The Facts. The Oceanside region hosts over 140 annual events and festivals.

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1 The Facts The Oceanside region is 147 kilometres north of the provincial capital city of Victoria and 36 kilometres from the B.C. Ferry terminal in Nanaimo. The Oceanside region is comprised of 12 small communities, from Nanoose in the south to Deep Bay in the north, along the Oceanside route of coastal highway 19A. Inland, the Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve, the Horne Lake caves and the historic community of Coombs are included in the Oceanside region. Offshore, Lasqueti, Sisters and Chrome Islands are also included. The Oceanside region hosts over 140 annual events and festivals. HRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent part of their honeymoon in Oceanside Oceanside s Qualicum Beach has been recognized as one of the top blooming communities in Canada. Parksville is referred to as the Canadian Riviera because of the mild climate, sandy beaches and beach resorts. Parksville boasts the only sandy warm-water swimming beach on the coast of BC. The Oceanside region offers about 19 kilometres of sand comprised of four main beaches linked by a number of sandy coves. The main beaches are Rathtrevor, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Qualicum Bay. Qualicum Beach is the site of one of the oldest golf courses in BC. The Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club was established in The historic village of Coombs features a sprawling country market with a resident goat family on the roof. Coombs and the surrounding villages of Hilliers and Errington have the largest concentration of antique stores, farmers markets and artisans studios in BC. Lasqueti Island, a short boat ride from French Creek, is home to a unique community of farmers, artisans and fishermen with very few cars and no power, other than solar. The Island is criss-crossed with hiking and cycling trails. Top Bridge Bike Park, between Nanoose Bay and Parksville, is one of only three mountain bike parks in BC. Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park is a preserved section of lush old-growth forest with giant 800-year old trees.

2 The Costeau Society claims that local waters offer the second-best cold water diving in the world (the Red Sea is number one). Rodale s Scuba Diving has selected local waters as the #1 dive location for value and marine environment. The Qualicum Beach Museum features a palaeontology exhibit of fossils from Vancouver Island, including a 70,000 year-old walrus nicknamed Rambling Rosie. Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Tel: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

3 Good Scents Award-winning gardens abound in the Oceanside region Parksville and Qualicum Beach take their gardening very seriously! Parksville was named the World s 4 th Most Beautiful Town by the Communities In Bloom Parksville s community spirit, combined with the climate that is so gardener-friendly, earned the city Five Blooms, at the Communities in Bloom National Award Ceremonies. Qualicum Beach has maintained its crown winning the Communities In Bloom competitions since Qualicum Beach provides a charming locale for visitors who appreciate quaint villages, pedestrian friendly town centres and spectacular public and private garden displays. Milner Gardens and Woodland is an exquisite 70-acre historical estate complete with stunning seaside gardens and old growth forests. Grand in its setting, members of the Royal family have stayed at the estate and planted trees to commemorate their visit. The estate is open April to October for self-guided tours. Milner Gardens bursts into colour with a showcase of over 500 rare hybrid and rhododendron species. Every May the showcase culminates with Rhododenron Days. Joining in the celebration of rhododendrons is the Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society, which holds their Annual Flower Show and Sale in Parksville each April. The Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society also hosts an Annual Garden Tour in May, providing rhododendron admirers with an exhibition of twelve beautiful, mid-island gardens. Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

