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Here in Victoria, we’re known for embracing things that are a little bit weird. Take a walk through downtown and you’re sure to see more vibrant tattoos, rainbow coloured hair and pierced faces than in your average city centre, decorating people from high school ages to those well into their later years. It’s this acceptance of all things edgy that is part of what makes Victoria such a unique place to be.
It is with this unconventional spirit that the Intrepid Theatre Company brings the annual Victoria Fringe Festival back for it’s 27th season this summer. For 10 days, the Fringe Festival will showcase over 50 live theatre, comedy, drama and spoken word shows by performers from around the world at dozens of venues throughout the city.
What makes the Fringe Festival so special is that on top of being one of the oldest Fringe Festivals in the country, it’s also a true grassroots celebration of all things theatrical put on and run by the very artists you see performing in front of you. The festival is juried and uncensored so things are sure to get a little hairy! All participating theatre companies and artists bring their 100 percent self-produced shows to the festival and receive the entire full box-office revenue, so every show ticket you purchase goes directly to the artist who made it possible.
Tickets are all set at exceptionally reasonable and affordable prices in order to be accessible to the widest possible theatre audience. No snooty box seats here, folks. The festival is entirely run by volunteers from throughout the community, which infuses the entire ten-day event with a great sense of local pride and involvement. The 2013 season begins on August 22nd and runs till September 1st.
On top of all the fantastic performances you’re sure to see at this year’s Fringe Festival, there are also a number of free special events that help to round out the 10 days of fun-filled antics and theatrics. In Market Square, there’s the FringeKids Fest for all the little theatre monsters in your life. The FringeClub hosts a nightly cabaret throughout the festival, and a number of pre-fest kickoff events will be taking place as the dates draw near at Centennial Square. Make sure to keep checking the official Fringe Festival Website so you’re sure not to miss a minute of all the weird and wild action.
With numerous Best Western Vancouver Island locations situated all throughout the Island, finding a place to stay while you soak up your summer playbill is easy. In Victoria, both the Best Western Inner Harbour Hotel and the Carlton Plaza Hotel are minutes away from many of the sites which will play host to this year’s Festival performances. Or, if you’re looking for something a little quieter and away from the hustle and bustle of it all, the Best Western Premier Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke is just a short scenic drive away from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, making for a beautiful trip at the end of a Fringe filled day.
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The West Coast is home to some of the most talented artists in the country. From the totem poles of Emily Carr to the beautiful sculptures of Bill Reid, there’s no shortage of exquisite art that has been created and crafted right here in our very own backyard. With the gorgeous mountain backdrop and lush temperate rainforests, it’s easy to see how artists throughout history have found British Columbia to be an absolutely inspiring space to live and create their work.
The gorgeous landscape that makes up Vancouver Island is no exception and artists from all walks of life have situated themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities to find tranquility and solace in the communities that populate the island. On August 2-5th, many of these fantastic local artists will feature their work at the annual Filberg Festival in Comox. The largest juried outdoor art show in Western Canada, the Filberg Festival sees artisans and musicians from all across the country gathered together to showcase their wares and put on this fantastic weekend of collective creative spirit.
What better way to celebrate the breathtaking beauty of Vancouver Island than to hold an art show in the beautiful outdoors that serves as an inspiration to so many artists? Located at the beautiful 9 acre Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, the venue alone is enough to inspire the creative spirit in anyone. The lodge is home to rustic buildings, beautiful gardens and a breathtaking view of the Comox Harbour and Beaufort Mountain Range.
Since it began over 31 years ago, the Filberg Festival has served to encourage the creation, sale, and promotion of highest quality arts and crafts. It has gained a world-wide reputation due to the exceptional work by its artisans. At this year’s festival over 120 artisans will be showcasing their wares in addition to excellent food and fabulous entertainment to round out the weekend.
Advance tickets can be purchased online with a complete weekend festival pass available for the excellent price of $40. Early bird single day tickets are $13 or $15 at the gate, and children under 12 are offered free admission.
With our Best Western Vancouver Island Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre located just a short ten minute drive away; it’s easy to get to and from your weekend of artistic appreciation. The Westerly is the only full service hotel in the entire Comox Valley, and second to none in comfort and quality service. Be sure to book your stay with us today.
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When people think of summer in Tofino, there’s one thing that immediately comes to mind: SURFING. Tofino is Canada’s surf capital, with its gorgeous beaches, beautiful sun, and of course, killer waves. People from all across North America and other parts of the world flock to Tofino’s 35km long beach breaks to suit up and get ready to ride the waves. While it’s a typically sleepy little beach town during the winter, summertime double the town’s population and becomes flush with activity and energy. But there is more to Tofino in summer than just the surf, sand and sunshine. Tofino is also home to a vibrant arts community, many of which will be showcased this year’s Annual Pacific Rim Summer Festival.
