Tourism BC Story Ideas, August 2009

• Take it to the Streets: Hot Spots for Catching the Olympic Spirit
• Paragliding for Two in the Kootenay Rockies
• A Beachside Resort Basks in BC's Wine Country
• Fall into Colour in BC's South Cariboo
• Surfs Up: Vancouver Island Hosts Canada's First Pro Surfing Competition
• For Tasty Respite, Head to Northern BC

Take it to the Streets: Hot Spots for Catching the Olympic Spirit: It's an open secret that sports are just part of the Olympic Games experience. Now for the flip side: where's the party? The places to be during the 2010 Winter Games – when not actually cheering at the finish line – will be at one of the celebration sites hosted by the City of Vancouver, the City of Richmond and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The sites, set to open in February, 2010, will each offer a roster of family-friendly events, including big-screen broadcasts of the competitions and medal ceremonies, live music, and special guest appearances.

Vancouver's two LiveCity sites will be at West Georgia and Beatty streets near BC Place Stadium, and a few blocks away at Yaletown's David Lam Park, with a pedestrian route linking the two. The Georgia Street site will stay open through the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and live on as a cultural legacy for the city. Vancouver's Robson Square will also draw crowds with athletic demonstrations, family events, outdoor ice skating and more. www.tourismvancouver.com

The party continues at the O Zone in Richmond, where visitors can take a spin at the Ice Zone (an ice rink boasting a high–tech lighting system), view interactive public art, and catch multicultural acts at the Main Stage, featuring a host of international headliners and local talents. Sure to be a second home for speed skating nations, visitors can also view the Ice Gate, an ice art installation created by renowned west coast artist Gordon Halloran, and visit Holland House, an entertainment and hospitality venue expected to draw 6,000 visitors daily. And here's something else to celebrate: the new Canada Line, part of Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system, can whisk fans between the Richmond and Vancouver celebration sites in minutes. www.tourismrichmond.com

In Whistler, six celebration sites each have a theme: from family fun at Town Plaza and live music at Village Square, to fringe theatre at Village Common and circus arts, dance, and Aboriginal performances at Mountain Square. The main site, Whistler Medals Plaza, will host Medal Ceremonies, live competition broadcasts and the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies. (Tickets will be issued for crowd control at Whistler Medals Plaza; details to be announced at vancouver2010.com.) And - because Whistler will be open for public skiing throughout the 2010 Winter Games – skiers and boarders can catch shows and updates at Skiers' Plaza as they hop on and off the gondolas. Time to celebrate. www.tourismwhistler.com

For more destination story ideas related to the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.destination2010.ca or to read more story ideas from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, visit www.hellobc.com/vcmbcmedia.

Back to top ▲

Paragliding for Two in the Kootenay Rockies: Looking to take the adventure into the clouds? Soar with Altitude Adventures, where tandem paragliding hits new heights, and elevations of up to 12,000 feet will showcase a Kootenay Rockies region rich with peaks and valleys. Sailing above the wilds near Golden June through October, postcard-pretty landscapes are just part of the exhilaration here: yours is a high accomplished via a specially-designed harness attached to a hi-tech inflatable wing that unfolds from your backpack. And with your own captain at the controls, you'll be piloted, minus the motor, with nothing between your boots and the ground but the wind. (A pre-flight briefing will provide the prep, along with simple instruction on how to work with your pilot for smooth launches and landings.) Once in the air, turn on the auto focus, as pilots provide the perfect vantage point – plus a little commentary - for unbelievable footage. And there's little wonder why: with a launching pad fixed on famed Mount 7 – where every Canadian time and distance record for tandem and single glides has been set – there's no better spot to catch the wind. Add to this that qualified pilots with over 30 years experience, trained and approved under the standards of the Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association of Canada, give you the skilled glide-power. Minus the in-flight snacks. www.altitudeadventures.ca

To read more story ideas from the Kootenay Rockies region, visit www.hellobc.com/krbcmedia.

Back to top ▲

A Beachside Resort Basks in BC's Wine Country: Within a region rife with vintage offerings, the Thompson O
[Back to Press Releases Main]