This public urban oasis and therapeutic Eden showcases flora from the three major tropical biomes: rain forest, sub-tropics, and desert. Filled with over 500 species of plants, the environment is also alive with 100 free-flying birds, including half a dozen iridescent parrots, and includes a waterfall and a rock pool with Japanese Koi fish.

Host to everything from drawing and painting classes, school groups, and patients in search of horticultural rehabilitation therapy to wedding ceremonies and photo sessions, this sanctuary is favoured as a spot for tranquil repose, the quiet observation of nature, and the study of plants and birds for residents and tourists alike.

The Conservatory is still an extremely popular attraction but after 40 years of operation, the current challenge is the recent vote by the elected Park Commissioners to close the facility due to a $250,000 budget shortfall. The Park Board is currently developing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) in the hopes that a solution can be found. Closure is slated for later this year, but supporters of the facility are working hard to find a way to preserve this precious green space. Become a friend of the Bloedel at friendsofthebloedel.ca.

Ashtanga @ Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver
ashtangayogavancouver.com
Synchronizing breath with a series of postures produces a purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. Benefits: improved circulation, a light, strong body and calm mind.

Couples @ The Path Yoga Centre
thepathyoga.com
Non-competitive physical postures, conscious breathing, touch, trust, communication and “a healthy dose of playfulness” for partners. Benefits: time together.

Flow @ YYoga
yyoga.ca
A flowing sequence of postures—standing, balancing, seated, inverted—focusing on core strength, breath awareness and alignment. Benefits: perfect balance of energy and calm for body and mind.

Hatha @ Semperviva Yoga
semperviva.com
Classical yoga strengthens, stretches, tones and relaxes the entire body. Benefits: increased muscle tone, improved flexibility and concentration, and deep relaxation.

Hot @ Moksha Yoga
mokshayogavancouver.com
This brand of hot yoga stretches, strengthens and tones the muscles, detoxifies the body and calms the mind. Themed classes may focus on breath awareness, building strength, etc. Benefits: reduced stress, rejuvenated internal system and “a little yoga twinkle in the eye.”

Iyengar @ The Yoga Space
theyogaspace.ca
Uses props (ropes, straps, blocks, bolsters) for better mobility and steadiness in your practice. Iyengar stresses the importance of inverted poses: headstand, shoulder stand, handstand and elbow balance. Benefits: correct physical alignment leads to the goal of meditation in action.

Kids’ @ Butterfly Yoga
butterflyyoga.ca
Yoga for kids of all ages, from preschool to preteen and beyond, as well as families. Benefits: builds strength and confidence in children.

Kundalini @ Yoga West
yogawest.ca
In Hindu tradition, this pure spiritual science leads to enlightenment. Vancouver’s only Kundalini studio offers a variety of specialized classes, like a women-only series. Benefits: awakening of Kundalini (inner knowledge, awareness and evolved consciousness).

Men’s @ Open Space Yoga
openspaceyoga.com
Designed to focus on most guys’ needs: releasing tight hamstrings and hips, stabilizing the core to reduce back pain and a relaxation series. Benefits: no girls allowed.

Mom & Baby @ Neomama
neomama.com
A gentle-yet-challenging yoga-Pilates combo that helps new moms rejuvenate, recondition and realign the body. A portion of class is dedicated to infant massage. Benefits: get back to your pre-pregnancy body!

Power @ Open Door Yoga
opendooryoga.bc.ca
Geared to those with prior posture experience, fast-paced power yoga, an Ashtanga-Hatha blend, works the cardiovascular system and incorporates the sun salutation series in a dynamic flow. Benefits: great cardio workout for experienced yogis.

Vinyasa @ Sanga Yoga
sangayoga.ca
Like Ashtanga, Vinyasa connects movement and breath but allows the rearrangement of postures into different sequences that can meet your need or mood. Benefits: conscious control of body, relaxation of mind and release of energy blockages throughout.

Yin @ Yoga Cara
yogacara.ca
Yin goes deeper, targeting connective tissues, such as ligaments, bones and joints normally not stimulated in more active styles of yoga. Benefits: rather than muscle development, focus is on the connective tissues and joints.

While summer may still seem a long way off, for Barb McMahon, founder and executive director of Sprouting Chef’s kitchen garden programs for youth, it’s just around the corner—which means gearing up for their kitchen and cooking summer day camp program.

Founded in 2009 and rooted in the values ‘respect for self, respect for each other and respect for the earth’, Sprouting Chefs offers a fresh perspective on where food comes from, how to prepare it with love and respect and how to make healthy, sustainable food choices.

