"Guiding Tourists Professionally Locally and Worldwide"

+ We will be holding a very special Educational Workshop on Saturday the 19th of January in Gastown. This event is open to Members and guests and involves three or four guest speakers on a variety of guiding related topics. Speakers will be on in the morning and afternoon. There is a fee and more details are available by contacting CTGA Member Ursula W at 604-773-5221 as soon as possible.

+The first Members Meeting of the new year will be on Thursday evening the 31st of January at the Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel on Hastings at Seymour Street in Vancouver (across from the Harbour Centre Tower). Doors will open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7 pm. No need to rsvp unless you are bringing a guest (as above). All regular end-of-the-month Members Meetings are open to Members and potential new-Members.

+The following are the proposed dates for future regular end-of-the-month Members Meetings (almost always on the last Thursday of the month from October to May)...

(Chinese New Years Parade is on Sunday Feb 10th at Noon starting at Pender and Carrall - Vancouver)

+Our Annual About Town Tour has been moved from  Tuesday February 26th to Sunday April 13th...please see below...

+Our regular end-of-the-month Members Meeting will take place on Thursday evening the 28th of February - again at the Delta Vancouver Suites (see 31 Jan above)... From the Capilano Suspension Bridge we'll have two of their First Nations hosts as our guest speakers; Shawn Edenshaw and Peter August. Plus we'll hold our Annual "Shop and Swap." If you have any guiding or commentary material that you are no longer using, but might like to sell or give to another guide, please bring it along to this meeting... Doors open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7 pm. No need to rsvp except as noted at the top of this page...

+On Saturday March the 8th, we'll hold a St. Johns Ambulance First Aid course taught by our very own Donna P. This Members Only event might already be sold out, however please contact us for more info / details (call Margaret at 604-439-0448).

+On Thursdsay March 13th we'll host a Tour Directors Coffee Session from 1:30 pm to 4 pm downtown. For Members Only, more details can be found on our Members Only site on the 'Calendar.' RSVP to Margaret L.

(A St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place on Granville St at 11 am on Sunday March 16th)

(Good Friday is March 21st, and Easter Sunday is two days later)

(Tuesday March 25th is the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival; runs to April 20th)

+On Thursday March 27th we'll hold two events; a Members Only Walking Tour from 3 to 5 pm downtown, then our regular end-of-the-month Members Meeting. At the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel on Hastings at Thurlow Streets in Vancouver at 6:30 pm. Several tourism related guest speakers as well as a mini "Tourism Showcase". Open to Members and potential new-Members. For more info on either event or to RSVP for the Walking Tour, contact Margaret at 604-439-0448.

+On Thursday April 10th CTGA Member Shirley H will hold an afternoon seminar on taking passengers to Alaska or the Yukon. This Members Only event will be held downtown from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. There is a fee and for more info or to RSVP, contact Margaret at 604-439-0448 (some details are also on our 'Calendar' page on the Members Only website).

+On Sunday April 13th we will hold our annual About Town Tour - this Members Only event will visit Fort Langley (a National Historic Site where 150 years ago BC was declared a colony), the Maillardville Heritage Square (including the Place des Arts) in Coquitlam and Historic Irving House in New Westminster. We'll also have time for lunch and a visit to the charming Fort Langley village as well. The cost will be $20 and the event will run from approx. 9 am to 4 pm... Please contact Margaret L at 604-439-0448 to RSVP and for other details including where and when to meet.

(The Vancouver Sun Run will take place on Sunday April 20th - expect traffic delays)

+On Thursday April 24th, all 'guides' (local, driver-guides, long-distance plus meet and greeters) are once again invited to attend the Annual Capilano Suspension Bridge's Tour Guide Appreciation Day Breakfast. From 7:30 to 10 am rain or shine. This year: "Come for the Mini Golf, Enjoy the Mimosas, Stay for Breakfast, Take home some Prizes. Prizes for remarkable golf attire." Sounds like fun! Please RSVP by Friday April 18th to either 604-985-7474 or lhigham@capbridge.com .

+Just after the Capilano Breakfast (on April 24th), we'll take in a show at the IMAX Theatre at Canada Place. Meet us just before Noon or 1 pm (both shows are the same). For Members Only, please RSVP to Margaret L at 604-439-0448. No charge.

+Also on Thursday April 24th (a busy day) we'll hold another Members Only Walking Tour from 3 to 5 pm (call Margaret L to book), and then our regular end-of-the-month Members Meeting will be held at The Listel Hotel (above O' Douls Restaurant) on Robson at Jervis in Vancouver. Our very special guest speaker will be Gordon Price , former Vancouver City Councilor and Metro Vancouver expert. Two other speakers will also talk with us. We also hope to be able to unveil the updated "Key Facts" commentary booklet. Open to Members and potential new-Members. Doors open at 6:30 pm. No need to rsvp.

(The Vancouver International Marathon is on Sunday May 4th - expect traffic delays)

+A special Vancouver City Tour / update for guides will given by Jeff V on Monday May 5th...for Members Only. Details? Please contact Jeff V.

