Tourism is of great economic importance to Canada. The variety of landscapes, magnificent rivers and lakes almost everywhere, almost untouched nature in some parts, a cultural heritage of the Natives as well as of the various immigrant groups that came from all over the world - these and many other factors make the uniqueness of the country and they need therefore to be preserved and protected.
The Canadian Tourism Commission [1] (CTC) has identified cultural and heritage tourism as a critical area of development in Canada. "Cultural tourism is a form of tourism whose object is, among other aims, the discovery of monuments and sites. It exerts on these last, a very positive effect because it contributes, to satisfy its own ends, to their maintenance and protection. This form of tourism justifies in fact the effort which said maintenance and protection demand of the human communities because of the socio-cultural and economic benefits which they bestow on all the populations concerned" (The ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Tourism).
The cultural and social characteristics of all Canadian destinations are varied and unique, but are composed of the same basic elements: local history, including visible reminders; language or dialects spoken by the residents; traditions and folklore; methods of work and products or technology; art or music; styles of dress; distinctive architecture; educational systems; religion, including visible manifestations; leisure activities; handicrafts; gastronomy or food preparation; and festivals or celebrations. One can see cultural tourism as a dynamic tourist activity, one closely tied to physical experiences. Cultural tourism [2] is a search for and a celebration of that which is unique and beautiful, representing our most valued inheritance: attributes we will want to keep and pass on to our descendants, attributes our communities may be proud of. This tourism section will examine some historical examples, as well as examples from some of Canada's natural areas.
British Columbia is definitely a place of beauty. Along the west coast, the mountains plunge into deep blue waters, along with tall trees, rivers, rare birds, whales, salmon, bears and small villages all make for wonderful scenery. The native culture in this province is unique to Canada. The early tribes who lived on Vancouver Island and in western British Columbia had the most elaborate nonagricultural society in North America. They were masters at woodworking and the decorative arts, including long houses, totem poles and oceangoing canoes. For a long time, tourism has been a great economic success for this province. This trend is continuing due to spectacular destinations and superb marketing programs. In 1998 tourism generated $8.7 billion in revenue, with a record 21.3 million visits. Forecasted revenues for 1999 are expected to surpass the $9 billion mark. British Columbia directly employs almost 113,000 people in this sector. The British Columbia government established Tourism British Columbia as a crown corporation. This allows industry partners to market the tourism in this province as one of the world's best destinations. British Columbia has a world-renown ski industry [3], and this is the economic factor that attracts much of the tourism. Whistler and Blackcomb are considered two of the best ski and snowboard resorts in the country. They have invested more than $2 billion in the ski resorts in this province.
The possibilities for tourism [4] in British Columbia are almost endless. Listing all of the sites would be impossible, as with the other provinces. When one visits British Columbia they can enjoy the province by camping and skiing in the Rocky Mountains; snowboarding and skiing at Whistler; sailing around the West Coast Islands; touring the vineyards of the Okanagan Valley; or visiting the capital city of Victoria.
Part of Alberta's uniqueness stems from its earlier history. One can easily imagine dinosaurs, buffalo, coyotes, rattlesnakes, horned toads, pronghorn antelope, Native Indians, cowboys, traders, and the North West Mounted Police inhabiting this region. Southern Alberta is purely western. This might be North America's most diversified landscape with its short grass prairies, and deep cuts in the land left by glaciers, foothills, badlands, peaceful rivers, large lakes, and mountains. This area was first inhabited by Plains Indians [5].
Visitors can revisit the hunting culture of the Plains Indians through Fort Macleod. It was founded in 1874, and was the first outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Canada's untamed west. The "red coat" police force, or RCMP, is a definite symbol of Canadian culture. In July and August visitors may be treated to the Mounted Patrol Musical Ride" [6]. This entails eight riders dressed in replica 1874 North West Mounted Police (now the RCMP) uniforms performing precision movements on horseback to music.
The culture of the Plains Indians also comes alive at the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jumb [7]. This is one of the largest and best preserved buffalo jumps in North America. The site, where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the great plains, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It has been used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than fifty-five hundred years. The bison gave the Plains Indians many of life's requirements for thousands of years. This would include meat for food, hides for clothing and shelter, sinew, bone and horn for tools and dung for fires. The main method of killing many bison was the buffalo jump. They stampeded the herds over a ten to eighteen metre cliff, and butchered them at the bottom. This activity continued to the middle of the 19th century. Today visitors to the site can see skeletal remains, in some places eleven meters deep. Visitors can also examine the site of the butchering camp, a wide expanse with the remnants of meat caches and cooking pits. The area on top of the cliff was, and is, a prime grazing range.
