When you put together the five islands across an BC Rural Islands itinerary, you come up with a pretty epic road trip. So Miss604, the Rural Islands Economic Partnership and ZenSeekers have partnered up with a series of #exploreBCruralislands friends to bring you the trip of what we think could be a lifetime!

Whether you’ve been inspired by these respectful visitation ideas, or the beautiful photos, stories, and people showcased in the BC Rural Island series from ZenSeekers, it’s time to start planning your adventures to these incredible islands. Cormorant, Cortes, Quadra, Hornby, and Gabriola have so much to offer, and so many more stories to share with you.

Win an Epic Explore BC Rural Islands Road Trip

Get in on this chance to explore five of BC’s Rural Islands and enter to win an epic prize package valued at over $2,000!

Make sure you’re following Rural Islands Economic Partnership, Miss604, and ZenSeekers on Facebook, then follow the steps below to complete as many entries as you’d like:

From world-class Indigenous heritage sites to epic island views, hiking and biking trails through lush temperate rainforest, ocean paddling adventures and locally inspired food, these islands will transform what you thought you knew about traveling —and living—with respect for the environment and community you’re visiting. 

Check the expedition page on ZenSeekers for a map showcasing the five islands. Travel the coast like never before and be inspired by these unique communities and islands experiences!

From VGH Burn Unit to the NHL, former Vancouver Canuck Aaron Volpatti shares his journey in his debut book FIGHTER: Defying The NHL Odds, available to purchase starting today.

Aaron Volpatti’s FIGHTER: Defying The NHL Odds

Born and raised in Revelstoke, Aaron Volpatti was never supposed to play in the NHL. As an average, undersized youth hockey player, he had to fight his way into competitive hockey. But in April of 2005, he found himself in a very different fight – a fight for his life after a devastating injury that left him with 40% second-degree and third-degree burns. 

Today, after two-and-a-half seasons with both the Vancouver Canucks (2010-2013) and the Washington Capitals (2013-2015), Volpatti has just released of his debut book. One of the most inspirational comeback stories in professional sports, Volpatti’s is filled with extreme adversity, personal triumph, grief, terror, and happiness. FIGHTER: Defying The NHL Odds, available for purchase online and on Amazon, is a riveting account of the player’s journey from Vancouver General Hospital’s Burn Unit to the NHL, and his life after a career-ending neck injury.

The ultimate portrayal of perseverance, determination and mental strength. Most teammates never knew of Patti’s struggles but nothing he has accomplished would ever come as a surprise! – Kevin Bieksa

With the release of FIGHTER: Defying The NHL Odds, Volpatti has partnered with Vancouver’s Burn Fund Centre. For 54 days following the book’s release, 40% of the profits will go directly to the Burn Fund Centre here in Vancouver – a tribute to his Vancouver Canucks jersey number (#54) and 40% second and third-degree burns. In addition, both Aaron and members of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund will be at the following events selling books as well as promoting fire safety and burn awareness. 

Upcoming Author Appearances

• Oct 28 Revelstoke Grizzlies vs Kelowna Chiefs @ Revelstoke Forum 7:00pm 
• Oct 29 Fable Book Parlour in Revelstoke 12:00pm to 1:00pm 
• Nov 5 Vernon Vipers vs Chilliwack Chiefs @ Kal Tire Place 6:00pm 
• Nov 17 Canucks Alumni Charity Luncheon @ Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 12:00pm 
• Nov 18 Vancouver Canucks vs LA Kings @ Rogers Arena (Community Corner) 7:00pm 

Aaron was a true competitor, a fierce player on the ice and a great teammate off the ice. If you want to learn about the power of the human mind, you need to read this book. – Daniel Sedin

Enter to Win

I have a copy of this inspiring and thoughtful book to give away! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 12:00pm. UPDATE The winner is: Daniel R!

For nearly five decades, the Circle Craft Christmas Market has marked the launch of the holiday shopping season in Vancouver. Returning to the Vancouver Convention Centre West from November 9-13, Circle Craft will feature over 250 artisans with over 65 of which are new this year.

Circle Craft Christmas Market 2022

• When: November 9-13, 2022
  • Wednesday-Friday: 10:00am to 9:00pm; Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm; Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West
• Tickets: Available online now
  • $15 adults; $12 seniors and youth (13-17); children 12 and under are free. Save 50% off admission after 5:00pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Your initial ticket purchase entitles you to unlimited re-entry on any day of the 2022 show. Re-entry passes will be available at the Info Booth.

Jewellers, potters, clothing designers, wood and metal workers, glass blowers, candle and soap makers, and more will gather together to share their wares at this beloved Vancouver event, which traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season in the city.

