Canadian Trivia: Did you know that Canada is the second largest country in the world? Did you know the Rocky Mountains of western North America stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,828km) from Mexico, through the United States and into Canada and Alaska! Did you know that Ontario has over 200 000 inland lakes !!

The vast country of Canada, from its large cosmopolitan cities to its frozen northern tundra; its snowy mountain peaks to its rugged coastlines; and its rich farmlands to its pioneering outposts, Canada offers something to suit the taste of every traveller. Canada is bound in the west by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by the polar ice-cap, and in the south by the United States of America.

It is a country renowned for its stunningly beautiful scenery and love of the outdoors. Even the cities have been carefully designed to preserve metropolitan green belts and parklands, ensuring that Canadians are never far from their natural heritage. The country has a French and British colonial heritage, which is reflected in its cuisine, culture and customs, mixed in with the legacy of the country’s own enigmatic aboriginal First Nations history.

In the south the Rocky Mountains intrude into Canada across the border with the United States, separating Canada’s two main tourist provinces, British Columbia and Alberta. The mountains abound with winter sports resorts. Throughout the nation the most popular venues for outdoor pursuits, year round, are the country’s huge national parks. There are more than 41 of these, one of them, Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, being larger than the country of Switzerland. Canadian national parks are unique in that they have cities and towns inside the protected areas, which provide comfortable bases for exploring the natural and manmade attractions of the reserves.

Essentials:  Time: Canada covers six time zones, from GMT –8 in the west to GMT -3.5 in the east. Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American style flat two-pin plugs are standard. Money: The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (C$), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $1,000, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Banks and bureaux de change will change money and travellers cheques, as will some hotels, but the rate will not be as good. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are plentiful. Language: The official languages are English and French (predominantly in Quebec).

Health: There are no serious health risks associated with travel to Canada and no special precautions or vaccinations are required. West Nile Virus, spread by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, poses a threat during summer months in rural areas, so precautionary measures are advised for those visiting the countryside particularly in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. Medical care is excellent, but expensive - medical insurance is essential.

Tipping: There is no service charge added to restaurant bills, and staff expect to receive tips; 15% is the usual amount. Hairdressers and taxi drivers are also usually tipped at the same rate, while bellhops, doormen, porters and similar service providers at hotels, airports and stations are generally paid $1 per item of luggage carried.

Safety: Most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is politically stable, but does share the common international risk of terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime rate is low, but travellers are advised to take sensible precautions to safeguard their belongings as they would anywhere.

Communications: The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not necessary for calls to the US and the Caribbean. Internet cafes are widely available. Most international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with Canadian operators, however it may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card if visiting the country for long periods.

Weather: Being such a large country, the climate varies depending on which area one visits. Canada also has very distinct seasons. The warmest months are July and August, and in winter (December, January and February) it is very cold with heavy snowfalls in most provinces. Autumn is a beautiful season with crisp air and brilliant fall foliage, while in some areas spring brings the emergence of carpets of wild flowers.

So let's talk about how you'll get around Canada and then we can tell you what you must see.

Car Rental: If you wish to drive and stay in hotels/motels, we can offer you a choice of 3 car hire companies, Avis, Alamo and Hertz.
Cars can be picked up in Canada and also driven into the USA at no extra charge. One of the great things about travelling in Canada, and the USA for that matter, is that the rates include most extras like airport fees, taxes, licensing fees and no excess on the insurance. The only extras generally are things like additiona driver fees and if you are under 25.
For details on our car rentals, Go to Car Hire in Canada

Motorhomes: If you are a family and want real 'freedom' - consider a motorhome. Unpack just once !! You don't have to eat hotel or restaurant meals everyday and you can have fun trying out new things in the local supermarkets. For a choice of 5 motorhome hire companies, offering a wide variety of vehicles - Go to Motorhome Hire In Canada

If you would like to know about the Public holidays for Canada - and all the individual provinces, click on
http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/jfa-ha/index_e.cfm

Now here are some must see cities and attractions:

BRITISH COLUMBIA:

