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What’s New Autumn 2006
ABOUT VICTORIA
Victoria is “Full of Life”
Victoria, British Columbia is celebrating the launch of a fresh face and new destination brand “Victoria – full of life.” Victoria’s new brand celebrates the city’s beauty and old world heritage while inviting visitors to discover Victoria’s new world experiences such as outdoor adventure, culinary tourism, arts and culture, luxury resorts and spas. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island just off the west coast of mainland British Columbia, Victoria is an island destination that offers visitors an escape from the hurried world and a complete experience that is rejuvenating, fresh and full of life. For more information visit www.tourismvictoria.com.
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HOT NEW PROPERTIES
Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa
Victoria’s Bear Mountain Resort, the first and only master planned resort community on Vancouver Island, has opened the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa. As the first Westin-branded hotel on Vancouver Island, The Westin Bear Mountain is built around the $50-million CDN, 160,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse and features 156 guest rooms and suites, the 12,000 sq. ft. accredited Santé Spa, 6,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art meeting facilities and three restaurants. Bear Mountain Resort is home to Vancouver Island's only Jack and Steve Nicklaus co-designed 18-hole golf course with a second Nicklaus course set to open in 2008. The primary investor and CEO, Len Barrie, is a former NHL player and is joined in partnership by a group of current and former NHL stars. Bear Mountain Resort is one of the largest resort developments in Western Canada covering 1,300 acres and offering a variety of residential and vacation real estate opportunities. For more information visit www.bearmountain.ca.
The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa
Scheduled to open in Spring 2007, The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa is located in Sidney, BC, 25 minutes north of Victoria and five minutes from the Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries terminal. The upscale boutique hotel will offer 55 guestrooms all with ocean and mountain views, including nine suites with full kitchens. The Pier will also feature a waterfront restaurant and lounge, street-side café, 2,050 sq. ft. full-service spa and salon, 1,200 sq. ft. oceanfront fitness centre and a business centre. A 1,000 sq. ft. meeting and banquet space will accommodate groups of six to 60 guests and a 300 sq. ft. boardroom will seat up to eight people. The oceanfront hotel is situated at the foot of Beacon Avenue, the Town of Sidney’s main shopping street, and is adjacent to the Sidney pier, waterfront walkway and park. Sidney is the gate-way to the Gulf Islands and the hotel is only steps from a variety of activities including kayaking, whale watching, sailing, diving and cycling. It is also minutes from The Butchart Gardens and the wineries and farms of the Saanich Peninsula. For more information visit www.thepier.ca.
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OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Victoria Deemed Canada’s Fittest City
According to the Government of Canada (Statistics Canada 2001), Victoria is rated the fittest city in Canada. Thirty-six per cent of the adult population is active which is nearly double the national average. With the mildest climate in the country, Victoria is Canada’s destination for year-round outdoor adventure. The city’s beauty and natural surroundings also inspire people to get active and enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, running, walking, cycling, kayaking, kitesurfing and golf are just a few of the activities regularly enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Victoria provides incredibly easy access to endless scenic trails and sites that incorporate mountains, old-growth rainforests and ocean shores. Visitors can step outside their hotel door and be cycling or kayaking almost immediately, or hiking or golfing within a 30-minute drive.
The Cycling Capital of Canada
Victoria is the cycling capital of Canada according to the Government of Canada (Statistics Canada 2001). In the Greater Victoria region, cycling accounts for 6.2 per cent of commuter travel – more than any other city in Canada. Ottawa comes in at 2.1 per cent; Vancouver at 1.7 per cent and Toronto at 0.75 per cent. In Victoria, most people live within a 30-minute bike ride of their workplace and from some neighbourhoods, up to 20 per cent of trips to work are made by bicycle. Bike lanes on many of Victoria’s downtown streets and bike racks on city buses that travel to the suburban communities also promote cycling. More people also wear bike helmets in Victoria than anywhere else in the world (92 per cent).
