The Canadian economy generated 17,000 new jobs a month on average during the third quarter of 2011, down from 29,000 new jobs a month in the second quarter and 33,000 in the first quarter. The CIBC Employment Quality Index (EQI) fell by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter and is down by 1.5 per cent over the past seven months.

“The decline in our quality index over the past seven months is not so obvious when one glances at the headline statistics,” says Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist and author of CIBC’s Employment Quality Index. “During this period, paid employment rose faster than self-employment and full-time job creation outpaced growth in part-time jobs. The reason for the index’s decline, despite these positive indicators, is the fact that all the fulltime jobs created during this period were in low-paying sectors.

“Looking ahead, the likelihood is that employment quality in the coming year or so will soften. Key here will be softer public sector hiring in general, and public sector construction activity in particular — a factor that will limit growth in high quality construction jobs in the coming twelve months.”

The recent decline in the EQI followed a strong rebound in job quality that began in early 2010. At its current reading, the index is roughly where it was at the eve of the recession.

However, job quality is not uniform across the country. While Ontario, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada weighed down the national number with declines in overall employment quality, Alberta, Québec and Manitoba/Saskatchewan saw improvements over the last seven months.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Jobs: Full-time employment rose by 1.2 per cent during the past seven months accounting for all of the increase in employment during the period. This factor acted as a positive for the index.

Self-Employment vs. Paid Employment: Paid employment rose by 1.2 per cent vs. only a 0.1 per cent increase in the number of self-employed. This was also a positive contributor to the index over the past seven months.

Compensation: During the past seven months, the number of full-time jobs in high-paying industries fell by 0.1 per cent while the number of jobs in low-paying industries rose by 2.3 per cent. This diverging performance is the sole reason for the recent decline in CIBC’s EQI index. The most notable weakness was in high job quality sectors such as the federal government, heavy and civil engineering construction, telecommunications and computer and related manufacturing. Strong job growth in sectors such as machinery manufacturing and professional scientific and technical services helped to limit the damage.

Percentage Change in EQI by Province 
Q1-2011 vs. Q3-2011

The CIBC Canadian Employment Quality Index (EQI), combines information on:

• the distribution of part-time vs. full-time jobs;
• self-employment vs. paid employment;
• and the compensation ranking of full-time paid employment jobs in more than 100 industry groups

The complete CIBC World Markets report is available at: http://research.cibcwm.com/economic_public/download/eqi-cda-20111102.pdf.

Search for jobs across Canada

Atop the playlist for her daughter was something that wasn’t around when Nia was a kid: the brand new, free Assiniboine Park Children’s Garden and Nature Playground with pirate-style crow’s nest, willow tree tunnels, swings, net bridges and kid-sized mazes.

The also-free summer Ballet in the Park was another favourite, as was downtown’s Forks for the Children’s Museum and “all the little things to see” – shops, food kiosks, the Riverwalk and outdoor performance stage.

She missed out this time round on a Salisbury House Mr. Big Nip (a hamburger for non-‘Peggers) and fries, even though there’s a Sals – a classic Winnipeg-only burger chain –parked midpoint on the Fork’s adjacent Esplanade Riel, the city’s signature pedestrian bridge between Winnipeg and the Francophone suburb of St. Boniface. It’s right next door to the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which is under construction and on target for opening in 2013.

But she found time to hit other traditional spots. “My favourite spots in terms of restaurants are family-owned: Bellamys (owned by sister Nancy and brother-in-law Dimos), Carlos and Murphy’s (in Osborne Village), and Kelekis’s (in the city’s ethnic catch-all North End) for the classic hot dog. And Pony Corral.”

Corydon Avenue’s Italian strip has gelato at Eva’s (Vardalos recommends the dulce de leche) and Nucci’s. Strolling the strip “you see everyone you’ve ever met and known, and it’s safe and fun. It’s like being in Europe for a night,” she adds.

Winnipeg’s always been loaded with culture, notes Vardalos. “I grew up with so much theatre, the ballet and music, and that tradition is being upheld now with the Winnipeg Fringe” theatre festival.

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

For more visit Travel Manitoba

With much of the country’s infrastructure seriously underfunded, and governments running deficits, policy-makers are being increasingly tempted by tolls as a way to pay for roads and bridges. The federal government recently announced plans to replace Montreal’s Champlain Bridge over the next decade, with the $5-billion project using a toll system.

Nearly one in three respondents to the survey said they’d read or heard something about the Montreal bridge announcement last week. Of those who do support tolls, eight per cent said they “strongly support” them. That was compared to 15 per cent who said they “strongly oppose” them.

But for most people, opinions on tolls are less extreme. Nearly three-quarters of respondents either opposed or supported tolls, without taking a strong stand either way. That could make for unpredictable debates.

“The strength of the opinion for most people is not strong opinion it’s a weaker opinion,” said Doug Anderson, senior vice-president of Harris Decima.

“I’d say a lengthy public debate would see opinions firm up and that could go either way.”

The poll suggested older Canadians and those with higher household incomes would be most likely to support tolls. Meanwhile, those under age 35 and from a lower-income bracket would be most opposed to tolls as would a majority of NDP supporters.

With regard to the new Quebec bridge project, the NDP has expressed some concern that a privately controlled bridge, combined with user fees, could wind up gouging commuters.

West of Quebec, support for tolls ranged from a low of 42 per cent in Ontario to 51 per cent in British Columbia. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, support stood at 49 per cent, while Alberta came in at 45 per cent.

Currently, about 30% of Canadian immigrants are economic migrants selected on the basis of their necessary skills or an arranged employment offer. Kenney recently confirmed that while immigration levels won’t jump drastically, immigration had a role to play in off-setting the country’s ageing population and skills shortages. Today, about 70% of Canada’s 34.1 million population is of working age – a figure expected drop to 60% within 25 years.

Kenney said federal government would continue to recognise the importance of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to help provinces and territories obtain the skilled migrants they need to fill labour shortages. Under the scheme, provinces can choose to sponsor migrants whose skills, education and work experience will have an immediate economic impact.

The top three provincial nominees are the booming oil and gas provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Last year, Canada accepted 38,428 provincial/territory nominees, including more than 8,600 temporary foreign workers who later became permanent residents.

Canada will accept a record of 40,000 provincial nominee immigrants in 2011 – five times more than Canada’s PNP intake for 2005. The Citizenship and Immigration Department is currently conducting a series of nation-wide consulations about immigration levels and the type of migrants it should accept into the country.

Police reported nearly 2.1 million Criminal Code incidents last year, down about 77,000 from 2009. There were declines in a variety of crimes, including homicide, attempted murder, serious assaults and robbery and other property crimes. But there were increases in some areas, including sexual assault, firearms crimes, criminal harassment, child pornography and drug offences.

The Crime Severity Index reached its lowest point (82.7) since 1998, the first year for which Index data are available. The decline in crime severity in 2010 was seen virtually across the country. The only exceptions were increases in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Violent crime

Police reported just over 437,000 violent incidents in 2010, about 7,200 fewer than in the previous year. Violent crimes accounted for just over 1 in 5 offences.

The violent Crime Severity Index declined 6% in 2010 to 88.9, the fourth consecutive annual decrease. Decreases were reported in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador, where police reported a 13% increase.

There were 554 homicides, 56 fewer than in 2009. The national rate of 1.62 homicides per 100,000 population in 2010 was the lowest since 1966. The 10% decline in the homicide rate from 2009 to 2010 followed a decade of relative stability.

The national decline in the homicide rate was driven primarily by a large decrease in British Columbia, where the rate (1.83) was at an all-time low. However, the rate in this province was still slightly higher than the national average.

The number of attempted murders also declined, from 801 in 2009 to 693 in 2010. This resulted in the lowest rate for this offence in over 30 years.

Police reported more than 22,000 sexual assaults in 2010. This represented an increase of 5% in the rate since 2009, the first increase in sexual assault since 2005.

Non-violent crime

Similar to previous years, most crimes (79%) reported by police in 2010 were non-violent. Theft under $5,000, mischief and break-ins accounted for close to two-thirds of the almost 1.7 million non-violent offences.

The non-violent Crime Severity Index fell 6% in 2010 to 80.3, the seventh consecutive decline.

Police reported nearly 200,000 break-ins last year. The rate of break-ins fell 6% in 2010, continuing a steady decline since peaking in the early 1990s.

Nearly 93,000 motor vehicles were reported stolen in 2010. This represented a 15% drop in the rate since 2009 and a continuation of the downward trend seen since the mid-1990s.

Saskatchewan reported the highest rate of motor vehicle theft in 2010. This is a change from a decade-long trend which saw Manitoba reporting the highest rate among the provinces.

The national rate of impaired driving fell 6% from 2009, following three consecutive years of increase. However, the rate of impaired driving has generally been declining since peaking in 1981.

In 2010, police reported over 108,000 drug offences, about half of which were for possession of cannabis. The rate of drug offences increased 10% from 2009, continuing a general upward trend that began in the early 1990s.

Provinces and territories

Among the provinces, Alberta and British Columbia reported the largest declines in crime in 2010. The crime rate fell by 6% in both provinces, while the Crime Severity Index decreased by 8% in Alberta and 7% in British Columbia.

As in previous years, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories continued to report the highest Crime Severity Index values. Among the provinces, Saskatchewan reported the highest Crime Severity Index, followed by Manitoba and British Columbia. The lowest Crime Severity Index values were seen in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Metropolitan areas

The volume and severity of crime fell or remained stable across virtually all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in 2010, including Canada’s 10 largest cities.

In 2010, three CMAs reported an increase in crime severity. St. John’s had the largest increase, up 12%, followed by Greater Sudbury (+4%) and Peterborough (+3%).

As has been the case since 1998, Regina reported the highest Crime Severity Index, followed by Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Calgary was the only western CMA to have a Crime Severity Index below the national average.

Guelph reported the lowest Crime Severity Index for the fourth year in a row, followed by Québec, Toronto and Ottawa.

Youth crime

Police reported that nearly 153,000 youth aged 12 to 17 were accused of a crime in 2010, almost 15,000 fewer than the previous year. The youth crime rate, which measures the overall volume of crime committed by youth, declined by 7%.

Youth crime rates declined for most offences in 2010, including homicide, serious assaults, motor vehicle thefts and break-ins. However, robbery was one of the few offences to show an increase for youth in 2010, up 2%.

The youth Crime Severity Index has also declined over the past 10 years, including a 6% drop in 2010. However, the severity of violent crime committed by youth has not seen the same decrease. Despite a 4% drop between 2009 and 2010, the youth violent Crime Severity Index was 5% higher than in 2000.

