I won't be posting any new photos on this blog,
but I will continue to post
all my pictures at this new location.
So please bookmark the new blog's web address:
Brian Vike’s British Columbia Photographs
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
63 Beautiful Sunsets Over Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Above Photo: I took some pictures on August 5, 2016 of a beautiful sunset
over the Steelhead Fountain in our amazing Steelhead Park Houston, British Columbia.
63 Beautiful Sunsets Over Houston British Columbia.
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Another Beautiful Sunset Over Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Above Photo: I took the photos on March 7, 2016 of this awesome sunset in
Houston, British Columbia.
For larger view of the photo, click on the picture.
For information on things to do in and around Houston, British Columbia, please contact the Houston and District Chamber Of Commerce/Visitors Centre. Links below.
Also, I hope you enjoy the photos that I have taken around our beautiful town.
To view a number of pictures that I took of the sunset on March 7, 2016 in
Houston, British Columbia, please visit:
Houston and District Chamber Of Commerce/Visitors Centre.
Website: http://www.houstonchamber.ca/
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Brian Vike's Photos From Northern British Columbia Canada (Pictures)
Above Photo: Winter's blanket of snow at
Houston, British Columbia.
The Mighty Fraser River - Fraser Canyon Outside Of Hope British Columbia (Picture)
Fall Colors Along Highway 16 Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Winter's Snowfall On The Mountains East Of Smithers British Columbia (Picture)
Winter's Snowfall 3 On The Mountains In Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 2 On The Mountains In Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Thawing - Beaver Dam On the Bulkley River Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Thawing 1 On Buck Creek In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Thawing On Buck Creek In Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Icicles On Buck Creek In Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Winter's Snowfall On The Mountains In Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 10 Around Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Beautiful Fall Colors Smithers British Columbia (Picture)
Beautiful Sunset At Houston British Columbia Canada (Pictures)
Snowcapped Telkwa Mountain Range Seen From Houston British Columbia Canada (Pictures)
Steelhead Park Totem Pole Houston British Columbia Canada (Pictures)
http://britishcolumbiavike.blogspot.ca/2016/02/steelhead-park-totem-pole-houston.html
2016 - Steelhead Fountain Sculpture Houston British Columbia Canada (Pictures)
Dark Winter's Day Along Highway 16 Rest Area Outside Of Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Dark Winter's Day Along Highway 16 Outside Of Telkwa British Columbia (Pictures)
Twin Falls Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Ski Smithers 2 Hudson Bay Mountain Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Ski Smithers Hudson Bay Mountain Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter Snowfall/Ice 3 On The Bulkley River Telkwa British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter Snowfall/Ice 2 On The Bulkley River Telkwa British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter Snowfall/Ice On The Bulkley River Telkwa British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 9 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 8 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 7 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 6 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 5 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 4 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 3 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 2 In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter's Snowfall 1 In Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Telkwa Mountain Range Seen From Highway 16 Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Sunset Over Field In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Eerie Morning Fog Covers Field In Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
Sunset In Field Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
2015 Winter Farm Houston British Columbia (Picture)
2015 Hudson Bay Mountain Taken From Quick British Columbia (Picture)
2016 Winter On The Farm Topley Houston British Columbia (Picture)
2016 Winter On The Morice River Houston British Columbia (Picture)
2016 Winter Nadina Mountain Houston British Columbia (Picture)
2016 Winter On The Morice River Houston British Columbia (Picture)
Old 1922 Heritage Police Building Burns Lake British Columbia (Pictures)
Winter On The Bulkley River Houston British Columbia (Pictures)
1927 Historic St. John’s Anglican Church Burns Lake British Columbia (Pictures)
The Old 1931 Hospital In Burns Lake British Columbia (Pictures)
1913 The Old Church Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Old 1925 Courthouse/Bulkley Valley Museum Smithers British Columbia (Pictures)
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Steelhead And Winter Ice Fishing In And Around Houston British Columbia (12 Pictures)
Above Photo: Fulton river which flows into Babine Lake, British Columbia's longest natural lake at Granisle, B.C.. Picture was taken on New Year's Day, January 1, 2016.
Houston, British Columbia is known around the world for a good number of things, such as Canada’s largest fly fishing rod and one of two grizzly bears that were killing cattle around Hungry Hill.
Also we have the “beautiful” Steelhead Park which runs along Highway 16 through Houston.
In the park there is the Steelhead fountain where you can sit peacefully enjoying the day.
Another popular attraction is the Wolf Totem Pole which is in the park.
