You are lucky if you happen to celebrate your New Year on Vancouver Island! Enjoy the beautiful scenery and a great list of events and parties to ring in this New Year! There are many parties around and here are just few suggestions to spend the best time on the last day of 2015. Wherever you may roam, we are happy to accommodate you during your holiday stay at Best Western Vancouver Island Hotel.
1950s Rock and Roll | Beban Park | Nanaimo
Enjoy Nanaimo’s biggest and best family event featuring 50s rock and roll theme at the Beban Park Recreation Centre! Travel back in time and ring in this New Year with an incredible show by Timebenders. There are 2 countdowns at 8 and 10 pm and so much fun awaits you including skating, games, face painting, crafts, hockey room and Rock’n Roll Selfie Photos. Be ready for great entertainment by The Big Mess, Ian Johnstone and The Purple Pirate. The event is family friendly, so make sure to bring your little ones along! Check the details or make a phone call: 250-756-5200.
New Year’s Eve party | CANOE Brewpub | Victoria
CANOE Brewpub Marina & Restaurant welcomes you to join New Year’s Eve party and celebrate with style! Located few minutes away from Victoria’s historic Chinatown, Canoe brewpub has an exciting program for you featuring live music by The Broken Strings along with noisemakers, party hats and a midnight toast. Celebrate with handcrafted beer and food made with care. Make sure to reserve your spot, as ticket go away really fast.
Make the beginning of 2016 pleasant and comfortably by booking your room with us. Our convenient locations will allow you to get the most of the holiday season! We wish you a pleasant stay and Happy Holiday
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As it getting colder outside, there is a great choice of music to warm you up during this season in Victoria. If you happen to stay in Victoria or explore the West Coast, choose Best Western Vancouver Island Hotels, as we are here for you to offer not only warm and spacious rooms but also some options to make your time memorable! For those, travelling to Victoria there is a variety of concerts to check out:
Canada Music Week | November 17 – 22 |
Victoria Conservatory of Music invites you for the concerts during the whole week! So many concerts to choose from, you will definitely find something for yourself! Sessions will include Canadian music, country concerts and even song writing workshops if you happen to discover a composer in yourself! Learn more and attend, as public is welcome to all events! Admission by donation.
Live to Dream: A benefit Concert for Victoria Hospice | November 22 | 2 PM |
Civic Orchestra of Victoria is hosting an evening of great symphonic music directed by Dr. George Corwin. Hoping to rise $35,000 for the Victoria Hospice’s 35th anniversary this year, artists collaborated in support of Live to Dream Campaign. Get the details, make a change and attend!
Victoria Chamber Orchestra Baroque Concert | November 27 | 8 PM |
Come and appreciate a night of classical music as Josh Layne will perform great compositions by Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi and Bach. Make sure not to miss the concert of the season by Victoria Chamber Orchestra. Check the website for directions, and tickets and have a wonderful evening!
No matter what music you prefer, everybody should agree on a choice of the hotel. Come back to you comfortable room after visiting the best places in the city and attending great! Book your room now to enjoy our convenient location to major musical events, restaurants and much more!
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Staying at Best Western Plus Victoria hotels will give you a chance to explore the area and attend variety of events this November! Whether you love nature, cosplays or listen to the smart people, Victoria has it all!
IFCon 2015 | October 31 – November 1 |3100 Tillicum Rd |
Attend the most exciting convention on Vancouver Island this November! A fun event with parties, cosplays, performances, workshops, trade shows, presentations and much more! This year IFCon is organized to support BC Children’s Hospital and will feature many special guests such as William B. Davis, a founder of the Centre for Actors Study from Vancouver. Have a weekend full of fun, learn more and get your tickets!
TEDxVictoria | Saturday, November 21 | 9am – 6pm | McPherson Playhouse |
With its mission to spread ideas TED Talks are heading to Victoria this November to challenge your thinking and give new insights! Let’s welcome 5th annual conference featuring its main topic of impact and innovation! Victoria is such a perfect place to host TED Talks! You are about to meet great speakers, so don’t miss a chance to connect with them directly after the talks! During the evening, we will explore interactive art and technology, meet artists, educators, key note speakers and inventors! Plan your TED ahead, buy your tickets to reserve a spot and see you on 21 November at McPherson Playhouse!
