THE LOGOS OF THE SEATTLE KRAKEN AND VANCOUVER'S SYLVIA HOTEL ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR

 

The Seattle Kraken, which joined the National Hockey League's Pacific Division of the Western Conference in 2021, calls Climate Pledge Arena their home. The team's name, Kraken, is derived from the mythical kraken of Scandinavian folklore and its resemblance to the native giant Pacific octopus, found in the waters of Puget Sound. The colorful logo was created by Seattle's Cody Pearson Design. 

"Kraken: A fabulous Scandinavian sea monster perhaps imagined on the basis of chance sights of giant squids. It appears in literature in a poem of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's juvenilia called "The Kraken".

 Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

Vancouver's Sylvia Hotel opened on May 13, 1913 as a 70-unit apartment building. Known then as Sylvia Court, it was the tallest building in the city. In 1975, the City of Vancouver designated the Sylvia a heritage building, one of the few publicly accessible heritage buildings in Vancouver.

The hotel is located on English Bay in Vancouver's West End. Boston ivy, a trademark feature of the hotel, covers more than half of the property in seasonal colors. The vines are the legacy of one of Sylvia Court’s first tenants, Mrs. Kenvyn, who started the plant after World War II.

On July 2, 1954, the medieval themed TILTING ROOM opened at the Sylvia Hotel, making it Vancouver's first cocktail lounge. Pictured above is a photo I took of the hotel's cocktail menu while visiting Vancouver during the city's 2018 Celebration of Light, an annual fireworks competition. 

This year's fireworks competition on English Bay, Honda Celebration of Light, will be held July 22-29, 2023. The three countries participating are Australia, Mexico and the Philippines. I took the fireworks photo from the Sylvia Hotel while dining on their outdoor patio.

PS: The burger and fries were delicious! 

©SueFrausePhotos

 

VANCOUVER HOTEL NEWS: BYE-BYE TRUMP, HELLO PARADOX!

 

Trump International Hotel & Tower in Vancouver (2017)
©SueFrausePhotos 

Bye-bye Trump, Hello Paradox! Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump no longer has free room and board when he visits Vancouver. The Trump International Hotel, which opened in 2017, closed its doors in 2020. 

In April 2022, the Paradox Hotel Vancouver made its debut in the former Trump property. Located in downtown's Coal Harbour, it is the flagship location for Paradox Hotel Group, whose other properties include the Summit Lodge and Aava Hotel in Whistler, plus locations in Phuket and Singapore. 

Located in the 63-story twisty tower designed by the late Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson, the hotel features 147 guest rooms on the lower portion of the tower.  Among the amenities at the hotel on West Georgia are an indoor pool and walk-out whirlpool, fitness center and Xylia Natural Spa.

A hotel room at the Paradox Hotel. 

Dining options at the Paradox include Karma Lounge (open daily at 11AM); Mott 32 (a modern approach to Chinese Cuisine) and the Mansion Night Club (open Friday-Saturday evenings). In-room dining is available via Karma Lounge.

PARADOX

1161 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC

236.900.6001

hello@paradoxhotels.com

During the week of 11/06/22, a check on the hotel's website lists room rates starting at $236.55 CAD ($175.49 US).  

hotel room at the Paradox Hotel Vancouver.

Amtrak Cascades resumes service between Seattle and Vancouver BC

It's what many Vancouver BC bound travelers have been waiting for! With Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Vancouver suspended since 2020 due to the pandemic, I heaved a huge sigh of relief and gave a virtual fist pump when I discovered the trains will roll again between the two cities on September 26, 2022. 

The reason for the delay in resumption of service is that Amtrak was working in conjunction with WSDOT, ODOT, VIA Rail Canada and other federal agencies. Lots of chefs in the kitchen!

The first Amtrak Cascades train north to Vancouver will depart Seattle at 745AM on Monday, September 26 -- stopping at its usual five cities along the way (Edmonds-Everett-Stanwood-Mount Vernon-Bellingham) and arriving in Vancouver at 11:45AM. The southbound train will depart Vancouver at 5:45PM and arrive in Seattle at 10:10 PM. 

