Discovering
Western Canada’s Olympic Spirit
by
Jeff Lukovich
Just 600 miles separate two cities bonded by Olympic
spirit. Calgary – a bustling city set in the Rocky Mountain foothills,
host of the 1988 Winter Olympics, and Vancouver – a vibrant
multicultural metropolis bounded by ocean and mountains, set to play
host of the future
2010 Winter Olympics. Between the two lies a world to discover: a
vast, varied terrain with charming towns and spectacular vistas.
Beginning
from
Calgary, a good place to begin your search for the spirit and
legacy of Olympics past is at
Canada Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Calgary on the
Trans-Canada Highway. This site of freestyle skiing, bobsleigh, luge
and ski jumping during the XV Olympic Winter Games is now a year-round
sport and tourist attraction.
Take the Olympic Odyssey Tour and explore the
Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum’s two full floors of displays, new and
continuing exhibits, and hands-on activities. Tour Canada's only
Olympic bobsleigh/luge track in the Ice House and end the tour with a
spectacular view of the city from the Ski Jump Complex. For the
adventurous, the Park
offers
public luge and skeleton, skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.
Afterwards, head over to McMahon Stadium, site of the Olympic opening
and closing ceremonies and home to the Canadian Football League’s
Calgary Stampeders. Check out the Saddledome, site of the Olympic
hockey events and home to the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames.
Olympic Plaza, built for the 1988 medal ceremonies,
is at the heart of Calgary’s cultural district. Attractions in the
area include a 5-
theatre
performing arts centre, the
Glenbow Museum, the convention centre, the main library, art
galleries, a historic cathedral church and city hall. The Plaza is a
“people place” that attracts visitors and residents alike with water
fountains during the summer, a fine skating rink in winter, as well as
concerts, festivals and special events throughout the year.
Following the Olympic dream from Alberta into
British Columbia, visitors have a choice of routes to consider and
will take between 10 – 15 hours to travel, and visitors should allow
at least two to three days to enjoy some of the stops along the way.
The vibrant urban playground of Vancouver promises
to become even livelier as the city prepares for the
2010 Winter Olympics. In a 2001 survey of the world's 200 leading
cities, Vancouver was rated as the number one city in the world in
terms of quality of life and it’s easy
to
see why. Vancouver is a melange of sightseeing opportunities. Stanley
Park is an urban wilderness not to be missed.
Gastown, with its cobblestone streets and historic buildings,
gives a flavour of pioneer days. Chinatown’s sights, smells and sounds
convey the visitor to a bustling Asian market or to the tranquility of
an authentic classical Chinese garden at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden.
If you want to check out Vancouver’s sports scene
and future Olympic venues,
B.C. Place
Stadium,
home of the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions and site of the
opening and closing ceremonies, is only a short kick away from the
downtown core. 2010 will be the first time in Olympic history that
these ceremonies will be held indoors. Directly adjacent is G.M.
Place, home of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks and
planned venue for the men’s hockey games.
A 20 minute drive from downtown Vancouver is
Hastings Park, to be the site of figure skating and short-track speed
skating in 2010. Then, head over to the North Shore and drive up
Cypress Mountain, future site of Olympic freestyle skiing and snow
boarding. Try one of the great hiking trails or just relax and enjoy
the stunning views of the city.
Between
Vancouver and Whistler runs the Sea to Sky Highway (Hwy 99). Arguably
Canada’s most scenic road, it follows the shores of Howe Sound before
ascending into spectacular lake and mountain country that is home to
some of the best hiking, biking, climbing and skiing in the world.
Several places along the way are worth a stop. At
Britannia Beach the BC Museum of Mining offers tours through a
historic copper mine. Just before Squamish, scenic Shannon Falls is a
perfect spot for a photo and picnic. Then there’s the Stawamus Chief,
one of Canada’s top rock-climbing areas. Further along the highway,
Garibaldi Provincial Park is a stunning wilderness area that combines
lakes, rivers, forests, mountains and glaciers.
It’s
hard to imagine a better setting for winter Olympic Alpine and Nordic
events than Whistler. Visit the Olympic Information Centre or ask a
local to point out future Games venues. Alpine and nordic skiing, ski
jumping, sliding events and Paralympic events are proposed for
Whistler, as well as an athlete’s village and media facilities. Most
of those are located within viewing distance of the resort’s main
village.
With over 7,000 acres of terrain,
Whistler/Blackcomb boasts both the largest ski area and greatest
vertical rise of any ski resort in North America. Little wonder that
Whistler is perpetually rated #1 ski resort on the continent.
But Whistler offers the visitor much more than a
frolic in the snow. Its four golf courses are top-ranked. There are a
range of hiking and biking trails from alpine to lakeside. Canoeing,
kayaking,
white-water
rafting – the assortment of activities is limited only by your
imagination. The pedestrian-only village offers plenty of shopping
diversions as well as award-winning restaurants, comfortable pubs and
lively nightclubs. Beyond the multitude of things to do in spectacular
surroundings, Whistler offers a friendly, comfortable atmosphere – and
a new level of excitement with the upcoming Games.
Travellers visiting Western Canada’s Olympic
corridors will gain more than a perspective of the region’s Olympic
legacy and future. They will discover a truly special place to visit,
from oceans to alpine and a world in between.
Discovering British Columbia is as easy as calling
toll-free 1-800-HELLO BC (North America) or HELLO BC (435-5622) in
Greater Vancouver. This reservation and information service provides
free help and advice in planning a trip to British Columbia, from
travel ideas and tips to booking your accommodations, tours, and
transportation. You can also order your free copy of the BC Escapes™
Getaways Guide. And be sure to check out the Tourism British Columbia
web site at
www.HelloBC.com.
