Our national weather office crunched the numbers for our 100 largest cities and came up with Canada’s Weather Winners. Herewith, a guide to finding the perfect weather for your particular personality, sunny or otherwise.

You like a challenge

Whatever the season, Newfoundland and Labrador offers the toughest combination of weather you’ll find. St. John’s is our foggiest and windiest city, and Gander and St. John’s lead the country as the top two locations with more days of freezing rain. Sunny days are few and far between. Of course, this explains why the people are some of the friendliest and fun-loving in the country – you gotta be special to endure weather like this.

You’re a softie

Victoria and Nanaimo – both on Vancouver Island in British Columbia tie for the most comfortable weather in Canada. Not too hot in summer, not too cold in winter. They’re also a lot dryer and sunnier than most people think. Victoria gets less snow than anywhere in the country while Nanaimo boasts the clearest summer skies. No wonder people spend so much time outside here.

You like sizzling heat

Kamloops, BC boasts the highest summer temperatures with the mercury consistently climbing into the high 20sC (80sF) in July and August. One day it reached 40.6C (105F)! Locals grab a tube and float down the Thompson River on those lazy hot days. The tourism folks have a motto: ‘Playtime. Redefined’.

You don’t mind freezing your butt off!

Head north to Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories for the lowest average temperatures year-round. Yellowknifers can also boast about having the most extreme wind chill and the longest snow-cover – up to 190 days every year. On the plus side, Yellowknife has the sunniest summers in the country.

You like dancing in the rain

Prince Rupert on BC’s northwest coast is your kind of place. Once known as ‘the halibut capital of the world’, Prince Rupert is the wettest city in Canada, getting almost 2.5 metres (eight feet) of rain a year. When you’ve had enough rain, explore the rich history of the northwest coast at the world-class Museum of Northern BC.

You like to be awed

Southern Ontario is famous for hot, sticky summers; the perfect ingredients for creating thunder and lightning storms. So it’s no coincidence that Windsor, our most humid city and one of our hottest (just a 3.5-hour drive from Toronto), also has the most days of thunderstorm activity. Daggers of lightning and thunderous claps will keep you entertained on many a summer evening.

You want a taste of everything

Montreal is the quintessential Canadian city for weather. It gets an average amount of just about everything: rain, snow, heat, cold, sun and wind. But just because the weather is average doesn’t mean the city is. Montreal is one of our most exciting, most romantic and arguably our most cosmopolitan city. The mix of weather is a bonus.

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Suzanne Morphet is passionate about exploring Canada and writing about it. She knows she’d need many lifetimes to do it justice…. So with just one, she’s working hard to see and share as much as she can. Her travel stories have appeared in The Globe and Mail, up! magazine (West Jet’s in-flight magazine), Homemakers and numerous other publications. Morphet recently co-authored The Vancouver Island Book of Everything. She is based in Victoria, BC.

Within a week of Gaga’s anointment, the YouTube video had shot to 25 million views and is still going strong.

Winnipeg’s Hot 103 brought her into the radio station studio and arranged for Lady Gaga to talk to her, which was emotional for both parties. Gaga was so impressed and touched by Maria that she invited her to perform the song “Born this Way” on stage with her at a concert in Toronto.

Maria explained: “I met a lot of people before, but Lady Gaga is the reason why I am here because if she hadn’t seen my video, I wouldn’t be doing this interview. And when I first got to talk to her, I cried because she had time to talk to me, and she even wanted me to sing with her at a concert. I was just very overwhelmed; I was just so star-struck.” Maria has also appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and has since been invited to countless interviews, performances and media outlets all around the world.

Maria’s success is particularly inspiring because of her family’s story. Maria’s mother and father emigrated from the Philippines to Winnipeg in 1997 with two older sisters and a brother in search of a better environment for their kids. Although the Aragons didn’t speak that much English at first, through a combination of work, school and with the help of family already settled in Winnipeg, they became well integrated in their neighbourhood.

Although she liked the Philippines, Maria’s sister Rojuane says that she could probably never move back. Canada is what she considers home. “My parents would love to go back,” she said. “I know that for sure, because my mom’s side of the family is all still in the Philippines.”

Maria is the only one of four children who was born in Canada. When asked what she considers her identity, she states, “Well, I’m Canadian because I was born here. But I was raised by Filipino parents, so I guess I’m both.”

She loves Winnipeg but also knows that being Filipino is a huge part of who she is. She has a lot of fans from the Philippines and from Asia at large, which she says can be both exciting and a little strange. Many of them follow her on Facebook and have set up numerous fan pages dedicated to her.

Maria has even had the opportunity to sing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his campaign tour during the last federal election. She reflected candidly, “Well, it was an honour because, of course, he’s the Prime Minister, he’s like the boss of everybody! It was fun because I didn’t know he could play the piano so well!”

Maria also took part in the annual Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, performing in front of the large crowd which featured William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as part of their 2011 tour of Canada.

When asked what made singing important to her, Maria says, “Everyone is good at something, whether it is art or singing or dancing, but I think singing is special because it’s the talent that I have and it’s special, especially now because it’s the reason why I get to go see Lady Gaga and be on the Ellen (DeGeneres) Show … It’s the talent that God gave me so I’m really grateful for it.”

For more videos of Maria, check out her YouTube channel.

Fiskars, a global leader in hand tools for home, garden and outdoors, zoomed in on Calgary this year to install a community garden. In the South East community of Albert Park Radisson Heights, to be precise.

Fiskars, under its Project Orange Thumb initiative, provides groups across the US and Canada with tools, materials and resources they need to create beautiful and productive community garden spaces. Since 2002, Project Orange Thumb has lent over $1 million to more than 115 community groups.

Photo Caption: From left to right Jay Gillespie, vice-president, brand marketing, Fiskars Americas; Duncan Reith, senior vice-president, merchandising, Canadian Tire; Paul Tonnesen, president, Fiskars Americas and Kelly Stock, a community volunteer pose for a photograph

As many as 100 volunteers turned up at Calgary’s inner city neighbourhood on Wednesday (July 27) to install a garden in welcome sunshine after a day of heavy downpour. The Albert Park Centennial Garden, as it has been named, is one of three North American sites selected for 2011 makeovers. Only one for Canada, other being at Madison, WI and Far Rockaway, NY.

“The decision to bring Project Orange Thumb to the Albert Park Radisson Heights community has been met with much enthusiasm,” says Fiskars Americas President Paul Tonnesen. “It’s a rewarding aspect of our business to help communities learn about and embrace the benefits of growing their own nutritious food for years to come,” he adds.

“People are increasingly appreciating the value of outdoor spaces, nutritious food, conservation of resources, and neighborhood and community development. Whether they are new to the area or lifetime residents, the Albert Park Centennial Garden will give community members an opportunity to come together and get to know their neighbors while embracing the benefits of growing their own fruits and vegetables,” the president says.

Putting down a financial figure, Tonnesen says in addition to many planning hours, the garden itself costs approximately $50,000, including the cost of materials, tools, live goods, and planning resources. He says the garden will serve as a good community engagement vantage point.

Local community members will be able to enjoy the beautified gathering space, rent plots to grow their own food, or utilize the larger in-ground beds for communal food production. A portion of the produce grown in the communal beds will be donated to communities in need.

Algernon Wilson, garden committee lead at the Albert Park Radisson Heights Community Association says there is a lot of confidence to be gained by becoming a productive gardener, not to mention pride in the community. “The community interest we’ve seen so far has been tremendous, and plans for garden expansion are already being considered,” he says.

Community members have welcomed the new garden as an opportunity to come together to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Algernon says the community residents worked tirelessly over last few months to engage the area residents and prepare the land for garden installation.

