President of the Canadian Surfing Association Dom Domic said “The Canadian Surfing Association is very excited to sanction the Rip Curl Pro Tofino as the Canadian National Championship for the first time.” He added “Now in its 7th year, the Rip Curl Pro Tofino has been at the forefront of a rapidly increasing level of competitive surfing in Canada.”

The annual surf competition provides an arena for competitive surfing in Canada. The divisions for the event are: Pro Men, Pro Women, Masters, Men’s Longboard, Women’s Longboard, Junior Men, Junior Women, and Children. The CSA recognition means that the Rip Curl Pro Tofino will deliver a national champion in each of these divisions.

You can visit this awesome event during our 2-day Tofino tour departing on June 1, 2013!
Learn more >>

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For the first time, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is offering free admission for kids aged 12-and-under to all Rodeo Performances as well as to the Country Fair grounds, making this event more affordable for families than ever. Also, all guests can save $2 on Grounds Admission when they buy at select London Drugs and Big O Tire stores, and save $2 on a combination of Rodeo and Grounds Admission online.

Hang onto your hats, as the world’s top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete for a total of $328,000 in cash prizes in four main events: Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Bareback and Ladies Barrel Racing. Additional competitions include Mutton Bustin, Rib Fest and BBQ Competition, and 2^nd annual World Freestyle Round-Up Skateboarding Competition. Families will love experiencing the Kidz Zone, and visitors of all ages will appreciate BC’s largest travelling midway, Classic Car Show, and much more.

After the sun goes down, stay to enjoy live entertainment in the famous Longhorn Saloon, with daily performances by The Ken McCoy Band and Dr. Strangelove. Also catch amazing performances on the Outdoor Stage, where you’ll be able to swoon to the likes of AJ Woodworth ­– BC Country Music’s 2012 Female Vocalist of the Year – and a lineup of bands you won’t want to miss.

Event:
2013 Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair

Dates:
May 17-20, 2013

Location:
Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey, BC

Tickets:
Grounds Admission               $12*
Rodeo Performances             $20
Kids 12 & under                     FREE Rodeo and Ground Admission

(Must be accompanied by an adult)

For a detailed schedule of events, performances, competitors list, and to purchase tickets visit www.CloverdaleRodeo.com.

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The night market’s Florence Lee said clear skies last Friday evening drew big crowds to the 10-acre site behind Home Depot (12631 Vulcan Way) where close to 200 vendors set up shop for the first time this season.

But a change in the unexpected, warm early May weather put a damper on things Saturday and Sunday.

But not to worry, Lee said, as this weekend’s Victoria Day long weekend will give market-goers four nights to take in the colorful and vibrant setting.

“We will be in operation Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” Lee said.

On Friday to Sunday, the market will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight. On the holiday Monday the hours run 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Normal operating hours for Sundays when there is no long weekend are 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The market runs until Sept. 8.

Lee said there will be plenty of live entertainment this weekend, including competitors in the Summer Night Idol (SNI) talent search.

Auditions were held last month at Lansdowne Centre, and elimination rounds and the grand finale will be held on the International Summer Night Market stage.

Plus, there’s more ahead for the market with a grand opening set for Saturday June 8. That’s when the market celebrates cultural diversity with a variety of displays and entertainment.

For more information about the International Summer Night Market, visit summernightmarket.com.

Night market fans can also check out the debut of the Richmond Night Market’s 2013 season which gets underway May 17 at its location at 8351 River Road, adjacent to the River Rock Casino Resort.

Hours run from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. The Richmond Night Market is also open on long weekend Mondays, and market days run each weekend until Oct. 14.