Mount Washington The Mt Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver Island is the second busiest winter recreation destination in British Columbia after Whistler/Blackcomb, with an average snowfall of 30ft (9m) that usually lasts from early winter to after Easter; 50 marked ski runs, snow tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing trails and a snowboard terrain park. The resort is also set in a spectacular location, looking out across the Strait of Georgia with vistas of the Sunshine Coast and the peaks of the Coast Mountains. Nearby Comox Valley hosts many of the visitors to Mt Washington in its variety of hotels, motels and B&Bs that offer special ski packages during winter months. The ski resort is located 20 miles (32km) northwest of Courtenay, about three hours drive from Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Whistler Blackcomb Rated as the number one ski resort in North America, and among the best in the world, Whistler Blackcomb is just a two-hour drive from the city of Vancouver in the Coast Mountain Range. The village of Whistler lies cradled in a valley between two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, that rise up more than 5,000ft (1,524m) to provide more than 7,000 acres of prime mountain terrain, including 12 alpine bowls, three glaciers and more than 200 marked ski trails. The resort offers state-of-the-art lifts that can carry 60,000 skiers per hour to jump-off points throughout the area. With two million visitors every year,

The town of Whistler is set around a cluster of small lakes and is British Columbia's fastest-growing municipality. It boasts a quaint village atmosphere and offers shopping areas and apres-ski restaurants bordered by squeaky-clean streets. Even in summertime Whistler is a popular destination, although the focus then shifts from skiing to outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking and fishing. 

Attractions:

Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinese Quarter is not only a strong, established ethnic community, but also a popular tourist attraction and prosperous commercial district. Its bustling streets are full of colour and commerce; even the pagoda-topped telephone booths add to the atmosphere. Shop displays spill onto the pavements, tables groan with the weight of exotic foodstuffs and the weird wares of the Chinese apothecaries like dried lizard skins and powdered rhino horn. The Sam Kee Building in Pender Street is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the narrowest building in the world, at only six-foot (two metres) wide. This was the result of a local property owner reacting to the expropriation of most of his land in 1912 for the widening of the street: Chang Toy decided to build what he could on the remaining tiny strip.

Another main attraction in Chinatown is the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, enclosed behind high walls, that was built in 1986 at a cost of $5.3-million with the craftsmen and materials all imported from China. It is a quiet haven of walkways, pavilions, gnarled trees, water features and natural rock sculptures. Next door to the Garden is the Chinese Cultural Centre with its elaborate gated entrance hand-painted in traditional colours.
Website: www.vancouverchinatown.ca; Transport: SkyTrain to Main St. or Stadium stations, or bus

Gastown
The fascinating little historic enclave of Gastown, in the central core area of Vancouver alongside Chinatown, transports visitors back in time to envision the city in days of old, with its cobbled streets, antique gaslights, Victorian architecture and maze of narrow alleys, courtyards and passages wherein hide boutiques and restaurants. Gastown was named after Vancouver’s first settler and saloon owner, Jack “Gassy” Deighton, whose historic hotel was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1886 along with much of the city. The fire swept through the town in less than an hour, leaving only two of the 400 or so houses standing. “Gassy” Jack has been immortalised with a statue in Maple Tree Square in Gastown.

Another point of interest is the Lamplighter Pub in the Dominion Hotel, which was the first Vancouver inn to serve alcohol to women. The Europe Hotel was the first fireproof building in western Canada, having been built just after the fire in 1892. Gastown keeps time with the world’s first steam clock, which plays the Westminster chimes every 15 minutes on five brass steam whistles inside its cast bronze case. These and many other interesting corners of Gastown can be explored on a daily walking tour, offered at 2pm each day between June and August, which starts at the Gassy Jack statue and takes 90 minutes.
Website: www.gastown.org; Transport: Gastown is easily accessible by Vancouver’s Rapid Transit System, SkyTrain, and city buses

Grouse Mountain
On Vancouver’s north shore, just a 15-minute drive from the downtown area across the Lions Gate Bridge, is the year-round mountaintop playground of Grouse Mountain. Ascending the mountain is part of the adventure in the Super Skyride, a 100-passenger tram that glides up the steep mountain slopes carrying visitors up 3,700ft (1,100m) above sea level in just eight minutes. At the top, apart from magical views of the city below, is the 'Theatre in the Sky', which offers a high-tech presentation about Vancouver.