4 Cornucopia of Flavours A cornucopia of succulent seafood is part of the catch of the day in the Oceanside region featuring Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, and Lighthouse Country. The bounty of fresh local oysters, scallops, clams, halibut, prawns, salmon, cod and tuna contribute to the feast for the senses. The West Coast not only has natural wonders to see but also to taste and experience. Deep Bay Marina in Lighthouse Country sells prawns by the bucket. Locals and visitors get their campfires burning and their pots of butter melting in preparation for their casual indulgence of the freshly caught feast. The French Creek Seafood takes pride in providing the freshest seafood delicacies available. Fishermen also advertise their catch of the day specials. Fishing and adventure charters are available at a number of the local marinas in the area. The year round mild climate has blessed the area with fantastic organic farm producers. The Oceanside Farm Product Guide highlights 70+ farm and food producers in the area, many of which participate in the Qualicum Beach & Errington Farmers Markets Saturday mornings from May October. Under their colourful canopies you will find everything from greens, berries, plants, honey, baking, organic meats, hand made preserves and farmstead cheeses. Little Qualicum Cheeseworks produces award winning cheeses to suit every palate from mild & creamy to intense blue and it just gets better with a little blackberry wine from their MooBerry Winery. Tours are available to the public. Be sure to visit their on-site specialty store to take some home for later. Many of the restaurants in the area support local farm producers and provide guests with the freshest ingredients possible. Dining in Oceanside is easy with an abundance of great restaurants; everything from fine dining to casual pub fare can be enjoyed everyday of the week. Winemakers dinners are also popular offering gourmet experiences paired with a knowledge of how food and wine complement each other. Check out the scrumptious recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Crème Brulee White Chocolate Raspberry Crème Brulee Compliments of Herons Restaurant at the Quality Resort Bayside in Parksville 3 cups whipping cream heated to steaming 8 egg yolks 1/3 c granulated sugar 1 ½ tsp vanilla 5 oz white chocolate chopped Fresh raspberries ½ c packed brown sugar sifted Finely chop white chocolate and place in bowl, pour steaming cream over top whisking until smooth. In bowl whisk egg yolks with granulated sugar, gradually whisk in cream/chocolate mixture and vanilla. Skim off foam. Place a few raspberries in the bottom of eight 6 oz. ramekins in custard cups. Divide the cream mixture among the ramekins. Place them in a large shallow pan, pour enough boiling water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake in centre of 350 oven for min. or until edges are set but centres still jiggle. Remove from water, let cool on racks. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours. Place cups on rimmed baking sheet, sprinkle brown sugar evenly over custards, broil 6 inches from heat 2 6 minutes till sugar bubbles and darkens. Remove and chill for at least 30 minute before serving. Garnish with more melted chocolate drizzled over top with fresh raspberries. Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Phone: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

5 New Product & Story Ideas 2010 Parksville Uncorked - Food & Wine Festival Crown Mansion - A Sleeping Beauty Awakens Beach Club Resort - Escape The City Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort A Wise Woman Wisely Tailored Retreats Twice As Wild - Get Wild on the Isle Spirit of BC - Beavers, Bears, Eagles & Salmon MooBerry Winery - Fruit Wines Nature Bus Tours - Tide-pool Discovery; Rainforest Wine; Wine Lovers Folk Lore & Monsters Galore Parksville Uncorked Food & Wine Festival - February 25 28, 2010 Welcome to the 2 nd Annual wine and culinary weekend including: Swirl to celebrate BC s finest wineries paired with succulent gourmet tapas; a variety of Winemakers dinners; Bubbles On The Beach as well as a Sparkling Wine Brunch. Enjoy one culinary event or taken in a number and spend the weekend at one of participating hotels offering great packages. Crown Mansion A sleeping beauty awakens.. from an era genteel and elegant comes the revival of this new boutique hotel in Qualicum Beach. This six acre development combines rich history with elegant comforts. Rates from $ Escape the City The Beach Club Resort with 140 spacious and elegantly appointed suites provides an escape from the city with breathtaking views overlooking the ocean. The package includes: two nights accommodation in studio ocean-view room; two manicures; two lunches; two signature martinis $199. based on dbl occupancy Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort Relax in one, two, and three bedroom luxury suites surrounded by gorgeous ocean or forest views. A Wise Woman Weekend A Wise Woman creates tailored weekend retreats and products with purpose that remind women to tap into their wisdom, slow down, and connect with each other, and celebrate their lives. We take care of most of the weekend details you simply get to enjoy this unique experience. Our products with purpose are created to honour social and environmental values as well as to support independent women entrepreneurs. Each item contains a wise, thought provoking reminder for women to slow down and celebrate who and where they are in their lives.

6 Twice As Wild Go wild on the Isle with two of the islands most adventurous experiences. Wet and wild spelunking at Horne Lake Caves combined with letting out your wild child at WildPlay Element Park and Tree Go a unique aerial adventure during the day then relax in the luxury of the Beach Club Resort in Parksville. $149. pp dbl occupancy. Spirit of BC Oceanside Tour Discover how beavers shape their ecosystem. Learn to speak with loons. Explore a day in the life of a bear, salmon and eagle. Or take an Edible Plant Walk to taste the forest and learn what s edible and what s not. MooBerry Winery Little Qualicum Cheeseworks produces award winning cheeses and is now producing delicious fruit wines: blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry and gooseberry. Nature Bus Tours Rainforest Adventure Tours offers year round guided nature discovery tours for seniors, families and corporate groups. New tours: Tidepool Discover $25. pp kids free; Rainforest & Wine tour with hike and wine-tasting $49. pp and Wine Lovers tour with estate winery tastings and sightseeing $59. pp. Hop aboard for your guided tour! Folk Lore and Monsters Galore Get your binoculars, steady your video camera and get ready with tales of the Cryptids. Strange sightings have been reported at Cameron Lake and the CSI (Crypto Scientific Investigators) are scouring the lake for what lies beneath. Evidence at the Qualicum Beach Paleontology Museum proves hundreds of creatures inhabited this area in the past, so who knows what else can be lurking in the lake now! Media Contact: Luba Plotnikoff, Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Phone: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

