The 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship will do more than take over Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre when it hits Victoria later this month: It will also be lounging at the Hotel Grand Pacific.
While the best men’s curling teams in the world take to the pebbled ice on Blanshard Street March 30-April 7, the Grand Pacific’s Pacific Lounge will be transformed into The Clubhouse. The lounge will offer big-screen coverage of draws along with food and drink specials and curling table games.
“We have a lot of hotel guests in town for the championship, and, along with local curling fans, we wanted to give them a place they could call home, watch the draws on the big screens, have a few drinks and have a bite to eat with other fans,” said Reid James, Hotel Grand Pacific general manager.
Meeting of the pedal pushers
Sooke is about to be invaded by bikers, of the pedal variety.
The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association will be presenting the B.C. Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium at the Best Western Prestige Oceanfront Resort May 26-28.
As a hotbed for the sport, B.C. has played a large role in mountain biking’s development and evolution. This year’s symposium will focus on how to work toward a more sustainable and viable mountain-bike-tourism sector, covering topics such as product and tourism development.
Keynote addresses will be led by Scott Jewett of Red Bull Canada, Dean Payne of B.C. Bike Race and Darren Kinnaird of Crankworx Whistler.
Discussions and presentations will be led by experts in the biking field and the industries it touches, including John Hawkings of Rec Sites and Trails B.C.; Mark Wood of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association; Judd de Vall of Alpine Bike Parks, Caroline Depatie of Capilano University; Mike Nelson from the Cascade Environmental Group; Todd Pope from the District of Squamish; Dr. Brian White and Ray Freeman of Royal Roads University; Mandy Farmer of Accent Inns; tourism planner Bruce Whyte and Mark Schmidt of Parks Canada. To register, visit mtbtourismsymposium.ca.