The public had four months to vote for their favourite in three award categories: great streets, great neighbourhoods and great public spaces. A panel of professional planners then selected the top three winners in each category.

The Forks beat out Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto and Pippy Park in St. John’s in the great spaces category.

The Forks: One of Winnipeg’s most beloved meeting spots

“The Forks” in Downtown Winnipeg has a rich history of early Aboriginal settlement, immigration, the advent of the railway, the fur trade, and the coming of the industrial age. This place is one of Winnipeg’s most important landmarks, having archaeological digs that prove Aboriginal groups were active here thousands of years ago, plus one of the key sites of early railroad development on the Prairies (5 rail yards dominated the site). The government promoted immigration & settlement and Winnipeg as we know it today was known as the “Gateway to the West” in earlier times.

Nestled in the heart of downtown, The Forks is one of Winnipeg’s most beloved and pre-eminent meeting spots, at the junction of the Assiniboine River where it meets the mighty Red.

The Forks possesses a rich 6000-year old history. Early Aboriginal peoples traded at The Forks, followed by European fur traders, Métis buffalo hunters, Scottish settlers, riverboat workers, railway pioneers and tens of thousands of immigrants.

Today, framed by the banks of the two rivers, The Forks is Winnipeg’s number one tourist destination with more than four million visitors annually. The Forks features something for everyone including parks, promenades, gardens and sculptures alongside shops, restaurants and a multitude of attractions.

The 54-acre site has received international awards for design excellence and worldwide attention as a model for urban renewal and waterfront development. Winter, spring, summer or fall, The Forks is must for a stunning array of dining experiences, incomparable shopping, a constantly changing slate of entertainment and events, and many unique attractions that encompass the site’s natural, historic and man-made features.

• The Forks sits at the birthplace of the City, at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. The Forks is an amalgam of public facilities (indoor and outdoor) mixed with commercial and retail spaces within a pedestrian prioritized site.
• The Forks is landlocked by the two intertwining rivers and the rail line along its Western boundary. To compensate for these boundaries a series of penetrations through the rail line and bridges over the two rivers have connected The Forks to downtown Winnipeg’s Main Street to the West, St. Boniface to the East and South, and The Exchange District National Historic Site to the North.
• Buildings are centered around a number of exterior spaces of different sizes and capacity for use. The original Canopy area creates a congregational space for theatre in the round, small performances and serves as a plaza to the boat basin, the Forks Market and the Johnston Terminal.
• The Forks Festival site, now more commonly know as Scotiabank Stage, which is activated as the central performance/celebration space in Winnipeg for all major celebrations is bordered by the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, The Inn at the Forks, The Plaza @ The Forks (Skateboard Park), the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (opening tbd), and The Forks National Historic Site.
• As a pedestrian priority site, The Forks has placed a high priority on ensuring an ease of access for all people. The site is the central focus of all Active Transportation pathway systems in Winnipeg allowing all users to connect to the Forks by foot, bike, skateboard, etc…  Additionally, a waterbus system through the summer months provides a unique experience for visitors to the site, that is replaced with the Guinnes world record holding longest Ice Skating Trail through the winter months connecting many neighbourhoods to The Forks.  Sitting immediately adjacent to the VIA train station, visitors travelling across Canada stop at the Forks through the historic rail station.
• Every major event that occurs at the Forks (Canada Day celebrations, barge festival, skateboard contests, skating trails, dancing under the canopy, etc…) is offered free of charge to all spectators.  At this centralized location all Winnipegers have equal access and ease of access to the site at all times of the year.
• The Forks has placed a high priority on animating the site through all seasons and at all times of the day.  From its Arctic Glacier Winter Park that features tobogganing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and ice skating along the world’s Longest Ice Skating Trail – Winnipegers and visitors are treated to an exciting and dynamic winter environment that accommodates all users from beginners to experts. Programming throughout the year is critical, from ice hockey and jam pail curling tournaments in the winter to skateboard competitions, musical performances on the main stage, fireworks, The Winnipeg Children’s Festival, and much much more, the Forks is an active space at all times of the year.
• At its origin, The Forks was predominantly marshland along the two rivers in early development of Winnipeg this site was cut off from the City by the Rail line and used primarily as a rail hub. The site’s grade was artificially raised to accommodate the needs of the rail industry and up until the late 1980’s became an unused rail yard.  As a brownfield development, The Forks has seen the retrofit of the four remaining buildings on the site into the Main Market building, the Johnston Terminal (commercial and retail spaces), the A Channel building, and the Manitoba Children’s Museum. The protection of the riverbank by Parks Canada as the Forks National Historic Site continues to enhance the natural environment.  The Prairie Garden, the Peace Meeting Interpretive Site, the South Point redevelopment and the site development for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights have all reclaimed former gravel spaces with the reintroduction of native plant species as both a spiritual and educational effort.
• Additionally, the recent Target Zero campaign has the Forks site looking at alternative energy sources and a complete reduction of waste into waste harvesters and bio-fuel based maintenance vehicles as an effort to reduce the imprint of the site on the rest of the City of Winnipeg.

For more information about “The Forks” visit the official website

Provinces & Territories

Canada has ten province: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. It also has three territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Nunavut.

The main difference between provinces and territories is their constitution. Provinces exercise constitutional powers in their own right, whilst territories exercise delegated powers under the authority of the Parliament of Canada. Any changes to the constitution in the provinces is voted on, but in the territories it is not.

Capital Cities

The capital of Canada is Ottawa, located in Ontario. But strangely Ottawa is not the capital of Ontario, Toronto is. Each province and territory has its own capital city and some may not be the city you think.

• Alberta – Edmonton
• British Columbia – Victoria
• Saskatchewan – Regina
• Manitoba – Winnipeg
• Ontario – Toronto
• Quebec – Quebec City
• New Brunswick – Fredericton
• Nova Scotia – Halifax
• Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown
• Newfoundland & Labrador – St John’s
• Yukon Territory – Whitehorse
• Northwest Territories – Yellowknife
• Nunavut – Iqaluit

Every province and territory also has its own flower

Flowers

Every province and territory also has its own flower. If you don’t know what these look like refer to the image accompanying the article.

• Alberta – Wild Rose
• British Columbia  – Pacific Dogwood
• Saskatchewan – Western Red Lily
• Manitoba – Prairie Crocus
• Ontario – White Trillium
• Quebec – Blue Flag Iris
• New Brunswick – Purple Violet
• Nova Scotia – Mayflower
• Prince Edward Island – Lady’s Slipper
• Newfoundland & Labrador – Pitcher Plant
• Yukon Territory – Fireweed
• Northwest Territories – Mountain Averns
• Nunavut – Purple Saxifrage

All provinces and territories also have their own provincial birds

Birds

All provinces and territories also have their own provincial birds , again please refer to the images to put a name to a feather.

• Alberta – Great Horned Owl
• British Columbia – Steller’s jay
• Saskatchewan – Sharp Tailed Grouse
• Manitoba – Great Grey Owl
• Ontario – Common Loon
• Quebec – Snowy Owl
• New Brunswick – Black Capped Chickadee
• Nova Scotia – Osprey
• Prince Edward Island – Blue Jay
• Newfoundland & Labrador – Atlantic Puffin
• Yukon Territory – Common Raven
• Northwest Territories – Gry Falcon
• Nunavut – Rock Ptarmigan

Mottos

Did you know that each of the provinces also has a motto? Some are a little odd, but the one which we feel suits the province best is Prince Edward Island.

• Alberta – Strong and free
• British Columbia – Splendour without diminishment
• Saskatchewan – From many peoples, strength
• Manitoba – Glorious and free
• Ontario – Loyal she began and loyal she remains
• Quebec – I remember
• New Brunswick – Hope was restored
• Nova Scotia – One defends the other conquers
• Prince Edward Island – The small under the protection of the great
• Newfoundland & Labrador – Seek ye first the kingdom of God

Only Nunavut of the territories has a motto: Our land, our strength.

Highlights of the makeover include a playful Rubik’s Cube entrance (think Toronto’s ROM Crystal for kids) and 12 new galleries based on the theme of building blocks. Each play zone offers learn-while-you-play opportunities such as a table that simulates an earthquake, complete with tumbling blocks. Many also offer Prairie-inspired experiences such as stepping inside a giant Milk Machine cow to learn about modern dairy farming or chilling out in a reading cocoon within a peaceful faux marsh. The ultramodern Arts & Exhibition Centre will host the latest in travelling exhibits, performers and theatre productions.

Although the museum promotes a love of learning, there will be plenty of opportunities to get silly. A much-anticipated play zone is Lasagna Lookout, a pasta-themed structure where visitors can dodge meatballs and crawl through a fettuccine tunnel.

Outdoors, kids can go wild at the nearby Variety Heritage Adventure Park, opening this summer. Situated on lands once occupied by Fort Gibraltar, a North West Company trading post, this new Parks Canada site offers birch bark canoes, splash pads, York boats and other interactive play structures designed to bring Manitoba’s heritage to life.

All these renovations won’t disrupt the museum’s winning formula of imagination and make-believe. The beloved CN diesel locomotive No. 9161 and vintage passenger coach will continue to be the heart of the museum, letting visitors journey to wherever their imagination wants to go.

www.travelmanitoba.com

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Michele Peterson – I am a columnist for Fifty-five Plus magazine, Ontario’s leading publication for older active adults and author the Daytripper as well as Travel Bug columns (news on Canadian, Ontario and international destinations)with readers in Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto. I am also a frequent contributor to Buffalo area publications such as the Buffalo News, Buffalo Spree as well as the Toronto Star, Via, Dreamscapes, Air Canada onAir, the Globe and Mail, Spa Life and 2: Couples Magazine and others as well as the Manitoba section of the Travel Industry Guide to Canada. My focus is eco-destinations, culinary, outdoor adventure such as canoeing, hiking and cycling, as well as spas.

You hear them before you see them, those vocal “canaries of the sea” clicking and whistling their own high-pitched tunes. As shifting white shapes loom from the depths, your heart does a back flip. Adult beluga whales some five-m (16-ft) -long shimmy at you from below, swivelling their heads and peering into your eyes an arm’s length away. Babies dart daringly past. You’re surrounded by smiles as wide as Casper the Friendly Ghost’s (watch a video), the mammals edging closer to examine this strange humming human.

Entering the belugas’ world is a rare opportunity to commune with normally elusive wildlife on their own turf. The season is short: July and August.

