Reach the North Central Island via the Comox Valley and Campbell River airports or after an hour’s drive north from Nanaimo’s ferry terminals. Stop at the new Vancouver Island Visitor Centre in the Comox Valley near Cumberland for expert advice.

Campbell River’s Visitor Centre in the heart of town is a one-stop for advice and local information.

Strathcona Provincial Park Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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NORTH CENTRAL ISLAND

What’s on in the North Central Island 33rd Annual Snow to Surf Adventure Relay Race April 26 Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Canada’s premier multi-sport team relay event. Alpine skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, running (one or two persons), mountain biking, kayaking, road cycling, canoeing and post-race action for teams of nine to ten people. snowtosurf.com

tastings, informative aquaculture producer tours, signature dinner events, competitions, and family fun!

The Comox Valley produces more oysters than anywhere else in Canada and boasts nutrient rich waters, spectacular coastal scenery and friendly hospitality. Join the celebration of this delicious and sustainable resource and experience the Comox Valley while you savour seafood creations prepared by some of B.C.’s finest Chefs. discovercomoxvalley.com

Workers Day Bean Supper May 1 Cumberland Museum and Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave.

International Workers Day and Mayday celebrations happen all over the world – come and experience it Cumberland style. Honour the struggle for workers safety and dignity at home and around the world. This old fashioned community bean supper features live music, stories from Cumberland’s colourful history, and a tasty plate of working class food; biscuits, baked beans and slaw. www.cumberlandmuseum.ca

Art and Bloom Festival May 16–18, Victoria Day Weekend Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Monday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, 6183 Whittaker Rd., Courtenay

The Annual Art & Bloom Festival is focused on presenting a variety of art forms. Emphasis will be placed on original works by painters, potters, sculptors, glass blowers, original stained glass designers, garden art and other unique art forms. woodlandgardens.ca

Shoreline Orthodontics Tri K Triathlon Comox Valley May 24

33rd annual Comox Valley Triathlon, hosted by Shoreline Orthodontics. trik.ca

B.C. Shellfish and Seafood Festival June 12–21 Various location, Comox Valley

Experience this growing aquaculture industry at the BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival, a unique event that offers 10 days of fabulous seafood

Nootka Marine Adventures Salmon Derby June 27&28 Moutcha Bay Resort

Over $11,000 in cash and prizes!

All proceeds go to the Nootka Sound Watershed Society. info@nootkamarineadventures.com

Cumberland Home and Garden Show June 27&28

Join us for the First Annual Cumberland Home and Garden Show, with all proceeds to the Cumberland Forest Campaign.

Organizers will be showcasing an eclectic variety of homes and gardens, from simple to stunning, selected based on a variety of elements including beauty, design, innovation, unique features, heritage characteristics, environmentally friendly practices, food gardens, entertaining spaces and use of native plants and local materials.

The tour will highlight Cumberland’s gorgeous coastal rainforest location, fascinating heritage and unique Cumberland hospitality. cumberlandforest.com

Fireworks and the Symphony July 4 Courtenay Airpark

Watch an exciting combination of light and sound at the Courtenay Airpark. Spectacular fireworks display and live outdoor music performance presented by the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra and guest artists. Delicious food, family fun zone, and colourful community and heritage displays. www.discovercomoxvalley.com

Vancouver Island MusicFest July 10–12 Comox Valley Fairgrounds

Vancouver Island MusicFest happens every summer at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds (aka The Fairgrounds) just a few minutes from Downtown Courtenay.

Vancouver Island MusicFest has been bringing great roots and world music to the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island since 1995.

Produced by the Comox Valley Folk Society, MusicFest is a volunteer driven event with over 1100 volunteers and 300 community sponsors who bring this music festival to life. Vancouver Island MusicFest has remained true to its original vision; a rural, family friendly, sustainable and successful music event that puts the Comox Valley on the cultural map in a rich celebration of music and community! Over 200 musical performers on six fully programmed stages, instructional workshops, yoga sessions, an interactive kidzzone, art displays, a beer and cider tent, top-notch food and craft vendors, non-profit information displays, on-site camping and a magical riverside venue at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. www.islandmusicfest.com

Hornby Festival 2015 Opening Reception: July 30 Farm Concerts: July 31, Aug. 1–4 Hall Concerts: Aug. 5–8 Olsen Farm, Hornby Community Hall, Hornby Island

Established in 1982, the Hornby Festival has grown into an acclaimed 10-day event.

Programming includes classical, jazz, world beat and traditional genres of music, modern dance, childrens’ programming, theatre and spoken word. The Hornby Festival has been named one of the top five festivals in Canada (Aeroplan Magazine) and one of the top five cultural events in B.C. (Macleans).

Enjoy stunning performances against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains, ocean and rolling hayfields at Olsen Farm and at Hornby Island’s charming Community Hall hornbyfestival.bc.ca

Filberg Festival

2015 Comox Air Show

July 31–Aug.3 The Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park, Comox

Aug. 15 CFB Comox

Celebrating the best in arts, crafts and music from across Canada. Set among the trees and gardens of the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, the Filberg Festival is truly a unique event. Wander through the grounds surrounded by beautiful gardens, rustic out-buildings and magnificent views of Comox Harbour and the Beaufort Mountain Range. The Festival encourages excellence in all forms of arts and crafts, and is one of western Canada’s largest juried outdoor arts show. filbergfestival.com

48th Annual Campbell River Salmon Festival Aug. 7, 8 & 9 Nunns Creek Park, Campbell River

