Christmas Spirit: Good Entertainment in Victoria

If you are looking for a festive activity, check out the poster above and take in this event at the Christ Church Cathedral, Wed. Dec 23 at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $25 adults, $22 senior, $10 students, Children under 12 free when accompanied by a ticket holder. Tickets are available at:Ivy’s Bookshop, Christ Church Cathedral office, Larsen Music, Long & McQuade, and from choir members. Tickets also available at the door. Merry Christmas.

Tourism Victoria Gala Event to announce 2010 Leadership

Today at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa Tourism Victoria officially welcomed both the 2010 Board of Directors and the 2010 Destination Marketing Commission (DMC) at the Annual Christmas Luncheon and Elections Meeting.

“This diverse group is a great asset for Tourism Victoria,” said Randy Wright, Tourism Victoria Board Chair. “Their collective knowledge in a variety of markets will provide further guidance to the organization as it markets Victoria as a world class destination.”

“The Tourism Victoria team joins me in welcoming the 2010 Board of Directors and DMC,” said Robert Gialloreto, President & CEO of Tourism Victoria. “We value their contributions and support and look forward to their input as we head into 2010.”



2010 Board of Directors

Board Chair: Randy Wright (Harbour Air Seaplanes), Vice-Chairs, Deirdre Campbell (The Tartan Group), Dave Cowen (The Butchart Gardens),Mandy Farmer (Accent Inns), Reid James (Hotel Grand Pacific), Pauline Rafferty (Royal BC Museum).

Directors: Jim Allard (Hyack Air (1981) Ltd.), Kathleen Burton (Wildplay Westshore Victoria), Don Calveley (The Truffles Group Ltd.), Lynn Hunter (City of Victoria), Martin Leclerc (The Fairmont Empress), Jason Lowe, (Arbutus Ridge Golf Club), Ian MacPhee (Abbeymore Manor B&B Inn), JC Scott, (JC Scott Design Associates).

The 2010 Destination Marketing Commission is comprised of: Chair: Deirdre Campbell (The Tartan Group), and appointed members:Randy Wright (Harbour Air Seaplanes), Robert Gialloreto (CEO Tourism Victoria), Janet Carson (BC Ferry Corporation), Lynn Hunter (City of Victoria), Joan Murrell (Accent Inns), Kimberly Hughes (Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa), James Bogusz (Victoria Airport Authority), Jocelyn Jenkyns (Victoria Conference Centre) and elected members: Brian Friesen (Hotel Grand Pacific), Avril Matthews (Inn at Laurel Point), Graham Bell (Butchart Gardens), Andrea Carey (Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence),
Theresa Mackay (Royal BC Museum), Craig O’Neil (Kenmore Air), Brandon Williams (Harbour Air Seaplanes) and non-voting members: Dave Petryk (Tourism Vancouver Island) and Wanda Boden (KPMG).

Tourism Victoria
Tourism Victoria is the official not-for-profit tourism industry association that works in partnership with over 1,000 business members and municipalities in the Greater Victoria area and surrounding communities of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Canada. Tourism Victoria’s mandate is to increase the economic impact of tourism for Greater Victoria by marketing the destination and servicing visitor needs. For more information about Tourism Victoria, visit www.tourismvictoria.com. These are the folks that keep tourism industry functioning in Great Victoria.

Pictures above:

Top: A sellout crowd at this very special event hosted by Tourism Victoria.
Centre: Audience participation: one person at every table was assigned to cut the turkey...just like with the family at home!

Bottom: The event was also a fund raiser for the Mustard Seed Foodbank. The Victoria Hotel Association raised enough food and funds to fill this enormouse shopping cart!

For more information on Victoria and Vancouver Island Click Here:

Victoria Art Exhibition Ho Ho Part Two Victoria BC

If you are looking for something fascinating to do during the festive season, why not check out the 22 artists who are having an exhibition during the month of December. It opens December 4th and runs through December 31 at the View Art Gallery 104-860 View Street. For more information call 250-213-1162.

For more information on Victoria, click here.

Stay at Hemingway's By the Sea while in Victoria

Ladysmith Christmas Light Up - an Island Spectacle

Last night we drove up the Island to Ladysmith to witness their 22nd annual Chistmas Festival of Lights. It is during the last week of November every year. I suggest you take it in at least once. Thousands of people line the main street in Ladysmith starting around 5 pm. There is a Spaghetti Dinner in one hall and a craft fair in another hall. There are a couple of entertainment stages and the music is piped along main street. Santa arrives at 6:30 to pull the switch and almost instantaneously, the entire street lights up with thousands of lights. They havea 50/50 draw to raise funds. Then the parade starts. The night ends with a pretty fantastic fireworks display. All along main street there are food vendors and people selling lights of various sorts. It is a really festive environment. The mini donuts and the hot chocolate concessions seemed to be the most popular. Check it our next year. Tomorrow night is the Light up in the City of Victoria. See you there.

For more information on Ladysmith, click here.

If you are staying at Hemingway'sby the Sea in Victoria, you are only an hour or so away from Ladysmith.

Victoria Christmas Activities

If you are coming to Victoria during December, there are many things to do. For example the communities of Sidney, Oak Bay and Victoria, all have a sail past. It is very exciting to watch a variety of boats pass all lit up with Christmas Trees. Truckers have a night when they decorate their rigs and drive through the region raising funds and collecting for for the food bank. Today I visited the Queen Alexander Bear exposition. The bears are part of a silent auction to raise funds. Then we went over to the Laurel Point Hotel to see the Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread House fund raiser. These events are on till just before Christmas. If you are in town check around and you will find many more events. There are all kinds of Craft fairs and much more. Butchart Gardens over Christmas is spectacular.

For more information on Victoria, click here. For a great place to stay in Victoria, contact Hemingways by the Sea.

Hark the Haro's Angles Sing at Haro's Lounge in the Pier Hotel in Sidney

To get yourself in the Christmas Spirit, why not try Haro's Lounge in the Pier Hotel and Spa in Sidney. Every Thursday from Nov 26-Dec 17, this event takes place from 5-8 pm, with free appies from 5 to 7 pm. Check it out.

For more information on Sidney, click here!

Looking for a place to Stay over Christmas - Try Hemingway's by the Sea.

Dr. Zonk University of Victoria Special Event

Dr. Zonk performed at UVic last week. This annual fund raising event was fun and spectacular. Two of UVic scientists put on a chemistry show that entertained all. It was a bomb in the end, if you know what I mean. If you are in Victoria, the University of Victoria is one resource that you should tap into. There are lots of entertaining events and sport events there throughout the year. Check with the University Box Office. Spectacular colors, amazing changes, fire and explosions were what kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

For more Victoria information, Click Here.
If you need to stay in Victoria, try Hemingway's by the Sea B&B