Vancouver Island Hotel Blogs

Newcastle Island, located just a few hundred meters offshore from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, has been called one of the most intriguing parks in British Columbia.  In fact, the entire island-all 336 hectares of it-is a park, filled with steep sandstone cliffs and forested with Douglas fir, Garry oak, arbutus and dogwood.  And it’s an ideal day trip from The Harbour City, Nanaimo.

So What’s a “Pickle Boat”?

Your adventure starts downtown, at the Maffeo Sutton Park overlooking Nanaimo Harbour on vancouver island.  Catch a Victoria Harbour Ferry—or as the locals call these cute little passenger boats, “Pickle Boats”—and enjoy the 10-minute ride.

Or if you prefer to paddle, set out for the short trip in a kayak.  Try the launch site on Newcastle Avenue near Benson Street.  Look for a sign for the Queen Elizabeth II Promenade, just south of the Nanaimo Yacht Club.

The Island’s Backstory

Newcastle Island is part of Snuneymuxw First Nation Traditional Territory. The Snuneymuxw, a Coast Salish people, valued the island as a place to gather traditional medicines and often celebrated marriages on its Brownie Bay.  There is evidence of at least two First Nations villages but both were abandoned before coal was discovered on the island in 1849.  Eventually, the coal mining companies abandoned the place, too.

The 1930’s brought happy times to Newcastle Island.  That’s when the Canadian Pacific Railway transformed it into a luxurious recreational park, complete with a dance pavilion, teahouse, picnic areas, changing houses, soccer field and wading pool.  Overnight guests stayed in an old ship tied to the dock at Mark Bay.  It thrived as a popular venue for company picnics and Sunday outings until World War Two, when the vessels to deliver guests to the island were allocated for military use.

New Visitor’s Centre

Today, the dance pavilion has been grandly restored as a visitor’s centre and it’s an activity hug.  In the summer months, a park interpreter provides perspectives on the island’s unique human and natural history.  The Newcastle Island Pavilion Bistro serves breakfast and lunch.  You’ll find equipment rentals there, too.

Appropriately, the structure has a 2700 square foot sprung dance floor and regularly scheduled dances are held on summer weekends.

Use Your Arms And Legs To Explore The Island

Get to know the island’s densely-forested trails by foot or bicycle.  Relax on the island’s gravel beaches.  Amble the sandstone shores.  Learn more about the First Nations history with a salmon bar-b-que dinner and cultural interpretation, and even ride in a traditional war canoe.

Links For More Information

Researching a trip to Newcastle Island is easy on the Internet.  Begin with an overview of the Island.  Check the Newcastle Island ferry schedule.  You can view the Newcastle Island Pavilion Bistro menu and get details about the Salmon bar-b-que. Read about the history of the island in a new book by Bill Marilees entitled “Newcastle Island – A Place of Discovery” (ISBN 1-895811-58-9).

Enjoy all that Nanaimo has to offer and please tell your friends.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license

Hosted by the Rotary Club, Summerfest 2011 – Cirque de Chemainus, will take place June 25th from 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Complete with food and games and music, this promises to be a great day for  all who attend. Bring the kids, the grandfolk, your friends and dates – Vancouver Island events welcome everyone!

Kicking off the day with the Rotary Breakfast, you can enjoy flapjacks and sausages, which are described as ‘legendary’, at Waterwheel Park, located in the heart of Chemainus, on the waterfront. The full-size replica waterwheel sits at the park’s entrance and is an homage to the waterwheels that powered the mills during pioneer times and, of historic note, the park is built on grounds that were once part of the mill manager’s home.

Musical Entertainment will start at 8:30 a.m. and at 9:00 a.m. an Artisan Fair showcasing Vancouver Island artisans will run concurrently throughout the day.

Cirque de Chemainus

The annual festival has a circus theme this year, Cirque de Chemainus, so you can expect cotton candy, and circus-themed parade floats.  At 11:00 a.m. the Parade starts at the corner of Willow and Victoria and finishes at Esplanade and Kin Park.