There is also a cedar longhouse called the Hiwus Feasthouse that offers the chance to experience native West Coast culture with displays of dancing, storytelling, chanting and native cuisine. There are hiking trails up the side of Grouse Mountain and on the east side one of them features the Grouse Grind, which is billed as the world’s biggest stair-climb. Mountain biking is also a popular pursuit on the mountainside, as is, of course, skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.
Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver; Telephone: (604) 984 0661; Website: www.grousemountain.com; Opening time: Daily 9am to 10pm; Admission: C$26.95 (adult), C$14.95 (youth), C$9.95 (child); other concessions available.

Stanley Park
Pride of Vancouver’s network of parks and gardens, Stanley Park, covering 1,000 acres (405 hectares), is one of the largest parks in any urban centre in North America. Situated in the heart of Vancouver’s densely populated West End, stretching out on a peninsula and surrounded on three sides by water, Stanley Park is both a refuge for visitors seeking a brief escape from the urban jungle, a showcase for the natural beauty that surrounds the city, and an entertainment centre.

The park is criss-crossed through its dense rain-forest interior by miles of wide gravel paths surrounding Beaver Lake and Lost Lagoon. It is home to hundreds of migratory birds such as Canada geese, swans and ducks, and large populations of racoons, squirrels, skunks and coyotes. It is also possible to walk, jog, cycle or rollerblade around the park’s 6.5 mile (10.5km) long seawall that encircles the perimeter.
Opening time: Open daily; Admission: Free.

EVENTS you may wish to attend:

Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
The International Dragon Boat Festival is an annual event that has become one of Vancouver’s most eagerly awaited family summer events. It is the largest and best dragon boat celebration in North America with more than 100 national and international teams taking part. A variety of entertainment accompanies the races, including cultural activities, food from a number of the city’s most popular restaurants, stage entertainment for the whole family, and an arts and craft market.
Venue: Science World; Date: June 2005, TBC; Website: www.adbf.com

Vancouver International Jazz Festival
As one of the biggest musical celebrations in the world, the International Jazz Festival is the most popular cultural event in Vancouver, with performances by more than 1,000 blues and jazz artists from around the world. The 10-day programme is full of famous names that play at various venues throughout the city, from formal concert theatres to open-air stages.
Venue: Various; Date: 24 June to 3 July 2005; Website: www.tojazz.com

ALBERTA

Tourism in the Canadian state of Alberta is centred on its famous Rocky Mountain region, which flanks it on its western border with British Columbia and offers a host of alpine attractions. The northern area is a sparsely inhabited wilderness of forests, lakes and rivers; the provincial capital, Edmonton, is in the central area, while in the east, on the border with Saskatchewan, the atmosphere takes on a Wild West feel in the Badlands and prairies.

Even in the cities and towns visitors to Alberta can be sure that nature is never far away. Albertans love the outdoors and urban environments are interspersed with plenty of lush river parks and greenbelts. In fact the capital, Edmonton, has more parkland per capita than any other North American city. An important aspect of Alberta’s heritage is its aboriginal culture. Home to 43 First Nations this heritage has been preserved in 14 reserves and educational attractions, ranging from the world’s largest tepee to native interpretive trails and exquisite handmade crafts.

The natural beauty of Alberta is world-renowned, so it is no surprise to discover that the province boasts five of Canada’s 13 World Heritage Sites: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Banff-Jasper National Parks, Wood Buffalo National Park and Dinosaur Provincial Park. Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park and the second largest in the world.

Calgary is situated 200 miles (322km) north of the US border on the banks of the Bow River below the Rocky Mountains. Although Alberta’s second city, Edmonton, is the state capital, Calgary is the territory's commercial and cultural centre and offers visitors and inhabitants all the trappings of urban life along with the pleasure of enjoying the dramatic countryside that surrounds the city. Splendid national parks that flourish on its doorstep, act as a magnet for hikers, fishermen and lovers of the great outdoors. The city, sited on the Trans-Canada highway, is also the gateway to the Rocky Mountain resorts, which in winter attract skiers from all over the continent.

The downtown area of Calgary not only serves as a shopping, entertainment, cultural and recreation centre for locals, but it is also a tourist centre for more than four million visitors a year. The city boasts dozens of tourist attractions and annual festivals, wonderful parks and open spaces and a selection of excellent shops, restaurants, cafes and bistros. The city is probably best known for the Calgary Stampede, a world-class cowboy carnival and rodeo that draws more than a million people every year to watch the action and be entertained by its accompanying huge parade and festivities.

