Soak Up 5,000 Years of History on Vancouver Island with Kiixin Tours

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — Published in Partnership with the ZenSeekers #ExplorePortAlberni campaign Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

Last year was the first time I visited the ancient village site of Kiixin with a guide from the Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island. This year, I went with a group tour and learned even more about this amazing place.

Kiixin Tours offers free guided experiences, with exclusive access to this important historic site, which has the most intact example of First Nations village architecture on the southern coast of BC.

5,000 Years of History on Vancouver Island

Kiixin Tours

In the forest…
I love a good nature walk through the rainforest, and I also love hearing about how the local First Nation lived off, and with, what the land provided. On the tour we heard about Culturally Modified Trees, how to spot them, and how the ancient – and modern – culture used them while maintaining their integrity in the forest.

Kiixin Tour Guide Wisqii
Kiixin Tour Guide Wisqii leading our group through the rainforest

Once you reach the ancient site, you’ll spot trees that have completely re-absorbed longhouse posts, or that have enveloped their nurse logs out of which they originally grew on the forest floor. You won’t just see a forest, you’ll see life. You may even spot a whale bone or two near the remains of the Whaler Chief’s house.

Kiixin Tours near Bamfield

On the beach…
I love the diversity of sea life on the beach: Starfish, crabs, GIANT oyster shells. Everything is pink, white, purple, and turquoise, which contrasts the lush green of the forest. On the beach is where your guide will provide a history of the area, along with supporting photographs, maps, and renderings. My favourite part was “story time” as our guide Wisqii said, as he walked up to a rock on the shoreline and took a seat to play his drum and sing a song.

Kiixin Tours near Bamfield

Want to know more about this experience? I have a full recap over on ZenSeekers.com »

Kiixin Tours near Bamfield

When You Go

  • FREE tours start June 15, 2019.
  • Access Bamfield (and Kiixin) via Port Alberni. Good tires are recommended for the gravel road between the two, which is well-signed.
  • Read more about Kiixin on ZenSeekers
  • Want to hike to Kiixin? Visit the tour site here »
  • Search #ExplorePortAlberni for more inspiration. Be sure to tag #ExplorePortAlberni while exploring the region as you could be featured on ZenSeekers’ social media channels.
  • Looking to get the most out of your trip to Kiixin? Check out ZenSeekers’ one-day itinerary
  • Start planning your adventures in Port Alberni at Alberni Valley Tourism.
  • Start exploring your Port Alberni region options with Destination BC.
  • Find out more about the City of Port Alberni on their website.

Beers and Burlesque at the Cascade Room: Win Tickets

Comments 19 by Alexis

The Cascade Room welcomes a cast of cheeky performers, The Ladybirds, in their variety show “Flower Power, Beers and Burlesque” during Vancouver Craft Beer Week. Enjoy a themed cabaret, burlesque and comedy pieces in an intimate setting on June 6th.

Beer and Burlesque at the Cascade Room 2019

Beers and Burlesque at The Cascade Room

When: Thursday, June 6th, 2019 doors at 7:00pm
Where: The Cascade Room (2616 Main Street)
Tickets: Available online now starting at $25

Performances have two parts: a sit-down ticketed supper club, followed by a no-cover interactive speakeasy party “after dark” set to the music of your favourite British bands. Come watch, drink and play while the Ladybirds tickle your fancy.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this super fun night of beers and Burlesque thanks to The Cascade Room! Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to Beer and Burlesque #theladybirdsshow at @TheCascadeRoom http://ow.ly/UPcN30oQnsn” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

For more information follow The Cascade Room on Instagram and The Lady Birds on Instagram. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Saturday, June 1, 2019, must be 19+.

UPDATE: The winner is Ryan!

25 Years of Music Waste, Vancouver’s Art, Comedy and Music Festival

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From June 6-9, 2019, Music Waste will take over Vancouver’s DIY venues with a focus on local bands and artists for it’s 25th year. Music Waste is the city’s art, comedy, and music festival featuring 70 bands and projects, which span everything from hip-hop to punk, and metal to drone.

Music Waste 2019

25 Years of Music Waste

When: Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9, 2019
Where: Various venues
Admission: Four day passes are $20, available for purchase at Audiopile, Neptoon, Red Cat (both locations), Zulu, or Bully’s Studio. Passes also available for purchase online.