WildPlay Element Park Swings Into Action
WildPlay Element Park has opened on Vancouver Island, located one hour and 30 minutes north of Victoria, and features three "wild" adventures: bungy jumping from 43 m (140 ft.) above the Nanaimo River, swinging over the river on the King Swing which can reach speeds up to 140 km/hr (87 mi./hr) and the brand new TreeGO park – the only park of its kind in Western Canada. TreeGO combines a series of inter-active, physically engaging activities among the trees in several acres of Douglas Fir forest. Activities include zip lines, suspended bridges, scramble nets and swinging logs at heights of 3 m (10 ft.) to over 15 m (50 ft.). TreeGO is divided into four courses, each of increasing height and difficulty and a children's course for ages 12 and under. The entire TreeGO park can be completed in less than three hours and is built using an environmentally sensitive method that does not harm the trees. Wild Play Element Park was created to make exciting outdoor experiences more accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels and aims to encourage families to play together. For more information visit www.wildplayparks.com.
Running Retreats at Middle Beach Lodge
Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino, four hours and 30 minutes northwest of Victoria on the west coast of Vancouver Island, has proclaimed the area’s beaches as the best place in Canada to run with over 25 km (15.5 mi.) of low impact running available. As a result, the lodge has created a running club and invites guests to join Duane Bell, General Manager and Chef, on his Sunday morning runs. On November 24-26, 2006 and January 26-28, 2007, Middle Beach Lodge will also offer its annual Running Gourmet Retreat; a weekend of incredible food, wine pairings and tastings, chocolate truffle making, nutrition talks, cooking and running. Package includes two or three nights accommodation, welcome reception, workshop sessions, all meals on Saturday and Sunday breakfast. Rates begin at $285.00 CDN/$258.00 US per person based on double occupancy. For more information visit www.middlebeach.com.
Bellla on Johnson
Bellla on Johnson has opened in Victoria as Adidas’ first women’s concept store in North America. Located on Lower Johnson Street in the heart of Old Town, otherwise known as Victoria’s fashion district, Bellla on Johnson carries Adidas’ Adilibra and Adidas by Stella McCartney sport performance collections. Adilibra, a new line for women, focuses strongly on details and on combining unexpected features both in shapes and colors. Adidas by Stella McCartney allows active women to not have to compromise their style while in the sports arena. For more information visit www.belllaonjohnson.com.
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GOLF
The Vancouver Island Golf Trail
Vancouver Island is one of the premier golf destinations in Canada and with the mildest climate in the country visitors can golf year-round. The Vancouver Island Golf Trail is the ultimate golf getaway and allows the truly dedicated golfer to spend an entire vacation exploring the variety of courses available up and down the island. Visitors will enjoy six-nights accommodation and six rounds of golf at their choice of Bear Mountain Resort, Olympic View Golf Club, Arbutus Ridge Golf & Country Club, Cowichan Golf & Country Club, Duncan Meadows Golf Club, Fairwinds Golf & Country Club, Morningstar International Golf Course, Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community and Storey Creek Golf Club. Powercarts at all courses and guaranteed tee times are also included. The Vancouver Island Golf Trail begins at $540.00 CDN/$488.00 US based on double occupancy. For more information visit www.golfvancouverisland.ca.
Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course Announced for West Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island’s Marine Drive Properties has signed an agreement with Nicklaus Design to bring a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course to its planned $600-million CDN luxury resort in Ucluelet, four hours and 30 minutes northwest of Victoria on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Set on both the open Pacific Ocean and Ucluelet Inlet, the resort will cover 370 acres located next to Pacific Rim National Park, just north of the coastal village of Ucluelet. With the creative genius of Jack Nicklaus, the resort will offer players a unique experience with its sunrise-to-sunset oceanfront course. Jack Nicklaus has compared the property to Cypress Point. With the current routing, he has the opportunity to place two holes on the Pacific Ocean with steep cliffs and waves crashing below and four holes on the Ucluelet Inlet above a bay or bluff. In between the coasts, rugged topography lends itself to a variety of inland holes, many with dramatic ocean views. “Signature Circle” – an enclave of 30 oceanfront estate lots – will also have access to a private putting green, helicopter landing pad and a park. For more information visit www.marinedriveproperties.com.