The new 12,765 square-foot Albert Park Centennial Garden, will contain four raised beds, two pedestal beds and 16 in-ground beds to serve a variety of gardening styles.

The centre of the garden will contain a gathering space surrounded by rose bushes and covered with a 16 foot pergola. In addition to a beautified community gathering space, community members will have the opportunity to rent garden plots or utilize communal beds, and a portion of the produce grown in the communal beds will be donated to communities in need.

For this park in Calgary, Fiskars partnered with the Calgary Horticultural Society, The City of Calgary and Canadian Tire to plant the seeds of community pride and transform an empty field in community into beautiful garden.

All in a day. The fruits of which will be reaped over the years to come.

Writers Bio: Peeyush Agnihotri is a writer with 14 years of international journalistic experience, mostly reporting on social and sustainable development issues. A National Foundation of India fellowship holder, he is currently based in Calgary

Statistics Canada says more than half (54 per cent) of police-reported hate crimes in 2009 were motivated by race or ethnicity, 29 per cent by religion and 13 per cent by sexual orientation.

All increased, especially hate crimes motivated by religion, which rose 55 per cent, the agency says. The number of racially motivated hate crimes was up 35 per cent, it says, while those motivated by sexual orientation went up 18 per cent.

“Violent offences, such as assault, accounted for about four in 10 hate crimes reported by police. Violent offences were particularly more common among hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation.”

More than half (54 per cent) of police-reported hate crimes involved mischief offences, such as graffiti or vandalism, the study says.

“Rates of hate crime tended to be highest among youth and young adults for both victims and accused,” it says.

The number of police-reported hate crimes against all racial groups rose in 2009. The largest increase involved hate crimes against Arabs or West Asians, which doubled to 75 incidents from 37. Blacks continued to be the most commonly targeted racial group, accounting for 272 incidents in 2009, or about 38 per cent of all racially-motivated incidents.

As in previous years, Statistics Canada reported seven in 10 religiously-motivated hate crimes were committed against the Jewish faith in 2009 — 283, up 71 per cent from 2008.

Hate crimes against the Muslim faith increased to 36 incidents from 26 in 2008. Police reported 33 hate crimes against Catholics, three more than in 2008. Four cities accounted for most of the increase in police-reported hate crime, led by Ottawa, where the number of incidents increased by 83, Toronto (79), Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo (62) and Montreal (61).

The census area of Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, Ont., reported the highest rate of police-reported hate crimes, at just under 18 incidents for every 100,000 population.

Seasonally adjusted national home sales activity in March came in one tenth of a percentage point above levels for the previous month, with stable demand in most large urban centres. With national sales in each of the first three months of 2011 running close to their five- or ten-year monthly averages, seasonally adjusted national sales activity in the first quarter of 2011 was up 4.5 per cent from levels recorded in the fourth quarter of last year, and reached the highest quarterly level in a year.

Most of the quarterly increase in seasonally adjusted national sales activity was due to demand in Vancouver and Toronto. Recent changes to mortgage regulations may have caused a number of sales in some of Canada’s more expensive housing markets to be brought forward into the first quarter that would have otherwise occurred later in the year.

Sellers looking to tradeup before changes to mortgage regulations took effect made their move early, resulting in a significant rise in newly listed homes in January and February of this year. With changes to mortgage regulations looming in March, seasonally adjusted new residential listings for the month dropped five per cent month-to-month.

Steady sales activity combined with fewer new listings tightened the national resale housing market. The national sales-to-new listings ratio, a measure of the balance between supply and demand, stood at 56.5 per cent in March. This kept the national housing market firmly entrenched in balanced territory, with March marking the firmest reading for national market balance in more than a year.

Based on sales-to-new listings ratios, more than half of local markets in Canada could be considered balanced in March, with two-thirds of the remaining markets considered to be as sellers’ markets.

“The majority of local housing markets across Canada are well balanced, but not all of them are,” said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. “Within a province or local market, the balance between resale housing supply and demand can vary widely and evolve quickly, so buyers and sellers should speak with a local REALTOR® to understand housing market trends where they live.”

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 is another measure of the balance between housing supply and demand. The seasonally adjusted number of months of inventory stood at 5.6 months at the end of March on a national basis. This was unchanged from the previous month. Almost half of all local markets saw the number of months of inventory shrink compared to the previous month.

Throughout the first quarter of 2011, the national average price was skewed higher by strong activity in a few pricey areas of Greater Vancouver. March 2011 was no exception, with an increase of 8.9 per cent year over year.

“A record number of multi-million dollar property sales in Richmond and Vancouver West are pushing up average prices for Greater Vancouver, British Columbia and nationally,” stated Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “If Vancouver is excluded from the equation, the national average price increase is cut by more than half to 4.3 per cent.”

“Looking ahead, evidence suggests that the potential rush of sales activity in March before recent changes to mortgage regulations took effect was a story that was largely focused in condo sales activity in Greater Vancouver. This confirms that the expected impact on sales activity of recent changes to mortgage regulations will likely be minor over the near term. Interest rates are now widely expected to remain on hold until at least mid-July, which is supportive for resale housing demand, market balance and prices,” Klump added.

While times have now changed for the credit-card statement (a $100 Canadian ticket will now cost $100 US or about £65), a ticket to Toronto theatre still provides exceptional value, as the performances and production quality of Toronto’s mega-shows are on par with New York’s Broadway and London’s West End.

Meantime, if you’re a true theatre fan like me, you know that much of the world’s finest theatre happens “off” Broadway and “off” West End. In Toronto, there’s no equivalent term but there isan equivalent experience—and this is where visitors to Canada are reminded they’re not in New York or London.

The lesser-known performance spaces of Canadian Stage Company, Buddies in Bad Times, VideoCabaret, Acting Upstage and many others deliver theatre experiences that send audience members away with powerful—often uniquely Canadian memories. And that’s true value.

VideoCabaret is not your everyday term, even in the theatre world. But as I discovered in Toronto, it’s code for some of the most powerful and most marvellously creative theatre I have ever seen. In a nutshell, it works like this: book the back room of a nightclub, build a tiny black shadowbox (about 15 sq ft) as your stage, install pinpoint-perfect lighting, clothe and paint a mega-talented cast of about seven actors in hyperbolic style, and let them tell great Canadian tales through satirical language, facial expression and quick juxtaposition. On my recent Toronto theatre trip, VideoCabaret took me through Canada’s involvement in World War I in a jarring, emotional, funny and poignant play—that included characters from Sir Wilfred Laurier to German POWs to the Duchess of Cornwall—all told within the confines of the shadowbox stage. It is uniquely Toronto, and whatever tale these actors are telling, you need to experience it.

World’s Biggest Gay Theatre! Across town in the area known as Church Wellesley Village, theatregoers find the remarkable Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. In a country where gay “issues” have mostly ceased to exist (Canadian gays have been allowed serve in the military since the early 90s, and could legally marry and adopt children since the early 2000s), it may seem like the gay stories have all been told. Well, Buddies in Bad Times has been telling gay stories since 1979, and today still finds plenty of GLBTQ material to perform on its stage—the largest facility-based queer theatre company in the world. The company’s 2011 season, says Artistic Director Brendan Healy, “tackles experiences of citizenship, racialization, religiosity, marginalization and social repression…encompassing the full complexities of contemporary queer existence with humour, intelligence and ferocity.” Most recently was the remounting of “The Silicone Diaries,” which dramatizes a character’s male-to-female transition. Fascinating stuff.

