Given Vancouver’s spectacular natural setting and rich cultural heritage, event planners have a lot to work with. Local DMCs like to showcase both the city’s sophisticated urban amenities and its close proximity to rugged mountain peaks, lush rainforests and sparkling ocean inlets.
Rare Indigo Adventures
(www.rareindigo.com)
“The natural beauty is what brings people here, so we try to take advantage of outdoor settings whenever we can,” says Vivian Farkas, president of Rare Indigo Adventures, a Vancouver-based DMC. “We will often do parties with an outdoors theme as well. For instance, we’ll have character actors dressed as nymphs, gnomes and even as tree logs. It gives a kind of A Midsummer Night’s Dream effect.”
Among her favorite places to stage events is Grouse Mountain, a mountaintop venue with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces that range from an observatory dining room suitable for black-tie affairs to a traditional First Nations longhouse with totem carvings in a lakeside setting.
“Grouse Mountain is a great place for events where people can learn about the local First Nations culture,” Farkas says. “We’ll bring in a totem carver and can arrange for people to get customized gifts made by the carver. You can also have wonderful dance performances, with everyone from elders to little kids.”
Another venue that lends itself to the First Nations theme is the Museum of Anthropology, known for its striking glass foyer lined with totem poles, on the University of British Columbia campus.
“People can enjoy the First Nations exhibits at the museum, which also has a great outdoor area where we can arrange for entertainment,” Farkas says.
Rare Indigo also likes to capitalize on Vancouver’s growing reputation as a food and wine destination.
“British Columbia is winning a lot of international awards for its wines, and many Vancouver chefs are also winning awards,” Farkas says. “We’re doing a lot of wine tastings, culinary demonstrations and dinners with wine pairings. Our hotel partners are very helpful with this.”
Spets Destination Services
(www.spets.ca)
Aila Karpio, president of Spets Destination Services, is another fan of Grouse Mountain, a venue she likes to use in any season.
“In the winter, there’s a skating rink and we can arrange for sleigh rides and snowshoeing,” she says. “In summer, you can do just about any kind of event. It’s especially beautiful to do an outdoor event at sunset.”
For downtown events, Karpio recommends the Vancouver Art Gallery for both receptions and sit-down dinners.