(Mother's Day is Sunday May 11th)

+The annual Tourism Vancouver Showcase at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will take place from 12:30 to 4:30 pm on Monday May the 12th. Open to anyone in the tourism / service profession; there is no charge and no need to rsvp. This large trade show is well attended; plan to spend at least an hour.

(Grouse Mountain begins their World Famous Lumberjack Show and Birds in Motion shows on Saturday May 17th)

(Monday May 19th is Victoria Day)

+A special DVD / film is being released on Thursday May 22nd by the Vancouver Historical Society at their regular monthly meeting... 7:30 pm at the HR MacMillan Space Centre / Planetarium. No entry fee and no need to rsvp, open to one and all. In 1907 a filmmaker took moving pictures of downtown Vancouver and the West End; in 2007 a side-by-side remake was taken - the results are remarkable and well worth seeing ! ! ! Don't miss "City Reflections 1907 - Vancouver - 2007."

+On Thursday May 29th a regular Members Meeting - at The Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown (on Davie at Pacific Blvd) with guest speaker Don Evans of the West Coast Railway Association - plus a tour of CPR engine #374. Doors open at 6:30 pm. No need to rsvp...

(May 29th is also the start of this years 'Bard On The Beach' in Vanier Park - Kits Point - Vancouver. Plus it'll run an extra week to Sept 27th. More info can be found on our 'Calendar' page on the Members Only website.)

{-Members are reminded that many other up-coming local events can be found on our "Calendar" page on the Members Only website.}

(Father's Day is Sunday June 15th)

(Canada Day is Tuesday July the First)

+July or August - a Special CTGA Summer Social Event? - Yes ! On Thursday night August 7th at The new Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. 639 Hornby St. Vancouver. From 6 to 8 pm. Open to Members and one guest. Contact us to RSVP. (Generally the CTGA does not hold regular meetings or outings from June through to mid-October as we are all busy working.) 

(This years 'Celebration Of Light' Fireworks dates are July 23, 26, 30 and Aug 2.)

(BC Day is Monday August the 4th)

(Labour Day is Monday September the First)

+All tourism industry workers are invited to the annual Tourism Vancouver Open House at their offices on Burrard at Cordova on Wednesday October 8th. More than 700 people attend this drop-by event from 4 to 7 pm. Food, Fun and Information dominate this invite. To RSVP and for more details, please contact us.

(Canadian Thanksgiving is Monday October the 13th)

(A Canadian Federal General Election will be held on Tuesday October the 14th. Please Vote.)

+CTGA FAM Trip to Barkerville BC - October 17, 18 and 19th (Fri, Sat and Sunday). This trip is a go - we'll spend both nights in pretty downtown Quesnel. Two different routes will be taken to and from... Open to Members and one guest. For more details on this exciting 3-day 2-night adventure and or to RSVP, please contact Jeff V.

+The annual Sunwapta Falls Guide and Driver Dinner and Dance will be held on Saturday night October 18th. For more info, please contact Stewart H at the Sunwapta Falls Resort (just south of Jasper Alberta).

+The annual Vancouver Tourism Awards will once again return to the Hyatt Hotel on Burrard Street on Wednesday morning October 29th. More than 700 workers and employers attend this very popular breakfast event held from 7 to 9 am. The guest speakers are top notch ! ! !  The CTGA may try to get our own table. To RSVP and for more details, please contact us.

+On Thursday October 30th, please join us for the CTGA of BC's 19th Birthday at a regular Members Meeting. To be held at The Lookout (observation deck) at Harbour Centre, Hastings and Seymour, Vancouver. A guest speaker from the 2010 Winter Games will address us. Open to Members and potential new-Members. Come up early for the view. Meeting starts at 6:30 pm. No need to rsvp.

(Remembrance Day is Tuesday November the 11th. Lest We Forget.)

(Civic Elections will be held across BC on Saturday November the 15th. Please Vote.)

+On Thursday November 20th, well hold our CTGA Annual General Meeting - at the Delta Vancouver Suites, 550 West Hastings Street (across from the Harbour Centre Tower). Doors open at 6 pm to register with the meeting starting at 6:30 pm. We need a strong turnout for this once-a-year event. No need to rsvp.

+HO HO HO ! On Monday December 8th, we'll hold our annual CTGA Christmas Party - at the London Heritage Farm in Richmond (south foot of Gilbert Road - Free Parking). An olde fashioned Victorian Christmas evening reception in a beautifully decorated heritage home. Appetizers, home baking, chocolates, candy treats and lovely door prizes! From 6:30 pm. Open to Members and one guest, $30 per-person. Please do not rsvp just yet - check this space after Nov 24th. Need a ride to and from? We'll also take those requests soon.

+On Saturday December 13th, we'll do our annual CTGA Christmas Lights Tour. Open to Members and guests. More details coming in December.

..........

Other events / fam trips / and invites, etc, will be announced through out the year as soon as we have the details.

As time goes by, please check this space again...