Starting July 5, Sprouting Chefs will offer various full-day camp sessions for kids ages 8 to 15. These unique five-day sessions include:

• specialized training led by professional chefs
• trips to community gardens and farms
• seasonal family-friendly recipes for soups, appetizers, main courses and desserts
• food and kitchen safety training

In addition to the tremendous kitchen skills being taught, this program teaches the kids important life lessons such as how to have fun in the kitchen, enjoy healthy food and connect to others while preparing nutritious meals for themselves and their families. Sprouting Chefs also offers leadership and mentorship opportunities in their Level III program for young teen participants. You can visit sproutingchefs.com for more information and to register your sprout for this wonderful summer cooking camp experience!

Sprouting Chefs will be offering upcoming cooking programs at the West Vancouver Community Centre as well as various Burnaby and Vancouver Locations. Sprouting Chefs is a proud partner of Whole Foods Market and Gardenworks. Please visit wholefoodsmarket.com and gardenworks.ca for more information on these partnerships.

Ms. Anderson is best known for her roles as C.J. Parker on Baywatch, the Tool Time Girl on Home Improvement and Vallery Irons on V.I.P., and for her always controversial love life involving the likes of Tommy Lee, Kid Rock and  Marcus Schenkenberg. Through good times and bad, Pamela has consistently been one of the world’s most-watched celebrities, having graced more magazine covers worldwide than any star of her generation. Pamela has stood the test of time, first arriving on the scene in 1989 and still going strong; holding her own throughout and showing the world she is here to stay.

Not just a pretty face

There is no doubt that when we think of Pamela Anderson what comes first to mind is her physical beauty. That really isn’t all there is to her, though—this stunning, voluptuous blonde recognizes the power of her celebrity and influence and has taken on several causes close to her heart, creating platforms for animal rights and AIDS research, among others. Here is a brief list of some of her most impressive achievements:

• A strict vegetarian and advocate for animal rights, Pamela is an active member of the animal protection organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

• In 1999, she received the first Linda McCartney Memorial Award for animal rights protectors in recognition of her efforts, and in 2003 she stripped down for PETA’s “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” advertising campaign. Her work in this field ranks her just behind Justin Timberlake and Madonna as having the third most-valuable celebrity charity impact, generating an incredible $4.8 million for PETA and related causes.
• In 1989, Anderson appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine for the first time; she has since gone on to appear in numerous pictorials and on countless magazine covers.
• In March 2005, Anderson became a spokesmodel for MAC Cosmetics and the MAC AIDS Fund, which helps people affected by AIDS and HIV, and has since raised money for these causes during events around the globe.
• She is a celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.
• She served as the Grand Marshal of the SOS motorcycle ride fundraiser.
• In March 2006 she publicly expressed her condemnation of the annual seal hunt and requested an audience with Prime Minister Harper, but was refused.
• She joined forces with PETA in a campaign for the boycott of fruit juice distributor POM. Anderson’s “Pom Horrible Campaign” resulted in the company halting all animal testing.

An Eclectic Acting Career

A brief stroll down memory lane can take us to revisit some of Pamela’s most famous (and not so famous) roles, including a range of characters from iconic beach babe to celebrity bodyguard. Here is a selected overview of her career to date:

• Married… with Children episode Route 666: Part 2 (1991)
• Home Improvement (1991–1993)
• Baywatch (1992–1997)
• Days of our Lives (1992)
• The Nanny (1997)
• Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer Mystery (1994)
• V.I.P. (1998–2002)
• Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003)
• Less Than Perfect (2003)
• Stripperella (2003–2004)
• Stacked (2005–2006)
• Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson (2005)
• 8 Simple Rules (2005)
• MADtv (2005)
• Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008)
• The Sunday Night Project – Guest Host (2008)
• Big Brother Australia – House guest for 3 days (2008)

Triple Threat – beautiful, funny and smart

Now that Pamela has entered the business world, the sky is truly the limit. From footwear and apparel to snowboards to spas and fragrances, the variety of her interests makes Anderson a force to be reckoned with. A savvy businesswoman and entrepreneur, Pamela has several business ventures presently in the works. She is currently working on a sexy beach club and spa in her favourite yachting getaway of Montenegro, and recently created a new line of unisex body fragrances, “Malibu by Pamela Anderson”. “Blue” is the lighter of the Malibu fragrances, with hints of vanilla, berries, white flowers and amber sandalwood, while “Malibu Night” offers aromas of pomegranate, black orchids, mahogany wood, amber, lotus and patchouli.

Whether promoting her fragrances, delighting her massive fan base worldwide with each onscreen appearance, working tirelessly for charity or pitching her signature Pammies footwear and apparel, there is no arguing that Pamela Anderson, a small-town girl from Vancouver Island, has truly made the big time and deserves every moment of her hard-earned fame!

With all eyes focused on B.C. this February, Vancouver-area Denise Relke’s hand-crafted, sports-themed silver jewellery is a must-have for anyone visiting the province this winter. This athlete-turned-jewellery maker’s story is in itself, positively Olympian!