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ON THE WATER
Wind and Waves
Vancouver Island is the premier destination for surfing in Canada. Tofino, four hours and 30 minutes northwest of Victoria on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is the best place to surf and there are a multitude of operators and resorts who provide equipment and lessons to visitors wanting to hang ten. In the winter, surfers brave the chilling waters off Vancouver Island’s southwestern coast at Jordan River, Sombrio and Port Renfrew. As an island destination, Victoria is ideal for spending time on the water and kiteboarding is arguably the city’s newest water sport. Dallas Road is the local destination for those looking to get active and is also home base for the local kite and wind surfing scene. It is only blocks from downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca not only offers frequent wind, it also offers inspiring views of the Pacific Ocean and Olympic Mountains. Visitors can either take in the action as a spectator or with a lesson. Victoria’s Strong Kiteboarding offers lessons as well as kiteboarding tours to Tofino and Nitinat Lake which is becoming world renowned for its wind.
Annual Salmon Run and Eagle Extravaganza Spawn in Victoria
Every autumn, visitors to Goldstream Provincial Park in Victoria will witness an amazing spectacle of nature as the spawning salmon make their annual return to the Goldstream River. Located only 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park is easily accessible to visitors and the Goldstream River is steps from the park entrance. The salmon appear beginning in October and are seen for approximately nine weeks. Of the five kinds of North American Pacific salmon, it is the Chum salmon that is most abundant in this river. Come December, Goldstream’s Eagle Extravaganza begins. Over 250 bald eagles and other birds of prey move into Goldstream Provincial Park until February to feast on the salmon. The Freedom King Visitor Centre, nestled at the mouth of the river overlooking the Goldstream estuary, offers educational programs, wildlife viewing and children's activities. Hiking trails in the park take visitors from the valley floor to the top of Mt. Finlayson and picnic areas round out the visitor amenities. For more information visit www.goldstreampark.com.
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FOOD & WINE
Getting Fresh in Victoria
Travellers do not need to go to Europe to have a culinary vacation. Victoria and Vancouver Island have it all – fresh seafood, pasture raised meats, artisan cheeses, outstanding organic produce, hand harvested seaweed, wild foods from the forest and balsamic vinegar, cider and fine wines. Local chefs and residents alike support the farmers in the Cowichan Valley and on the Saanich Peninsula who produce such high quality, nice food products. Visitors can experience the island’s bounty in many of Victoria’s restaurants, but a farm and winery tour through these gastronomic destinations will also introduce visitors to the southern island’s cast of culinary characters. Visitors can also buy fresh from the farm gate or from roadside stands that scatter country roads and operate on the honour system. The Cowichan Valley, located 45 minutes north of Victoria, means the “warm land” in its native language and boasts the longest growing season in Canada. The Saanich Peninsula is located 20 minutes north of Victoria and is arguably the newest and fastest growing agri-tourism region on Vancouver Island.
Island Chef’s Collaborative
Victoria’s hot, young chefs and the island cuisine they create have garnered Victoria and Vancouver Island a place on the culinary map. In Victoria, local chefs committed to supporting local producers first and foremost, have formed the Island Chef’s Collaborative (ICC). Started nine years ago, the ICC is a non-profit group dedicated to an ethical approach to food and a commitment to locally grown, high quality ingredients. About 40 chefs and over 60 farmers meet at the beginning of the year to collectively plan the year’s crops. They work together to push the boundaries of what can be grown on Southern Vancouver Island and increase the region’s bio-diversity. The ICC believes that the sharing of good food immeasurably enriches our sense of community. By supporting growers and producers who rely on sustainable farming practices and utilizing their products, the ICC in turn educates their customers to help further their efforts. The ICC also fundraises to assist emerging farmers. For more information visit www.islandchefscollaborative.com.
