Goldstream Park - Find Waldo

Today I travelled the short distance from my house to beautiful Goldstream Park. The salmon run appeared to be over but the sun was shining and the park was full of people. For the 28th of December, it was about 6C. It is hard to get a better day. At this time of the year the moss on the trees is spectacular. The river had a number of birds in it looking for the remaining fish carcasses. 

My wife spotted a small bird standing on a rock. This bird turned out to be an amazing swimmer. I am sure it was feeding but I am not sure on what. It would dive into the river and swim back and forth, then surface and stand on a rock with the current rushing by its tiny feet. I called him Waldo....See if you can find Waldo. 

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Undersea Gardens - A Victoria Attraction

One of the better attractions for tourists that is open year round is the Undersea Gardens in the inner harbour of Victoria. This attraction takes you beneath the sea to an exhibit of local marine life. Once an hour they put on a show where a diver brings a variety of sea life right to the windows. You will see up-close and personal octopus, wolf eels and many other local critters. You can also walk through the display and see much more. There is also a touch pool where you can have a really close encounter with sea anemones, starfish and much more. The attraction is open everyday and even during inclement weather, so if the winter rain gets to you, here is a perfect place to get away from the weather. They also have a well stocked gift shop.

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Victoria BC Vocal Ensemble Christmas Entertainment

If you are looking for a nice night out on the town, check out this vocal ensemble on Wednesday evening December 23 at 7:30 pm in the Christ Church Cathedral. For more information, contact 250-652-3508 or this website. Enjoy the "Night Before the Night Before! Get into the Christmas Spirit, purchase your tickets soon!

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Bright City Lights - A Victoria Holiday Tradition

Christmas time is so wonderful. The city is decorated and light displays are everywhere. Two of my favourites are the Harbour Ferries that are decorated and provide an entertaining water ballet of sorts every Friday and Saturday nights around Christmas. Thousands of people also line the streets and roadways throughout the region as the Lighted truck prade of some 80 heavy rigs adorn themselves with lights and travel through many of the Municipalities in the region. There are three sailpasts on the water with boats decorated as well (one in Sidney, one in Oak Bay and one in the Inner Harbour. If you are visiting Victoria over the Holiday Season check out these events or try Butchart Gardens, who are the masters of light displays. Cheers and best of the season.

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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!

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Christmas Art Exhibition Victoria BC -Ho Ho Part One

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.

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