Hollywood North - The Twilight Saga: New Moon filmed in a dozen locations in British Columbia

Twilight fans are eagerly awaiting the sequel when it comes out in November. The Twilight Saga: New Moon was filmed in a dozen BC locations. According to IMBD, they include:

David Thompson Secondary School, Victoria-Fraserview, Vancouver

Kitsilano, Vancouver

Paramount Theatre, New Westminster

Pitt Meadows

Port Coquitlam

Stanley Park, Vancouver

Surrey (Bella's house)

Tofino, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver

West Vancouver (Cullen Residence)

Whytecliff Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Other movies have been filmed in Canada and will be released in 2010. Click here for just a few of them being shot in British Columbia and Ontario.

Full moon over Whidbey Island, Washington
Photo by Sue Frause

Grammy Award winner David Foster turns 60 and wraps up his Hit Man Tour in Vancouver, BC

Grammy Award winner David Foster turns 60 the day after Halloween. Born Nov. 1, 1949 in Victoria, BC, he's a talented singer, songwriter, arranger and producer. And he's coming to Vancouver, BC on Nov. 8 as part of his David Foster & Friends Hitman Tour.

The tour includes Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire; Oprah’s discovery Charice; Peter Cetera; and American Idol’s Ruben Studdard and Michael Johns. Charice, on her website, sent David birthday greetings with this message:

Hi David! Congratulations on your first US tour this October/November. I’m so honored to be able to join you – it’ll be my first US tour too : ) So cool that we’ll also be celebrating your 60th birthday - I call it the David Foster birthday tour! It's so great that the audience will get to hear all your great music and some of the great talent you’ve discovered. You’re the Hitman!!!

I'm just sorry that I'll be at in Montreal (not really, I love Montreal!) when David's in concert at GM Place in Vancouver. Otherwise, I would have been so there (and booked a package through the Shangri-La Vancouver).

I guess I'll have to settle for his highly acclaimed PBS special. Or watch this interview on CBC about his memoir.

Taylor Mitchell dies from coyote attack

I'm a fan of many a Canadian musician, and was so saddened to hear of rising star Taylor Mitchell's death as a result of a coyote attack while hiking on Cape Breton's Skyline Trail.

"If a career in folk music hadn't come along, Taylor Mitchell might have spent the day training horses in Ontario, not walking a sun-kissed seaside trail between gigs in Nova Scotia. Life is unpredictable that way, and Ms. Mitchell, a rising young talent with the voice of an old soul, seemed to know it, though she was just 19. As such, no one could have foreseen the fate that awaited the Toronto singer-songwriter along Cape Breton's Skyline Trail on Tuesday: a pair of raging coyotes, out for her blood. Within moments, Ms. Mitchell lay dying, leaving a trail of grieving relatives, friends and fans, along with puzzled wildlife officials shocked by such a rare attack. One of the animals was shot and injured, but both were still at large."

You can read the rest of the story in The Globe and Mail.

May Taylor Mitchell's music live on.

Victoria start of 45,000 km Olympic Torch Relay

Victoria, BC welcomes the Olympic Torch on Oct. 30, 2009. This historic moment marks the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Arriving direct from Athens, Greece, the torch will begin its journey across Canada, traveling 45,000 km (27,961 miles) before arriving back in Vancouver, BC on February 12, 2010. That's the official start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Olympic Flame burns as a symbol of peace, brotherhood and friendship. The Olympic Torch Relay 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 -- or passed within a one-hour drive from nearby cities and towns. More than 90 per cent of the Canadian population will have access to it.

You can follow the route of the Olympic Torch here.

Hotel packages for the Olympic Torch Relay are available at various Victoria hotels such as The Fairmont Empress, Hotel Grand Pacific, The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa, Accent Inns and the Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites.

When the Winter Games arrive, BC Ferries and a number of airlines will increase their service, making it easy for visitors to stay in Victoria and travel to and from the mainland for Olympic events and celebrations.

The M/V Coho arrives from Port Angeles, Washington in Victoria's Inner Harbour. Photo by Sue Frause.

Window on Canada: Autumn in Montreal

The Magic Lantern Festival at the Jardin botanique de Montreal (Montreal Botanical Garden) runs through Nov. 1, 2009.

2010 Winter Olympics Torch lit in Greece

Continental Airlines commences flights from Edmonton to Houston on Nov. 1, 2009

Continental Airlines will begin offering daily-non-stop service from Edmonton to Houston on Nov. 1, 2009. Air service between the booming oil and gas powerhouses of Edmonton and Houston seems like a natural fit. The Canadian province is also hoping to create new tourism opportunities for Texans in Alberta. Conversely, Houston is a major jumping off spot for many vacation destinations to the southern U.S. and Latin America.

"Houston is consistently one of the top 10 destinations for Edmonton and Northern Alberta travelers," said Ron Gilbertons of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. "Texas is also the number three US travel market to Alberta. This new service now offers an efficient non-stop link to the many travelers visiting our region," said the EEDC President and CEO.

In addition, Continental's new non-stop air service between Edmonton and Houston will be a business advantage to the 3,000 companies in Alberta’s International Region. "Much of our business is contingent upon direct connections to the US, and international destinations," said Pat Klak, Executive Director of the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority. "This new link to the oil and gas industry ties strongly to Leduc and the Nisku Business Park, one of the largest oil and gas parks in North America."

The Houston-Edmonton route will be serviced by a Boeing 737-500, 114-seat aircraft (106 coach seats, 8 first class seats). Continental will become a Star Alliance partner on Oct. 27, 2009. Travelers may redeem frequent flyer mileage on affiliated airlines such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan. Also coming in November is non-stop service between Houston and two other cities: Washington, DC and Frankfurt, Germany.

