Fairmont Chateau Whistler has been named Canada’s best resort by Travel + Leisure. Pamela Anderson showed off her slice of paradise in her garden on Vancouver Island. A Burnaby resident won $2 million in the lottery and plans to invest it in buying a home.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler named Canada’s best resort by Travel + Leisure
For travellers hoping to spend the summer away from the hustle and bustle but don’t want to leave British Columbia, the country’s top resort is just two hours by car from Vancouver. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler took first place on Travel + Leisure’s list of Canada’s best resorts as part of the 31st annual World’s Best Awards. As Daily Hive reports, more than 661,000 votes were cast to determine the best cities, islands, airlines, hotels and resorts around the world. The outlet’s editors noted that readers are looking for places with rich history, original design and a sense of authenticity—and Fairmont Chateau Whistler fully lives up to those expectations.
The resort is described as a “massive ski-in/ski-out complex,” meaning direct access to the famous slopes of Blackcomb Mountain. It also features its own 18-hole golf course and a spa inspired by Ayurvedic traditions. In a statement, the hotel’s general manager, Ken Hall, said the award reflects the team’s passion and genuine hospitality, which every day strives to create warm, authentic and memorable moments for guests.
In second place was The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino—a resort located on a rocky outcrop above the Pacific Ocean, among ancient forests, and part of UNESCO’s Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve. In addition, four hotels from British Columbia made it into the top 10 city hotels in Canada, and Vancouver Island was named Canada’s top island in the same annual awards. Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s win not only confirms the high level of service in the region, but also puts extra focus on Canada’s year-round summer and winter getaway possibilities.
Link to the original article: B.C. hotel snags prestigious crown of Canada's top resort in global awards
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Pamela Anderson shows off her paradise garden on Vancouver Island — “Look what’s growing in my veggie patch!”
Pamela Anderson, known around the world as the star of Baywatch and one of Hollywood’s most iconic blondes, has once again reminded people that she’s not just an actress and activist—but also an avid gardener. In a new video posted on Instagram, the actress takes viewers on a tour of her garden on Vancouver Island, where she was born and where she still has her home. The clip, shared by Vancouver Is Awesome, gathered thousands of enthusiastic responses in just a few hours. “Good morning from the garden,” she captioned the series of shots showing her surrounded by lush greenery, bright flowers and vegetables.
In the short but very atmospheric video, Anderson—dressed in simple home clothes—smiles as she shows the results of her work. “Look what’s growing in my veggie patch,” she says, sweeping her hand past tall sunflowers, tomatoes and other plants. One scene stands out: the actress holds up a huge head of lettuce overhead while it rains—an image full of light irony and love for nature. She also gently plucks delicate, soft pink rose petals, highlighting the delicate beauty of her garden. As she puts it, the garden has become a true sanctuary for her, where she can take a break from noise and the everyday rush.
For those who aren’t completely familiar with Pamela Anderson’s background, it’s worth clarifying: she was born on July 1, 1967, in Ladysmith, British Columbia—on the day Canada marked its centennial. Newspapers at the time dubbed her “the child of the century,” though doubts about the accuracy of the title later emerged. Still, she remains a national treasure for Canada—not only as an actress, but also as a dedicated advocate for animal rights. Anderson is known for her long-time work with PETA, and her love of nature extends to gardening too—something that, judging by her garden, she has clearly turned into an art form.
It’s also worth noting that Pamela Anderson’s garden isn’t just a flower bed—it’s a real “quirky masterpiece,” as the outlet writes. Alongside decorative flowers, she grows practical crops too: tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables and fruit. That fits with her lifestyle, which promotes veganism and sustainability. On her social media, she often shares glimpses of life on the island, where it seems she has found harmony with nature. The garden video isn’t just a display of a green thumb—it’s also a reminder that even the most famous people value simple joys: getting your hands in the soil, the warmth of the sun, and a fresh harvest. Interestingly, British Columbia has become increasingly popular in recent years as a destination for stars looking for solitude, and Pamela Anderson is a shining example of this quiet life away from Hollywood. Posts like this don’t just earn fans’ admiration—they also inspire others to follow her example, plant their own veggie patch, and enjoy every moment spent outdoors.
Vancouver resident wins $2 million in the lottery and plans to put it toward housing
A Burnaby resident, named Wing Wah S., has become the proud owner of $2 million in the BC/49 lottery. He said that at first he didn’t believe what he was seeing—he usually wins $1 or $10, and then suddenly it’s a sum like this. After checking his ticket through the BCLC Lotto! mobile app, he thought the tablet might be wrong. The first person he told was his wife—and, according to him, she was thrilled.
Wing Wah’s main goal is to buy a new home. “I’m really excited that my family will have more space,” Castanet quotes him as saying in an article about the win. For someone living in one of Canada’s most expensive cities, such a win is a real chance to improve housing conditions. He admits he still feels like he’s dreaming and can’t quite believe what’s happening.
The winning ticket was purchased at a PriceSmart Foods supermarket on Austin Road in Burnaby. According to BCLC, in 2026 players in British Columbia have already won more than $9 million in the BC/49 lottery. While the note contains a typo (most likely it should refer to 2025, since the article was published in July 2025), the point is clear: lottery winnings in the province reach impressive sums.
This story is interesting not only as a tale of sudden luck, but also as a reflection of the housing crisis in the region: even for someone with a steady income, buying a home in the Greater Vancouver area remains an out-of-reach dream—and only a lottery win can make that dream come true. Two million dollars is a substantial amount, but at local real estate prices it would likely cover little more than an apartment or a small home in the suburbs—so the winner’s decision to invest the money in housing is absolutely rational. By the way, BC/49 is one of Canada’s popular numbers lotteries, where you must guess six numbers out of 49, and the odds of hitting the jackpot are roughly 1 in 14 million.