A tribute to the industries of forestry and fishing. The “Logger Sports” event depicts the past and present logging practices through entertaining competitions.This year’s show will offer two World Championship and seven Canadian Championships, along with other events. Enjoy a delicious salmon meal at the Salmon Barbeque. There will be cooking competitions and demonstrations on how to prepare and cook salmon and other varieties of local seafoods at the Seafood Cook-Off event. There’s the “Thrifty Foods Kids Zone”, where young ones can enjoy a wide variety of free rides and events. Daily admission is $5 per person. Children two years and under are free. www.crsalmonfestival.com

Military Day Aug. 8 Lewis and Simms Park, Courtenay

Celebrate local veterans and community members in uniform during Military Day. Members of 19 Wing, Canadian Scottish Regiment, HMCS Quadra and the RCMP will be in uniform and on parade, with outdoor band concerts throughout the day. Search and Rescue Technicians will make a spectacular entrance into Lewis Park! discovercomoxvalley.com

The 2015 Armed Forces Day and Comox Air Show will showcase andrenaline-pumping aerial displays and let you get up close to dozens of aircraft on the ground, from vintage flyers to cutting-edge fighters. The air show is a chance for the public to meet the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and see the equipment used each day protecting Canadians and Canadian values. comoxairshow.ca

MOMAR – The Atmosphere Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race Sept. 26 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 30km Sport course or 50km Enduro course. This race will require teams to paddle, mountain bike and trek their way through a challenging course with only the aid of a map and their wits. mindovermountain.com

Foggy Mountain Fall Fair October 2015 Cumberland Museum and Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave., Cumberland

In early October the Cumberland Museum and Archives partners with the Comox Valley Community Arts Council and the Cumberland Community Forest Society to bring you the Foggy Mountain Fall Fair!

Enjoy the Follies Variety Show and the Local Colours stage. Enter the Cumberland Pie of the Year contest!

Press apples on the old fashioned apple press with the Cumberland Community Schools Society. Take part in heritage crafts, scavenger hunts, guided walking tours, arts and crafts, food vendors, community exhibits, old fashioned races, Bear Aware and Bear Appreciation events and more. An old fashioned fall fair in a mountain Village! www.cumberlandmuseum.ca

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The Comox Valley Welcome to one of the West Coast’s finest culinary, farm and aquaculture foodie regions.

Visit markets and prowl the backroads for opportunities to purchase cheese, oysters, bison sausages, wasabi, garlic, chili peppers and, from the Island’s largest fallow deer farm, venison. As for seafood, fully 95 per cent of B.C.’s annual shellfish production is plucked from Baynes Sound. Learn more by picking up the Comox Valley Heritage Experience selfguided tour package at the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre.

Mount Washington Panoramic 360 degree views and yearround sporting thrills are available just 45 minutes from the coastline. The deepest natural snowpack in Canada is alpine magic for skiers and snowboarders barreling down more than 80 runs. Snowshoe and crosscountry enthusiasts, meanwhile, can trek across the groomed and forested trails of Paradise Meadows. When the white stuff vanishes, hikers and sightseers bloom along with the alpine flowers.

A spectacular panoramic view awaits visitors to Mount Washington, with the Comox Glacier in the distance.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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The valley’s cultural hub is a modern, smartly planned city featuring a walkable downtown packed with boutique shops and slow-food restaurants all within easy reach of parks, bike paths and hiking trails. Browse the contemporary and First Nations art in galleries. And enjoy a variety of arts and community festivals. Be sure to book tickets early for the Vancouver Island MusicFest, an A-list roots music weekend in July that sells out fast. With its full range of accommodations, Courtenay is a four-season base for exploring the region. Embark on a guided hunt for riverside fossils after a visit to the Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre, where visitors learn about the giant marine reptiles that lived here in the Cretaceous time. With 500 farms and a vibrant shellfish industry in the area, fresh sheets at the city’s splendid array of hip bistros and formal restaurants are exactly that: fresh as the morning’s harvest from soil or sea.

The Vancouver Island MusicFest attracts musicians and visitors from around North America.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Comox Right next door to Courtenay, this pretty seaside town features four marinas, an oceanside boardwalk, beaches, walking trails, golf courses and rental companies supplying bikes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Snap Facebook-ready photos at the Comox Marina, where ship masts are framed by the distant Comox Glacier and Beaufort Mountain Range. Shuck and sigh with culinary delight courtesy of local chefs and dockside vendors.

Stroll the lovely grounds at Filberg Heritage Lodge. And visit the aviation museum at CFB Comox, home base for the pilots of 19 Wing Comox (as well as occasional visitors like the Snowbirds, Canada’s aerobatic team of jet pilots). Best starting point: The Town of Comox Heritage Walk brochure available online or from the Visitor Centre.

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Walking With Our Sisters A commemorative art installation for missing and murdered Indigenous women of Canada and the United States July 31–Aug. 15 K’ómoks Band Hall, 3320 Comox Rd., Courtenay

W

alking With Our Sisters is a commemorative art installation comprised of 1,763+ pairs of moccasin vamps (tops) plus 108 pairs of children’s vamps.

Each pair of vamps represents one of the over 1,181 Indigenous women reported missing or murdered over the past 30 years. The intentionally unfinished moccasins are representative of the unfinished lives that were cut short.

The children’s vamps are dedicated

Created by Charleen Touchette

to children who never returned home from residential schools. Together the installation represents all these lives, and pay respect to their existence on this earth. They are not forgotten.

The vamps were created and donated by hundreds of caring and concerned individuals. In June of 2012, a general call was put out to all “caring souls” who wanted to contribute a pair of moccasin tops. As of the closing date, July 25, 2013, over 1,600 vamps had been received. In addition to the

Created by Cheyanne Cross

moccasin tops, 60 songs were submitted for the audio portion of the exhibit. The vamps are exhibited on a pathway, to represent the journey that was ended prematurely.