A single roundtrip is offered daily, with a second daily trip added in the future as Amtrak staffing and equipment allow. The popular Amtrak Cascades route also offers three daily round trips between Portland and Seattle, two daily round trips between Eugene and Portland, along with two daily buses between Seattle and Bellingham and four daily buses between Seattle and Vancouver BC. 

In addition to the standard entry documentation requirements, the Canadian and US Governments have several additional requirements for travel into Canada and the United States. Those not meeting the criteria will not be allowed to cross the border. 

TRAVEL INTO CANADA

All passengers must use the ArriveCAN app before travel and wear a mask in Canadian stations and on board trains while traveling through Canada. Non-Canadian citizens must be fully vaccinated and carry the vaccination record that was uploaded into ArriveCAN. See details on the Government of Canada and Via Rail websites.

TRAVEL INTO UNITED STATES

Non-US citizen passengers must be fully vaccinated with a U.S.FDA or WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine. Details on the US Department of Homeland Security website. 

TICKETS

Travelers may purchase tickets online at Amtrak.com and AmtrakCascades.com or by calling 800.USA.RAIL.

FLIX BUS: NEW SERVICE DEBUTS THIS SPRING BETWEEN SEATTLE & VANCOUVER BC

 

There's a new bus service between Vancouver BC and Seattle that makes its debut this month. With Amtrak Cascades announcing it will not resume train service between the two cities until the end of 2022, this is welcome news for travelers who would rather take the bus and leave the driving to them. Count me in! 

FlixBus is scheduled to provide cross border service between Seattle and Vancouver beginning Thursday, May 26. One-way tickets are $17.99. The trip also includes stops in Everett and Bellingham. 

That's good news for me, since Everett is my closest departure point, and the fare from Everett to Vancouver is $15.99. There's also a $2.25 service fee. For add-ons, is you can select your seat for an additional $1.49 and travel neighbor free for an added $4. Complimentary onboard amenities include extra leg room, free Wi-Fi and power outlets.

The cross-border bus service runs five days a week in both directions, Thursday thru Monday. The Seattle bus departs for Vancouver at 7:30 AM from the International District, arriving in Vancouver at the Richards Street-Waterfront Station at 11:40AM . The bright green bus departs Everett at 8:20 AM and 9:30AM from Bellingham. Return trips to Seattle depart Vancouver twice daily at 12:45PM and 3PM. 

ENTERING CANADA

You must use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information before and after your entry into Canada. The mobile app is free to use. Details and download apps available online. And of course bring proof of identity (US passport, passport card or NEXUS card). 

SAIL FROM PORT ANGELES, WA TO VICTORIA, BC WITH OVERNIGHT PACKAGES VIA BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

M/V Coho arrives in Victoria's Inner Habour 
©SueFrausePhoto

With Washington State Ferries canceling its Anacortes to SidneyBC route this spring and summer due to crew shortages, it will be more challenging to get to Vancouver Island from my home state of Washington. Oh sure, you can drive north of the US/Canada border to Tsawwassen and take BC Ferries to Swartz Bay, north of Victoria. The Victoria Clipper V ferry makes the nearly three-hour trip between Seattle and downtown Victoria, and Kenmore Air has daily 45-minute float plane service between Seattle's Lake Union and Victoria. But for folks like me living on Whidbey Island, a better and less expensive option is taking the Black Ball Ferry Line from Port Angeles on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Victoria, BC.

I've taken the Black Ball's MV Coho several times in the past few years; once with my vehicle and another time as a walk-on. I prefer the latter. The Coho was built in Seattle for $3 million in 1959, and at the time it was the most expensive and largest privately funded passenger and vehicle ferry built in North America. 

The 90-minute sailing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca provides wide-open views of the Olympics, with plenty of wildlife sightings, including eagles and whales. While onboard, enjoy the comfy interior lounges, solarium, pet-friendly zones, cafeteria, gift shop and duty free store. The ship docks in Victoria's Inner Harbour and if you walked on instead of taking your vehicle, many of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are within walking distance. For more information, visit Tourism Victoria's website. 

BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria's Inner Harbour 
©SueFrausePhoto

Black Ball Ferry Line has a variety of hotel partners within walking distance from its Victoria terminal in the Inner Harbour. And when two adults travel with a hotel package, up to two children ages 11 and older may stay and sail for free. In addition to hotel packages, Black ball also offer various attractions such as Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, IMAX and a traditional afternoon tea. Here are two of the hotels that are offered, both of which I've enjoyed over the years. 

