Beautiful new hotel in Vancouver this week ... Winter the Dolphin Movie on way

I had a chance to tour the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver in June while it was under reconstruction. I came away hugely impressed with the restoration work and the old-time style, combined with many new and modern elements.

Rooms are in fairly neutral shades, as is the norm these days, but with some nice, bright additions (see photo at left).

Originally opened in 1927, it was something of a revolution in terms of opulence and style for Vancouver. Over the years, such names as Ginger Rogers, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones have stayed there.

They just finished a four and-a-half year renovation, managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and it's set to open July 15. Officials say the hotel has one of the world's largest private collections of Canadian art. There also are some very cool spaces, including a restored "Spanish Ballroom" and a lovely pool complex on the roof that looks wonderful.

It's located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, near many shops and close to the waterfront.

WINTER THE DOLPHIN

Thanks to Mary Haban at St. Petersburg/Clearwater tourism for filling me on the coming movie "Dolphin Tale."

I hadn't heard the story, but apparently back in 2005 a porpoise was found in a crab pot and lost its dorsal fin. it was all but certain to die, but was rescued and sent to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

A character who builds prosthetic devices, played by the wonderful Morgan Freeman in the movie, was enlisted to make a prosthetic dorsal fin for Winter.  It worked, and Winter (played by himself in the movie, by the way) lived to tell the tail tale. Apparently he also has gone through five prosthetic tails over the years.

Heart-warming stuff, although possibly a little over the top for some movie-goers....

Anyway, it comes out Sept. 23 and also has Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr. in it.

"The great thing is Winter still lives with us in Clearwater, so people can go see the movie and then come to Clearwater and see Winter in person," she said.

Haban tells me the Clearwater facility is being given a good makeover, including a new dolphin pool complex and a large expansion of the sea turtle rehabilitation facility.

Clearwater remains one of the great beaches of Florida and is, of course, hugely popular with Torontonians. The Blue Jays play their spring training games in nearby Dunedin.