Last night the Western Canadian Music Awards were handed out at the Kelowna Community Theatre, wrapping up this year’s BreakOut West music festival and conference.

The awards celebrate and recognize achievements in Canadian music for artists based between Manitoba and BC, including the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The event went quickly with over twenty awards handed out between stellar mashup performances that saw We Are the City team up on stage with Grapes of Wrath, Bif Naked perform with Fringe Percussion, You Say Party get funked up with Grand Analog, and Said the Whale jam with Jean Paul Maurice and Aidan Knight — just to name a few.

Backstage John and I hung out in the media room (which was also the green room) in order to catch the winners as they made their way in with their new hardware. At least about 40 percent of them were unable to attend last night including International Achievement Award Winners Sarah McLachlan, as well as Tegan and Sara.

Aboriginal Recording of the Year
Leela Gilday – Calling All Warriors – NWT

Blues Recording of the Year
Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick – B.C.

Children’s Recording of the Year
Norman Foote – Love My New Shirt – B.C.

Classical Composition of the Year
Stephen Chatman – Earth Songs – B.C.

Classical Recording of the Year
musica intima – into light – B.C.

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year
Amanda Falk – In Between the Now & Then – MB

Country Recording of the Year
Doc Walker – Go – MB

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year
Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Let’s Just Stay Here – B.C.

Album francophone de l’année/ Francophone Recording of the Year
Geneviève Toupin – Geneviève Toupin – MB

Independent Album of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Jazz Recording of the Year
Sandro Dominelli – The Alvo Sessions – AB

Roots Solo Recording of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Pop Recording of the Year
laurell – Can’t Stop Falling – B.C.

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning – MB

Rock Recording of the Year
You Say Party – XXXX – B.C.

Songwriter of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Urban Recording of the Year
Maiko Watson – Sweet Vibration – MB

World Recording of the Year
Alpha YaYa Diallo – Immé – B.C.

The biggest success story of the night was Dan Mangan, who had a clean sweep in all three categories in which he was nominated, Songwriter of the Year, Roots Solo Album of the Year, and Independent Album of the Year for Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Mangan was in New York last night so WCMA host, Grant Lawrence, read Dan’s acceptance speeches on stage via email on his Blackberry.

Just before the awards Dan Mangan followed me on Twitter so I was able to send him a direct message, asking for thoughts on his hat-trick.

The night ended on a high note as Hall of Fame inductees, Chilliwack, played back to back hits. From classical to instrumental and children’s recording artists, everyone was in good spirits and supporting of fellow artists last night. BC and Manitoba were well represented in the awards room and from the sounds of the crowd and thunderous applause out in the theatre, it seems like everyone had a fantastic time.

All photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.com

The post Western Canadian Music Awards 2010 appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

When John and I covered the Western Canadian Music Awards in Kelowna last weekend, we were guests of the Delta Grand Okanagan.

The Grand is the largest conference centre and resort hotel in the Okanagan and was recently voted Best Resort/Hotel in the Okanagan by readers of the Georgia Straight in the 2010 “Best of Vancouver” issue. My only previous experience at a Kelowna hotel was during a road trip with John in 2006 (where we stayed at the Best Western) and during a rugby tournament when I was in high school (where we stayed at a motel in Rutland) — needless to say this was definitely a treat.

Upon arriving at The Delta Grand you’ll immediately notice its proximity to Prospera Place, home of the WHL Kelowna Rockets and live concerts with big-name acts who pass through the region. Located within walking distance of downtown shops and eateries, it’s also in the heart of the cultural district. The Center for the Arts, the Kelowna Community Theatre, and the Kelowna Art Gallery are just around the corner.

Our room was in the Royal Private Residences section of the resort, past the main building, lobby, and casino. These suites are purchased privately and then rented out by the hotel (as they do with vacation properties in Whistler or on the Sunshine Coast). Our 3-bedroom well-exceeded our needs but it was great to see what they offered aside from the standard hotel room.

