TOP TEN HAUNTED PLACES IN VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia's Parliament Buildings
©SueFrausePhoto

Just in time for the spooky season (aka Halloween), Tourism Victoria has put together a TOP TEN HAUNTED PLACES IN VICTORIA list. I've been to eight of them; here are a few photos from my travels. For the complete list and descriptions, click on here. 

Craigdarroch Castle
©SueFrausePhoto

Rogers Chocolates
©SueFrausePhoto

Fairmont Empress
©SueFrausePhoto

Gate of Harmonious Interest, Chinatown
©SueFrausePhoto

And if you're ready to do a cool walking tour this Halloween season, John Adams' Discover the Past Walking Tours "weaves together Victoria’s ghosts and the stories behind them, bringing the dark history of our city to life." 
Book online at https://discoverthepast.com/.

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY PRESENTS EMILY CARR: A ROOM OF HER OWN

Emily Carr, Untitled (self-portrait), 1924-25, oil on paperboard
Vancouver Art Gallery collection, Emily Carr Trust

The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) is launching a yearlong exhibition with highlights from the permanent collection of Emily Carr paintings. 

Emily Carr: A Room of Her Own explores the intersection between celebrated Canadian artist Emily Carr and the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

The exhibition, opening September 30, 2023 and on view through September 8, 2024, presents a selection of Carr's paintings from VAG's collection of 252 works of art -- the most important collection of Carr's art in the world. 

Presented in a single room and guiding visitors via a timeline, the works offer a full range of Carr's artistic production: watercolors, canvases, oil on paper works, charcoal drawings, ceramics and textiles. 

A Room of Her Own highlights four key areas:

• Carr's education abroad and early beginnings
• VAG's first exhibition and significant acquisitions in 1937-38 respectively
• Major conservation efforts led by VAG staff
• The role the Carr Collection  played in the Gallery's decision to relocate to its present building

Through archival materials and the works of Carr, this exhibition uncovers the ongoing connection between the Carr Collection and VAG, and the importance of Carr's placement in the new Vancouver Art Gallery at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts opening in 2028.

The exhibition is organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery and curated by Senior Curator Diana Freundl

Vancouver Art Gallery

750 Hornby Street

Vancouver BC V6Z 287

 

THE LOGOS OF THE SEATTLE KRAKEN AND VANCOUVER'S SYLVIA HOTEL ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR

 

The Seattle Kraken, which joined the National Hockey League's Pacific Division of the Western Conference in 2021, calls Climate Pledge Arena their home. The team's name, Kraken, is derived from the mythical kraken of Scandinavian folklore and its resemblance to the native giant Pacific octopus, found in the waters of Puget Sound. The colorful logo was created by Seattle's Cody Pearson Design. 

"Kraken: A fabulous Scandinavian sea monster perhaps imagined on the basis of chance sights of giant squids. It appears in literature in a poem of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's juvenilia called "The Kraken".

 Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

Vancouver's Sylvia Hotel opened on May 13, 1913 as a 70-unit apartment building. Known then as Sylvia Court, it was the tallest building in the city. In 1975, the City of Vancouver designated the Sylvia a heritage building, one of the few publicly accessible heritage buildings in Vancouver.

The hotel is located on English Bay in Vancouver's West End. Boston ivy, a trademark feature of the hotel, covers more than half of the property in seasonal colors. The vines are the legacy of one of Sylvia Court’s first tenants, Mrs. Kenvyn, who started the plant after World War II.

On July 2, 1954, the medieval themed TILTING ROOM opened at the Sylvia Hotel, making it Vancouver's first cocktail lounge. Pictured above is a photo I took of the hotel's cocktail menu while visiting Vancouver during the city's 2018 Celebration of Light, an annual fireworks competition. 

This year's fireworks competition on English Bay, Honda Celebration of Light, will be held July 22-29, 2023. The three countries participating are Australia, Mexico and the Philippines. I took the fireworks photo from the Sylvia Hotel while dining on their outdoor patio.

PS: The burger and fries were delicious! 

©SueFrausePhotos

 

DECEMBER IN VICTORIA: TAKE A COZY CHRISTMAS SELF-GUIDED FOOD TOUR

The tour begins at the CPR Steamship Terminal Building, located across the street from the BC Parliament Buildings pictured here. ©SueFrausePhoto

What better way to see the sights and taste the delights of Victoria BC than on a culinary walking tour in December? Off the Eaten Track (love the name!) is offering a Cozy Christmas Self-Guided Food Tour this holiday season.  

Included in the $45 passport are seven foodie stops along the 1.5 km downtown route plus a downloadable audio tour. Walking time is approximately two hours, but there's no time limit. Spend the day in BC's capital city while leisurely doing your tasting tour.