7 Outdoor Oasis Spectacular scenery, unspoiled majestic vistas, pristine waters and wonderful wildlife adventures are available all year round in Oceanside. With 18 + parks in the area there is no limit to the level of hiking, mountain biking, and sightseeing one can experience. The Regional Parks & Trail Guide Breathe is a fantastic resource with maps, info and ideas on how to maximize your outdoor experience. For example: a leisurely 30 minute walk in Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest; a 7 hour hike up Mt Arrowsmith; strolling along magnificent waterfalls; kayaking the open ocean or exploring the number of trail systems throughout the region. Every year, Oceanside comes closer to the dream of completing a looped trail system interconnecting the many parks from Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay. Eventually, there will be a Vancouver Island Trail running from Victoria to Cape Scott, so hikers and bikers can avoid highway traffic. Some sections are already in place and ready to experience and explore. Englishman River & Qualicum River Provincial Parks offer a variety of hikes along the river bank leading to spectacular waterfalls. Top Bridge Park is a dedicated Mountain Bike Park as well as supplying a nice walk through the woods. For the more adventurous souls there's Mt. Arrowsmith - a hikers delight that climbs through a series of climatic zones, each producing different vegetation and forest cover. Another gem is Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. This park received the Attractions Canada Award for "Best Natural Outdoor Attraction Site in B.C. Hiking, rock-climbing, camping, canoeing, and caving are among the highlights of this popular park. How about a repel down a 7 story waterfall?

8 If it's marine adventures you're after, than how about kayaking to Chrome Island or Jedediah Provincial Marine Park. Accessible only by boat, this recently created park was originally homesteaded in the late 1800s. The island is inhabited by goats and sheep that were apparently left behind by Spanish explorers. There are no amenities on the island, but the settler's cabin and outbuildings maintained in their original condition give visitors a look at how coastal settlers used to live. A number of tour operators are open year round and offer exciting adventures into the Rainforest for educational and spiritual experiences, or grab a trails brochure from the local Info Centres to plan your next adventure. Take your pick! Leisure walks along 19km of safe, clean, sandy beaches, short walks in the old growth forest, long hikes up to the alpine, wildlife viewing & bird watching with over 250 species to choose from, sea kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, scuba diving, horseback riding, mountain biking, spelunking, it's all here waiting for you to see, experience and explore! Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Phone: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

9 It s Tee Time! Year round golf in the Oceanside region With seven golf courses to choose from within Parksville and Qualicum Beach and eight others less than an hour away, Oceanside is a golfer s paradise. Each course is unique, open year-round and features spectacular views in the heart of nature. Arrowsmith Golf and Country Club Set in a scenic meadow with the surrounding mountains as its backdrop this 18-hole course is an excellent place for golfers of all abilities to play. Amenities include a full clubhouse, restaurant four target greens and a putting and chipping green. 18Holes / Par 61 Contact: Pat Jiggins or Fowler Road, Qualicum Beach Brigadoon Golf Course This 9 hole public course in Parksville, is Vancouver Island s newest Mid-Island golf course. At 1513 yards from the black tees, there is a nice mix of par threes and fours for everyone to enjoy. Contact: Chris Rivers or Martindale Road, Parksville Eaglecrest Golf Club This mature oceanview course has lush fairways lined by towering evergreens and is playable year round. Enjoy the club house restaurant after a day on the links. Par yards. Contact: Paul Kim or Island Hwy, Qualicum Beach Fairwinds Golf and Country Club This course was designed by Canadian golf course designer Les Ferber. The course stretches for 6,200 yards and features ocean views and commanding fir and oak trees. Amenities include a driving range, dining room, lounge and pro shop. Fairwinds, just outside of Nanoose Bay, was the 1999 PGA Facility of the Year. If you are distracted by the view, over 70 sand traps will remind you to keep your mind on the game. 18 hole / Par 71, 3730 Fairwinds Drive, Nanoose Bay. Contact Paul Hodges or