The resort is located right alongside Lake Okanagan and features a lagoon, suited for peddle boats and lovely wedding backdrops. Joggers run along the lakeside pathway that also connects the resort to restaurants and amenities on its way to the downtown core. Conference and banquet facilities also compliment a giant fitness centre nestled beside the Spa at the Grand.

We were impressed with the dining options at the Grand, especially when we ducked into the late night lounge for some margherita flatbread after the awards ceremony. The following day we had lunch in the Grand Bay Cafe where we were treated to a fruit-topped salad, basil pea soup, and the sandwich of our choice. The pea soup was one of the best I’ve had.

As has always been my experience with Delta (being most familiar with the Ocean Pointe in Victoria) they staff was incredibly friendly and helpful at all times. They also cater to families and activities either inside the hotel or out in the community. In Victoria I know they used to have storytime in their lobby that saw sleepy children in their pajamas come down to enjoy a bedtime tale and glass of milk before dozing off. At the Grand, you can sign up for a wine tour or float plane tour in the lobby or have a family bingo night.

Heading into ski season, you can find rooms online for about $139 a night. Although we only spent one night at the resort, it got me thinking about returning for industry events or conferences, or even to catch a Rockets game.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2

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The following was experienced and contributed by John Biehler exclusively for Miss604.com. Last week John was a guest of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) to experience the region and see what the area has to offer.

Along with beer, we also visited a number of wineries on our Thompson Okanagan tour, for which this region is world-renowned.

Our first stop was Quail’s Gate Winery in West Kelowna. Situated with a stunning view of Okanagan Lake, we started off with lunch at the Old Vines Restaurant which is on the vineyard property.

After lunch, a few of us wondered around the vineyard which is just outside the doors of the restaurant. It was a special treat to see grapes on the vines as I normally visit Kelowna in the summer time when the vines are empty.

We then headed to the tasting room to sample some of the many wines that are produced onsite.

Being relatively new to wine (I’m a beer guy, remember?) it was interesting to hear from the staff the process that goes into producing the wine and differences between the various types of wine. I learned quite a lot just from this one stop.

Our next stop was the Tantalus Vineyards which, like Quail’s Gate has a picturesque view of the lake, mountains and surrounding vineyard.

Their newly opened 13,000 square foot winery felt more like a hip Yaletown lounge than a more traditional winery.

Heading to the back of the winery found us up close to the vats of grape juice from the recently pressed grapes.

As with Quail’s Gate, I was fascinated by the process that goes into wine making.

Getting to tour the facility and talk with David Paterson, Tantalus’ passionate winemaker, made it all that much more interesting to me.

Stay tuned for the next dispatch from the Thompson Okanagan tour featuring food later this week.

Related posts from this trip: Kelowna’s Hotel Eldorado, Kamloops BC Wildlife Park, Beer: Tree Brewing, Noble Pig, Frick and Frack

John is an avid photographer, gadget geek and traveller. You can find him on Twitter and at johnbiehler.com where he discusses photography and all sorts of technology. All photos in this post were taken by John.

Disclosure: Activities, services and dining experiences during the trip were compliments of Thompson-Okanagan Tourism.

The post Touring the Thompson Okanagan: Wine – Quail’s Gate Winery & Tantalus Vineyards appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

The following photo essay was experienced and contributed by John Biehler exclusively for Miss604.com.

After a full day of travelling around Kelowna, we arrived at the Hotel Eldorado. After checking in, our group met for dinner and we were treated to a special menu from the hotel’s Executive Chef, Michael Lyons.

We started with scallop and bacon potstickers:

I opted for the Alberta AAA reserve beef tenderloin with Alaskan King Crab, bernaise sauce, whipped potatoes and vegetables:

The meal wrapped up with a ridiculously decadent Hot Chocolate Soufflé:

Michael is one of the hosts of Food Network’s “Chef Off!” television show. Rumor has it that he runs regular Iron Chef-style competitions with chefs from surrounding hotels in Kelowna. I certainly wasn’t expecting this calibre of food in Kelowna and the Hotel Eldorado certainly impressed me.

