Canada has long been the favourite destination for snowboarders and skiers from all over the world. The country has skiing spots for both amateurs and experts, it’s not as expensive as Europe, and most of the ski resorts rank quite high when it comes to safety. In fact, many ski resorts in Canada have safety boundaries marked by rope, and some of the top ones are even protected from avalanches. So if you love the snow and are looking for a slope that could challenge your limits then Canada is definitely a good bet. For winter sports buffs, here are some of the best ski resorts in Canada.

Whistler, BC

One of the most popular ski resorts in Canada, Whistler is famous for its 2 mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb) which provide ample skiing space for one and all. The resort has nursery slopes for beginners as well as open bowls for experts. In fact, the skiing area is so vast that you can go for miles without worrying about the boundaries. Travellers can also enjoy eagle watching and zip lining tours here.

Revelstoke, BC

Boasting the thousands of acres of slopes, Revelstoke is considered one of the most promising ski resorts in Canada. The resort is equipped with 2 chairlifts and has good safety equipment in reserves. Revelstoke ski resort also organizes track sessions so that you can become familiar with the terrain before heading out for adventure. The town is just a 10 minute drive away so there are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.

Banff, AB

Banff ski resort has 3 ski areas (Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise) with Lake Louise being the most popular, offering more than 4000 acres of slopes and 9 lifts. The best part about Banff is that you’ll get many tour operators offering exciting packages for your winter holiday; packages that include everything from flight tickets to accommodation to adventure. Banff Town itself is a pretty lively place with more than 100 restaurants and bars, so there is a lot of fun to be had here. During winter, these resorts are booked to capacity so make sure you make sure you make your reservations well in advance.

The Taste of the Danforth is among the biggest street festivals in Canada. Now, in its 22nd year, this annual festival is perhaps the most prominent August event in Toronto and offers something for one and all.

Taste of the Danforth by torontocitylife/ CC BY

Visit Greektown area in Toronto from 07th to 09th August 2015 to enjoy the splendour of this event. Take a look at some of the highlights of the Taste of the Danforth.

Taste of the Danforth by makeshiftlove/ CC BY

Guinness World Records

In the 2015 edition of this Canadian street festival, you can participate in two world record challenges. The first challenge is Most People to Eat an Olive in 8 Hours! Just eat an olive to be a part of this record. The second challenge is Most People to Score a Penalty Kick in 8 Hours.

Celebrity Stage Performances

Frank D’Angelo Band

This popular Canadian band plays various genres of music and you can catch them at Taste of the Danforth. They will perform on 08th and 09th August at 8:30 pm.

Miss Asia Toronto Pageant

Watch the Asian beauties from Toronto compete for a place in the Miss Asia Final to be held in Hong Kong. Contestants from various Asian communities in this Canadian city will participate in this pageant and the winner will get an all expense paid holiday to Hong Kong.  The contest will start at 2:50 pm on 09th August and also feature a special performance by international pop singer Farahri.

Sol De Cuba

If you are a fan of Cuban music, you can ill afford to miss out the performance of Sol De Cuba, a 4-piece band directed by Pablo Terry that plays traditional melodies of Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Tango and American Jazz. They are going to rock the stage on 08th August at 05:05pm.

You simply cannot afford to miss the Montreal International Jazz Festival if you love this genre of music. Being the largest jazz festival in the world, it’s like Mecca for jazz fans. This year round, hundreds of renowned artists from all across the world will come together to treat over two million jazz fans.  There will be as many as 1000 concerts and related events, including the much sought-after outdoor performances. Here is a quick look at the highlights.

A Peek into the 2015 Line-up

Like its previous edition, the Montreal International Jazz Festival 2015 is packed with iconic artists. Speaking of iconic, let us delight you by announcing that the 2015 line-up features Dee Dee Bridgewater. The three-time Grammy winning, UN ambassador, radio host is the queen of jazz music. Then we have Wayne Shorter, the standard-setter jazz saxophonist and composer; Al Di Meola, the guitar magician; and Jamie Cullum, the charmer. Bebel Gilberto, daughter of the legendary Joao Gilberto, will also be there. And guess who else is making headlines this year? Huey Lewis! If the music of the Eighties has a special place in your heart, don’t miss this performance. Huey Lewis and the News will perform on 1st July at Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. For a detailed look at the line-up, you can visit the website www.montrealjazzfest.com.