Dine Around, Stay in Town
From February 15 – March 4, 2007, Tourism Victoria and the Victoria branch of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) are teaming up to once again present Dine Around, Stay in Town. Following the success of dine out programs in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver, Victoria’s talented chefs are eager to showcase their culinary skills to residents and visitors alike. Dine Around, Stay in Town will offer three-course menus for three prices: $15.00 CDN/$13.00 US; $25.00 CDN/$23.00 US and $35.00 CDN/$32.00 US per person. Victoria boasts the second highest number of restaurants per capita in North America and over 50 local restaurants will participate. Over 35 participating hotels will offer visitors overnight accommodation at three levels including $79.00 CDN/$71.00 US; $99.00 CDN/$90.00 US and $129.00 CDN/$117.00 US. For more information visit www.tourismvictoria.com/dinearound.
Flour Water Salt
Merridale Ciderworks, located in the Cowichan Valley 45 minutes north of Victoria, has opened a new brick oven bakery called Flour Water Salt. Baked goods such as artisan breads, gourmet pizzas and apple pie will be available in Merridale’s La Pommeraie Bistro and for retail sale. Wood-burning brick ovens are much sought after for authentic country-style cooking. The heat generated by the wood fire is absorbed by the masonry walls and evenly released to cook the foods inside. Very high temperatures are reached, so the food cooks quickly, without burning around the edges or bottom. Merridale believes in keeping food in its purest form by cooking with local, seasonally available ingredients supplied by nearby farms. Menu items are designed to come together at the last moment for freshness – a planned spontaneity. Merridale Ciderworks is BC's first estate cidery and Canada's only orchard dedicated solely to cider making. For more information visit www.merridalecider.com.
The Wine Islands Launch New Visitor Guide
British Columbia’s Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, known as the Wine Islands, is the fastest growing wine region in Canada. It now represents one quarter of the wineries in BC. Ten years ago, there were only seven licensed wineries on the Wine Islands and today there are 32. The wineries of the Wine Islands are reporting between a 30-50% increase in visitors over the last two years and cite active co-operation between the wineries and other culinary groups as a major factor for this increase. Collaboration between the Wine Islands Vintners Association and the BC Agritourism Alliance has produced a new Wine Islands visitor guide. It is all-inclusive representing all licensed wineries and producers on the islands who are making wine, cider and mead. It contains touring maps for 10 regions in the Wine Islands as well as a user-friendly guide of hours of operations and a listing of farmer’s markets. It is free to visitors and an on-line version with five downloadable touring maps plus additional information is also available at www.wineislands.ca.
Kiwi Squeeze at Marley Farm Winery
In January 2007, Marley Farm Winery will offer visitors an opportunity to be part of the winemaking process during their annual Kiwi Squeeze. Similar to an ice wine harvest event, the Kiwi Squeeze brings the community together to participate in making Kiwi Gold, one of Marley Farm Winery’s signature wines. Located 20 minutes north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula, Marley Farm Winery is a five-acre, family-run boutique fruit winery. Marley Farm uses produce from their farm and local growers in all their wines. The kiwis are grown by Lochmar Farm and delivered by farmer Ron George to Marley Farm by tractor. To make Kiwi Gold approximately 635 kg (1,400 lbs.) of kiwis are cut in half and “squeezers” wring the juice from the fruit with electric juicers. Squeezers work around tables in the winery where the juice is collected and transferred to the primary fermenter. Length of time for squeezing depends on the number of participants. Other fruit wines produced by Marley Farm Winery include pear, blackberry, raspberry, loganberry, quince and rhubarb as well as pinot noir, pinot grigio and novine. For more information visit www.marleyfarm.ca.
Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat & Guesthouse
Fairburn Farm, located in the Cowichan Valley 45 minutes north of Victoria, has been offering agritourism and farm stays to visitors to Vancouver Island since 1955, but chef and farmer Mara Jernigan has started a new chapter with the opening of Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat & Guesthouse. Jernigan continues to operate a bed & breakfast on the picturesque working farm owned by Darrel and Anthea Archer, but now also offers a variety of seasonal culinary programs. Jernigan offers farmer’s market tours, hands-on cooking classes, Italian-style lunches on the farm, dinners and special events. Fairburn Farm is raising the only purebred herd of European river water buffalo in North America and with the help of Jernigan and renowned local Vancouver Island cheesemaker, Hilary Abbott, is planning to make the only true fresh mozarella di bufala in North America. Visitors can sample water buffalo meat and milk products with a stay at Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat & Guesthouse. For more information visit www.fairburnfarm.bc.ca.
Life in the Slow Food Lane
The Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Slow Food Convivium was founded by Sinclair Philip of Sooke Harbour House and Mara Jernigan of Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat & Guesthouse in Spring 2001. Slow Food was first developed as an association in Piedmont, Italy in 1986. Now an international movement with 80,000 members, Slow Food exists to counter the movement of “fast food,” to protect the right to taste and promote artisanal producers. The Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Convivium is dedicated to promoting and protecting local, seasonal and ethically raised island foods, in particular indigenous foods and wild seafood. The convivium consists of about 100 members which include chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, environmentalists, wild crafters, writers and filmmakers. Slow Food Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands Convivium has contributed to establishing Vancouver Island's reputation as one of the most interesting areas in Canada for emerging regional cuisine. For more information visit www.slowfood.com.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Fatal Attraction Tempts Visitors at The Royal BC Museum
From October 5, 2006 – January 7, 2007, a new exhibit entitled Fatal Attraction will appear at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Fatal Attraction is an internationally touring exhibition from Europe that explores the language of love in the animal world. The interactive exhibit reveals the unique and often flashy courtship rituals among creatures great and small including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, insects and even humans. In the animal kingdom, finding and seducing a mate can also be dangerous. Cunning predators often imitate courtship signals luring creatures to their death. This exhibit also tells these deadly love stories. The Royal BC Museum will also present a companion exhibition to Fatal Attraction highlighting some of the unusual mating habits of native BC species. Created by the natural history museums of Belgium, The Netherlands and France, Fatal Attraction will stop in Victoria after a successful run in Europe and a showing in Ottawa. For more information visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
World Renowned Artists Attend Victoria’s First International Arts Symposium
Is Victoria, BC ready for this? Albo Jeavons, an installation artist who built “Disney Hole” on the site of a failed municipal project in Philadelphia; Fly, a New York illustrator and street muralist who was born in a dumpster; Wolf Edwards, an acclaimed classical composer who plays in an anarchist punk band… ready or not, they’re coming. From October 27-30, 2006, the Victoria International Arts Symposium will be held in Victoria. Under the theme of Artists of Conscience, 45 talented and controversial artists will speak on a range of topics from art and ecology to music and activism. Delegate passes guarantee admission to all 12 sessions and are available by calling 1-888-717-6121. The Victoria International Arts Symposium is one of seven initiatives made possible through the distinction and funding provided by the Government of Canada (Department of Canadian Heritage) when Victoria was recognized as a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2005. For more information visit www.victoriaartssymposium.com.
