This year held a wonderful opportunity to join Chilcotin Holidays at the BC Sportsman Show; with so much to see and do, and to buy, it filled the people with enthusiasm and wonder. The rows upon rows of boats and all-terrain vehicles, even one that looked a lot like a tank, were surrounded by trucks and tents, and more equipment than imaginable, not to mention the other wilderness adventure businesses, it opened up some brilliant ways to see and enjoy British Columbia. With around 200 exhibitors, the place was full to the brim with new adventure seekers to the advanced, and the information offered had something new for everyone.

Many of BC’s Wilderness Lodges and Resorts were in attendance, promoting their specific services from all over B.C. Special programs and vacations offered great opportunity to all ages, children, youth and adult, enticing a multitude of family fun and friendly connections. The outdoors activities in the western lifestyle opened up opportunities through Guided Tour Companies, Resorts, Lodges and Guest Ranches. Their unique vacations and trips, whether horseback, camping, fishing, hiking, winter sports or water sports, Chilcotin Holidays was there introducing people to their Guest Ranch stays, Guide Schools, Horse Pack Trips, and the absolutely stunning Wildlife Viewing vacations.

These enticing outdoor adventures, only excelled the excitement by sheer amount of new toys and gadgets, and all gear you could ever want or need for the outdoors, was right in front of you getting you ready for your next British Columbia Outdoor Adventure. There were Wildlife and Adventure Magazines and booths abut nature, offered enriching information for exploring the outdoors; and making sure safety and knowledge was paramount. The protectors of our wilderness such as our BC Conservation Officers, Ministry of Environment, BC Fishing Federations, the Four Wheel Drive Association, the BC Wildlife Federation and many more, encouraging outdoor exploration through recreational opportunities, conservation and stewardship involvement, were studiously teaching awareness and how to get involved in local programs, lessons, clinics, to keep building our knowledge and understanding of nature at every turn, encouraging us all to uphold the safety and preservation for ourselves in nature, and for the impact we can have on nature, its wildlife and habitats. Chilcotin Holidays was a strong advocate for the conservation and stewardship of our wilderness and through their website, ChilcotinHolidays.com, we can see just how much is being done.

The event really was a family affair that everyone could enjoy; with the fish at the Nicomekl Society Kids fishing pool, or climbing around in the boats while parents look on and chat to vendors, to the tiny houses the kids were making a party in, it was all family friendly. Fishing and its gear took over the main stage, with the wonderful fly-fishing demonstrations and explanations on the gear and equipment they use and recommend. If you didn’t fish before, you sure wanted to now.
The gear and accessories for these outdoor sports, clothing, boots, knives, bows, guns, vehicles both land and water, were in abundance in colours, styles and explained by friendly, professional and very knowledgably people, just waiting to tell you all about their industry, love what you do and make it count.

Another love for many is owning our very own part of the Beautiful British Columbia, and many wonderfully helpful Real Estate Companies were on hand to offer advice and tips for the next step; Sutton, Re/Max, Aedis and Royal LePage, and LandQuest Realty Corporation, had the ins on what’s available in BC for our buying and viewing pleasures, and if you didn’t want a solid foundation on land, there were RVs and Marine houseboats to show their comfort and style. The in-house floor models, were selling like hotcakes with the promise of a new adventure. Be it the water sports industry or Land based industries, adventurous surprises were waiting for us all, and with the different kinds of equipment for the eye to feast on, exploring the waters, and land, of British Columbia is achievable in any way.