Oprah Winfrey has been turning heads in downtown Vancouver, where star-struck fans have reportedly spotted the billionaire talk show mogul everywhere from restaurants to grocery stores.
Winfrey arrived in town earlier this week for Thursday’s sold-out speaking event at Rogers Arena, “An Evening with Oprah,” where tickets ranged in price from $93 all the way up to $395.
The superstar philanthropist’s location has been kept under wraps, but multiple witnesses told CTV News they’ve seen her at the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel on Georgia Street.
Coleen Barndt said she also saw Winfrey walk by her table at the hotel’s upscale Market by Jean-Georges restaurant and into a private room.
“My girlfriend leans in and she says, ‘That was Oprah,’” Barndt said. “I’m like… my sighting of Oprah was the back of her? I said, ‘That’s it? That’s all I get?’”
Others have reported seeing Winfrey at Urban Fare buying her favourite B.C. biscuits, Rain Coast Crisps, and Ethical Bean coffee.
Even the Idle No More movement is heralding Winfrey’s arrival with an unofficial welcome at a candlelight rally Thursday night.
“It’s been pointed out that Oprah has been given a traditional West Coast Indian name. We wonder, does she remember what it is?” Idler Kat Norris said in a press release.
Members said they are going to bring a sign reading “Unofficial Salish Welcome Oprah!” to the event.
Winfrey recently brought her show to Edmonton and Calgary, where she appeared on stage in a cowboy hat. The inspirational host managed to cause a stir when she tweeted that her hotel didn’t carry the her personal Oprah Winfrey Network TV channel.
Thursday’s Vancouver event begins at 7 p.m.