They say that every cloud has a silver lining, and in the case of Denise Relke, this was almost quite literally true. When this avid runner’s broken ankle forced her to take it easy, she filled some of her newly-found spare time with a silversmithing night class – and fell in love with the art form. In true marathoner fashion, she focused on the long recovery road ahead, and to remind herself that she would once again run, she used her newly found skills to fashion a unique running-themed pendant…and quickly garnered herself some fans within her running group.

One thing led to another and she was soon crafting bespoke designs for some of her running circle. As Sporty Jewels’ reputation grew, so did the assortment of jewellery she designed, and soon she was embracing a multitude of sports and an ever-growing group of sports enthusiasts as fans.

Denise explains, “I decided I wanted to create some jewellery that would represent the passion of sport. At first it was just for me but now I’m thrilled to share my designs with everyone from the recreational sports fan to the Olympic level athlete. We think everyone deserves to celebrate their accomplishments with some jewellery and Sporty Jewels is striving to do just that.”

The Sporty Jewels (www.sportyjewels.com) line of jewellery now encompasses everything from rings, pendants and earrings to bracelets, cufflinks and even belly jewels. The range also uses a modern sterling silver alloy that is extremely tarnish resistant and perfect for the athlete in your life – whether it’s that special somebody or the one inside you. This advanced technology maintains its luster for long periods of time and requires only an occasional wipe with a soft cloth to remove any smudges – a perfect fit for hard-working athletes that want to sport a little extra sparkle. These distinctive works of art are also available in 14kt gold, and serve as perfectly wearable mementos of special events you’d like to commemorate in a special way by going that extra mile.

The Sporty Jewels have also started developing a following amongst athletes of the highest order, we’re pleased to have provided pieces to Olympic medal winners Silken Laumann, Carol Huynh, Catriona LeMay Doan and triathlete Simon Whitfield. With the games and athletes set to entertain fans around the world in February, these exclusive jewellery items are about to garner some fans of their own. Sporty Jewels are available for purchase at selected athletics retailers in Vancouver as well as online through the website http://www.sportyjewels.com – and for once it’s the silver that an athlete wants!

Canadian actor Joshua Jackson’s fiancé, Diane Kruger arrived in Vancouver earlier this week for her cameo appearance on the show. The gorgeous couple, who were enjoying their Mexican vacation just weeks earlier, braved the Canadian winter weather in their warm coats.

Fringe is back on the air and you can catch it on Thursdays at 9/8c on FOX!

Echo Valley Ranch and Spa

One of the best escapes from busy city life is Echo Valley Ranch and Spa in Clinton, a 4.5-hour drive from Vancouver or a mere hour by air. The ranch spans over 160 glorious acres and is home to an exceptional Thai spa as well as a world class chef who prepares three healthy, wholesome (and tasty) meals every day. Visitors may opt to spend the entire day out of doors, enjoying adventures like horseback riding through Echo Valley, river rafting, fly fishing or hiking. Hit the spa next for some sensational pampering or enjoy a hot tub on the deck which overlooks the valley and has the best view of the bright, starlit sky. Business retreats, romantic getaways,

family reunions and even weddings are all popular reasons for visits to Echo Valley Ranch, which provides the means of seeing the great Canadian wilderness in optimum comfort. City slickers get to give their cell phones a rest while enjoying comfortable cabin or log home living, but still have access to the latest in fun in the game and entertainment rooms.

evranch.com

Big White Ski Resort

Searching for the best conditions for skiing and snowboarding? Big White Ski Resort should be your next destination! Set in the picturesque Okanagan Valley and beaming with sunshine, this award-winning powder-covered resort is legendary for perfect conditions. Big White is home to 118 market runs fanning from the summit, 2,565 acres of ski-able grounds, and 16 lifts—there’s a great selection of terrain for everyone. Other activities include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides and snowmobiling. Relaxing after a day on the hills is made easy with a choice of hot tubs and luxurious day spas, and world-class entertainment, dining and shopping are all available on-site as well. Big White is located just 56km (35 miles) southeast of the Kelowna airport, which features daily flights in from Vancouver.

bigwhite.com

Tofino

Tofino is known as a world-class nature resort. Whether you want to surf the wild waves, beachcomb or kayak, Tofino is a year-round resort with everything that makes the outdoors such a spectacular draw in super-natural BC. Visitors can take in the naturally warm waters of the hot springs, hike trails in the rainforest or relax on some of the most pristine beaches in the world.