You can follow this unique lakeside boutique hotel on Twitter @EldoradoKelowna and browse their package deals (spa, wine, golf, or romance-themed) if you would like to book a trip there yourself.

Related posts from the trip: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park, Wine: Quail’s Gate & Tantalus, Beer: Tree Brewing, Noble Pig, Frick and Frack

John is an avid photographer, gadget geek and traveller. You can find him on Twitter and at johnbiehler.com where he discusses photography and all sorts of technology. All photos in this post were taken by John.

Disclosure: Activities, services and dining experiences during the trip were compliments of Thompson-Okanagan Tourism.

The post Touring the Thompson Okanagan: Kelowna’s Hotel Eldorado appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Last month I sent John Biehler in my place on a tour of the Thompson Okanagan including stops in Kelowna and Kamloops. He enjoyed wine tastings, wilderness explorations, and choice craft beers from the region thanks to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA).

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

Aside from tongue-tingling ales and delicious dinners the participants on this trip were also given a prize pack to give away once they returned home. As such, I have a remarkable getaway giveaway up for grabs that includes:

The total package value is about $650 and would make for one exciting tour of the region for either yourself or a lucky gift recipient this Christmas.

For your chance to win, enter your information in the contest form below. You can also find this same contest box on John Biehler’s blog since he was kind enough to fill in for me on this trip.

Entries are only being accepted via the contest entry form above. Comments on this post are not being considered as contest entries. One winner will be drawn from all entries on Friday, December 10th, 2010.

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CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Play On!, the nation’s largest annual sports festival, announced its coast-to-coast line-up this week including a few of its stops in BC.

Photo credit: kk+ on Flickr

Hockey will take to the streets in Kelowna May 14 & 15 and June 11 & 12 Burnaby as they join 16 other cities across Canada for this national event. Players of all skill levels and ages are invited to sign up online and register their teams.

With Canada becoming more culturally diverse, sport preferences changing, and with only approximately 3% of Canadians now actually playing ice hockey, it has been estimated that there are at least three times as many people in Canada who have played street hockey as who have played ice hockey.

Kelowna’s event will be at Prospera Place and Metropolis at Metrotown will host Burnaby’s. Partners for these two cities are the BC Ball Hockey Association, and the BC Floorball Association. Proceeds from these tournaments will also support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Miss604.com is a proud sponsor of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Play On!

The post CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Play On! 2011 appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Centre of Gravity, Kelowna’s ultimate summer beach festival and concert series, returns to the shores of Lake Okanagan July 29th to July 31st.

The festival has several key components of music and sport. 150 athletes will compete in five sports: pro beach volleyball, freestyle mountain biking, FMX, wakeboarding, and basketball. As for concerts in City Park, there’s Dragonette, Sweet Thing, Dirty Radio, and many more artists with headliners Busta Rhymes, Calvin Harris, and Chromeo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There’s also the Dirt Zone (featuring FMX freestyle mountain bike shows), the Water Zone (with wakeboarding), Hot Sands Beach (for the beach volleyball tournaments), Hoop Zone (for 4 on 4 basketball), and the Urban Zone (for BMX, skateboarding and street DJs).

Download the Centre of Gravity mobile app to keep on top of schedules and events for each day. 3-day passes and tickets for Friday are sold out but there are still tickets available for Saturday and Sunday. I also have a VIP prize pack available to give away to one lucky reader including:

There are two ways you can enter to win my VIP prize pack for Centre of Gravity:

Since the festival is next weekend I will quickly draw a winner at 10:00am Monday, July 25, 2011. While the festival is for all-ages, you must be at least 19 years of age to enter and win this contest (for the after party). Please enjoy the festival and parties responsibly and have a great time in the Okanagan sunshine!

