British Columbia Magazine

Eight years ago I was aboard a sailboat, strong and secure. Viewing a pod of playful orcas from the distance of only a few feet would, or so I thought at the time, be an experience that could never be topped. This time however, was different. I was floating in a sea kayak that barely fit me and a few bags of supplies. The group I was with were different too. We shared a bond that no one else could understand. Our mutual love for this place we were experiencing together was overwhelming. As we were bobbing with the waves and swaying with the wind, we were connected to the ocean, and could almost feel the great grey giants glide seamlessly through the white capped waters. I’m not sure if it’s possible to sum up how I felt that day, but I hope that if I am unsuccessful you will one day also be in the presence of the spectacularly graceful humpback whale. Haida Gwaii was my Eden that year, my escape, my place to reflect, learn and grow. It has become the place that all other places will be measured against. It has changed me. (collapse)

I love to take visitors to B.C. to see beautiful Cascade Falls Regional Park, northeast of Mission. It is one of those tucked away, little local gems for which B.C. is known and loved. The main falls is about 150 feet high, and it pours into a series of pools and smaller falls as it descends through a gorge. There is a set of stairs that you can climb to a viewing platform at the top of the falls. This is a powerful natural wonder, especially during spring run-off, and you can hear its thunder when you enter the park! When summer arrives, you can go wading in the cool pools at the bottom of the falls. Just remember to stay on the trail when you are up high, as people have died here by going out of bounds onto the slippery and unstable slopes of the gorge. (collapse)

There is absolutely no place like Steveston.

Steveston Village is lovely, quaint, and a million shades of adorable. Walking through the streets, you'll find it home to coffee shops, tea/knick-knack stores, bakeries, and quite a number of fish and chip eateries. You'll also find fishing boats selling the freshest quality of salmon, halibut, and the pricey melt-in-your-mouth black cod.

When you're done exploring the stores, you can always play a game of 'What's Shooting'. Steveston currently doubles as Storybrooke from Once Upon A Time. You can also expect to see the crew of many other shows like Supernatural, and Bates Motel.

After exhausting Steveston Village, you can go up past Bayview Street to follow a trail beside the water. You'll find places rich in history, like the Britannia Shipyard, and the Chinese Bunkhouse. Continue following that trail, and you'll run into the London Heritage Farm, Dog Park, and if you get far enough, the fishing community of Finn Slough. It's a bit of a walk (~1.5 hours), but it's worthwhile to discover the different communities here.

I come here at least once a week, and it never fails to amaze. (collapse)

I would like to spend time at the Kootenay Lake Historical Society Archives in Kaslo carrying out research into the origin of the Howser place names in British Columbia.

My research started over 30 years ago when I saw a picture of Howser Spire in the fall 1980 edition of the Beautiful British Columbia Magazine. Since 2004 my wife and I have travelled extensively across Canada and the USA searching for references to the name Howser. We have contacted over 150 organisations and studied more than 500 maps in the search for the name.

We understand that new materials have now been deposited at the Archives in Kaslo and would like to have the opportunity of travelling from the UK and visiting so that we can study these documents in detail.

Our conclusions so far are that the Howser place name originated from a prospector called Howser who travelled up the Columbia River in 1866 on the maiden voyage of the steamer “Forty-Nine”.

However, the new materials at the Archives in Kaslo may shed further light on what has been a mystery for many years resulting in contradictory information being published in several BC place names books.
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The wonders of still having wild beautiful wild animals co-existing with us is truly a wonderful gift. I never recover fully from a close encounter with something so powerful and amazing. It always takes my breath away. We have so much to understand about the unique traits of each and every elk. They need to be protected from culls, and poachers that don't respect nature. Or see what I have seen when they trust you and you look into their eyes. We are so lucky to have them. When 2000 lbs of muscle sits down to rest 5 ft away, it is truly a humbling experience. (collapse)