Adding a special touch to the Cirque festivities, “Fizzle Pop”, the clown will be lending his talents.  This professional clown has over 20 years’ experience entertaining children of all ages.

There’s a highly anticipated BBQ lunch in the Waterwheel parking lot, hosted by the Rotary, that features hamburgers, hotdogs and their famous tube steak.  I understand that this year we will also see some new items added into the mix.

Usually attended by 500-600 people, this Vancouver Island event is fun-filled for the entire family, with Children’s activities beginning at 11:45 a.m. and running throughout the day.

Chemainus Foods, Chemainus Valley Courier, Chemainus Firefighters, Municipality of North Cowichan and Ray Peters Trucking are the joint sponsors of the day.

As a sidenote: The Chemainus Rotary Club has taken on the project of raising funds for the purchase and donation of an Urgent Care X-Ray machine to the Chemainus Health Care Centre and all proceeds from food sales of the Summer Fest, Cirque de Chemainus, will go toward that purchase.

Come on over one and all – Summerfest in Chemainus is a dandy way to start your summer off right!

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Chemainus, ‘the little town that could’, best known for its’ amazing wall murals and year-round Chemainus Theatre Festival, has also emerged as one of Vancouver Island’s delightful boutique towns.

Some of the town’s more popular stores specialize in original art, antiques, locally designed women’s clothing, giftware, and coffee and desserts, desserts and more desserts. For example, for baked goods you can pop into the  Chemainus Bakery for apple fritters; if you prefer a more European style you can swing over to Utopia Bakery and select from a great variety of fresh breads and Almond Tarts; and the Muffin Mill is, of course, your best bet for muffins 

If you can’t resist freshly baked fudge or hand made chocolates then Caravaggio’s is not to be missed; Hansel & Gretel harkens back to a more old fashioned time when the local candy store ‘sold its wares by the weight’; and you might want to cap the day off with a trip to Billy’s Delight & Ice Cream parlor just to make sure you’ve tasted all forms of sweetness available in this very sweet town.

Willow Street  

Throughout the compact ‘main shopping drag’, which is located in and about Willow Street, you will find antique stores, fashion outlets, art galleries, gift shops and in and about the stores are restaurants and cafes for a relaxed and refreshing atmosphere.  Below you will find a sampling of the shopping fun to be had in Chemainus (some on ‘the main drag’ and some in ‘the charming little out of the way’ places).

Outdoor  Market

Summer months bring an outdoor market in downtown Chemainus on Wednesdays

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Art Galleries

The Pottery Shop

•Jane Wolters; high fire reduction pottery

•Turning Point Arts; Brad Grigor, digital artist; Peggy Grigor, potter, dramatic crystalling glazes

•Glimpses in Time, Water Colour, Martina Zuidema

•Rhythms Artglass; Claude Duperron; Linda Westrom

•The Gallery at the Chemainus Theatre

          •Sheryl Sawchuk Studio Gallery

Fashion

•Itzyu Designs Natural Fibre Clothing, eco-friendly, locally manufactured line of men and womens clothing, much of it designed by owner Nicki Gurr, and made of linen, hemp, bamboo and cotton

•Degage Fashion Ltd.; hand-washable women’s clothing designed by company owner Sherri Dusseault at her own Vancouver island local factory 

The Kinney Clothing Co.; namebrand fashion, housed in a former bowling alley where you actually shop in the bowling lanes

Antiques

•Willow Antique Mail; there’s a communal artisan space  of 20 artistsat the Willow Antique Mall

•Royal Dalton; figurines, rare books, vintage glassware, jewelry

•The Highway Antique Emporium; the size of a barn, this is a vintage mega-store

•Ladysmith’s; also a quite substantially sized Antique Mall, for collectors of all varieties

Pampering and Indulging the Senses

•Vancouver Island Soap Factory; has its own line of Chemainus made Kogi Naturals beauty products

