+The date of the Annual Brackendale Eagle Count day trip will be held on Sunday January 2nd, 2005. Please contact us to RSVP if interested.

+Another "Secrets of the City" tour with John Atkin is being planned for Saturday January 22nd. Please contact us to RSVP if interested.

+The regular end-of-the-month meeting for January will be on Thursday evening the 27th in the new hall of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens in Chinatown. The Gardens will not be the main focus of the meeting... A couple of guest speakers will be in attendendance including an income tax consultant. Doors open at 6 PM and the meeting starts promptly at 6:30 PM. No need to rsvp.

+The Annual 3-day 2-night February Trip is this year going to Kelowna on Feb 18, 19 and 20th...For more details and to RSVP, please contact us.

+The regular end-of-the-month meeting for February will be held on Thursday evening the 24th aboard "The Native" Riverboat Paddlewheeler. Located by the New Westminster Quay Public Market. 6:30 PM. Open to Members and guests. No need to RSVP.

+The Annual About Town Tour will take place on Tuesday March 1st from 9 AM to 5 PM. We'll be going out to Mission to visit the BC Hydro Power House at Stave Falls and the Xaytem (Hay-tem) Longhouse Native Interpretive Centre. Please contact us for more details and to RSVP.

+We will be holding two daytime Ecowalk Tours of Stanley Park with one of our new CTGA Members. The first one will be held on Sunday March 20th and then again on Sunday April 3rd. Please contact us for more details and to RSVP.

+The regular end-of-the-month meeting for March has been moved up to Wednesday evening March 23rd at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. One of the foremost speakers on the voyages of Captain George Vancouver, John Horton, will address us. Mr. Horton also has some spectacular paintings on display within this same venue. 6:30 PM. Open to Members and guests. No need to RSVP.

+The Annual Capilano Suspension Bridge's Tour Guide Appreciation Day Breakfast will take place on Friday April 22nd from 8 AM to 10 AM. Following the breakfast, CTGA Members have been invited to visit the newly expanded Prospect Point Souvenir Shop and Cafe in Stanley Park, and to take in two shows at the CN IMAX Theatre at Canada Place. Please contact us if you need more details.

+The regular end-of-the-month meeting for April will be moved up to Monday evening April 25th. Please join us as we visit with our friends from Rocky Mountaineer Vacations at their newly renovated train station and to board one of their trains. Located by the Home Depot store on Terminal Ave (at Cottrell Street) in Vancouver. Open to Members and guests. Doors open at 6 PM and the meeting starts at 6:30 PM. No need to rsvp.

+Tourism Vancouver and The BC Chapter of Les Clef's D'or Canada's 5th Annual Tourism Showcase will take place on Thursday April 28th. This tradeshow allows select member companies to showcase their product to key influencers such as members of the BC Chapter of Les Clef's D'or Canada, hotel concierges, hotel front desk staff, sales and marketing staff, Tourism Vancouver visitor information councillors and volunteers, tour guides, B&B owners and Destination Management Companies staff - giving them the advantage of product knowledge. Proceeds raised from the event go to the BC Chapter of Les Clef's D'or Canada's official charity. Once again this event will take place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver from 1 PM to 5 PM. There is usually no charge to attend. (We have no further information -- if you need more, please contact Tourism Vancouver.)

+We do not think that a meeting will take place in May, or for the rest of the spring and summer. However if something comes up we'll let you know here and by e-mail. Reminder; Storyeum in Gastown has changed their production and show as of May 1st -- Members are encouraged to use your CTGA membership cards or Tourism Vancouver 'Passports' and go into see it.

+The Annual Sunwapta Falls Resort Guide and Driver Party will take place October 14th, 15th, & 16th 2005. We will do our usual 3-day trip to this grand event starting the day before the Saturday night 'do'. This year will be via a one night stay in Banff Alberta. More details will be coming in August. This trip is open to CTGA Members only.

+The first regular end-of-the-season meeting will be held on Thursday October 27th, 2005 at the Buschlen Mowatt Gallery at 1445 West Georgia Street (between Broughton and Nicola Streets) in Vancouver. NOTE the early start time of 5 PM. Guest speakers and a tour of the gallery plus a celebration of the CTGA's 16th Anniversary will take place. NO need to rsvp.

+The Annual General Meeting of the CTGA of BC will take place on Thursday evening November 17th, 2005 at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites at 1763 Comox Street (at Denman) in Vancouver. NOTE the early start time of 6 PM. The general affairs and election of officers will take place. NO need to rsvp.

+A new tour company has offered our Members a FAM Trip to Squamish and Brackendale to see various things on Saturday December 3rd. For more information and to RSVP, please contact us.

+The Annual Christmas Lights Tour around Vancouver and Burnaby will take place on Tuesday evening December 13th. Pick-ups will begin by 6 PM - and on - at various points including downtown. We should be done by 9 PM and this event is open to Members and guests.

+The date of the Annual CTGA Christmas Party has changed to Monday evening December 19th, 2005 and will be held at the Burnaby Village Museum from 5 PM to 8 PM. Open to Members and guests this wonderful event will cost $30 and includes entrance to this historic site (decorated for Christmas), a ride on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel and a tradional turkey dinner.

Please contact us for more information and to RSVP by December 9th (if possible).

Thank you for your interest in the Canadian Tour Guide Association of British Columbia. We hope to see you at one of our future meetings or to hear from you again...soon ! ! !

A full Guide Lines newsletter is no longer posted here for all to see. Members who have e-mail are now receiving weekly guiding news and information through our closed-circuit message and notice board known as the E-group service. The members who do not have e-mail are still sent a newsletter via the postal system.