The art installation will travel to over 25 locations throughout North America.

The opening in Comox is the first presentation of Walking With Our Sisters in British Columbia. For more information, contact the I-Hos Gallery, sales@ihosgallery.com, 250-339-7702. walkingwithoursisters.ca

Created by Marie Trott

Created by Katrarhaya Zieger Photos courtesy Walking With Our Sisters

Top Things to See and Do in the North Central Island Hike, climb, kayak or canoe in Strathcona Provincial Park, B.C.’s first provincial wilderness reserve.

Take a mile-high summertime chairlift ride at Mount Washington.

Lovingly groomed mountainbike trails draw enthusiasts to Cumberland, Campbell River and Hornby Island.

Fish are biting year-round, and the takeaways range from river steelhead to five varieties of Pacific salmon.

Photo courtesy Sea Beyond Adventures Ltd.

Downtown Courtenay walkabouts are highlighted by boutique shops, restaurants, green streetscapes, and plentiful smiles from the friendly locals.

Catch a show at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, tour local art galleries, and enjoy the fun at Winterfest and the Snow to Surf team rally.

Dig up the past at riverside sites and visit the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.

Tour the region’s shellfish and salmon farms, and visit Campbell River’s Quinsam Hatchery to learn about the life cycle of salmon.

Dine on fish-and-chips while watching anglers cast lines from Campbell River’s Discovery Pier.

Summer Sundays are perfect for taking in the Pier Street Farmers’ Market and Arts Fair in front of the Maritime Heritage Centre.

Enjoy live entertainment in Campbell River’s downtown waterfront Spirit Square on summer Tuesdays (11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.) and Thursdays (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Get the big-picture perspective on thrilling flightseeing tours from Campbell River or when catching a ride on the Desolation Sound mail run.

Chill at Hornby Island’s Tribune Bay, an endless-summer hotspot widely known as “Little Hawaii”.

Discover ancient petroglyphs on the beach at Quadra Island’s Cape Mudge.

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TC file photo

Tribune Bay on Hornby Island is a favourite vacation destination for beach lovers.

Denman and Hornby Islands A short ferry ride from Bowser Bay south of Courtenay leads first to Denman Island, a low-key rest-and-relaxation spot with its arts and literary festivals, village bistros, B&Bs and peaceful lakes, parks and oceanfront. From that island’s south end, catch a second ferry over to Hornby for ace mountain biking on the slopes of Mount Geoffrey and quality beach time at idyllic Tribune Bay, one of the West Coast’s favourite summer destinations.

Cumberland Coal mining and one of North America’s largest Chinatowns put this village on the map in the 19th century.

Now a dynamic new wave of entrepreneurs, many of them keen

mountain bikers, have sparked a renaissance that finds the town’s heritage main streets lined with cool eateries, boutiques and galleries. The lively music scene here features local and touring acts on a regular schedule.

Campbell River and Region Welcome to the North Central region’s unofficial “Outdoors HQ,” located in a natural wonderland famed for its kayaking, hiking, caving, wildlife viewing and, above all, sports fishing. Anglers from the world over have been reeling in all five species of Pacific salmon here ever since author Roderick Haig-Brown put Campbell River on the fishing map a century ago. Purists can join the Tyee Club by following the Club’s regulations to catch a Chinook that weighs in at 30

lbs. or more. Parents and kids cast lines from Canada’s first saltwater fishing pier.

Some visitors simply enjoy takeaway fishand-chips by the sea or when dining on the catch of the day in a cozy restaurant.

Didn’t bring your fishing rod? No problem, just head over to the Discovery Fishing Pier or the Campbell River Visitor Centre to rent one.

Campbell River is the gateway to Strathcona Provincial Park and the mazy waterways of the Discovery Islands. The city serves as a great base for regional daytrips and is also worth exploring in its own right. Local highlights include: the Maritime Heritage Centre (a Canadian Heritage Site and home to the BCP 45 fishing boat, an image of which once decorated the back of Canada’s $5 bill); the Museum at Campbell River (with its renowned First Nations collection); the Discovery Passage Aquarium; and the

Rotary Seawalk, a seaside promenade nominated as one of the “Great Places in Canada” by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Saratoga Beach, Miracle Beach and Oyster River With plentiful resorts and campgrounds, these three vacation centres south of Campbell River are popular family hotspots during the summer holidays.

Beach blankets and picnic baskets are essential accessories for long days by the water. And when fingers turn pruney, kids of all ages can indulge in mini-golf, gokart rides, horseback outings and visits to the petting zoo. Saturday night stock-car races, firework displays and demolition derbies rev-up the thrills.

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A First Nations carving in a tree on Quadra Island.The Island is rich in First Nations’ culture and history.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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.

Quadra Island

Gold River

Tahsis

The first stop in the Discovery Island chain is a 12-minute ferry ride from Campbell River. View potlatch treasures in the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre. Canoe the half dozen bodies of water in Main Lakes Provincial Park. And get close to the incredibly swift tidal currents that power through bottlenecks like Surge Narrows.

Hikers, mountain bikers and scuba divers (who can explore an artificial reef) are especially well served here.

Enjoy the breathtaking drive past Campbell Lake and through the northern tip of Strathcona Provincial Park when heading for this departure point to further outdoor adventure – ocean kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, fly fishing and caving included. Once here, fly by seaplane or book passage on a freighter to historic Yuquot (Friendly Cove), a magical spot facing the open Pacific where the region’s indigenous people first met European explorers in 1778.

The Tree to Sea Drive, a wellmaintained gravel road west of Gold River, leads to this quaint Nootka Sound harbour village sweetly wrapped in West Coast beauty.

