TOURISM BC IDEAS, February 2009

A 2010 Legacy: Welcome to the Richmond Oval

• Cultures of the World Come to the Royal British Columbia Museum
• Your Mission: Sip and Learn in BC’s Thompson Okanagan
• It’s a Rush in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
• Spring Means First Nations Storytelling in the Kootenay Rockies
• Settle in for Vintage Luxury in Northern BC

A 2010 Legacy: Welcome to the Richmond Oval: 2010 is still a year away, but the visitors to Richmond, BC can already enjoy an Olympic legacy – ice skating at the stunning new Richmond Oval.  As the venue for speed skating events during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this 512,000-square-foot riverside facility was designed from the get-go as a year-round multi-sport venue and a centre for both community and elite amateur sport.  And let’s not forget that the Richmond Oval provides facilities for everything from skating and indoor soccer to yoga and basketball – all under one roof.   And what a roof.  This architectural knock-out is the first building in the world to employ a unique made-in-BC “wood wave” design, using arched trusses and rafters and a curvature in the surface panels to give the roof a rippled appearance.  The roof doesn’t just look good: the exterior is also designed to channel rainwater for re-use in landscaping and plumbing.  In fact, the whole building is a marvel of eco-friendly design; with such innovations as using excess heat from ice-making to warm the building, it’s set to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Scale (LEED®) silver certification – a widely accepted standard of resource-efficient design.  While community members are enjoying pilates, badminton and spinning classes, the speed skating track is getting its own workout, hosting several national and international speed skating events this year.  During the Games, the Richmond Oval will be one of the busiest Olympic venues, hosting 12 medal events as well as being home to the 2010 Winter Games anti-doping laboratory.  Post-Games, the Richmond Oval may well become one of the best-loved community facilities in the Lower Mainland.  www.richmondoval.ca

Cultures of the World Come to the Royal British Columbia Museum: More than one and a half million years of human history, 309 priceless artifacts, six continents, and a fabulous Greek facade: this summer, Victoria’s Royal British Columbia Museum traces the path of civilization with its five-month long exhibit: Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum.  Originally assembled to celebrate the London-based museum’s 250^th anniversary in 2003, the exhibit of some of the world’s most valued man-made artifacts has just finished a nine-city tour of Asia. It makes its North American debut in Victoria with some 150 items not shown on the Asian tour.  The more than 300 works displayed represent virtually every era and region of human civilization, from a 1.5 million-year-old hand axe found in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge to modern-day political art; from a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy to Medieval chess pieces, ancient Chinese bronze vessels, and works by Picasso, Matisse and Rembrandt. Docents, hands-on activities, and interactive technology – along with a replica of the British Museum’s classical façade – will add context and offer insights into the lives of the people behind the objects.  Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum runs May 1 to September 30, 2009 at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Your Mission: Sip and Learn in BC’s Thompson Okanagan:  Have the desire to fashion rich culinary creations, but lack the skill to make it a delicious reality?  Head to BC’s Thompson Okanagan region and take a culinary detour to the kitchen at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.  Here, guests can don an apron and Cook Like a Chef.  Culinary wizards Chef Michael Allemeier and Chef Matt Batey provide the heat with instruction aimed for both novice and seasoned students – and every skill set in between.  As a featured host on the Food Network’s Cook Like a Chef series, Chef Allemeier takes it from the small screen to the kitchen with a bounty of zesty options: three-hour spring sessions include instruction on Thai (April 7), Indian (April 14) and even Vegetarian (April 21) offerings.  If you’re still hungry for more, the Food of Tuscany awaits April 9, while Ocean Wise instruction cooks up a coastal feast April 16 (Ocean Wise, a commitment to serving only ocean-friendly fish and seafood, is a conservation program founded by Vancouver’s C Restaurant and the Vancouver Aquarium).  For some added spice, pull up a chair May 2 during the estate’s Spring Epicurean Dinner – an evening which serves up a winning partnership between Chef Allemeier and guest chef Warren Geraghty from Vancouver’s fine dining gem, West Restaurant.  Here, guests can indulge during a reception followed by five exceptional courses, paired with Mission Hill vintages, straight from Chef Geraghty’s latest culinary page-turner.  Mission accepted. www.missionhillwinery.com

It’s a Rush in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: In British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, warmer temperatures welcome a sea of rushing rivers, and a wave of adventure suited for an afternoon on the water.  Sound like a rush?  Then why not let the folks from Cariboo River Fishing and Jet Boat Adventures man the oar.  Situated in Quesnel, just south of Prince George, Cariboo River Fishing offers a score of fishing adventures (naturally) along with on-river outings May through September sure to bring out historic-minded adventurists by the boat loads.  For the latter, cast off with a full-day jet boat Mighty Fraser River excursion, an outing that slips enthusiasts down the same watery routes once trekked by paddle wheelers during the Cariboo’s 1860s Gold Rush era.  Here, a jet boat tour may not unearth any riches, but a few nuggets await in the form of wildlife: deer and eagles round out a cast of creatures that call this area home.  Also spotted along the shores?  Long-abandoned gold claims and towering, odd-shaped monoliths - also known as hoodoo formations - that trace back 12 million years.  For further re-tracing of the famed Gold Rush Trail, the adventure operator’s Quesnel River excursion promises up-close views of abandoned mines where, eerily enough, one can view what appear to be recently-vacated remnants of the area’s early settlers.  (A trip highlight includes a stop at Quesnelle Forks, a historic Gold Rush town rife with authentic buildings true to the fevered rush.)  This full-day excursion features a hearty breakfast at the Cariboo River Fishing Lodge, a leisurely river-banked lunch over an open fire and plenty of opportunity to snap a photo or two.  Or perhaps unearth a bit of gold.  www.caribooriverfishing.com

Spring Means First Nations Storytelling in the Kootenay Rockies: Situated between the snow-kissed peaks of the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges in BC’s Kootenay Rockies, St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino promises more than a simple sojourn from the everyday.  Indeed, with a rich Ktunaxa (pronounced “k-too-nah-ha”) heritage that has defined the area for more than 10,000 years, St. Eugene offers a unique glimpse into a traditional way of life, with a decidedly modern twist.  During the Ktunaxa Legend Events, guests to the resort can relish in a re-telling of tales next to a crackling bonfire setting; the evening’s gathering within a Ktunaxa tipi features an intricate weaving of the nation’s tales by Ktunaxa elders over traditional bison stew (bannock bread and a few sips of Ktunaxa tea will provide additional warmth before bunking down in the resort’s historic Mission building).  Originally the site for Western Canada’s first industrial and residential school, St. Eugene has reclaimed its heritage while embracing its natural wonders. Today, the lure of the Les Furber-designed links, 4.5 star accommodation, Rocky Mountain menus and even a casino beckon.  As for the Legend packages, offered March 21, April 4 and April 18, guests will receive deluxe accommodation for two, transportation to and from Cranbrook and ample fire-side tastes of the Ktunaxa culture.  Not to mention you’re certain to have a few storie
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