The Oswego Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

The Oswego Hotel is a boutique hotel located steps away from the Inner Harbour and downtown Victoria. The hotel features a modern design and luxury amenities. All suites have gourmet kitchens, while the elegant bathrooms include soaker tubs and separate showers. The onsite Bar500 serves authentic West Coast Italian cuisine. Room rate per person including ferry: From $126 USD.

Inn at Laurel Point
©SueFrausePhoto

The Inn at Laurel Point is located in downtown Victoria on the edge of the Inner Harbour, within easy walking distance of the Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park and downtown shopping. The inn prides itself in being a haven for travelers wanting an authentic West Coast experience, offering opportunities to reconnect with nature. Their newly landscaped award winning gardens are now open. Room rate per person including ferry: From $142 US. 

The Butchart Gardens 

Black Ball Ferry Line also offers Day Trip Packages, for those not spending the night. One of the more popular ones is The Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of floral displays spanning a century. The package, from $108 USD per person, includes: 

• Black Ball Ferry fare
• Admission to The Butchart Gardens
• Round-trip shuttle from downtown Victoria to The Butchart Gardens 

The MV Coho arrives in Port Angeles, Washington
©SueFrausePhoto

BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

Click on for schedule/reservations/packages

Port Angeles Terminal

101 E. Railroad Avenue

888-99-FERRY

Victoria Terminal 

430 Belleville Street

800-COHO-475

COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS

Effective April 1, 2022, pre-arrival COVID testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. 

Please Note: Filling out information on ArriveCAN is still required, and must be filled out within 72 hours of entering Canada and prior to arriving at the Port Angeles, WA terminal. Visit Black Ball's COVID-19 requirements for more information. 

CANADA REOPENS CRUISING AFTER TWO-YEAR ABSENCE: HOLLAND AMERICA"S KONINGSDAM ARRIVES IN VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Holland America's Koningsdam plies the waters of Vancouver's Burrard Inlet en route to the Port of Vancouver, its homeport for the summer Alaska season.

Holland America Line is the first cruise line to return to Canadian cruising following a 2+ year industrywide pause due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.  

On Saturday, April 9, 2022 the Koningsdam was the first ship to return to Victoria in 905 days. And on the following Sunday, April 10, the Koningsdam arrived in Vancouver, the first ship back in port in more than two years. The day was filled with events that included a pier side celebratory ceremony and an onboard plaque exchange to commemorate Koningsdam's first-ever call at Vancouver. 

In 2022, six Holland America Line ships will call at Victoria and Vancouver for the Alaska cruise season. In total, the six ships will make 45 calls at Victoria and bring nearly 75,000 guests to the port. In Vancouver, 76 cruises will begin or end in the city, welcoming approximately 140,000 guests. 

For Canada and New England cruising on the East Coast, two ships return in May, cruising between Boston, Massachusetts and Quebec City or Montreal. The Nieuw Statendam and Zaandam offer itineraries ranging from 7-24 days to more than a dozen Canadian ports.

Koningsdam's Grand Dutch Cafe

GOOD NEWS FROM CANADA: PRE-ENTRY COVID TESTS NO LONGER NEEDED (BUT WHEN IS AMTRAK RESUMING SERVICE TO VANCOUVER, BC?)

Vehicles in line at the Peace Arch Crossing into Canada at Blaine, WA

On April 1, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water,

But travelers arriving in Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, may still need to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival if selected  for mandatory random testing. The good news is travelers selected are not required to quarantine while awaiting test results.

For partially or unvaccinated travelers who are currently allowed to travel to Canada, pre-entry testing requirements are NOT changing. Details may be found on the Government of Canada website. 

REMINDER: All travelers will continue to be required to submit their mandatory information to ArriveCan (free mobile app or website) before their arrival in Canada. Travelers who do not complete their ArriveCAN submission before arriving in Canada may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status. 

THE TRAIN! THE TRAIN!

My preferred way to travel to Vancouver, BC is via Amtrak Cascades. In fact the last time I traveled to Canada (pre-pandemic), I took the train from Everett to Vancouver. But when COVID-19 hit, the border between the US-Canada was closed. Which meant that Amtrak suspended service between the two countries. 

