The Thanksgiving holiday and a strong dollar are expected to produce a crush of Canadian vacationers heading into the United States

Just 50 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, residents of Greater Vancouver have long enjoyed easy access to the United States and its shopping amenities. The two busiest crossings in B.C., the Douglas (more widely known as Peace Arch) and the Pacific Highway crossings, are just south of the cities of White Rock and Surrey.

FESTWATCH

WHAT THEY SAID''I like to think of this not as a rerun, but as the premiere of a new, very long-running feature program.'' - Nancy Gallini, dean of arts at the University of British Columbia, making a surprise announcement that the university's Film Production Program - which stopped accepting new students in 2006 and was expected to get axed - will be reinstated. Gallini delivered the news at a VIFF party for UBC alumni with films in this year's festival, and got a rousing cheer from the crowd, which included Vancouver filmmakers Bruce Sweeney (American Venus) and Larry Kent (Hastings Street). Among the features of the beefed-up program will be a filmmaker in residence, an internship program, an expanded faculty and improved facilities.

Still hooked by the fight for a race-free B.C. fishery

The Japanese Canadian Fishermen's Association is once again asking the Supreme Court of Canada to rule against racist policies in British Columbia's commercial fishery.This December, Canada's highest court will hear the appeal of John Michael Kapp and other commercial fishermen who were arrested in 1998 for fishing in protest against a private commercial fishery for members of two aboriginal bands. This race-based commercial fishery allows individuals with bloodline ties to the Musqueam and Tsawwassen bands to fish once in a commercial fishery for their individual benefit, and a second time in the public commercial fishery left over for other Canadians. Other fishermen - including aboriginal Canadians and Canadians of Croatian, Vietnamese, Norwegian and other ancestries - are excluded from the first commercial fishery because they lack a bloodline tie to these two bands. (Globe Insider subscribers only)

Crashing and burning never looked so good

The Vision ImpureCo. Vision Selective/The Holy Body TattooAt the Vancouver East Cultural Centre on TuesdayThere's always a buzz around Noam Gagnon. He's one half of hard-hitting and wildly popular modern dance duo The Holy Body Tattoo, and has a charismatic personality - friendly and kind offstage, he transforms into a demon for pain and punishment onstage. The latest buzz is over the fact that both Gagnon and Holy Body Tattoo co-founder Dana Gingras have launched their own satellite projects: Last May, Gingras's new company, Animals of Distinction, premiered her bluntly titled Smash Up, and now it's Gagnon's turn. His Co. Vision Selective made its debut on Tuesday with a double bill, The Vision Impure, by Gagnon and When That I Was by British bad boy of dance Nigel Charnock.

Agent tied up, robbed at Surrey home showing

A real estate agent was bound and gagged while showing two men a home in Surrey, police say.The female agent had brought the two, whom she believed to be clients, to a ''high-end'' house on 86B Avenue at about 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Once inside, the men tied her up, gagged and blindfolded her before robbing her, RCMP Inspector Ray Bernoties said. The woman eventually freed herself and ran to a neighbouring home to call police.

U.S. army deserter freed on bond

Robin Long, a pony-tailed, dreadlocks guy, was sitting in a park with some friends this week in beautiful downtown Nelson when the local constabulary came calling.In short order, Mr. Long found himself arrested and bundled onto a flight to Vancouver in handcuffs, perilously close to becoming the first of the growing number of deserters from the U.S. army seeking refuge in Canada to be deported back to the United States.

Ex-partner's evidence 'utterly fictitious,' Aquilini's lawyer says

A lawyer representing the owner of the Vancouver Canucks says one of the two other men battling for control of the team deserves a Pulitzer Prize for his fictitious testimony.

VSO cancels shows after picket-line scuffle

Sometimes the show mustn't go on. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has decided to cancel or move its shows scheduled for the Orpheum Theatre, as the strike by city workers continues.

Fate of safe-injection site remains up in the air

The federal Health Minister has cleared Vancouver's safe-injection site to operate for another six months, but critics say the decision announced yesterday does nothing to clear up uncertainty about the fate of the controversial operation that provides a safe place for drug addicts to use heroin or cocaine.

B.C. sawmill workers win damages for actions of rival local

The dark, violent events that erupted at a Vancouver sawmill one December night in 2003 seemed to come right out of On the Waterfront, the Oscar-winning movie about union thugs terrorizing anyone who got in their way.

Travel Guide - Vancouver, Canada

This is watchmojo.com and I?m Louise and will be profiling Vancouver. A pretty sophisticated and ethnically diverse place. It has consistently made it as one of the top places to live in the world. Why is that? Where did it start? ...

Naomi Klein lecture in Vancouver

Tonight I attended the lecture given Naomi Klein as part of the Vancouver International Writers Festival. Klein first popped up in my consciousness with her book a few year back called No Logo. Her latest book, Shock Doctrine and the ...

Vancouver Island

Making the best of semi-crappy weather.

20% Always Vote No

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - On the picket line outside Vancouver city hall, striking workers say they're willing to stay off the job even longer if they don't like Foley?s recommendations. Those walking picket lines say they're happy Foley ...

Vancouver Hyatt Regency Cruise pkg

Has anyone used this package throught the Hyatt hotel? Do you HAVE to be a cruise passenger to get it....ie, do they check or ask for cruise info? It is the best room rate they offer, but I'm doing a land trip, alas, not a cruise this ...

Beers of Vancouver, vol. 7

Shaftebury Brewing Company (owned by Sleeman; what a fucking surprise) has given greater Vancouver ?the Big Shaft?. No really ? that?s what they?re calling their answer to half-litre cans of awesome beer from Europe. ...

Yaletown Walkthrough

I did the Taste of Yaletown media reception today after a quick pasta at Cioppino?s (best food I?ve eaten in months and it was just a bowl of Bolognese) and a walk-through of the pay-to-playbourhood. Here are a couple things I saw?

How far from Vancouver to Seymour (mtn)?

Burrard Bridge to Seymour? Any help greatly appreciated. EDIT: At night, after 7PM, is what I was thinking. I know Cypress and Grouse are better but Seymour has a great deal on season's passes and if I have an hour or two I'll zip up ...

Oct 5, Vancouver Newspaper Editions

There are numerous Vancouver newspaper editions to choose from in the city, many of them are smaller papers with circulations targeted to specific neighbourhoods of Vancouver.

MIV (Marketing in Vancouver)

With degree in hand and high hopes of building a marketing career I booked myself some information interviews with key Vancouver marketers. Much to my surprise it seemed each prospective mentor would lean in close and say, ...

Oct 5, Local Vancouver Movers

There are number of local Vancouver movers to choose from but, you need to be careful which one you choose to hire because there are good companies and not-so-good companies. Here are a few things.

Oct 5, The Vancouver Dining Guide

Our Vancouver dining guide tells you about some of the more than 5000 places there are to eat in Vancouver.