Experience Vancouver Island's Wild Side: 'Discover Surfing' Tofino Getaway Contest ends April 6, 2010

Surfs up!

And Tofino on Vancouver Island's wild side is the place to find it. One of my favorite spots to stay is the Long Beach Lodge Resort.

Although I've never tried surfing before (watching old Gidget movies doesn't count), it would be fun to win this contest. The Discover Surfing Tofino Getaway Contest ends on April 6, 2010 at 9 PM PDT. The lucky winner will receive:

* Three nights accommodation (double occupancy) at Long Beach Lodge Resort in either a deluxe beachfront room or a two-bedroom, fully equipped cottage
* Private surf instructions for two and full equipment rental through the lodge's on-site Surf Club
* Dinner for two in the lodge's Great Room
* Daily home-baked continental buffet breakfasts for two

The prize package is valid from April 7-June 30, 2010 and is subject to availability. It can't be exchanged, transferred or substituted for cash. No purchase required, simply enter the contest here.

Winter surfers in Tofino
Photo by Sue Frause

Salt Spring's Hastings House offers 3 nights for 2

One of the loveliest places to stay in BC's Gulf Islands is the Hastings House Country House Hotel on Salt Spring Island.

Ready to welcome guests again for the upcoming spring, summer and fall seasons -- the April 2 re-opening is being celebrated with a special Three Nights for Two (plus a picnic for two).

The special runs April 2-June 30, 2010. If you can't get away for a third night, you'll receive a 50% off certificate for the second night of your next stay beginning Sept. 21, 2010.

Rates include a full English breakfast and afternoon tea.

Also, Hastings House is offering four Wellness Retreats this year in April, May, June and October.

Kenmore Air resumes its float plane service from Seattle to Ganges on Salt Spring Island on April 1, 2010. Service includes one flight a day on Mondays-Thursdays-Fridays-Sundays. Daily service begins May 1, 2010.

Hastings House on Salt Spring Island, September 2007
Photo by Sue Frause

Coach Jim Playfair: Hockey's new bad dog

Jim Playfair is not living up to his name.

The coach of the Abbotsford Heat hockey team in British Columbia went a bit too far with his tirade during a recent game. You can watch it here via CBC.

Surprisingly, the American Hockey League didn't suspend him, but only fined him an undisclosed amount.

The non-sanctioned entertainment has pretty much gone viral on YouTube, showing Playfair going bonkers and breaking hockey sticks during a match against the Hamilton Bulldogs of Ontario.

Woof.

Cadbury celebrates 35 years in Canada

2010 is the 35th anniversary of the Cadbury Creme Egg in Canada.

No surprise that the Birmingham, England based company (now owned by Kraft), celebrated the milestone in a really big way.

They released the egg's inner goo from a four-ft. version of the iconic Easter treat specially made for the so-called "wacky de goo" ceremony in Toronto on March 19, 2010.

Thousands of Canadians were able to weigh in on the sweet fun by voting for their favorite way for the egg to release its goo. In the end, the Cadbury Creme Egg was challenged to a one-on-one sumo wrestling showdown against MTV's Sheena Snively.

Who came out the champion and delivered the ultimate sumo smash? Find out by watching the video that originally aired on MTV Live.

Washington State Ferries: Service resumes March 28 between Sidney, BC and Anacortes, WA

Good news for people who both enjoy and rely on the ferry between Washington state and British Columbia.

Sunday, March 28, is the date when Washington State Ferries' Spring Schedule goes into effect. Among other things, it means that after a winter hiatus, service will resume between Sidney on Vancouver Island and Anacortes, Washington.

You can read more about it and see a slide show of my photos at my Seattle Travel Examiner site.

I'm so glad my direct link to Vancouver Island has returned once again, as are folks up in Canada. Read this article in the Victoria Times Colonist: Chelan's return worth celebrating.

The M/V Chelan en route to Anacortes, Washington from Sidney on Vancouver Island. Mount Baker is in the background. Sue Frause photo.

Visions of Canada via PBS: Missing provinces?