If visitors want to examine animal life before the buffalo, then they should visit the world-class Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology [8]. It features the world's largest display of dinosaur specimens. Visitors can walk the Dinosaur Trail, starting in Drumheller, and witness spectacular scenery by crossing the Red Deer River on one of the last remaining cable car ferries in Alberta.
Tourism is Saskatchewan's fastest growing economic sector. It generates more than $1.1 billion in visitor spending annually. Each region of Saskatchewan has its own distinct features. In the southwest region [9], the visitor can look at the dramatic sights of the rugged cowboy country. Visitors can also trace the historic trails of outlaws and mounted police officers. One of the most popular destinations in this region is Cypress Hills. The alpine environment is home to rare wild flowers and more than 200 species of birds. Also in this region is the Red Coat Trail. This trail follows the approximate route that the North West Mounted Police took in their "March West" in 1874, to bring law and order to the Canadian Frontier.
In the southeast region [10], one can find a wide range of landscapes from the Qu'Appelle Valley to Moose Mountain. Visitors can also find some of Saskatchewan's top summer powwows at the Treaty Four Gathering in Fort Qu'Appelle. The Porcupine Forest is one of the best-known places for snowmobiling in the province. This area is also known as a major energy producing region, with rich deposits of oil and coal.
The west-central area [11] allows the visitor to step back in time to the place of ancient tipi rings, medicine wheels, and major fur trade routes. This is also the region of Louis Riel, who led the Metis people in an armed uprising against the Canadian government in 1885. Saskatchewan's largest city, Saskatoon, is also found in this region. In the east-central region [12] one can discover some of Saskatchewan's most unusual lakes. For example, Little Manitou Lake is mineral rich, with a buoyancy that makes it impossible for anyone to sink. Last Mountain Lake is home to the largest bird sanctuary in North America.
Museums in the northern area [13] tell the story of forestry, and the importance of the penal system and corrections service to Prince Albert. For those willing to travel by air, the far northern section of the province, houses the Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park. This park protects the most northerly expanse of major sand dunes in the world. Ten species of rare plants are found here, and nowhere else on the planet.
Regina [14], the capital city, had very humble beginnings. In 1882 it was a tent settlement named Pile O'Bones. One of the nation's finest art collections is on exhibit here at the Mackenzie Art Gallery. Canada's only training academy for the RCMP is found here. The Saskatchewan Roughriders, arguably Canada's most loved football team, plays their home games in Regina.
Manitoba offers some of the world's most wide open spaces. The province has more than 100,000 lakes. Winnipeg, the capital city, was founded in 1734 as a fur trading settlement. Winnipeg also enjoys more than 2300 hours of sunshine per year, more than any other Canadian city. Visitors can see some of the 100,000 lakes by exploring the Interlake Area [15], the land between the lakes, Lake Winnipeg on the east and Lake Manitoba on the west. This area provides beautiful beaches, boating, and spectacular concentrations of waterfowl.
For the more adventurous type, Churchill is the undisputed Polar Bear Capital of the world. Visitors can see large numbers of bears with ease and safety. They will ride in the Tundra Buggies [16], which allows one to be safely above the bears, while simultaneously using open windows for maximum visibility. Since the visitor can view the bears at such a close range, there is the chance to see other Arctic species such as gyrfalcon, snowy owl, willow ptarmigan, Arctic fox, and collared lemming. Finally, visitors are often awestruck [17] upon seeing the haunting beauty of the aurora borealis (northern lights). Blue, green and white in color, they swirl and dance in the still northern sky. According to legend, the northern lights will dance their way down to earth if you whistle at them.
When it comes to tourism, Ontario has something for everyone. They are the host to the largest Caribbean Festival in the world, a wonderful display of international fireworks every summer, and the best Oktoberfest celebration outside Europe, to name just a few attractions.
One attraction to visit is Casa Loma [18], a castle built in the middle of Toronto, the capital city. Sir Henry Pellatt built it between 1911 and 1914. Younger visitors will enjoy its secret passageways. Five acres of lush gardens surround the castle.
