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activity. You could rent a car, an RV/campervan, or even cycle – thoughthe distances are vast. Within cities,there are bike sharing systems.Renting a car or RV/campervan willbe expensive, at about US 819/week(C 1,000) including gas and insuranceContents(note: it’s a good idea to carry aninternational driver’s license). But it’sa great way to get from campgroundto campground.Otherwise, taking the bus isOverviewprobably the best eco-friendlytransportation option to get acrossCanada. You could also join an ecofriendly tour – there are lots tochoose from including wildlife tours,much, much more.AccommodationLike transport, accommodation inaffordable options are hostels and, inthe summer, camping. A quick check onHostelworld.com shows 103 hostels in47 cities in Canada. The average price isBed and breakfasts are a popularchoice in Canada, and can give you amore culturally-authentic experience.To find reputable places, BBCanadaa directory of bed and breakfastsin Canada, as well as regionalassociations. They generally start atcan be less in small towns.Airbnb is as popular in Canada aseverywhere else, so be sure to shoparound online before you book.Mike Carter, Travel Writer.Hear more from his interview, featured in The World Nomads anadaAtlanticProvincesabout US 82/night (C 100), thoughThe accommodation is in bear-proof plastic domes, which are actuallyvery cosy. Although there’s an electric fence around the camp, bearshave been known to break through it – especially if they’re hungry!The Inuit are remarkable people, adept at survival in conditionsthat most of us could not survive for one night. There’s certainlysomething to learn from an experience on Labrador’s far north coast.Prairies& North(https://www.bbcanada.com/) isDuring the day, you can go hiking up nearby mountain ranges withInuit guides (who are always armed because of ever-present polar andblack bears), or take a boat trip around Saglek Bay to see the icebergsand minke whales. In the evening, look up at the stars to see thenorthern lights, listen to Inuit musicians, artists, and throat signers, orwitness drum-dancing performances.BritishColumbiaabout US 32.80/night (C 40).Go beyond the metropolitan cities and head further north toexperience Inuit culture in Torngat Mountains National Park. TheNational Park was set up to allow the next generation of Inuit toreconnect with their ancestral lands and culture after they wereremoved and sent to towns further south in the 1950s. Young Inuitcan meet with elders and learn about the old ways of hunting,surviving, singing, and story-telling. Visitors are also welcome, andhere you can learn, first hand, about the culture as well as see andhear about the pain that comes when governments remove peoplefrom their land.OntarioCanada can be expensive. The mostAn Inuit-led Adventure in Canada’s Far NorthQuebecAboriginal tours, hiking, cycling and8

CulturalHighlightsContentsOverviewIn Canada, Multiculturalismis a national policy, which iseasy to see when visiting citieslike Vancouver, Toronto, andFrench-speaking Montreal.The main reason for this is thatCanada was founded uponmultiple cultures includingoriginal inhabitants, theAboriginal (First Nations)people, and Inuit; plus, newerarrivals, the English, French,and Métis.Mawio'mi International Pow wowAboriginal (First Nations)PeopleThere are hundreds of tribes scatteredsome were nomadic, following wherethe food was plentiful.Due to the sheer size of Canada,borders. The Government nowknowledge and understanding of Firstdivides these into six main groupsNations people from one region alone.geographically, made up of theTraditional woodcarvings, mortuaryWoodland First Nations, Iroquoianpoles, tapestry, clothing, language,First Nations, Plains First Nations,and history vary across the country.Plateau First Nations, Pacific CoastFirst Nations, and First Nations of theInuit cultureMackenzie and Yukon River Basins.Inuit people reside in Canada’s farThe First Nations people lived offOntarioit would be impossible to gainBritishColumbiawithin what now makes up Canada’sThe FirstNationspeople livedoff theland usingwhat natureprovidedin theirgeographicregions.Quebecregions of where the tribes lived –north regions, reaching into thein their geographic regions. Theyextreme weather climates and havegathered plants and wild vegetablesdone so (and still do) for over 5,000for nutrition and medicinal purposes,years by hunting and trapping seasonaland hunted and trapped animals suchanimals, and living in igloos and thulesas buffalo, deer, salmon, and beaver(moveable, tent-like structures madeusing spears, bow-and-arrow, orout of whale bones and animal skin).trapping methods for meat and furs.On April 1st 1999, the CanadianWhat was harvested depends on theGovernment finalized the division ofAtlanticProvincesArctic Circle. They adapted to live inPrairies& Norththe land using what nature provided9