As much as I enjoyed the new PBS video, Visions of Canada, I'm sure that folks in provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan are feeling left out in the cold.

Granted, you can't pack everything into a 90-minute puff piece, but I felt there were some big oversights, and the video was more gloss than substance. Also, the narrator's voice was a bit too soothing and fluffy, and doesn't match the flavor that is Canada.

And yes, I caught a blooper. When highlighting Vancouver's Gastown area, they showed the exterior of Amarcord, a restaurant that is actually in Yaletown.

I prefer British Columbia's recent ad campaign much more than the PBS video. You Gotta Be Here in 2010 ran during the Winter Games, and featured some very familiar faces. Good stuff.

Side Note: When Googling Visions of Canada, the first result I came up with was an eye glass company in Windsor, Ontario that creates the "world's thinnest eyeglasses."

My vision of Canada along Quebec's Lighthouse Trail
Photo by Sue Frause

Think spring in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Spring has arrived in Saskatchewan and Gardenscape 2010 is the third largest show of its type in Canada. Located at the Prairieland Park Trade Centre in Saskatoon, it runs March 26-28, 2010.

It's both for home gardeners and those in the horticulture industry, whether you want to finally fix up your yard or learn more about gardening and food production.

On site will be 420+ booths with exhibitors spread throughout four buildings. In addition to display gardens, there will be demonstrations and workshops during the three-day event.

There is also a Gardenscapes Art Show & Sale; Prairie Berry Cafe, Bistro & Wine Bar; Butterflies & Blooms live butterfly exhibit; and a plant auction on Sunday, March 28 at 6:30 PM.

Last year, more than 26,000 people attended the show.

Summer flowers in bloom at the provincial capital of Regina
Photo by Sue Frause

Second Amtrak Cascades to Seattle extended

As I reported in my Examiner.com site, the second Amtrak Cascades train that's been traveling between Vancouver, BC and Seattle has been extended through Sept. 30, 2010.

Simply put, Seattle-bound passengers from Vancouver, BC and points south can continue to hop aboard two trains a day. The second train, which was originally a pilot project between Washington and British Columbia, was scheduled to run through March 31, 2010.

Last week, I was aboard the 6:40 AM train departing Vancouver's Pacific Central Station, arriving in Everett, WA about three hours later. It's a lovely ride heading south as the sun comes up; for added comfort, spring for the extra $ and go Business Class. But remember to bring your own headphones; they charge for them on board if you want to watch a movie.

The second southbound train departs Vancouver at 5:45 PM, arriving in Seattle about four hours later. During the Winter Games, it left the station at 7:30 PM, allowing day-trippers more time in Vancouver during the Olympics.

Alex Fraser Bridge from the Amtrak Cascades
Photo by Sue Frause

OPUS meets Fluevog: Cool hotels, cool shoes

OPUS Hotels and Vancouver-based John Fluevog designer shoe company have come up with a cool partnership.

The Porter Shoe is designed exclusively for the two OPUS properties in Vancouver and Montreal. They echo the boutique hotels' cutting edge cool along with personality, flair and individuality.

John DeC. Evans, owner of OPUS Hotels, says style, design and innovation are three of his hotels' brand values and the pairing up with John Fluevog was born out of a shared creativity, imagination and originality.

The pink and black shoe is classy and well made -- but also a bit cheeky. As Fluevog said, the shoe tells guests that their stay and service will be of the highest quality, but "it's still alright to relax and have a wink of fun here and there.”

The Porter Shoe will be showcased in the lobbies of the Vancouver and Montreal hotels and worn exclusively by valets and male guest service associates. They will also be featured on the hotels’ mini bar menus, meaning you can simply add them to your stay. They're priced at $279.

The shoes will soon be available in limited numbers in all ten North American Fluevog Shoes stores - including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Vancouver.

We're catching up to Canada in terms of our health care; and the loonie and dollar are about at par

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Originally uploaded by The White House

Quebec hosts Crashed Ice World Championship

I was an avid viewer of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but last night's sporting event on CBC had me a bit baffled.