Dates

26th June to 5th July, 2015

Location

Montréal – one of the loveliest cities in Québec province, Canada.

Important Information

• The first aid stations are at De Bleury Street, south of De Maisonneuve Boulevard and Clark Street, at the corner of De Montigny Street.
• If you misplace your belongings, contact L’Équipe Spectra at 514 288-1971 or email objetstrouves@equipespectra.
• Information KIOSKs are conveniently located at the corner of Jeanne-Mance and Ste. Catherine, and on the Place des Arts esplanade.
• Guests with limited mobility will have access to a specially designated area near the main stage on the Place des Festivals.

Only a true auto enthusiast knows the amazing feel of getting within touching distance of the latest car models, long before the rest of the world even gets to see pictures in magazines. If you are one of them, the Canadian International Autoshow 2015 is for you! The largest auto show of Canada will be showcasing, or shall we say ‘showing off’, some of the most stunning cars this year. Rivalling some of the best auto shows in the world, Canadian International Autoshow 2015 is grand, exciting and every bit worth visiting.

Canadian International Autoshow by Michael Gil/ CC BY

Date and Place

Canadian International Autoshow 2015    will commence on 13th Feb and continue to dazzle enthusiasts with world-class exhibitions till 22nd Feb. The location is Metro Toronto Convention Centre North building.

Highlights of the Show

There are three highlights that will keep all the car aficionados ecstatically occupied throughout the show – Auto Exotica, AutoConnect and Art and the Automobile. Auto Exotica features some of mankind’s finest creations. Your eyes will pop out when beautiful models will unveil the top of the line vehicles passionately crafted by the likes of McLaren, Ferrari, Pagani, Maserati, Tesla and others. AutoConnect showcases state-of-the-art technologies that keep pushing the boundaries in the world of automobiles. Visitors will find everything from solar powered vehicles to fuel cell technology. AutoConnect also features educational institutions that are there to address inquisitive minds obsessed with automobiles.

Art and the Automobile focus upon, as the name itself suggests, ‘art’ in automobile and automobile in art. What does that mean? It means visitors will get to see the spectacular display of galleries that tell the story of automobiles, going back to the buggy days and the golden era of 60s. At the same time, visitors will also get to see the designs for the next generation.
Auto Exotica: Level 100 in the North Building
AutoConnect: Level 700 in the South Building
Art and the Automobile: Level 700 in the South Building

Additional Features

Are you a gaming buff too?  Unleash the gamer in you at Level 600 in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Xbox One Gaming Area awaits you here! Try the latest games and don’t forget to explore your limits with Forza Horizon 2.  The ones travelling with children can simply drop their kids at Volkswagen Children’s Playcare Centre, lest they choose to do things the mature adult way, err, we mean exploring the exhibitions ‘quietly’. There is also a lovely dining spot to take care of hunger pangs. Muskoka brewery restaurant on Level 600 in the South Building is a refreshing place for enjoying premium craft beers and scrumptious meals.

The trend of fitness holidays is becoming rather popular with new-age vacationers. Pursuits such as biking are becoming a rage with tourists who venture out to not only explore the world but also to maintain their physical well-being.

Canada, the much celebrated holiday destination of North America, is just the right place to start with, if it is biking tours you have in mind. The country is crammed full of wonderful bike routes, enamouring enthusiasts to no end. Apart from spellbinding vistas, these routes even feature amazing sites along the way. Read on to get introduced to two such popular routes in Canada.

Underground Railroad

Canada’s varied natural landscape makes it a particular hit among cyclists, but there are several man-made routes as well, which further tempt keen cyclists to be here in the country. Developed recently, this lesser known cycling route was developed by The Adventure Cycling Association and crosses over from Mobile and Alabama, to Owen Sound and Ontario. The course has been segregated into five unique segments, which together add up to a total distance of 2,057 miles or 3,310 kilometres. The distinct sites which make the route interesting include museums and old slave markets. This one is definitely for the tyros as the route is often considered a flat terrain.