Update The winner is Lauren!

The post Centre of Gravity Festival Kelowna 2011, Win Passes appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

While the days may be getting long and gloomy there are always fantastic getaway options for us here in Vancouver for quick weekend trips inland or to the island. If you’re dreaming of a local getaway, I have partnered with Accent Inns to offer up just that.

A proud sponsor of past events like Social Media Camp and WordCamp, Accent Inns have locations in Victoria, Vancouver Airport, Burnaby, Kamloops, and Kelowna. Each of these locations received a 2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. With your stay you get free WIFI, free parking, comfortable amenities, and affordable accommodation.

Photo credit: Kelowna09 & Kelowna09 on Flickr

Accent Inns is offering up a getaway to Kelowna that you can use within the next year^*. They’re also including a trip to some wineries thanks to their partners Distinctly Kelowna Tours.

Our prize package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation at Accent Inns Kelowna (complimentary WIFI, parking, pool, pet-friendly, bike-friendly).
• A Distinctly Kelowna Tours winery tour for 2 (your choice of Westside Bench, Eastside Bench, or Northern Bench). The tours include stops at 3-4 venues, a guided tour at 1 of the wineries, and time to shop in the wine boutiques.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow Accent Inns on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their locations. Follow Distinctly Kelowna Tours on Twitter and Facebook as well.

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, November 2, 2012. Accent Inns Kelowna is located at 1140 Harvey Ave.

^*Valid for two consecutive nights accommodation at Accent Inns Kelowna. Certificate for the hotel stay must be used by October 31, 2013. Not redeemable for July and August long weekends. Based on availability. Must be 19+ to enjoy the winery tour.

Update The winner is Heather! (Comment Oct 22)

The post Accent Inns Kelowna Wine Getaway appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

If you’re looking to escape to wine country this spring you will have a full calendar of events and activities to choose from in late April and May at the Spring Okanagan Wine Festival.

Spring Okanagan Wine Festival

May 1st to May 11th, 2014 | Various Locations
Signature Events include:
May 1: Best of Varietal wines in British Columbia for 2014
May 2-3: The WestJet Wine Tastings
May 8: Comforts of Grilled Cheese and Wine presented by the Dairy Farmers of Canada
May 10: Blind Wine and Cheese Soiree presented by Valley First

Go to Bubbly Bootcamp May 1st, sample spring releases from May 1st to May 10th, book a spot at the Quail’s Gate Spring Release Dinner Series from May 1st to May 11th, and Sip Into the Sunset May 1st to May 10th at Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

Leading up to the Spring Okanagan Wine Festival there are a few events taking place the last week of April including: 2013 White and Rose Wines, and 2012 Red Wines New Releases; Budbreak at Crowsnest; and Celebrate the Season with a Taste of Heaven.

Throughout the season you can search events by region so whether you’re in Kelowna or Oliver, you can see what’s happening at one of the local vineyards and join in the fun. Follow the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

The post Spring Okanagan Wine Festival appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Culture Days is an annual, national, three day celebration where Canadians are encouraged to participate in free and interactive activities to discover their cultural spirit and passion. Here in BC, there are 449 events and activities listed on the Culture Days calendar between September 26th and 28th and a provincial launch event will take place in Surrey.