These days, the most obvious villain is the real estate market, which has made it almost impossible for the venues or jam spaces Music Waste relies on to exist. This year’s “80’s business” theme embraces an alternate reality in which we say “f*ck it” and start worrying about the bottom line.

While all sorts of mega-festivals are burning out annually, Music Waste has stayed the course as a DIY, totally volunteer-run festival. Its modest revenue goes directly to supporting the musicians, artists, comedians, and venues that comprise the festival. The prices are meant to be as accessible as possible too –four-day passes are $20, and individual shows are $7 each.

Music Waste has also recently focused on creating safer spaces for performances and parties. For the past three years, the organizers have worked with Good Night Out to provide harm reduction training for all volunteers. Last year, the collective wrote a statement of organizational values, and they’re sticking to it.

Some new exciting bands such as Akita, Megamall and Debt offer some fresh blood to the lineup. Notable local favourites Apollo Ghosts, Woolworm, Necking, and Devours will draw crowds and raise the profile of some exciting shows with lesser-known bands.

Year 25 of Music Waste includes Art Waste, Comedy Waste, and spoken word shows. 2019 also marks the second year of LGBTQ2SIA+ programming. For more information follow along on Twitter and Facebook.

Vancouver Canadians Promotional Game Schedule 2019 with Fireworks, Giveaways and More

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Fireworks, giveaways, and of course baseball! The Vancouver Canadians Promotional Game Schedule has been released and with the team turning 20 this season and they have a lot to celebrate. Along with great local baseball from these Blue Jays affiliates, games are made even more fun with the A&B Dancing Grounds Crew, the footlong hot dog, sushi races, and of course a bucket of Hey Ya’lls!

Vancouver Canadians Nat Bailey

Vancouver Canadians Promotional Game Schedule with Fireworks, Giveaways and More

This year, on top of affordable family fun cheering on our team for 38 home games at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, fans can enjoy 8 Fireworks Extravaganzas, 7 A&W Family Fun Sundays, 6 Scotiabank ‘Nooner at the Nat days, 4 Superstar Series Appearances and much more!

  • June 14 Scotiabank ‘Nooner at the Nat
    • Supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC
  • June 15 Fireworks Extravaganza/Magnetic Schedule Giveaway
    • (first 2,500 fans)
  • June 16 A&W Family Fun Sunday/3/4 Length Baseball Tee Giveaway
    • (first 500 kids, 12 & under)
  • June 17 Presented by Scotiabank
  • June 18 Dog Day of Summer
  • June 19 Superstar Appearance/Baseball Card Giveaway
    • (first 2,000 fans)
  • June 20 Scotiabank ‘Nooner at the Nat
    • Supporting Easter Seals BC
  • June 28 Presented by Port of Vancouver
  • June 29 Fireworks Extravaganza/Hey Y’all! Helmet Giveaway
    • (first 1,000 fans 19+)
  • June 30 A&W Family Fun Sunday/Youth Jersey Giveaway
    • (first 500 kids, 12 & under)

Here is the full promotional calendar for the Vancouver Canadians.

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World’s Largest Goat Yoga Class at Maan Farms in Abbotsford

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The culmination of June 20th’s Strawberry Full Moon and June 21st’s Summer Solstice and International Yoga Day, brings a spirituality and energy that Maan Farms is honouring by hosting the World’s Largest Goat Yoga Class.

Maan Farms Goat Yoga

World’s Largest Goat Yoga Class

Where: Maan Farms at 790 McKenzie Rd, Abbotsford, BC
When: Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 10:00am
Admission: $25/person available online. Tickets include 1 hour of yoga, 1 pint-sized strawberry basket, and 1 day-pass to Barnyard Adventure Land.

Maan Farms is combining their goat yoga classes and strawberry u-pick offering in one large-scale event with the intention of hosting the World’s Largest Goat Yoga Class. Hosted in farm fields under the summer sky, everyone is invited to celebrate with them.

“The Strawberry Full Moon was once used as a signal for the beginning of strawberry harvest by an ancient tribe,” says Gurleen Maan, Operations Manager. This event combines wellness and agriculture as our guests will be led through a goat yoga class, focused on grounding and harnessing the energy of the full moon, complemented by a walk to the strawberry fields. “As a health and wellness practitioner, I feel honoured to be combining agriculture and wellness in this offering on my farm. It’s a beautiful and refreshing way to cultivate joy, connect with nature, and practice mindfulness.”

For more information follow Maan Farms on Instagram and Facebook.