For more information, visit richmondnightmarket.com

Source: Richmond News

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Some highlights of our Rocky Mountains and Tofino tours include:

Rocky Mountains:

• Visit 5 different National Parks
• Travel through a beautiful landscape with snow-capped mountains
• VIP access to Banff’s hottest nightclub (18+ only)
• Options to visit the Columbia Icefield, Sulphur Mountain Gondola and participate in an exciting bear safari (additional costs)
• Learn more >>

Tofino:

• Travel by ferry through the beautiful Gulf Islands
• Waterfront hotel accommodation
• BBQ dinner
• Hike the Wild Pacific Trail
• Option to go whale or bear watching, surfing and kayaking (additional costs)
• Learn more >>

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Vancouver’s Stanley Park has been named the second most beautiful city park in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine.

“The most beautiful combine meadows, woodlands, ponds, lakes, and streams with museums and other man-made attractions,” according to the criteria.

Coming in at number one is Park Guell in Barcelona.

But Vancouver’s own Stanley Park is number two. “The temperate rainforest of Stanley Park is almost completely surrounded by water, with both gorgeous skyline views and wild forest of 500,000 cedar, fir, and hemlock trees. It connects to the historic waterfront and downtown via a 5.5-mile portion of seawall that surrounds the park, popular with joggers, strollers, and cyclists. Rose and rhododendron gardens, nine intricately carved First Nations totem poles, a small golf course, an outdoor summer theater, a seaside swimming pool, and areas for lawn bowling round out its charms,” says the article.

The rest of the top ten parks are:

3. Keukenhof in the Netherlands
4. City Park in New Orleans
5. Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
6. Namba Parks in Japan
7. Forest Park in St. Louis
8. Ibirapuera Park in Brazil
9. Englischer Garten in Munich
10. Balboa Park in San Diego

Source: Global BC

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Earlier this winter, a lynx and her kitten hanging around the area temporarily closed some runs at the resort. Then an aggressive coyote started approaching skiers for food.

On the hill’s final day of the season, it was the grand finale.

A grizzly bear led to the closure of the backside of Lake Louise ski hill, forcing ski hill staff to evacuate the area around Temple Lodge.

The backside was closed for the rest of the afternoon.

Parks Canada was called and a human-wildlife conflict specialist went out to the hill. He didn’t see the bear, but was able to confirm it was a grizzly bear based on the tracks in the area where it was reported.

It’s definitely a good reminder that the bears are out and about in the park.

Join us for our next tour to the Rocky Mountains for a chance to see grizzly bears and other wildlife! Learn more >>

Source: Calgary Herald

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You can book the Hippo tour as an optional activity on all our Victoria tours.
Learn more >> 

The post New: Victoria Hippo Tours appeared first on Club ESL Tours.

Round 1 (quarterfinals): 16 teams (8 per conference). 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5. Seeds 1-4 have home ice advantage*.

Round 2 (semifinals): 8 teams (4 per conference). After the first round, the teams are re-seeded so that the highest ranking team plays the lowest ranking team. i.e. If seeds 1, 2, 5, 6 won in round one, then the matchups would be 1vs6, and 2vs5, with the higher seeds having home ice advantage.

Round 3 (conference finals): 4 teams. Same as round 2. Western winner is awarded the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl and the Eastern winner is awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy.

Round 4 (Stanley Cup finals): 2 teams. The winners from each conference play each other for the Stanley Cup, the oldest trophy in pro sports history. The team with the better regular season has home ice advantage.

*home ice advantage means:
Game 1: better team plays at home
Game 2: better team plays at home
Game 3: better team plays away
Game 4: better team plays away
Game 5: better team plays at home
Game 6: better team plays away
Game 7: better team plays at home

Update: We have a small number of tickets left for game 5 of round 1 for the discounted price of $135 per person. Seats are located in section 301 & 330. Full refunds will be given if the Canucks loose game 4 on Tuesday.

The post NHL Playoffs explained appeared first on Club ESL Tours.

The City of Vancouver has put a lot of thought into planning its street food program since the 2010 launch. As a result of careful permit regulation, food truck expansion has been slow compared to the burgeoning food truck scenes in Portland and Austin.

