British Columbia's small towns know how to turn charm into an art form. Think pastel-painted storefront, flower boxes spilling over cedar railings, and local diners where the pie recipes haven't changed in fifty years. These places aren't built for speed; they're built for wandering. You'll find century-old hotels turned boutique hideaways, artisan markets tucked into alleys, and annual festivals that celebrate everything from tulips to totem carving. Whether it's a fishing village or a mountain hamlet, these Canadian towns make every corner feel like its own adorable storybook.

Head to these lesser-known Washington towns for a dash of beauty, from Pacific coastal paradise to acres of flower farms and Old World European villages.

Osoyoos

Just south of Oliver, Osoyoos sits on the province's warmest lake. Naturally, the summer is the most popular time of year for visitors. The town has something for everyone, and it all revolves around the lake or the numerous wineries in town and within Oliver, a few minutes away. Little kids run along the floating obstacle course at Osoyoos Wibit Park as stand-up paddleboarders trace the shoreline nearby, pacing Gyro Beach and the Watermark Beach Resort. But what really makes Osoyoos so adorable is Main Street (Crowsnest Highway). Numerous locally owned restaurants and cafes, such as Queen of the South and La Marqueza Mexican Tacos and Market, showcase Osoyoos' surprising diversity. The seasonal Farmers' Market also takes place here. It's not some huge extravaganza. Instead, it's a warm and welcoming reminder of how adorable this B.C. town truly is.

Fernie

Fernie unwraps its cute-town appeal in the Elk Valley, surrounded by the towering Lizard Range and threaded by the Elk River. Downtown's red-brick blocks look straight out of a storybook, lined with painted shopfronts where everyone seems to know everyone else. Pop into Beanpod Chocolate, where the owners roast and grind cacao right behind the counter, or browse the Fernie Arts Co-op, a local collective whose artists share studio space and probably a bit of gossip over art and coffee. While the wilderness and outdoor experiences around Fernie are nothing short of epic, the town simply doesn't have the crowds of places like Banff, Alberta. If you're looking for an experience in the Canadian Rocky Mountains that has winter 'musts' like Fernie Alpine Resort and miles of trails at your fingertips, but still maintains an adorable small-town feel, Fernie is the place to be.

The Ganges, Salt Spring Island

The Ganges is the main village on Salt Spring Island and is home to the Saturday morning Farmers' Market. The event runs weekly from April to October and is easily one of the most adorable attractions in town. It's not just the handmade soaps and knitted scarves that make the market special, it's the way every artisan seems to know each other, chatting like neighbours because they are. They greet visitors with the same easy warmth, eager to share stories behind their crafts or point you toward the best Montreal smoked meat sandwiches on the island. That so happens to be just around the corner at the Jewish deli, Buzzy's Lunchenoette, where the same welcoming atmosphere is undeniable, just with a bit more edge and humor thanks to the owner, who is a former comedian and Hollywood writer. The Ganges sits right on the harbor, with views of the cove and inlet that extends into the Strait of Georgia. Many of the cute little shops and restaurants have views of the water, including the Tree House Cafe, which is built around a tree in the heart of the Ganges.

Whistler

There's no doubt that Whistler is grand. It was one of the main venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics, after all. And each ski season, thousands of locals and tourists alike flock north of Vancouver to ski and/or snowboard at Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. And yes, during ski season and during the summer, bars like Longhorn Saloon and the swanky Raven Room are hopping. But particularly in the winter, Whistler can also be described as downright adorable. This is because Whistler Village itself is all about small-town sweetness with pedestrian-only cobblestone paths lined with log chalets, great shopping, and a few truly cozy cafes like Purebread. Add in a blanket of fresh, white snow, thousands of twinkle lights, and children skating at the Whistler Olympic Plaza, and you have something truly magical that's also approachable and welcoming.

Tofino

Tofino feels like a seaside town built by nature lovers with a soft spot for a cute design. Throughout town, surf shops and cozy cedar cabins half-hidden behind driftwood fences are plentiful. And all are within walking distance of at least one of the many beaches, including Chesterman Beach, where families hunt for sand dollars, dogs chase foamy surf, and the tide pools glimmer with sea stars the color of candy. You can also venture out into the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding coves with The Whale Centre Tofino to spot various whales and adorable sea otters. Down by Wickaninnish Beach is the Rainforest Trail, where a wooden boardwalk suspended above the dirt and moss takes you deep into the almost otherworldly forest. If you stay at Tofino Resort + Marina, you'll enjoy the fairy lights glowing above docked boats swaying along the shores of this remote Vancouver Island town.