Keeping it current. Perhaps best known of Toronto’s play producers is Canadian Stage, which has its own two gorgeous performance venues in the city centre, and mounts around 10-14 productions each year focusing on contemporary theatre. Some of it, such as the upcoming productions of “Saint Carmen of the Main”and “Project: Humanity’s The Middle Place,” are decidedly Canadian with stories that take place in Canadian settings, while others take audience members to story settings around the planet and even into space. On my recent theatre trip I was lucky enough to see “The Anderson Project,” a magical one-man show by legendary Canadian actor Robert Lepage.

Double Feature. There’s one piece of theatre that rarely gets mentioned in theatre stories, and that is the décor and history of the theatre venues themselves. While Toronto has many world-class facilities, one stands out for its sheer historic significance—not to mention its pure visual interest regardless what’s playing on the stages: The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres, which opened in 1913 (Irving Berlin performed) and 1914 respectively. The fact that I said stages in the plural is not necessarily remarkable for a theatre venue; many modern performing arts centres have multiple stages in one complex. What is unique about these two theatres is that they are stacked, literally, on top of each other. The Winter Garden sits seven storeys above the Elgin. They are the only surviving “double-decker” theatres still operating in the world. Tours are offered that take theatre and architecture lovers through the elegant, gilded Elgin before venturing way upstairs to the magical Winter Garden, a theatre like none I’ve everseen. Its walls are covered in delicate garden murals and the support columns are disguised as trees; the ceilings are covered in leaves and paper lanterns. While these theatres don’t have a resident company, they are in frequent use by professional and community theatres. Those lucky patrons who saw Donny Osmond in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” saw him at the Elgin. You can catch Christopher Plummer as “Barrymore”there from the end of January to the beginning of March this year.

While once upon a time Toronto’s theatre scene was about dollar value, today it’s definitely a scene in its own right. Whether watching mega-productions such as the recent pre-Broadway run of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and the upcoming “The Secret Garden”(Feb. 8-March 19)or tiny-but-powerful shows mounted inside a black shadowbox stage, theatregoers will find that Toronto’s live performance scene is an exceptionally valuableexperience, with memories that live happily ever after.

Selected Toronto Theatres and/or Companies:

Acting Up Stage Company: mostly musicals, some new works
Angelwalk Theatre: mostly musicals
BirdLand Theatre: plays and musicals
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre: world’s largest facility-based queer theatre company
Canadian Stage: mostly contemporary theatre
Crow’s Theatre: mostly plays questioning accepted truths about history
Dancap Productions: large-scale musicals
Factory Theatre Company: new Canadian plays
Hart House Theatre (University of Toronto): variety of productions
Little Red Theatre: children’s theatre
Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People: youth theatre
Mirvish Productions: large-scale musicals
Nightwood Theatre: mostly women’s theatre
Stage Centre Productions: classic theatre
Studio 180: mostly “socially relevant” theatre
Tarragon Theatre: new plays
VideoCabaret: satirical historic drama in blackbox stage
Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Writer Randall Shirley lives in Vancouver, BC, a place he thinks is paradise. Nevertheless, the travel bug causes him to leave often, penning works for The Boston Globe, The Calgary Herald, The South China Morning Post, and more. Shirley edits the Canadian gay and lesbian travel magazine Out In Canada and frequently appears as “resident globetrotter” on Vancouver’s Shaw TV Studio 4.
Rare accomplishment: He’s one of a rare group: those who have visited all 13 Canadian provinces and territories. Reach him via www.RandallShirley.com.

Chateau Frontenac

An architectural marvel constructed in 1893, this luxurious resort hotel defines Quebec City’s European-styled urban design. Steeped in history, Chateau Frontenac was designed to evoke renaissance-era castles and cathedrals. As such, the resort is defined by its several towers, thick foliage and brick facades. Visitors exploring the grounds cannot help but be amazed to know they are walking within the same confines that have housed celebrated guests such as King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.

The hotel is also home to Le Champlain, a premiere fine-dining establishment. Dinner guests of this restaurant can enjoy a menu composed by executive chef Jean Soulard, which features traditional and contemporary French-Canadian cuisine.

More information:

Rogers Centre

At an estimated cost of $570 million, this sports and entertainment venue located in Toronto is noteworthy for its fan-friendly experience and innovative design. Opened in 1989, the Rogers Centre was originally known as the Skydome, and designed by Rod Robbie and Michael Allen to be the home of Toronto sport franchises the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Argonauts. The stadium is noteworthy for being the first complex in professional sports to have a fully-functional retractable roof, a necessity in dealing with Toronto’s inclement weather.

Tourists visiting the Rogers Centre can stay in the dome’s adjoining hotel, the Renaissance Toronto Hotel. A four-star hotel, guests of this establishment have the opportunity to stay in a room with a view of the Rogers Centre field. The Renaissance also provides modern amenities such as babysitting, wet-bar and wireless Internet access.

More information:

CN Tower

One of Ontario’s premiere tourist destinations, this freestanding structure has been a landmark of Toronto’s skyline since its erection in 1976. The architectural wonder stands 553 m (1814 ft) tall, making it the largest tower in Canada – by comparison the Calgary Tower measures in at 191 m (627 ft) – Originally constructed by the Canadian National Railway, the CN Tower was sold to the Canada Lands Company in 1995, but to this day it still maintains its primary function as a communication tower for several national broadcasters such as the CBC and Rogers Communications.

Travellers may be interested in making reservations to dine in the CN Tower’s fine-dining restaurant, the 360. An upscale dining experience, the restaurant is housed 351 m (1152 ft) up the tower and slowly revolves, giving guests a magnificent 360-degree view of Toronto and beyond.

More information:

Calgary’s Plus 15 Walkways

An architectural wonder based on its functionality and the sheer area it covers, the Plus 15 system is a series of 57 suspended walkways that connect almost every building in Calgary’s metropolitan centre. Constructed to alleviate traffic congestion and provide pedestrians with shelter from Calgary’s extreme winters, the Plus 15 spans over 16 km (10 mi), and connects buildings as varied as the Calgary Tower and the Sheraton Suites. This substantive system has become ingrained in Calgary’s popular culture, inspiring the major motion picture, Waydowntown, by local filmmaker Gary Burns and starring Tony-award winner Don Mckellar.

View the walkway map (PDF)

Centre Block

The focal point for political discourse in Canada, this complex’s current rendition was constructed in 1927. Modeled around modern gothic design, this wonder can be found on Parliament Hill and spans an area of approximately 10,000 sq m (32,000 sq ft). Inside Centre Block is the House of Commons, the Senate, and the offices of several high ranking government officials, not the least of which include the Prime Minister of Canada.

Attached to the Centre Block is the Peace Tower, which was commissioned in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I. Designed to mesh the rest of Parliament Hill, the tower is notable for containing the Books of Remembrance; a large document containing the names of all Canadian soldiers who gave their lives to military causes.

Halifax Citadel

28 years in the making, this historic military complex is a reminder of Halifax’s storied naval past. Completed in 1856, the Citadel is a classically-designed fortification that was originally commissioned to provide long-range defense against assaults from land and sea. Designated a national historic site by the government of Canada, the fort is now open to casual visitors, who will find military remnants such as ramparts, trenches, towers and shooting ranges.

Potential visitors to the Citadel should consider planning their trip around one of the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association’s living history re-enactments. Active year-round, this group enacts historically accurate activities such as gun firing, infantry maneuvers and military music performances.

Montreal’s Olympic Stadium

Known as much for its colourful history as it is for its design, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is nonetheless an architectural wonder of Canada. Originally built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, due to a series of labour strikes and construction problems, the stadium was not officially completed until 1988. Barring its ample problems, the innovative design employed by French architect Roger Taillibert cannot be denied. In fact, the inclined tower attached to the stadium is still considered the tallest in the world.

