The above is an event which the CTGA of BC has been invited to and should be similar to the old Trade Shows that we used to hold. There is no charge and no need to rsvp.

We have also been invited to a Tourism Industry Reception at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park on Thursday May 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Please RSVP to (604) 659-3527 and leave your name. Please bring a business card with your name and address.

Long time CTGA of BC member Yukiko Basley has once again invited all of us to an Annual Spring Tea Ceremony by Omotesenke on Saturday May 5, weather permitting. Please drop by anytime from 11 AM to 4 PM at 2659 West 19^th Ave, Vancouver, between Arbutus and McDonald Streets. Admission is free. For more info please call Mrs. Sato at (604) 325-9767 or Mrs. Tsukada at 266-7795. Why not drop by? It may just be the perfect thing to do before starting out on the busy tourist season just ahead. A good chance to sit and reflect….to sit and relax and put away all thoughts of our all too busy lives….and perhaps learn a way to enjoy more out of life ! ! ! Have Happy Positive Thoughts ! ! !

As this will most likely be the last Guide Lines newsletter until the fall, the next official CTGA of BC meeting for members and potential members will be held on Thursday evening October 25, 2001 at 7 PM. We will inform you of the location a couple of weeks before this get-together. Our Annual General Meeting will likely be held on November 15, 2001. The location will also be announced in the fall.

A reminder for all to be sure and vote at the advance polls or on BC election day May 16. It is also important to remember that the day before, May 15, is Canada Census Day. Count yourself in ! ! !

Our up-dated Availability Roster is now finished and has been posted on our web site at www.ctgaofbc.com. We regret any errors or omissions, but will be glad to hear from you for any changes or additions (via telephone at [604] 876-2576). Reminder: Not all guides wanted to be listed on the web and so their names only appear on a printed (or a hard) copy (which contains all the names). The Availability Roster is a voluntary form which our Professional Members can fill out and send in to the CTGA of BC.

The Grouse Mountain Super Skyride, in North Vancouver, is under going it’s annual inspection and having it’s "hauling" cable replaced. It should re-open around May 4. For now the old Blue tram is operating.

Rockies News: This must be some kind of record: The Sno-Coaches at the Columbia Icefields have been up and running since April 9 (2001). I understand that the snow pack is so low that the Saskatchewan River Crossing opened in mid-March which must also be a record. The lakes are still frozen, but they could thaw early this year.

The Spiral Tunnels, on Hwy 1, expect to open the newly expanded viewing platform on June 30. Starting in May Parks Canada will begin to improve the Jasper National Park West Gate (on Hwy 16 near the BC/Alberta border). Expect short delays as they improve the lighting, add payphones, new kiosks and overhead lane control lights. The project should be finished by September.

The mountain national parks will celebrate the Year of the Great Bear, a heritage tourism partnership aimed at protecting intact Canadian ecosystems through education and environmental stewardship. The Whyte Museum in Banff (www.whyte.org) will have a special exhibit from May 19 to September 30. For more info visit www.yearofthegreatbear.com.

The Johnston Canyon Trail will be closed for three weeks on September 15 for routine maintenance to improve public safety. The hotel, restaurant and day use area will remain open.

Parks Canada has produced a new video "Pathways of Discovery" to help people understand, appreciate and enjoy the National Parks and National Historic Sites of BC and Alberta. To obtain your free copy in English or French: Fax Joanne at (403) 762-3380 or e-mail joanne_latour@pch.gc.ca (that’s joanne underscore etc, etc).

Parks Canada’s new web site for the travel trade at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/traveltrade offers up-to-date information for tour operators planning a visit to Canada’s National Parks, National Historic Sites and other special places. Complete with a search engine, operators can use the site to learn about special offers, check fees, or order promotional photographs.

Radium Hot Springs is celebrating their 50 anniversary this summer...watch for all kinds of heritage celebrations. More info? (250) 347-9485 or www.rhs.ca.

This October Jasper will celebrate the restoration of its train station. Events will include the arrival of 6060, Jasper’s favourite steam engine which will pull several heritage railway passenger cars into town on the main line. More info? Call Gloria at (780) 852-6150 or e-mail her at gloria_keyes-brady@pch.gc.ca (that’s gloria underscore etc, etc).

More washrooms will soon be added in the parking area of The Maligne Canyon.

As we have stated, this will likely be the last newsletter before the summer season begins...except for those of you who are on the CTGA E-group service, we shall be out of touch with some of you until the fall. Our e-group service should actually be called "Guide Lines EXTRA" as it contains a variety of additional information which is passed on to the membership in an instant. Of our 116 members (a new record), 80 have told us that they have an e-mail address...60 of those are a part of our CTGA e-group service. If you have an e-mail address and would like to give "Guide Lines Extra," or rather our e-group a whirl please contact Jeff at jeffvanc@axion.net or by telephone. Try it for a couple of weeks and if your not happy, or your going away and won’t have time to read any e-mails, you can ask for it to be suspended until your return, or you can cancel it. One more advantage during the summer will be the "late breaking" tid-bits of news that will be so easy to pass onto everybody from Vancouver, the Rockies and other points (also any last minute restaurant or tourism invites that we might get, etc).

A welcome and hello to all of our brand new members and a thanks to those of you who have recently renewed your memberships.

Is it time, or almost time, for you to renew your CTGA membership? Not sure? Give us a call or send us an e-mail.

Our 24 hour CTGA of BC information and message phone line now has a slight change to it: Dial (604) 251-1500...pause...then after the prompt dial the area code, 604, then 876-2576. Remember: Ten digit dialing starts in the Vancouver area in May and the new area code, for all new phones, will be 778. More info? Watch your phone bill or call your Telus rep.

Till next time...Think Sunshine...Keep Smiling and Happy Trails ! ! !