Happy New Year from Closet Canuck (and my favorite Canadian chanteuse Sarah McLachlan)

No surprise that Canada's big on my list

It's that time of year when everybody wraps up the year. The Best Of. The Worst Of. The What Of.

I'm not immune to this popular journalistic sound bite. Just today, I posted a piece on examiner.com: Travels in 2008: From cruisin' with Emmylou Harris to kayaking in British Columbia. I included a trip for every month of the year, and they were trips I actually went on.

I'm not surprised that one-quarter of the dozen destinations were Canadian (all British Columbia).

So here's to more travels in B.C. ... and hopefully to other favorite provinces that are equally inviting and enticing.

Paddling and camping with Blue Planet Kayaking in B.C.'s Broken Group Islands
Photo by Sue Frause

Celsius Lounge : Canada in New York City

O Canada! Yes, there is a Canadian connection here in the Big Apple, where my husband and I are spending the Christmas holiday with our son. Celsius: A Canadian Lounge is located at the Pond at Bryant Park -- right in the heart of midtown Manhattan. It's sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission and they have several activities during the holiday season:

Holiday Tree ~ The 51-ft. balsam fir tree was donated by the Jean-Luc Beloin Farm in East Hereford, Quebec. Designed by Shawn Gibson of Teatro Verde (with support from Winward Canada), it is decorated with 30,000 white lights and 3,000 sparkling ornaments.

Mountie Mondays ~ Monday, Dec. 29 is the final day that members of the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be at Bryant Park, posing for pictures with visitors, etc. Stop by and say HI!

Enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks at Celsius overlooking the ice skating rink
Photo by Sue Frause

Happy Holidays from Closet Canuck!

It's been another great travel year in Canada for Closet Canuck. Although this is the first year in some time that I haven't touched down in Quebec (I miss La belle Province!), I managed to have plenty of adventures to British Columbia. And I used just about every form of public transportation:

Train: Amtrak from Everet, WA to Vancouver; VIA Rail Canada from Victoria-Courtenay

Float Plane: Kenmore Air from Seattle to Victoria, Seattle to Tofino; Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Sechelt (Rockwater Secret Cove Resort)

Wheeled Plane: Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Campbell River (April Point Lodge)

Ferries: Washington State Ferries from Anacortes to Sidney; BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Victoria

Buses: Pacificcoach from Vancouver to Victoria

Automobile: I still like the train best

I'm already looking forward to 2009. Oh, there are some concerns. The Washington State Ferries, in all their "wisdom," are once again threatening to cancel the ferry service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC. This is a marine highway, Washington, so save some $$ elsewhere!

And of course the economy is affecting all of us on either side of the 49th Parallel. But with the excitement surrounding the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics (I'm going to the Sarah McLachlan concert in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2009 that kicks off the "one year to go" mark) and the big change in U.S. politics, things are not as gloom and doom as we're led to believe. Now I just have to figure out how Canadian politics works!

Happy New Year from Sue Frause, Closet Canuck

That's me in the bright green jacket (and the Kokanee!), third from the left, with three fellow travel journalists from Canada. We're enjoying sailing off Rockwater Secret Cove Resort.

White Christmas for all of Canada?

It's definitely feeling a lot like winter here on Whidbey Island. This morning I awoke to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and about six inches of snow. Brrrrr! You can see pictures in my Seattle P-I blog.

But according to the weather peeps, things are supposed to warm up in the Pacific Northwest by Christmas. I'm off to New York with my hubby to celebrate the holiday with our son, and it's now snowing there!

So what about a Canadian White Christmas? Environment Canada says that for the first time since 1971, all of Canada may get a White Christmas. Read more about it in The Vancouver Sun.


Taking care of snow in Quebec City
Photo by Sue Frause

With Glowing Hearts : Vancouver 2010 Christmas video wishes from VANOC CEO John Furlong

This is the era of the e-greeting card. I've received more e-greetings this holiday season than ever before. It makes sense. No paper, no postage, although there is still the return to sender, address unknown syndrome.

Even the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games sent out greetings to its subscribers. You can view it here. And while you're at it, sign up for their updates.

2010 is just around the corner!

Gondola tower collapses at Whistler Resort

It's somewhat ironic that with all the attention on Whistler Blackcomb's new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, one of the older gondola towers would end up in the news. And it wasn't good news, although it could have been worse.