Ecotourists seeking a refuge from more accessible (read: somewhat crowded) spots make the trek for ocean kayaking, coastal rainforest hiking and big-wave surfing.

Here, at the gateway to Nootka Sound, rock-climbing, caving and scuba-diving adventures attract visitors from around the world.

Cortes Island Placid lakes, rugged gorges and white-sand beaches alive with shellfish make this tranquil refuge (reached by ferry from Quadra Island) a magnet for urban escapees. Visit the co-op gallery in Squirrel Bay, walk the shoreline at Smelt Bay Provincial Park, hang out in the cafés and let the stress melt away. Cortes also draws visitors to a retreat centre specializing in personal growth and wellness programs.

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NORTH ISLAND

NORTH ISLAND Kayakers in Kyuquot Sound paddle through dense kelp forests teaming with life.

T

he remote North Island is a step further beyond for travellers seeking a go-anywhere license to roam the West Coast wilderness. That step proves to be a remarkably easy one thanks to a modern highway system that zips drivers from Nanaimo’s ferry terminals to the region’s heartland in four hours. Peaceful, lightly populated and famously scenic, the North Island is about as far away from it all as one can get within a day’s travel of Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle.

Explore the region as a back-country adventurer or roadtrip explorer. Paddle across serene lakes before camping under a star-dusted Milky Way. Or linger in a welcoming community for oceanfront dining, shopping, boardwalk strolls and community festivals. Expect to travel home with the definitive local treat: fresh, frozen, smoked and/or deliciously candied salmon.

First Nations peoples have resided here at least 8,000 years (according to the oldest archeological finds at Port Hardy’s Bear Cove). The traditions of the

Kwakwaka’wakw live on in Alert Bay, home to the world’s tallest totem pole, the U’mista Cultural Centre’s potlatch collection and the dancers of the T’sasala Cultural Group. First Nation guides lead ocean rapids tours from Port Hardy and the master carvers of nearby Fort Rupert are internationally renowned.

Accommodations, shops, galleries, restaurants and museums documenting pioneer life make Port McNeill and Port Hardy the prime bases for visitors. Along with Telegraph Cove, these relaxed, come-as-you-are centres have birthed a blooming North Island eco-tourism industry. Scuba divers, kayakers, wildlife enthusiasts and sports fisherman are particularly well served by guides, tour operators and suppliers here.

Whale and bear sightings top everyone’s wish list. Group outings in comfortable cabin cruisers depart in search of orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, Steller sea lions, Minke whales and harbour seals. The May to October season is also primetime for nautical trips from Northern Vancouver Island to the

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

mainland’s grizzly bear habitats.

Take an hour-long walk to San Josef Bay’s beaches or embark on an epic, multi-night trek along the North Coast Trail. Scuba divers explore the rainbow coalition of cold-water marine life at favourite spots like Quatsino Narrows and God’s Pocket Marine Provincial Park.

Cavers visit the subterranean depths while pleasure boaters and kayakers edge along the eastern shoreline or strike out for the west coast along deep inlets and fjords.

There’s no end of adventure here at Vancouver Island’s last frontier.

Sayward First stop on the scenic highway north of Campbell River, Sayward sits pretty on the forested edge of the Johnstone Strait.

Get provisions in the village and enjoy a meal. Stroll amidst the giant Douglas firs at White River Park (as stunning in its way as Cathedral Grove further south) or develop calves of steel when ascending the mile-high H’kusam Klimb.

Birdwatchers flock to the Salmon River Wildlife Reserve.

Woss and the Nimpkish Valley Mount Cain is a charmingly old-school, t-bar serviced ski hill with great powder and none of the crowds common at most alpine resorts. Find it in the heart of the Nimpkish Valley not far from the highway near Woss, terminus of the longest working logging railway in North America.

Summer hikers march across alpine meadows. Blustery Nimpkish Lake attracts windsurfers and kiteboarders. And paddlers joyride around aptly named Schoen (German for “beautiful”) Lake.

Zeballos Active gold-rush territory circa the Second World War, this deep-sea port on the inland Pacific coastline is now known for its hiking, rock climbing, caving and diving. It’s an engaging stop before or after charter fishing and kayaking expeditions to Kyuquot Sound, the Brooks Peninsula and Nootka Sound.

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NORTH ISLAND

The Shoe Tree, on the way to Cape Scott, started long ago with a single pair of shoes and has now become a celebrated stopping point for hikers heading up to Cape Scott or San Josef Bay.

Telegraph Cove Named for a coastal telegraph station built a century ago, this renowned whale watching outpost retains its original character as one of the West Coast’s last remaining boardwalk communities.

Guided kayak, cultural, wildlife and grizzy bear tours depart regularly during the May to October season. Johnstone Strait is known as one of the likeliest places in the world to see orcas in the wild. Stay in cabins, condos, campgrounds and RV parks. Hire a pro for sports fishing expeditions. Or moor pleasure craft in full-service marinas.

Port McNeill Kayakers, scuba divers and boaters destined for the Broughton Archipelago depart from this unpretentious centre of the North Island’s forestry industry, as do BC Ferries passengers bound for historic Sointula and Alert Bay. Enjoy the town’s busy harbour life while walking the seawall after a hearty meal. Book fishing charters and whale watching expeditions.

And time a visit during a summer festival season that includes a logger sports competition in early July and Orcafest in August.