Sea North Tours Ltd. offers a chance to chum with chubby whales or watch them from your own kayak on daytrips out of Churchill, MB. At the outfitter’s remote Seal River Heritage Lodge a short floatplane flight to the north, Churchill Wild has a multi-day “Birds, Bears & Belugas” adventure so you can mix it up, enjoying wildlife in the air, on the ground and under the water.

When your turn is up and you’re gently pulled back to the Zodiac by the rope, you’ll have a unique encounter etched into your memory and a smile as wide as a beluga’s on your face.

www.travelmanitoba.com

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Award-winning, Montréal, QC-based freelance writer and photographer Margo Pfeiff’s work has appeared in Lonely Planet guidebooks, Reader’s Digest, GEO,enRoute, explore, Canadian Geographic, Outpost, The Walrus, up here, LosAngeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, National Post and The Globe and Mail.She is working on a book about contemporary life in Nunavut.margo.pfeiff@gmail.com

Despite the pinch that rising gas and food prices are having on many Canadians’ wallets, the RBC CCO index has risen 3 points to 96, buoyed by modest, across-the-board gains:

• The current conditions sub-index has risen 3 points and now sits at 108 points.
• The expectations sub-index has risen 6 points and now sits at 86 points.
• The investments sub-index has risen 12 points and now sits at 112 points.

Four in ten (38%) Canadians say that they’re confident that they’re managing their debt well, while one in three (35%) think they’re doing OK but know they could be doing a better job. However, two in ten (21%) say they’re just keeping their head above water, 3% say they’re not so good and don’t know where to start, and another 3% admit they’re terrible at managing their debt.

Debt repayment appears to be a priority for many Canadians over the next year. Four in ten (39%) say they intend to pay off as much debt as they can over the next year or so, while three in ten (30%) plan to spend less and one quarter (23%) intend to save or invest more. An additional 25% of Canadians plan to do all of these things over the next year or so, while just one in ten (7%) won’t do any of them.

Thinking about the overall state of the economy, six in ten (61%) would describe the economy as being ‘good’ (4% very/57% somewhat), up 1 point from January. Assessment of the economy is the brightest in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (75%), followed by those living in Alberta (69%), British Columbia (63%), Ontario (61%), Atlantic Canada (61%) and Quebec (55%).

However, job anxiety has risen two points, with 22% of Canadians saying that they or someone in their household is worried about losing their job or being laid off. Ontario, at 28% (an increase of 5 points since January), is considerably more anxious than any other region of the country when it comes to job security. Those living in Quebec (21%), Atlantic Canada (21%), Alberta (18%), British Columbia (17%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (16%) are less nervous about losing their jobs.

Over the next year, four in ten (42%) Canadians believe the national economy will improve (down 1 point). Those most optimistic about the future of the national economy live in Alberta (50%), while Canadians living in British Columbia (46%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (45%), Ontario (44%), Quebec (37%) and Atlantic Canada (33%) are less optimistic.

Four in ten (39%) believe their personal financial situation will improve in the next year (up 1 point), with Albertans (45%) once again leading the way, along with Quebecers (43%). Those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (40%), Ontario (39%), British Columbia (36%), and Atlantic Canada (31%) are less inclined to believe that their personal financial situation will improve in the next year.

Three quarters (74%) of Canadians predict that interest rates will increase in the next six months. If rates increase, four in ten (44%) say they’ll spend less in other areas, while one in three (34%) say they’ll find ways to reduce their interest costs or monthly payments. Others will establish/increase their line of credit (5%), while 5% would find out how they could change their mortgage from variable to fixed. Interestingly, three in ten (27%) see higher interest rates as an opportunity, and would increase their savings and/or investments. Two in ten (21%) wouldn’t do any of these things.

Canadians continue to say that they’re delaying major purchases on account of the current economic conditions. A majority (55%) of Canadians maintain that they’ve delayed a major purchase, such as buying a car or household appliance, or a vacation, due to current conditions (up 3 points), with Ontarians (60%) being the most likely to say so. Looking ahead, two in ten (23%) Canadians say they intend to spend ‘more’ (5% much more/18% a little more) on their major purchases this year than last year. Most (32%) don’t anticipate changing their level of spending, or even intend to spend less (44%, 22% much less/22% a little less).

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger noted that with Manitoba’s money now on the table, the $10-million the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada originally asked Ottawa to pony up for national trials has been achieved.

“It would be excellent if all the governments participated in a multi-site proposal including the federal government,” Mr. Selinger said when pressed on the timing of the announcement. The Manitoba Premier faces a provincial election in the fall.

“In the absence of that, what’s the Plan B that will move the agenda forward? This is a strong Plan B.”

The Premier said he still hopes others may join in but noted that MS patients don’t want to wait years for answers. Even if the clinical trials get under way this year, it could be at least 2014 before the results are in.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall welcomed the additional support

“The bigger the sample the better it is,” he said.

“I just think this is a very positive day for MS patients … but also for people who would like to see governments – notwithstanding the stripe of the government – just work together when it makes a lot of sense, especially if they’re neighbours.”

Mr. Wall leads the small-c conservative Saskatchewan Party while Mr. Selinger is a New Democrat.

Arnold Naimark of the Manitoba Health Research Council said the timing is hard to predict, since the studies have yet to be designed. But a call for proposals will go out nationally and patients outside of Manitoba and Saskatchewan could very well be involved, he said.

He also said it’s possible answers could be obtained sooner – either because results are so favourable or because problems turn up which make further testing of the procedure unwise.

Liberation therapy, also referred to as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency treatment, was pioneered by Italian surgeon Paolo Zamboni.

A balloon angioplasty is used to widen a vein in the neck, which is thought to relieve a buildup of iron in the brain. Many Canadians have been travelling abroad to have the procedure.

Canada has a high incidence of multiple sclerosis. On a per capita basis, the largest number of people with the disease live in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies.

The MS Society was pleased with the announcement, but still focused on the need for national trials.

“On behalf of all Canadians living with MS, we are pleased that the Manitoba government has made multiple sclerosis a top-priority health issue,” spokesman Stewart Wong said in an e-mailed response.

“Scientifically relevant clinical trials in multiple sclerosis typically take place across a broad range of sites. If a nationwide clinical trial is to take place, the Manitoba and Saskatchewan projects will be helpful in ensuring this aim could be achieved.”

Mr. Selinger said the trials will be in several places and the idea is to select the best proposal, not necessarily one from Manitoba researchers, although Manitoba patients must be included.

Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador have set aside more modest amounts to study patients treated elsewhere. New Brunswick is offering $500,000 to help those who want to receive the treatment somewhere else.

The MS Society has been reluctant to put money into clinical trials just yet and is funding other studies on things such as how to screen patients for liberation therapy.

Mr. Estabrooks said that drunk driving is the leading cause of road fatalities in the province, with 21 people killed in 2010, up from 18 in 2009.

The minister had no figures indicating how many drunk drivers are caught with children in their car. He said the move to increase penalties shows the government is serious about dealing with a problem that is socially unacceptable.

“With these amendments, we are sending a strong message to Nova Scotians that driving impaired with children as passengers is a serious offence . . . that deserves serious consequences,” he said.

The minister said Manitoba is the only other province that has specific penalties for impaired drivers with children in their vehicles.

Margaret Miller, past national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, applauded the government initiative, saying there should be no second chances for people who endanger the lives of their children.

“This sends a very strong message to those parents that if they partake in this kind of a venture that they are going to be doubly punished for it,” said Ms. Miller.

Ms. Miller said she believes the measures, especially requiring interlock systems for first-time offenders, will help serve as a deterrent.

“The interlock will make sure that their drinking and their driving has been separated totally,” she said.

The amendments follow changes enacted last October that saw drivers with blood-alcohol levels between 50 milligrams and 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood lose their licences for seven days for a first offence. The previous penalty was 24 hours.

Canada’s fourth quarter population growth was lower than in the same period in 2009 (+55,900). While growth due to natural increase was relatively stable, net international migration declined from 25,400 to 10,900.

This decline in net international migration can be explained by a larger decrease in non-permanent residents living in Canada. Immigration in the fourth quarter (57,700) was similar to the level observed in the same period in 2009 (56,400).

Atlantic Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador’s population remained virtually unchanged in the fourth quarter and was estimated at 509,100 on January 1, 2011.

Prince Edward Island posted a population of 143,500 as of January 1. The level of immigration to Prince Edward Island was, in relative terms, the highest amongst the provinces for the fourth consecutive quarter.

Nova Scotia’s population was estimated at 943,400 at the end of the fourth quarter. The province’s small decrease was mostly due to net outflows in interprovincial migration.

The population of New Brunswick was estimated at 753,200 as of January 1. During the fourth quarter, the province received more than 400 immigrants, the highest level for the fourth quarter since 1979.

Quebec’s population grew by nearly 11,000 (+0.1%) in the fourth quarter to 7,943,000 on January 1. The main factor in this demographic growth was natural increase (+6,700). The province had a slight net outflow from interprovincial migration (-400). Quebec usually experiences higher outflows of interprovincial migration.

In Ontario, the population was estimated at 13,282,400 on January 1, an increase of 13,900 (+0.1%) compared with October 1, 2010. Most of the province’s growth in the fourth quarter came from natural increase (+10,500).

Western Canada

Manitoba posted the fastest demographic growth in the country in the fourth quarter with an increase of over 3,600 (+0.3%). Net international migration (+2,600) was the principal factor for the demographic growth in the province. As of January 1, the population of Manitoba was estimated at 1,243,700.

The population of Saskatchewan increased by 2,300 (+0.2%) in the fourth quarter to 1,052,100. Natural growth (+1,100) and net inflows in international migration (+1,100) were the primary contributors to the demographic growth of the province.

Alberta’s population was estimated at 3,742,800 as of January 1, an increase of close to 7,700 (+0.2%) compared with October 1, 2010. The province’s population growth came mainly from natural increase (+7,200) and net inflows in interprovincial migration (+2,500).

The population of British Columbia had a small increase (+2,200) in the fourth quarter and was estimated at 4,554,100 on January 1. Natural increase (+2,500) was the main factor of the demographic growth in the province.

The territories

While the population of both Yukon and Northwest Territories decreased slightly in the fourth quarter, Nunavut’s remained virtually unchanged. The three territories had net outflows in interprovincial migration. As of January 1, Yukon’s population was estimated at 34,300, compared with 43,600 for the Northwest Territories and 33,300 for Nunavut.

Canada’s population growth in 2010

Canada’s population growth in 2010 was lower than that observed in 2009. The Canadian population increased by 375,600 (+1.1%) in 2010 compared with 394,400 the year before (+1.2%).