•Willow Street Soaps; fine imported soaps and luxurious bath items

•The Flowering Tree Natural Spa; full spa services using organic skin care products – heavenly

•The Urban Legend; Spa services and hairstyling

Café and Tea Emporiums

•Twisted Sisters Tea Room; dozens of varieties of loose-leaf tea ‘to go’ or indulge in a light tea-time right there

•The Dancing Bean Café; freshly roasted coffee

Gift Shops

•The General Store; especially for dishware and wind chimes

•Toad Hall Emporium; an eclectic mix of toys for all ages, kids clothing, and artisan work

•British Allsorts; a mixture of Soccer jerseys and specialty food items

•Gifts & Things; kitchen gadgets, a large selection of gift items, candles & cards

•Sonshine Flowers; fresh flowers, and interestingly enough, they also carry a line of items for dogs

•A Flower Affair; fresh flowers

Free Parking

You can easily find parking and it’s free, a true bonus when strolling leisurely through a boutique laden environment. One ‘free parking find’ is the lot at Waterwheel Park, which is across from the Visitor Centre and convenient to stores and restaurants.  While you’re parking there you can also take advantage of the lovely views of the park, itself.

For more Shopping in Chemainus

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Nanaimo is an outdoor lover’s paradise.  If you’re like me, museums, history and culture are a big draw – I even like a stroll through quaint antique shops and local shopping districts.  But what turns me on the most is getting out into a region’s natural sights and wonders: getting active, and maybe even working up a sweat while having a great time!

 Okay, call me an adrenaline junky or a nature lover.  But who doesn’t want to get out on the water for a boat ride, or take a kayak out for a little self-styled exploration?  What about an introductory – or self-guided, if you’re already an expert – scuba dive?  I’ve always wanted to do that.  And while we’re on the topic of things I’d love to try, how about bungee jumping?  You’d never catch my wife doing that, but it’s right up my alley.  Mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing – you name it and I’m game! And as it turned out, much to my delight, Nanaimo is a mecca for all these pursuits!

Aerial Adrenaline

Okay.  I’m not timid.  But bungee jumping appeals to a very particular set of thrill seekers.  So yes, I’ll admit to a certain degree of hesitation on the subject.  Yet at the same time… why not?  I mean, I’ve voluntarily jumped out of a working airplane, so… why not?

WildPlay Element Parks caters to the weekend and perennial thrill seeker alike.  It’s extreme fun, made easy.

This is the site of the first bridge in North America built and dedicated solely to bungee jumping!  So, yes, this is the spot!  The bridge spans the Nanaimo River Canyon, offering those daring enough a harrowing drop straight down toward the river below, an adrenaline rush to rival most anything they’ve tried before and all the exhilaration and bragging rights that go along with the experience. For the more timid of us – who nevertheless don’t want to be left out – WildPlay even offers tandem jumps with an experienced jumper.

“Swinging is back – for big kids!” proclaims the park’s advertisement.  WildPlay’s King Swing makes good on that promise, sending harnessed guests on a dizzying glide over a 150-foot abyss, either alone or as a pair. 

The park also offers multiple ziplines across almost the entire breadth of the park’s beautiful scenery – and is more family friendly, with a minimum age of 7 years.  Soaring through the trees in the shadow of Couger Mountain’s grandeur and over Whistler Valley and the Nanaimo River Canyon, it’s the closest thing to a bird’s eye view of nature.

And for those looking for a little more exertion and challenge there’s an almost never-ending host of aerial obstacle courses which climb, swing, sway, drop and hover through the forest’s canopy.  You’ll find swinging logs, rope bridges, cargo nets, tree ladders and more, as you struggle to navigate WildPlay’s fun courses – all at between six and sixty feet above the ground!

The park makes a point of being family friendly, even offering birthday party packages.  And in almost all cases, 12 years and up qualifies one to partake in the vancouver island’s park’s thrills.