Alert Bay This harbourside community on Cormorant Island, a 45-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill, was the traditional summer village home for the ‘Namgis First Nation before European settlers arrived in the 1860s to establish a salmon saltery and regional trading centre. Today the ‘Namgis people – artists, storytellers, members of

What’s on in the North Island

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

the cultural dance group and everyday folk alike – welcome visitors to respectfully explore backyard treasures like the Big House, the world’s tallest totem pole and the U’mista Cultural Centre with its priceless masks and potlatch regalia. Discover more of the village’s history at the Alert Bay LibraryMuseum, then walk the oceanfront boardwalk past hotels, B&Bs, galleries, gift shops and comfort-food cafes.

Sointula Finnish immigrants established this charmingly rustic harbour town on Malcolm Island in the late 19th century.

Their vision of a utopian community failed yet the island is clearly “paradise found” for the small resident population.

Get here by a 25-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill. Shop at B.C.’s oldest cooperative store before exploring the island. The Beautiful Bay Trail has a viewing platform above a rocky beach that orcas use as a natural bellyscratcher.

Port Alice Facing Neroutsos Inlet, this custom-built mountainside town is a handy starting point for Pacific-side boating, fishing, kayaking, and diving. Mountain bikers ride local trails year round. Stroll the pretty seawalk, shoot nine holes of golf and pause for a restaurant meal. Remote Side Bay, Gooding Cove and the Brooks Peninsula are accessible from here by boat or logging road.

Port Hardy The North Island’s largest community welcomes visitors year-round as host port for BC Ferries sailings to northern B.C. (a trip hailed as one of the world’s great ferry rides by Travel + Leisure magazine).

A great base for regional daytrips, the lively town also boasts an appealing variety of restaurants, green spaces, hiking trails and shopping. Nearby are family picnic grounds at Storey’s Beach as well as historic Fort Rupert with its renowned First Nations’ artists.

Kusam Klimb

Filomi Days

June 20, Sayward

Third weekend in July Carrot Park, Port Hardy

The Kusam Klimb is a wild and rugged 23km loop heading up and over the back of Mt. H’Kusam then down the Stowe Creek watershed.

Starting at sea level, participants pass through some of the most spectacular scenery on Vancouver Island.The Kusam Klimb draws participants from around the world hoping to conquer the mountain!

Are YOU tough enough?

Port Hardy celebrates its natural resource based economy. The three syllables, Fi, Lo and Mi, stand for “Fishing, Logging and Mining”. The festivities include activities for children, fundraising concessions, entertainment, beer gardens, a dunk-tank, balloons, bake sales, craft sales, and fireworks. A dance for each age group and a parade are also held on Filomi Days weekend.

www.kusamklimb.com

porthardy.ca

CoalHarbour/ Quatsino Coal Harbour gives maritimers access to Quatsino Sound, a deep saltwater inlet leading out to the open Pacific. A former air force base and whaling centre, the town is now a quiet refuge for fishermen, artists and nature lovers. Once a journey by boat or kayak is underway, a favourite first stop is the hamlet of Quatsino with its museum, store and fishing lodges.

Holberg A gravel logging road from Port Hardy leads past the sneaker-bedecked “shoe tree” to Holberg, last stop before Cape Scott Provincial Park and the North Coast Trail. First settled by Danes, the village was once the site of the world’s largest floating logging camp. While here, visit Ronning Gardens, a century-old homestead planted with exotic flora.

Winter Harbour The gravel road from Holberg winds on to this rustic fishing village at the Pacific edge of Quatsino Sound. The sheltered harbour features stilt homes, fishing boats, a boardwalk and Kwaksistah Regional Park’s thunderbird totem pole.

Offshore Islands Rocky forested islands and islets dot the Broughton Archipelago and the Johnstone and Queen Charlotte straits. Echo Bay on Gilford Island welcomes visitors, and boats and floatplanes take guests to wilderness lodges renowned for hospitality and access to nature at its grizzly best.

Alert Bay Seafest and Musicfest

Alert Bay 360

July 31–Aug. 2 Alert Bay

An eco-tourism based event showcasing Cormorant Island and those who live here, as well as Northern Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago.

Seafest is held in downtown Alert Bay along the picturesque waterfront. Table vendors, crafters and aspiring chefs line the street to sell their bounty to admiring locals and tourists alike. A complete family weekend of fun and nonstop exciting events. Games, local music, Kids’ Zone and kids’ fishing derby. alertbayseafest.com

Aug. 2

alertbay360.com

OrcaFest Aug. 15

The biggest annual festival in Port McNeill starts off with the Orcafest Parade followed by a full day celebration at the waterfront. www.portmcneill.net

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eave civilization behind, then find it again in surprising, inspiring, active-orrelaxed fashion on Canada’s far left coast. Explore the deepwater ocean inlet and wild places of the Alberni Valley, the nation’s highest waterfall included. Then navigate an exciting, twist-and-turn road that leads to the fabled surfing beaches and dense coastal rainforest of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Outdoorsy types with a yen for fresh air and sublime creature comforts make the full trek from the Island’s east coast. Reel in a quota of salmon on charter sports fishing outings.

Take a train trip back in time to the heyday of the forestry industry. Kayak to islands.

View migrating whales. And learn to ride the waves at a surf school. At the end of long, tuned in days in nature, dream deep in acclaimed resorts, casual vacation lodgings or in a tent alongside river, lake or ocean.

International travellers and urban escapees from Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle can have it all here: the trails, lakes and mountain bike routes of the interior; waterways renowned for their motherlode of salmon; the ancient secrets and mysteries of the coastal rainforest; and the salty tang and seasonally changing magnificence of the open Pacific.

The trip from the Central Island’s eastern coastline leads first to Port Alberni, a deepwater inland port with a growing ecotourism industry rooted in its long history as a salmon fishing capital. Shop, dine and learn at the Maritime Discovery Centre while lingering in this unpretentious and friendly town’s Harbour Quay area. Fishing, hiking, golf, geocaching and mountain biking are all within minutes of town.