The Circle Craft Christmas Market attracts tens of thousands of people eager to discover the creations of hundreds of Canadian artisans, all of whom are jury-selected based on talent and diversity. Visitors will also discover artisan demonstrations and the Budding Artists area, where emerging artists introduce exciting and innovative new work. And for the first time since 2019, Market-goers will once again enjoy delicious food and drink samples in the Gourmet Alley, musical performances, and the “shopping spree” contest.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away, here’s how you can enter to win:

The 2022 Market will feature Canadian artists from coast to coast: BC craftspeople from communities such as Fort St. John, Gabriola Island, Gibsons, Kelowna, Pemberton, Port Alberni, Revelstoke, Vernon, Vancouver, and Victoria will showcase the very best of this province. Artisans will also come from as far as Catalone (NS), Edmonton, Mayo (YT), Niverville (MB), Ottawa, Pointe-Claire (QC), Québec City, Regina, and more.

This year’s exhibitors include long-time favourites Alarte Silks (hand-painted silk scarves), Annie 50 (women’s apparel), Boogaloo Bubbywear (organic cotton and bamboo children’s clothing), Cedar Mountain Studios (wooden art blocks and signs), Joseph Chiang Art (jewellery and clay art), Matter Company (herbal skin care products), and Weila Suo (watercolour paintings).

New exhibitors include Hell Wench (contemporary ceramic tableware), Hip Chick Design (upcycled eco-conscious clothing), Nuez Acres (pure pecan oil skin serums), Pacific Puzzle Co. (wooden jigsaw puzzles), Sadie & June (hand-embroidered vintage map prints), Spirits With Smoke (cocktail smoking boards and kits), and VEDRO Creative (silver jewellery).

Formed in the early 1970s, Circle Craft is a BC-run artist cooperative dedicated to providing opportunities for craftspeople to connect with the community. Attendees will find members of Circle Craft exhibiting at the Market. Learn more about the cooperative itself at the Circle Craft booth.

You don’t expect to break a sweat at a museum but that’s one thing that I always found so engaging about the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Among the memory-jogging artifacts, exhibits steeped in BC sport history, and Honoured Member profiles, the Participation Zone’s tread wall, running track, and bubble hockey were always favourites during my family visits.

Visit the BC Sports Hall of Fall This Season

This season they have even more to experience, as the home of the iconic Challenger Map, the Indigenous Sport Gallery, the infamous World Hockey Association Avco Cup on display, and the new Greg Moore Simulator. The Hall of Fame has 800 square feet of interactive displays that celebrate the internationally decorated race car driver from Maple Ridge, who was inducted in 2000. Now it features a revamped iRacing simulator.

All of these new features compliment the permanent collections such as the Rick Hansen and Terry Fox Galleries. The galleries are open most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10:00am to 5:00pm (subject to stadium event closures) and is located at 777 Pacific Boulevard, at Gate A of BC Place.

Class of 2023 Announcement & Open House

The BC Sports Hall of Fame will be announcing their latest inductees on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. Register for free to attend this event with Hero in You ambassador and Honoured Member Lori Fung Methorst who will be revealing the Class of 2023 selections.

Directly after the Class of 2023 announcement event, join athlete ambassadors Richard Peter and Clara Hughes for an afternoon Open House at the BC Sports Hall of Fame. There will be free admission from 12:30pm to 3:00pm that day.

You will also be able to share what a successful 2030 Games would mean to you. Working under the leadership of Líl̓wat (Lilwatl), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the 2030 Feasibility Team is exploring the possibility of hosting the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in British Columbia. This is an Indigenous-led, privately funded process that can and should set a precedent for how we work collaboratively as sport leaders, government officials, Indigenous communities, and venue hosts to review opportunities that can greatly benefit our country and its citizens.

It’s a great time to plan your weekend at the BC Sports Hall of Fame, which celebrates extraordinary achievement in BC sport history and inspires future generations to make their dreams come true.

Responsible tourism uplifts travel experiences that create positive impacts for all involved – not just the traveller. Here’s how your travel plans can help build learning and respect and you spend and stay locally, think sustainably, seek and follow the wisdom of your Indigenous hosts and appreciate that travel is a privilege.

My friends at ZenSeekers and the Rural Island Economic Partnership challenge you to visit BC’s Rural Islands respectfully – here’s how!

Learning How to be a Respectful Visitor to BC’s Rural Islands

Gratitude and respect are essential in all healthy interactions–to preserve balance and demonstrate care.

Starting with Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, home to the ‘Namgis First Nation and one of Canada’s leading Indigenous cultural experiences, the U’mista Cultural Centre.  Learn from from ‘Namgis Hereditary Chief William Cranmore and his people to gain perspective on what it has meant for the ‘Namgis to reclaim their heritage and come back transformed.