With Canada now opening its border, I'm more than ready to hear the cry, All Aboard! Not so fast, Sue, as the trains are not yet rolling. I contacted Amtrak Media Relations on March 31, 2022 with this email: 

Hello ~ Just checking in regarding the restoration of Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver BC. If you have a locked-in date, I would like to be aboard the train from Everett, WA to Vancouver, BC. I was on the initial train to Vancouver when service was implemented in 1995, and have been aboard numerous times in the past quarter century -- sharing my journeys through words and photographs. I Look forward to returning to this wonderful train ride soon ~ I have missed my adventures in British Columbia! Thank You, Sue Frause

This was the response I received from the Amtrak PR Manager several days later: "There is not a return date at this time, but I will do my best to keep you updated." 

Until that time, I'll make sure my US passport is up to date (I'm good until 2026) and I'll fill out the mandatory information on the ArriveCAN site (details in the link above). Plus dig out my loonies and toonies from previous Canadian adventures. 

O Canada ~ I've missed you so!

Vancouver's Olympic Cauldron was lit for the 2010 Winter Games. It is now a permanent landmark on Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre. 

©SueFrausePhotos

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER SARAH McLACHLAN TO PERFORM SPECIAL CONCERT AT BRITISH COLUMBIA'S CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS LODGE

©SueFrausePhoto

Sarah McLachlan, one of my favorite Canadian singer-songwriters, will be part of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge's opening weekend celebration May 12-15, 2022. 

Billed as the Sounds of the Sounds concert, guests will be treated to an intimate acoustic performance by the Grammy and Juno Award winning artist, who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Playing against the beautiful backdrop of Canada's pristine wilderness, the special weekend package includes the concert plus the usual offerings of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge:

 

• Three nights' luxury tented accommodations
• All gourmet dining/premium beverages/snacks
• Signature guided experiences
• 60-minute Healing Grounds Spa massage

Rate for three nights per person, twin share, is $3,566 CAD ($2,781 USD). Excludes transfers, taxes and fees. 

A portion of the proceeds from the weekend's bookings will go directly to the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, whose mission is to provide high quality music education at no cost to underserved and at-risk youth.

CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS LODGE

Click on for more details and reservations

The easiest and quickest way to get to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is to take a scenic 45-minute seaplane flight from Vancouver International Airport directly to the resort dock on Clayoquot Sound. 

CANADIAN ADVENTURE: KLAHOOSE WILDERNESS RESORT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA'S DESOLATION SOUND

Interpreters at Klahoose Wilderness Resort.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort, perched on the water's edge of Homfray Channel in the temperate rain forest between BC's Coast Mountains and Desolation Sound on the Sunshine Coast, is located on Klahoose Nation traditional territory. Formerly Homfray Lodge, the Klahoose Nation purchased the lodge in 2020, with a focus on Indigenous adventure travel.

"Welcoming visitors to our territory and home brings opportunities and strengthens Klahoose First Nations' framework of modern life and aligns with our community vision for the future," says Chief Kevin Peacey. 

Photo by Regan Hatley

The eco-resort opened in the spring of 2021. Its 6,100-square-foot cedar timber structure accommodates 14-26 guests among four spacious rooms in the main lodge and in three private one and two-bedroom cabins. Decor in the lodge rooms and cabins features local Indigenous artwork from surrounding communities. 

Main Great Room 

Lodge Room 

Klahoose Wilderness Resort Cabin

The Desolation Sound resort operates from mid-may to mid-October. Local Indigenous guides, cultural interpreters and knowledgeable hosts lead cultural programming and wilderness experience. Adventures range from sea kayaking and boat excursions to the Klahoose's cultural center on Cortes Island. There is also heli-sightseeing and grizzly bear viewing excursions in Toba Inlet.

Nightly Campfires

As far as getting there, the resort may be accessed from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Seattle and beyond. Pacific Coastal Airlines offers regularly scheduled flights to Powell River, and travel is also available via BC Ferries along with chartered boat, seaplane and helicopters. 