In summer there are numerous beds of blooming flowers of different types and well manicured grass. The park is truly Houston’s well known gem.
To view the full write up and see the other 11 pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Kamloops Lake - Thompson River – City Of Kamloops British Columbia (6 - Pictures)
Above Photo: Over looking the city of Kamloops, British Columbia.
As we travel around Kamloops, B.C. there is so much to see and never enough time to see it all. I wanted to take a few pictures of Kamloops Lake, the Thompson River and the city of Kamloops from a higher vantage point, which I did, but at dusk.
For information about Kamloops, please visit Tourism Kamloops at:
To view the write up and see the other 5 pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Heritage Railway Located In Kamloops British Columbia (13 - Pictures)
Above Photo: Welcome sign for travelers visiting Kamloops, British Columbia.
For myself trains have held a special place in my life. It started when I was a little guy when I received my first train on Christmas day. I was so excited as my Dad handed out the presents, and in one of the wrapped boxes was a locomotive, box cars, tracks and small houses. I quickly opened up the box pulling everything out onto the floor in one pile.
I knew exactly how it was supposed to be put together, at least I thought so. My dad sat with me as we both transformed a pile of plastic and metal into a working model railroad. I was so happy with a smile from ear to ear.
As the years went by, we decided to build a larger scale railway, but little did I realize that it wasn’t going to be just a bit larger, it was going to be huge as it took up the entire recreation room in the basement. It was great and we had a lot of fun putting it together and then operating it.
So when my daughter drove me to the Kamloops Heritage Railway, I was just like that kid again on Christmas day. It was off season as we were in Kamloops in November of 2015, so I could not experience the ride the train took tourists on, plus the cowboys on horse back robbing the train.
The next time we visit my daughter, I will be the 64 year old sitting on the train with a smile from ear to ear.
So make your holiday stop in Kamloops, British Columbia where all your dreams will come true as did mine.
To view the write up and see the other 12 pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Mural Paintings In Prince George British Columbia (4 – Pictures)
Above Photo: One of the many Mural Paintings found in Prince George, British Columbia.
For our family and so many others, Prince George is a great place to spend your holidays. There are a lot of awesome lakes and camping spots available in the summer months, and there are excellent places to ski and snowboard. Prince George really has everything you can imagine, as it is a large city.
In the summer of 2016 we plan on spending some time in Prince George as it is rich in history and so very scenic. So I can’t wait to dig around to see what I might find and bring to my visitors.
To view the write up and see the other 3 pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Winter Scene - The Equity Silver Mine Road Houston British Columbia (75 - Pictures/Slideshow)
Above Photo: At the top of the rock bluff the tree tops are pure white from the snow and frost and in summertime you can see the mountain goats laying down sun baking all seen from the Equity Silver Mine Road Houston, British Columbia.
Once again we headed off on a new adventure, this time closer to home. On December 14, 2015 we decided, since it was a beautiful day to take a drive out on the old Equity Silver Mine Road. The road had been ploughed recently so it was like a super highway. The sky was deep blue and the snow crystals glistened in the sunlight.
The Equity mine road has been one of my favorite places to visit which is just outside of town. Years back in the summer we would take all the little kids to a spot where they could catch some trout, and it was right at the side of the road. They would cast out their fishing line with a float attached and wait for the float to bob up and down. Of course there was always a juicy worm on the hook.
To view the write up and see the 75 pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
http://houston-british-columbia-canada.blogspot.ca/
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
1887 St. Andrews On The Square Heritage Site Kamloops British Columbia (5 - Pictures)
Above Photo: 1887 St. Andrews On The Square Heritage Site Kamloops British Columbia.
In early November 2015 my daughter continued to show me around the city of Kamloops. It seemed at every turn there was something wonderful to see, then we came upon the St. Andrews On The Square site.
St. Andrews On The Square was built in 1887 and is the oldest public building in the city of Kamloops. The city bought it, then restored everything back in 1998.
The Kamloops Heritage Society now operates the facility, where weddings and other events are held.
Also on site are the gorgeous St. Andrews gardens where
local musicians and performers can be found.
So when planning your next holiday, don’t forget to put Kamloops on your agenda so you can tour all the wonderful historic sites seen around town.
To view the write up and see the 5 other pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Painted Hills Cache Creek British Columbia (3 Pictures)
Above Photo: Mother nature’s painted hills outside of Cache Creek, British Columbia.
If you travel north along Highway 97 outside of Cache Creek, you will come to a spectacular site where the mountain side seems as if someone used a paint brush to colour it. It is iron and other minerals that make up the color of the soil which gives us a wonder display from Mother Nature.