La Route Verte

La Route Verte by Cycle & Rail/ CC BY

The newly created Route Verte, also known as the ‘Green Route’, passes through the beautiful province of Quebec in east to west direction. The route runs for more than 2,485 miles or 4,000 kilometres, along cautiously selected rural roads and rights-of-way. Moreover, the entire course features proper signboards, which assure utmost convenience to the bikers, offering them directions to nearby sites. The biggest charm of the route is that the terrain and vista keep on changing after every few kilometres. From mountain views in the Laurentides to calm stretches along the St. Lawrence River, the route has everything to grab the interest of bikers! Surely is it is a nice incentive for adventure tourists who are all set to board flights to the North American country.

Vancouver is every cyclist’s dream owing to its steep terrains and well-carved-out paths which promise a perfect adrenaline rush. Most of the bike lanes are situated on the North Shore Mountains thus making it a perfect heaven for keen bikers. Below is a quick glance at two of the most prominent cycling routes of the city, which are extremely popular amongst cyclers netting air tickets aboard flights arriving in Canada.

Hiring a Bike

Bike RIde by Tavis Ford/ CC BY

Hiring a bicycle in Vancouver is quite easy as the region is crammed full of bike rental stores offering bicycles for few hours or even for the entire day. Helmets and bike locks come complementary for the safety of the riders.

Coal Harbour

One of the most popular bike routes of Canada is Coal Harbour, located pretty close to the popular Stanley Park. All you need is to strap up the helmets, hop aboard the bike and make their way for the park. The park features some beautifully manicured gardens, stunning Totem poles, a thrilling water park for children, the Vancouver Aquarium, various restaurants and cafes. There are horse-drawn carriage rides, beaches and most importantly, the spellbinding views of the natural grandeur which together make an ideal backdrop for enjoying the most scenic holidays in Vancouver. It would be no exaggeration to say that a slew of cyclers from all over the world invest on tickets for Vancouver bound flight just to experience the thrill of this route.

Third Beach

Another compelling terrain to check your cycling skills while wandering in Vancouver is the Third Beach. This is an ideal family-friendly beach destination that offers great opportunities’ for sunbathing and swimming. Visitors may even sip a drink or grab a bite of some tantalizing dishes served at the concession stands. Another highlight is outdoor pool that makes for a great place to stop and cool off. After crossing the pools, travellers may find two separate paths, the first continuing towards the west, towards English Bay. And the second towards Coal Harbour and further heading towards the point where Stanley Park and Coal Harbour meet.

With film festivals all over the world celebrating and honouring the people who create movies, Canada offers its own share of fascinating festivals. Film festivals of Canada offer one-of-a-kind experience and a wonderful prerogative to explore the art of filmmaking, listen to the creators, talk about their exclusive work, and view the best of international cinema in different genres. Also, each festival broadcasts the summits and workshops as a part of the festival in order to give the visitors every possible update on cinema. Two out of the many annual film festivals which make holidays in Canada a remarkable affair are discussed below.

Vancouver International Film Festival

The much celebrated Vancouver International Film Festival is a colourful cultural extravaganza that makes flights tickets to Canada sell like hot cakes. Within few years of its foundation, this wonderful gala event has grown to become one of the most important and influential festivals in Canada and North America that features a pool of entertainment and educational programmes. This exciting and extensive two-week festival takes place in late September and early October, and every year close to 200,000 attendees head to Vancouver in the hopes of viewing some of the biggest classics of cinematic art. During the festival, films from more than 75 countries in different genres are screened on nine giant screens including international line-up such as world’s top films and other undiscovered gems.

Montreal World Film Festival

The Montreal World Film Festival was founded way back in 1977 and has now become one of the largest and the oldest film festivals of its kind in the entire world. Held in late August every year, the festival besides being a heaven for cinema and music lovers from different genres also features a world of programmes and events which are aimed at inspiring the development of quality cinema throughout the globe. Some of the well famed regular features of this popular festival include First Films World Competition, Documentaries of the World, Tributes, Student Film Festival (Canadian and international sections) and Documentaries of the World. Cinema lovers looking forward to plan unique holidays in Canada must not forget to book entry tickets for this amazing festival, well in advance.