Salmon Run | November 7 – November 29 | Goldstream Provincial Park |
If you are lucky to stay in Victoria at this time of the season, it’s good to see one of the natural phenomena Canada is so proud of! On one of the weekends in November, make sure to experience Goldstream annual salmon run in one of the best parks of the West Coast! The package includes guided interpretive tour, personal experience with salmon, tea or coffee at the Nature House and optional transportation to the park. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to watch it yourselves and bring your family and friends to share the moment! Learn more about the tour or call the Goldstream Nature House at 250-478-9414 to book a package with the transportation option to the park.
Whatever your choice is, there is something for everybody in Victoria this November! The guests often choose our Best Western Hotels not only for the comfortable rooms and excellent amenities, but also for the great location and proximity to the places they want to visit. So, book your room and have a wonderful stay!
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While fall season is slowly approaching and days are getting shorter, we are lucky to enjoy warm and sunny weather on the West Coast. The season gives us colorful streets, unique atmosphere and the mood to enjoy the artistic works. You will have a chance to attend a variety of cultural and sport events this October and here are just a few of them:
Garden City Grooves Music Festival | October 1-3, 2015 | Victoria
Music lovers will appreciate Garden City Grooves Music Festival where you can enjoy 3 nights of great live funk music that makes you move! With its vibrant soul-funk scene, Victoria is a perfect place to get the vibes of the festival. Each band at the festival is unique and has its own story. Meet the artists and listen to this amazing, inspiring music that lasted the test of time!
GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon | October 11, 2015 | Victoria
For those who enjoy active lifestyle and outdoor activities, the annual event features 36th GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. Register as soon as possible and challenge yourself for a great run to set a new Marathon course record. Don’t miss the chance to win the total prize purse for the Marathon and Half Marathon of $46,650! Bring your family and friends to celebrate your excellent shape!
Ghosts of Victoria Festival | October 17 – 31, 2015 | Victoria
Victoria has its atmosphere of an old city to celebrate one of the most awaited holidays of the fall – Halloween! Ghosts of Victoria Festival is an annual festival with many activities across the city. There are ghost-bus and walking tours. Such an excellent opportunity to explore the city and have lots of fun!
Our Best Western Vancouver Island Hotels are comfortably located to give you an opportunity to explore the area and visit as many attractions as possible. So, find your room now to get the most out of your fall vacation!
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Vancouver Island has a reputation for quality food and drink. From local farms and markets to some of the best craft breweries in the world, the island has it all. Visitors can see wineries, cheeseries, and more in a day, so it makes sense that there should be some events celebrating this plethora of good taste. We’ve found three of the best events for eating and drinking so that you can spend less time looking and more time enjoying!
The Great Canadian Beer Festival – Sept 11-12
Who doesn’t love beer? Victorians set out to prove that they just happen to love it a little more than most with their annual beer festival. With dozens of brewers from all over the country, this event truly is as Canadian as it is great, so grab your tankards, sleeves, flights, and frosty mugs and get ready to enjoy an incredible and delicious variety of suds. Learn more about the Great Canadian Beer Fest here.
Summer Social Harvest Dinner – Sept. 24
The Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse will be host to one of the best dinners in Victoria, the Harvest Dinner. Attendees will enjoy an evening of locally grown food paired with award-winning cider. The four-course meal will take place as you watch the sun set over the orchards, so this meal is sure to be one that will be remembered. To enhance your experience, you’ll even be shuttled to the meal from downtown Victoria and back again. Learn more here.
Victoria Wine Festival – Sept. 25-26
Finish off your fine-dining month with a bit of wine at the Victoria Wine Festival. Held at the glamourous Parkside Hotel, your ticket will get your free tastings over 350 wines from dozens of wineries, niblets of food, and plenty of information as seminars will be held between the tastings. You’ll have a chance to meet some of the trade professionals who crafted the wines you enjoy so much, and much more. Learn more here.