To view the write up and see the other pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
1909 Brick Courthouse Located In Kamloops British Columbia (Heritage Building - 4 Pictures)
Above Photo: 1909 Brick Courthouse Kamloops, British Columbia.
As my wife and I continued our travels in November 2015 throughout British Columbia, our next stop was at my daughter’s home. It is always nice to be there visiting with my daughter, son-in-law and my two grandchildren.
Since we were in Kamloops, and knowing some of the history there, I figured this was a good time to check out some of their heritage sites.
At our first stop, it was the 1909 brick courthouse located at 7 Seymour Street West.
To view the write up and see the other pictures, please visit Brian Vike's Travel Blog at:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Smithers British Columbia Visitor Centre (Photos)
Above Photo: Lonely Cougar looks back toward his home in the mountains from the Smithers, British Columbia Visitor Centre.
We were out in Smithers, B.C. a few days ago and I wandered around taking pictures of a lot of things as the weather was beautiful. One of the places I thought I would start with was the Chamber of Commerce/ Visitor Centre.
There was a display of a Cougar outside the building which I thought was pretty cool. the Cougar looks like it is missing the high mountains as it looks staring off into the distant mountains.
I have a few pictures from around the Smithers, B.C. Visitor Centre and just outside of
Smithers as well.
To view the other pictures, please visit my Travel Blog at:
If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Fishing Guides And Charters From Around British Columbia
Above Photo: Sunset Over Kamloops Lake, in Kamloops British Columbia. The lakes around the Kamloops area have been known for its great fishing. Large Kamloops trout up to 10 pounds plus on a fly rod, most would say is heaven.
Kamloops Area Lakes.
Over the winter months I will be adding a lot of other fishing guides and charters to the list.
Below I have compiled a list of fishing guides and charters from around British Columbia.
There are charters for Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut and Trout fishing.
Here in B.C. we have some of the best fishing available to everyone who enjoy the outdoors. There is nothing better than to wet a line in the fresh air on a river, lake or the ocean.
So many of us pack up the RV, tents, or head to a cabin or resort to get away from the everyday rush in hopes of catching the large fish that got away.
There are 1,000 of cold water lakes and rivers that hold that prize of a Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout (Char), Whitefish, Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Coastal Cutthroat Trout.
There are other species of fish, such as the Dolly Varden, Kokanee, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Arctic Grayling and White Sturgeon.
Some huge White Sturgeon are being caught on the Fraser River, a really nice place to stay, is at the Fraser River Lodge which has everything you would need to catch and land that whopper of a White Sturgeon.
To view the list of fishing guides and fishing charters, please visit the link below: http://britishcolumbiavike.blogspot.ca/2015/08/fishing-guides-and-charters-from-around.html
If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Burns Lake British Columbia (Photos)
Above Photo: The Burns Lake tourist Information Centre and Museum.
The Visitor Information Centre looked great, it was tidy and spotless. The grounds were beautiful, lawns cut and scattered around the property were pieces of old farming equipment, a rock crusher and old, old wagon.
Also beautiful flowers were seen around the property, and throughout the town. Inside the centre you were met by warm and friendly staff, who wanted to share what Burns Lake has to offer.
The residents of Burns Lake are certainly proud of their home town, as it shows.
If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
To view more pictures and information about Burns Lake, please visit:
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Travel British Columbia With Brian Vike
Above Photo: I took this photo from a moving Greyhound bus after visiting my Dad in Langley, B.C. I saw the lake somewhere in-between Clinton and 100 Mile House, British Columbia in 2015.
Brian Vike will be traveling around this great province of British Columbia, checking out the sights, accommodations, food, charters, camping areas, etc., and bringing you my thoughts on the places I have visited.
My reviews and comments will be posted onto my Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, so check back often.
I started my travel blog in mid July 2015, and I have lots to add, plus with winter not being all that far off, it will give me lots to do for the 5 months of cool weather we have in northern British Columbia.
In 2016 when Spring finally arrives, we will hit the road bringing you some amazing photos and interviews with people from around British Columbia.
If you have anything about British Columbia you think people might like, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net
Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
UFOs Create Tourism Boom In Terrace, British Columbia
(From Brian Vike’s UFO Files) Re-posted by Brian.
By Jennifer Lang
Terrace Standard
7-23-3
Terrace's reputation as B.C.'s UFO capital is creating a new kind of tourism boom in the region. Curious travellers from across North America are inquiring about the tourism facilities in communities across Highway 16, including Terrace, says a UFO researcher based in Houston, B.C.