10 Pheasant Glen Golf Resort Stretched out beneath majestic Mt. Arrowsmith, Pheasant Glen meanders through grassy meadows, around various lakes and amidst west coast woodlands. This newly renovated, beautifully conditioned 18-hole course, now rated at par 72, offers both challenge and enjoyment to novice and accomplished golfers. Amenities include a double ended practice area, driving range, rentals, pro shop and restaurant Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach Contact: Gord Melissa or Morningstar Championship Golf Course Ranked 70 th in Canada and considered one of the best golf courses by Score Magazine. Morningstar International was designed by Les Ferber to deliver a challenging game to test experienced players while remaining accessible to less experienced golfers. Amenities include a full service pro shop, restaurant and lounge, equipment and car rentals, driving range and two putting greens. 18 Holes / Par Lowry s Road, Parksville Contact: Mike Loftus or Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club One of the oldest courses in British Columbia, this nine-hole course boasts spectacular ocean views and is described as narrow and challenging. The fourth oldest course in BC, Qualicum Beach features a pro shop, clubhouse, restaurant, rentals and a putting green. 9 Holes / Par West Crescent, Qualicum Beach Contact Ross Mantel or Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Tel: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia

11 Escape Winter, Come West Vancouver Island s Oceanside Region, featuring Parksville and Qualicum Beach, is the destination winter travelers are choosing for their winter getaway more than ever before. The region s mild climate combined with one of the lowest annual rainfall levels on Vancouver Island means great outdoor & indoor activities are enjoyed year-round in a scenic, Island setting. There are many reasons why Oceanside s popularity continues to rise. While much of Canada is buried under white, visitors to Oceanside enjoy time on the green at one of five distinctly different golf courses. Oceanside s golf courses are open year-round and seven additional courses are within an hours drive for the perfect golf holiday. The region is teeming with wildlife during the winter months including colonies of sea lions, seals and flocks of birds. In fact, over 250 species of birds call the region home, with Autumn and Winter sporting a particularly exciting population, including the Savannah Sparrow, Loon, Common Nighthawk and Wigeon. Bald Eagles are frequently seen feeding on salmon along our many rivers. Thousands of waterbirds winter in the area including Yellow-billed Loons and hundreds of Trumpeter Swans. During the first week of April the Brant Wildlife Festival celebrates the return of over 20,000 Brant Geese who stop at the beaches of Parksville and Qualicum on their way to breeding grounds in Alaska. Festivities include nature walks and talks, a birding competition and the Canadian Fish Carving Championships. Spring arrives early at Oceanside. In April, Milner Gardens and Woodland, one of Oceanside s garden jewels, opens to the public for tours, nature walks, many events, and afternoon tea. Of the seventy acres, ten is a fabulous seaside garden overlooking the Strait of Georgia while sixty acres are old growth forest. Stroll 19kms of safe, clean sandy beaches, explore the rivers, lakes, parks, and trail systems year-round to experience the quiet serenity of Island living. Contact any number of guided tour operators that lead educational and adventure tours through the heart of the Island wilderness. You may even spot some grizzly bears! For a different experience of the wild and wonderful, drive down to either the Qualicum Beach promenade or Parksville Community Park and watch the winter storms from the comfort of your vehicle, or dress for the weather and feel the ocean spray cleanse your soul. On those energetic days enjoy the extensive hiking and biking trails within the areas 18 parks and be sure to pick up the Regional Parks & Trails Guide Breathe. The Parks & Recreation programs in the area offer an immense list of activities both for the mind and the body. Many groups and organizations in the area welcome drop in visitors. Parksville Golden Oldies Association (PGOSA) is dedicated to assisting those over 55 years in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. They meet at the Oceanside Place Arena every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30-10:30am. Play hockey in the morning, golf in the afternoon, and theatre in the evening.

12 The artwork, sculpture, and crafts produced in the area are evident everywhere: public art galleries: buildings; local parks, and throughout artists' studios that dot the area. Blue 'Artisan' signs indicate a studio open to the public while the local arts council produces a galleries and studios Blue Brochure complete with visiting times and directions. The Old School House Arts Centre in downtown Qualicum Beach features working studios with resident artists. Parksville has two large galleries: The Oceanside Arts Gallery showcasing a number of talented artists and The Station Gallery in the heritage E&N train station, home of the Arrowsmith Potter's Guild and offers pottery classes, a large gift shop and display area. Special exhibits featuring local artists are held throughout the winter season. If its long-term accommodation you are looking for there are more than 30 hotels, motels, resorts, B&Bs, vacation home rentals, and RV campgrounds offering excellent monthly rates for visitors seeking the opportunity to enjoy an Island winter getaway. Many offer price breaks for stays from $575 per month giving visitors a sense of snowbird living on a budget! Luba Plotnikoff Manager, Travel Media Relations luba@oceansidetourism.com Phone: x3 Twitter: VanIslandMedia