While it no longer hosts Major League Baseball games, Olympic Stadium still books large sporting events and trade shows. In 2008, the stadium will host the Canadian Football League’s championship game, the Grey Cup.

More information:

Habitat 67

Designed by celebrated Canadian architect Moshe Safdie, Habitat 67 is an innovative residential condominium complex found in Montreal. Originally commissioned to demonstrate modern urban living for Montreal’s Expo 67, all 148 units were sold as private residences at the conclusion of the world fair. The design has been commended for its use of cubic structures – 354 in all – and its effort to include green space into each unit. To this day, Moshe Safdie regularly advises the Habitat 67 board on renovation and upkeep planning.

More information:

The Confederation Bridge

Completed in 1997, this bridge spans 12.9 km (8 mi), and connects the provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Confederation Bridge is a wonder because of the social and economic impact it has had on the two provinces; its construction has been directly linked to an increase in tourism and trade.

Besides its value to PEI and New Brunswick’s economic well being, for tourists Confederation Bridge is a great way to travel from the island to the mainland. While driving along the bridge, travellers are presented with breathtaking views of the ocean, and the various sailboats and ships inhabiting it.

More information:

Canadian Museum of Civilization

One of Canada’s most popular museums, the Canadian Museum of Civilization building is a modern marvel designed by Douglas Cardinal. Completed in 1989, the museum covers over 100,000 sq m (328,000 sq ft), and has been heralded for its imaginative use of curved walls and abstract structures representing Canada’s diverse environments. Open year-round, visitors to the museum will find themselves immersed in permanent exhibits such as the Grand Hall which features an expansive collection of aboriginal artifacts, while the Canadian Personalities Hall, showcases rare photographs and memorabilia of some of Canada’s most influential residents.

More information:

So if you are feeling a little adventurous then here are some suggestions to wet your taste buds.

Famous People Players, Toronto, ON

If you want to experience something a little different for the whole family to enjoy then this dinner theatre show could be for you. You will enjoy a fabulous three-course dinner followed by a spectacular black light theatre show combining music, dance and amazing special effect. Round off the event with dessert and coffee. Famous People Players has a special Achievement Program and employs staff with disabilities encouraging them to fulfill their dreams and integrate into society.

O’Noir, Toronto, ON & Montreal, QC

This is a gourmet restaurant with a difference, a big difference. You eat in complete darkness, yes really. The idea behind this is that diners get to know what it is like to be blind and rely on other senses. It is also worth knowing that all the wait staff are blind. If you have no sight then food tastes better as your other senses are heightened. It is not unusual for guests to lose cutlery or to spill food, but it is all part of the charm of this restaurant. Five percent of O’Noir’s profits are donated to local associations that serve the blind and visually impaired community.

Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions, Stettler, AB

Why not combine the experience of a real steam or diesel train with your meal? You will find different adventures throughout the year such as murder mystery, teddy bear specials, dinner theatre etc. You may also be part of a hold up if the outlaw “Reynolds Raiders” decides to raid the train, bringing it to a sudden stop. If he does, be prepared for a gun battle. All experiences include a full curse buffet meal as well as stunning scenery and of course entertainment.

Medieval Times, Toronto, ON

Now famous all over North America this experience is not just a dinner but a complete show. You will be transported back to the 11th century to enjoy King Philippe’s massive four-course feast followed by fabulous displays by Andalusian stallions. You can then experience the excitement of the Knights of the Realm completing in games on horseback and of course jousting and general rivalry ensues.

Oxford Express, Sherbrooke, QC

This tourist train can offer you a unique dining experience whist taking in the sights of the area. You can choose to have  a simple meal on board – perhaps brunch or dinner. Or you can go for the whole experience and include an overnight stay at a hotel in one of the stop-over locations.

Buzzards Restaurant & Bar, Calgary, AB

Although for most of the year this restaurant is a great casual dining steak house, for 10 days every year a little something different is on the menu. During the Calgary Stampede it is home to the Testicle Festival, yes you did read that right! During this time you can delight in Prairie Oysters (calve’s testicles) maybe with a little pasta or perhaps you prefer fries? Or you might want to try the Great Balls O’Fire instead. If you do manage to digest one of these delicacies you will get a certificate to prove it.

Flying Saucer Restaurant, Niagara Falls, ON

For out-of-this-world food why not try this unusual eatery? Specializing in all-day breakfasts you cannot miss this establishment as it looks like exactly what you would expect. At night it lights up and resembles something out of Close Encounters. If breakfast isn’t your thing then you can also enjoy steak, seafood, pasta etc.

The Great Viking Feast, Leifsburdir, NL

Why not partake in a Viking lunch or dinner or go for the full monty: The Great Viking Feast Dinner Theatre. You will get an insight into Viking life with lots of fun and frolics along with great food. It is also worth noting that this is the only sod covered restaurant in North America.

Ric’s Grill Watertower Restaurant Lethbridge, AB

This old water tower has been converted into a high quality steakhouse restaurant. Eat your meal whilst enjoying great views over the city. Certainly something a little different eh?

Spice it up

Torontonian Iron Chef Sasi Meechai-Lim has hosted the likes of Kate Moss, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson at her Cabbagetown restaurant, Mengrai Thai. Every Sunday, she shares her spicy secrets at “Kitchen Romance for Couples” cooking classes (private lessons are available by reservation). As well as learning to blend and harmonize flavors by making dishes like succulent grilled beef salad, sweet lemongrass and chicken soup, and snuggle-inducing pad Thai (packed to take home), couples pick up expert tips on wine pairing. The last part of the three-hour experience involves sitting back and unwinding by candlelight over a paired tasting menu of Chef Sasi’s exquisitely presented signature dishes.

For the love of wine

Architecture lovers will get a kick out of Niagara’s Jack Diamond-designed Southbrook Vineyards pavilion. Animal lovers will adore the sweet sheep grazing placidly among the biodynamic vineyard’s vines. And all lovers will be charmed by Southbrook’s limited-edition Poetica wines: Each year that the vintage truly excels, one white and/or one red is bottled under the Poetica name, and is then assigned an individual poem on its label, penned by a renowned Canadian poet. Couples can book an exclusive tasting session from a decade’s worth of Poetica wines, and afterwards shop for their favorites in the high-design boutique. And if you’re lucky, you can also get your hands on one of the 200 blankets woven each year from the resident sheep’s wool – perfect for post-tipple snuggling.

Some like it hot:

Warm up your hands (and hearts) at Soma Chocolatemaker’s hot chocolate bar. As you sip from a steaming mug, you can peer through the glass wall into the “chocolate lab,” where all kinds of cocoa beans, from feral Bolivian to organic Costa Rican, are transformed into inventive chocolate barks, gelatos and micro-batch bars. Sampling is encouraged. The liquid elixirs at the bar include Mayan Hot Chocolate, made from dark Venezuelan chocolate, cinnamon, Australian ginger, chili peppers, orange peel, Madagascar vanilla and a secret blend of spices, and Bicerin, made with milky Italian hazelnut chocolate and a shot of espresso – sure to boost energy and libido. Can’t decide which to try? Take home an elixir gift box stocked with four Soma flavors and extend your Valentine’s break well into spring.