Two all-inclusive packages are available during the two seasons: 

Discover Kahoose Package

May 12-August 24, 2022

Grizzly Bears of Toba Inlet Package

 August 25-October 13, 2022

Included in the rates, which range from $2,395 to $3,395 per person, are accommodations, meals, Wi-Fi, boat transfer from Lund to the resort, pick-up from Powell River Airport and grizzly bear viewing excursion in Toba Inlet. Not included are taxes, service fee, flights and heli-sightseeing. 

Packages are based on a three-night stay arriving Thursday and departing Sunday, and a four-night stay arriving Sunday and departing Thursday. 

Klahoose Wilderness Resort

250.935.8539

#203-4400 Marine Avenue

Powell River, BC, Canada V6B 5A7

All photographs courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort unless otherwise noted.

 

SEATTLE'S MAYFLOWER PARK HOTEL WELCOMES BACK CANADIANS WITH A SPECIAL PACKAGE

Lobby of the Mayflower Park Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

Now that the border between the US and Canada has reopened, Seattle's Mayflower Park Hotel is welcoming back its neighbors to the north with a special package.

LOVE THY CANADIAN NEIGHBOUR PACKAGE

• 12% off the hotel's Flexible rate on all guest rooms/suites
• $30 valet parking (normally $45 per night)
• 2 glasses of Washington wine in Oliver's Lounge

The package may be booked online. To receive this exclusive offer, please show your Canadian ID during check-in. 

Suite at the Mayflower Park Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

MAYFLOWER PARK HOTEL

"Celebrating 94 Years"

405 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101

800.426.5100 or 206.623.8700 

LE GERMAIN HOTEL MONTREAL UNVEILS COLORFUL MURAL

Le Germain Hotel Montreal recently unveiled a major project collaboration with the MURAL Festival of Montreal, North America's largest urban art festival. The boutique hotel now displays a permanent mural on its front facade, designed by Canadian artist Michelle Hoogvelt. 

Following its reopening after extensive renovations, Le Germain Hotel Montreal pursued its innovative relaunch by bringing an elegant touch to downtown Montreal. The initiative is part of the 2021 Mural Arts Program by the City of Montreal to revitalize its neighborhoods. It also contributes to the revival of the downtown area, at a time when art provides solace and gives hope for a desired return to normal. 

Contemporary painter and mural artist Michelle Hoogveld, a Calgary native turned Montrealer, stayed at Le Germain Hotel Montreal for one week prior to beginning the project and throughout the completion of the piece. "It allowed me to soak up the energy of the hotel and add these new feelings to my mural," said Hoogveld. "It's even more emotionally charged," added the artist, who utilizes color to convey her emotions. 

Towering at more than 171 feet, the artist had to work on a platform suspended from the roof of the hotel to apply the 80 different colors. The mural dramatically transforms the hotel's exterior.

Hoogveld's colorful works may be seen around the globe, in both the private and public realm. She creates her work on canvas and walls, and in Canada they may be seen in Montreal, Quebec, Charlevoix, Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary. Her work is also on display in the United States, Mexico, Peru, England, Portugal and Germany. 

Germain Hotels, pioneer of the boutique hotel concept in Canada, is a family-run business founded in Quebec in 1988. Its portfolio includes 18 properties across the country under the Le Germain, Alt and Escad banners.  

MANDATORY MASKS POLICY RETURNS TO BC FERRIES

©SueFrausePhoto

Beginning August 25, regardless of vaccination status, masks will once again be mandatory aboard all BC Ferries and inside terminals for travelers 12 years of age and older. Exceptions include: 

• Travelers who are inside a vehicle or consuming food/beverages in BC Ferries' designated areas.
• Travelers with an underlying medical condition or disability that disallows the ability to wear a mask.
• Travelers unable to place/remove a face covering without assistance.
• Children under two years of age.

BC Ferries has a zero tolerance policy for abuse toward employees, which includes verbal abuse. Service will be denied to customers who abuse employees. Travel bans may be imposed. 

BC's Response to Covid 19 via the official website of the Government of British Columbia 

MUIR, A NEW LUXURY HOTEL ON THE HALIFAX WATERFRONT, OPENING FALL 2021

So many places I want to visit in Canada, especially since the US/Canada border has been closed since March of 2020 -- and with no end in sight. The latest word from the Canadian government is it will remain closed at least through July 21, 2021. I'm hoping it reopens by autumn, as that's when the new Muir hotel opens on the waterfront in downtown Halifax.  