Canada received more than 280,000 immigrants in 2010, the highest level recorded since the 1950′s. This was 28,500 more immigrants than in 2009. Increases in immigration were recorded by most provinces and territories.

The increase in immigration in 2010 was offset by a decline in the net inflow of non-permanent residents. The net non-permanent residents was estimated at 12,900, down from 55,400 in 2009. As a result, net international migration in 2010 was estimated at 244,400, down from 258,900 the year before.

There were an estimated 382,000 births and 250,800 deaths in 2010, resulting in a natural increase of 131,200. This was lower than the natural increase of 135,600 recorded in 2009.

Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and all provinces west of Quebec recorded 2010 growth rates above the national average.

“While we do not expect a significant correction nationwide, the risk of such would increase, especially in some regions, if prices were to continue to outrun incomes or if interest rates were to increase rapidly,” economist Sal Guatieri says.

He notes that after slowing last summer, Canadian home sales rebounded in the fall and house prices have kept rising.

On average, home prices rose five per cent in the past year to January, while in Vancouver they rocketed 20 per cent. On average, home prices are 10 per cent higher now than they were before the recession, when they were at an all-time high. The problem is that the value of homes have increased much faster than incomes.

The bank says average home resale prices compared with personal incomes are 14 per cent above the long-run trend, up from last summer, although still below the 21 per cent peak that preceded the 1989 crash. But that is not the case in all markets. Five provinces are currently in the danger zone, led by Saskatchewan, where the ratio is 39 per cent above historic norms.

Also well-above the long-run levels is Newfoundland, 34 per cent higher; British Columbia and Manitoba, 31 per cent, and Quebec, 23 per cent above.

By comparison, in Ontario the price-to-income ratio is only 10 per cent higher than historic norms, suggesting prices are moderately overvalued but not in bubble territory. What’s made this possible have been historically low interest rates which have allowed Canadians to carry bigger mortgages. As a result, mortgage payments for the typical owner consume 35 per cent of disposable household income, about the same as the 23-year average of 34 per cent.

The bank says there should be no major correction if incomes increase faster than home prices in the future, as expected. It says sales are expected to cool and prices stabilize this year in response to higher interest rates and tighter mortgage rules that go into effect later this month.

“The risk of a correction would increase, however, if prices rose alongside rates and incomes,” the report cautions.

If prices don’t stabilize, the report says it would put the Bank of Canada in a tight spot. It risks creating a housing bubble if it keeps rates super-low too long, or could precipitate a crash if it hikes rates too quickly.

The Bank of Montreal report is the latest to throw up caution flags about the seemingly unstoppable Canadian housing market. Last month, Capital Economics warned the Canadian housing bubble was poised to burst, needing only the pin-prick of rising interest rates to set off the collapse. The economic consulting firm noted that by historical standards, almost all the key indicators around housing were at historic highs. It predicted prices could fall 25-35 per cent in the next three years once interest rates and mortgage upkeep costs begin rising.

Still, most private sector analysts see a soft landing rather than a crash, in part because the Bank of Canada is unlikely to raise rates sharply or quickly.

What do they mean?

The name Canada is derived from the word Kanata, a Huron-Iroquois word for settlement or village. Jacques Cartier came to the New World looking for a Northwest Passage to the Spice Islands and the promise of exotic goods. He was directed to the village of Stadacona by aboriginals who used the word Kanata. From that time on, Cartier referred to the village as Canada, as well as the entire land mass he was exploring. Many of the territories, provinces, cities, lakes, rivers, parks, and mountains reflect their aboriginal roots.

Provinces

Manitoba – The word Manitou means spirit, and originally referred to the land areas along the Red River. It is likely from the Cree expression maniot-wapow, or Ojibwe’sManitou-bau which means the strait of the spirit. Along the narrows of Lake Manitoba the sound of the pebbles made a noise that was said to be the sound of the spirits, or of the spirits banging drums. It is also thought that the name came from the Assiniboin expression mine-toba or Lake of the Prairies.

Nunavut – This is Canada’s newest territory, having been incorporated on April 1, 1999. The name Nunavut comes from the Inuktitut language of the Inuit, the indigenous peoples of the area, and means our land.

Ontario – There are three accepted theories as to the origin of the name Ontario: kanadario meaning sparkling or beautiful water, onitariio meaning beautiful lake, and Skanadario meaning very pretty lake. In all three cases, the land area was named for the body of water known as Lake Ontario of the Great Lakes.

Québec – The name Québec comes from an Algonquin word kébec meaning the narrowing of the river. The geographical expression likely refers to the narrowing of the river around Québec City.

Saskatchewan – The Cree word kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, meaning a swiftly flowing river, became the name of the body of water (Saskatchewan River) before it became the name of the prairie province.

Yukon – This territory derives its name from the Gwich’in word Yu-kun-ah, which means great river.

Capital cities

Many of the capital cities of the provinces and territories also have names with aboriginal origins:

• Toronto (Ontario) – tkaronto – place where trees stand in the water
• Winnipeg (Manitoba) – win-nipee – muddy water
• Iqaluit (Nunavut) – iqaluit – many fish

Actual (not seasonally adjusted) national sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards was down 14.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in December 2010, which reflects record level sales for the month of December in 2009.  Activity in December 2010 ran slightly ahead of the ten year average for the month

The national trend for monthly sales remained stable in December, with seasonally adjusted sales activity having edged down by less than a percentage point from the previous month.  Led by Calgary, Winnipeg, and Hamilton-Burlington, seasonally adjusted sales activity was up month-to-month in half of local markets. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal were among the markets that posted a small month-over-month decline in December.

“Overall sales activity has improved in recent months, but the upturn has been uneven among local markets,” said Georges Pahud, CREA President. “Housing market trends often differ due to a number of local factors, so buyers and sellers should consult their local  expert to understand how trends are shaping up in their market.”

National home sales activity improved steadily over the second half of 2010, with seasonally adjusted sales up 18.3 per cent in December compared to the recent low reached in July. As a result, seasonally adjusted activity in the fourth quarter of 2010 rose 12.1 per cent from third quarter levels, and was up less than a percentage point compared to second quarter activity.

“The hand off to 2011 for sales activity in the fourth quarter suggests that the continuation of low interest rates will further support the housing market,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “Sales may be starting to plateau in some of Canada’s most active and expensive housing markets.  Combined with a pickup in new listings and further interest rate increases, the stage is being set for smaller price gains and a further deceleration in the growth of mortgage debt.”

Some 447,010 homes traded hands over Canadian MLS^® Systems in 2010, down 3.9 per cent from 2009. Annual sales activity was higher than CREA had forecast previously due to stronger than projected sales activity in the fourth quarter.

The number of new residential listings on Canadian MLS^® Systems held steady in December, rising by less than one percentage point on a seasonally adjusted basis. New listings remain 14.2 per cent below the recent peak reached in April 2010.

The housing market remained in balanced territory on a national basis in December, with sales as a percentage of new listings amounting to 55.2 per cent. Just over half of local markets in Canada were in balanced territory in December.

Three-quarters of the remaining local markets are sellers’ markets.  “With activity having returned to healthy levels and a firm floor under prices, many sellers who shied away from the market heading into the summer are expected to list their properties heading into the spring,” said Klump. “Sales in the months ahead are not expected to continue trending upward as steeply as they have in recent months, so an increase in new listings may return many sellers markets to balanced territory.”

The number of months of inventory represents the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity, and can be used to gauge the balance between housing supply and demand. The seasonally adjusted number of months of inventory stood at 5.8 months at the end of December on a national basis. This was unchanged from November, and remains 1.4 months below where it was in July.

The number of months of inventory in December rose compared to November levels in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and was down from the previous month in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island.

The national average price for homes sold in December 2010 was $344,551, up two per cent from the same month last year, and stable compared to average price in October and November. About 60 per cent of local markets recorded year-over-year gains in December. Average price was down on a year-over-year basis in 30 per cent of local markets, and remained stable in the remainder.

The annual average price for homes sold via Canadian MLS^® Systems rose 5.8 per cent to $339,030.  Much of the increase reflects compositional factors within and across housing markets that caused average price to be skewed downward in 2009.

Great Canadian road trips

If you can’t see our entire country by highway, pick one province, a piece of blacktop and take the nearest entry ramp.

Here’s your Canada road-tripping list:

Heritage Discovery Circle Route, BC: This 2,423-km (1,506-mi) epic road trip begins in Vancouver, zigzags north to 100 Mile House, heads to the historic gold-rush town of Barkerville, then on to Prince Rupert, where you can access (by boat only) the Khutzeymateen (Canada’s first grizzly bear sanctuary) as well as take a spectacular ferry ride to Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands).

The Icefields Parkway, AB: Sure, you can drive one of North America’s most scenic roads (Hwy 93) that bisects 100 glaciers, two national parks (Banff and Jasper) and sweeps past dozens of peacock-blue lakes. But even more impressive is to cycle this wide-shouldered, hostel-studded highway. Be sure to cool down with a tiptoe up to the Athabasca Glacier.
Qu’Appelle Valley, SK: If you’re speeding along the Trans-Canada Highway, remember to veer north at the tiny community of Qu’Appelle. The endless swath of golden wheat fields splits open on Hwy 210 into a spectacular valley laced with a series of lakes, coulees and groves of trees—a recreational mecca for Reginans, who live 45 minutes away.

Prairie Parkland, MB: If you’re slicing across Canada on the Yellowhead Highway (#16), don’t whiz by the prettiest town on the prairies: Neepawa. Just west of the town, veer north on Hwy 10 through Riding Mountain National Park to Dauphin and west to Inglis, home of five historic grain elevators—a fantastic site at sunset.

Clearly Superior, ON: Now you’ll know why Canada’s Group of Seven artists lingered around this necklace of wide sandy bays on Lake Superior’s east shore in Ontario. Take Hwy 17 north from Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa, and be soothed by all that freshwater, the Lego-like blocky cliffs and spots like Pancake Bay—where voyageurs stopped to fry up some pancakes before restocking supplies in “the Soo.”

Route de fleuve (The St. Lawrence Route), QC: Linking Baie-Saint-Paul to La Malbaie, Hwy 362 meanders through the artsy villages of Charlevoix and over mountains that tumble into the St. Lawrence—the result of a meteorite two km (1.25 mi) in diameter that crashed here 350 million years ago.