The tour begins at the CPR Steamship Terminal Building on Victoria's Inner Harbour, where you'll pick up your passport, GPS-triggered APP (they'll help you get started) and some savory Nuts & Bolts party mix. From there you'll walk along the Inner Harbour and up Government Street to Rogers' Chocolates for peppermint cream. The company was founded in Victoria in 1885.

The Festival of Trees at The Bay Centre features 70 decorated trees.

Then it's on to Bon Macaron Patisserie for holiday-flavored macarons, followed by a stop at nearby Artisan Wine for a festive glass of wine or soda. Pop inside The Bay Centre to take in the colorful Festival of Trees, followed by the Dutch Bakery & Diner for some traditional spiced shortbread. The last two stops include cheese from L'Apero Wine and Cheese Bistro, followed by the final stop at Chocolat & Co. for truffles.

Off the Eaten Track's Cozy Christmas Self-Guided Food Tour

• Offered thru Dec 31, 2022 (closed Dec 23-26)
• Available Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30AM to 5PM
• App works on both Apple and Android phones

BC FERRIES' MAYNE QUEEN RETIRES AFTER 57 YEARS OF SERVICE

Mayne Queen arrives on Saturna Island
©SueFrausePhoto (2006)

BC Ferries' Mayne Queen will make its last official full-time run on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The ferry first entered service 57 years ago in 1965, and for the majority of that time served the same run through the Southern Gulf Islands. 

Locals know it as Route 5, a tentacular connection between Vancouver Island, Pender, Mayne, Galiano and Saturna Islands. According to BC Ferries, crew aboard the Mayne Queen are family and "quick to jump a car that won't start or return to work in emergency situations." Island legend suggests "the Mayne Queen may have even reversed course a time or two for a backpack, accidentally left behind by a child rushing to school." 

FAREWELL TOUR SCHEDULE

The Mayne Queen will be at the following ports on Sunday, November 20. Community members are welcome to board the vessel as walk-ons for a short visit, but must disembark before it departs for its next stop. No passengers or vehicles will be carried from port to port.

Otter Bay (Pender)            1:50-2:20 pm

Lyall Harbour (Saturna)    2:55-3:25 pm

Village Bay (Mayne)         4:00-4:30 pm

Sturdies Bay (Galiano)      4:55-5:25 pm

Photo courtesy BC Ferries

VANCOUVER HOTEL NEWS: BYE-BYE TRUMP, HELLO PARADOX!

 

Trump International Hotel & Tower in Vancouver (2017)
©SueFrausePhotos 

Bye-bye Trump, Hello Paradox! Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump no longer has free room and board when he visits Vancouver. The Trump International Hotel, which opened in 2017, closed its doors in 2020. 

In April 2022, the Paradox Hotel Vancouver made its debut in the former Trump property. Located in downtown's Coal Harbour, it is the flagship location for Paradox Hotel Group, whose other properties include the Summit Lodge and Aava Hotel in Whistler, plus locations in Phuket and Singapore. 

Located in the 63-story twisty tower designed by the late Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson, the hotel features 147 guest rooms on the lower portion of the tower.  Among the amenities at the hotel on West Georgia are an indoor pool and walk-out whirlpool, fitness center and Xylia Natural Spa.

A hotel room at the Paradox Hotel. 

Dining options at the Paradox include Karma Lounge (open daily at 11AM); Mott 32 (a modern approach to Chinese Cuisine) and the Mansion Night Club (open Friday-Saturday evenings). In-room dining is available via Karma Lounge.

PARADOX

1161 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC

236.900.6001

hello@paradoxhotels.com

During the week of 11/06/22, a check on the hotel's website lists room rates starting at $236.55 CAD ($175.49 US).  

hotel room at the Paradox Hotel Vancouver.

LUMIERE FESTIVAL: CELEBRATION OF ART, MUSIC & LIGHT RETURNS TO VANCOUVER

 

The re-envisioned Lumiere Festival returns with an expanded footprint across Downtown Vancouver this year. Running November 17-27, 2022 the festival will not only brighten the city but shine a light on local artists. With the theme Dream the Future, elements of light, art and storytelling weave together to redefine winter as a season of inspiration and connection. 

Locals and visitors are invited to follow Lumiere through Downtown Vancouver, the West End, Gastown and Yaletown to discover 55+ artists/performers, illuminated Dream Beacons, pop-up performances and workshops/demonstrations. There will also be neighborhood parades during the 11-day festival. 

Kicking off the Lumiere Festival on Thursday, November 17 is an open -air spectacle at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (formerly Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza). The Festival wraps up in the West End's Morton Park on Saturday, November 26 showcasing artists, light and performances. 

LUMIERE FESTIVAL ~ Nov 17-27, 2022

Click on the link for location-specific performances, light installation details and more