The 25th Annual Pacific Rim Summer Festival offers something for people of all ages, from music to dance, to performing arts, visual arts and even workshops for those who want to try a more hands-on approach. The festival is organized each year by the non-profit Pacific Rim Arts Society, a volunteer-based organization that promotes and builds communities by bringing people together through arts and culture, the Summer Festival is only just one of the many fabulous festivals and events in the Society’s calendar.
Starting on the 21st of June, the Pacific Rim Summer Festival runs eleven fabulous days long, finishing up with a bang (literally) on Canada Day, with a closing celebration of a free fireworks show in Tofino. Other events worth noting are the Blues in the Cellar live concert with famed Canadian Blues musician Ross Neilson, as well as the Purple Pirate, a fun theatrical production for the whole family. Events vary in price, with many of the festivities being put on for free or by donation. Get the entire calendar Summer Festival of events here.
So whether you’re planning to spend your Tofino days riding the waves, or enjoying one of the many fabulous arts events at the Pacific Rim Summer Festival, we have the perfect room for you to relax in and dust off the sand from a day well spent. You won’t be able to resist unwinding in front of the gorgeous beachfront views from your private balcony or patio at our luxurious Best Western Tin Wis Resort hotel location, just 3kms from the heart of Tofino. Give us a call today and we’ll take care of the rest.
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What do the Florida Keys, California’s Channel Islands, and British Columbia have in common? They were all named in the top scuba diving spots in North America! While you might not instinctively think of Nanaimo as a scuba diving destination, it is actually one of the most spectacular temperate climate dive areas in the world. With a long list accolades from numerous experts, including scubadiving.com, Sport Diver Magazine, and even Jacques Cousteau – it’s clear that the waters off of Vancouver Island hold a special place in the diving community worldwide. .JPG) .JPG)  So what makes diving in Nanaimo so spectacular? For one, the waterways of British Columbia are very clean, and play host to a thriving marine ecosystem. The waters near Nanaimo are literally teeming with harbour seals, stellar sea lions, bull kelp beds, sponges, wolf eels, rockfish, salmon, Pacific Octopus, and many more. Add to that, a large number of breathtaking dive sites including reefs, kelp gardens, and wall formations and you’ve got a lifetime of adventure waiting below the surface.
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If that weren’t enough, Nanaimo’s coast is also home to world famous artificial reefs. The HMCS Saskatchewan, the Cape Breton (the world’s 2nd largest diver-prepared artificial reef!) and the RivTow Lion were all intentionally sunk to provide accommodation for marine life. With three massive artificial reefs accessible via a short boat ride, there’s plenty of exploration to be had! Check out the video below of a dive of the HMCS Saskatchewan
Just Dive In.... from Pelagic Visions on Vimeo.
There are numerous companies in town offering guided dive tours in Nanaimo and equipment rentals for all ability levels. Not quite ready to dive deep? There are also family-friendly tours that let you snorkel with adorable harbour seals as well.
With two Best Western hotels located in Nanaimo, finding a place to stay is easy! With all the adventures underwater, rest assured you’ve got a great room ready for you when you surface.
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They say good things come to those who wait. For sailing enthusiasts both on the island and mainland alike, that time of patient anticipation is about to come to an end. The Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race returns this year for its ninth running and promises to be an event of epic proportion that no sailing buff can afford to miss. Navigating Vancouver Island’s beautiful, rough and untamed geography, this race is both a serious challenge to even the most seasoned of skipper and an adventure-seeker’s delight.
The Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race is a biennial competition running every year on the odd year, with the natural, rugged and imposing beauty of Vancouver Island serving as the perfect backdrop. Stretching 580 nautical miles to be sailed in 10 legs, this point-to-point race traverses all around Vancouver Island’s beautiful, natural harbours, and provides inshore, offshore and overnight sailing through some of the most breathtaking water along the coast. Don’t let the beauty fool you though; the waters surrounding and running through Vancouver Island are some of the most challenging to navigate in the world. Changing current, rough waters and high force winds are only some of the challenges each sailor must face along the course of this race.
This year’s running of the Van Isle 360 race will commence on June 8th, with guns firing at 10:30am sharp. The race both begins and ultimately finishes in Nanaimo’s harbour, with each boat starting together on the same line and at the same time. Fleets then proceed North around the Island with stops at French Creek, Comox, Campbell River, Hardwicke Island, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, Ucluelet and Victoria. The timing for the entire event is determined by the force of the currents that run through Seymour Narrows, just north of Campbell River. Because this is a point-to-point race, aside from the start and finish lines, there are no particular routes participants are required to follow. The only rule is: keep the island to port and reach the next stop in the fastest way possible.