Once you’re full from your meals and drinks, you can look forward to a relaxing night of sleep in our Victoria hotel, right at the inner harbour and just steps away from these great events. Or take a look at our other Vancouver island locations here. We look forward to your visit!
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Busking in all their glory, the world’s most talented street performers crowd into Victoria this month to entertain, delight, and celebrate the age-old art form during the annual Victoria International Buskers Festival.
Check out performers from Canada, Sweden, Australia, South American and the U.S. as they converge for a frenzy of fantastic family-friendly displays; from flame-throwers to magicians, jugglers to balloonists, musicians and unicyclists, these people really know how to thrill a crowd!
Daily shows run from 12 noon until 10 p.m. from July 17 to 26 at locations across Victoria’s downtown. The festival also runs an International Food Village on the waterfront of the Inner Harbour during official festival times as well, so make sure to get your fill of delicious street food during the festival. Oh, and tips to busker’s hats are welcomed and appreciated!
While you’re on Vancouver Island, we welcome you to stay at one of our Best Western hotels. In Victoria, our Best Western Plus Inner Harbour Hotel Victoria puts you smack dab in the centre of all the exciting action of the Buskers Festival. Our Best Western Plus Carleton Plaza Hotel Victoria is in the heart of downtown, another great city location.
If you find yourself further up-island in the Nanaimo area, make sure to check out the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibit in nearby Parksville - this year’s theme is Heroes and Villains, so expect an epic battle!
Taking place in the Parksville Community Park next to the Lion’s Venture Land Playground and Water Spray Park, the event is open to humans (no dogs allowed) everyday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Entry is by suggested donation of $2.50 per person.
Parksville is just half an hour from the bustling town of Nanaimo, where you will find comfortable, quality accommodations at the Best Western Northgate Inn, and the the Best Western Dorchester Hotel in the heart of downtown.
Book your stay online today for any of our Best Western hotels for our best rates and room availability. We look forward to hosting you during your trip to beautiful Vancouver Island.
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Here on Vancouver Island, another beautiful BC summer is upon us. With this season of sunshine and surf comes a packed schedule of events of all kinds, from outdoor festivals, to sporting events, and more.
With 11 cozy locations across this most majestic Island, Best Western provides visitors to the area with the perfect platform to discover all the region has to offer. Here are a few fantastic events you’ll find on the Island over the coming months!
Pacific Rim Summer Festival |June 21- July 1
From summer solstice to Canada day, visitors to Tofino can enjoy the fantastic Pacific Rim Summer festival. The festival, which goes down just a short distance from our Tin Wis Resort Tofino location, will feature the finest in visual and performing arts for an experience that should not be missed. Find out more about this enriching event here.
2015 Island Summer Games| June 26-28
Just 5 days after summer officially begins, Victoria will host the annual Island Summer Games. The Games, which bring to town the best in basketball, soccer, ball hockey, dodge ball, touch football and more, go down in beautiful Topaz Park, which you’ll find just moments from all of our Victoria locations. Guests of this event will also enjoy great live music, delicious barbecue, great DJs, a beer garden, and more. For more information on tickets and scheduling, head to The Games’ official website!
Nanaimo Marine Festival & International World Championship Bathtub Race | July 24-26
The name of this one says it all. In late July, Nanaimo will host three days of aquatic fun that cannot be beat. The perfect event for visitors of all ages, you’ll find this one just a short distance from our conveniently-situated Nanaimo locations!
Yes, there’s plenty of fun coming to our beautiful Island over the coming months, and as a guest of any of our fantastic Best Western locations, it’s all yours to discover. Book your stay today!
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Let us save you some trouble: Mother’s Day is coming up, but don’t panic just yet—there’s plenty of time to make plans still! And what better place to treat your favourite lady to an incredible day than beautiful Victoria? But forget the same old high tea at the Empress: we’ve found three truly unique options you can set up to make this year her favourite.