as their celebratory song and dances,using fiddles and drums, often enjoyedafter successful buffalo hunts.Lumberjack cultureLumberjacks (loggers or tree-fellers)became known across Canada forgrit, and musky smell. These towering,bearded men toiled six days a weekin dangerous conditions to clear landContentstheir hyper masculinity, hard work,The culturethrivedaround theturn of the18th centurywith shantiessprouting upfrom coastto coast.for farming and provide timber forTerritories), creating Nunavut – a newbuilding, firewood, and pulp mills.The culture thrived around the turnof the 18th century with shantiesmostly by Inuit people. The capital,(cramped, sweaty boarding housesIqaluit has a population of just overbuilt to house Lumberjacks) sprouting7,000.up from coast to coast filled with mentrying to make a living in extremeMétis cultureDuring the 1600’s – long beforeconditions.“Johnny Canuck” is a fictional1867 – French and British fur tradersin the late 1800s that still pops upand explorers married First Nationsthese days; most notably, as a mascotwomen, which eventuated in birthing aand namesake for Vancouver’s NHLmixed-blood subculture known as theice hockey team – the VancouverMétis. A new language was eventuallyCanucks. Lumberjack competitionsspawned, called Michif, a mix betweenstill take place across Canada, pittingEuropean/French words and Nativemen and women against each other inCanadian (mainly Cree and Ojibwe)tree climbing, log chopping races, anddialect.wood-carving skills.The Métis made a name forand were known to be fiercelyindependent due to being lookeddown upon by European colonials andMétis bond and band together, whichled to the creation of a vibrant, proudcommunity known for their decorativeuniforms, horses, and wagons – as well Fly to the far northto experienceInuit culture atthe Toonik TymeFestival, held inApril they arecelebrating their53rd year in 2018. Visit the UBCMuseum ofAnthropology inVancouver to viewartifacts and totempoles.AtlanticProvincesFirst Nations people. This helped the Check out theMétis virtualmuseum here.Prairies& Norththemselves as skilled hunter/trappers Head to the townof Kapuskasing innorthern Ontariofor their famousLumberjackHeritage Festival.OntarioLumberjack cartoon character createdBritishColumbiaCanada was united as a nation in Attend a traditionalPow Wow, agathering oftraditional FirstNations peopleincluding song anddance.Quebecterritory inhabited and governedLearnMore AboutCanada’sCultureOverviewCanada’s largest territory (Northwest10

Food inCanadaContentsAside from maple syrup,poutine, and Nanaimo bars,there’s so much more toCanadian food. You’ve justgot to know where and howto find the very best foodiedestinations and must-trydishes.OverviewFood on Canada’s west coastOn the west coast, British Columbia isfamous for its outstanding seafood,wine, and Japanese food. In Vancouver,Vancouver Summer Night MarketEating in Canada’s eastspot prawns, or Kishimoto for sushi. OnHeading east to Ontario, Toronto is asVancouver Island, Tofino’s Tacofino fooddiverse as it is large when it comes totruck has pioneered Pacific Northwestthe edible, and restaurants like CanoeMexican for the post-surf crowd.celebrate the very best of Canadianingredients, including birch syrup andcamelina.Canada’s prairie provinces have a historyareas like Prince Edward County showof Eastern European immigration andoff the province’s wine and agriculturalthe food that came with it. Places likescene – try Norman Hardie Winery for aRegina’s Bushwakker Brewpub offerwine and pizza picnic.“perogie plates” laden with perogiesIn the summer and fall, more ruralQuebec is a must-visit for wanderinggastronomes. In Montreal, try bothpotatoes and cheese), garlic sausage,St. Viateur and Fairmont wood-firedand cabbage rolls.bagels, then debate your favorites. GetOther must-visits include Calgary’sa late-night poutine fix at La Banquise.Attend one of the city’s public marketsSidewalk Citizen for Red Fife sourdough,for seasonal produce, cheese, sugarand, in Winnipeg, Neechi Commons forpie, and tourtiere (meat pie originatingFirst Nations’ foods like freshly-bakedfrom Quebec). And join the queuebannock (bread leavened with bakingfor a smoked meat sandwich frompowder instead of yeast).Schwartz’s Deli.AtlanticProvincesCharCut for a good Alberta steak,Prairies& North(dumplings stuffed with mashedBritishColumbiaMust-try foods in the nofoodtruck haspioneeredPacificNorthwestMexican forthe postsurf crowd.Ontariofor delicacies like smoked salmon andQuebeccheck out Granville Island’s public market11