The scenic Pacific Rim Highway (Hwy #4) continues northwest on twisting twolane blacktop across the Island’s central mountain range to the Pacific coast. Not far

past Port Alberni, swim and picnic at Sproat Lake, traditional home to the world’s largest flying boats, the now-decommissioned Martin Mars water bombers.

Another 90 or so minutes of Instagramworthy drivetime takes you to the Island’s remote west coast (although the trip can take much longer when pausing at scenic viewpoints or for rock climbing adventures). Take a left to Ucluelet (pronounced you-clue-let), a “safe harbour” (in the First Nations translation of the word) for boats and visitors alike with its restaurants, lodgings, adventure guides, aquarium and breathtaking coastal trail.

Veering right leads to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and onward to the sandy beaches, art galleries and locally owned restaurants in lively Tofino. Tour the botanical gardens, paddle over to Meares Island (home to a remarkable stand of oldgrowth cedar), try yoga on the beach and master a stand-up paddleboard.

Jeremy Koreski/Tourism Tofino photo

PACIFIC RIM

The Alberni Valley, An Unexpected Adventure

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Discover the Alberni Valley, the ultimate retreat. With breathtaking natural beauty and fascinating history, in the heart of Vancouver Island, the Alberni Valley is a great hub for exploring the rest of the island. Best of all, the Alberni Valley is home — a genuine BC town rich in culture and heritage, where you’re always welcome.

Al ber ni Valley Black Bear

Alberni Valley tourism

Visit our website to book your stay:

albernivalleytourism.com

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Bamfield Travel by boat, logging road or freight ferry from Port Alberni to this tiny hamlet nestled in a picturesque harbour on the edge of Barkley Sound and the open Pacific. Best known as the terminus of the West Coast Trail hiking route, the village is home to teachers, researchers and students specializing in marine biology. A great base for

kayaking, canoeing and diving excursions, Bamfield’s appeal includes stores, restaurants, galleries, accommodations and boardwalk strolls. July’s annual Music by the Sea festival at the Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries features jazz and classical performers in a stunning oceanfront setting.

Ucluelet Ucluelet (or “Ukee” as the laidback locals affectionately call it) is perched on the tip of a peninsula southeast of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This snug refuge from the wind and waves was valued for millennia by the local First Nations and, beginning in the 1870s, seal-pelt traders.

Long known as a relaxed and rustic community, the town is evolving into a resort and adventure tourism destination in its own right. Kayakers and boaters head for the nearby

Broken Group Islands, surfers flock to the surrounding beaches and families can admire marine life at the Ucluelet Aquarium before dining on the catch of the day in local restaurants. Don’t miss the newly extended and easily accessible Wild Pacific Trial, which undulates along Ucluelet’s rugged coastline for 9km. This spectacular hike is rated by TripAdvisor contributors as the top thing-to-do (among 328 options) on Vancouver Island.

Grey Whale, dolphins and otter skeletons hang from the ceiling of the Marine Services Building in Bamfield, an arm of the University of Victoria's Marine Biology Dept.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Tofino Rated as one of the top surf towns in the world by National Geographic, this charming, funky yet paradoxically sophisticated coastal village has A-list culinary establishments, galleries and boutiques, great accommodations (from beachfront camping to sought-after resorts) and easy access to prime

beaches and trails. Shop for local and First Nations art. Learn to master a SUP or surf board. And travel by boat, zodiac or seaplane when heading to Hot Springs Cove for toasty soaks in its rock pools and waterfalls. Situated within Clayoquot Sound and home to iconic (and protected) temperate old-growth forests, Tofino is part of B.C.’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Amphitrite Lighthouse along the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Get set for a classic West Coast Canadian experience. Stroll perfect expanses of white sand. Explore dense coastal rainforest on winding boardwalk trails. Marvel at the abundance of marine life in intertidal zones. And paddle out to one of the world’s best-known kayaking and wilderness camping spots. It’s all part of a visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which spans three distinct sections along 130 km of pristine terrain.

Get oriented at the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre at the coastal end of Hwy #4. Then head over to the Kwisitis Visitor Centre on Wickaninnish Beach.

Long Beach is named for its stretch of dazzling white sand (which includes Combers and Wickaninnish beaches).

Strike out on your own along the beach.

Learn about the region’s ecosystem while walking interpretive trails through forest, over saltmarshes and out to dramatic headlands. Or participate in summertime

Parks Canada nature programs. Watch for the totem on the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail leading to Florencia Bay; it’s the first raised by the Ucluelet First Nation in a century. Every ocean kayaker’s bucket list includes the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound near Ucluelet. This collection of more than 100 islands and islets is known for its clear waters, shipwrecks and abundant marine life.

Guided tours are recommended.

The West Coast Trail, the Island’s

legendary 75km hiking route, is also part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Utilizing ancient First Nations coastal trails, it was formally established in 1906 as a lifesaving path for sailors shipwrecked between Bamfield and Port Renfrew.

Backpackers require five to seven days one-way to complete the challenging route. The trail is open from May 1 to the end of September, and reservations are required during the mid-June to midSeptember peak season.

JASON PRIESTLEY & FAMILY WELCOME YOU TO OUR BEACHFRONT RESORT IN UCLUELET, BC

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

www.terracebeachresort.ca

OR

1-866-726-2901 1-250-726-2901

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

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The Mark Hobson Gallery showcases the very best of Mark s artwork. He is well known for his passionate portrayals of the wildlife and landscapes of the Canadian Pacific coast. From pounding surf to misty coves, from rainforests to the underwater realm, the careful use of light is always present, enhancing subtle drama in his work. Visit markhobson.com to find out when Mark will be painting in his gallery. See him in action and get insight into how he creates his vivid and detailed works. # & ") " !"

