Vancouver and Whistler – 2026 Experience

Synopsis:  This Napa Experience to the beautiful city of Vancouver immerses the guest in the beauty of nature and the unique sites of this multicultural city.  Home to both First Nations peoples, descendants of early 20th century immigrants from Japan to Italy; and a much more recent immigration of peoples from Asia; Vancouver is not a melting pot but a very interesting multicultural city surrounded by Mountains. Our journey will take us to the resort town of Whistler to see the Church of Our Lady of the Mountains.  This unique Church is inspired by the beauty of the forest, especially with its use of wood for vaulting, and tall windows that allow the beauty of nature and the light of the sun to flood the worship space.

August 24: Arrival of Guests to Vancouver.  Opening Reception and Dinner.  We will invite speakers to address our guests, giving them a synopsis of the Catholic Church in Vancouver.

August 25: Mass at Vancouver’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary.  This is a gothic revival church, one of Vancouver’s oldest and most beautiful, built in 1885.  From here, we will proceed to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, which houses many artifacts from the First Nations, such as totem poles, objects, and unique textiles. 

After Lunch, we will got to the famous Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden: the first of its kind outside of China, it is designed after a Ming Dynasty garden typical for a nobleman. In the evening, we will have reception and dinner with friends of the Napa institute and local Catholic leaders, introducing them to the work of the Napa Institute.

August 26:  We begin earlier than usual to drive up to Whistler which is a 1 hour and 40 minute ride from Vancouver.  This brings us along one of the most beautiful drives in British Columbia.  We will make our way as pilgrims to Our Lady of the Mountains Church, which would’ve recently opened its doors and been newly blest and consecrated.  We will have Mass at this Church, and have a talk on its inspiration and history.  After lunch, we will visit the Audain Art Museum which is architecturally unique and also contains an important collection of Haida art.  In the evening, we will be hosted by a good friend of the Napa Institute for dinner. We will stay spend one night in Whistler.

April 27:  After Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains, we will begin a leisurely day exploring the natural beauty around Whistler, taking the Gondola up to the peak of Whistler Mountain.  One can appreciate mountain views, the expanse of the evergreen forest, and see the glaciers from other mountain peaks.  After a late lunch, we will return to Vancouver stopping by the Alexander Falls.  

April 28:  After Mass, we will spend the morning on a boat tour to the UNESCO Biosphere on Howe Sound. After a casual lunch we proceed to Granville Island, where our guests will have a free afternoon exploring the shops and stalls, or just simply enjoying time in the harbor.  We return to the hotel in the late afternoon, to prepare for an imperial chinese banquet for dinner.  Vancouver, due to the influx of immigrants from Hong Kong, is one of the top places in the world for chinese cuisine, using the high quality of seafood and produce found in the area. 

April 29:  Mass and Departure of Guests.