British Columbia

Starting in the west coast of Canada, this video shows the British Columbia lifestyle that many have come to know and love. Outdoor adventure, peaceful vistas, a mix of city life with mountain trekking and a clear love affair with water activities. This video makes visiting BC seem like something you need to do this summer!

Visit Tourism British Columbia’s Youtube Page!

Alberta

Travel Alberta recently won the award for best tourism video in the world and received the equivalent of the tourism industry’s “Oscar” award at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin. With over 1 million views it’s clear to see why this video is so captivating. The slow-mo shots with beautiful panoramic shots of nature, adventure, and happy people make this one of my favourite’s of the bunch. Congrats to the folks at Travel Alberta and their talented branding team who managed to catch these one of a kind shots of this beautiful province.

Visit Travel Alberta’s Youtube Page!

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s video does a great job of showcasing the adventure that can be had in my home province. The fun song mixed with the fast shots make this an exciting and quick video that helps sell the prairies as more than just a drive-thru province. Stop, get off the highway, and see for yourself the beauty this place.

Visit Tourism Saskatchewan’s Youtube Page!

Manitoba

I had a tough time deciding which video of Manitoba’s to put up, as their newest video campaigns are short 15 second spots, which I felt seemed unfair to use, as most of the other provinces videos play for a couple minutes. So I dug through their older videos and found one that I was fond of. Manitoba is a beautiful province rich with history and wildlife. Did I mention they’re home to the Polar Bear capitol of Canada!?

Visit Travel Manitoba’s Youtube Page!

Ontario

Ontario! It rolls of your tongue in an addictive way. Ontario is such a massive province, their videos cover everything from city architecture to the nature & beauty of Algonquin, to the romantic allure of the Distillery District. The Distillery Disctrict is easily one of my favourite spots in Toronto, which is why I chose to use this video. However, be sure to check out some of their other videos to see what fall is like in Algonquin Park.

Visit Travel Ontario’s Youtube Page!

Quebec

Quebec Tourism’s video on Mont Tremblant makes me want to skip summer all together and find a group of friends to explore every inch of this small mountain village. They managed to capture emotions that are universal in French and English. A beautifully shot video the reminds us anglophones to stop being scared of not speaking their language and just dive in. The french-Canadians are friendly, their food is breath-taking, and the province of Quebec has weeks worth of activities to keep you busy!

Visit Tourisme Quebec’s Youtube Page!

New Brunswick

I read once that in the early days of Canada New Brunswick was the place to visit. Several American presidents even had cottages in these parts. While it’s still quite popular, it can often be overlooked by it’s neighbours to the west and east. Fact is, they have some mind-blowing geological formations worth checking out. The largest tide in the world is just one of the many reasons to stop by this beautiful seaside province.

Visit Tourism New Brunswick’s Youtube Page!

Nova Scotia

I had a tough time choosing whether to embed this video, or the one with the fiddle playing in the background. While I went with the former, I feel like it’s worth mentioning you should check out their Youtube page to see the other. This video showcases Nova Scotia as more than just an old city to walk around. There’s adventure, outdoors, heart-pumping activity, and relaxing ocean sunsets to top it all off. Of course, history seeps in at almost every turn as well. I think Nova Scotia Tourism did a great job of promoting the many sides of Nova Scotia.

Visit Nova Scotia Tourism’s Youtube Page!

PEI

Big thanks to Alouise for pointing out in the comments the fact that I missed PEI (woops!). Kind of a big screw up on my part, especially considering how big of a year it was for PEI tourism, what with Regis & Kelly and the whole Royal Wedding stuff going on. I managed to find an aerial video that showcases the entire island with scenic panoramas and jaw dropping shorelines. Check it out!

Visit PEI Tourism’s Youtube Page!

Newfoundland & Labrador

If there’s a video you may have seen amongst these, the Newfoundland & Labrador is likely it. They’ve become famous across Canada for dropping the jaws of people from all over the world with their beautiful colours, high contrasting light, and the way that each of these videos tells a story. I particularly like this one, not only for it’s beauty, but for it’s tagline. See for yourself!

Visit Newfoundland & Labrador’s Youtube Page!

Yukon Territories

The Yukon! I picture this territory as a wild outdoor adventure, steeped in folklore, arts, saluting an era when men moved mountains in search of riches. Their video, which while a bit lengthy, captures many of these feelings. I look forward to visiting this northern territory of Canada this May, and hope to see some of what’s showcased in this video.