"You would be surprised just how many emails I get over the months requesting information for our areas," says Brian Vike, editor of Canadian Communicator, a magazine specializing in the paranormal, and director of HBCC-UFO Research.
Earlier this year, Terrace cracked the top 10 in a national UFO survey, earning third place, just ahead of Houston, where Vike operates a toll-free UFO hotline so he can collect and investigate eye-witness reports.
Terrace recorded the third highest number of UFO sightings in the country last year, bringing national and international attention to the region, Vike says.
The resulting publicity means the northwest is rapidly emerging as one of the best places to see UFOs in Canada. Savvy tourists know they're more likely to see a flying saucer than the elusive Kermode bear, the white form of a black bear that is the city's official symbol. Vike says he's often contacted by UFO buffs and the just plain curious who want to know about the region's tourist attractions and accommodations.
"Many have never been up this way," Vike says. "So I give them the lowdown on what our communities have." He tells them about camp sites in the area, the excellent hiking, fishing and boating opportunities here, the beautiful scenery and the range of wildlife.
"As a matter of fact, I receive so many emails, I was going to put up a page on my website which would give information to tourists on what we have." Vike says 2003 is shaping up to be another record year for UFO sightings in the skies over Terrace, where 25 sightings were recorded last year, suggesting more national and international attention could be on its way.
"Right now Terrace has darn near caught up to last year's total count for sightings," he says. UFO-related tourism is a growing market in the rest of the world. Vulcan, a town of 1,700 in southern Alberta that's home to a replica starship and a tourist information centre built to look like a space station, isn't the only place cashing in on its Sci Fi cachet.
St. Paul, Alberta was out of the gate back in 1967, when it built the world's first UFO landing pad, ensuring that future space travel would be safe for all intergalactic beings.
"All visitors from earth or otherwise are welcome to this territory and to the Town of St. Paul," reads an inscription beside the 12-metre-diameter concrete pad.
The tiny U.S. town of Rachel, Nevada, meanwhile, has capitalized on its proximity to the mysterious Area 51, thought to be a secret U.S. military base.
Rachel's tourism industry began to take off in the late 1980s, thanks to its reputation as a reliable location for sightings, drawing ever larger numbers of "UFO tourists".
Nearby Nevada State Highway 375 was officially renamed the "Extraterrestrial Highway" to reflect the large number of sightings along this stretch of road.
Enterprising community leaders in other countries have boarded the UFO tourism spaceship, too. Last year, a Chilean mayor took the bold move of designating the region near his town as an official UFO tourism zone because so many sightings have taken place in the Andes mountains there.
That's the kind of notoriety places like Terrace, Houston, and other Highway 16 towns could easily take advantage of. While Terrace may presently lack an officially-sanctioned UFO tourism strategy, Vike is functioning as an unofficial intergalactic ambassador, sharing the region's latest eye-witness reports and his own pet theories with a curious world.
From Houston headquarters, he keeps busy doing interviews with newspapers, TV shows and radio talk shows all over North America. Canada's Life network shot 18 hours of footage with Vike in Houston, Smithers and Telkwa in February.
A documentary will air this fall season or early in the new year.
"All of this is great for tourism," he says, reminding northwest residents to keep their eyes to the skies this summer. Vike has noticed a new pattern in the most recent reports: more eyewitnesses in the northwest are reporting objects in the sky, instead of just unexplained, or oddly-moving lights.
One sighting reported by multiple witnesses across a wide geographic area involved gigantic triangles. Others have reported seeing crescent or ring-shaped objects in the sky.
Vike adds a number of eyewitnesses reported seeing a large, saucer-shaped disk travelling from Mill Bay on Vancouver Island to Kitimat past the Alcan Smelter and on towards Prince Rupert and Terrace.
Vike, a former forestry industry worker, tries to uncover likely explanations for what eyewitnesses have seen. The planet Venus is sometimes mistaken for a UFO.
Other sightings are later found to be aircraft, meteors, satellites, stars or even blimps, says Vike, who once belonged to the Royal Astronomical Society and volunteered at the planetarium in Vancouver. Brian Vike has a toll-free number: 1-866-262-1989, and a website: http://the-v-factor-paranormal.blogspot.ca/
Sunday, October 11, 2009
UFOs Create Tourism Boom In Terrace, British Columbia
By Jennifer Lang Terrace Standard
Terrace's reputation as B.C.'s UFO capital is creating a new kind of tourism boom in the region.