Harrison Hot Springs

Harrison Hot Springs is only two hours from Vancouver, but it feels like another place entirely. This lakeside village sits between the Coast Mountains and Harrison Lake, where the air smells faintly of cedar and mineral water. Locals wander the promenade with ice cream cones from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, while visitors slip into the steaming Harrison Hot Springs Public Pool, which draws the same healing waters that put the town on the map. The adorable side of Harrison shows up everywhere, from the hand-painted Sasquatch carvings dotting the village to the pastel kayaks drifting across the lake. Kids bounce across the inflatable water park (Harrison WaterSports and Waterpark) each summer, while couples rent bumper boats or banana tubes for a more chaotic kind of romance. Just outside town, the Spirit Trail is a forest path strung with whimsical art, and it makes you feel as though you're wandering through a secret garden.

Coombs

Coombs bursts with whimsy the moment you spot goats casually nibbling on the grass-covered roof of the Old Country Market. Inside, the market overflows with global snacks, handmade ceramics, and local treats, while the Root Cellar offers fresh produce straight from nearby farms. There's no doubt that Coombs is best known for this attraction... There are adorable goats on a roof, after all, but the Vancouver Island town has so much more going for it. This includes Butterfly World & Gardens, which adds another layer of adorable. It's a tropical dome where butterflies flit among orchids, koi swim in ponds, and even turtles wander slowly under the glass ceiling. Then there's the Coombs Emporium, a treasure trove of vintage cameras, records, and quirky collectibles that add even more character to this little place.

Penticton

The cities and towns that surround Okanagan Lake, such as Kelowna, tend to be loud and wild and fun. Water sports and wineries are everything to the region. But Penticton, which sits at the very bottom of Okanagan Lake and at the top of Skaha Lake, has an adorable energy that its neighbors simply don't have. There may be nothing cuter than to watch little kids and their parents glide down Penticton Channel on inner tubes from one lake to another. Nearby, there's the LocoLanding Adventure Park where you can go-kart, play mini-golf, or climb jungle gyms with beautiful views of the lake. Main Street is easily strollable, and the pace is gentle enough to notice small details like hanging flower baskets, hand-painted murals, and all of the sleepy, vintage storefronts. While Penticton has a few notable annual events that fill the town with people, there's no doubt that it is far quieter and infinitely more adorable than some of the other destinations in the Okanagan.

Nakusp

Nakusp, perched on the east shore of Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region, feels like a cozy village where every corner invites exploration. The town is small and very walkable, as well as dotted with vintage storefronts and hand-painted signs. At the Nakusp Hot Springs, you can soak in the warm pools while spotting dragonflies skimming the water and listening to the soft splash of nearby creeks. It's pure lakeside delight. The Waterfront Walkway doubles as a miniature escape, with its Japanese Garden's koi fish gliding beneath the surface and delicate maples framing the lake. Nakusp Municipal Beach is the place to be to let your kids paddle and skip stones while mountains stand tall in the background.

Nelson

What makes Nelson one of the most adorable small towns in British Columbia is the downtown core. Specifically, Baker Street, which is lined with heritage buildings, each one painted a vibrant, rainbow-like color or simply exuding a pretty spectacular design. These buildings house everything from vegan bakeries to quirky bookstores, inviting visitors to wander and discover little surprises around every corner. People mingle at Oso Negro's garden courtyard, sip coffee while street musicians play, and check out murals that are tucked into side alleys. The Big Orange, or BOB as it's affectionately known, stretches over Kootenay Lake and invites families to hang out on the sandy beach nearby. The town is packed with restaurants, breweries (like Nelson Brewing Company) and even a boutique-style Prestige Lakeside Resort, which sits along the waterfront. But it's all of the tiny details and overall feel of the place that is so remarkably adorable.

From Nakusp's lakeside serenity to Whistler's cobblestone streets, British Columbia's small towns prove that adorable doesn't necessarily mean sleepy. Even spots that draw crowds, like Penticton with its sunny channel paddles or Coombs with goats grazing on the market roof, keep welcoming, playful energy that feels uniquely local. In these towns, the little details matter and are what make them so undeniably adorable.