Some of the best sailors on the West Coast will come out to show off their seafaring legs in this race, and each host city along the route will be running special events to welcome the fleets as they reach their destinations. An event meant for spectators, all stops along the routes are accessible by road, allowing for friends and family to take part in the action, even on land.
With BEST WESTERN locations located all across Vancouver Island, no matter where on this exciting journey you find yourself, we’ve got accommodations to suit your needs. Whether you’re following a fleet from point to point, or simply resting in one spot along the way, our comfortable, affordable rooms provide the best Vancouver Island hospitality there is to offer. Plan your journey with us today.
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In 1911, at the centre of the planet’s most remote and inhospitable region, a Norwegian explorer named Ronald Amundsen drove a spike into the ice where no man had set foot before. It was the South Pole, and Amundsen’s team was the first to reach it. But they weren’t the only ones to try. As the new exhibition at Victoria’s Royal BC Museum illustrates, this was a journey that ended in awe-inspiring triumph for some and tragedy for others.
Running from May 17 to October 14, the Race to the End of the Earth exhibition takes visitors on an immersive tour through the Antarctic quests of Amundsen and his chief competitor, British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, as they raced to be the first to reach the South Pole. Together their stories weave a timeless saga of courage and misfortune in the ceaseless quest to conquer the unknown.
These stories of Antarctic exploration are told in vivid detail with dioramas, interactive exhibits, photographs, artifacts and a guest lecture series. Visitors can see some of the equipment that helped speed the explorers on their way—everything from cups to chronometers—along with recreations of their living quarters and harrowing images of the men who braved unthinkable challenges to make it back alive.
From the stories of the 1911-12 expeditions, the exhibition expands to illuminate the fascinating Antarctic eco-system and the history of Antarctic exploration in the century since. You’ll learn how technology has made this region not only more accessible, but more liveable. You’ll also hear first-hand accounts from some brave souls who have spent considerable time in this often forgotten part of the world.
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Do you have what it takes to partake in the Mudd Sweat & Tears race!? This is not your average 5k run. It combines steep acents, challenging obstacles, big slides, and of course - plenty of mudd. With events Canada-wide this summer, the Vancouver Island race at Mount Washington is sure to be a challenge! Combining the best of Mount Washington's natural obstacles with some man-made challenges, this race will push you and your fellow races to the max. If you think you've got what it takes, be sure to head over to the race registration and pricing page.
The Mudd Sweat & Tears race is in its inagural year in Canada, with events planned in Kelowna, Ottawa, Fernie, and Niagara Falls for this summer. By 2014 there are events planned globally, with races in Australia, Germany, and Belize.
Mount Washington is the premiere mountain resort on Vancouver Island. With incredible skiing and snowboarding during the winter, epic mountain biking in summer, and year-round events for all who love the outdoors, make sure your trip to Vancouver Island includes a trip to Mount Washington!
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The Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel is excited to be apart of the Bridal Dream team Vancouver Island and we have just launch another terrific video.
We are not just accommodation we have beautiful venues for wedding of 50 up to 160 as well as a wonderful catering team. We would love to be apart of your special day.
Thinking of planning your special day? Come in for a personal tour of our facility and see for yourself how we have everything you need under one roof.
http://youtu.be/qWlVgNFD6y4
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It’s that time of year where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and slowly changing from pink to red, leaving the sidewalks dusted with a cotton candy coloured snow of fallen petals. The days are a little longer, the rain a little more scarce, and the sun peeks its head out from behind the clouds often enough that sunglasses become a mandatory accessory. That’s right, spring is officially here! Time to shake off those winter doldrums and get outside to enjoy the sunshine.
As the cities along Vancouver Island begin to blossom and turn green and flowered once more, so comes the return of many an island resident and tourist’s pleasure alike: the weekend farmer’s market! It’s no secret that some of the best agriculture British Columbia has to offer can be found on the island, with hundreds of family owned and operated farms gathering together over spring and summer weekends to showcase all they have to offer and join in building community spirit. A delight to those of any age, the many markets that populate Vancouver Island serve as a microcosm of the wide variety of fresh, local, organic produce, dairy and other artisanal wares that can be found right in our own backyard.
May 4th marks the return of Victoria’s popular Moss Street Market, located on the corner of Fairfield Road and Moss Street. In its 22nd season this year, the Moss Street Market features over 25 local, organic farmers and hails itself as Victoria’s “true” farmer’s market. On top of mouthwatering fresh fruits and vegetables, the market also features more than 75 craft and food vendors, with the promise of a little something for everyone. Each week, local musicians join the community spirit with a variety of different island talent for your entertainment. It runs every Saturday until October 26th and is open from 10am till 2pm.
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