Highlights

• Pure Spirits Oyster House, 55 Mill St., Toronto, 416-361-5859 purespirits.ca
• Mengrai Thai, 82 Ontario St., Toronto, 416-546-0331 mengraithai.com
• Southbrook Vineyards, 581 Niagara Stone Rd., RR4, Niagara-on-the-Lake, 1-888-581-1581 southbrook.com
• Soma Chocolatemaker, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 48, Toronto, 416-815-7662 somachocolate.com
• Ontario Tourism, 1-800-ONTARIO  1-800-668-2746    www.ontariotravel.net

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Valerie Howes As the senior editor of Pure Canada, I’m on the lookout for stories about new and interesting lodgings, restaurants, spas, events, packages and experiences. Pure Canada is the Canadian Tourism Commission’s unique travel-lifestyle magazine. It is published by Spafax Canada Inc., publisher of enRoute, Air Canada’s award-winning inflight magazine. We represent Canada and it is our mission to take our readers on a sensory journey. Pure Canada is an invitation to the reader to discover Canada and experience it in a whole new way – it is an invitation to explorers.

MPs urged the government to reverse its decision to slash $53 million in funding

The MPs urged the government to reverse its decision to slash $53 million in funding from agencies that help new immigrants become integrated and self sufficient. According to Statistics Canada, the third quarter of 2010 saw the highest immigration rates the country has seen in four decades.

• Immigrants made up 70 per cent of Ontario’s population growth during that period.
• Roughly 85 per cent of the cuts — announced late last year — will be in Ontario, a total loss of $43 million.
• More than 30 agencies will lose their funding entirely, while dozens of others will see their funding decrease, said Kennedy.
• Around 78,000 recent immigrants in the GTA are expected to lose the help they need to find jobs, apply for documents or enhance their language skills.

“What we want to do is make sure that this remains a federal issue and doesn’t end up becoming something that city council is forced to deal with because of the problems it creates for the City of Toronto,” said Kennedy.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said the cuts will ensure that taxpayer money is used efficiently. Kenney attributed the funding cuts to shifting immigration patterns. Newcomers to Canada have been spreading out across the country, with Ontario receiving a slightly smaller share each year. But the overall number of immigrants in Ontario is still growing, Kennedy argued.

“There are 85,000 more people in the GTA needing help, not less. How does he justify cutting $53 million?” he asked.

“It makes no sense to be taking services away from people at the very point when they need them to succeed as new Canadians.”

MPs, settlement agencies and other supporters have launched a campaign called Fair Start, urging Toronto residents to stand up for new Canadians who need help getting settled. The campaign will include letter writing, a petition and a motion to be introduced to Parliament on Feb. 8 2011

Starting on the West Coast with Vancouver’s waterfront, crossing through the prairies and into the Rockies, and then stretching eastward to Canada’s entertainment and cultural hub of Toronto, these places feature some of the best restaurants with stunning views.

Vancouver Harbour View

West Coast Dining

Vancouver, British Columbia is gaining quite the reputation as a foodie destination in Western Canada. With an abundance of seafood and local produce, restaurants can highlight the fresh flavours of Pacific Coast cuisine. Vancouver’s lovely waterfront and bustling downtown make for an ideal setting for several of the city’s best restaurants.

Aqua Riva
Enjoy waterfront dining at Aqua Riva, offering harbour front views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Skyline. Located downtown next to Canada Place, Aqua Riva is within walking distance to many hotels in the area. The window-wrapped dining room and bar allows patrons to indulge in Pacific Coast delicacies while watching the cruise ships sail in and out of the harbour. The menu consists of tapas and starters, including thin crust pizzas featuring bold flavours such as wood roasted barbecue duck. Lunch and dinner highlight Vancouver’s prime seafood with dishes such as wood grilled wild salmon and Pacific cioppino–a hearty seafood and fish stew featuring salmon, sablefish, dungeness crab, clams, mussels, clams, and prawns. To complete the visual appeal, the restaurant’s decor features murals and nautical themes, adding to this waterfront dining experience.

The Observatory
Begin this dining experience with a scenic gondola ride (included with reservations) to the top of Grouse Mountain in Northern Vancouver. From here, one can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and Gulf Islands, with the city of Vancouver in the distance. Patrons of the Observatory restaurant will dine on West Coast cuisine, where the emphasis is on fresh, regional ingredients. Hand-selected wines, chosen by the in-house sommelier, complement the dishes served here. To experience the ultimate in food and wine pairing, the Observatory offers a prix fixe menu featuring multiple courses paired with various wines. An a la carte menu is also available for those wanting to pick and choose their own selections. Sample menu dishes include local oysters dressed with a sherry mignonette, beef tenderloin with black truffle jus, magret of Barbary duck with a green peppercorn sabayon, and for dessert, a vanilla bean panna cotta.

Stanley Park
Any visit to Vancouver would not be complete without a trip to Stanley Park, the city’s forested playground situated along the harbour. Several dining options are available in the park, including Prospect Point Cafe and the Sequoia Grill.

Prospect Point Cafe
Stanley Park’s highest point, Prospect Point offers visitors panoramic views of the North Shore Mountains, the Lion’s Gate Bridge and the Burrard Inlet. The on-site Prospect Point Cafe offers a full service restaurant, allowing patrons to indulge their taste buds while taking in the beautiful scenery. Favourites at this eatery include the Prospect Point ice-cream, an ideal way to cool down on a summer’s day, and the fish and chips made with Granville Island Draft Beer Batter. Other menu items include a number of fresh salmon dishes, grilled burgers and sandwiches, and pasta entrees.

Sequoia Grill
Found at Ferguson Point, the Sequoia Grill offers ocean views surrounded by towering trees. The restaurant’s menu highlights the best of Vancouver’s bounty, including such dishes as BC Albacore tuna tartar, mussels bathed in a red curry coconut broth, and cedar plank salmon topped with a maple whiskey glaze. A brunch menu is offered on the weekends, making for a lovely way to spend the morning.

Glo EuroPub & Grill Victoria
Only a day trip from Vancouver, Victoria also offers pleasant sights and eats. One of the newest restaurants on the scene is the Glo EuroPub & Grill. Touted as one of Vancouver Island’s best patios, the Glo EuroPub & Grill features a 180-degree view of Victoria’s Selkirk Waterway. Patrons can enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner and late night bites on the patio, taking in views of the harbour at any time of the day. Blankets are provided for cooler evenings making this outdoor experience comfortable and enjoyable. Minutes from downtown, the grill offers a retro-modern interior with a contemporary menu featuring gourmet pizza, burgers, steaks, seafood and pastas. An extensive wine list and drinks menu also make this place a popular social gathering venue.

Maligne Lake

Rocky Mountain Views

Jasper National Park and Lake Louise are two of the most popular destinations in the Canadian Rockies. After a day of exploring the area’s wildlife, mountains, lakes and forests, visitors will be pleased to note the Rockies offers some prime dining venues, offering hearty food and awe-inspiring views.

The View Restaurant
Perched above Maligne Lake in Jasper Park at the day lodge, the View Restaurant lives up to its name offering breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies. Maligne Lake, found 40 km (25 mi) southeast of the Jasper townsite, is the park’s oldest attraction and the largest lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The View Restaurant’s multi-levelled sundeck is the ideal lunch spot after a day of exploring the park. This popular venue features homestyle dining with homemade soup, stew, vegetarian chili, salads, and sandwiches on the menu. Baked goods, including European tortes, breads, pastries and cookies are also available from the bakery found on-site.

Fairview Dining Room
Located at the prestigious Chateau Lake Louise, the Fairview Dining Room affords views of Lake Louise’s turquoise waters from its multi-tiered dining room. This 4 Diamond establishment specializes in Canadian cuisine, offering such items as grilled Alberta beef tenderloin, maple glazed Quebec duck breast, slow poached Atlantic salmon and seared scallops.

East Coast Eateries

Canada’s largest city, Toronto, Ontario offers its residents and visitors an eclectic dining scene, with over 7,000 restaurants located here. From fine dining to local eateries, all types of cuisines are represented, indicative of Toronto’s diverse, multicultural population.

