Last week I jetted up to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops, BC to take part in the Winter Wine Festival.

The Winter Wine Festival is presented as a part of the seasonal Okanagan Wine Festival series, which hosts events across the region in spring, summer (at Silver Star) and fall as well.

I was only there for a short time but managed to squeeze in the “Icewines and Nothing More” workshop as well as the Winemasters’ Dinner featuring a 7-course meal, Okanagan wines, and Canadian cheeses.

The menu

It was a lovely evening as I was sat with other journalists, locals, tourism folk, Dieter from Thistle Farm, and the resort’s own official “ski bum”, Thiago. Sun Peaks ran a contest this year to win the ultimate seasonal job being their “ski bum” for 3 months. In the same vein as the “best job in the world” from Queensland Tourism.

Thiago, who hails from Brazil, is currently enjoying the experience of a lifetime hanging around Sun Peaks. Every day they have new adventures planned for him including events like the Winter Wine Festival or hopping on a helicopter. He is spending a few weeks in each hotel and his meals are courtesy of all the local restaurants and pubs. You can read about his adventures on the Ski Bum Canada blog.

Participants at the workshops and the dinner ranged from local wine enthusiasts to international travelers making the Winter Wine Festival their destination. Taking a ski getaway and pairing it with a wine festival seems to be a winning combination.

This was my first time up at Sun Peaks and I have to say, I fell in love. It was serene and peaceful in the village while my heart raced as I peered up at the slopes I so desperately wanted to carve up. The village itself has a delightful European influence with a sloped corridor which provides ski-in / ski-out convenience. The exterior of each hotel and shop is crafted perfectly to mimic cozy alpine lodges and the snow coats each rooftop like a fluffy down comforter.

I think the best thing about the resort, from my brief experience, was the people. There is a year-round population of 500 and those I met are all passionate about two things: Sun Peaks and skiing.

The Winter Wine Festival wraps up this week but if you would like to explore the next Okanagan Wine Festival you can check out their event listings online or follow @OKWineFests on Twitter. Also, the snow is powder-fresh on Sun Peaks if you’d like to head upbefore the end of the season. You can drive there from Vancouver in about 4 hours, take a Greyhound to Kamloops, or hop a flight.

You can view their webcams if you want to catch a serious case of snow-envy and check out their terrain map (above) to ogle the second largest recreational ski area in the province.

I’d also like to send a quick word of thanks to Tourism Sun Peaks who helped me triage a canceled flight out of Kamloops. I didn’t have a phone number or email handy but I did have my iPhone and access to Twitter. I sent @SunPeaksResort a direct message telling them I was pretty much stranded and they relayed my message to my contact within minutes. Big thanks to Melanie Simmons for being a great hostess and also being so responsive to my situation.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/1 – Unpaid. My accommodation was covered.

The Olympics are a time for the host nation and city to shine brightly but they are also about bringing the world together.

Vancouver will be a temporary home for athletes and visitors from dozens of countries during the 2010 Olympics and there are many who have rented spaces around town to showcase their culture, cuisine, and hospitality for visitors and residents a like.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Canadian

Aboriginal Pavilion
Location: Georgia & Hamilton (in the plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
Events: Daily concert series and exhibits.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website, my post

Aboriginal Artisan Village
Location: Vancouver Community College on Dunsmuir
Events: Open daily 10:00am – 10:00pm
Cost: Free
Website

Alberta House
Location: Robson at Beatty (West of BC Place)
Events: Featuring an evening concert series, Alberta Train (via Rocky Mountaineer) to Whistler and back.
Cost: The daily concerts are FREE
Website / Twitter

Atlantic Canada House
Location: The Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island (accessible from the Olympic Line Streetcar)
Events: Their Daily Schedule is still in the works but they’ll be featuring all the best from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cost: The daily concerts are FREE
Website / Twitter, my post

British Columbia Pavilion
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 4th floor (Located between Hornby & Howe, Robson & Georgia)
Events: A showcase of the “Best of BC” in terms of sustainability, new media, tourism and culture. Activities daily and a 4D theatre.
Cost: FREE admission daily
Website / Twitter, my post

Canada’s Northern House
Location: 602 West Hastings (at Seymour)
Events: Open since January 14th, here you can meet performers and artists, buy handmade crafts, watch demonstrations of traditional Arctic games. Featuring the best of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website / Twitter, my post