But the fleet of 15 new Vancouver food trucks (specializing in street eats such as crunchy-outside, pillowy-inside Belgian waffles, extreme mac and cheese, Aussie hand pies, Filipino fusion, innovative salads, specialty coffee, gluten-free snacks, Kosher Israeli and slow-cooked comfort food) may prove that slow and steady wins the race.

The City’s Street Vending Program received 29 applications for 15 new stationary permits this year. The 15 new Vancouver food trucks:

1) Aussie Pie Guy, 600 Hamilton Street
Sweet and savoury Aussie hand pies.

2) Chou Chou Crepes, 500 Cambie Street
Frenchified crepes.

3) Culver City Salads, 400 Cambie Street (may change)
Fresh daily vegan entree salads and brown rice bowls.

4) Dougie Diner, 600 Hamilton Street
Dougie’s famous dogs and burgers.

5) Eat Sexy, 400 Cambie Street
Healthy fusion.

6) Falso Philly Cheese Steaks, 200 West 40th
Philly cheese steaks and bubble tea.

7) Fat Duck Mobile Eatery, 600 Hamilton Street
Slow-cooked comfort foods.

8) JJ’s Trucketeria, Abbott St. at Expo Blvd.
Healthy Filipino fusion.

9) Patisserie Lebeau, 600 Hamilton Street.
Traditional, decadent Belgian waffles.

10) San Juan Family Farm, 1800 Davie
Fruit juices, smoothies, fruit shakes.

11) Reel Mac & Cheese, 600 Hamilton Street
Movie-inspired Mac and cheese and deep-fried mac and cheese balls.

12) Stir It Up Bike Cafe, Olympic Village SkyTrain Station
Vancouver’s first pedal-powered food cart with sustainable coffee and gluten-free snacks.

13) The Grill Express, TBA
Kosher Israeli fare.

14) Wan Jai Thai Food, 1300 Pacific Blvd.
Thai food.

15) Yo Quiero Taqueria, 1700 East Broadway
Tacos and fresh house-made salsa.

Vancouver currently has 114 stationary food trucks on Vancouver streets. You can browse through all of them here.

Source: Inside Vancouver

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The Sharks and Canucks rekindle a rivalry that features a recent conference finals thriller. Both teams battle for Stanley Cup supremacy following a lockout-shortened season, and there are several factors that should ultimately determine which squad survives and advances in the wildly contentious Western Conference bracket.

These teams are set to become division rivals when NHL realignment goes into effect. This series should will set the tone for future matchups and add a spark to a burgeoning rivalry.

Vancouver Canucks

The Northwest Division champions finished 26-15-7, performing at a consistently high level throughout the second half of the regular season. Led by the Sedin brothers yet again, the Canucks won 10 of 12 contests between March 19 and April 10.

Vancouver hasn’t suffered more than two consecutive losses since March 10. Coach Alain Vigneault has led the team to six postseason appearances during his seven-year tenure.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks placed third in the Pacific Divison, carrying a record of 25-16-7. San Jose slid to the sixth seed with a loss to in-state rival Los Angeles in the regular-season finale.

The team started the season with seven straight victories but went winless in its next seven. San Jose was largely plagued by inconsistency before hitting its stride in late March.

The Sharks won seven in a row between March 25 and April 5 to solidify their spot in the conference playoff race. This is the team’s fifth consecutive postseason visit under coach Todd McLellan, who led the team to back-to-back conference finals in 2010 and 2011.

Schedule

We have tickets for the bold games for $150.00 per person.

Wed, 1 May 2013 SHARKS – CANUCKS 7:30 PM
Fri, 3 May 2013 SHARKS – CANUCKS 7:00 PM
Sun, 5 May 2013 CANUCKS – SHARKS 7:00 PM
Tue, 7 May 2013 CANUCKS – SHARKS 7:00 PM
Thu, 9 May 2013 SHARKS – CANUCKS 7:00 PM
Sat, 11 May 2013 CANUCKS – SHARKS
Mon, 13 May 2013 SHARKS – CANUCKS

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