Canoe
For an impressive view of the city check out Canoe, perched on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, part of the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Located in the Financial District, this restaurant attracts a corporate clientele, matching its upscale environment and decor, featuring wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, polished wooden floors and clean and stylish furnishings. Canoe’s menu highlights Canadian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and grilled meats; bison striploin with Northern Woods mushrooms and peppercorn sauce, roast suckling pig, and broiled BC sablefish are just a sample of Canoe’s modern approach to Canadian fare.

Dine high above Toronto's city streets

360 The Restaurant
Dine high above Toronto’s city streets, found 51 m (1,151 ft) below, at 360 The Restaurant, situated in the CN Tower–Toronto’s most recognizable landmark. The restaurant is one of the world’s highest revolving restaurants and offers ever-changing views of the city, completing a rotation every 72 minutes. Regional ingredients are the focus of the menu, which features innovative, market fresh cuisine. An extensive wine list of over 550 wines also adds to the dining experience. For a more casual meal, head down to the look out level to the Horizons Cafe, offering lighter meals.

C5 Restaurant
Found atop the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal of the Royal Ontario Museum, the C5 Restaurant offers an ultra modern culinary experience. It gets its name from being situated on the 5th Crystal of the glass and aluminum structure, which was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind and consists of five interlocking and self supporting prismatic structures. Inside, patrons continue to be visually stimulated with angled windows providing urban views and interesting lighting effects. A sensational glass sculpture named “Hearsay,” by Canadian designer Jeff Goodman, adorns the space, adding to the intimate surroundings of this crystal palace.

The menu itself features inspired selections, fusing the flavours of Toronto’s ethnic markets and Ontario’s local ingredients. Vindaloo scented Dorset lamb loin, and duck confit and foie gras served with a Thai curry onion tartlet are some of the noted creations by Chef de Cuisine, Ted Corrado.

When we last spoke in early 2009, you were working on your second album. Now that it has been released what can you tell us about it?

My latest album titled “Blondes Prefer Gentlemen”

My latest album titled “Blondes Prefer Gentlemen” was released in July of 2010. I wrote and produced all the songs myself except for the one cover song “I Wanna Be Loved By You” first made famous by Betty Boop and later Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe was a bit of a theme behind this album. The title itself is a play on one of her famous films “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. And of course the image of me on the cover of my new album was very inspired by the famous shot of Marilyn in her white dress, but instead I chose magenta for my dress – my favourite colour. I actually first released my cover of “I Wanna Be Loved By You” on Myspace on August 5^th, the 48^th anniversary of her death. I’m very proud and excited about my new material. I’ve had only amazing feedback about it so far and I’m still in the process of promoting it.

What else have you been doing since we last spoke?

I’ve been super busy dealing with lawyers and contracts and possible management deals. Also a couple of months after the release of my second album I released a music video to support one of my new songs. I produced and wrote the video myself. I also did most of the behind the scenes work for the video such as designing & building the sets and putting together my wardrobe. It was a lot of work and a very stressful experience. I had to go through many animators and editors to find the right ones to collaborate with. In the end I’m very satisfied with the results.

Are you planning a third album?

I still have hundreds of songs in my soul that have yet to be recorded & produced… so most definitely.

Who would you describe as your musical influences and why?

Well since my first love of music is in Classical and Opera, I would have to say the core of my music is influenced by Mozart and Puccini. Any other influences would have to be subconscious because I don’t purposely try to sound like anyone or be like anyone else.

What do you consider are the best and worst things about the music industry?

The music industry on the whole is very volatile. I’m not sure whether I love it or hate it. The internet has been the main cause for the drastic changes we’ve seen over the years in this industry and can be the best and the worst thing for an indie artist such as myself. I do know that I love making music, it is the fuel of my soul.

What is your favorite song of all time?

Madama Butterfly by Puccini

Who would you choose to collaborate writing a song with if you could chose anyone?

That’s a tough one. I love many artists and all sorts of genres of music. I might want to work with a style that’s very different than my own, so that there is a cool and unique merging of worlds like with Eminem. Or, I might want to collaborate with someone who I admire like Madonna. I think it might be fun to work with Marilyn Manson or even the Beastie Boys to create a bizarre concoction. But hands down, it would’ve been awesome to meld musical minds with John Lennon.

It is clear that music means everything to you, but if you weren’t a musician what would you be?

Dead!

I watched the video that accompanies your song “X’d My Mind.” How long did it take to make?

It took about 6 months from the start of the idea to when it was up and playing on YouTube. It took me about a month and a half months to prepare the sets and collect all the wardrobe and props, some of which I made myself. I also kept running into bad luck with some incompetent animators and editors, who wasted a couple of months of my time as well. The actual shooting took only 4 days and when the work actually began for the editing that only took one and a half weeks. The animation took about 2 weeks. The rest of the time was just other people screwing me around.

There are many songs and artists that I am very sure that everyone would be shocked about.

What song or artist would someone be surprised to find on your MP3 player?

I just quickly looked through my digital library of songs and couldn’t help but laugh. There are many songs and artists that I am very sure that everyone would be shocked about. I have everything from the expected electronica, alternative, gothic and punk rock, to the unexpected classical, country, hip hop, jazz and folk. Tibetan Buddhism Ritual Orchestra & Chants – that’s the one I’m picking to be the least expected in my collection.

Lets move away from music for a moment and talk about you. What one word would you use to describe yourself?

Enigma

What is the one thing that people would be most surprised to find out about you?

Haha there are many things about me that I’m sure would surprise people. I was an honour student for all my high school years. I was accepted into every University I applied for but turned them all down and decided to focus on the arts. Music was something I never studied in school; everything I learned was self-taught. I am a loner and don’t have many friends, but I prefer it that way I love being by myself.

What is the worst job you have had?

I guess every job has had their good and bad moments. I usually tended towards fields that I enjoyed, so there was always something that I liked, especially whatever I learned. When I was a teenager I worked in a kitchen preparing Tex/Mex cuisine, it was non-stop work and hot and dirty and the sous chef yelled at me all the time. He even threw a knife at me once because I refused to handle any meat. However, I did learn a lot of great things about cooking and now make one of the best vegan Caesar dressings ever.

Are you a Mac or PC?

I wrote & produced my songs on a PC but mixed and mastered them on a Mac.

If your home was on fire, what one item (excluding family, pets and photos) would you grab as you left?

My external hard drives which contain all my music and video files…. and writings and poetry and song ideas… my soul basically.

What was the name of the last book you read or are currently reading?

I finished “Conversations with the Devil” by Jeff Rovin a couple months ago. It was a good read for fiction. I am currently reading “A War of Witches” By Timothy J.Knab, which is actually non-fictional writings on the research and travels of the author.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Right now, it would be my location. I want to live in L.A. The music industry there is better suited for me. Toronto’s music scene is too conservative.

What are your plans for 2011 and going forward?

This year I plan on orchestrating a great live act and doing some live shows. I will also devote some effort into moving to L.A.

That sounds really interesting. Where are you planning on doing your shows?

I haven’t really thought all that through as yet since I do wish to move to L.A. but as I am still in Toronto at the moment, I guess I would have some shows here and maybe some neighboring cities.

And finally, if you had to be remembered for one thing. What would it be?

My words

Thank you Moonlyn, we really appreciate your candid answers and wish you lots of luck with your current album and future plans.

Thank you so much for your interest in me and for taking the time to interview me.

Find out more about Moonlyn via the following links:

Catch up on our original interview conducted during 2009.