bottled moose or toutons (traditionalpancake made by frying bread on a panmaple syrup, book in for a wintery,and served with molasses).maple-drenched meal at a “Sugar Shack”– the places where they harvest sap andturn it into syrup.Foraging for foodin the NorthKate’s of Dawson City serves up BorealIn Canada’s far east, Lobster rollsingredients in the style of the American(preferably from Saint John Ale Housesouth (think BBQ’d elk and wildin New Brunswick) are a must, alongblueberry sausages), and every bakerywith comforts like oatcakes, seafoodhas its own version of the belovedchowder, and wild blueberry desserts.cinnamon bun.On Prince Edward Island, try theIn the Northwest Territories,Avonlea cheddar, or sample RaspberryYellowknife’s Bullock’s Bistro does fishPoint’s salty/sweet oysters.fries with whitefish, pickerel, and othera national highlight. Reserve a tablelocally-caught species.Nunavut is home to “country food,”Inuit food-from-the-land includinglike cod tongues, baked beans, andArctic char, whale, elk, and foragedheadcheese, or try Raymond’s forberries. If you can get yourself invitedrefined cuisine from ‘The Rock.’to a community feast, you’ll have accessMore rural restaurants like Theto all kinds of delicacies, otherwise buyTwine Loft or Bonavista Social Club arefrom processing companies like Kivalliqgreat places to try other favorites, likeArctic Foods or Nunavut Country Food.AtlanticProvincesat Mallard Cottage to taste classicsPrairies& NorthRemote as it is, Newfoundland isBritishColumbiaGo further east for SeafoodOntarioFinally, up north in the Yukon, KlondikeQuebecQuebec City and Charlevoix. If you loveOverviewOther great areas to explore includeContentsMaple Syrup in Old MontrealIf you lovemaplesyrup, bookin for awintery,mapledrenchedmeal ata “SugarShack” –the placeswhere theyharvest sapand turn itinto syrup.12

Travel SafetyCrime might not be high inCanada, but adventures arealways better planned whenyou take extra precautions tostay safe and informed.ContentsWildlife encountersDespite Canada‘s high population ofbears, attacks are uncommon. Neitherof the most common species (blackOverviewbears and grizzlies) view humans asprey, and will generally go out of theirway to avoid them.Sudden encounters occur when aA Spirit Bear in British Columbiabear‘s natural ‘avoidance instinct’ iseasiest way to avoid these situationsnot only putting yourself in danger,is to warn the bear of your approach:but the animal itself. If you‘re a realMake a lot of noise while you‘reanimal lover, you‘ll admire them from awalking, especially if you see signs ofdistance – not kill them with kindness.bear‘s attention, so make sure youPreparation is the key to a successfulcomply with the national park‘s foodhike, whether you‘re intending to gostorage rules and don‘t wear anyfor a few hours or several days. Makestrong perfumes or cosmetics. Whensure you‘re carrying adequate clothingcamping, change out of the clothesand supplies as well as a detailed mapyou cooked in before going to sleep –of the area.you may not look like a freshly-grilledOnly hike to your level of experienceand ability. Study your intended routeone either.or ask for some local advice to makeCanadians have a saying: A fed bearsure you‘re not biting off more thanyou can chew. Always let someonesee humans as a source of food areknow what your plans are, whereoften classified as “nuisance bears“you are heading, and when you‘ll beand will be killed by conservationback, or you could find yourself in theofficials. So, if you‘re careless with yourmiddle of a very large search area.food or reckless around bears, you‘reAtlanticProvincesis a dead bear. Animals that come toPrairies& Northhot dog, but it‘s best not to smell likeBritishColumbiayour food is enough to attract aHiking andbackcountry campingStrange smells or the smell ofOntariobears in the area.Strangesmells orthe smell ofyour foodis enoughto attracta bear‘sattention,so makesure youcomply withthe nationalpark‘s foodstoragerules.Quebecmost likely to shift to aggression. TheSpring and summer can offer13