For over 10,000 years the site on which Calgary sits today was home to the Blackfoot Indians; the first European settlers did not arrive until 1860. Colonel James Macleod established the small trading post, Fort Calgary, named after Calgary Bay on his native Isle of Mull in Scotland. The Pacific Railway reached the town in 1883, but it was not until the discovery of oil in Turner Valley, 22 miles (35km) southwest of the city that the population started to explode. Wander the streets in your Stetson beneath the sparkling skyscrapers built on the back of the oil boom, dine on a juicy steak in a saloon with country music playing in the background, and it will be hard to decide whether you are in Calgary or Texas.

Glenbow Museum Located in the heart of Calgary opposite the tower, Canada’s largest museum has more than 93,000 square feet (8,640 sq metres) of exhibition space spread over three floors. It houses more than a million objects that fill up its 20 galleries and showcase the colourful history of Canada’s West. Explore the exhibits to discover the people, stories and events that shaped the region from its First Nations to the arrival of the European settlers. There is a family-friendly Discovery Room, which is an open studio full of educational activities and crafts that bring the museum to life. A special feature is the Blackfoot Gallery, which tells the story of the Nitsitapi people through interactive displays, artefacts, a film and circular narrative path. There are also some 28,000 artworks dating from the 19th century to the present on display in the museum. Glenbow’s library is a treasure trove of reference materials on western Canada and the Glenbow Archives are a major research centre for historians, writers, students and the media.
Address: 130 9th Avenue, S.E; Telephone: (403) 268 4100; Website: www.glenbow.org; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm, closing at 9pm on Thursdays. Library and archives open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Admission: C$12 (Monday to Friday), C$14 (weekends). Concessions available

Calgary Zoo Canada’s second largest zoo includes a botanical garden and prehistoric park, and offers more than 100 rare animals, a variety of birds, species of reptiles and amphibians in natural habitat enclosures. In the prehistoric park there are 19 life-size dinosaur models on display. The gardens include a 20,000 square foot (1,858 sq metre) conservatory and butterfly garden and a special Rocky Mountain exhibit featuring many indigenous Alberta animals, including the endangered Whooping Crane. The zoo is situated close to the downtown area, St George’s Island. Address: 1300 Zoo Road NE; Telephone: (403) 232 9300; Website: www.calgaryzoo.com; Opening time: Open daily 9am to 5pm; Admission: C$15 (adult), C$7.50 (child); other concessions available

Fort Calgary This historical site chronicles Calgary’s history between 1875 and the 1940s and allows visitors to step back in time and explore the early days of the city through interactive exhibits, costumed interpreters, hands on activities, guided tours and an entertaining audio-visual presentation. Fort Calgary is situated on the site of an original North West Mounted Police Fort and is designed to preserve the history of the founding, development and growth of the city. The 40-acre riverside park includes the reconstructed 1875 fort, 1888 barracks, the interpretive centre and Deane House Historic Site and restaurant.
Address: 750 - 9th Avenue SE; Telephone: (403) 290 1875; Website: www.fortcalgary.ab.ca; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm (May to October); hours vary from November to April; Admission: C$9 (adults), C$5 (youth). Other concessions available

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

The Rocky Mountains of western North America stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,828km) from Mexico, through the United States and into Canada and Alaska. Dividing the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, the peaks of the Canadian Rockies tower over the plains rising to 11,975ft (3,650m). The alpine towns sprinkled along the Rockies on the Alberta side are an unspoiled mountain playground where each season has its own unique beauty and selection of activities. National parks abound in this area, offering the chance for mountain adventures and recreation. Canada’s largest National Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, is larger than Switzerland. The towns in the area, like Banff and Jasper, offer a vast number of tourist attractions to entertain and entrance visitors all year round to complement the natural attractions.