The United Nations recognized Tofino and the Clayoquot Sound as an exemplary World Biosphere Reserve in 2000. There are about 20,000 gray whales and thousands of shorebirds who share the Tofino area and its surrounding waters with only about 1,500 residents, although up to a million visitors a year come to experience the rugged beauty of the area. With a collection of accessible local islands and beaches that stretch for miles, there are also lots of fun ways to explore Tofino—by boat, seaplane, water taxi or on foot.

tourismtofino.com

A complicated Juno meets Gilmore Girl, Life UneXpected begins with the quest of 15-year-old foster child Lux (Britt Robertson), who decides to find her birth parents in order to become an emancipated minor. Instead, she finds herself released into the temporary custody of her birth parents Nate “Baze” Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha), an overgrown frat-boy who is stuck living in his past, Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby), a popular radio host who struggles to move forward, and Cate’s boyfriend and colleague Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith).  Together, the three attempts to give Lux the family she never had.  Rafi Gavron plays the love interest for Lux.

Produced by Liz Tigelarr (Brothers and Sisters, What About Brian) and Gary Fleder (October Road), this midseason drama has critics and fans raving about its unexpected and heartwarming charm.

Life UneXpected premiers on the CW on Monday, January 18^th. If you missed it, you can watch the preview here. Don’t forget to follow the cast on Twitter and check out Life UneXpected on Facebook.

After years of toiling in the industry for companies specializing in fitness equipment, these two health enthusiasts recognized a need for personalized, high quality service for clients looking to improve their fitness levels. They also thought it would be great to be a part of something more satisfying than simply selling treadmills or exercise bikes.  Dai and James wanted to help people become healthy and fit, and they wanted to continue to provide service and support long after clients walked out the door.  A few years later, and based around these very needs, Fitness Town was founded.

Vastly different from the average fitness equipment centre (if we can even call it that), at Fitness Town clients enjoy customized, personal attention from qualified and fully trained staff who are just as passionate as their bosses about helping people reach their health and fitness goals.

Three of the other services that set Fitness Town apart from the rest are:

1) At-home service—can you imagine having to take your treadmill back when it needs servicing or repairs?!

2) Personal training

3) On-line meal planning, which can be accessed for as little as $10/month, and which provides expert nutritional analysis of all the foods you eat.

With over 37 years of experience between the two owners, it is no wonder Fitness Town has been such a huge success, first across BC and more recently in Alberta as well.  Dai and James are passionate about what they do, and it shows in their continued growth and expansion. In the last five years the number of retail locations has doubled from four to eight, and new locations are sprouting up across the two western provinces.  Some of their more recent partnerships include gyms at the Richmond Speed Skating Oval, Hollyburn Country Club and the luxury boutique Loden Hotel, where visiting celebrities have been known to work out and rave about the quality and calibre of the facilities!

And these guys don’t just talk the talk. Dai and James are both lifelong participants in the world of sport and fitness—James as an avid team-sport athlete with a particular interest in basketball, and Dai as an individual-sport enthusiast involved in activities which include martial arts, Crossfit, kick boxing, Taekwondo, rock climbing and mountain biking.

If you are looking to improve your health and the overall quality of your life through fitness, meal planning or personal training, or if you just want to enjoy the best possible service at a health and fitness retailer, visit a Fitness Town store near you.  For more information visit www.fitnesstown.ca

Many believed that this meant lights out for BC’s film industry and spelled the end to Vancouver’s self-proclaimed moniker—’Hollywood North’.

Since 2005, however, the industry has resurrected itself, in spite of the strong Canadian dollar. Film and television production spending in this province totaled $1.2 billion in 2008, up more than $250 million from 2007; 2009 is expected to be just as good. BC is now unequivocally the third largest production centre in North America, after California and New York.

Some industry observers say the province’s rebound can be directly attributed to the tax credits that the provincial government raised immediately after the industry dip in 2004—BC now entices film and TV producers with a 25 percent tax credit on labour expenditures. Virtually every other province and US state, however, also offer similar incentives.

“There’s always going to be ups and downs in the industry because of tax credits or the value of the Canadian dollar,” says Vancouver-based film producer and industry observer Dennis Tal.

“The reason our industry in BC has rebounded, however, is because we have a lot to offer. We have a skilled labour force, excellent soundstages, and great scenery. It also helps that we’re only two hours away from L.A, the hub [of film production in North America].”

Tal says that BC has been very successful in attracting a wide range of productions from the United States. He also notes that BC has developed a competitive advantage in two emerging segments: animation and computer generated imaging (CGI).

“Having shows such as Battlestar Galactica and Andromeda produced here has helped create significant local infrastructure and technology for the animation and CGI industries,” he says.

From feature blockbusters and low-budget TV movies to domestically produced documentaries and cartoons, the film and production industry continues to be a boon to the BC economy. While it’s had its ups and downs, the industry has tripled in the last 15 years and now employs more than 35,000 people.

Seeing the likes of Angelina Jolie sipping Pellegrino on Robson or Halle Berry splurging at Holt Renfrew is something Vancouverites should get used to. It is, after all, still Hollywood North.