I last visited Halifax in 2009 while on my Great Big Canadian Train Adventure from Halifax west to Vancouver, so I'm long overdue in seeing what's new in the past dozen years.  Among the hotel openings in the fall of 2021 is Muir, located on the waterfront in the center of downtown Halifax. Featuring 109 rooms and suites, their website has launched and the hotel is accepting reservations. I'm so there, even if only virtually! 

Guest rooms and suites feature a collection of custom, made-in-Canada furniture including a floating worktable, custom full-size bar, walnut-framed beds and white oak walls. The warmth of traditional Nova Scotia is reflected in a modern Muir tartan blanket and braided rug. Expansive windows look out to ocean views and the spa-like bathrooms feature rain showers and marble-lined tubs. Each of the rooms and suites showcases an original Nova Scotia landscape painting and there's also an in-house art gallery.

Windward Wellness is Muir's fitness center and for relaxation there is a spa pool, cold plunge pool, salt room, steam room and infrared sauna. Kayaks, paddle boards and bicycles are complimentary, along with access to the Muir yacht and motorboat.

Muir's waterfront restaurant Drift serves modern takes on classic Atlantic Canadian dishes. The seasonal patio looks out onto harbor views, and inside is a spacious bar. A 'secret' speakeasy, BKS, features libations inspired by Nova Scotia's rum-running past. Ballast Bar is Muir's seasonal raw bar, featuring fresh seafood. 

Muir 

1709 Lower Water Street

Halifax, NS

info@muirhotel.com 

Muir is an Autograph Collection Hotel and a Marriott Bonvoy Member

Interior renderings by Studio Munge 

SPRING INTO ART! VANCOUVER ART GALLERY OFFERS FREE VIRTUAL SPRING BREAK FAMILY PROGRAMS MARCH 15-19

 

US citizens may not be able to visit Canada during COVID-19 due to the US-Canada border closure, but families on both sides of the border can tap into the Vancouver Art Gallery's Spring Into Art,  offered online from March 15-19, 2021. The daily online art making sessions are free, and workshops are led by Family Programs Coordinator Christina Jones and/or a local artist, who will share their artworks and demonstrate activities. Open to all ages and abilities. 

MARCH 15 - 1PM | Amabie Postcard Project w/Cindy Mochizuki

Learn about Amabie, a Japanese yokai first documented in the Higo prefecture (now known as Kumamoto). Create your own Amabie postcard to send to a friend or family member with a lucky message of care and good health. This yokai is the subject of visual artist Cindy Mochizuki's animated film Amabie, on view in the exhibition Stories that animate us. In the story, a mermaid-like creature appeared as a glowing green light with three fish-like legs, scales and a beak. She was said to have passed the message to those who spotted her: "Good harvests will continue for six years, but, if disease spreads, show a picture of me to those who fall ill, and they will be cured." This story was largely forgotten until the 2020 pandemic, when people took to social media creating their own illustrated versions of Amabie as part of the #amabiechallenge. 

MARCH 16 - 1PM | Virtual Studio Tour with Sonny Assu

Find out more about the materials, stories and ideas that inspire interdisciplinary artist Sonny Assu as he gives a private tour of his art studio. The tour includes behind-the-scenes access into Assu's artistic practice and how his creations come to life. Assu's work is on view in the exhibition Uncommon Language. 

MARCH 17 - 1PM | Playing with Sound and Movement

A special screening of Allison Hrabluik's film The Splits will be shown. Hrabluik contacted people for the film who she thought moved in interesting ways -- starting with gymnasts, a hula hooper and weightlifters who moved in athletic ways. she also incorporated other ways of performing like opera, burlesque, amateur music and how people move at work and with animals. "I also incorporated elements of our lives that lean toward the grotesque -- the salmi makers and the hotdog eater," explained Hrabluik. "I was interested in the similarities between the different actions performed." Taking inspiration from The Splits, participants will experiment with surprising combinations of actions and sounds effects. 

MARCH 18 - 1PM | Space Comics with Cole Pauls

Award-winning writer, printmaker and illustraor Cole Pauls uses comic arts as a way to celebrate his Tahitan culture. Inspired by settings in outer space, participants will work with Pauls to create a zine that tells your story. 