Canada Pavilion
Location: Located at LiveCity Downtown (Georgia & Cambie)
Events: Open February 13th until March 21st, “All Canadians and international guests are invited to visit the pavilion and discover our country’s excellence in sport!”
Cost: Unconfirmed (although LiveCity is a FREE celebration site)
Website, my post

CentrePlace Manitoba
Location: Located at LiveCity Downtown (Georgia & Cambie)
Events: Open January 22nd to March 21st, featuring concerts from 30 Manitoba artists.
Cost: Unconfirmed (although LiveCity is a FREE celebration site)
Website, my post

French Quarter (Place de la Francophonie)
Location: Eastern portion of Granville Island, 1318 Cartwright Street (accessible from the Olympic Line Streetcar)
Events: Concert series, Club Adrénaline, Salon des Communautés, Lauréates des Jeux de la Francophonie.
Cost: FREE concerts daily (many in association with the Cultural Olympiad)
Website

Ontario Pavilion
Location: Concord Pacific (between Science World & GM Place)
Events: Daily lineup of concerts in the evening
Cost: Free
Read my blog post for all pertinent information

Quebec House (Maison Quebec)
Location: Concord Pacific (between Science World & GM Place)
Events: “Expect it to become a centre piece of Quebec culture and food over the course of the Games.” – VancouverAccess2010.com.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion
Location: 500 Granville Street (at Pender)
Events: View the medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, children’s activities, coin collection station, boutique.
Cost: Admission is FREE and mention “Mint.ca” at the Pavilion Boutique for a 10% discount on all purchases.
Website / Twitter, my post

Saskatchewan Pavilion
Location: Concord Pacific (between Science World & GM Place)
Events: “The pavilion will consist of two structures. One will house a business centre, the other an entertainment venue featuring Saskatchewan entertainment and food. There will also be a pavilion at Whistler during the Paralympics.” Photos of the pavilion are up in a Flickr set by CityCaucus.com.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

International

Casa Italia
Location: The Roundhouse in Yaletown (adjacent to LiveCity Yaletown)
Events: There will be events in Vancouver and at Casa Italia in Whistler featuring an Olympic Living Room and Fuse Café located in Engine 374 Pavilion.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

Czech Tourism Exhibition
Location:Delta Burnaby Hotel, 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby
Events: Open February 12 – 28, 2010
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

Saxony House (Germany)
Location: The Vancouver Rowing Club (Stanley Park)
Events: “A place to exhibit the prowess of Saxony’s art, culture and booming economy, its sports and the innovative drive of Saxon inventors!” – Saxony in Vancouver.
Cost: FREE admission every day
Website

German Fan Fest
Location: 555 West Cordova Street in the Steamworks parking lot
Events: Live band, food and drinks
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

Holland Heineken House
Location: The Richmond O Zone (7551 Minoru Gate)
Events: “The refreshments offer a range from fast food and healthy snacks to the best of modern cuisine, of course with a Dutch and Canadian hint. Combined -of course- with a fresh and cold Heineken draught beer.” Medal hall and daily entertainment.
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

House of Switzerland Canada
Location: Bridges Restaurant (Granville Island) (accessible from the Olympic Line Streetcar)
Events: Also located at the Mountain Club in Whistler the House of Switzerland Canada will feature cuisine and entertainment including Swiss Day in Vancouver (February 6th) and a grand opening celebration (February 5th).
Cost: FREE admission every day
Website / Twitter

Irish House
Location: Doolin’s Irish Pub (620 Nelson)
Events: To be announced
Cost: Daily and weekly passes will be available
Website / Twitter

Japan House
Location: Empire Landmark Hotel (Robson)
Events: Unconfirmed
Cost:Unconfirmed

Korea House
Location: 2nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel
Events: Open 11:00am until 6:00pm
Cost: Unconfirmed

Sochi House (Russia House)
Location: Science World
Events: Daily entertainment and unique events including a table hockey tournament, games with hockey pros (such as Pavel Bure), autograph signings, chant & dance contests and more.
Cost: Visitors must obtain accreditation (permanent access) or day-passes (single-use access)
Website / Twitter

Slovak Representative House
Location: Vancouver International Film Centre (Davie & Seymour)
Events: Unconfirmed
Cost: Unconfirmed
Website

Ukraine House
Location: Ukrainian Catholic Centre (3150 Ash Street)
Events: Ukrainian House Ball, Ukraine House Valentine’s Day
Cost: Some free, some special events are ticketed (paid)
Website

USA House
Location: Unconfirmed although CityCaucus is reporting it will be near Nelson & Seymour.
Events: Unconfirmed
Cost: Unconfirmed (rumour has it there will be no public access)
Website / Twitter

The Hospitality Houses are refuges and hang-out spots for athletes and citizens but also venues for countries and provinces to showcase themselves. Each will have different levels of access. With international pavilions, your best bet for getting in is having a passport for that host nation. For example, show your Dutch passport and you’ll be treated like gold in Holland Heineken House.