Dempster Highway, YT: Drive the Dempster, one of this continent’s loneliest strips of loose gravel, and you’ll cross the Continental Divide (three times), two mountain ranges and touch the Arctic Circle. Begin in Dawson City and head northeast for 736 km (457 mi) to Inuvik, NWT—you’ll feel like you’re driving to the ends of the earth. (You kinda are.)

The Top of the World Highway, YT: Only open in the summer, this unpaved road—running from Dawson City, YT, to Alaska (USA)—is so named because much of it runs along the tops of mountains providing amazing views.

The Cabot Trail, NS: Drive along the skirts of Cape Breton Island, and you’ll breeze through beech forests and swoop over ocean bluffs. Dotted with fishing ports, craft barns (noted for their hooked rugs), quirky road stops and absurdly stunning ocean views, look for pods of whales in the water and moose along the forest trails.

Fundy Coastal Drive, NB: We love this maritime journey especially in the fall, when the forests look like they’ve been shellacked with marmalade. Besides the fiery colours, you can marvel at some of the highest tides on earth.

Viking Trail, NL: Inhabited by Aboriginals centuries ago and landed on by the Vikings 1,000 years ago, the land this weeklong road trip slices through was later populated by 16th-century Basque whalers and is now home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: spectacular Gros Morne National Park and L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site.

Video Highlights:

• Riding Mountain National Park
• The Arts of Baie-St-Paul, Quebec
• Charlevoix Maritime Museum
• Historic Dawson City
• Hopewell Rocks and the Bay of Fundy
• L’Anse aux Meadows (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Outdoor Adventures: Ferry Ride
• Outdoor Adventures: Hiking
• Outdoor Adventures: Kayaking
• Outdoor Adventures: Wild Flowers (Flora)

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre:

Writers Bio: After a false start as an entertainment writer, Debra Cummings (“Deb”) spent six months kicking around southeast Asia—trekking up mountains and mastering the multiple meanings of the head-wobble in India—before returning to Calgary, AB, to take up the travel beat. That was 20 years ago. Since then, she’s worked as a newspaper features writer and travel editor, covered travel for CBC Radio and spent a year “voluntouring” around the planet with her husband and two children.

In 2008 Stu moved to Winnipeg as part of a job relocation. His wife Mary and two young children Sarah who was 5 and 7 year old Jack came along too. Mary tells their story.

Because our move was due to Stu’s job relocation we didn’t really have much time to consider where we were going and any of the consequences. We just knew it was going to be interesting and that if we didn’t take the opportunity we would only regret it. After all not everyone has the chance to live in a completely different country and have their employer pay all the moving costs.

We ended up moving in September and the weather when we arrived was brilliant. Stu’s company had arranged for us to move into a four bedroom home located on the outskirts of Winnipeg and we loved the property at first glance. It had a long driveway leading to a two-car garage and the property was huge compared to our UK home which we were renting out whilst we were away. Initially Stu’s contract in Canada was for eighteen months, so we needed to keep our home in the UK for when we returned.

We were worried about the kids adapting and fitting in, but we needn’t have worried as they immediately made friends with the three children next door who were similar ages. Both children were enrolled in a local school and both seemed to love it immediately.

Stu started working pretty much as soon as we arrived so it was down to me to make our new house feel like home and to buy the things we needed that weren’t part of the furnished rental. I made friends with some women along the street where we lived and they were great at helping me settle in.

Unfortunately the beautiful hot weather was not to last and soon we were experiencing our first Manitoba winter. At first the temperatures dropped drastically to what we classed as very cold, about -10℃. The house had a very good warm air heating system so whilst we were inside it was great. Looking out the window and seeing a few inches of snow on the ground whilst warm and dry inside was lovely. The kids loved playing outside with the other local children and were basically having the times of their lives. Then it snowed.

Now we knew why it had the nickname of Winterpeg!

I know I have already said there was snow on the ground, but now instead of a few inches there was a few feet. We had bought our UK winter coats with us but these proved to be no match against the bitter cold we now experienced. We had to all get new coats, hats, or toques as they call them, mittens and boots. When shopping for these items we were amazed to see labels stating that a pair of boots was good to -45℃, soon we knew why. During our first winter we had temperatures going down into the -30’s℃ and snow several feet thick on the ground.

We had never experienced anything like it, but the locals took it in their stride and explained that this was quite normal for Winnipeg. Now we knew why it had the nickname of Winterpeg!

We, especially the kids, engaged in the fun things of winter such as building snowmen and tobogganing. We also visited the local outdoor skating rink and learnt how to skate. Stu did not endure this activity for long as he spent far too much time on his behind. But the kids and I loved it. We had to be aware of when we had spent enough time out in the cold as frost bite is a serious problem with temperatures this low. A neighbour told me that it is fine to have red rosy cheeks outside but if white blotches started to appear within the red then it was time to get indoors.

One particularly cold morning Stu was shoveling the drive and came in about half an hour later and his mustache was frozen. His nose had run in the cold and he literally had icicles hanging from his nose. It was funny to see, but potentially very dangerous.

You often hear people say that cold feels different in different places. We now realize this is true as back in the UK if the temperature ever got to really low temperatures, say -2℃ then you tried not to go out for fear of freezing to death. Here in Manitoba -2℃ feels quite warm unless there is a particularly bad windchill. It is not until you get to the -20’s that you really start to worry. It is all about being sensible and dressing the part. Clothing here is designed for the area and as long as you wear layers and buy sensibly then there is no reason why you cannot walk around outside when it is very cold, something you would never attempt in the UK.

When we first moved here we loved the fact the house had a long driveway and was set back off the road. Now we live here we know that that is not always a good thing in the winter as having a 200 foot driveway means you have to clear 200 feet of snow which is often several feet thick. We invested in a snow blower and it was well worth it as using a shovel was just ridiculous.

I remember in the UK we had a big snowstorm one year, 2004 I think it was and it bought the whole country to a standstill. No one could go anywhere and for about two days it was crazy and that was only a few inches of snow, although it did fall very quickly. Here in Winnipeg as soon as there is a good snowfall the plows are out in force clearing the roads and sidewalks. Usually by lunchtime most of the city is clear and accessible. It is amazing, but of course they are prepared for such conditions, unlike the UK.

We do have to go out after the plow has been

We do have to go out after the plow has been as it pushes all the snow from the centre of the road to the edges effectively blocking off the entrance to our drive and the mailbox. We have to clear the area around the mailbox otherwise the postman cannot get close enough to it in his car and will not deliver. But it is a small price to pay for the effective way the snow is cleared.

One thing the kids find very amusing is that you can plug your car in to stop it from freezing. When Stu goes to work he can plug the car in whilst he is there to stop it freezing up and make sure it starts okay when he is finished for the day. We have also done this when shopping at the mall, they have special locations where you take the lead out from under the car bonnet (or hood) and plug it in.

Whilst on the subject of cars you also need to have winter tires (spelt different here) on them as they grip far better in the hazardous winter conditions than regular tires. We also have to make sure that the washer fluid can go down to the temperatures we are experiencing. That is another strange thing to see on a car fluid bottle – okay to -50℃.

Although we have seen several accidents during the winter, thankfully we have not experience one ourselves. As long as you drive carefully and slowly and be aware of others around you it is much better than you might imagine. The times when there are accidents, and there are many, it is usually because someone has been driving like an idiot. Slow and steady is my motto!

Although our first Manitoba winter was a big shock to the system, we survived it and relished in it. I know for a fact that had we experienced the exact same conditions in England we, and many others might not have survived, but here it is just “normal” weather.

The following summer we experienced the exact opposite with temperatures soaring to the high +30℃ and feeling even hotter with the humidex factored in. If Manitoba is to be  known for anything it is the vast extremes in temperature. I personally love the spring and fall as these offer relatively normal weather, but I’m sure we will get used to the summer and winter too. And yes, we will have time to do that, Stu’s contract was extended from the initial 18 months to five years, so many more winters to come.

Multicultural Canada: During the third quarter, 84,200 immigrants arrived in Canada, 8,800 more than in the same quarter of 2009.

The increase in immigration was experienced by most of Canada’s provinces and territories. Some of them had the highest quarterly immigration levels since 1971, the first year covered by the current system of demographic accounts.

Despite the increase in immigration, Canada’s third-quarter population growth was only slightly higher than what was observed for the same quarter in 2009. The increase in immigration was partly offset by a decline in the net inflow of non-permanent residents.

Atlantic Canada

The population of Newfoundland and Labrador was estimated at 509,200 on October 1, 2010. Despite a net gain in international migration, it was the only province to post a population decline in the third quarter.

Prince Edward Island had the nation’s highest third-quarter growth rate. Its population increased by nearly 1,000 (+0.7%) to 143,200. The increase was largely due to immigration, as the province received 1,200 immigrants, the highest number since 1971.

Nova Scotia’s population grew by 1,400 (+0.1%) to 943,900. The increase was in part attributable to a net inflow of non-permanent residents (+1,400).

New Brunswick’s population totalled 752,800 as of October 1, up by 1,100 (+0.1%). The increase was primarily attributable to immigration, as the province received around 700 immigrants, the highest level observed since the second quarter of 1976.

Central Canada

Quebec’s population grew by 24,800 (+0.3%) to 7,932,100 during the third quarter. The province received 16,800 immigrants, the highest level since 1971.

During the third quarter, Quebec’s net interprovincial migration was close to zero, meaning that its number of in-migrants coming from other parts of the country equalled the number of people leaving the province for another location in Canada. With only a few exceptions, Quebec usually experiences losses in its migration exchanges with the other provinces and territories.

Ontario’s population totalled 13,268,600 on October 1, 2010, an increase of 57,900 (+0.4%). Net international migration, the most important factor in the province’s population growth, accounted for nearly 70% of Ontario’s third-quarter population increase.

Western Canada

Manitoba’s population as of October 1, 2010 was estimated at 1,240,000, up by 4,600 (+0.4%). The growth was primarily attributable to net international migration, estimated at 4,100. Manitoba received nearly 4,700 immigrants in the third quarter, the highest level since 1971.

Saskatchewan’s population increased by 4,100 (+0.4%) to reach 1,049,700 as of October 1. More than 60% of this growth was due to net international migration. Saskatchewan’s net interprovincial migration during the third quarter, which was slightly above zero, was much lower than in the same period in 2009.

Alberta’s population rose by 14,100 (+0.4%) to 3,735,100 in the third quarter. Unlike the situation in other provinces where migration is the key factor of population growth, nearly 60% of Alberta’s growth was due to natural increase, a much higher proportion than in any other province.

British Columbia posted an increase of 20,900 (+0.5%) in the third quarter as its population reached 4,551,900. The province received more than 13,200 immigrants in the third quarter, its highest level of immigration since the first quarter of 1997.