Land of Extreme Pursuits

If extreme cycling is just your speed, you’ll find it around Nanaimo too.  Nearby Newcastle Island is a favorite mountain bikers’ destination, with 15 km (9 mi.) of bicycle trails, winding through coastal and forest scenery.  And closer to Nanaimo there’s The Abyss, a bike path with a natural earthquake fissure beginning at Extension Ridge, site of a 19th century mining operation; as well as Dumont Trails, which will challenge medium to expert riders with trails like Monkeys in the Mist and Yellow Gate.

If, on the other hand, you’re seeking after a few meditative hours or a day of rock climbing, you’ll find it along the Nanaimo River.  The Upper Deck, also called the Boar’s Hole, features over a dozen bolted routes which scale up to 14 m (46 ft.) rising along the river’s canyon walls; and the Lower Deck offers a climb with a nice overhang above the river itself.

Leg Work

For those with no aversion to walking, Nanaimo pays off big, in dividends of rewarding views and idyllic hiking trails, with everything from mild to strenuous depending on your desires.  

You can view birdlife with a pleasant hike through Buttertubs Marsh Bird Sanctuary, which even features a wheelchair accessible viewing platform.  Or tackle Mount Benson, a 1 km (0.6 mi.) high peak overshadowing Nanaimo, which yields lush canyon hikes, a trail to Ammonite Falls, and spectacular views to Duncan along the southern coast and the snow-daubed peak of Mt. Baker in the east.  The list of hiking goes on and on.

Also, don’t miss out on the old-growth rainforest to be found in Cathedral Grove or Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and in exploring the caves of Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park.  And if spelunking (cave exploring) is your passion, you’ll find more than 1,000 caves on Vancouver Island, a caving environment that’s been described as Canada’s best.

Waterborne Adventuring

All the water sports in and around Nanaimo could fill a hundred articles, and still leave much more to write about.  Suffice it to say, if you want something to do in the water, there is scuba diving in abundance right off Nanaimo, as well as kayaking.  And if you’re interested in more low-impact, relaxing fun, you can book passage on one of the city’s boat tours or catch a day excursion for some whale watching.

Fun For The Solo Adventurer, or His/Her Family

Nanaimo’s the perfect holiday spot for me – fulfilling both my inner daredevil and my outdoors family bent.  I love thrills, nature’s wonder and serenity; but if I’m taking my family along, I also want activities they’ll be able to participate in.  Nanaimo delivers on all fronts.

Let’s face it, if you’re a parent like me you could take your kids to a movie for the day – or you could take them outdoors and give them some real fun they’ll remember for years!  And that doesn’t just apply to the kids!  Let me know how your adventure in Nanaimo goes!

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Courtenay is in the heart of the Comox Valley on Eastern side of Vancouver Island. It is both fun and unique. Vitality Magazine named Courtenay “the most charming small town on Vancouver Island.”

Courtenay Downtown Events

There always seems to be something going on in downtown Courtenay from its markets, dances and art shows.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Mount Washington is on the eastern side of the Vancouver Island range which features a spectacular alpine setting with the Pacific ocean as backdrop. It has a variety of runs from beginner to expert and boasts the deepest snow in the world!

The resort, some 30 km (19 miles) from Courtenay offers world class alpine skiing, snowboarding, and host of other winter activities. Accommodations  include an Alpine Village with condominiums, chalets and townhouses.

During the summer Mount Washington and the surrounding resort are transforms itself into a major destination for walkers, hikers, mountain bikers and hikers.

Mount Washington

Vancouver Island Music Fest

The Island Music Fest is the largest music festival on Vancouver Island and is held in the summer, usually in July. Bring your tent or camper and enjoy an eclectic mix of music.

 Strathcona Provincial Park

Strathcona Provincial Park is a huge rugged mountain wilderness park located almost in the centre of Vancouver Island. Except for Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau which offer some tourist activities, the rest is basically undeveloped. If you are looking for the untouched outdoors of a majestic rain forest you will love this area.