MARCH 19 - 1PM | Transformation and Imagination: Animal Collages with Sandeep Johal

Sandeep Johal uses shapes and lines inspired by her South Asian heritage to tell stories. Participants will tell their stories by transforming shapes, patterns and colored paper in creating their own imagined animal collage.

REGISTRATION | PROGRAM COST IS FREE

https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/spring-into-art

EMILY CARR: FRESH SEEING - French Modernism and the West Coast opens at Victoria's Royal BC Museum

Emily Carr, T’anuu ‘Llnagaay, Haida Gwaii. Carr painted T'anuu on her first trip to Haida Gwaii after her return from France. The Post-Impressionist influce may be seen in the cloud details. 

Here is yet another reason why I'm missing my adventures in British Columbia and beyond during the global pandemic. Emily Carr: Fresh Seeing ~ French Modernism and the West Coast has opened at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. It's the last stop on the exhibition's cross-Canada tour, with the addition of paintings and archival materials from the museum's permanent collection. The exhibition captures the moment Carr revolutionized her painting style -- emerging as a Canadian modernist -- following her 16-month trip to France in 1911. 

Picnic with Haida guides and old Billie dog, 1912

On her return from France, Emily Carr (center) travelled to Haida Gwaii with her dog, Billie. She was hosted by the Russ family (Clara Russ at right) and other Indigenous families who offered support and guidance.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from Victoria to France and back to British Columbia as Carr immerses herself in the world of modernist art. Her paintings from this period are displayed chronologically, growing in size/scope/color that developed into the iconic style for which Carr is known internationally. Says co-curator Dr. Kathryn Bridge, "I honestly believe that without her time in France, Emily Carr would never have become the great artist we know today."

                                             Emily Carr: Crecy-en-Brie

Carr visited Crecy-en-Brie while in France. This painting is part of the Royal BC Museum's permanent collection. 

Emily Carr: Fresh Seeing includes 67 artworks by Carr and her compatriots in France, which chart Carr's transformation into an artist of the Canadian avant-garde. An additional exhibition, Everyday Emily Carr, features 22 examples of Carr's portraiture from the Royal BC Museum's own collections -- they range from sketches to small watercolors, along with one of Carr's hooked rugs. 

Emily Carr: Fresh Seeing - French Modernism and the West Coast 

Royal BC Museum 

675 Belleville Street

Victoria, BC 

All visitors required timed tickets, available online for advance purchase. 

Adults $22.95 - Students & Seniors $14.95 - Youth $13.95

The exhibition runs through January 24, 2021

 Photos courtesy Royal BC Museum

BC Ferries Requires Face Coverings (Masks)

©SueFrausePhoto

All passengers traveling with BC Ferries will be required to wear a face covering (mask) that covers their mouth and nose when in a situation where a physical separation of two meters (6.5 feet) can't be maintained. 

BC Ferries implements the requirement in keeping with directives and guidance provided by Transport Canada. It goes into effect on June 15, 2020 for routes longer than 30 minutes. The new requirement applies to all passengers over the age of two, including passengers traveling in a vehicle. 

Passengers will be asked to confirm they have a face covering and are willing to wear it when necessary. If a passenger answers 'no' or fails to answer, they will be unable to travel. Customers must provide their own masks -- BC Ferries will not supply them to travelers. 

BC Ferries will also continue screening all customers for COVID-19 symptoms and restrict travel to any customer who does not meet the screening requirements, as per the federal guidelines. BC Ferries is allowing customers to remain in their vehicles on all decks during the sailing and enhanced cleaning. 

NOTE ~ The U.S. and Canada are restricting all non-essential travel across its borders.  In simpler terms, the border between the U.S. and Canada is closed. 

Washington State Ferries - Start of spring sailings between Anacortes and BC delayed due to COVID-19

Washington State Ferries has delayed service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC for one month.
©SueFrausePhoto

Washington State Ferries is delaying the start of its international service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. The one-month delay in the start of the spring service means the ferries won't resume running until April 28, 2020. 

Note: This does not affect domestic service. WSF will continue to make its regularly scheduled domestic stops in the San Juan Islands.

Reservations made on sailings to Sidney through April 28 will automatically be canceled. Customers may make new vehicle reservations for dates after April 28 -- but be advised this date is subject to change.