A totally different attraction is Fort York [19] in Toronto. Here the largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings in Canada can be found. There are many other forts to see. Just east of Toronto in Kingston, visitors can discover Old Fort Henry [20]. It was built in 1812 for defense purposes during the War against the United States. It now acts as a living museum, depicting life in the 1800s. The gunners at the fort only fired once at a passing American ship.
For those looking for something a little more modern, The Canadian National Tower is the place to go. Seeing it is easy, given that it is the tallest building in the world, at 553.33 meters. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the CN-Tower [21] as the "World's Tallest Building and Free Standing Structure". Other records include the "World's Longest Metal Staircase" and the "World's Highest Wine Cellar". In 1995 they classified it as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Right beside the CN Tower is the SkyDome [22], the first and only stadium to have a fully retractable roof. The Toronto Blue Jays play baseball here. It is also home to the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, concerts, and other sporting events.
For those visitors looking for more natural phenomena, Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park, near Kingston, falls into this category. It is one of Ontario's natural wonders [23]. This lake has a constant flow of clean, fresh water, but has no visible water source. One accepted theory is that it is a collapsed doline, a feature found in limestone rock foundations. Limestone is very prominent in this part of Ontario. Other theories hold that volcanoes, meteorites and massive glacial whirlpools are responsible for the lake's fresh water. Early settlers in this area thought that the lake was bottomless. Others thought that it led to a subterranean passage and distant water source.
Several hours north of Toronto, is Ontario's first provincial park, Algonquin Park [24]. This is the oldest and most famous provincial park in Ontario and one of the largest in Canada. They established it in 1893. It is also the most important single area in Canada for biological research.
Located just north of North Bay, Temagami Adventure [25], is something for those looking for a different sort of experience. Temagami Adventure offers the visitor the opportunity to visit and explore the Temagami Wilderness trails by dogsled. The expedition travels 30 kilometers to heated outpost prospector tents that provide warmth and a relaxing atmosphere, and a chance to view the northern lights. Purebred Siberian Huskies and the rare Canadian Eskimo dog pull Temagami Adventure sleds. Native to Canada this special breed has remarkable strength and endurance that enabled native Canadians to survive, and helped early explorers discover northern Canada.
Finally, the Nation's capital, Ottawa [26]. This city is full of cultural and natural activities and attractions. It has the longest skating rink in the world, the largest indoor display of native totem poles, the Parliament Buildings and the National Arts Centre.
In Quebec historical places abound. Jacques Cartier arrived in this part of North America four and a half centuries ago. Quebec is still proud of its French culture and heritage. The visitor to Quebec will notice that it is a province where New World vitality and enthusiasm combine with Old World charm. Ancient stone walls still surround Quebec City [27]. It is the only fortified city in North America, north of Mexico, and this has created uniqueness for this province. UNESCO designated Old Quebec in 1985 as part of the prestigious family of world heritage treasures, meaning that it has "exceptional universal value" and is worthy of protection. It is the only urban center in North America to achieve this recognition.
Some of Quebec's most famous sites [28] include the following: Place Royale is one of the oldest districts in North America. It has narrow streets and architecture dating from four centuries. The Plaines d'Abraham are known for being one of the largest and most prestigious parks in the world. The Parc de la Chute Montmorency provides a wonderful view of the St. Lawrence River, Ile d'Orleans and Quebec City. It is well known for its 83 meter high waterfall, one and a half times that of Niagara Falls. Ile d'Orleans is the site of the region's first settlers, dating from as far back as 1636.
Mont Royal and the St. Lawrence River frame Montreal [29], one of the province's largest cities. It was originally a simple missionary village, but now is one of the world's largest inland ports, the home of Canada's first banks and trading companies, and the world's second largest French-speaking city. One site to visit is The Olympic Stadium, known as the "Big O". It is home to Montreal's baseball team. One can take a cable car up its inclined tower, the highest of its kind in the world. Across from Olympic Park, one can visit the Botanical Garden with Chinese and Japanese gardens and an insectarium, the second largest in the world. Montreal also has some of Canada's oldest art museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts.
The city of Hull [30] is situated at the intersection of the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers. This area grew out of the logging industry situated here in the early 19th century. Today it is part of Canada's National Capital Region. One spot to visit is the Canadian Museum of Civilisation.