Visit Travel Yukon’s Youtube Page!

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories have always held a romantic allure to me. Their video managed to reignite that drive and need to visit this northern getaway. This video covers the beauty and outdoor adventures that can be had in this massive area of Canada. With some of the most surreal night skies and outdoor adventures, they’re going to have a tough time keeping me from checking the NWT out!

Visit SpectacularNWT’s Youtube Page!

Nunavut

I remember when Nunavut became an official territory, I would have been in grade 4 I believe. We spent several days discussing the cultural differences between our people and theirs, learning about some of their customs and beliefs. I had never been so fascinated by a culture in Canada. Their video showcases some of these cultural aspects, and reminds me that I need to find a way up north to experience this for myself.

 Visit Nunavut Tourism’s Youtube Page!

The tourism video’s you saw here were produced in order to bring you to their province, but I can’t help but feel that when seeing them all together like this that you feel a sense of unity amongst them. Each province wants you to be healthy. Each province wants you to find your own slice of nirvana in the great outdoors.Each province wants you to experience something new and life changing. One of my favourite taglines from these videos was from Yukon’s video. “It can be hard finding yourself, fortunately, we have a lot of places to look.“

12 Inspiring Tourism Videos on Canada is a post from: I Backpack Canada

‘Toronto Tempo’ by Ryan Emond

Toronto Tempo was created by Ryan Emond, a Toronto based photographer, videographer, and visual artist. His time lapses are some of my favourite I’ve ever come across. Ryan was able to capture the city of Toronto perfectly. Anytime I’m lacking creativity, I jump into one of his time lapses and am immediately transported into another city, but in an alternate universe where the world speeds by. If this video doesn’t want to make you take in Toronto, you’re out of your mind.

If you’re looking to visit this beautiful Canadian city anytime soon, check out some of these cheap flights to Toronto today. What’s up budget-friendly!?

Sunday Canadian Travel Video: Toronto Tempo is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Canada will be taking a page from Australia’s book and rounding up or down to the nearest nickel. This will surely please many people, and infuriate a few. Such is life in the true north strong & free. Some may say these are dark times. I on the other hand prefer to celebrate, and may partake in a serious game of Penny Can (Yea, so what I’ve seen Cougar Town). Perhaps it’s the minimalist in me, or the fact that I’m terrible at saving money, but I can’t help but think this is a good thing.

A Farewell Message to Canadian Pennies

To the Pennies, you took too long to roll up, which meant I often broke the law and threw you in the garbage. You smelled weird, were pretty worthless, and for some reason I could use your American brothers in lieu of you without ever being questioned. I hated carrying you, but tolerated your worth in the economy. I celebrate in your demise, but respect your humble beginnings. I would drink in your honour, but it would take over 500 of you to pay for that pint. So instead, I won’t. Goodbye Pennies. May you live on in the names of strippers and ladies of the night.

Say Goodbye to the Canadian Penny is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Fully Responsive Travel Blog

Yes, the new “I Backpack Canada” is a fully responsive website; which allows for the website to look good at all screen resolutions and across all devices. See for yourself at Responsive.is or take a peek at the site on your iPhone or iPad. Or if you’re feeling crazy adventurous, click and drag the bottom right corner of your browser inwards and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll notice subtle changes for each device, but ultimately the overall flow of the layout and design will ensure maximum legibility, and maximum awesomeness. Goodbye WPtouch, hello beautiful responsive site.

New Tagline – True North Strong & Awesome

Might seem like a pointless change. But I legitimately pondered over this for weeks. Going back and forth before coming to the conclusion that “this is me in a nutshell”. The old tagline was “A Backpacker’s Guide to Canada“, which while it suited it’s purpose for a couple years, I never truly felt like I guide, just a guy writing about his own take on Canada and hoping to encourage a few other people to saddle up their backpacks and wander through this magnificent country. “True North Strong & Awesome“defines this country, this blog, and is something you could potentially hear come out of my mouth if you’re ever having a beer with me.

New Logo

Yup, this too had to go. That old logo always looked too proud to me. Too puffed up in bulk. It never struck me as fun, and when I think of backpacking Canada, I think of excitement, fun, friendship, and quirky individuals and locations. I felt by adding that cursive typeface the design received a “hand made” feel to the design and kind of helps show that there’s a real person behind all this writing.