The territories

The population of the three territories was virtually unchanged in the third quarter. As of October 1, 2010, the Yukon’s population was estimated at 34,500, compared with 43,800 for the Northwest Territories and 33,300 for Nunavut.

The study, published today in The Lancet medical journal, is an initiative of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP), an international partnership of clinicians, academics and policymakers seeking to understand how and why cancer survival varies between countries. As its first area of focus, the ICBP explored survival rates for four cancers – lung, breast, colorectal and ovarian – in six developed countries.

Based on the voluntary participation of four Canadian provinces – British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario – the study data show that Canada’s survival rates for these four cancers are among the highest, along with Australia and Sweden, of six countries that also include Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The study is based on population data for 2.4 million adults diagnosed with colorectal, lung, breast or ovarian cancer between 1995 and 2007. Countries were invited to take part in the study based on comparable wealth, universal access to healthcare and the nature of cancer data available.

International study shows Canada among top countries in survival rates for lung, breast, colorectal and ovarian cancers

“Overall, Canada is performing well internationally when it comes to cancer survival – and the survival rates for all participating countries show improvement over time,” said Dr. Heather Bryant, Vice-President of Cancer Control at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and a senior author of the study. “Canada will continue to contribute and learn from international data as this study continues, while also working within our own borders to reduce cancer’s significant burden on our population, our health system and our economy: 174,000 cancer diagnoses and 76,000 cancer deaths every year is still very high.”

“The provinces in this study have organized approaches and systems to provide their citizens with world-class cancer care,” said Dr. Terry Sullivan, President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario and a member of the study’s International Programme Board. “Having both an interprovincial context and international comparisons allows us to understand our strengths and gaps, and to focus our improvement efforts. The international benchmarking findings are heartening for Canada, and a reminder to continue to strive for optimal care.”

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and provincial cancer agencies are among the many organizations involved in a national cancer strategy. Such strategies exist in several countries to bring a coordinated approach to reducing the impact of cancer on their populations.

Canada’s national cancer control strategy was funded by the federal government in 2006, and the Partnership opened its doors in 2007 to begin implementing it. Working with partners across the country – many of whom were instrumental in developing the cancer strategy – the Partnership is helping to improve the consistency and coordination of the cancer system across Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories.

One example of the Partnership’s collaborative work with Canada’s cancer community is the System Performance Initiative, which collects cancer data from a number of sources — including StatisticsCanada and provincial cancer organizations — to provide a series of snapshots about the performance of Canada’s national cancer control system across a range of areas like prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. Two system performance reports have been released to date, and findings will be deepened over the next year through ongoing collaboration.

About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is an independent organization funded by the federal government to accelerate action on cancer control for all Canadians. Bringing together cancer experts, government representatives, the Canadian Cancer Society and cancer patients, survivors and their families through the Canadian Cancer Action Network to implement the first pan-Canadian cancer-control strategy, the vision is to be a driving force to achieve a focused approach that will help prevent cancer, enhance the quality of life of those affected by cancer, lessen the likelihood of dying from cancer, and increase the efficiency of cancer control in Canada. For more information about the Partnership and Canada’s cancer control strategy, visit partnershipagainstcancer.ca. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is also the driving force behind cancerview.ca, an online community linking Canadians to cancer information, services and resources.

This was the first decline since the annual Survey of Household Spending was introduced in 1997. During 2009, the annual average rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index was 0.3%.

Personal taxes accounted for 20.2% of the average household’s budget in 2009, while shelter represented 19.8%, transportation 13.7% and food 10.2%. These shares were virtually unchanged from 2008.

Excluding personal taxes, spending on goods and services was down 0.7% in 2009 from 2008.

Average household spending declined in five provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta. The largest declines occurred in Prince Edward Island (-3.1%), and in Alberta (-2.2%), where average spending was highest at $84,976. The largest increase was in Manitoba (+4.9%), largely the result of a 5.5% increase in spending on shelter and a 4.9% increase on transportation. Spending on other categories remained stable.

Less spending on discretionary items

Putting the squeeze on spending

Households reduced spending in 2009 on discretionary items or those that could be postponed, such as recreation and household furnishings.

One exception was spending for home repairs and maintenance, which increased 22% in 2009 over 2008. In large part, this was likely due to the federal government home renovation tax credit program.

The largest declines in spending were for recreation, which fell 5.5% to $3,840 on average. Lower spending on recreation vehicles led the decline in this category; for example, spending on snowmobiles fell 11%.

Declines were widespread in such areas as sports gear, computer equipment and photographic equipment. However, spending at movie theatres rose 8.7% to an average of $100 per household.

Spending on household furnishings and equipment fell 3.6% to an average of $1,900 per household. This decrease was largely the result of declines in spending for rugs, window coverings, art, antiques, and workshop tools. Spending for furniture and appliances remained steady.

Overall, spending for transportation remained virtually unchanged at $9,750 per household. The largest change in transportation was for leased automobiles, where spending fell 16%. Many major auto corporations halted leasing during the downturn in the fall of 2008 and did not resume until the fall of 2009.

Spending associated with moving, such as the hiring of movers, real estate commissions, appraisals and land transfer taxes all showed sharp declines.

Technological change continues to affect spending

Not all changes were associated with the economic downturn. Technological change continued to drive a number of long-term trends in spending.

Spending for cell phone services rose 13% to an average of $620, surpassing spending for landline telephone services for the first time. Spending for landline services fell 4.5% to $550.

Over 77% of households reported having at least one cell phone. The proportion of households with landline service declined to 89%, a level last seen in 1965.

Spending on audio players fell 38%, while it was down 9.2% on digital cameras. These declines occurred as more cell phones were capable of playing music and taking photos.

Spending on reading materials, such as newspapers and books, fell 8.3% to $230 per household, while average spending for Internet access grew 10% to $340 per household.

Home Internet access was reported by 78% of households in 2009, while 72% reported having a broadband connection, up from 67% in 2008.

Food, shelter, clothing account for over half of spending by lowest income households

52% went to food, shelter and clothing

The one-fifth of Canadian households with the lowest income spent an average of $23,860 in 2009. Of this, almost 52% went to food, shelter and clothing. Personal taxes represented 2.8% of their budget.

In contrast, the one-fifth of households with the highest income spent an average of $147,090. They allocated about 27% of their budgets to food, shelter and clothing, while 30% went to personal taxes. These proportions were similar to 2008.

The report “User Guide for the Survey of Household Spending,” 2009 (62F0026M2010006, free), which presents information about survey methodology, concepts, and data quality, is available online as part of the Household Expenditures Research Paper Series. From the Publications module, choose Publications by subject, then Income, pensions, spending and wealth, then Household spending and Savings and finally, Household Expenditures Research paper series.

Winnipeg, MB, self-dubbed the “Christmas Capital of Canada” for its passion for night lights

Downtown streets and the Manitoba Legislature are always lavishly lit up, but they’re just the tip of a sparkling iceberg. The drive-through, 2.5-km (1.6-mi)-long Canad Inns Winter Wonderland at the city’s Red River Exhibition Park sports more than a million lights and 29 themed areas; it’s so bright that according to its organizers, pilots claim they can see it as far as 32 km (20 mi) from the city. Horse-drawn sleigh rides on weekends are free, as is family skating all week long.

The Festival of Trees & Lights, running from late November to mid-December to raise money for local charities, is staged in the Manitoba Hydro Gallery in the energy-efficient Hydro headquarters on Portage Ave., and includes a roster of live performances from dancers to choirs, plus special Christmas readings.

At the Electrical Museum, the seasonal “All That Glows: Then & Now” display covers holiday light bulbs and styles from as far back as the 1880s. One suburb in particular goes lights-crazy—Linden Woods, where hundreds of cars crawl along the streets to ogle Candy Cane Lane (Foxmeadow Drive) and Polar Bear Lane (Hennessey Drive), as well as dozens of other glowing, stand-out house decorations. One family in the Tuxedo area (by the city’s Assiniboine Forest) runs a delightful miniature-train excursion nightly for two weeks during the holiday season. The 1/8th-scale train’s six-minute route carries passengers through the family’s Christmas-lights display, spread over seven acres of forest. Last year, visitors walking in from Roblin Blvd. used a 300-m (984-ft) lit pathway, or detoured along a 600-m (1,969-ft) path and wound up at a Gingerbread Village.

Saskatchewan is no slouch lights-wise, either. Regina locals brave the cold in early December to kick off the season with the lighting of City Hall and the Legislature Building, and then enjoy the 70th Rotary Christmas Carol Festival with over 80 local choral groups.

Saskatoon boasts one of Canada’s longest-running drive-through displays, the Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Tour, staged at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park every evening from Nov. 19, 2010 to Jan. 9, 2011. Some 60,000 visitors drop by to admire more than 900 images, displays and huge trees, including whimsical hens coming home to roost in the Eiffel Tower (“Three French Hens”), a gigantic Eddie the Elf, and strutting peacocks. Horse-drawn wagon rides for up to 16 people can be booked, and tour buses are welcome at a nominal charge per head.

With all this to light up the nights, it’s no wonder Prairie folks don’t much mind shorter days; the nights are even prettier than bright sunshine on sparkling snow.

www.travelmanitoba.com
www.sasktourism.com

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre:

Writers Bio: Veteran Canadian writer, journalist, and broadcaster, Judy Waytiuk is based in Winnipeg, MB. She loves “soft adventure,” history, nature and cultural travel, has written hundreds of features for dozens of newspapers and magazines, and holds five major national and international awards for her travel writing. Her heart is happiest when she’s writing about Canada. www.wordsink.ca

Here’s a roundup of activities and places to play in the snow across the country:

Ski & snowboard (X-C, cat-, resort, heli-)
Skiing? Boarding? Hell, yeah! Canada’s got a veritable buffet of skiing options, with many flavours to enjoy: resort, heli-, cat- and Nordic/cross-country. Whatever your preference, Canada has no shortage of world-class choices:

• Although British Columbia’s Whistler-Blackcomb regularly steals the limelight as North America’s über-ski resort, there’s a lifetime of other hills to explore, spreading across to Alberta, Quebec and as far east as Marble Mountain near Corner Brook, NL.
• The world’s first heli-skiing operation, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), now operates 12 heli-ski areas and lodges in British Columbia (where an estimated 90% of the world’s heli-skiing takes place). 
  
• The world’s first commercial cat-ski operation also hails from British Columbia: 35 years old now, Selkirk Wilderness Skiing is still a family business operating near Nelson, BC. 
  
