There are some members from BC and I'm sure that they will shout out...quite a few are active in the WS&SS area.
Instruction in person is a great way to learn.
The info you will get may be overwhelming at first
In order to make the most of that visit, you could learn as much as possible from videos and books before you visit a makers shop.
IF you havent seen it before, here is a whole bunch of stuff...
The Standard reply to Newcomers...
Fill out your profile to include location, age, education, employment
... you may have a helpful neighbour...and the answer to a high school student is different than to a 40 year old engineer...
We can often recommend a local supplier, but that depends on where you are.
Look at the stickies at the top, many are expired, but many are not.
This is a nice list of books and videos
http://www.knifedogs.com/showthread.php?t=5285
This thread on BF has links to some of those books as pdf e books
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203
A good HT basics video
http://www.archive.org/download/gov.ntis.ava08799vnb1/ava08799vnb1_512kb.mp4
Green Pete's video on how to make a Mora style bushcraft knife - simple jig stock removal with hand tools and a neo tribal / unplugged type heat treat. "Green Pete" posted it for for free distribution.
It is available here for those who can use torrent files. + plus more too.
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4995247/Greenpete_s__Knifemaking_Basics_-_Make_a_Mora_Bushcraft_Knife
You can find it on utube also
Comments on books
The $50 knife shop is popular and starts a lot of people off but:
I find it confused me for a long time.
The goop quench is BS, there are commercially made quench oils available, (maybe even mentioned in the new edition)
Found steels are interesting,but require the skills of an experienced smith to be able to work and heat treat properly., you can buy proper steel cheaply(mentioned in the new edition)
Cable damascus is interesting, but not a beginners project either.
It leads you to believe that forging is necessary, but you can just file and grind everything away to create a knife (stock removal)
I like:
David Boye-Step by Step Knifemaking
Tim McCreight-Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects from a Master Craftsman
Forging:
Lorelei Sims-The Backyard Blacksmith - forging in general no knifemaking.
Jim Hrisoulas- has 3 books on forging, all 3 are good &available on Amazon
There are many videos available now, some are better than others, but all better than nothing.
If you cannot use torrent files many videos are available for rent here.
http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking
You do not have to buy equipment to start with.
You can send out for heat treating, 10 or 15 $ per blade
The basic process is here in the most simple terms
http://www.scribd.com/Jones-Scott-Jonesy-Absolute-Cheapskate-Way-to-Start-Making-Knives/d/3622507