Whether you are looking for crystal clear lakes, majestic peaks or alpine meadows you will find it in abundance here.

Looking for a marine dinosaur?

How about a Elasmosaur or the Mosasaur? The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre  has quite a reputation for their discoveries all to the delight of novice and experienced paleontologists.

Enjoy Courtenay and please tell your friends.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Whether shopping or sightseeing is on your mind, it’s hard to beat what you’ll find in historic Market Square, Victoria’s premiere shopping district.  Nestled in buildings dating from the 1880’s and 1890’s, the height of The Garden City’s 19^th century prosperity when Victoria served as a clearing house for the Vancouver Island’s natural wealth in seal skins, lumber, coal and salmon, you’ll find charming shops catering to everything from trendy boutiques to salons and spas to sushi.  There’s even a nightclub for those seeking evening excitement.

A Lurid History

Market Square is the former site of “the other face of Victoria.”  In the late 1800’s, Victoria was becoming a popular vacation destination, even hosting royalty on occasion.  However, this renown was presaged by the earlier Gold Rush years, and the present site of Market Square was not a place to get caught if one weren’t street-wise enough!  Johnson Street was a rough-and-tumble collection of saloons, shops and bawdy houses, with an eclectic population from around the world; while Cormorant Street – renamed Pandora Street – was the gateway to Chinatown, home to gambling and opium dens.

In fact, in 1887 when the U.S. banned the production of opium, Chinatown in Victoria, B.C. became the main supplier of North America.  Today, the gambling houses, opium dens and tawdry barrooms are gone, but as you wander the shops and nearby streets you can imagine what it must have been like to tread the seamier avenues of this frontier mecca which attracted so many prospectors looking for a good time!

Central to The Garden City’s Sites

Bordered by the trendy “LoJo” fashion and home decor Design Districts, Market Square boasts a location central to multitudes of shopping, sightseeing and strolling opportunities.  And China Town’s only a block away, opening up even more shopping and dining vistas; a short walk will even bring you to the Inner Harbor.  If you’re in the mood for some adventure and a change of scene, take a stroll and catch the Victoria Clipper or Coho ferries.

History in Abundance

Within easy walking distance one will find a surprising abundance of sights.  The Parliament Buildings and grounds, seat of British Columbia’s legislative assembly shouldn’t be missed, and are considered an architectural gem.

And if you’re in the mood for museums, be sure and catch the Royal British Columbia Museum – featuring the cultural and natural history of the province, and their Ice Age Sounds exhibit – and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, with exhibits tailored to appeal to both curious adults and children.
One could go on and on.  Just pick a compass point from Market Square and start walking – you’re bound to hit a museum or historic building to explore, from the Royal British Columbia Wax Museum, to the Undersea Gardens, to the three diamond-rated Carlton Hotel or the Empress Hotel.  And while you’re at it, don’t forget the National Geographic IMAX Theater!

Full Circle

All roads – or walks – lead back to Market Square, where you’re as likely to stumble on one of the city’s many festivals and events, a fashion show, or an outdoor concert.

But what makes Market Square some of the most relaxing shopping around are the beautiful surroundings.  Dining in the open-air courtyard which dominates the center of the Square, surrounded by Victoria’s historic brick buildings and colorful hanging flower baskets, you’ll feel unaffected by the rush of modern Victoria as you simply take in the scenery and breathe the heritage.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Here’s a perfect recipe for summer family fun: adults in ridicule-worthy costumes + handmade boats of dubious seaworthiness + goofy boat names + an acre of activities for the kiddies when they grow bored of watching adults act their shoe size.

These Folks Sure Put the “Fun” in “Fundraising”

The happy result of this concoction is the annual Silly Boat Regatta, held each summer in Nanaimo, BC on Vancovuer Island to benefit the Nanaimo Child Development Centre (NCDC).  This non-profit organization annually serves more than 1,700 children with developmental challenges and their families.  Last year, the Silly Boat Regatta raised more than $100,000 to fund the NCDC’s programs and services.

