British Columbia

A new indoor market in downtown Victoria, Canada , will open in the spring, making Vancouver Island's abundant produce available year-round. The Victoria Public Market at the Hudson will be home to goods produced by bakers, butchers, fishermen and florists, among others. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It's about 60 miles from Vancouver and about a three-hour (or less) ferry ride from Seattle. The new market will be in what was once the Hudson's Bay department store.

Many of the world's finest curlers will gather in Victoria, British Columbia, March 30 to April 7 for the Ford World Men's Curling Championships . Although the sport isn't one that's followed closely by Americans, the United States will be among the nations' fielding teams. The games will be held at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre , where athletes using brooms will move curling stones across the ice toward a circular target. A total of 12 countries - including Canada, Japan, Russia, Scotland and Switzerland - will participate.

We've had so much response to our story on Nelson that we thought we'd give you an extra look at some pictures from there and fill you in on the backstory of my quarter-century quest to  visit. That tale begins with a road trip I took with my buddy Rick back in 1986. The prime destination was the World Expo in Vancouver , and that was fine. But as we steered the VW van through the forests of British Columbia and Alberta, we kept hearing about this great little town called Nelson.

Families can save some greenbacks on spring break with a ski vacation at Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, British Columbia. From March 1 to April 13, Big White is offering a deal in which kids 12 and under can ski and stay for free. Families will receive a complimentary child lift ticket with each adult pass purchased. Big White is British Columbia's second-largest resort after Whistler and has the most ski-in, ski-out accommodations in Canada. From March 10-25, youngsters and their parents (or grandparents)

United Express will begin offering year-round daily service from Los Angeles to Kelowna, British Columbia, starting Dec. 19, which will make Big White the closest and most accessible Canadian ski and snowboard resort to the L.A. region. Flights will leave LAX at 6:40 p.m. and arrive in Kelowna at 9:44 p.m. The Village Center of Big White is roughly 45 minutes from the Kelowna airport. Big White is the second-largest ski resort in British Columbia, after Whistler-Blackcomb.

Picket lines sprang up across British Columbia today as thousands of union workers staged a one-day strike to protest a proposed change in the province's labor laws.

If palm trees and sunshine don't put you in the holiday spirit, Grouse Mountain might. The year-round Canadian playground is just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Upon arrival, visitors are whisked to the 3,700-foot summit in bright red Skyride gondolas that will be decorated with antlers and a red nose as part of the resort's Reindeer Games theme. The Peak of Christmas festival runs Nov. 24 to Dec. 24 and includes interacting with real reindeer in a natural habitat, caroling during sleigh rides through the snowy woods and ice skating on an 8,000-square-foot pond.

Summer is a great time to explore ski resorts in the off season. The luxury Fairmont Chateau Whistler at the Canadian ski resort in British Columbia has a package for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who like the view from the top.  It includes free tickets to ride the spectacular gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The deal: The Peak for Free Gondola Package starts at $235 a night plus tax. Guests receive two tickets per night to ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola , a roughly 2.5-mile course.

Tom and Julie Desmond of Monterey Park head to British Columbia, Canada, twice a year to schuss down its snowy slopes. Last month at the Whistler Blackcomb ski area, Tom found a different way of photographing the Coastal Mountains -- courtesy of Julie's goggles. For tips on travel photography from a Times photo editor, see Page 23. * Send to "My Best Shot," L.A. Times Travel section, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; travel@latimes.com.

British Columbia Premier Bill Vander Zalm announced his resignation Tuesday, just hours after publication of a special report on his personal business dealings while in office. Deputy Premier Rita Johnson was sworn in as premier by Lt. Gov. David Lam, the queen's representative in British Columbia. She will govern until an election is held in the fall. Vander Zalm's announcement reversed a pledge he had made last week, to remain in office at least two more months.

A new indoor market in downtown Victoria, Canada , will open in the spring, making Vancouver Island's abundant produce available year-round. The Victoria Public Market at the Hudson will be home to goods produced by bakers, butchers, fishermen and florists, among others. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It's about 60 miles from Vancouver and about a three-hour (or less) ferry ride from Seattle. The new market will be in what was once the Hudson's Bay department store.