Featured BC Culture Days Events

What: BC Culture Days Provincial Launch​ ​
When: Thursday, September 25, 2015 from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Where: Surrey City Hall, Centre Stage, 13450 104th Ave
Details: Presented in partnership with the City of Surrey, Surrey Arts Centre, and Surrey Libraries. Everyone is invited to join in this free public community celebration featuring:

• Christopher Gaze, Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach as emcee
• Performances by Country singer Lisa Brokop, Spirit of the West’s John Mann, Surrey City Orchestra, Praise Team (hip hop dance troupe), and Heritage Re-enactors
• A cultural forecast by CTV’s Marke Driesschen and speakers Sal Ferreras, Provost and Vice President Academic at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Lucille Pacey, President and CEO of Arts Umbrella
• Evelyn Roth’s inflatable salmon installation & storytelling, a poetry reading by Rawle Iam James, 2014 BC Culture Days Ambassador, onsite sketching by Elizabeth Hollick and painting activities presented by the South Surrey/ White Rock Society
• Enjoy lunch from food trucks and more

Abbotsford

What: Arts and Culture Youth Party
When: Friday, September 26, 2014 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: AYC Youth Centre at MRC and AYC Youth Centre at ARC, 2499 McMillan Road
Details: Youth ages 12 to 18 can join the Abbotsford Youth Commission in creating art installations for their youth centres. Free food and free fun.

Kelowna

What: Culture Days Street Festival at 312 Bernard Ave
When: Friday, September 26 (6:00pm to 11:00pm); Saturday, September 27 (11:00am to 10:00pm), Sunday, September 28 (11:00am to 5:00pm)

Visit Miss604.com for the full postLast year I began a partnership with Seekers Media (FestivalSeekers & SnowSeekers) to produce and share content from their network of adventurers. This spring, I am joining them on the road for Social Media Content Production and Amplification Workshops that will visit 17 cities in BC and Alberta, in partnership […]

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Visit Miss604.com for the full postMission Hill Family Estate’s popular Summer Concert Series returns this summer with world-class talent playing the vineyard amphitheatre. Melissa Etheridge is there on Friday, August 26th, and the return of The Gipsy Kings on Sunday, August 28th. Michael Bolton is playing on August 5th and after all three shows incredibly […]

The post Win a Getaway to the Mission Hill Summer Concert Series appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Visit Miss604.com for the full postI took a non-skiing friend on a girls weekend to Canada’s favourite family ski resort one weekend and we had an amazing time! Between the ice skating on the country’s highest outdoor rink and tubing at sunset, to tapas and wine at one of the 16+ dining establishments, Big White‘s […]

The post Fun for Everyone at Big White This Season appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Visit Miss604.com for the full postImagine summer in the vineyard with live music and fantastic cuisine! The Mission Hill Summer Concert Series is back, bringing world-class musical talent to their spectacular outdoor Amphitheatre. In addition to the concerts, they offer experiential packages to enable guests to enjoy an unforgettable evening of food, wine and song. […]

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Visit Miss604.com for the full postThe following has been contributed by Steffani Cameron, who is in the middle of a 5-year worldwide adventure that she is chronicling at FullNomad.com. Old Vines Restaurant at Quail’s Gate Winery Quail’s Gate Winery is one of the Okanagan’s early upstarts, and now it’s a grand old dame. On the […]

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Contributor Steffani Cameron explores "Where to Eat and Drink in Kelowna", from brunch and the Farmers Market to fries, marrow, cheeses, distilled spirits, beer, and of course wine in this Okanagan hub.

The post Where to Eat and Drink in Kelowna appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Contributor Steffani Cameron has an amazing gluten free meal at Waterfront Wines in Kelowna, read her thoughts and her story about this local culinary hub

The post Dining in the Okanagan: Waterfront Wines in Kelowna appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

A Full Okanagan Valley Experience with Dax Justin - visit wineries, restaurants, and get a bird's eye view of this gorgeous part of British Columbia in the latest ZenSeekers post

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Guest contributor Steffani Cameron wines and dines her way through Oliver and Osoyoos, with a theme of tasting, sampling, and savouring Okanagan cheese and the goodness that accompanies it.

The post A Celebration of Okanagan Cheese appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

Cirque du Soleil's Corteo, their latest arena production, will make stops in British Columbia this fall and tickets go on sale today at 10:00am. Catch the show in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops in the fall of 2018.

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