Curious travellers from across North America are inquiring about the tourism facilities in communities across Highway 16, including Terrace, says a UFO researcher based in Houston, B.C.
"You would be surprised just how many emails I get over the months requesting information for our areas," says Brian Vike, editor of Canadian Communicator, a magazine specializing in the paranormal, and director of The Vike Factor.
Earlier this year, Terrace cracked the top 10 in a national UFO survey, earning third place, just ahead of Houston, where Vike operates a toll-free UFO hotline so he can collect and investigate eye-witness reports.
Terrace recorded the third highest number of UFO sightings in the country last year, bringing national and international attention to the region, Vike says.
The resulting publicity means the northwest is rapidly emerging as one of the best places to see UFOs in Canada.
Savvy tourists know they're more likely to see a flying saucer than the elusive Kermode bear, the white form of a black bear that is the city's official symbol.
Vike says he's often contacted by UFO buffs and the just plain curious who want to know about the region's tourist attractions and accommodations.
"Many have never been up this way," Vike says. "So I give them the lowdown on what our communities have."
He tells them about camp sites in the area, the excellent hiking, fishing and boating opportunities here, the beautiful scenery and the range of wildlife.
"As a matter of fact, I receive so many emails, I was going to put up a page on my website which would give information to tourists on what we have."
Vike says 2003 is shaping up to be another record year for UFO sightings in the skies over Terrace, where 25 sightings were recorded last year, suggesting more national and international attention could be on its way.
"Right now Terrace has darn near caught up to last year's total count for sightings," he says.
UFO-related tourism is a growing market in the rest of the world.
Vulcan, a town of 1,700 in southern Alberta that's home to a replica starship and a tourist information centre built to look like a space station, isn't the only place cashing in on its Sci Fi cachet.
Terrace's reputation as B.C.'s UFO capital is creating a new kind of tourism boom in the region.
Curious travellers from across North America are inquiring about the tourism facilities in communities across Highway 16, including Terrace, says a UFO researcher based in Houston, B.C.
"You would be surprised just how many emails I get over the months requesting information for our areas," says Brian Vike, editor of Canadian Communicator, a magazine specializing in the paranormal, and director of The Vike Factor.
Earlier this year, Terrace cracked the top 10 in a national UFO survey, earning third place, just ahead of Houston, where Vike operates a toll-free UFO hotline so he can collect and investigate eye-witness reports.
Terrace recorded the third highest number of UFO sightings in the country last year, bringing national and international attention to the region, Vike says.
The resulting publicity means the northwest is rapidly emerging as one of the best places to see UFOs in Canada.
Savvy tourists know they're more likely to see a flying saucer than the elusive Kermode bear, the white form of a black bear that is the city's official symbol.
Vike says he's often contacted by UFO buffs and the just plain curious who want to know about the region's tourist attractions and accommodations.
"Many have never been up this way," Vike says. "So I give them the lowdown on what our communities have."
He tells them about camp sites in the area, the excellent hiking, fishing and boating opportunities here, the beautiful scenery and the range of wildlife.
"As a matter of fact, I receive so many emails, I was going to put up a page on my website which would give information to tourists on what we have."
Vike says 2003 is shaping up to be another record year for UFO sightings in the skies over Terrace, where 25 sightings were recorded last year, suggesting more national and international attention could be on its way.
"Right now Terrace has darn near caught up to last year's total count for sightings," he says.
UFO-related tourism is a growing market in the rest of the world.
Vulcan, a town of 1,700 in southern Alberta that's home to a replica starship and a tourist information centre built to look like a space station, isn't the only place cashing in on its Sci Fi cachet.
St. Paul, Alberta was out of the gate back in 1967, when it built the world's first UFO landing pad, ensuring that future space travel would be safe for all intergalactic beings.
"All visitors from earth or otherwise are welcome to this territory and to the Town of St. Paul," reads an inscription beside the 12-metre-diameter concrete pad.
The tiny U.S. town of Rachel, Nevada, meanwhile, has capitalized on its proximity to the mysterious Area 51, thought to be a secret U.S. military base.
Rachel's tourism industry began to take off in the late 1980s, thanks to its reputation as a reliable location for sightings, drawing ever larger numbers of "UFO tourists".
Nearby Nevada State Highway 375 was officially renamed the "Extraterrestrial Highway" to reflect the large number of sightings along this stretch of road.
Enterprising community leaders in other countries have boarded the UFO tourism spaceship, too.