Houston's George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport
Photo by Sue Frause

Gordon Campbell on NBC's TODAY show

BC Premier Gordon Campbell is making an appearance on NBC's TODAY show on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. The British Columbia premier is on his way to Greece to bring the Olympic flame back to Canada for the 2010 Winter Games.

Read more about his trip on CTV.

Photo by Sue Frause

Window on Canada: Vieux Montreal

Old building in Vieux Montreal.
Photo by Sue Frause.

Vancouver's St. Regis Hotel offers 'Just The Most Perfect Massage' at special introductory rates

Vancouver's St. Regis Hotel is now offering what they're calling Just The Most Perfect Massage program. A private studio suite is the hotel's new venue for on-site massage treatments. They are available both for guests and locals beginning Oct. 18, 2009.

The massage program is led by staff therapist Mishal Rijal, trained and certified in four distinct styles of massage: Traditional Thai, Polynesian (Balinese), Swedish and Deep Tissue. Rijal works with clients to identify the best massage treatment, whether it's a gentle release of daily stress, recovery from hard exertion or relieving pain from chronic conditions.

Born in Nepal, Rijal trained in Thailand and Dubai, eventually moving to Canada. While working through the immigration process, he had a one-year contract with the spa at the Radisson SAS Dubai. While there, his clientele included several members of European and Asian royal families.

Rijal moved to Montreal and opened up his own clinic, where he was certified in massage therapy by the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada. He has since relocated to Vancouver where he's on the staff of the St. Regis Hotel.

Special introductory rates are in effect through Jan. 1, 2010: $30 for a 30-minute massage and $60 for a 60-minute massage. The St. Regis Hotel is located in downtown Vancouver at 602 Dunsmuir Street.

Executive suite at the St. Regis Hotel

Delta Hotels offers Canada-wide sale

Delta Hotels & Resorts has released a property wide sale on Travelzoo. It features more than 40 hotels across Canada.

Rooms start at $79 per night, and the offer is valid for stays through Dec. 24, 2009. You must book by Oct. 22, 2009. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Here is a sample of the special offers:

Delta Toronto Airport (Reg. $169) $79 weekends
Delta Sun Peaks (Reg. $205) $85
Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe (Reg. $165) $97
Delta Barrington (Reg. $165) $99 weekends
Delta Halifax (Reg. $219) $99 weekends
Delta Lodge at Kananaskis (Reg. $189) $99
Delta Montreal (Reg. $169) $99
Delta Ottawa (Reg. $189) $99 weekends
Delta Whistler (Reg. $129) $99

Note: Individual property blackout dates are listed on Delta's website.

To book directly through Delta Hotels & Resorts, click this link or call them at 1-888-573-4829. IMPORTANT: When booking, make sure to use the code TZC.

Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe
Photo by Sue Frause

Canadian Thanksgiving means the Turkey Trot

I think I used this photo last year to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends. But it's a fun photo, so here it is again! Yes, on Sunday the 11th of October, our neighbors to the north are eating turkey with all the trimmings (or not) and tomorrow it's leftovers and a holiday.

The Monday after Thanksgiving is also the 11th Annual Turkey Trot on Vancouver's Granville Island. Participants can run, walk or stroll. Or, just watch, like I did a few years ago.

The flat and scenic 10K (6.2 miles) course starts at Granville Island and loops over the Burrard Bridge to the north side Sea Wall. From there it turns at Science World and winds back along the south side Sea Wall to Granville Island's Performance Works.

More than 2,000 revelers are expected at this Vancouver Thanksgiving tradition.

Turkey Trotters in the rain on Thanksgiving Monday in Vancouver
Photo by Sue Frause

Royal VIctoria Marathon's 30th anniversary

The Royal Victoria Marathon is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Vancouver Island this weekend. With more than 100,000 runners in the past 29 years (plus $300,000 in charitable donations and $18+ million in economic impact on Victoria’s economy), the race is good to go for Sunday, Oct. 11.

Participants from across North America and around the world flock to Victoria on race weekend, Oct. 9-11, 2009.

Victoria's Inner Harbour with the BC Parliament Buildings
Photo by Sue Frause

Letterman's Paul Shaffer a Thunder Bay boy

It was a timely feature on CBS Sunday Morning segment recently. David Letterman had just released the bombshell that he'd had sex with a staffer and his name and face are plastered all over the news.

But the segment that CBS Sunday Morning aired on Oct. 4, 2009 was taped before the big reveal. It's an insightful, fun piece about Paul Shaffer, who has been Letterman's band leader, good friend and show glue. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the Canadian talent:

Paul Shaffer was raised in Fort William, Ontario, Canada (now known as Thunder Bay). As a child he had lessons on the piano, and moved on to playing the organ by his teenage years, in a band with his schoolmates. Educated in the University of Toronto, he began playing with jazz guitarist Michael Muñoz, performing in bands around the bars there, where he found an interest in musicals, and completed his studies, with a B.A. degree in Sociology in 1971.

Cruise North: Marble Island in Hudson Bay

Marble Island was one of the many shore excursions while on a Cruise North expedition from Kuujjuaq in northern Quebec to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the summer of 2009.

Although the Odyssey of the North cruise is not being offered in 2010, a similar one titled Arctic Safari is ten nights and travels from Kuujjuaq, Quebec through the Hudson Strait to Nunavut's capital of Iaqluit on Baffin Island. Departure date is July 13, 2010 -- and there are other expeditions, too.

Photo by Sue Frause