Vancouver Island Reviews and Information

There are various New Years resolutions, to lose weight, to read more, to be more organized - etc, etc. One of my New Years resolutions is to do more, not only in my own community, but in this country and on this planet. One of the easiest ways to make a positive difference in your community is giving to a local non-profit of your choice. Giving can be simply volunteering or even giving monetarily. You can pick a non-profit to support based on what you feel passionate about. Some non-profits support ecological concerns, animals, education or people. Here are some notable non-profits around Vancouver Island. I hope everyone has a safe and fun New Year! Greenways Land Trust - Since 1996, the Greenways Land Trust has coordinated the efforts of hundreds of volunteers to improve the environment for Campbell River's residents and visitors. They play key roles managing local natural areas like the 500-hectare Beaver Lodge Forest Lands, the Haig-Brown Heritage Property, the Kingfisher Cree

What are YOU doing to bring in the New Year in 2012? We have compiled a list with some ideas if you are still undecided, if you have a New Years event you'd like to see please leave a comment! Thanks! North Island Campbell River - The Paramount Music Hall THE PARAMOUNT MUSIC HALL NEW YEARS EVE DANCE PARTY DECEMBER 31, 2011 DOORS 9:00 PM DJ ROBBIE ROBB PARTY FAVOURS, MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE & SNACKS! $10 Courtenay - Florence Filberg Centre : New Years Eve Dinner & Dance - $55 p/p. New Years Eve Black Diamond Gala @ Crown Isle . 125p/p. Formal. Central Island Nanaimo - 2011 Finale at Beban Park: This is a huge family event, $25 per family or $10 per person. Pirate themed and lots of food. For more information on Finale 2011 Call 756-5200. New Years Eve with David Gogo at the Diner's Rendezvous (489 Wallace St: Nanaimo) New Years Women Only Dance by VILIPS DJ Reese will be delivering the awesome tunes for the night! Cash bar, door prizes, 50/50 draw and snacks. At the Wel

Being close to 2,000 years old, 56 metres high and six metres around makes this tree the largest giant Western Cedar in all of Canada. Luckily it happens to be tucked deeply within the Pacific Rim National Park where it is protected. Vancouver Island is also home to the world's largest Douglas fir sitting at 73.8 metres high. Canada's tallest spruce is the Carmanah Giant - which is a startling 96 metres in height! It sits along the San Juan River in Port Renfrew.

December 17th marks my awesome 9 year old nephew's birthday. Last year we took him to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association Park , which is a place that is dear to my heart (he loves it too!). This year he wanted to adopt or sponsor one of the wildlife, so we adopted Piglet , a young bear cub. Kye will receive a colour photograph of the bear cub, one individual free pass, and a brief history of Piglet. Along with the adoption, we decided to take a day trip down to Victoria to check out the new outdoor ice rink in Centennial Square (right next to McPherson theatre) Although the ice area isn't all that big (they state no more than 60 people at a time, you'd literally be sardines) we had a great time! Entrance fee is $2 and if you need to rent skates it's $5. It's open Monday - Saturday 12pm - 8pm and Sunday 11am - 5pm. It's worth checking out! For lunch Kye wanted sushi, so we went to Azuma Sushi on Yates St, they had expanded since I had last been and

Here are some helpful and interesting Vancouver Island based web sites and directories for your viewing pleasure! Vancouver Island's Official Travel Website Vancouver Island & Victoria BC Tourism Vancouver Island University Official Website Tourism Vancouver Island Vancouver Island Web Directory Vancouver Island Diet (100 Mile Diet)

Welcome to a genuine treasure of a seafood restaurant on Vancouver Island. Not to sound pretentious but if there is one thing I can be picky about, it's seafood in restaurants. Too many places over cook seafood (I suppose it's pretty easy to do). Most of the time I forgo eating seafood in restaurants all together, and prefer to cook it myself at home. My father was always an avid fishermen so I grew up eating a lot of it and therefore learning to cook it properly. I approached The Rock Cod Cafe with an open mind, after reading it may be featured on the Food Network's "You Gotta Eat Here" episodes. I was excited when I heard it was in Cowichan Bay, as I absolutely love the drive to Cow Bay and the small down town business district is awesome to peruse. We arrived in the late afternoon on a Sunday (around 2pm) and I was already impressed to see that it was quite busy in between lunch and dinner (this can often be a lull time). We were greeted promptly and seated qu

Know any great Vancouver Island musicians? Let me know! Here are some of my favourites. Saw these guys at the Cambie one night, great energy! Fun times! From my hometown of Ladysmith, see him live if you can - very talented! Based out of Victoria, what a catchy soong! Mother Mother - amazing live. Originally from Quadra Island (Campbell River)

Another wonderful collection of local Vancouver Island businesses, if you'd like to see your business on our blog please e-mail us ! Katie Hommy - An accredited mortgage professional located in the Nanaimo area. If you're looking for a mortgage Katie is your girl! SeaChange Canadian Gifts - SeaChange provides gift ideas from Canada ranging from smoked salmon to native art, maple products to handcrafted wooden boxes. Located on Saltspring Island. Christmassweaters.ca - is dedicated to bringing you the ugliest and tackiest holiday sweaters available. Choose from a variety of small to XXL Christmas sweaters. Based in Victoria. Kelley's Chocolates - All Chocolate is made with Love, Integrity and Callebaut. Located in Port Hardy.

