British Columbia Magazine

11/29/2025

A rainy morning in West Vancouver offered a clear look at how comfortably coyotes move through this region. Whether running the hillside alone or pausing as a pair, they remain a familiar part of the North Shore’s mix of neighbourhoods, forest, and open green space.

Coyotes have adapted well to life in and around Vancouver. They rely on natural prey such as squirrels, rabbits, and rodents, and the blend of urban and wild areas gives them plenty of room to travel. Most sightings happen at dawn or dusk when they are moving between feeding and resting areas.

📸: (via instagram)

11/27/2025

The South Okanagan Fire & Ice Festival is back from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, bringing a full week of food, wine, and community events to Osoyoos and Oliver.

The main Fire & Ice Celebration at Spirit Ridge runs Nov. 29, with music from Lewis Cardinal, performances by Kinshira, and tasting stations from Spirit Ridge, Sweetgrass at Nk’Mip Cellars, and Codfathers Seafood Market. Wineries from across the region will be pouring throughout the night.

Tickets are $89 and include access to a special room rate at Spirit Ridge.

Other events include Oliver’s Light Up & Fireworks on Nov. 28, the Savoury S’mores Saloon at Moon Curser on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, and the Miradoro Fire & Ice Longtable Dinner on Dec. 2.

Osoyoos Lite Up takes place Dec. 5 with a parade, carols, and fireworks at Gyro Beach. The Christmas Artisan Market runs through Dec. 20, and District Wine Village is offering free skating on CAN-ICE with $5 rentals through Dec. 21.

Read more here:

https://www.bcmag.ca/south-okanagan-fire-ice-festival-returns/

The South Okanagan Fire & Ice Festival is a unique curation of food, wine and community festivity that celebrates the very best of the region, kicking off the winter season. Destination Osoyoos and the Oliver Tourism Association have partnered with Spirit Ridge Resort, and many local wineries, resta...

11/20/2025

Merry & Bright returns to Martini Town in Langley, turning this well-known outdoor film set into a festive holiday experience from Nov. 21 to Dec. 31.

The backlot is famous for its appearances in popular movies and TV shows, and it opens to the public only once a year with decorated streets, detailed window displays, and new hidden visual touches each season.

Santa visits nightly until Dec. 23. A portion of all proceeds supports the Langley Food Bank.

A clear roof covers the Town Square so guests can enjoy performances and capture holiday photos even if the weather turns. Film-style snow adds to the atmosphere.

Market Lane runs daily in a heated tent and features local artisans offering unique gifts.

Food options include Texas Smoke BBQ, Mini Donuts, Urban Wood Fired Pizza and Tacosaurus. Bar Down Bakery offers cookies, sweets and breads, and Sticky’s Candy brings fudge and rare imported treats. A sheltered seating area is available near the food truck zone.

Daily entertainment includes Victorian carolers, The Dimes and local musicians. New roaming characters such as The Green Christmas Grouch and The Ice Princess appear throughout the season.

Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly since the entire event takes place outdoors. Tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific time slot.

https://www.bcmag.ca/merry-bright-returns-to-martini-town-in-langley/

11/12/2025

Kelowna is now Canada’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, joining cities like San Antonio and Mérida. 🍇🍷

The designation recognizes Kelowna’s strong food and beverage scene, from over 500 restaurants to a local agriculture sector that occupies more than half the land and supports nearly 5,000 jobs.

It also highlights the traditional foods and knowledge of the syilx people, ensuring Indigenous culinary practices are preserved for future generations.

This status brings global recognition, sustainable economic growth, and opportunities for culinary collaboration with other UNESCO cities.

For residents and visitors alike, Kelowna’s designation celebrates the city’s food, wine, craft beverages, and festivals—confirming the Okanagan as a hub for gastronomy in Canada.

Read more about it here:

https://www.bcmag.ca/kelowna-designated-as-canadas-first-unesco-creative-city-of-gastronomy/

The City of Kelowna, together with Westbank First Nation and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, is proud to announce that Kelowna has been designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Kelowna is Canada’s first city to receive this designation in the creative field of gastronomy, joining other...

11/10/2025

One of BC’s rarest fish in action 🐟 The Rock Greenling is a master of hiding, living in shallow reefs with strong currents that make it almost impossible to study. Bright orange spots mark the males, while females remain largely a mystery.