• There are 500-plus cross-country ski areas across Canada, with standouts including Alberta’s Canmore Nordic Centre, developed for the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, and Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club in the Yukon, with 75 km (47 mi) of trails accessible five minutes from downtown.

Snowshoe

Initially born out of necessity for travel and hunting in deep snow, the snowshoe has evolved in form and use to something enjoyed by those more interested in getting some exercise in the crisp air while absorbing some of the splendour of the outdoors. Pretty much anywhere you can hike during the summer, you can snowshoe in winter. Some ideal locales to strap on snowshoes include:

• Gatineau Park, a short jaunt from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON, our nation’s capital. Here 45 km (28 mi) of lakeside trails range from easy to challenging.
• On the east coast, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Gros Morne National Park butts against the Atlantic Ocean, making for some dramatic coastal trekking.
• A prime example of boreal forest mixed with prairie landscape is Moose Mountain Provincial Park in southeastern Saskatchewan.

Outdoor skating

Skating is a fundamental skill needed to play ice hockey, which is why many Canadians have skates put on them not long after they’re able to walk. Originally a mode of transportation for First Nations and early settlers, ice-skating soon became a recreational pastime during long winter months. Although indoor rinks abound, the full Canadian experience is to skate outdoors in the fresh air.

• The famed Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa, ON, is the world’s largest groomed outdoor ice-skating surface (7.8 km or 5 mi).
• A few of the longest ice-skating venues in Canada include: Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail, the world’s longest naturally frozen skating trail, in Winnipeg,MB; Sylvan Lake Track in Alberta; and Rivière L’Assomption’s Skateway in Joliette, QC.
• Two of the most picturesque outdoor skating areas include: Place d’Youville in Québec City, QC, amid the Old Town’s historic buildings in front of Palais Montcalm; and when it’s sufficiently frozen, Alberta’s iconic Lake Louise, ringed by glaciated peaks and the fairytale-esque Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
• In the north, Frame Lake, right in the middle of the Northwest Territories’ capital,Yellowknife, gets a good grooming for winter skating.
• Many downtown cores in Canada sport outdoor rinks, including Victoria Park in Regina, SK and Nathan Phillips Square, outside city hall in Toronto, ON.

Tobogganing

Of all the winter activities, none crosses as many age groups and abilities as tobogganing (from the Algonquian term odabaggan). Simply get on something that slides; a sled with runners, toboggan with flat bottom, even a piece of plastic, then succumb to gravity. Anywhere there’s a decent hill (and a good run out) is fair game. But some places to consider:

• Les Glissades de la Terrasse Dufferin (Dufferin Terrace Toboggan Slide) in Québec City, QC, beside the stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel. A holdover from a bygone era of manmade toboggan slides, the 82-m-high (269-ft) platform yields a 152-m (499-ft) ride. It costs only a couple of dollars, but you have to haul the wooden toboggan to the top yourself.
• Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, AB, allows you to view or experience the bigger brothers of tobogganing: luge, bobsleigh (you can try these two) and skeleton.
• Just about every ski resort has a good tubing or tobogganing area, official or otherwise.

Snowmobiling
It should come as no surprise that the father of the modern snowmobile was Canadian.Joseph-Armand Bombardier from Valcourt, QC, developed a caterpillar tracks design especially suited to varied snow conditions—a design adopted by all other major manufacturers. Present-day machines, with 150-plus horsepower engines capable of reaching speeds in excess of 240 k/hr (150 mph), provide access to some of the wildest, most remote regions of the country. But there’s no need for anything extreme to make for serious snowmobiling fun. Some of the most popular Canadian snowmobiling destinations include:

• Bombardier’s province, Quebec, is also birthplace of the first snowmobiling club in the world. The Laurentians and Abitibi-Témiscamingue, with their 3,518 km (2,217 mi) of snowmobiling trails, are considered two of the top destinations in the province.
• Ontario’s network of recreational snowmobiling trails is the longest in the world (at over 43,000 km or 26,000 mi) and includes such destinations as Vermilion Bay.
• New Brunswick’s Great Northern Odyssey carves a 1,000-km (625-mi) trail through four towns in the most snow-blessed province in the Maritimes.
• In the west, top spots include Sicamous, BC, Crowsnest Pass, AB, Whiteshell Provincial Park, MB, and Hudson Bay and Nipawin, both in Saskatchewan.
• The truly adventurous will want to try snowmobiling in wild Labrador; with virtually no roads, it’s only accessible by snowmobile in winter , or in Canada’s remote Arctic, Nunavut

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre:

Writers Bio: Masa Takei is a freelance magazine and screen writer based in Vancouver, BC. Publications he’s written for include Canadian Geographic, Westworld, Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and The Globe and Mail. His writing interests range from outdoor adventure, travel and subcultures to, apparently, structuring narrative arcs for mutant mercenaries and half-vampires. mtakei@shaw.ca

Of course, the first Canadian cuisine is the indigenous food of our First Nations: the salmon, oysters and oolican of British Columbia’s coastal waters; the bison and wild Saskatoon berry of the Prairies; the moose and elk of the Canadian Shield; the seal, whale and caribou of the vast northern tundra.

Over the last 125 years, the waves of immigrants who have settled in pockets throughout the country have further defined the style of cooking and local specialties. In “Irish” Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s boiled corned beef and cabbage dinners. InVancouver, BC, it’s sushi and killer Cantonese. In Edmonton, AB, it’s the best perogies and cabbage rolls—thanks to the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the land.

Canada is a country of regions, and regional cuisine is all the rage here. Here’s a taste of what to expect as you cross from sea to shining sea to shining sea:

Atlantic Canada
The Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick all have their own unique culinary charms, but they take many of their culinary cues from the sea. Commercial fisheries run the gamut from Digby scallops in Nova Scotia to Malpeque oysters in PEI to sweet Coldwater shrimp in Newfoundland. There’s also cod, mussels and lobster all around, and lush growing regions like the Annapolis Valley, NS, known for wonderful apples and now vineyards featuring the Maritime grape, L’Acadie Blanc. As in all parts of the country, the best chefs are using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients—from seaweed to PEI potatoes—in creative new ways.

Whether you tuck into a meal from a top chef or a lobster roll on the street, fresh seafood is always on the plate. In port towns like St. John’s, NL, and Halifax, NS, the pub culture runs deep, with some of the best places in the country to raise a pint accompanied by a casual meal and lively Maritime music.

Typical tastes:

• Crispy cod tongues and scrunchions in St. John’s, NL
• Rappie pie on the northeast Acadian shore of New Brunswick
• Seaweed pie in PEI
• Lobster (lobster suppers and lobster rolls)
• Fish & chips
• Rum cake
• Chowder

Hot spots:

• Tempest in Wolfville, NS
• Chives Canadian Bistro, Halifax, NS
• Fid Resto, Halifax, NS
• Le Caveau at Domaine de Grand Pré, NS
• The Battered Fish, Halifax, NS
• The Rooms Café, St. John’s, NL
• Bianca, St. John’s NL
• Claddagh Oyster House, Charlottetown, PEI

Quebec
La belle province is a massive place, stretching from the salt-lashed coast of the Gaspé Peninsula and tiny islands of Îles de la Madeleine, down the St. Lawrence River to historic Quebéc City, and further south to cosmopolitan Montréal. The northern reaches of the province are a wilderness of lakes and forests, filled with game such as deer and moose. The famed sugar bush comes alive from February to early spring—maple syrup season. Along the south shore, you’ll find the country’s best cheesemakers.

The culinary vibe takes much from the old-fashioned French cooking transplanted by some of the earliest Canadian immigrants more than 400 years ago—which is why you’ll find excellent French wines in the government-operated liquor stores—and restaurants in Old Québec serving pea soup and cassoulet. But the cities are cosmopolitan, and thanks to centuries of immigration, you’ll find excellent Jewish delis, Vietnamese bakeries and star chefs creating superb French-Canadian cuisine.

Typical tastes:

• Tourtière, a classic double-crusted meat pie made with pork (and sometimes game meats)
• Iced hard cider, a sweet dessert wine similar to icewine, but pressed from frozen apples
• Smoked meat sandwiches
• Poutine, French-Canadian fast food created by topping French fries with gravy and fresh cheese curds (and now all manner of other things from beefy meat sauce to curry)
• Maple syrup on snow, a sweet n’ chewy snack found at sugar shacks, or maple sugar pie and even maple wine
• Local cheeses

Hot spots:

• Au Pied de Cochon, Montréal
• Restaurant Toqué!, Montréal
• Restaurant Toast!, Québec City
• Schwartz’s, Montréal
• Aux Anciens Canadiens, Québec City
• Laurie Raphaël, Québec City

Ontario
Ontario is the heart of the country, home to the national capital of Ottawa, with its international embassies, and Toronto, the metropolitan area that is Canada’s most densely populated region. Stretching along the Great Lakes, there are temperate growing regions such as Niagara and Prince Edward County, both known for vineyards, apples and other tree fruit. From the lakes are pickerel and whitefish, and from the northern forests wild mushrooms, ramps and game.

While Ontario’s British history may be seen in local favourites like butter tarts and peameal bacon sandwiches, its capital, Toronto, is truly an international city with a multicultural past and present. This includes Greek restaurants along the Danforth, locovore charcuterie made on site at places like The Black Hoof, and pupusas and Chinese roast duck in funky Kensington Market. You’re never far from a great cup of coffee, an authentic Jamaican patty or a wine bar in Toronto. And with superb chef schools—like the Stratford Chefs School—nearby, the city lures some top Canadian chefs to its upscale dining spots.

Typical tastes:

• Peameal bacon sandwich, St. Lawrence Market
• Ontario cabernet franc (like those from Henry of Pelham Family Estate)
• BeaverTails before skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
• Vidal or riesling icewine (for a treat, try Inniskillin’s Icewine Sparkling Vidal)
• Butter tarts
• Niagara peaches

Hot spots:
Gilead Café, Toronto
Buddha Dog, Picton
Dine @ Vineland Estates, Niagara
Le Cordon Bleu Bistro @ Signatures, Ottawa
SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto
Black Hoof, Toronto
Canoe, Toronto
North 44, Toronto
Anything to do with star-chef Michael Stadtländer.

Prairies
Once you get off of Ontario’s rocky Canadian Shield, you’re into the prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Manitoba, with massive Lake Winnipeg and a connection to Hudson’s Bay, was a historic transportation hub, the end of the line for pioneers who set off from Winnipeg by wagon train and Red River cart to populate the west.