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GATHER THE POD & PARTY Bring the family to welcome the whales at the Wickaninnish Inn. Wander through the Henry Nolla Carving Shed, fuel up with treats at the Driftwood CafĂŠ and warm your heart with the nostalgic return of the Gray Whale. Make some memories that will last a lifetime. paciďŹ crimwhalefestival.com/events tel 1.800.333.4604

www.wickinn.com

Discover

Adventure in the

Alberni Valley!

Port Alberni

Mt.Arrowsmith makes an awe-inspiring backdrop to Port Alberni.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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On the far side of Mount Arrowsmith from Cathedral Grove, Port Alberni lies at the head of the rich salmon fishing grounds of the Alberni Inlet. Cultural and historical explorers are in their element here thanks to three fine attractions: the Alberni Valley Museum, rated as one of the best regional museums in B.C.; the harbourside Maritime Discovery Centre with its fascinating retelling of the town’s 1964 encounter with a tsunami; and the McLean Mill National Historic Site, a vintage lumber camp with working steam-operated sawmill that can be reached by car or on a memorable halfhour steam-train ride from downtown.

Hike or mountain bike the Log Train Trail, one of 100 routes in the valley (including a challenging trek by boat and foot to Della Falls, the highest waterfall in Canada).

Casting for Rainbow Trout in the Taylor River by Sproat Lake.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

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China Creek Marina & Campground pg • Full ullll service i M Marina i • Marine fuel • 250 sites: open & wooded • Four lane launch ramp • Washrooms & shower • Laundry facilities • Children’s playground • Excellent views • Nearby access to the World Class Alberni Inlet Trail

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED Hand~Crafted ICE CR E AM S & TR EAT S C AN DIES

CHO C OLATES

250-723-9812 www.portalberniportauthority.ca/en/china-creek

www.albernivalleytourism.com

Set Sail for Spectacular West Coast Scenery.

Frances Barkley – Cruise spectacular Barley Sound on the Frances Barkley.

There are year-round sailings to Bamfield, and June-September sailings for Ucluelet and the Broken Group.

The picturesque village of Bamfield on the south shore of Barkley Sound can be accessed by boat, logging road or freight ferry from Port Alberni.

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 Sechard available through Lady Rose Marine Services

Tel: 250-723-8313 Toll Free: 1-800-663-7192 April-Sept. www.ladyrosemarine.com ladyrosemarine@telus.net

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PACIFIC RIM

Top things to see and do in the Pacific Rim Children delight in the ride aboard a steam locomotive running between McLean Mill and downtown Port Alberni.

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

D ELLA F ALLS W ATER T AXI

• Ride the Alberni Valley Railway steam train.

• Experience living history with a cast of costumed characters at McLean Mill, a 1920’sera working steam sawmill.

• Fishing – The Pacific Rim region boasts some of the best fresh and saltwater fishing.

BEN POTTER 1-250-723-5170

ben@dellafallswatertaxi.com www.dellafallswatertaxi.com

CHARTERS up Great Central Lake to hike the Della Falls Trail

• Walk Ucluelet’s spectacular Wild Pacific Trail, highlighted by such stops as Amphitrite Lighthouse, Rocky Bluffs and the Ancient Cedars loop.

• Ucluelet Aquarium is a family must-visit with its touch tanks, kids’ summer programs and interactive exhibits dedicated to marine biodiversity.

naturally inspiring

• Surf & SUP School – Hang ten with the locals after professional lessons on Tofino’s surf beaches.

• Play footsie with the surf at Long Beach and marvel at the massive pieces of driftwood deposited during storm season.

hotel | restaurant | spa

• Hang with the marine sciences crowd and sit in on public programs at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

• Storm watching – Some rate the wet, wild winters as the Pacific Rim’s coziest and most exciting season.

Escape to Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, a magical location on British Columbia’s wild west coast

Ucluelet, BC • 1-877-762-5011 • www.blackrockresort.com

• Schedule visits for the Pacific Rim Whale Festival (welcoming back migrating gray whales in March) and Feast Tofino (a boat-to-table seafood celebration in May).

Della Falls

TC file photo

Did you know?

With a total vertical drop of 440 metres, Della Falls, in Strathcona Provincial Park, is the highest waterfall in Canada, and one of the 10 highest waterfalls in the world.

The hiking trail to Della Falls is 16 km long, with a suggested hiking time of seven hours and an elevation change of 350 metres. The trail starts at the west end of Great Central Lake and follows the old railway grade up the Drinkwater Valley to near the base of Della Falls. Access to the trail is by boat or canoe from the eastern end of Great Central Lake, northwest of Port Alberni.

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What’s on in the Pacific Rim 29th Annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival

Feast Tofino 2015

March 14–22

Throughout the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet and around the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, it’s an all-out celebration of life on the coast! It’s about grey whales and marine life education, inspirational talks and interpretive walks, children’s fun and culinary events, First Nations cultural workshops and more! pacificrimwhalefestival.com

Pacific Rim Tea Festival April 10–12 Tofino and Ucluelet

The Pacific Rim Tea Festival is a fun and educational event. pacificrimteafestival.wordpress.com

West Coast Winter Music Series presents Louise Rose April 11, 7:30 p.m.

Clayoquot Sound Theatre, 380 Campbell St., Tofino

Louise Rose is the consummate performer – a talented pianist, vocalist and actress. She performs Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Standards, plus an extensive repertoire of original music. www.tourismtofino.com

ArtSplash!

