FROM SEATTLE
After more than year of staying close to home, Washingtonians are eager for something new. And if an escape to a place where the sights, sounds and rhythms of life are familiar — yet utterly different — is calling, it’s time to head north to British Columbia. The mix of cultures that’s informed B.C.’s arts scene creates the perfect setting for new adventures, and while it’s just a three-hour drive from Seattle, it feels like being transported to a different world.
There are arts and cultural gems throughout the province, but the following four destinations in British Columbia offer unique experiences, ranging from interactive art to learning about the past and present experiences of Indigenous Peoples. Here’s a tempting mix of arts and cultural experiences available during a trip to B.C.
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The largest city in British Columbia, Vancouver is the center of B.C.’s arts scene. Here, fall ushers in a vibrant series of exhibitions, ranging from new ways to see classic art to new ways to see yourself.
Tandem-Paquin Exhibitions, the team behind the wildly successful immersive experience “Imagine Van Gogh,” has now created an “Imagine Picasso” exhibition which opens in Vancouver Oct. 27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Annabelle Mauger, creator of “Imagine Picasso,” says visitors frequently comment on how magical and unique the exhibition is.
“These kinds of exhibitions are not only for art lovers; it’s a completely new way to discover the work of the artist,”
– Annabelle Mauger
VICTORIA
It’s time for an escape — beyond your backyard and into another world. In British Columbia, discover new sights, sounds and tastes that are close to home but feel like a world away.
Pack your bags.
VANCOUVER
Another 360-degree immersive journey can be found at the “Da Vinci Experience,” on display at Tsawwassen Mills through Oct. 31. Mick Kelly, co-founder and vice president of Sensea Immersive, describes the exhibition’s theme as “edutainment” because it not only entertains visitors but also provides information about da Vinci’s work as a painter, engineer, anatomist, mathematician and scientist. “The two high points for many are where they can strike a pose with the ‘Mona Lisa’ inside our walk-through picture frame and the VR experience,” says Kelly.
For a different artistic exploration — complete with some good beverages — head outdoors to enjoy Vancouver’s beautiful fall weather and take the Street Art & Craft Beer Walking Tour with Toonie Tours. This tour starts at Main Street Brewery, home to award-winning local draft and cask beers, and then involves a leisurely mile-long walk through the back streets of Mount Pleasant, taking in some of the region’s best street art. The tour guide introduces visitors to eight local craft breweries and, of course, you can head back to your favorite once the tour is over.
Co-owner and guide Nathan Murdoch says the tour may surprise you. “Some of our guests come because they are primarily interested in the beer, and others come because they are primarily interested in the art. Oftentimes, at the end of the tour we receive feedback that those who came for the beer enjoyed the art far more than expected, and those who came for the art enjoyed the beer far more than expected.”
The capital city of British Columbia is nestled on an island just off the coast, a short ferry ride from Vancouver, which just adds to the escape factor. It offers a blend of the distinct charm of Old World England as well as more modern activities derived from Canadian culture.
As any Anglophile knows, the British take their ghost stories and ghost tours very seriously and during the autumn months, Discover the Past Walking Tours offers a number of separate haunted routes, including a special Halloween tour. John Adams, founder of Discover the Past, describes the Halloween tour as “a little edgier and spookier” than the ghost walks that take place year round.
Although Adams says that ghost tours are by far the most popular, there are also excursions during the day that focus on the history of the city.
Speaking of history, The Royal BC Museum is a natural place to spend some time. Founded in 1886, it’s home to approximately seven million artifacts, documents and specimens of B.C.’s natural and human history, as well the British Columbia Provincial Archives. Its three permanent galleries are Natural History, Becoming B.C., and the First Peoples Gallery; there are a number of special exhibitions at any given time. Currently these include an exhibit about orcas and “Peering into the Past,” which focuses on Victoria’s Chinatown and the role it played in shaping Canadian history.
After taking in some history, get back outside to enjoy the autumn weather and stunning array of fall colors at The Butchart Gardens. Don’t miss the festive installation featuring pumpkins and gourds that are grown behind the scenes at the gardens. Both Kayla Collins, online marketing specialist, and Daphne Gardner, director of public relations, say the Japanese Garden steals the show at this time of year with its red, russet and gold maples. “The vibrancy of the leaves draws you in,” Collins and Gardner say. “Dozens of varieties of chrysanthemums transform the Italian Garden from the summer colors.” When you get chilly, warm up with traditional afternoon tea held in the original residence of the Butchart family. The intricately carved Rose Carousel is especially popular with families (little ones love riding the “animals”), but adults enjoy it as well. Be sure to check out the 8,000-square-foot gift shop before you leave; it features the work of local artisans and a variety of merchandise ranging from jewelry to seeds.