In the never-ending saga that is now land title in British Columbia, another bomb has been set off. It has come to light that the Secwépemc First Nation is seeking a declaration of Aboriginal Title to the entire City of Kamloops, a city in British Columbia’s interior of over 100,000 people, along with the surrounding area, including the ski resort of Sun Peaks, an area with an assessed value of at least $43 billion. While no decision has been made on this claim, the Cowichan ruling from August, which declared fee simple titles and interests in the City of Richmond “defective and invalid” in the title area, has sparked a flurry of interest and panic.

The issue has become a political nightmare for B.C. Premier David Eby and his NDP government. While they have appealed the Cowichan ruling and insist that the court erred, the public is so far not assuaged by the explanations. A chief reason for this is the secrecy and duplicity with which many of the deals Eby’s NDP has struck with First Nations have been reached. The public is never made aware of agreements until after the fact, and until very recently, concerns raised have mostly been shunned and ignored. A brief history of events shows this clearly.

In August 2024, the NDP agreed to transfer six square kilometres of public land to the Shíshálh Nation, in a deal that was only made public in January 2025. So proud were the NDP of this deal that local MLA Randene Neill, who was elected in B.C.’s last October and became a minister in Eby’s cabinet, wasn’t made aware of the deal until after the provincial election.

This summer, Eby’s NDP followed the same playbook. On June 3, the government announced consultations for land use planning in northwestern B.C., which covers nearly a third of the entire province. Few people would have seen the opportunity for engagement or been aware of the vast changes underway. While not explicitly hidden by the government, changes of this magnitude should take years, not weeks or a few short months, as with the current government timelines.

On June 26, the government signed a new land use agreement with the Squamish Nation, updating their 2007 deal. Some of the Squamish Nation’s areas of importance are substantially within “municipal jurisdiction or private lands,” including parts of Vancouver. Regarding these zones, the deal stipulates that B.C. “agrees to, at the request of Squamish Nation, participate in future discussions, including with a local government or third party, focused on protecting or resolving Squamish Nation interests…”

Finally, there was the Haida agreement, which recognized Haida title of the entirety of the Haida Gwaii archipelago without any public input. The Haida Agreement is, according to David Eby, a “template” for future deals, which could well explain the continued secrecy and lack of communication.

Then in August came the Cowichan ruling, and now we discover that title to all of Kamloops, a major interior hub for British Columbia, is being claimed by the local First Nation.

For the first time in the Vancouver Public Library's history, loans of digital materials, like e-books, e-magazines and music, have exceeded those of physical copies at the library, although online facsimiles costing three to five times as much.

The milestone is a win for accessibility, but could compound an ongoing problem for libraries, which is being able to pay for enough digital materials to meet demand and have significant collections of them compared to physical versions.

“It wasn't as critical in the early days just because digital content didn't have the popularity then,” said Kay Cahill, the Vancouver Public Library’s (VPL) director of collections and technology.

“But the more it's increased in popularity and the more ... we're putting our collection budget towards it, it's become more of an issue.”

In 2024 the library had 1.8 million items in its physical collection and around 696,000 digital items.

Digital versions of books have been at libraries like the VPL for at least 15 years, but the pandemic accelerated demand for them when residents couldn’t physically get to libraries.

According to VPL’s annual reports, that demand has not ebbed, only grown. The latest data shows that digital circulation increased by 16 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, while physical circulation declined 3.5 per cent for the same period.

The digital versions cost more because of licensing agreements with publishers that require libraries to essentially rent the materials.

They pay for book access either by a set time limit or by a number of downloads, meaning libraries aren’t able to own the title outright.

It’s been an issue across the country for many libraries, with the most public-facing consequence often being long waits for the digital copies of materials, while behind the scenes, it’s managing budgets.

According to the Vancouver Public Library Foundation, it costs around $30, for example, for a print copy of Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm, but $85 for a digital version.

The charitable foundation, which raises around $2 million per year for the library, is campaigning for specific funds to help offset the demand on the library’s $65 million yearly budget, of which only 8.5 per cent is available for collections.

The vast majority of VPL’s costs are for salaries and benefits, then its facilities, followed by its collections.

“Libraries pay a lot more for digital materials than individual consumers pay for digital materials, and they pay more for digital materials than they pay for print books,” said Jenny Marsh, executive director of the Vancouver Public Library Foundation.

“So as digital collections use grows and the cost is typically ... higher, we're seeing a big gap in VPL's available budget for collections.”