Blackcomb Mountain's Excalibur Gondola tower had a major malfunction on Tuesday and collapsed. You can read more about it in my Seattle Examiner blog.

Whistler Resort in sunnier days
Photo by Sue Frause

Cool Quebec : Quartier du Petit Champlain

Quariter du Petit Champlain in Quebec City
Photo by Sue Frause

Victoria tapped as starting point for 2010 Olympic Torch Relay that begins on Oct 30, 2009

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, has been named as the starting point for the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. On October 30, 2009 the torch relay will begin its journey across Canada traveling more than 45,000 km (28,000 miles) before arriving back in Vancouver, BC on February 12, 2010.

The route will be the longest domestic torch relay route in Olympic history. Upon completion of its journey through Canada, the torch will have been welcomed in more than 1,000 communities and places of interest in Canada. Presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, the relay will connect Canadians in every province and territory in its 100-day journey that includes 12,000 torchbearers.

The journey of the flame will culminate at BC Place in Vancouver on February 12, 2010 with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, signalling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Find out more about it in an interactive map.

Victoria, British Columbia
Photo by Sue Frause

Yes, Virginia, there are fun, free events!

Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks is holding a number of free events in December at its Kitsilano store in Vancouver. First will be a seasoned pro from Farmstead Wines, hosting a free olive oil tasting on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 pm. The tasting features Renato Fenocchio olive oils, a selection originating from a small, family-owned farm in Italy. This rare selection of olive oils are traditionally harvested and hand selected.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5 pm, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appétit Barbara Fairchild is hosting a free reception and small demonstration from her new book, The Bon Appétit Cookbook: Fast Easy Fresh. The cookbook borrows the tried and true recipes from the magazine's popular Fast Easy Fresh column. After almost three decades developing Bon Appétit magazine, Fairchild has become a recipe expert of the highest regard.

Both events are free, but call 604.688.6755 to register.

Grizzly bears moving to Vancouver Island?

Dennis Ryan, a friend and former Whidbey Islander, is co-author with Chris Morgan of a fascinating blog titled The Grizzly Bear Outreach Project (GBOP). The most recent post should be of interest to Vancouver Island and grizzly bear fans in general: Grizzly bears go island hopping.

"Somewhere in the mist-shrouded rainforests of northern Vancouver Island, a grizzly bear is hibernating in its winter den. And he is the source of mystery, fascination, and even fear among Island residents. As far as anyone can remember or scientists can determine, only black bears have lived on Vancouver Island. But this year, grizzlies have been sighted far and wide on northern Vancouver Island and the knot of smaller islands that press close against the coast between Port Hardy and Campbell River."

The blog includes "news about bears, and activities of the GBOP team as they promote an accurate understanding of grizzly bears and their recovery in the North Cascades Ecosystem through community education and involvement."

Good job, guys!


A black bear cub spotted on a three-hour Zodiac trip with Oak Bay Marine Group's April Point Resort & Spa on Quadra Island. Photo by Sue Frause.

Win $200 in Via Rail train coupons

VIA Rail has a fun new website written by Virtual Vivian. The name of the blog, On the go with Vivian, is written by a real person but Vivian isn't really a real person. Got that? What's extra cool is she (he?) is so good that she leaves comments on other's blogs (like this Closet Canuck blog) when any reference is made to VIA Rail. Vivian is good. OK, thanks to Google.

Now Vivian is holding a contest. Just sign up to be her Facebook friend (you need to join Facebook anyway, it's really fun!) and your name will be entered into a contest to win $200 in train coupons. Not bad, eh?

I do think that Vivian is on the younger side. Her bio lists some of her favorites as Juno and Garden State (movies), Vampire Music and Spoon (music) and Heroes and Grey's Anatomy (TV). What, no Canadian shows? Oh, she likes Coronation Street, too -- but that's from across the pond.

VIA Rail en route from Victoria to Courtenay on Vancouver Island
Photo by Sue Frause

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (it's not until July, but tickets on sale now!)

Although the 30th anniversary edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal isn't until July 1-12, 2009,the tickets went on sale today (December 6). As much as a fan of jazz that I am, I have still yet to make it to the Montreal Jazz Festival (that's the English version).