Banff The town of Banff is situated inside the spectacular and unspoilt Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park and most popular tourist attraction, about an hour and a half’s drive west of Calgary. The surrounding national park offers 2,564 square miles (6,641 sq km) of unparalleled mountain scenery in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, including glaciers, ice fields, jagged peaks, crystal clear lakes and raging rivers. The town and nearby village of Lake Louise draws millions of visitors every year, offering as it does a wide variety of comfortable accommodation and entertainment for those wanting a base to explore the mountain wilderness. It is recommended that visitors stay at least four days to make the most of sightseeing excursions in the park.

Attractions in the town itself include the Banff Park Museum, on Buffalo Street, which is the oldest natural history museum in western Canada and features a fantastic assortment of wildlife specimens, minerals and other artefacts. A short way away is the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies dedicated to the rich cultural history of the area, with four art galleries, a heritage gallery and a research library.

The Cave and Basin National Historic Site, in Cave Avenue, tells the story of the discovery of the hot springs that led to the establishment of Canada’s first national reserve in 1885. Visitors can also take a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain to enjoy the spectacular views from the observation deck at the top, or soak in hot mineral waters at the Upper Hot Springs in Mountain Avenue.

Winter is low season in Banff National Park, but skiers and snowboarders who brave the low temperatures are delighted with what they find. The slopes have something for everyone, from steep couloirs to gentle cruising and the snow is some of the coldest, driest and most reliable you’ll find anywhere in the world, and there’s a lot of it, particularly at Sunshine Village. Europeans are also impressed by the staggering scenery and mountain wildlife, as well as the welcoming locals and excellent value.

Jasper
Affectionately known as the “little town in the big park”, Jasper lies in the middle of Canada’s largest mountain park, the Jasper National Park, and makes a delightful base from which to explore the lakes and mountains. The town is 233 miles (373km) from Edmonton and lies among pristine wilderness, surrounded by a necklace of green lakes and majestic waterfalls.

Besides exploring the surrounding premiere national park there are one or two attractions in the town itself. These include the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society Museum featuring displays that deal with the early explorers in the region; the 165ft (55m) deep Maligne River Canyon; the longest and highest reversible tramway in Canada that transports passengers up Whistlers Mountain; and the Den Wildlife Museum that houses more than 100 specimens in their natural habitat.

Columbia Icefields This massive field of ancient ice, made up of three glaciers, is situated near the town of Jasper in the middle of Jasper National Park. The icefield covers 125 square miles (325 sq km) and in places is estimated to be 1,270ft (385m) deep. The icefield feeds four of north America’s major river systems, the Columbia, Fraser, Mackenzie and Saskatchewan and its meltwaters flow into three different oceans, the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic. Tours of the glacier are offered on sno-coaches between April and October each year. Ice-walk tours are also offered by the Jasper Adventure Centre.

Events:

Calgary Stampede
For ten exciting days each July the Wild West wins the day in Calgary when the city comes alive with a celebration of true western hospitality and rousing fun. The Calgary Stampede is centred around a myriad of rodeo events in which top professional cowboys compete in bull riding, roping, bareback riding, and steer wrestling. Meanwhile the gathered crowds join in the festivities with pancake breakfasts, square dancing, and cheering on a two-hour parade, ground-shaking Chuckwagon races, and a spectacular evening Grandstand Show extravaganza. The celebration is enhanced by other attractions like an authentic Indian village, recreated frontier town, gambling hall and dazzling fireworks display.

ONTARIO

Ontario is Canada’s most varied province with its large southern cities, tranquil farm country and wild remote northern areas where polar bears outnumber humans. It is in the central area of the country, bordered by Manitoba and Quebec, bounded in the north by James and Hudson Bay, and bordering on the United States in the south. Ontario hosts the capital city of Canada, Ottawa, but also has Canada’s largest city, Toronto, within its borders.

The province has a wealth of water, being the site of four of the five 'Great Lakes' of North America, as well as the mighty St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers and about 200,000 inland lakes. Last, but by no means least, in the far south is the most famous water spectacle of all, the Niagara Falls. Ontario is home to one third of Canada's population and has amassed great wealth from its mineral resources, heavy industrialisation, forestry, agriculture and fishing.

Toronto
The city is sited on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and sports distinctive neighbourhoods as well as the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, as its main north-south artery. Toronto’s main landmark is the CN Tower, which is the world’s tallest free-standing structure with glass-fronted elevators that rise 1,815ft (553m) to indoor and outdoor observation decks. The city also boasts the 'Skydome', which is a multi-purpose entertainment complex with a retractable roof, billed as the world’s greatest entertainment centre.