Policy and funding solutions

In 2019 the Canadian Federation of Library Associations said that urban public libraries were spending up to 30 per cent of their materials budgets on digital content. It's advocating for new government policies over the issue.

"This situation will deteriorate if the Canadian government does not take action by identifying policy solutions that prevent restrictive licensing and pricing practices and encourage fair commercial practice," it said in a position statement.

In the fall the Union of B.C. Municipalities also passed a resolution calling on the province to increase its share of core library funding from $14 million for all 71 library systems in the province to $30 million.

More than 90 per cent of library funding comes from local governments, said UBCM.

The Chicago Blackhawks have lost three straight games now on their six-game road trip. Naturally, the next game is the best chance to get back to their winning ways. With a short trip north from Seattle to Vancouver on the docket, the Blackhawks will look to get right and back in the win column.

Monday’s loss was convincing. Although the Blackhawks outshot the host Seattle Kraken, Joey Daccord was spectacular. The Kraken goalie stopped 29 of 30 shots faced, resulting in a 3-1 win for the playoff-hungry club. That said, former Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky scored the lone goal, sticking it to his former club.

Head Coach Jeff Blashill has made it clear to the Blackhawks’ media, the process is just as important as the outcome. In the Hawks’ case, the process has been there over the last two losses in Seattle and Edmonton, but the wins haven’t come. Perhaps third time is the charm against the Vancouver Canucks.

Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Preview

The Blackhawks enter Wednesday night’s tilt with a 5-5-3 record through 13 games, three points back of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Canucks are in a similar spot, sporting a 7-7-0 record through 14 games and looking up at the playoff picture in the standings. The more “ready-to-win-now” Canucks need a win, but so do the growing Blackhawks as they crawl out of the league cellar.

The big three of Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Spencer Knight continue to carry the Blackhawks. For the Canucks, Conor Garland and Elias Pettersson lead the way, but the Canucks have plenty of fire power with names like Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and Evander Kane in the mix.

Story continues below.

On Wednesday night, the goaltending and defense might be the difference between a win or a loss for either side.

How to Watch Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks

Several streaming and TV options are available for fans looking to watch the Blackhawks at the Vancouver Canucks game live. The game will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN)* and CBC, CITY, SN, SN1, and TVAS2 in their respective markets. Out-of-market viewers can stream the game on ESPN+.

*CHSN is currently available via aand cable services Xfinity (Comcast Ultimate Tier, channel 200 and 201), DIRECTV (channel 665), DIRECTV Stream (channel 665), U-Verse (channel 1741), Astound (channels 685 and 576), and FuboTV.

Several over-the-air channels remain, which require a digital antenna to access in the following markets: Indianapolis, IN, Milwaukee, WI, Grand Rapids, MI, Des Moines, IA, Pad/Cape/Harrisburg, Cedar Rapids, IA, Sioux City, IA.

On Tap Sports Net may earn a small commission for services purchased on links clicked within this article.

Latifah Abdu scored twice in the first half to lead the Vancouver Rise to a 2-1 home-field win over Ottawa Rapid FC in the first leg of a Northern Super League semifinal on Tuesday.

Ottawa's Delaney Pridham halved the deficit in the second half. The semifinal's second leg is Saturday at Ottawa's TD Place.

The other semifinal features league-leading AFC Toronto and the Montreal Roses.

Toronto takes a 2-0 lead from the first leg of that series into Sunday's second match.

Aggregate winners of the semifinals advance to the single championship match Nov. 15 at Toronto's BMO Field, where the first champion in the new Canadian women's pro soccer league will be crowned.

Abdu took advantage of a sloppy play in front of Ottawa's net in the 14th minute as Ottawa keeper Melissa Dagenais attempted a pass out of the box at Swangard Stadium.

WATCH | Abdu scores twice as Rise carry advantage:

Abdu struck again on the run in the 21st minute when she threw on the brakes to give herself space to send a left-footer home.

Pridham halved the deficit in the 66th minute when she deked Vancouver defender Rebecca Lake and put a low, left-footer by Rise keeper Morgan McAslan.

Pridham, who led the NSL in goals in its inaugural season with 19, scored her first playoff goal.

"We were not happy with how we showed up in the first half — that was not ourselves," said Ottawa coach Katrine Pederson. "We met a very good Vancouver team who were all over us, and we struggled."

"We came out with a completely different mindset and mentality in the second half. We didn't dominate the entire half, but we were much better. We created chances, got in behind, and scored."