The event is held at Maffeo Sutton Park – just a few blocks from downtown Nanaimo.  It’s free to spectators and is a big shindig; last year’s event drew more than 10,000.

Recycling Gets Silly

Boat-building begins at 8:00 a.m.  Teams of at least two people have four hours to create a boat from recycled materials, without the help of a kit or prefabricated hull.  Silliness is encouraged with awards for “Super Silliest” boat, costumes and sailors.  Goofy team names help, too.

I wonder who fared better last year, Canadian Western Bank’s team, the “Floating Rate” or The Oxy Pub & Liquor Store’s gang, the “Oxy Moronz.”

At the Silly Boat Regatta Even the Losers Can Win

After inspection from the judges, the heats begin with small groups of teams rowing or sailing their crafts in Swy-A-Lana Lagoon to the buoy in Nanaimo Harbour and back to the starting point. The team who rings the bell back on shore wins the heat.  The winners compete in the timed Grand Championship Race to determine the final winner.

But even the loser can win: there is a “First to Sink” award!

Oh, to be a Kid Again

The Silly Boat Regatta has well-organized events for children, including the Coast Capital Savings “Wally’s World” for face painting, crafts and games; McDonald’s Restaurants “Sports Zone” with various sports events and Woodgrove Centre’s “Children’s Mini Regatta” with mini boat building, games & colouring.  And it’s all free.

More Information

Here’s the link to the Silly Boat Regatta.  You can also call 250-753-0251 for more information.

Enjoy all that Nanaimo has to offer and please tell your friends.

Some of the best cold water diving destinations in the world are on Vancouver Island. There is something special for both new and experienced divers. The waters off Chemainus have natural and “man made” reefs which are home to Cloud Sponge , Octopus, Rock Fish, Wolf Els and a host of other varieties of sea life.  Seals can also be seen on some of the reefs.

Vancouver Island  and the Gulf Islands are in a temperate climate zone. The water temperature varies only by a few degrees between summer and winter. The best diving visibility is in the winter.

You can dive Chemainus and discover the world’s first artificial reef made from a sunken Boeing 737 plane.

The Sunken Boeing 737 Artificial Reef

In 2006 the Artificial Reef Society of BC sunk a de-commissioned Boeing 737  in the Stuart Chanel near Chemainus.  The reef is named The Xihwu (pronounced key’ quot) which is the local First Nations  word for Red Sea Urchin which are in abundance.

The reef is protected by Gulf Islands to the east and Vancouver Island to the west. The reef (sunken 737 plane) is about 30 meters (100 feet) below sea level.  It is about 5 meters (15 feet) off the ocean floor.  Divers can enter and swim the full length of the fuselage. You can grab a picture sitting in the captain’s chair.

In just a few years the Xihwu reef has attracted over 100 species and has become one of the most popular scuba diving sites in the region.

Shipwrecks off Chemainus

In addition to the 737 artificial reef there are a number of other reefs created by shipwrecks over the years all offering unique diving experiences.

For experienced divers there is the wreck of the Del Norte, a 60 meter (190 foot) steam side-wheel schooner. This reef is in the Porlier Pass, between two Gulf Islands, Valdes and Galiano.

There are a dozen other popular diving sites in the Chemainus and Vancouver island region, offering a variety of different places to survey shipwrecks or enjoy the marine life of the Salish Sea.

The Salish Sea

The Salish Sea is an overall embracive term to describe the waters from the north end of the Strait of Georgia and Desolation Sound to the south end of the Puget Sound and west to the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including the inland marine waters of southern BC and northern Washington state.

Cold Water Diving

 To be comfortable diving in these waters you will want a 7mm wetsuit with gloves, boots and hood. If you are planning multiple dives you should consider a dry suit.

