We stood out on a dock at Lac Beauvert in Jasper, on an October night so clear that the only clouds around were the ones we made with our breath. Across the lake, the bass from a wedding party thumped at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and above us hung a moon so full we didn’t need flashlights. John set up a tripod, while I doubled up on my gloves, and we attempted our first night time/stargazing photography session.

The full moon made it tough to capture all of the twinkles above but we were in such a fantastic location, that even our rookie attempts turned out pretty good. It’s such a wondrous feeling to look up into the night sky and see it shimmering from one end of the horizon to the other – such an awe-inspiring sight is rarely experienced in the big city because of all of the light pollution getting in the way. Luckily, there are several Dark Sky Preserves across the country so if you truly wanted to get away from it all and stare up at galaxies far, far away, you can in these very special places.

The Royal Astronomical Association of Canada (“RASC”) has several formal guidelines and requirements for becoming a Dark Sky Preserve, an Urban Star Park or Nocturnal Preserves.

In Alberta, there are three Dark Sky Preserves and it just so happens then John and I visited two of them on our recent trip: Beaver Hills at Elk Island National Park, Jasper National Park, and Wood Buffalo National Park.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Follow the Athabasca Glacier up to the Milky Way in this stunning national park, ripe with photo opportunities day and night. In October, Jasper hosts the Dark Sky Festival that features free community events with the TELUS World of Science Edmonton and RASC (that include fun family activities like building your own pop bottle rockets), as well as paid keynote addresses from some of the world’s most celebrated scientific (and entertaining) personalities.

John and I were in town for the Dark Sky Festival and we were able to sit in on a keynote with Commander Chris Hadfield as well as a trio of Mythbusters (Tori Belleci, Kari Byron and Grant Imahara). The festival included some nightly wine & dine events as well as generous samplings of the Jasper Brewing Co‘s Dark Sky Dark Rye Lager.

This legendary Rocky Mountain park has a bustling town centre, resort lodges, SkyTram, and skiing at Marmot Basin. It was gorgeous in the fall, when we drove up the Icefields Parkway from Banff, and I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to ski or snowshoe on a winter’s day, hug a mug of hot chocolate by the fire in the evening, and step outside to view the Northern Lights painting the stars in a brilliant green hue at night.

Dark Sky Preserve at Elk Island

Our second Dark Sky experience in Alberta was when we discovered Elk Island National Park, located roughly 40km east of Edmonton and home to hundreds of bison, a thousand beavers, and over 250 bird species.

Elk Island was founded in 1906, becoming Canada’s first wildlife sanctuary, and we toured the bison handling facility with two Parks Canada rangers who explained how these magnificent animals were brought back from near extinction. Around the turn of the century, after having a booming population of over 30 million, fewer than 200 plains bison were left in the world.

Today, Elk Island is home to 5% of the world’s bison population, with over 450 Plains Bison and over 300 Wood Bison, and they experience 20% herd growth each year.

At 194 square kilometres, it is Canada’s only fenced national park, and its wetlands and forests provide the ideal home base for those looking to look up at a clear night sky. The visitor centre is open year-round and camping is available from May to October. Photograph bison at sunrise, have an afternoon picnic by the lake, enjoy an evening campfire as the Northern Lights flicker above, and definitely get in some stargazing.

You’re only half an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Edmonton but you will feel like you’re in an entirely different part of the world. A place where the trembling aspen glow bright yellow in the fall as herds of elk graze beside swollen ponds, where busy beavers build up their lodges. We’re already planning to return in the spring to camp and canoe, and of course get in some dark sky viewing – and photography now that we have some experience.

Leave the city behind and explore another side of Alberta, while staring up at the universe, and discovering all that you can see and do under dark skies.

View all of John’s photos from our trip in his Flickr album, and find mine on Flickr and Instagram.

Robson and Granville on May 4, 1969
Photographer: Ernie H. Reksten
Archives: #2010-006.097

This image made available by the City of Vancouver Archives. Click here for the large version, to spot stores like House of Christmas, Manly Hat Shop, and Ladies City.

This intersection sure has changed over the years. In the 1970s it became home to Eaton’s at Pacific Centre, followed by Sears. This fall Nordstrom moved in and changed the landscape once again.