Moonlyn has her own website at www.moonlyn.com, or you can check her out at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/moonlynmusic

MySpace: www.myspace.com/moonlynmusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/moonlynmusic

The low cost of borrowing stimulated the housing market in 2010, and this trend is predicted to continue in the first half of 2011. The widely held consumer belief that rates will rise in the latter part of 2011 may prompt an increase in buying activity early in the year.

“Trends in the housing market continue to be driven by the lingering after-effects of the recession, Canadians realize that interest rates are unsustainably low and that homes will become effectively more expensive when mortgage rates return to normal levels.  We will likely see more price appreciation early in 2011 as some buyers complete transactions in advance of anticipated higher borrowing costs.” said a spokesperson

He went on to add, “2011 is expected to unfold much like 2010, when close to 60 per cent of sales volume occurred in the first half of the year in anticipation of interest rate increases that never materialized. However, housing market activity in the first half of 2011 will be modestly closer to the norm, as last year’s phenomenon was exacerbated by mid-year tightening of mortgage accessibility and the introduction of HST in Ontario and British Columbia.”

Canadian housing market looking strong moving into 2011

Regionally, the strongest price appreciation of the cities studied is expected in mid-sized urban centers where affordability is better than the national average. For example, in Winnipeg, St. John’s and Fredericton, two-storey homes below $300,000 are still widely available. Demand in these cities is expected to be strong, putting upward pressure on home values.

Click here to view the typical house price chart

Cities in Alberta are expected to be among Canada’s strongest performing markets in 2011. Woes in the historically volatile region’s housing market stretch approximately five years, when the Alberta housing market suffered a sharp correction following several years of double-digit price increases.  The province’s energy-driven economy staged a comeback in 2010, recovering from the recession-led plunge in oil and gas prices.  Major employers are expected to steadily increase hiring in 2011 which should attract new residents to the province and put upward pressure on the limited supply of housing. Royal LePage forecasts the average price of a home in Calgary will increase 5.4 per cent through 2011 while Edmonton home prices will increase 3.3 per cent. Home sale transactions are predicted to rise 6.7 per cent in Calgary and 9.1 per cent in Edmonton over the same period.

Across Canada, the average price of a home is forecast to rise 3 per cent over the coming year to $348,600 while the number of transactions is expected to drop 2 per cent.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, average home prices either increased or stabilized year-over-year, with Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and St. John’s seeing the biggest gains.  Nationally, the average price of detached bungalows rose to $324,531 (up 4.6 per cent), the price of standard two-storey homes rose to $360,329 (up 4.4 per cent), and the price of standard condominiums rose to $226,746 (up 3.9 per cent), compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.

The spokesman continued, “Like many Canadians, we anticipated an end to the ultra-low interest rate era before year-end 2010.  Paradoxically, global economic weakness, particularly in the United States, allowed policy makers and financial institutions to keep borrowing costs low, resulting in a stronger Canadian housing market and a better than forecast fourth quarter.”

Regional Market Summaries

The residential real estate in market in St. John’s, Newfoundland saw strong year-over-year price gains across all three housing types surveyed every quarter this year. However, market has showed signs of cooling as inventory starts to rise.

Detached bungalows and two-storey houses in Montreal saw an 8.7 per cent year-over-year increase in the fourth quarter, while standard condominiums jumped 11.3 per cent. Average prices in Montreal are forecast to increase by a more modest 3 per cent in 2011 as a more balanced market emerges.

Ottawa’s housing market saw year-over-year price appreciation ranging between 6.3 and 10 per cent across all housing types surveyed this quarter. However, as inventory grows, Ottawa can expect price increases to be closer to 4 percent in 2011.

House prices surveyed in Toronto increased modestly year-over-year. Standard two-storey homes witnessed the largest increases at 5.6 per cent. Market activity slowed in the second half of the year as buyers rushed to the market in the first half of the year in anticipation of interest rate hikes and HST.  For 2011, price increases are expected to be very modest at approximately 1 per cent.

Detached bungalows, standard two-storey homes, and standard condominiums inWinnipeg witnessed strong year-over-year price gains this quarter. Detached bungalows performed the strongest, increasing 10.3 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Although the market is showing signs of cooling, sellers are still seeing multiple offers and are often receiving higher than their asking price. Winnipeg is expected to maintain its momentum throughout 2011 with prices rising around 7 per cent.

Single family homes performed best in Regina, which saw standard two-storey homes increase 9.1 per cent, while detached bungalows rose 8.4% and standard condominiums increased 2.4 per cent. Prices in Regina are expected to increase an overall average of 5 percent in 2011.

Both Calgary and Edmonton are positioned for house price increases in 2011 with a rebounding energy sector. In 2010, Calgary witnessed moderate year-over-year price depreciation across all housing types surveyed. Edmonton saw more modest price depreciation for two-storey houses, while condominiums decreased 5.7 per cent. Detached bungalows witnessed the only price increase among housing types surveyed at 1.2 per cent.

Single family homes in Vancouver dominated house price gains as two-storey houses rose year-over-year by 9.8 per cent in 2010. Condominiums on the East Side performed particularly well and, on average, Vancouver’s standard condominium market rose 7 per cent.  Vancouver prices are expected to increase 3.7 per cent in 2011.

The quarterly House Price Survey shows the annual change of prices for key housing segments in select national markets.

Click here to view the chart

Hockey is a booming business in Canada with numerous leagues, teams, monuments, memorials and stores all dedicated to the game. Canadian leagues range from amateur leagues for children barely old enough to walk to the revered National Hockey League (NHL).

Whether it be an informal game of shinny on a backyard pond or the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Canadians embrace this game that makes the cold months of winter pass with a little more ease.

A Brief History of the Game

Hockey is a way of life for many Canadians

The origin of this game is widely contested; there is some evidence of hockey-like games conducted on ice throughout Europe between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as claims that Windsor, Nova Scotia or Great Bear Lake in the Arctic are home to the first recorded instances of organized hockey. However, Kingston, Ontario was officially touted as the birthplace of ice hockey by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1943. This was primarily due to an account of a game between Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada in 1886.

The groundwork for what is known as today’s game was laid in Montreal, Quebec in the late 1800s. The first recorded indoor game was played in this French-Canadian metropolis in 1875 at Victoria Skating Rink. Enthusiasm for the game burgeoned as the McGill University Hockey Club was formed in 1877 and the first ”World Championship” was held at the annual Winter Carnival in 1883.

In 1888, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, attended the Montreal Winter Carnival and was noted by newspapers to exude a great deal of exuberance for the sport. After noticing there was no official trophy for the winning team, Lord Stanley bought a bowl, which was titled the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup and later renamed the Stanley Cup. It was first awarded to an amateur team from Montreal in 1893 and thus began the longstanding tradition of the Stanley Cup. After a long season of high-intensity battles and four rounds of playoffs, the Stanley Cup is presented to the NHL’s reigning victors each year. While there are many individual trophies presented to players and coaching staff, the Stanley Cup, which was redesigned in 1963, remains the most coveted of prizes to be won.

The National Hockey League is Born
In 1917 the NHL was formed in Montreal, Quebec. Beginning with only four teams, the league expanded to 10 teams in its infancy, but was reduced to only six teams by 1942 due to devastation caused by the Great Depression and the second world war.

The NHL Lockout

In 2004, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced a lockout after unsuccessful contract negotiations between the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHL. The source of the 310 day lockout centred around a salary cap, which intended to limit the amount of money each team could spend on players’ salaries. The NHL became the first professional sports league to miss a full season. A collective bargaining agreement was eventually reached and play resumed for the 2005-2006 season with record attendance levels.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings remained the only six teams in the league for nearly a quarter of a century, resulting in the reference to these teams as the “Original Six.” In the 1960s, the league resumed expansion plans after taking notice of rumours that the Western Hockey League was considering declaring itself a professional league. For the first time since the 1920s, new teams were added and the number of teams continued to climb to the reach its present-day total of 30.