Mother’s Day Vintage Rose Afternoon Tea – May 8th-10th
Ham sandwiches and meat pies are a classic for tea, but what if your mother is a vegetarian? The Venus Sophia, one of Victoria’s preeminent vegetarian restaurants, is offering a special afternoon tea for Mothers’ Day. Hand-crafted sandwiches and baked rose scones will be served alongside beautiful floral teas. This special service will even include antique rose teacups, so register now!
Mother’s Day Paint-In and Craft Fair – May 10th
If tea isn’t your mother’s thing, take her to the beautiful grounds of Hatley Park, a near 600-acre historic site with the beautiful Hatley Castle, for a celebration of mothers, art, and music. Over 3,000 visitors, painters, and crafters will converge in the exquisite gardens to enjoy a beautiful day of entertainment, performances, and creation. Learn more here.
Mother’s Day Buffet at the Butchart Gardens – May 10th
If your mother wants tea and gardens as well as a delicious lunch buffet, the world-famous Butchart Gardens are the place to go. The grounds’ own Blue Poppy Restaurant will be host to an incredible meal of charcuterie, wild salmon, mussels, roast beef, salads, desserts, and much, much more. The restaurant’s quaint rooms are the perfect place for an intimate afternoon with family. Reservations are highly recommended.
If you want to truly treat your mother this year, these events are sure to please. And whether your mother is in Victoria, Sidney, Nanaimo, Alberni, or anywhere else on Vancouver Island, be sure to treat yourself to one of our comfortable accommodations. Book your room today. We look forward to your visit!
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We serve the whole of Vancouver Island, but nowhere are there more exciting concerts than Victoria. If you’re in the province’s capital this April, be sure to check out some of these great events.
POV’s Madama Butterfly – April 9th-19th
This delightful opera is about a young geisha in Japan. When she falls in love with an American, she renounces her family—however, he must leave her and their child behind as he returns to America. Madama Butterfly is about this young woman’s wait, and we see her guided through this test of fidelity and honour with her hope and love. Written by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly was one of his favourite characters, and the opera itself has managed to hold up over time. Tickets start at $25.
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto – April 28th
If you’re looking for some classical sounds this April, you won’t want to miss the Victoria Symphony’s Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Peformed by the Finnish sensation Elina Vahala, this concerto was one of the highest-regarded pieces of the romantic era of music. You’ll also be treated to the world premiere of a piece by Oesterle, as well as two Sibelius symphonies, No. 4 and No. 7. This night will be a great mix of new talent and new music, as well as time-tested classics. Tickets start at $30.
Def Leppard
For those with… “heavier” tastes, this is definitely the event to see. Rock and roll band Def Leppard is taking the stage yet again, continuing a legacy of spectacular stadium shows and powerful rock anthems. Playing classics such as Pour Some Sugar on Me, Love Bites, and Rock of Ages, this band is ready to prove yet again why they sell out arena after arena around the world. Tickets start at $49.50. VIP packages are available!
Whether a stadium or royal theatre, a rock anthem or a classic opera, Victoria’s concert scene is thriving and diverse. And when you’re in town for your next concert, or anywhere on the island, be sure to stay in one of our many locations. Book a room today. We look forward to your visit!
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MISA BC was formally established in 1994 as the second MISA chapter in Canada. MISA stands for Municipal Information Systems Association, and its goal is to promote greater co-operation among local government staff in the IT field by sharing information and developing common solutions on a broader and cost-effective scale. Municipalities share many IT issues, and working together on these makes for more effective and efficient government. The information highway and electronic services continues to be a prime focus of discussions between municipalities and the senior levels of government. Joint efforts with other organizations with a national scope such as the Canadian Association of Municipal Adminstration (CAMA) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), have also become possible.
This year the MISA Spring 2015 Workshop, Annual General Meeting and Executive Committee Election will be hosted by the City of Port Alberni and held at the Best Western Plus Barclay hotel on April 23, 24.
For more information on MISA and its operations, you can click here : https://www.misa.bc.ca/
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