Things That Go Bump in the Night
John Adams, one of Victoria's foremost historians and story tellers, offers a range of opportunities for visitors to discover the past in Victoria including his renowned Ghostly Walks. Adams began conducting public tours through Victoria's Old Town, Chinatown, waterfront and haunted places in 1970. He also heads the annual Ghosts of Victoria Festival which takes place during the last two weeks of October and illustrates why Victoria has been called the most haunted city in the Pacific Northwest. Guided walking and bus tours explore downtown alleys and squares and Ross Bay Cemetery where some of BC’s most historic figures are buried. Historic haunted houses including Helmcken House, Point Ellice House, Craigdarroch Castle, Hatley Castle and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, as well as several hotels and restaurants are also plentiful in Victoria and a ghost tour during this hallowed time of year is an experience that is truly out of this world. For more information visit www.discoverthepast.com.
Victoria’s Belfry Theatre Stages Biggest Show Ever
From November 7 – December 10, 2006, The Belfry Theatre will mount the biggest show in its history when Broadway comes to Victoria with Urinetown: The Musical. With 15 actors and a four-piece band, Urinetown is a Tony award-winning musical about the depletion of the Earth’s water supply and the subsequent ban on private toilets. The privilege to pee is regulated by the malevolent corporation “Urine Good Company” which forces the poor citizens to pay ever-escalating fees. This tale of greed, love and revolution is cheeky, intelligent and filled with funny, catchy songs. Tickets begin at $21.00 CDN/$19.00 US. Located in a renovated heritage church in Victoria’s Fernwood neighbourhood, The Belfry Theatre is a local favourite for professional theatre and continues to be one of the leading members of the Greater Victoria arts scene. For tickets or more information visit www.belfry.bc.ca.
Baroque Masterworks Coming to Victoria
2006 marks Rembrandt's 400th birthday and from December 15, 2006 – February 25, 2007, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will host an exhibition of 12 Baroque masterwork paintings by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens and Poussin. Baroque Masterworks from the National Gallery of Canada will feature Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch and Flemish paintings dating from 1600 to 1750 and encompass works in a variety of styles and genres from different social, political and religious circumstances. From December 15, 2006 – March 18, 2007, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will also present a complementary historical exhibition Misshapen Pearl: The Baroque Era including furniture, pottery, paintings, prints and 17th century costumes to further illuminate the decorative arts of this period. A gala evening at the Lieutenant Governor's house as well as a Baroque music and lecture series will round out the programming. For more information visit www.aggv.bc.ca.
Christmas in Victoria
With the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria is unique as a winter destination as the city rarely sees snow. The Christmas season still arrives with fervour, however, and Victoria is brought to life with the festive spirit. Throughout December, lights, music and special events fill the streets and venues of British Columbia’s capital city. Some of the event highlights include Festival of Trees at The Fairmont Empress, Oak Bay Christmas Festival, Christmas at The Butchart Gardens including an outdoor skating rink, Christmas Downtown: A World of Traditions, Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle, Christmas Writers Festival, Ghosts of Christmas Past and other heritage walking tours, Santa Claus parades, lighted sail pasts and tons of additional entertainment for the entire family. For more information visit Tourism Victoria’s calendar of events at www.tourismvictoria.com.
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SPA & WELLNESS
Swedana Steam Chest, Shirodhara and Seaweed
Tucked away in the heart of downtown Victoria is the newly opened Sapphire Day Spa. Specializing in both European and Ayurvedic spa principles, Sapphire Day Spa offers unique treatments not to be found anywhere else in Victoria. Guests can opt to detoxify in the cedar Swedana steam chest infused with customized herbs followed by a chickpea flour exfoliation, or experience Shirodhara where up to one litre (two pints) of oil is constantly poured over the forehead. Guests can choose from four liquids: sesame, coconut or mustard oil (depending on the season), rose petal, lotus, or saffron and warm milk. This can be combined with the 5,000 year-old technique of Abhyanga massage where a head to toe warm oil massage is performed with long, fluid strokes. Along with other classic spa treatments, Sapphire Day Spa also offers seaweed body treatments using fresh seaweed harvested locally by Vancouver Island’s “Seaweed Lady,” Diane Bernard of Outer Coast Seaweeds. Sapphire Day Spa features seven treatment rooms including a couples suite, plus a studio for groups up to six people. For more information visit www.sapphiredayspa.com.