Getting To Chemainus

Chemainus is right off Highway 1, the main north-south highway on Vancvouer Island – about a 20 minute drive from Nanaimo to the north and about 1.5 hours from Victoria in the south. Watch for signs for Chemainus, or the Penalakut (formerly Kuper), Thetis Island ferry. Look for the BC Ferries terminal which can take you to Thetis Island. Check the sailing schedule in advance as it is not frequent.

Chemainus and Area Dive Operators

49th Parallel Dive Charters

A top dive operator to dive the 737 reef is 49th Parallel Dive Charters. They are located on nearby Thetis Island which you can get to via a BC Ferry trip from Chemainus. They can service larger groups but they specialize in smaller groups of up to 8 divers. Their boats include a custom 37 foot cruiser and a 17 foot catamaran.

Contact: 250-252-0758

Gulf Islands Explorers Ltd.

Gulf Island Explorers provide scuba diving, sightseeing and fishing throughout the Gulf Islands.  There is a certified dive master available upon request. Dive tanks and air are included in the fees. Onboard services include meals and beverages.

Contact info: Gulf Islands Explorers Ltd.
Gulf Islands Explorers Ltd,  PO Box 494, Chemainus, B.C.  V0R 1K0
Toll Free: 1.877.245.9559  Phone: 250.246.9559  Mobile: 250.246.7866  Fax: 250.246.9559
Email: info@gulfislandsexplorers.com www.gulfislandsexploers.com

There are also dive outfitters and charters out of Nanaimo.

Come and enjoy Vancouver Island and please tell your friends about us.

The Chemainus Theatre Festival is a true Vancouver Island star.  Well-known for producing amazing entertainment, like classic, award winning comedies, musicals, and dramas, as well as developing new Canadian classic adaptations and original plays, this professional theatre is dedicated to entertaining and enriching the lives of both Vancouver Island visitors and residents alike. 

Chemainus Theatre Festival

The Chemainus Theatre Festival opened their doors in 1993 and produces 5 mainstage shows annually, in addition to presenting children’s shows during the summer months – yes, indeed, they do stay busy – They must really like what they do.

The Chemainus Theatre

I have to tell you, the building that the theatre is in creates a one of a kind  ”Chemainus Theatrical Festival experience” in its own right.   You walk into an exquisite Italianate building, with domed lobby, which, by the way, houses not only the intimate, state-of-the-art 274 seat theatre (every seat, a great view), but a Dining Room and Gift Shop as well, incorporating visual and culinary arts into the Festival’s repertoire – If you’re anything like me, great food, great shopping and great theatre will make you very happy.  Since the Festival has over 14,000 patrons and 70,000 visitors annually who come from all over Vancouver Island, Greater Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest, you’ll be happily in good company.

The Playbill Dining Room

You can start your amazing evening at the Chemainus Theatre Festival in the Playbill Dining Room. Serving a great hot buffet, seasonal salad bar and an abundance of amazing desserts, they also have a very special menu of regional wines, beers, and estate ciders.  Have a little, have a lot, you really can’t go wrong.

The Gallery Gift Shop

This lovely Gift Shop houses the work of over 100 artisans from BC.  The diverse collection includes pottery, paintings, prints, jewelry, clothing, glass, wood, books and sculpture.  These great gifts are offered in all price ranges and just might tempt you to shop for yourself as well as your friends – I know I’m tempted.

You can create theatre, dinner, accommodation packages and if you’re feeling romantic, you can add a horse-drawn carriage ride to take you to the Chemainus Theatre Festival.  Amazing!

More information about the Chemainus Theatre Festival

Known as, “The envy of the world”, Vancouver Island offers clean air, pristine lakes and rivers, secluded beaches and  towering forests, all with a mild climate. There is so much to do whether outdoors or in!  In a region renowned for its many artists and artisans, Chemainus and nearby Salt Spring Island offer the opportunity to explore a variety of boutique shops, antique outlets and artist’s studios; local Galleries feature over 100 BC artists.  For the more outgoing, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing, hiking and golfing are readily available.

If you’ve been to the Chemainus Theatre Festival tell us about it – we really like hearing about your experiences.