In brief: four hotels in British Columbia made Travel + Leisure’s list of Canada’s best city hotels; police patrolling the waters during the World Cup saved 11 people from an overturned canoe off West Vancouver; and well-known influencer Nurse Blake backed striking nurses in the province, who are calling for improved working conditions.
Travelers Choose British Columbia: Four Province Hotels Named the Best in Canada
Each year, Travel + Leisure publishes its prestigious World’s Best Awards, and this year—now for the 31st time—four representatives from British Columbia made the list of Canada’s top ten city hotels. The recognition comes from more than 661,000 votes cast by travelers from around the world. As the publication notes, the winning hotels share one common thread: “Exceptional service that turns curious tourists into regular guests.” The top spots went to Fairmont Empress in Victoria (first place for the second year in a row), Rosewood Hotel Georgia (second place), Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (fifth place), and Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver (sixth place).
This success again highlights the province’s status as one of the country’s leading tourism destinations. Very recently, Vancouver was named the only Canadian city on a list of the world’s most livable cities, and it also made Skyscanner’s top summer destinations. As Daily Hive writes, Fairmont Empress—known as the “Castle by the Sea”—has been a symbol of Victoria for more than a century. Located in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the hotel is known for its architecture and its famous traditional afternoon tea. In 2025, the property already took the top spot, and now it has repeated that achievement.
In comments, general manager Dan McGowan thanked guests and the team: “It’s incredibly meaningful when our guests come back again and again and vote for us as their hotel of choice. This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff and the foresight of the owner, Nat Bose, whose passion and ongoing investments keep Fairmont Empress a source of pride for the community and a world-class experience for international travelers.” Second place went to Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, and fifth place went to the boutique Wedgewood Hotel & Spa there as well.
For those who aren’t familiar with the World’s Best Awards: this is an annual readers’ vote conducted by the respected magazine Travel + Leisure. Hotels, resorts, cities, cruise lines, and airlines around the world are assessed. Winning such a ranking isn’t just an honor—it also sends a powerful signal to the travel industry and prospective guests: these destinations deliver consistently high levels of service, comfort, and atmosphere.
Notably, British Columbia continues to reap awards. Recently, a historic hotel in a Tudor-style mansion was named among the best in the world, and Vancouver made it onto Skyscanner’s list of the most popular summer destinations. If you’re planning a trip this summer, it’s worth paying attention to these four hotels—all of which promise not just a place to stay, but a true immersion in coastal history and lifestyle.
Rescuers Took a Break From the World Cup
On the evening of last Sunday, an incident off the coast of West Vancouver unfolded—one that could have ended tragically if not for the quick actions of police officers who were in the area for a completely different purpose. As reported in a CFJC Today story, eleven people, including several teens, were pulled from the water after their canoe overturned. The situation was complicated by the fact that some of the victims struggled to stay afloat, clinging to the overturned boat. Fortunately, a diver who went in to help confirmed that no one was trapped under the canoe—significantly reducing the risk of fatalities.
What’s especially notable is that the rescue operation was possible because RCMP units at the time were patrolling the Burrard Inlet as part of the security coverage for the FIFA World Cup. Four marine tactical vessels were immediately redirected to the scene near Ambleside Beach. For everyday people, it may not be obvious why police officers on the water—meant to maintain order during major events—turned out to be the most suitable rescuers. The reason is that such units are equipped with high-speed craft and are trained to operate in extreme conditions, making them indispensable for rapid search-and-rescue efforts in coastal waters.
The key takeaway from this story is a fortunate chain of circumstances that helped avoid casualties. If the police had not been nearby due to the sports tournament, response time could have been significantly longer—especially critical in the cold waters of the inlet, where hypothermia can set in very quickly. In a sense, the World Cup indirectly saved these people’s lives. At the same time, the incident is a reminder of how fast—and how quietly—a canoe can tip over, even in relatively calm coastal waters. The families of those rescued will likely be grateful to the officers, who managed to shift away from the football matches in time.
Famous Influencer Backed British Columbia’s Striking Nurses
On July 2, British Columbia nurses continued to escalate their strike action by setting up picket lines outside Vancouver General Hospital. Among those who turned out to support the protesters was well-known influencer and former nursing staff member Blake Lynch—better known as Nurse Blake. As reported by Daily Hive, Lynch—who previously worked in the surgical ICU and has since become a comedian and content creator with an audience of more than 4.6 million followers on social media—posted supportive words in his stories: “Dear nurses of British Columbia, you’ve got this. Don’t give up. This is not just a work dispute—it’s protecting patients.”
The pickets were organized by the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) after 98% of nurses voted to begin strike action in mid-May. Negotiations between the union and the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) reached a dead end, and the temporary agreement proposed by both sides was rejected by nurses in mid-June. According to BCNU president Adriana Geer, employers are trying to intimidate nurses with disciplinary measures for taking part in lawful protest actions. “Nurses don’t want to stand on picket lines—we’re here to care for patients—but the provincial government and employers can’t ignore the healthcare system’s demands anymore,” she said.
In response, HEABC said it is prepared to return to the bargaining table, but the union believes those intentions are limited by a lack of budget capacity. “They say, ‘We hear you, the deal didn’t go through, but there’s no more money.’ Only the government can change that,” Geer said. The strike includes refusing overtime work and limiting time spent on non-core tasks, while nurses are required to maintain a minimum level of services to keep patients safe.
Symbolically, this time the protest drew attention from an international celebrity. Nurse Blake shared Instagram photos of the pickets outside the hospital, which collected 10,000 likes within a day. He explained that nurses in British Columbia, across Canada, and even in Boston are walking off the job, calling for decent working conditions. “Nurses need to be valued from the very beginning, and it’s inspiring that colleagues from around the world are coming together to fight for fairness,” he wrote. Social media users thanked him for his solidarity: “What you’re doing for Canadian nurses means more than I can put into words.”
The core message of the striking nurses is that this isn’t just about fighting for pay—it’s a systemic crisis in healthcare. Nurses are calling for a reduced workload, increased staffing, and real recognition of their role in the system. Support from a major influencer like Nurse Blake not only brings the issue to public attention, but also underscores that the problem of healthcare overload and underfunding is international in scope. If the government doesn’t offer concessions, strikes could expand: new pickets at Surrey hospitals and at the Jim Pattison Centre have already been announced. The outcome of these talks will show whether the authorities are ready to listen to the voices of those who stand on the front lines every day.