A hige thank-you to Olivias Reef reef for capturing such a great video of this elusive fish for all of us to see.

11/09/2025

Looking for a quiet spot to enjoy BC’s fall colours?

Deroche, along the Nicomen Slough, is worth the detour. This small community, with roots in early farming and settler life, comes alive in autumn as maples and cottonwoods turn golden and reflect on the water. It’s an ideal place for a stroll, a photo, or simply soaking in the season without the usual crowds—autumn here feels like stepping back in time.

📸: Chris N Wayne Prinn

11/07/2025

Humpback whales rising to the surface in coordinated bubble-net feeding create one of the most spectacular sights in the ocean. In places like Frederick Sound, Alaska, and along BC’s coast, these whales work together to trap and consume thousands of herring at once.

Since commercial whaling ended in 1976, North Pacific humpbacks have made a remarkable comeback, but climate change, ship strikes, and fishing gear entanglements remain serious threats.

Many whales return year after year to the same feeding grounds, showing both their resilience and the importance of protecting BC’s marine ecosystems.

Read more here:

https://www.bcmag.ca/a-humpback-comeback/

10/31/2025

This Halloween, BC’s bats are out in force—16 species glide through the night sky, from the tiny western small-footed myotis to the silver-tipped hoary bat. 🦇

These mammals are key to our ecosystems: little brown myotis eat hundreds of mosquitoes an hour, and big brown bats keep crop and forest pests under control, saving millions.

Bats navigate in complete darkness using echolocation—Townsend’s big-eared bats can even detect a moth’s wingbeat.

They face threats like white-nose syndrome, habitat loss, pesticides, and wind turbines, but BC conservationists are working to protect them.

This Halloween, you can help: build a bat house, plant night-flying insect–friendly plants, dim outdoor lights, and appreciate these essential nocturnal allies.

https://www.bcmag.ca/bewitching-bats-of-bc/

As the October moon swells and jack-o’-lanterns grin from porches across BC, creatures of the night take center stage. Among them – gliding silently through the chill autumn air – are some of the most misunderstood and marvellously mysterious animals on Earth: bats.   Forget the spooky stereo...

10/30/2025

Bridal Falls 📍

The waterfall drops over 60 metres, making it one of the taller cascades in the Fraser Valley. While the area sees its fair share of tourists, it’s still a great spot for a short hike or a peaceful pause to take in the water and surrounding forest.

Parking is available right off the highway, but arriving earlier in the day makes for a quieter experience. Keep an eye out for the local salmon runs in nearby streams during the fall months—they’re a hidden highlight most visitors miss.

📸: Dmitry Spravko ( via instagram)

10/29/2025

Despite Tron: Ares earning roughly CA $46 million domestically and about CA $83 million worldwide in its opening weekend — a mixed box office showing for a film of its scale — there’s one thing Vancouverites are sure to appreciate.

Much of the film’s real-world action was shot in Vancouver, and unlike many productions that pass the city off as somewhere else, Tron: Ares proudly showcases it in full view.

Throughout the movie, you’ll spot familiar landmarks such as BC Place, the Cambie Bridge, and Stanley Park. Director Joachim Rønning even praised the city, saying, “Luckily, Vancouver is a film-friendly city.”

We’re sharing The New York Times video featuring Rønning as he breaks down the film’s motorcycle chase sequence — filmed on a bridge many Vancouverites will instantly recognize.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTNYTh345EE

10/24/2025

Gliding gracefully through the depths, the wolf eel is one of BC’s most fascinating underwater residents. Despite its name, it isn’t a true eel but a fish — its pectoral fins are a clear giveaway.

Wolf eels can often be found along the rocky reefs and kelp-covered pinnacles of BC’s coast, from the Strait of Georgia to Haida Gwaii. They prefer the cold, dark waters where they can tuck themselves into crevices and rocky dens, sometimes sharing these spaces with a lifelong mate.

The males, like the one seen here, are known for their distinctive features — broad heads, powerful jaws, and mottled patterns that help them blend into the seabed. While their appearance may seem intimidating, they’re generally shy and gentle creatures, feeding mainly on sea urchins, crabs, and other hard-shelled prey.

🎥 Olivias Reef