Fish and fishers factor into Prairies cuisine—Icelandic immigrants populated areas around Gimli on the namesake lake—fishing pickerel or walleye and smoking Winnipeg goldeye. From the land, game birds like duck and geese migrate through this region’s marshlands and end up in family freezers, and there are many shallow lakes where wild rice is produced. Grain is grown across the Prairies—wheat, barley, oats, canola, even Manitoba Harvest hemp—and other famous field crops like mustard, lentils and beans.

Saskatoon berries are also eaten across the Prairies (the dried berries plus bison make pemmican) and now there are U-picks for berries and even prairie sour cherries. Beyond pickerel, there’s sustainably farmed trout and Arctic char, birch syrup and enough malted Canadian barley for lots of good artisan beer labels and brew pubs. There’s also a strong Eastern European community in these two provinces, with many immigrants from Ukraine, Poland and Romania. The local ingredients and ethnic traditions influence chefs, so you’ll find things like crispy pickerel fillets and wild-mushroom perogies on some of the best menus.

Typical tastes:

• Red Fife wheat
• Saskatoon berries
• Smoked Winnipeg goldeye
• Wild rice
• Pickerel
• Prairie cherry spreads and chocolates
• Perogies

Hot spots:

• Janis and Remi Cousyn’s Calories restaurant and Souleio, Saskatoon, SK
• Weczeria, Saskatoon, SK
• Baba’s Perogies, Saskatoon, SK
• The Willow on Wascana, Regina, SK
• Current Restaurant and Lounge, Winnipeg, MB
• Smokin’ Okies BBQ, Regina, SK
• Bushwakker Brewpub, Regina, SK

Alberta
Alberta is both a prairie and mountain province, its foothills (where cattle ranching is king) the physical transition from one kind of geography to the other. Alberta farmers produce most of the country’s barley—to feed that cattle—so beef and beer are big on menus.

But Alberta is also a wealthy, oil-producing province with lots of jobs and corporate head offices, so you’ll see a kind of upscale, cosmopolitan cuisine here that is typical of larger centres. Wine bars with small plates to share are popular for downtown dining, and there are plenty of sushi bars, noodle houses, plus Italian, Indian and Tex-Mex spots.

In the mountain parks—from Kananaskis north to Banff and Jasper—a kind of unique Canadian Rocky Mountain cuisine, featuring wild game such as elk and bison, and foraged foods including mushrooms and berries, has been developed by chefs at Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff and other regional spots.

Still, the cowboy lifestyle is alive in Alberta and that beefy ranch and prairie farm vibe runs through many big city establishments, whether it’s nose-to-tail dining at Calgary’s CHARCUT or steak at Open Range. Top chefs feature local free-range meats and poultry—from Spragg’s pork and Sunworks Farm chicken to Driview Farms lamb—on their locally inspired menus, with wood-fired grills and rotisseries popular for cooking the meaty fare.

Typical tastes:

• Alberta Beef
• Big Rock beer
• Spolumbo’s sausages
• Valbella Gourmet Foods charcuterie (including wild game sausages)
• Sylvan Star Cheese aged Gouda
• Bernard Callebaut chocolates
• Bison (aka buffalo)
• Saskatoon pie

Hot spots:

• CHARCUT, Calgary
• NOtaBLE, Calgary
• Rouge, Calgary
• River Café and Boxwood, Calgary
• FARM, Calgary
• Spolumbo’s, Calgary
• The Bison, Banff
• Canadian Rocky Mountain cuisine at Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Banff
• Hardware Grill, Edmonton
• Culina Highlands, Edmonton
• ECOcafé at Pigeon Lake

British Columbia
British Columbia has a strong British past (especially evident during afternoon tea in the province’s capital, Victoria), but it’s also been a magnate for immigrants, including gold miners, lumberjacks, and the Japanese and Chinese immigrants of Vancouver and Richmond (the largest Chinatown in Canada).

On the food front, BC offers a wealth of riches—from beef and seafood to tree fruit and wine. The coastal communities are fishing communities, and BC is known for its wild sockeye, pink, coho, and Chinook salmon, deep-sea halibut and sablefish (a.k.a. black cod), Fanny Bay oysters and the wild spot prawns—some of the only sustainable shrimp around.

Delta is famed for growing cranberries and other vegetables, especially greenhouse tomatoes. The central Okanagan region, sprawling north to south along a chain of massive lakes, has peaches, apples, plums and wine grapes for making some of the country’s most intense and awarded wines.

Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are microclimates of their own, producing fresh fruit, wine grapes and woodlands bursting with chanterelle, morel and other wild fungi. In Whistler, Haida Gwaii and points north, look for smoked salmon, Matsutake, and coastal other First Nations cuisine.

Like the rest of the west coast, Vancouver is at once laid back, cosmopolitan and cutting-edge when it comes to cuisine. Here you’ll find some of the world’s top chefs—Daniel Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten—with satellite restaurants, and some of Canada’s top culinary talents, including James Walt at Araxi in Whistler, Robert Clark at C Restaurant and David Hawksworth at Hawksworth. It’s here where forward-thinking culinary concepts start: Ocean Wise sustainable seafood, charcuterie, local culinary tourism (see Edible BC), wine and creative cocktail bars.

Tour around the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island or hit Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market to see what fresh Canadian food is all about.

Typical tastes:

• Sockeye salmon
• Sushi
• Dim sum
• BC wines (especially pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir)
• First Nations cuisine (bannock with smoked salmon)
• Fanny Bay oysters
• Nanaimo bars
• Wild chanterelle mushrooms

Hot spots:

• Blue Water Café + Raw Bar, Vancouver
• Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca, Vancouver
• Salt Tasting Room, Vancouver
• Silk Road Tea, Victoria
• Araxi, Whistler
• Barefoot Bistro, Whistler
• Red Fish Blue Fish, Victoria
• KINGYO IZAKAYA, Vancouver
• Sun Sui Wah Seafood, Vancouver and Richmond
• Campagnolo, Vancouver
• RauDZ, Kelowna
• JAPA DOG (creative street food), Vancouver
• Tojo’s, Vancouver
• Sooke Harbour House, Vancouver Island
• Spinnakers, Victoria

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre:

Writers Bio: Cinda Chavich is the former food editor and senior feature writer for the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun. Specializing in cuisine, cultural history, eco-travel, lifestyle and trends, Chavich contributes to The Globe and Mail, CBC radio, Avenue (Calgary), Chatelaine, Canadian Geographic, Westworld, up!, Wine Access, Food Service & Hospitality and Alberta Parent, as well as American publications Wine Spectator, Cooking Light and Relish. From cod tongues in Newfoundland to truffles in northern Italy, Chavich is keen to explore the unique corners of Canada. www.tastereport.com.

One man’s story of hard work and determination to make his dream come true

I am a nurse here in the Philippines. I am part of the wave of professionals who redirected their career paradigm and took up a bachelor’s degree in nursing to have a better future abroad. Yes, I took a Bachelor of Arts in English first. Worked as a medical representative for less than a year promoting glucometer in hospitals until I got onto the bandwagon of studying nursing like my ‘medrep’ (medical-representative) friends were doing at that time.

Going back to school was hard in every way. I had to go back to reading thick books, memorizing scientific names, back to laboratory analysis, do return demonstrations and had to surface from the discreet discrimination of submitting one’s self to younger professors. I had to take all these in and find joy in studying nursing. I had to think of the dollars and the comfort of my parents and family in the future. My family was very supportive. I have a sister, married and with a kid, a nurse in Ireland, who, supported half of the expenses – tuition, allowance and books. The other half was from my brother, who worked as a caregiver in the States. It was a surreal experience: going back to school in the hope of landing a better future. I had to risk everything and consider a major career shift. No more selling glucometers and start doing the dirty job. No more salary and relying on allowances.

I studied for three years. Luckily, the minor subjects in my previous course got credited and so I was able to cut a year from the regular four-year course. Two months after graduation, I had to take the board exam and pass it before I could practice. I studied hard and passed. And after that, I embraced unemployment. I believe there were 20,000 more licensed nurses in the Philippines, never mind, it’s close to 300,000 now. Imagine – all those people all looking for jobs. I had to go through the dreadful process of competition. Most nurses had to pay the hospitals so they can get to work as volunteers. That is roughly P800-2,500/month ($20-65 CND) so they can get a certificate of experience. And yes, the hospital is lucky it gets income from their workers. We had to find other means of income. I had a different case. I worked as a volunteer first. No, I did not pay them. But my services were free for the first 3 months. I had to work as a writer online so I could get other means of income while I worked as a nurse. It was so hard. I felt it was an excruciating injustice and an obvious violation to nurses. After the very expensive tuition and long years of financial insolvency from schooling, I had to risk everything myself in order to advance.

I applied for jobs abroad. Anywhere: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia, USA and even Bermuda. You name it and I sent applications there. Unfortunately I had no replies because I was an inexperienced nurse.

In the second year, a friend of mine forwarded me an email from a website. A new agency in Manila was calling for nurses with experience to work in Manitoba, Canada. It was nothing new. I just sent my application without high hopes – thinking I would be rejected again like the others. Two days later, they called me up and asked me to attend an interview in Manila in four days time. I got so excited. I prayed hard. I loaned my airfare from my mother through her credit card. It would be the start of something big.

It was not that easy though. I had to go through several phases of selection. I called it torture (wink). I took a 25-part exam where I had to at least get 20 to pass. Then I got interviewed and was told that I was to be put on a waiting list. I flew back home uncertain and in deep prayer. I considered the possibility of losing that chance to go to Canada. After the longest four days of my life,

Jason Marchand, the Human Resource Officer for Brandon Rural Health Authority called me with the good news that I had been accepted. Jason heard my outpouring of laughter and joy through the phone line. I worked at my papers and medical exams and now, I am finally leaving in 5 weeks time.

I am writing my story because for the longest time in my life, I have had a dream of working abroad. Now I’m going to be in Canada with Canadians. I have always valued the culture and the finesse of Canadians. I have always believed in the way they preserve humanity, health and values in tune with realizing economic goals. To me balance is important. I have always been prudent in my life’s decisions and to me Canada is the way to go.

I am excited about the Brandon experience. I have been doing constant research online about what Brandon looks like and what it will offer me. I have read an article about a 15 year-old girl who moved in from Vancouver with her family and how she overturned her skepticism. I have no hesitations now. I will be coming with 161 more Filipino nurses who will be assigned in four parts of Manitoba: Central, Assiniboine, Parkland and Brandon. I will be there in May 27, 2009 to be exact.

I’m just so excited. Brandon, here I come!