Many people have argued that the province Newfoundland & Labrador offers some of the most magnificent scenery in Canada. There are two distinct parts to it. The island of Newfoundland [31] is halfway between the center of North America and Western Europe. When the Vikings landed here [32] 1000 years ago, they established the first European settlement in the New World. The Strait of Belle Isle separates the island from Labrador. Labrador was the site in the 16th century for a Basque whaling fleet to establish one of the earliest industrial complexes in the New World. This is the region where Viking adventurers landed. It is also the province where John Cabot made his landfall in 1497. Moreover, it was the first of Britain's overseas colonies.
The visitor to Newfoundland can explore many attractions [33], including some of the largest seabird sanctuaries and the best seabird viewing on earth. Forty million seabirds call Newfoundland and Labrador home. If one travels to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, 95% of the continent's Atlantic Puffins will surround them. If caribous interest you, George's River herd of 600,000 is the world's largest. More than 5000 humpback whales can be seen off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Or one could visit Corner Brook, the city with the highest annual snowfall in Canada.
St. John's, the capital city, is the oldest settlement in North America. It boasts the oldest street in North America that leads to the harbor, where sailors from around the world still gather. Cape Spear [34] is the most easterly point of the continent. The Cape Spear Lighthouse is the oldest existing lighthouse in Newfoundland. It is now a museum where the visitor can explore what life was like for the lighthouse keeper and his family in the 19th century.
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the province is Signal Hill, more specifically Cabot Tower. They built Cabot Tower in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. In 1901, Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless message at a position near the tower, the letter "s", sent from England. Cabot Tower is now the center of the Signal Hill National Historic Park [35], Canada's second largest historic park.
Tourism is fast becoming a very important economic factor in New Brunswick. Water borders this province on three sides. The most fascinating body of water is the Bay of Fundy. This oceanic phenomenon is the site of the highest tides in the world. It also houses one of the most accessible whale watching sites. The Bay of Fundy is one of the Marine Wonders of the World. One hundred billion tons of water rise and fall in the Bay twice a day. The unique funnel-shaped dimensions of the Bay of Fundy push and squeeze the incoming tides to incredible heights [36], up to fourteen meters in some areas. The Hopewell Rocks [37] are another feature of the Bay of Fundy. Visitors can walk on the ocean floor, around five story flowerpots gouged out of the cliffs by the force of the tide. But when the tide comes in, these flowerpots turn into little islands.
Also on the Bay of Fundy is Saint John, Canada's oldest incorporated city and New Brunswick's largest. The city's greatest claim to fame is the reversing falls that occur on the Saint John River. The high tides in the Bay of Fundy actually force water back up the river, temporarily reversing the flow.
If food is on your mind when visiting this province [38], then one should visit Sussex Corner, the dairy capital of Canada. Walter Donnelly, a local baker, once made a poor batch of dough and did not know what to do with the hard, crispy pastry. He went next door to the ice cream parlor and made the first ice cream cone! If ice cream is not what you are looking for, what about chocolate. Arthur Ganong invented the world's first chocolate bar after he returned from a fishing trip. He was tired of the chocolates melting in his pockets, so in 1910 he began to wrap them in tin foil.
The world's longest covered bridge was completed in Hartland in 1889. The bridge is 390 meters long and runs across the Saint John River. There is a total of sixty-two covered bridges [39] in New Brunswick. For those with a car, the Magnetic Hill Complex is something to explore. One can sit in their car and it will coast uphill - magic or magnetic?! In reality it is a perceptual illusion. The city of Moncton has notable events such as the Jazz and Blues Festival, which features world class musicians and the World Wine Festival.
The best way to explore Nova Scotia is by car. Ten scenic driving routes will take the visitor to every part of the province. Many of these routes take the visitor to areas where one can see working ports, beaches, nautical museums and replicas of historic vessels. One of the best things to do in this province is simply to drive and look. This is a province full of lush fields, green mountains and rocky shores. The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is perhaps the most beautiful roadway in North America. Cape Breton Island is separated from the rest of Nova Scotia by the narrow Strait of Canso.
The Cabot Trail circles the upper reaches of Cape Breton. It was named after the European explorer John Cabot who first sighted Cape Breton in 1497. The trail is circular and stretches almost 300 kilometers along the seacoast and rugged mountains. There are numerous sites to see along the trail. To really get a sense of the trail, one should take about two days to travel it. Along the trail, one can visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Here one can see some of his memorabilia and inventions. Another interesting site is the Scarecrow Theatre. It consists of more than fifty scarecrows in a field beside the highway. Joe Delaney [40] began this idea in 1986 as homage to the Acadian celebration "La Micareme", in which they disguise themselves as scarecrows and engage in wild dance and other merriment midway through Lent.