“The vibrancy of the leaves draws you in,” Collins and Gardner say. “Dozens of varieties of chrysanthemums transform the Italian Garden from the summer colors.”
RICHMOND
On the drive up to Vancouver, visitors from Washington will first encounter Richmond, a coastal city with stunning mountain views. Because it’s seaside, it’s no surprise that the Gulf of Georgia Cannery is one of the top attractions. The Cannery pays tribute to Canada’s west coast fishing history through interactive exhibits, films and tours focusing on the Cannery’s role in shaping this history. The Cannery was built in 1894 and, at the time, it was the largest of its kind. Fast forward to 127 years later and it’s one of only a few historically intact cannery buildings out of the 200 that were once on Canada’s west coast. In 1976 it was designated a National Historic Site.
“I feel privileged to share the history of this community with our visitors,” says Mimi Horita, marketing and visitor services manager. “Many of the founding members still volunteer at the Cannery, and we are able to hear their stories firsthand.”
Not far from the Cannery, Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is another standout — a rare example of surviving historical buildings, including 19th-century canneries, boatyards and residences spread across eight acres of land.
Andy Hobbs, chair of the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, says visitors have been especially excited about the Richmond Boat Builders structure. “This just recently opened up to the public and showcases the experience of the Kishi family as Japanese boat builders, the skills, tools and methods of boat building as well as floating heritage and what the future holds,” says Hobbs.
Lynsey Li, visitor services associate at the Heritage Sites Community Services Division for the City of Richmond, notes that her favorite place on site is the Murakami House. “If you want to hear a heartbreaking, touching story, you must listen to the story of Asayo Murakami who came to Canada as a picture bride but left behind a secret life in Japan,” says Li. She adds that visitors won’t want to miss the upstairs of the Chinese bunkhouse, the last of its kind on the west coast. “The exhibit immerses you in the living quarters of the Chinese cannery workers who lived at Britannia in the late 1800s/early 1900s and really gives you a feel for their living conditions and the hardships they went through,” she says.
When you’re ready for more art, head to the Moon & Back Gallery, which opened in October 2019. Be sure to have your camera ready because the gallery consists of a group of rooms that showcase lighted displays against mirrors, including the first-ever Infinity Room in the area. The gallery is now in its third season and co-owner Shelly Liu says one room you don’t want to miss this season is the gallery’s new transforming LED Time Tunnel that brings an incredible immersive experience.
“It was made with over 2,000 LED panels,” Liu explains. “We included many natural elements of the world in our tunnel, like fire, water and smoke, but also with a touch of human elements like the crosswalk of Shibuya and circuit boards and neon lights.”
WHISTLER
Located two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler is one of the most popular skiing destinations in North America. But like the other communities in British Columbia, it also has a strong arts and cultural scene and is gorgeous to visit during the autumn months.
Nestled at the base of the mountains, the Audain Art Museum is home to the private art collection of Michael Audain. The nearly 200 works of art in the museum’s permanent collection feature pieces ranging from the 18th century to present day. Notably this includes one of the best-preserved collections of Northwest Coast First Nations masks.
The first center of its kind in Canada, The Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre is located on the shared, traditional territories of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations. Set in Whistler’s Upper Village, the building’s design evokes the form of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken (which translates to earthen dwelling). The center features cultural exhibits on the Squamish and Lil'wat nations and also hosts workshops that teach visitors how to make drums and dream catchers.
Heather Paul, executive director of Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, shares that there are secret spots people often miss along the way. These include the Salish Stroll, which is a four-acre forest path through the heart of Whistler that’s nestled behind the center. There’s also the outdoor Ist’ken (pithouse) in the back mezzanine which Paul says “will have you in love upon the first breath of its cedar wall.”
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Take a tour of Vancouver, Victoria, Richmond and Whistler
Photo credit: Royal BC Museum
Photo credit: Destination BC/Tanya Goehring
Photo credit: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
Photo credit: Destination BC/Hubert Kang
Photo credit: Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Photo credit: Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Photo credit: Destination BC/Hubert Kang
Photo credit: Destination BC/Local Wanderer
Photo credit: Destination BC/Hubert Kang
Photo credit: Destination BC/@viranlly
Photo credit: Destination BC/@vancitywild
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Photo credit:Toonie Tours
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Historical and contemporary Indigenous works on display in the Audain Art Museum’s Permanent Collection.
Photo credit: RAEF.ca.
Royal BC Museum, Victoria
Royal BC Museum, Victoria
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, Richmond
Victoria
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Whistler
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Whistler
Toonie Tours, Vancouver
Whistler
Vancouver
Butchart Gardens, Victoria
Richmond