What in the world is the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship?

Set against the backdrop of the iconic Fairmont Chateau Frontenac overlooking Quebec City, this is one rough and tumble sport. Here's how corporate sponsor Red Bull describes it on its website:

Take some of the best and toughest ice hockey players in the world, a sizzling atmosphere, stunning surroundings, tons of steel, a huge cooling system and thousands of square feet of frozen water. The result? Red Bull Crashed Ice, a combination of ice hockey, downhill skating and boardercross!

The sport made its debut in January 2001 in Stockholm. Wearing ice skates, four racers at a time compete by hurtling down a steep 400-metre long ice-covered track that is approximately five metres wide. They leap over hurdles, jumps and ledges and negotiate hairpin turns in a battle to the finish line.

Crashed ice has become quite popular due to its high-speed action, one-on-one battles and spectacular settings in such European and North American locales as Moscow, Prague, Lausanne and Quebec.

The first race of the Crashed Ice World Championship was held in Munich's Olympiapark on Jan. 16, 2010 -- followed by the the event in Quebec City on March 20, 2010. After qualifying events around the globe, a total of 64 competitors from more than 15 countries were selected for the two main events.

In Quebec City, more than 120,000 fans watched 64 male and 16 female daredevils as they hurled themselves down the ice track that snaked its way through the streets of Old Quebec.

Here are the winners.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City
Photo by Sue Frause

RCMP unhappy with Olympic Closing Ceremony

I wondered how the RCMP was going to react to their portrayal in the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I watched the show on TV with a friend in Portland, Oregon and we both thought it was a bit on the cheesy side...and she's Canadian. The show may have played well in a nightclub, but as a global television broadcast, I give it a big thumbs down.

My least favorite part was the Michael Buble routine. Although I like the Burnaby boy's voice, I'm not a big fan of his on-stage presence, and the RCMP routine made him look pretty silly.

Well, the RCMP didn't like it either, as reported by CBC News: Olympic show mini-skirt irks RCMP.

Regina, Saskatchewan is home of the RCMP Academy
Photo by Sue Frause

The Road to Riches: Five cast members of Dragons' Den

I'm hooked on Dragons' Den, the CBC reality show "where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts and products to a panel of Canadian business moguls who have the cash and the know-how make it happen."

I particularly enjoyed the March 18 The Road to Riches segment, which profiled the five entrepreneurial Dragons:

W. Brett Wilson: Originally from North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Now lives in Calgary, where he carried the Olympic torch through the city.

Robert Herjavac: Now lives in Toronto's Yorkville district, the son of Croatian immigrants.

Richard Treliving: Originally from Virdin, Manitoba. Son of a barber, went onto becoming an RCMP.

Arlene Dickinson: Single mom with four children, has three homes, including Calgary and Puerto Vallarta.

Kevin O'Leary: The "most fearsome" Dragon is originally from the suburbs of Montreal.

The five Dragons with host Diane Buckner

Vancouver Paralympics feature free activities

There's still a party goin' on in British Columbia. This time, it's for the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games, which run March 12-21, 2010.

I was in Vancouver March 15-16 and there were people waiting in line for the popular zipline across Robson Square. But no more 7-8 hour waits, now it's only three hours (no, I didn't queue up, but I've done the Ziptrek at Whistler and it was scary but fun).

Here are other free things to do in Vancouver:

Olympic Cauldron

Ice skating at Robson Square

BC Pavllion at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Canada's Northern House

LiveCity Downtown

Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion

Hudson Bay Company for Olympic gear (drastically reduced but really picked over)

Ziplining across Robson Square on March 16, 2010
Photo by Sue Frause

No special red mittens for 2010 Paralympics

Too bad that the 2010 Paralympics don't have their own gear.

Not only has the media left in droves, only Olympic logo wear will be available at Hudson's Bay Company.

You won't be able to find a pair of Paralympic red mittens in the mix.

The 2010 Paralympics, playing out in Vancouver-Whistler from March 12-21, are certainly not seeing the crowds or garnering the attention as did the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I attended the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver on Friday night, and it was both down-home and heartfelt.