Santé Spa Opens As Largest in Victoria
The Westin Victoria Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa has opened an accredited Santé Spa completing over 12,000 sq. ft. dedicated to wellness at the resort. A full-service European medical lifestyle spa concept created in Calgary, Alberta, the Santé Spa at Bear Mountain Resort is affiliated with the Institut de Santé, a member of Leading Spas of Canada. The Santé Spa offers guests a full range of spa and
esthetic therapies including the latest in spa technologies and medical skin care treatments. It also features 12 treatment rooms including a duet room and VIP suite, a Vichy shower system, a fully landscaped terrace with nautilus-shaped mineral pool, deck and labyrinth, guest lounge with fireplace and food service. The spa opens in addition to the first phase of Bear Mountain Resort’s wellness facilities – the Mountainside Athletic Club (MAC). The MAC is the first facility on Vancouver Island to offer state-of-the-art Paramount Fitness equipment and collaboratively with the Santé Spa offers personalized “Living Better” lifestyle programs. For more information visit www.bearmountain.ca.
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MEETINGS & TRAVEL TRADE
Sheraton Scores Four Points in Victoria
Four Points by Sheraton is scheduled to open a 120-room hotel in March 2007 located 20 minutes north of Victoria. The hotel will include an 80-seat restaurant, day spa, indoor swimming pool, and wine and beer store. Complimentary breakfast is included with each stay. Meeting space will total 5,000 sq. ft. and include a ball-room to accommodate 300 banquet style, 360 theatre, 360 classroom and 450 reception, a boardroom to accommodate up to 20 people and two smaller meeting rooms to seat up to 12 people. The hotel’s gateway location was chosen for its convenient proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway. It is also located within minutes of Bear Mountain Resort, Goldstream Provincial Park and shopping. Four Points by Sheraton also plan to add an additional 200 quarter share rooms to the property in Fall 2007.
Victoria Cruises to Another Record Year
The 2006 cruise season has been another record year for Victoria with 183 cruise ship visits. Recent cruise industry growth has been nothing short of phenomenal primarily due to the Jones Act; an international regulation that calls for all cruise ships enroute to Alaska to stop in a Canadian port. Since 1999, the number of cruise ship visits has gone up over 400 per cent and the passenger count nearly 700 per cent. Ogden Point, Victoria’s cruise ship terminal, hosts three ships every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from May to October. The cruise lines visiting Victoria include Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Eighty-five per cent of Alaska cruise passengers are U.S. visitors. Cruise passengers spend approximately $175.00 CDN/$150.00 US per person and crew members $60.00 CDN/$50.00 US per person for an overall $30-million CDN spent in Victoria each season. For more information visit www.victoriaharbour.org.
Skate Canada International
From November 2-5, 2006, the Skate Canada International figure skating competition will be held in Victoria. In its 32nd year, Skate Canada International is one of six events in the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix series of figure skating competitions along with events in the United States, France, Japan, China and Russia. Competitors at the event (12 male, 12 female, 12 dance teams, 12 pairs teams) earn prize money and points for entry into the ISU Grand Prix Final in December 2006. The event is televised over three days in the six countries, as well as throughout the European community. Up to 36,000 tickets will be sold and 60-75% of spectators are expected to be visitors to Victoria. Fans will have the opportunity to see a number of the world's best skaters competing including two-time Canadian Champion and 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Jeff Buttle, two-time world champion and 2006 Olympic silver medalist Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, three-time U.S. Champion Johnny Weir, 2006 world silver medalist Fumie Suguri of Japan, 2006 Olympic silver medalists and 2006 world silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, and four-time Canadian Ice Dance Champions and 2006 world silver medalists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon. For more information visit www.skatecanada.ca.
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* US exchange rates quoted throughout this newsletter are subject to change.
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