Stories

Oh, oh, a few pounds crept on during the festive season of 2019. Not to worry. Today is the day you plan your route to better health and fitness. But the Biggest Loser system of dropping weight and regaining fitness is not the way to go. Slow and steady builds a better body. So, what to do? Set your sights on one of the most sought after events in the region: The Kootenay Gran Fondo.

If you have yet to experience the Powder Highway, it’s a trip you must put on your bucket list. It's a snow hound's nirvana because it puts you smack in the middle of the world’s largest collections of skiable locations.

One of the most compelling moments at the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC), recently held in Kelowna, was the moment TV host, artist and activist Sarain Fox, proclaimed, “It’s not influencer, it’s infiltrator.” She was describing the importance of her role as a change-making Indigenous woman and how others can do the same.

Early snow in Alberta and B.C. didn't stop Larch-madness from taking over the internet. The beautiful conifers continue to turn a stunning shade of autumn yellow in Western Canada.

Seekers Media and its partners have won the Marketing Canada Award by the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC).

Flow is the one word that best describes my recent trip to Lethbridge. Each of my activities was connected by it, from finding the calming flow of my thoughts at Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens to chasing the flow of the Oldman River during my mountain bike ride and trail run. The analogy seemed appropriate too, for the current of electricity that charged my car at new Peaks To Prairies high-speed charger.

Over the past few years there has been a surge in low-impact travel as we search for ways to visit beautiful places but doing so in a sustainable manner. As an eco-conscious traveller, I try to spend my trips in the outdoors on foot or bike, but in the past year I’ve added in an electric vehicle to propel me to these active destinations.

Yes, Eco-Anxiety is now a thing. Some of us are feeling a bit of dread and are weary with the way we are living. Our impact on the environment seems to be finally sinking in, but we are not sure which way to go or how to act.

If you’re headed west from Saskatchewan, or east out of Edmonton, you’ll pass the charming town of Vermilion, Alta., located just off the Trans-Canada Highway. The thing is, you don’t want to just blow by this town – it’s well worth the drive in to discover Vermilion’s downtown – a thriving, revitalized, rural destination full of boutique, locally-owned shops and experiences. 

Here’s how you can get in on #FridaysForFuture – sign up or join one of these potentials

The Bear, the Fish, The Root, and the Berry. What a curious name for a restaurant I thought. I was spending one last night in Oliver before heading up through Penticton and on to Kelowna during my #OkanaganExploring expedition. The fine dining establishment at Spirit Ridge was named after the Four Food Chiefs of the syilx/Okanagan Nation. Little did I realize that these four would become the theme for my adventure the following day. 

It was 9 a.m. and cool clouds of mist hovered over Tuc-el-nuit Lake, soon to be burned off by the morning sun peeking over the South Okanagan valley’s eastern ridge. The pastel landscape looked so peaceful. I, on the other hand, was catching my breath and trying to tame my wind-blown hair after letting out a hearty “whoo!” - disrupting the serenity.

Heading north into Vernon, as the teal waters of Kalamalka Lake come into view on your right, you’ll notice a building to the west, perched high above the grasslands. The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is the place to learn all about the flora and fauna of the area, and to understand how Vernon has sustained generations of orchards, farming, and biodiversity.

Ah, yes. The hubbub of summer is over and it’s time to slow down and enjoy the bounty of autumn. A weekend in the region of Cranbrook, B.C. is easily filled with fall fairs, scenic hikes, fresh food and good times.

Bamfield, B.C. – As the ocean laps at the shore, the sound of the crashing waves washes away the everyday noise and takes you to a place that is out of this world. Welcome to the west coast, and specifically Bamfield – where the spirit and beauty of its hiking trails has a magic that might just transform you.

Port Alberni, B.C. - It takes courage and determination to see through a vision in creating a new business. For Port Alberni’s Robin Miles and Andy Richards, it’s a whole lot of “dog-to-a-bone” mentality to open the doors to one of Canada’s newest craft breweries.

Vermilion, AB - Kim Chomyk breaks into a grin as the shape of a bowl begins to emerge from the potter’s wheel, under the careful coaching of Heather Milan at the Pottery Guild in Vermilion. Chomyk and her husband Eric have come to Vermilion for the day to explore the local arts scene.

Fall in British Columbia is a time of unparalleled beauty. The mixed forests of deciduous and coniferous trees come alive with strokes of red, yellow, orange and green.

“How did we get from that,” I wonder, “to what we see now?”

The question ran through my head even before Margaret Teneese, Archivist with the Ktunaxa Nation Council asked it out loud. I had just watched a 28-minute video about the St. Eugene Mission, a grand red brick building that protrudes from the East Kootenay landscape, which was once a residential school.

A ZenSeekers' road trip isn't complete unless the destinations include a slow day to explore the pulse of the city.