A good cure for the Olympic hangover. Go Paralympics!


The logger at the Squamish Adventure Centre is wearing red mittens
Photo by Sue Frause via Pacific Coach Lines from Whistler-Vancouver

Window on Canada: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Night view from Room 1142 at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Photo by Sue Frause

2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games

Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games at BC Place Stadium. Photos by Sue Frause.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics open today

The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games open this evening in Vancouver at BC Place, and I'll be there!

Five-thousand performers will be on the field of the stadium, joined by the athletes. No word about who the entertainers will be.

Jeff Lee of The Vancouver Sun posted an article, Paralympics: Where to watch from the stands to your sofa.

Ironically, fog and too much snow have caused problems for training sessions. What a difference a few weeks make!

Games on!


The Olympic cauldron will be re-lit for the Paralympics
Photo by Sue Frause

Window on Canada: Montreal-Trudeau Airport

The w xyz bar at Aloft Montreal Airport is a welcome sight after a long flight. Aloft is a "vision" (division) of W Hotels. Sue Frause photo.

Surf town of Tofino to ban fast food outlets?

Good for Tofino. As somebody who lives in a small town on Whidbey Island, one without any fast food outlets, I'm all for this Vancouver Island community banning big name chains in their surf town.

"A councillor in Tofino, B.C., wants to ban fast-food franchises and retail chains from the West Coast surf town in order to preserve its uniquely laid-back character. For the approximately 2,000 residents of the Vancouver Island community, a craving for a Starbucks coffee or a McDonald's hamburger means a drive out of town. That's because there are virtually no chain retailers in the surfing paradise, and District Coun. Stephen Ashton wants it to stay that way."

Read the rest of the story from CBC News.

I don't know if my hometown of Langley, WA specifically bans fast food outlets, but we do have a Design Review Board that wouldn't allow any of those all too familiar signs.

Can you imagine McDonald's or Starbucks setting up shop without their overexposed logos?

I was in Tofino this past summer, en route to a Blue Planet Kayaking adventure to Vargas Island. It's a special place, no matter what the season.

I like Tofino, and I'll keep returning. Let's hope it remains chain free for both the residents and visitors alike.

UPDATE, 3/30/2010: Here's the latest on the proposed ban from The Vancouver Sun

One of the many non fast food eateries in Tofino
Photo by Sue Frause

Canada Reads 2010: Five books over three months

I stumbled upon Canada Reads several years ago while watching CBC. So what is it?

The annual literary event celebrates five Canadian books of fiction. This year's selections are Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott; Nikolski by Nicolas Deckner; Generation X, Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland; The Jade Peony, by Wayson Choy; and Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

For three months, the books are celebrated at public events, online and on the air. But the real excitement is during a week-long show hosted by Jian Ghomeshi.

During the friendly title fight, five celebrity panelists defend their favorite work of Canadian fiction. One by one, the books are voted off the list, until one panelist triumphs with the book for Canada to read this year.

This year's panelists include Simi Sara, Michel Vizena, Roland Pemberton, Samantha Nutt and Perdita Felicien.

The half-hour debates air on CBC Radio One from March 8-12, 2010, at 11:30 AM and 7:30 PM (3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Newfoundland). The program also airs on CBC's digital channel from March 8-12 at 6 PM ET (7:30 PM NT, 3:00 PM PT) and on Sirius 137 on the same dates at 6:30 PM and 10:30 ON ET. The shows are also available online and via podcast.

Questions? Click on Canada Reads.


Sidney on Vancouver Island is Canada's only Booktown
Photo by Sue Frause

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin does Calgary

Sarah Palin made a visit to Calgary this past weekend, where she spoke at the BMO Centre (formerly known as the Calgary Roundup Centre) on Saturday.

It was the 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential candidate's first foray onto foreign soil since she resigned as governor of Alaska.

Yes, Sarah, Canada is a separate country and not a part of the USA.