Update February 17, 2010 – The following are pavilions and hospitality houses in Whistler, BC.
Whistler Canada Olympic House
Whistler Public Library
Alpine Canada Alpin House
FireRock Lounge, The Westin Resort & Spa – Home of the Canadian Alpine Ski Teams
USA House
In a private log home south of the village
Austria House
In a purpose-built ‘passive’ house at the entrance to Lost Lake
Jamaica Bobsleigh House
Savage Beagle nightclub
Switzerland House
The Mountain Club Restaurant
Norway House
Maurice Young Millennium Place
Slovenia House
Mountain Club, The Westin Resort & Spa
Bavaria House
Nicklaus North Golf Club, Whistler base for the German Bobsleigh Team
France House
21 Steps Restaurant
Italian House
Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa

Update February 22, 2010 – Read this post to see which pavilions will be open through March 21st for the Paralympics

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Other resources for pavilions and public events…
Complete list of Free Public Events from BC Gotta Be here

VancouverAccess2010.com
CityCaucus.com
2010VanFan.ca
“Pavilion Panopoly” & other articles by Bob Mackin

See also…
My Vancouver 2010 Concert & Performance Listing
My post about the Cultural Olympiad
My Bus and Transportation Options
My post about the Olympic Line Streetcar
My Street Closures and Transportation Concepts post
My posts from Switzerland including the Olympic Museum
My posts tagged “Pavilions”
All of my Vancouver 2010 related posts

Should you have additional information about these pavilions and hospitality houses, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me, all sources will be credited. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Last year was a very busy year for me. It was the first full year of our business (sixty4media), I did a lot of traveling, and I also wrote a book with my co-author Eric Butow in California. Yes, I wrote a book which is now available in e-book and paperback format (published via Pearson Education).

Blogging to Drive Business is a guide for businesses hoping to use or already using social media to enhance their online presence. We cover everything from getting started to addressing negative comments and who should then write the blog. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

This post was contributed exclusively to Miss604.com by Michelle Kent.

The culmination of year one for the Peak Performance Project happened last night at the famed Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. 3 BC bands went head to head to head for a piece of $275 G’s.

What a sweet, sweaty, good-rocking culmination it was. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Monopoly is coming out with Monopoly Canada and its up to the public to vote where each major city will reside on the famed playing surface.

The highly coveted Boardwalk position seems to be the most popular and there are even campaigns across the nation to get hometowns into that prestigious piece of real estate.

65 Canadian cities have been pre-selected and they’re looking for the top 20 which will have spaces on the game board. You can cast your ballot for up to three cities each day until February 7, 2010. The city that gets the most votes will then slide into place at Boardwalk.

I’ve been contacted a few times about this and it’s been brought to my attention that Vancouver is slipping in the polls. Here are the top 10 rankings as of 11:45am on Thursday January 21st, 2010:

Image via CBC

#1 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 5.4%
#2 Calgary 4.7%
#3 Chatham-Kent 4.1%
#4 Quebec City 3.4%
#5 Trois-Rivières 2.8%
#6 St. John’s 2.7%
#7 Kawartha Lakes 2.6%
#8 Medicine Hat 2.6%
#9 Montreal 2.5%
#10 Sarnia 2.4%

You can find a list of all eligible cities here and there’s also a wildcard ranking which you can find on the current standings page.

Monopoly and Vancouver have gone hand in hand for quite a while now. I remember playing Vancouveropoly growing up, passing over Dr Sun Yat Sen Gardens on my way over to the Vancouver Aquarium then passing by Monk’s.

If you would like to see Vancouver on the Monopoly Canada game board, be sure to cast your vote each day. Vote now, vote often, and if you vote for Surrey to go in the Baltic Avenue position, I may not speak to you again.