I'm going for sure in 2009. Check out the headliners:

Pink Martini & Orchestra (from Portland, Oregon and I know the bass player!)
Buddy Guy / Susan Tedeschi (what a duo)
Melody Gardot (made her debut at last year's festival)
Chucho Valdes Quartet (Cuban ambassador of Latin jazz)
Madeleine Peyroux (she's become a singing sensation)
Susan Arioli (a fine Quebec jazz vocalist)
Patricia Barber (oh, that piano and voice)
Stefano Bollani and Enrico Rava (piano and trumpet, spiritual brothers)

The summer music celebration features 11 days of continuous entertainment, from noon to midnight, smack dab in the heart of downtown Montreal. Several city blocks are closed to traffic, creating a festive venue with cafés and bistros, an art gallery, street performers and a children's musical park.

Think jazz, blues, Latin-jazz, Brazilian, Cuban, African reggae, contemporary, electronica ... think Montreal Jazz Festival!

Pictured above: Pink Martini

O Canada! Politics takes center stage (with a slice of hockey on the side and an upcoming election)

For once, Canadian politics is at the top of the fold in Canadian newspapers instead of what's goin' on south of the 49th Parallel. I'm still not totally clear on how their political parties work, but things are pretty much a mess right now. Here's the headline in The Globe and Mail:

Parliament shut down till Jan. 26 : After lengthy meeting at Rideau Hall, Prime Minister obtains Governor-General's consent to prorogue in face of opposition bid to topple his minority government

And here's the headline in the The (Montreal) Gazette: Montrealers 'following the crisis a little more each day'

I watched Peter Mansbridge on CBC's The National last night at 10 o'clock instead of the usual fluff I usually imbibe at that hour. It cleared things up quite a bit -- let's hope the government will get it together, too.

And it's not a good news night in Canada unless there's a hockey element: NHL suspends Avery indefinitely over personal remark

To add to the late fall frenzy, Quebec is holding a General Election on Monday, Dec. 8. May the best candidate(s) win.

Slow blogging born in Canada

I wasn't surprised when I read an article in the The New York Times, Blogging at a Snail's Pace, that the slow blogging movement originated in Canada. Yup, a Vancouver techno-guy by the name of Todd Sieling got the slow blog ball rolling with his manifesto titled Slow Blog.

After all, the 100 Mile Diet's roots are in British Columbia. If you're not familiar with this foodie lifestyle, it's a subset of the Slow Food Movement that originated in Italy and gradually made its way to North America.

I am not a slow blogger, by any stretch of the imagination. I write three blogs on a regular basis:

Whidbey Island Life - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle Travel Examiner - examiner.com

Closet Canuck - the one you're reading now

I'm a manic blogger.


Headquarters of my blogging operation
Photo by Sue Frause

French Ambassador makes first visit to Vancouver : Museum launches $100,000 visiting scholar fund

During his first official visit to Vancouver, the new Ambassador of France for Canada, His Excellency M. François Delattre, attended an event on Nov. 28 co-hosted by the Museum of Anthropology. It was held at the residence of M. Alexandre Garcia, Consul General of France for Vancouver. The event marked the 100th birthday of world-renowned anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss and also launched the Museum of Anthropology's $100,000 Claude Lévi-Strauss Visiting Scholar Fund.

Delattre's visit not only honoured the contributions of Levi-Strauss to the field of anthropology, but it also highlighted the close relationship between the MOA, UBC and their colleagues in France and Europe.

The Claude Lévi-Strauss Visiting Scholar Fund is a result of a $50,000 gift from Vancouver philanthropist Dr. Yosef Wosk. It was matched by contributions of $25,000 each from the UBC Faculty of Arts and the Museum of Anthropology. The $100,000 fund will support visiting scholars to the Museum of Anthropology who are conducting research in structural or symbolic anthropology, mythology, visual or performative culture, critical museology or in a similar area of arts practice.

Claude Lévi-Strauss is a world-renowned French anthropologist, universally recognized as one of the preeminent scholars of the 20th century in the areas of anthropology, social sciences, philosophy, language, the arts and literature. He is best known for inventing the concept of structuralism and his contribution to anthropology -- and more specifically his respectful interest in First Nations cultures of the Americas. Levi-Strauss visited UBC in 1973 and again in 1974

François Delattre was appointed Ambassador of France to Canada in June 2008, following four years as French Consul General in New York,two years as Deputy Director of the French Foreign Minister’s Office and four years as Press and Communications Director at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador of France for Canada, His Excellency M. François Delattre