Last year, a Chilean mayor took the bold move of designating the region near his town as an official UFO tourism zone because so many sightings have taken place in the Andes mountains there.
That's the kind of notoriety places like Terrace, Houston, and other Highway 16 towns could easily take advantage of.
While Terrace may presently lack an officially-sanctioned UFO tourism strategy, Vike is functioning as an unofficial intergalactic ambassador, sharing the region's latest eye-witness reports and his own pet theories with a curious world.
From Houston headquarters, he keeps busy doing interviews with newspapers, TV shows and radio talk shows all over North America.
Canada's Life network shot 18 hours of footage with Vike in Houston, Smithers and Telkwa in February. A documentary will air this fall season or early in the new year.
"All of this is great for tourism," he says, reminding northwest residents to keep their eyes to the skies this summer.
Vike has noticed a new pattern in the most recent reports: more eyewitnesses in the northwest are reporting objects in the sky, instead of just unexplained, or oddly-moving lights.
One sighting reported by multiple witnesses across a wide geographic area involved gigantic triangles.
Others have reported seeing crescent or ring-shaped objects in the sky.
Vike adds a number of eyewitnesses reported seeing a large, saucer-shaped disk travelling from Mill Bay on Vancouver Island to Kitimat past the Alcan Smelter and on towards Prince Rupert and Terrace.
Vike, a former forestry industry worker, tries to uncover likely explanations for what eyewitnesses have seen.
The planet Venus is sometimes mistaken for a UFO. Other sightings are later found to be aircraft, meteors, satellites, stars or even blimps, says Vike, who once belonged to the Royal Astronomical Society and volunteered at the planetarium in Vancouver.]
Brian Vike has a website: http://the-v-factor-paranormal.blogspot.com/
Email Brian Vike: v_factor_paranormal@live.com
Brian Vike, The Vike Factor (Into The Paranormal) http://the-v-factor-paranormal.blogspot.com/
"All visitors from earth or otherwise are welcome to this territory and to the Town of St. Paul," reads an inscription beside the 12-metre-diameter concrete pad.
The tiny U.S. town of Rachel, Nevada, meanwhile, has capitalized on its proximity to the mysterious Area 51, thought to be a secret U.S. military base.
Rachel's tourism industry began to take off in the late 1980s, thanks to its reputation as a reliable location for sightings, drawing ever larger numbers of "UFO tourists".
Nearby Nevada State Highway 375 was officially renamed the "Extraterrestrial Highway" to reflect the large number of sightings along this stretch of road.
Enterprising community leaders in other countries have boarded the UFO tourism spaceship, too.
Last year, a Chilean mayor took the bold move of designating the region near his town as an official UFO tourism zone because so many sightings have taken place in the Andes mountains there.
That's the kind of notoriety places like Terrace, Houston, and other Highway 16 towns could easily take advantage of.
While Terrace may presently lack an officially-sanctioned UFO tourism strategy, Vike is functioning as an unofficial intergalactic ambassador, sharing the region's latest eye-witness reports and his own pet theories with a curious world.
From Houston headquarters, he keeps busy doing interviews with newspapers, TV shows and radio talk shows all over North America.
Canada's Life network shot 18 hours of footage with Vike in Houston, Smithers and Telkwa in February. A documentary will air this fall season or early in the new year.
"All of this is great for tourism," he says, reminding northwest residents to keep their eyes to the skies this summer.
Vike has noticed a new pattern in the most recent reports: more eyewitnesses in the northwest are reporting objects in the sky, instead of just unexplained, or oddly-moving lights.
One sighting reported by multiple witnesses across a wide geographic area involved gigantic triangles.
Others have reported seeing crescent or ring-shaped objects in the sky.
Vike adds a number of eyewitnesses reported seeing a large, saucer-shaped disk travelling from Mill Bay on Vancouver Island to Kitimat past the Alcan Smelter and on towards Prince Rupert and Terrace.
Vike, a former forestry industry worker, tries to uncover likely explanations for what eyewitnesses have seen.
The planet Venus is sometimes mistaken for a UFO. Other sightings are later found to be aircraft, meteors, satellites, stars or even blimps, says Vike, who once belonged to the Royal Astronomical Society and volunteered at the planetarium in Vancouver.]
Brian Vike has a website: http://the-v-factor-paranormal.blogspot.com/
Email Brian Vike: v_factor_paranormal@live.com
Brian Vike, The Vike Factor (Into The Paranormal) http://the-v-factor-paranormal.blogspot.com/
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