Up in the crisp North Shore mountain air, with the aroma of evergreens and a rushing river below, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is lit up with thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights for the 10th year of Canyon Lights. Featuring the world’s tallest living Christmas tree — a 250 year old Douglas-fir at 153 feet tall and still growing! — Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge offers a festive experience for families from near and far.

Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge

Canyon Lights

• Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
  (3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver)
• When: On now until January 3, 2016 (closed Christmas Day)
  11:00am to 9:00pm
• Admission: Purchase online in advance or at the park. Individual tickets available or in Family Packs of 3 and 4. Canyon Lights tickets are valid all day with holiday activities beginning at 4:00pm. Capilano operates a free shuttle to and from Canada Place.

The entire Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, including the Cliffwalk and the Treetops Adventure, will sparkle amongst the trees. Warm up in the comfort of the new Winter Pavilion with a cup of hot chocolate and a gingerbread cookie, do a scavenger hunt around the historic park, and sing along with carollers.

Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge

Partial proceeds from Canyon Lights ticket sales will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund for fire and burn education in BC schools. To date, Canyon Lights has raised over $192,000 for this worthy program. In addition, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park will continue hosting 12 community nights for local charities.

Canyon Lights Giveaway

Canyon Lights is now in its 10th year and for the 7th year, I have an awesome prize package up for grabs (valued at $200) that includes:

• Family pack of passes to Canyon Lights (2 adults and 2 kids 16 and under)
• Four fudge vouchers valid for a piece of fudge at the Trading Post Gift Shop
• Four small hot chocolates
• Holiday tree decoration from the Trading Post Gift Store
• … and some extra goodies for the family!

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at 9:00am on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located at 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Canyon Lights and year-round activities.

Update The winner is @PawsandTailsPix

The 6th annual Vancouver Christmas Market is on now until Christmas Eve at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza in Downtown Vancouver. This slice of European holiday cheer hosts 50 unique vendors and a variety of themed activities.

Vancouver Christmas Market

Take a spin on Vancouver’s only Christmas Carousel, enjoy some glühwein and schnitzel, and shop for holiday treats, gifts, and decorations. There is also a full schedule of live entertainment.

Being in the open air, with the warm aromas of baked goods and European fare, shopping for gifts and browsing hundreds of unique ornaments are all reasons why I love visiting the market each year.

The Vancouver Christmas Market, located at 650 Hamilton St, will be open daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm, and until 6:00pm on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Admission is $8 for adults (13+), Seniors (60+) receive $1 off admission, youth (7-12) are $4 and children (0-6) are free anytime.

Carousel rides are $3 per ticket; $10 per package of 5 tickets. Purchase your tickets online and receive a receive a free Season Pass plus Express Lane access. You can also turn any Entry Pass into a Season Pass at the gate for an additional $1.00.

Win Tickets

If you would like to check out the market, I have a pair of gate tickets to give away (good for any day of the market). Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite holiday decorations, crafts, or ornaments (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Twitter and Facebook for more special event information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Update The winner is Stephanie!

Our local weekly papers have some excellent readers’ choice awards which can be referenced throughout the year if you’re looking for the Best Spa, Best Car Dealership, Best Brunch, or Best Take-Out. There’s the Straight’s Best of Vancouver, Westender’s Best of the City, the dining issues of each, and also the Surrey Leader Readers’ Choice Awards, the results of which were published in November.

The international award-winning Fusion Festival

This is the 5th annual Surrey Leader Readers’ Choice Awards and it’s a great reference for where to go, what to see, where to eat, and to get to know the people who make the city great. Some of the results this year are:

Most wonderful Surreyite

1. Mitra Castano (Owner/Operator of Triunity Martial Arts Studios National Director @ Jeunesse Global)
2. Kabir Bath (Head coach and owner of Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts)
3. Dianne Watts (Conservative Member of Parliament for South Surrey – White Rock, and former Mayor of Surrey)

I was very excited to see that three events that Miss604 sponsors are favourites in the city: Fusion Festival, Movies Under the Stars, and Surrey Tree Lighting Festival. View the full results online and follow the Surrey/North Delta Leader on Facebook and Twitter for more information.