Hundreds of preventable injurieseven freshly-built beaver dams can seereported on Canadian ski fields eachthe trail you‘re following come to anyear are caused by a lack of proper gear,abrupt and soggy end.training, knowledge, or consideration forIf you do find yourself temporarilyfellow skiers.put. If you really don‘t know whereequipment is not only a danger toyou are, any direction you take has ayourself, but badly-fitted boots andhigh chance of being the wrong one,bindings can make you a danger tomeaning the further you walk, theothers. If you’re hiring gear, take the timelonger it will take rescuers to find you.to get sized-up carefully. Helmets are aYour next priorities should be stayingmust for everyone, from sore-bottomedwarm, staying hydrated, and stayingbeginners to back-flipping wizards.visible for the Mounties to find you.If it’s your first time, invest in at leastone lesson to help you get a handle onOntarioFind the right gear: ill-fittingBritishColumbiamisplaced, your best bet is to stayQuebecsnowmelt, changing weather, andOverviewSnowfield safetyContentsperfect hiking conditions, butNever headoff-pistewithout aninstructor,guide, or afriend whoknows theslopes. Noamount ofskill willmake upfor localknowledge.the slopes. Always stick to your level:Beginners may feel confident after a fewa double-diamond run.Never head off-piste without anPrairies& Northlessons, but don’t charge head-first intoinstructor, guide, or a friend who knowsup for local knowledge. Make sure you‘rewell kitted out with a tracker beacon,Algonquin Provincial Parkshovel, satellite phone or radio, andAtlanticProvincesthe slopes. No amount of skill will makeplenty to eat and drink.14

VisasCanada andAustralia sharea similar colonialhistory, and it canbe pretty easy toget a working visabetween the twonations.Hikers in British ColumbiaVisa requirementsWorking visasCanada, the Canadian government hasMany people around the world wouldprovided a handy, interactive servicelove to work and live in Canada.here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/Working visas are available, includingvisit/visas.aspa youth program called InternationalExperience Canada (IEC). You canthat matches the one on your passportget all the information you need onindicating your nationality and press GO.eligibility and other requirements here:On the next page, dependingon your nationality, and your der crossingsnationals flying into Canada now needVisitors from the U.S. can cross atto apply online for an Electronic Travelmany points along the world’s longestAuthorization (eTA). You can apply withunguarded border, and from the statea valid passport, a credit or a debitof Alaska as well. Most other visitorscard, and an email address.fly in, or come on a cruise ship toports on either coast –most notablyVancouver and Halifax.You don’t need an Electronicthe border into Canada from theU.S. if you’re driving. You will need aPrairies& NorthTravel Authorization (eTA) to crossThe betterquestion is, whyaren’t there morepowder-starvedAustralians makingthe pilgrimage toWhistler?BritishColumbiadocuments you need. Many foreignOntarioof transportation, you’ll find theQuebecYou simply select the country codeOverviewTo find out if you need a visa forKeen snowboardersand skiers arelimited withoptions when itcomes to snow inAustralia. Australia’smost popular skiresort, Perisher,has received anaverage maximumsnow depth of 6.3ft(1.9m) over the past15 years. Whistler,on the other hand,gets an averageof 38ft (11.59m) ofsnowfall each year,and over 49ft (15m)on the big years– with an averagebase of at least9-10ft (3-4m).ContentsMany foreign nationals visitingCanada require a visa, andrequirements vary dependingon your nationality and purposeof visit. We unravel the visarequirements, including workingvisas and border crossing fromthe United States.What’sWith All theAussies inWhistler?passport and a visa depending on yourneed a valid driver’s license. You canfind all the rules here: http://www.Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles in British Provincesnationality. To drive in Canada, youtransportation-driving.asp15

ContentsOverviewQuebecOntarioPrairies& NorthHHQAtlanticProvincesuebec is a province of extremecontrasts, where historic castles anddowntown skylines stand shoulder-toshoulder with the great outdoors. Pick from oneof 43 designated nature areas or national parks,and set out for an adventure.BritishColumbiaQUEBEC16

QUEBECQuebec CityA big village with jovial locals,good food, and a cornucopia offestivals and activities, QuébecCity entices you to step outside,even on the coldest days.ContentsThe best way to experience thecity is on foot. Start by visiting theold city, then explore some of thelocal neighborhoods. Wander downOverviewquiet streets and discover uniquearchitecture and cozy cafes.Montmorency FallsMontmorency Falls has been a part

travel around Canada can be time-consuming and expensive. Whether you opt for a rental car and hired tent or cheap hostels and Airbnb, here’s what to expect. to splurge, The Canadian (from Vancouver to Toronto) and The Ocean (from Montreal to Halifax) are the mos