Ice Hockey At The Olympics

Sidney Crosby holds the 2010 Gold

Making its debut at the summer Olympics in 1920, men’s hockey was appropriately moved to the winter games in 1924. Winning six of the initial seven gold medals, Canadian teams excelled for the first decade, but suffered in years to come, because Olympic rules did not permit professional hockey players to participate. It wasn’t until 1988 that these skilled players were afforded the opportunity to play in the games and even then scheduling conflicts between the NHL and the Olympics were problematic. It was in 1998, for the Nagano Olympics, that the NHL first paused its schedule to allow the league’s elite to compete in the games.

Women’s Ice Hockey

In the 1890s Lord Stanley’s daughter, Lady Isobel was photographed playing hockey at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Over a century later, women’s ice hockey is now rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world.

In recent years, the sport has made significant strides with the development of the National Women’s Hockey League in 1999, as well as its incorporation into the Olympic Games in 1998. For many years, Canadian and American teams dominated the sport at professional levels and were the only two teams to ever reach a women’s world championship final until 2006 when Sweden unsuccessfully attempted to take gold from the Canadian team in Italy.

The Hockey Hall of Fame

Dedicated to the history of the game, this sanctuary of hockey paraphernalia is located in Toronto, Ontario. The league’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, spends half of the year displayed in the Great Hall of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Established in 1943, the Hockey Hall of Fame was originally located in Kingston, Ontario, but moved to Toronto and opened its first permanent location at Exhibition Place in 1961. Still at home in Canada’s largest city, the hall of fame is now located downtown and draws 300,000 visitors each year.

There are 15 exhibits, which provide information about the history of the game and its past players, as well as current statistics, teams and players. There are also interactive displays, such as the Source for Sports Shoot Out, which allows visitors to shoot a puck at a computer simulated version of goalie Eddie Belfour.

Canadian Hockey Heroes

Wayne Gretzky

Achieving celebrity status, Canada’s favourite hockey players have sprouted up all over the country, from small towns in Saskatchewan to major cities in Ontario. There is a long list of past and present Canadian-born hockey heroes, including but not limited to Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, Mark Messier, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Doug Harvey, Patrick Roy, Gordie Howe and most notably, Wayne Gretzky.

Born in Brantford, Ontario, Wayne Gretzky is nicknamed the “Great One” and is commonly considered the best hockey player of all time. The game’s only player to tally over 200 points in one season, Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup four times in the 1980s before a controversial trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988 sent him to the United States. An upsetting day for Canadians, the trade was highly criticized. The leader of the New Democratic Party at the time, Nelson Riis, even went so far as to demand the government stop the move.

There are numerous monuments honouring the hockey icon, including a statue that stands outside of Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta where the Oilers currently play. Additionally, one of Edmonton’s busiest streets, which passes by the Oilers’ arena, was renamed Wayne Gretzky Drive in October of 1999. In his hometown of Brantford, Ontario most of Park Road is now officially titled Wayne Gretzky Parkway.

Hockey Day In Canada

Commonly falling in mid-February, Hockey Day in Canada has become an unstoppable phenomenon since its inception in 2000. This unofficial holiday celebrates the “triple header” featuring all six Canadian teams in action, as well as the culture of hockey across Canada. Recently, due to the NHL schedules, the day often features American-Canadian match-ups.

In addition to broadcasting the NHL games, Hockey Day in Canada highlights various tournaments, leagues and hockey players across the country. Each year, infamous Canadian hockey broadcaster Don Cherry and his better-half, Ron Maclean, report from a different remote area of Canada to promote the hockey efforts of smaller communities. In the past, Hockey Day in Canada has featured all-night pick-up hockey games from Red Deer, Alberta and Windsor, Nova Scotia.

The Canadian NHL Teams

Over the years, some Canadian cities have mourned as their teams have relocated to larger American markets, while other parts of the country have feverishly fought for a franchise of their own. Today, there are six NHL teams in Canada: Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Vancouver Canucks
Joining the league in the 1970 expansion, the Canucks are one of two Canadian teams that have never won the coveted Stanley Cup. Advancing to the finals in 1982 and 1994, the franchise was unable to emerge victorious from either contest. The Canucks play at General Motors Place on Griffiths Way in downtown Vancouver near the waterfront.

Calgary Flames
After a stint in Atlanta, Georgia as the Atlanta Flames this team moved to Calgary in 1980 and in 1989 they acquired the Stanley Cup for the first time. In 2004, Calgary Flames fans erupted in manic excitement as the team made a historic, but unsuccessful bid for the hallowed prize. Cheering the team on as they made their way to the final game of the final round of the playoffs, the city came alive with elated fans who filled the Saddledome with a sea of red jerseys.

Edmonton Oilers
Dominating the NHL in the 1980s, the Edmonton Oilers were home to some of the greatest players of all time, including Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. In their first season (1979-1980) the Edmonton Oilers made the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but ultimately lost the championship to the Philadelphia Flyers. Following that loss they would prove themselves to be fierce competitors winning five Stanley Cups in the 1980s. The Oilers’ prominent rival is the Calgary Flames with the contest between the two teams termed the Battle of Alberta.

Ottawa Senators
The original Ottawa Senators team was formed in 1883, but eventually floundered and was no longer a professional team by the 1930s. Returning to professional level ice hockey in the 1992-1993 season, the Ottawa Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007, but were unable to topple the Anaheim Ducks.

Toronto Maple Leafs
One of the original six teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of the most popular teams in the league despite its inability to win the Stanley Cup since their 1967 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs have battled fiercely against the Canadiens, as well as the Ottawa Senators, providing the league with some of the most heated battles and closely watched games. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at the Air Canada Centre, which is connected to Union Station on Bay Street in downtown Toronto.

Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are commonly referred to as the “Habs” derived from the French-nickname Les Habitants (inhabitants). This original six team has won more Stanley Cups than any other NHL team and is the last Canadian team to have claimed the cup with their victory over the Los Angeles Kings in 1993. The Canadiens play at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal.

Through the federally funded Local Immigration Partnership, developed in collaboration with the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, representatives from several sectors including employers, educational institutions and settlement and social service agencies will work together to research the diverse needs of newcomers in order to create a strategy to improve integration.

Through the City of Toronto Newcomer Initiative, settlement workers will be placed in Public Health offices, City child care facilities, shelters and community recreation centres to use city services to advance the social and economic wellbeing of newcomers to Toronto.

“The Local Immigration Partnership and Newcomer initiative programs will enhance the City of Toronto’s ability to help newcomers integrate,” said Minister Kenney. “By better understanding newcomers’ needs, we can improve access to important services, like language training, that are key to successful integration. We are very much looking forward to working with the new Mayor of Toronto toward that end.”

“I am very pleased to be here with my Federal and Provincial colleagues,” said city of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. “Providing top notch customer service to our newcomer residents is something that is imperative.”

“Attracting and retaining newcomers is part of our Open Ontario plan for economic growth for our province,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.  “This newest Local Immigration Partnership will ensure that our newcomers get the services they need to help them settle and find a good job right here in Toronto.”

Since 2005, the Government of Canada has more than tripled its annual spending on settlement services for newcomers in Ontario. For 2010–11, the Government of Canada is allocating $428 million in Ontario for settlement services for newcomers, such as language training, job search workshops and placing settlement workers in schools.

For more information on CIC programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.