Another highlight on the trail is the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park [41]. This is a massive bastion built by the French in the 1700s. It was destroyed by the British and later restored by the Canadian government. It is a living museum where they portray life the way it was in the 1700s. It is the largest historical restoration in North America. Visitors can sample food from the 18th century [42], either from a poor or rich perspective, depending on how much cutlery one would like!
One stop visitors might want to make is at the French fishing villages, with their old clapboard houses and storefronts. The French province of Acadia, modern day Nova Scotia and the surrounding regions, was settled in the 1600s by French colonists. By 1750 about 10,000 Acadians had developed a prosperous agricultural economy by dyking and farming the tidal marshes around the Bay of Fundy. The area eventually became a British possession. In 1775, as war neared between France and England, the British authorities wanted the Acadians to swear allegiance to the British Crown. The Acadians refused and left the area to places like Louisiana. This event became known as the Expulsion [43]. Many Acadians later returned to Nova Scotia. The mass exile of the Acadians is well known to anyone who has read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Evangeline". Grand Pre National Historic Site [44] is the setting for this poem. Acadian days festivities occur at the site each year.
Finally, as one heads along the coastline to Halifax, the capital city, one should make a stop at Peggy's Cove [45]. It is likely the world's most photographed fishing village. The year round population is approximately 100 residents. One of the most remarkable visible characteristics of the area is the granite rock. Huge boulders were picked up and deposited, 10,000 years ago by the last retreating glaciers, and are scattered randomly in and about Peggy's Cove. Rock anchors the famous lighthouse, the only post office/lighthouse in North America. During summer more than 500,000 people visit the village.
Since the completion of the Confederation Bridge, the new link between Prince Edward Island and mainland Canada, the number of visitors to the province increased in 1997, the first year the bridge was opened, to more than a million, an increase of 40%. However, outside Charlottetown and Cavendish, the major tourist centres, locals still look up when a strange car goes past.
The Micmac were the first people on the island. They were primarily hunters and fishers. They lived on the island, undisturbed until 1534 when French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived. The French did not actually establish a colony until 1719 and that settlement did not last long. The settlers were expelled by the British in 1758. The villages near the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island are home to the Basin Head Fisheries Museum [46]. It documents the history of fishing and lobstering in local waters. It also provides a great mix of beach recreation, local history and culture. Its beach is noted as the "cleanest sands in Prince Edward Island". This beach is also home to the mysterious "singing sands". A strange squeaking sound is made when one walks across the sand. No one has come with a definite answer as to why this happens.
Cavendish, on the north shore, just a short distance from Charlottetown, the capital city, is one of the tourism hot spots of the island. Some of its allure results from the white sand beaches and because of its proximity to Prince Edward Island National Park. However, they attribute most of its allure to the fact that this is Green Gables country. Prince Edward Island Nationalpark [47] has recreational facilities for every type of visitor. The "landscape varies from sand dunes, beaches and red sandstone cliffs to salt marshes and freshwater ponds". The park also displays the best example of the delicate "sand dune ecosystem" in Atlantic Canada.
Many of the island's most popular attractions are mentioned by author L.M. Montgomery in her well-known novel Anne of Green Gables. One highlight of the Cavendish area is the Green Gables House [48], the setting of the book. In reality this was the home of David and Margaret Macneill, cousins of Montgomery's grandfather. Near to the Green Gables House in Park Corner, is a house once owned by Montgomery's uncle and was one of the author's favorite places. They have restored and furnished it, as it would have been in Anne's days as the Anne of Green Gables Museum at Silver Bush Home. Montgomery was married in this house in 1911. Thousands of visitors descend each year on this tiny village in Canada's tiniest province. The novel became Canada's best-selling book [49], and she its best-selling author. The book has never been out of print, selling nine million copies.
Finally, Province House is a spot worth visiting. The Confederation Room is found here, the restored chamber in which the Canadian founding fathers went about their task in 1864. This is Canada's birthplace [50]. Charlottetown was chosen as the location to discuss the possible union of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Twenty-six delegates from the aforementioned provinces, Canada East and Canada West attended. Today visitors can tour the buildings, dress in historic costumes, or watch outdoor performances by the Confederation Players.
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