"She drew on some Canadian connections in her family history, and recalled how when she was young, those who were ill went to Whitehorse for medical treatment. She lauded the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, noting the Canadian men's hockey gold medal win over the Americans, and the connection of her own family to the game."

Click on to read the rest of the story in the Montreal Gazette.

2009 Sarah Palin Calendar

And the Oscar goes to ... Closet Canuck!

Yup, that's me, Closet Canuck with her Oscar.

No, it's not really my Oscar. It belongs to my friend Kirk Francis who won the coveted 8.5 pound statuette for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing for The Bourne Ultimatum (2008). He keeps it in his bathroom. Really.

Of course there are Canadian connections with tonight's Oscar broadcast, as I posted here earlier: James Cameron and Jason Reitman among six Canadian Oscar nominees at the Academy Awards.

And Canada has its very own Oscar in renowned jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, who died in 2007.

And if you want to stay at some famous movie hotels, here is a top ten list from TripAdvisor.


Sue Frause with Oscar
Photo by Leslie Larch

Travel to Mexico: Use high degree of caution

In light of a recent violent crime in Mazatlan against a 52-year-old man from Calgary (Canadian man survives shooting in Mexico), I wondered what the Canadian government's position on the continuing violence.

Here's what the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has to say about travel in Mexico:

Canadians travelling to Mexico should exercise a high degree of caution due to occasional demonstrations and protests, high levels of criminal activity and violence throughout the country.

Canadians should be particularly vigilant in northern Mexico and all cities bordering the United States, particularly when travelling to the cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, as firefights between the military and drug cartels can occur without warning at any time. Travellers should monitor local news before travelling to areas affected by turf wars.

So what about Americans going south of the border? Here's the latest Travel Warning from the U.S. Dept. of State dated March 14, 2010:

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including tens of thousands who cross the land border daily for study, tourism or business and nearly one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico), violence in the country has increased. It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks in Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if victimized. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states(see details below) and advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution. Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or whom they otherwise view as a threat to their organizations. These attacks include the abduction and murder of two resident U.S. citizens in Chihuahua.

As for my travel plans, Mexico isn't on my calendar.

Along the Puerto Vallarta waterfront
Photo by Sue Frause

No gender netural O Canada! anthem after all

"OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has changed his mind on the national anthem — it's fine just the way it is. Two days after Harper, in the speech from the throne, said his government would review the wording of the English version of O Canada, with an eye toward making it "gender neutral," the idea was abruptly shelved."

Click on to read the rest of the Canwest story: Tories flip-flop on changes to national anthem

Canadian flags on Parliament Hill in Ottawa
Photo by Sue Frause

Sound of Vancouver when Team Canada wins gold

Video shot from across False Creek on Feb. 28, 2010

Who in the world is Justin Bieber?

That's what my hubby asked the other night as his name was mentioned by host Ryan Seacrest on American Idol.

I sort of knew that he was a teen pop star, but had no idea he was a Canadian!

Here's part of the 15-year-old's bio on Justin Bieber-The Official Website:

“I started singing about three years ago,” says the Canadian native who grew up an only child in Stratford, Ontario. “I entered a local singing competition called Stratford Idol. The other people in the competition had been taking singing lessons and had vocal coaches. I wasn’t taking it too seriously at the time, I would just sing around the house. I was only 12 and I got second place.”

In an effort to share his victory with his loved ones, Justin began posting his performance footage online. “I put my singing videos from the competition on YouTube so that my friends and family could watch them,” he says. “But it turned out that other people liked them and they started subscribing to them. That’s how my manager found me. He saw me on YouTube and contacted my family and now I’m signed!"

OK, I probably won't be buying or listening to his music, but I'll probably see him on Oprah at some point. In the meantime, he's creating a lot of buzz, whether on Twitter (he has a mere 1,269,091 followers) or as a trending news topic.

Ontario must be proud!

Although I don't have a million followers (only 926), I am on Twitter. You can follow my travel and other adventures here!

Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

Thanks, Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics! Merci, Canada pour les Jeux olympiques d'hiver!

All that's left are memories and logo wear, like at this shop in Gastown. Photo by Sue Frause.