In the 17th century Toronto was a small French colony; then came the American Revolution which encouraged scores of families whose loyalties lay with the British to flee north. Many settled beside the lake establishing a town known as York, which slowly grew in importance as an administrative and manufacturing centre. In 1834 the name was changed to Toronto, an Indian word meaning 'meeting place'. The new name proved worthy when about a century later the city's English character began to be buried beneath the conglomeration of cultures brought in by a massive tide of immigrants from all corners of the world. Old English pubs and Victorian and Edwardian architecture survive among the skyscrapers, but Toronto is today a lively and cosmopolitan city and Canada's commercial capital.

Casa Loma
Canada’s own castle, Casa Loma, is today owned by the City of Toronto and draws plenty of interest standing in medieval splendour on its hilltop site. The castle was formerly the home of Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt, who engaged the noted architect E J Lennox to help him realise a life-long dream of building a castle. Construction started in 1911 and it took 300 men nearly three years to complete the impressive Casa Loma. Inside visitors can see the magnificent decorated suites, secret passages, and 800ft (244m) long tunnel, while outside it is possible to stroll through the beautiful five-acre estate gardens. Self-guided audio tours are available and the castle is open every day. Address: 1 Austin Terrace; Telephone: (416) 923 1171; Website: www.casaloma.org; Transport: From Dupont station walk to Spadina Ave and Davenport Rd and climb the Baldwin Steps to the castle; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 5pm; Admission: C$12 (adults), C$6.75 (children); other concessions available

CN Tower
Standing 1,815ft (553m) high, Toronoto’s landmark CN Tower is the world’s tallest building, a celebrated icon, an important telecommunications hub and the centre of tourism in Toronto. About two million people visit the tower each year to take in the panoramic view and enjoy all its attractions. The tower was built in 1976 by the company Canadian National, who undertook the project simply to prove the strength of Canadian industry and solve the city’s communication problems. Since then tourist attractions and facilities have been added, and the revitalised tower opened to the public in 1998, proving a hit with locals and visitors alike.

The tower has four look out levels. At the first at 1,122ft (342m) is an outdoor observation deck with a spectacular glass floor; somewhat higher at the next level is an indoor observation deck and the Horizon’s café, offering light meals high in the sky; at the 1,150ft (351m) level is a revolving restaurant, which rotates once every 72 minutes, allowing a stunning view of the city below while dining on the award-winning fare; finally comes the top level, at a dizzying 1,465ft (447m), known as the Sky Pod. At the top of the CN Tower visitors stand on the world’s highest public observation deck. The tower is situated in the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district, on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Address: 301 Front Street West; Telephone: (416) 868 6937; Website: www.cntower.ca; Transport: Union Station; Opening time: 10am to 10pm daily in season. Phone for other seasonal hours; Admission: Rates vary from C$18.99 to C$31.99 depending on the ticket type

Royal Ontario Museum
Pride of place in this large and varied museum is held by the golden mosaic ceiling inside the main entrance to the building in Queen’s Park, Toronto. The ceiling is adorned with patterns and symbols representing cultures from around the world throughout the ages, and is made from cut squares of imported Venetian glass.

The museum consists of three buildings housing 200,000 square feet (18,581 sq m) of galleries and exhibitions. The more than 40 galleries showcase art, archaeology and science exhibits. Among the most popular are dinosaurs, galleries of Chinese Art, a bat cave, a gem and gold room, exhibits about Ancient Egypt and Nubia, and the Samuel European Galleries. Address: 100 Queen's Park; Telephone: (416) 586 5549; Website: www.rom.on.ca; Transport: Museum subway station or Avenue bus 5 from Eglington station; Opening time: Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, late opening until 9.30pm on Friday; Admission: Monday to Friday: C$15 (adults), C$10 (children). Weekends: C$20 (adults), C$10 (children). Free on Fridays from 4.30pm to 9.30pm

Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo covers 710 acres (287 hectares) and is divided into 'zoogeographic' regions. It features four major tropical indoor pavilions and several smaller indoor viewing areas, plus numerous outdoor exhibits with more than six miles (ten km) of walking trails. The zoo houses more than 5,000 animals representing more than 450 species; it draws more than 1,2 million visitors each year. It is located north of Highway 401 and is easily accessible by public transport.
Address: Meadowvale Road, Scarborough; Telephone: (416) 392 5900; Website: www.torontozoo.com; Transport: Rouge Hill GO Train station; 86A Scarborough bus route or 85 Sheppard East bus route; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 4.30pm (January to 11 March, 11 October to December); 9am to 6pm (12 March to 21 May, 7 September to 11 October); 9am to 7.30pm (22 May to 6 September); Admission: C$18 (adults), C$10 (children); other concessions available

Niagara Falls
Straddling the Canadian-United States border and sited between the province of Ontario and the US state of New York, the awesome Niagara Falls attracts about 12 million tourists a year. It makes a spectacular day’s outing from Toronto. The Niagara River has been flowing for about 12,000 years but the eroded escarpment over which the falls flow today is much older, having been formed during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale to make it the second largest waterfall on earth, after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

Apart from appreciating the mighty torrent of the falls itself, perhaps from a spray-filled boat tour, there is plenty more to see and do on the Niagara peninsula, including indulging in some wine-tasting at one of the local wineries; visiting the exotic butterfly conservatory, marvelling at the floral clock in the Niagara Parks Greenhouse; or playing a round of golf on one of the 34 courses that dot the peninsula. Website: www.niagaraparks.com; Opening time: Different attractions have different opening hours and seasons; Admission: Admission tickets vary from C$7.50 to C$13 depending on which attractions are visited

Events:
Cavalcade of Lights
Toronto’s festive season officially kicks off at the end of November each year with the brilliant illumination of Nathan Phillips Square with more than 100,000 lights and a massive Christmas tree, heralding a month of merry-making and fun events in the city centre. Events include ‘Designs in Ice’ exhibition, outdoor concerts, street theatre and skating parties.
Venue: Nathan Phillips Square; Date: 30 November until New Year

Festival of Fire
Easily the most spectacular event during the summer in Toronto is the annual fireworks extravaganza that lights up the sky over the city’s waterfront, watched by an estimated two million people. The show is set to music and the fireworks are set off from barges in Lake Ontario.
Venue: Paid for reserved seating available on Ontario Place pier or on Mariposa Harbour cruise boats, otherwise watch from anywhere on the lake shore; Date: June/July 2005, TBA

Toronto Model Railway Show
Featuring the favourite toys of big and little boys, Toronto’s Model Railway Show is one of the best of its kind in the world, drawing thousands of enthusiasts to the exhibition which is packed with miles of tracks and hundreds of miniature engines and carriages. Not suprisingly this delightful annual show has been enthralling young and old for more than 25 years.
Venue: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road; Date: March 2005, TBC

Toronto Pride
Toronto Pride is the third largest gay and lesbian celebration in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to participate in hundreds of events. The Pride week has a different theme each year which sets the tone for the hundreds of activities and events on the programme, culminating in the massive pride parade with its floats and performers, and the ‘Dyke March’.

The main event of the week is ‘Unity’, a non-stop all-night dance party featuring spectacular stage shows, billed as one of the best parties in the northern hemisphere. Venue: ‘Unity’ takes place at the National Trade Center; the Pride Parade follows a route down Yonge Street; the Dyke March route is north on Church to Bloor, west on Bloor to Yonge, south on Yonge to Wood and east on Wood to the South Stage. Other events take place; Date: 20-26 June 2005; Website: www.torontopride.com

Lets hope you don't need this...But if you need to contact your embassy, these are the details:

Embassy of the United States of America, Ottawa: +1 613 238 5335
British High Commission, Ottawa, +1 613 237 1530
Australian High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 236 0841
High Commission for the Republic of South Africa, Ottawa: +1 613 744 0330
Irish Embassy, Ottawa: +1 613 233 6281
New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 238 5991
Emergencies: 911 (in most provinces)


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USA + Canada: 011 800 8781 1120
New Zealand: 00 800 8781 1120
United Kingdom: 00 800 8781 1120
Germany: 00 800 8781 1120
Israel: (Berak) 013 800 8781 1120 - (Bezeq) 014 800 8781 1120

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