Annual Spring Art Show March 14–22 Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

Everyone welcome! pacificrimarts.ca

18th Annual Tofino Shorebird Festival May 1–3

Every year from late April through May, flocks of sandpipers, plovers, Whimbrels, and many other shorebirds pass through the Tofino area. The Shorebird Festival is a great opportunity to experience the largest wildlife migration in the region, learn about these impressive birds, and understand why Tofino is one of the very best places in western Canada for bird watching. raincoasteducation.org

Pacific Rim Summer Festival

15th Annual Tofino Lantern Festival

Cultural Heritage Festival 2015

Taste Tofino’s sustainable boat-totable cuisine in this month-long culinary celebration. Prix-fixe menus offered at a number of restaurants highlight local seafood like salmon, Dungeness crab and sweet spot prawns, along with the signature Dockside Festival event!

June 21–July 1

Aug. 16, Tofino Botanical Gardens

Sept. 19–27 Tofino and Ucluelet

The theme this year is “Surfing the West Coast”.

feasttofino.com

July 3–5

Now in its sixth year, the Tofino Saltwater Classic fishing derby was created by the National Hockey League’s Brendan Morrison as a fundraiser for Tofino community initiatives.

The Tofino Lantern Festival is a community event and fundraiser, drawing young and old with an unbelievable variety of hand made lanterns. The evening is complete with a variety of local entertainment, from a children’s lantern parade, live music and DJs, to artistic dance performances, a laser light show and fire spinning. Don’t miss out on one of Tofino’s most beloved festivals.

tofinosaltwaterclassic.com

raincoasteducation.org

Music by the Sea

Carving On The Edge Festival

May 1–29

Timbre!

We Got Rhythm May 3, 2:30 p.m.

ADSS Auditorium, 4000 Roger St., Port Alberni

Timbre! wraps up their singing season with a Gala musical event.

The concert will be Patricia Miller’s final performance as Musical Director of Timbre! timbrechoir.com

Rip Curl Pro Tofino May 29–31 Cox Bay, Tofino

Rip Curl Pro Tofino is Canada’s largest surfing competition and the only one in Canada open to all divisions. Sanctioned by the Canadian Surfing Association, it’s also the Canadian Surfing Championship. The divisions are: Pro Men, Pro Women, Masters, Men’s Longboard, Women’s Longboard, Junior Men, Junior Women, and Children. ripcurlprotofino.com

13th Annual Tofino Food & Wine Festival June 5–7 Tofino Botanical Gardens

Tofino Food and Wine Festival celebrates food and wine, with the main event, Grazing in the Gardens, showcasing local culinary talents and B.C. wines, in Tofino Botanical Gardens.

A festival of music, dance, theatre, film, and art in Tofino and Ucluelet. pacificrimarts.ca

Sixth Annual Tofino Salt Water Classic Fishing Derby

July 4–12 Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

An intimate musical experience.

The Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries features superb acoustics and a spectacular view of the mystic, bold Pacific behind the performers, making this truly the most inspiring venue anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. musicbythesea.ca

Ukee Days

Aug. 28–Sept. 13 Shore Pier on the Water, 368 Main Street, Tofino

Carving on the Edge Festival is a celebration of the West coast carver, showcasing traditional and contemporary west coast wood carving with exhibits, forums, feasts, family programs and demonstrations.

pacificrimarts.ca

Queen of the Peak Oct. 2–4 Cox Bay, Tofino

The Queen of the Peak is an annual all-women’s surf championship, created by Surf Sister and Shelter Restaurant. This event showcases and celebrates the amazing female surf talent present on the west coast. Contest organizers focus efforts on designing the contest to be ‘female-friendly’ with free child care, dog sitting services and even a massage tent that is complimentary for competitors.

Watch the Princess of the Peak competition, with gromettes as young as eight years old riding the waves! queenofthepeak.com

carvingedgefestival.com

July 24–26 Ucluelet

Ukee Days is a three-day weekendlong festival celebrating life in the Ucluelet community with live music and performances, intense logger sports, awesome food and retail vendors, a fantastic parade, beer gardens for those over 19, a pancake breakfast, salmon and oyster BBQ and so much more. ukeedays.wordpress.com

tofinofoodandwinefestival.com

Edge to Edge Marathon June 14, Ucluelet

Annual marathon, half marathon and relay. Imagine running surrounded by crisp ocean air and lush forests cheered on by the warm friendliness of the West Coast.

A Humpback whale breaches out of the waters off of the Pacific Rim.

edgetoedgemarathon.com

Boomer Jerritt/Tourism Vancouver Island photo

Something’s Always in Bloom at The Butchart Gardens

Spring March 21st – June 14th

Spectacular spring bursts forth in Victoria, BC and at The Butchart Gardens in a show of unparalleled beauty. One of the finest displays in the world heralds the season with hundreds of thousands of bulbs in bloom, joined by a host of flowering trees and shrubs. The gardens are alive with the colours and scents of spring.

888.824.2972 butchartgardens.com

Summer at The Gardens is breathtaking.

Floral splendour greets you at every turn.

Nightly to September 15th — as dusk falls, thousands of lights, of varying intensity and colour, give a magical glow to the shrubs, trees and the flower beds. This wonderland of light is known as Night Illuminations.

Each summer evening the Concert Lawn stage comes alive with a variety of performing artists. Come sit on a bench, or bring a blanket for the lawn and enjoy marvellous music and entertainment in the open air.

Choose from a wide array of dining options including free-standing food carts, simple family friendly meals to fine dining in the original home of Robert and Jennie Butchart.

Saturday night visitors in July through to the Labour Day weekend will be thrilled by the pyrotechnic marvels of one of the most extravagant firework displays in North America.

Summer June 15th – September 30th