Snow has been falling in buckets all over the West, but nowhere more so than on the rugged peaks along the British Columbia border with Alberta. In a normal year, the Columbia Mountains near Revelstoke would have received roughly 8 feet of snow by now. But Mother Nature has been overly generous, dropping 14 feet in December alone (5 feet more than the previous record for the month) for a whopping total of 23 feet so far this season. This isn't the "Sierra Cement" that sometimes lands on California's slopes, especially at lower elevations.

If palm trees and sunshine don't put you in the holiday spirit, Grouse Mountain might. The year-round Canadian playground is just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Upon arrival, visitors are whisked to the 3,700-foot summit in bright red Skyride gondolas that will be decorated with antlers and a red nose as part of the resort's Reindeer Games theme. The Peak of Christmas festival runs Nov. 24 to Dec. 24 and includes interacting with real reindeer in a natural habitat, caroling during sleigh rides through the snowy woods and ice skating on an 8,000-square-foot pond.

United Express will begin offering year-round daily service from Los Angeles to Kelowna, British Columbia, starting Dec. 19, which will make Big White the closest and most accessible Canadian ski and snowboard resort to the L.A. region. Flights will leave LAX at 6:40 p.m. and arrive in Kelowna at 9:44 p.m. The Village Center of Big White is roughly 45 minutes from the Kelowna airport. Big White is the second-largest ski resort in British Columbia, after Whistler-Blackcomb.

We've had so much response to our story on Nelson that we thought we'd give you an extra look at some pictures from there and fill you in on the backstory of my quarter-century quest to  visit. That tale begins with a road trip I took with my buddy Rick back in 1986. The prime destination was the World Expo in Vancouver , and that was fine. But as we steered the VW van through the forests of British Columbia and Alberta, we kept hearing about this great little town called Nelson.

Up in the northwest forest where Washington, Idaho and British Columbia converge, there's a lazy little international border crossing called Nelway, about the size of a gas station. "Where are you headed?" a Canadian border patrol agent asked when my family rolled up a few months ago, heading north from Washington. "Nelson," I told him as he began his search of our car. "It's OK," said the officer, unenthusiastically. "Kinda hippie-ish. Very laid-back. " Not a problem, sir. The town of Nelson, semi-Victorian, substantially bohemian, sportier and more artsy than your average hamlet of 9,700 souls, sits in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, about 30 miles north of the U.S. border.

The Nisga'a Indian tribe signed a treaty that gives members self-government and land rights in their rugged mountain homeland in British Columbia province. It was a historic day not only for the 5,500 Nisga'a but for all Indians in British Columbia. None of the other 50 Indian communities has obtained a treaty in this century, and the settlement is expected to serve as a loose model for other deals.

Quarterback Doug Flutie, 27, a free agent since being released by the New England Patriots after last season, signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League Monday night. Details of the agreement weren't immediately announced. "I'm very excited and happy," the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner said. "I'm here to stay. I'm not going home after all."

Need to spice up your weekends? Think outside the box - and your own backyard. Adventure Weekends West, for iPhone and iPad, is an app that offers information on 99 adventure getaways in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia andAlaska. Name: Adventure Weekends West Available for: iPhone and iPad What it does: Offers ideas, information, descriptions and photos for 99 adventure getaways in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia andAlaska.

ZAMBIA Service and bike tour During World Bicycle Relief's cycling trip through Zambia, travelers help by building bicycles and distributing them to students (especially girls), small-business owners and medical caregivers. After the philanthropic work, there's a two-day tour of the region. Itinerary: Varies based on the nonprofit's needs, but arrival and departure is out of Lusaka. Dates: Oct. 8-16; 2012: May 19-27, July 21-29, Oct. 6-14 Price: $2,750, double occupancy, including all transportation within Zambia, food and lodging but not airfare.