It's a beautiful Monday and it's time to highlight a few notable Vancouver Island businesses! If you'd like to see your Vancouver Island based business on our blog, please e-mail me . Have a wonderful Monday. Details Painting - A Nanaimo based interior/exterior painting company with 8 years experience. Professional, affordable, meticulous, free quotes! 250-619-8287. The Digital Orchard - Based in Campbell River. The Digital Orchard will step beyond just building websites and will become the launching ground for many new and exciting web-based services. Realtor Janice Armstrong - Nanaimo based realtor (actually, I use her!). Janice is extremely dedicated, helpful and patient. If you're in the Nanaimo area and looking to buy or sell your home contact Janice! Kendall Patrick - from lovely Ladysmith but performs all over Vancouver Island. This amazing musician is a soft rock, folk/acoustic dream - she is very engaging I strongly recommend checking her out if she is per

I have decided to share and highlight some video (some mine, some I've found on YouTube) featuring Vancouver Island events, landscape, community etc. If you would like your video to be featured here - please send me an e-mail! Beautiful Campbell River Sea Kayaking from Tofino to Port Hardy Fishing in Port Hardy by The Rambling Fisherman Enjoy and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

An off-leash park is a designated location where dogs and their owners can run free and play without a leash. There are a few contained sites. Beban Park (Off Labieux Rd) - Open year round and 24/7, this facility is completely fenced in. There are separate small dog and large dog areas. Cable Bay (down Nicola Rd, in Cedar) - This is a decent 2 km hike to the end and back, with a fabulous view of the ocean at the end. This is a forested area. Westwood Lake - Located on the back side of West wood Lake, follow the signs up to the power line area where you can take Fido off leash. Colliery Dam - This area starts at the parking lots joining the dam and Nanaimo Lakes Road. Open 6am - 10pm. There is a small fresh water lake here for swimming and drinkable water. Beaufort Park - Adjoins the gravel parking lot at the end of Chelsea Crescent. It is partially fenced down two sides. Open all day, year round. Diver Lake Park - Starts at the parking lot at the end of Black Franks Drive. Open

Happy Friday! Here are some local businesses to check out this weekend, especially Get A Go Go if you've had one too many wobbly pops! The Medicine Garden Wellness Centre - The home of alternative medicine on Vancouver Island. Located in Ladysmith. Island Daily Deals - Island Daily Deals is uses collective buying power to bring you a large savings on the best things to eat, do, and buy in your city. Vancouver Island based and supports local business! Smokin' George's BBQ - Nanaimo's only authentic BBQ! Get A Go Go - Nanaimo's Professional Designated Drivers! (They will get YOU and your car home!)

Here at Vancouver Island Reviews, I love hearing about and trying new small businesses - I love supporting the ma and pa shops and seeing the economy and them prosper! If you own or know of a great small business you'd love to see highlighted here, please send me an e-mail Salts - All of Salts Organic Clothing is designed and produced in North America. Located in Victoria Green Earth Cleaners - Green Earth Cleaners and Yard Care is dedicated to providing excellent customer service without harming nature. We use only environmentally friendly cleaning products. Services Lantzville to Cedar. Catwalk Fashions - local women's fashion located in Nanaimo Just Like Mom's - delicious homemade baking, providing next day delivery. Located in Union Bay. Toot Sweet Tarts - Bite into one of Toot Sweets mouthwatering delights and experience a nostalgic celebration of flavour; just like Grandma made. Located in Victoria.

Here is a compilation of the top Vancouver Island stories for the day! Vancouver Island Counter Attack - via The Times Colonist. Nanaimo Real Estate Investors Club - via Dan Morris Violence Against Women Won't End in One Day - via The Martlet, an independent weekly student newspaper at UVIC. The Victoria Hospice Country Christmas Concert - via Play in Victoria. Enjoy! Happy Tuesday Vancouver Island

I have decided to highlight some notable Vancouver Island businesses, blogs, companies etc every week - if you would like to see your business/blog etc here - shoot me an e-mail! Yard Plots Landscaping Blog - An eco friendly, organic gardener and landscape designer. Call 250-739-1182 for a free estimate! Vancouver Island Blog - Born in Port Hardy and raised in the Comox Valley, this avid blogger shares her love for Vancouver Island. Go Nanaimo Blog - A news and entertainment blog from the best little city in Canada. An Ultimate Adventure Guide to Vancouver Island - Where to find the best Vancouver Island Outdoor Adventures. Enjoy!