Large Slider & Banner

Canada is a beautiful country. I felt it was necessary to showcase the beauty using large photos and captions that encourage readers to have a gander. The homepage of I Backpack Canada now sports a beautiful responsive slider. As well, if you go into any of the category pages you’ll notice a large banner for each category. The same applies for when you pop into a single post to read the entire article. This large banner I feel ads a Magazine / Newspaper type feel to the overall design, and makes for a more professional way to showcase my photography on Canada.

A Cleaner Sidebar

Travel Blogs tend to have the ugliest sidebars on the internet. Look around and you’ll see what I mean. I didn’t want that at all. So I cleaned mine up as much as I could, while adding some playful ribbons to the headers. (Note: if you’re on an old barfy browser you might not see the ribbons, in which case go upgrade and you’ll see them). The sidebar is such a crucial piece to a travel blog as that’s where most of the money comes in from advertising. While it might not be much money, it keeps all the hamster wheels turning and ensures this website stays online. So I wanted it to be easy for readers to find more more information on this travel blog, and also showcase my sponsors a little better.

So what did I keep?

Kind of a combination of lots, and a little. The colours and overall feeling is very similar the the old design, but just tweaked. The content is still there. All of it! Didn’t touch a thing. I had to tweak a few minor things within a few posts in order for everything to behave responsively and not explode should you see it on your iPhone.

While I’m sure I’ll be squashing bugs for the next week or two, I felt that sitting on a finished design was counter intuitive, and it was time to get this out in the wild. If you have any questions or comments about the layout I’d love to hear from you. Same goes if you catch a weird glitch or a post doing something strange, don’t hesitate to let me know.

I Backpack Canada Got A New Look is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Q. You’ve been on the road for almost 3 years now, what do you miss most about Canada?

My family and friends. The road is filled with great people to miss but there is nothing like being with your good friends and family. I go far too long without seeing them. I honestly don’t miss the cold. I do miss a good poutine though!

Q. Being from Alberta, what is “THE” Alberta Experience? Hiking in the rockies? Trailblazing through backcountry powder? Dawning on boots & hat  and hitting up the Stampede?*

Yeah, I would say it has to be the Rockies. Moraine Lake near Lake Louise is still to this date my favourite natural site in the world. I have been there dozens of times since I used to work as a guide in the area, but seeing it never gets old. If you can get to Calgary Stampede, do it. That is my favourite week of the year whenever I’m home for it.

Q. What’s one place in Canada that you’ve never been that has recently been added to your bucket list?

I never really had any interest in heading north before, but after having such an amazing time in Antarctica I would love to head north in Canada as well. I’d want to see the Arctic as well as I’d love a chance to see the polar bears.

Q. If someone were to clip your wings tomorrow and you were forced to settle back down in Canada, what city would you live in and why?

It would be between Vancouver and Victoria. I love the West Coast. I love that you can ski in the day and then walk around in a t-shirt later on. I love having the ocean and the mountains both at my disposal. And on top of it all they are both great cities to live in, and they are warmer.

Q. Canadians are known for their stereotypes (Poutine loving lumberjacks / apologetic beer drinker / hockey fanatic / Understanding eco-hippy) - where do you fit in?

I probably fit slightly into just about every one of those stereotypes. I’m probably the exact person people think of when they think of Canadian: hockey fan, beer and whiskey drinker, poutine lover and I am a little bit hippie even though I’ve worked as a lumberjack as well haha. I love the Canadian stereotypes and I don’t think I realized how much I fit them until I got out of the country.

Q. The most majestic Canadian beast is…

The Rockies because there is no where else in the country that will make your feel so small and insignificant yet prideful.

Q. What’s the first thing a new visitor to Canada should eat, drink, and visit?

The first thing a visitor to Canada should eat is a stack of pancakes with either maple syrup or chokecherry syrup on it. You should then wash that down with a glass of Crown Royal Whiskey and then go check out the beauty of Vancouver Island.

Q. What’s your local Canadian go-to beer/liquor/beverage of choice?

When I drink beer in Canada it’s a bit of a mix and really depends on the time of year. If it’s winter there’s nothing that warms me up like a Sleeman’s Honey Brown. In the summer time I love a Big Rock Grasshopper. If it’s REALLY cold out I stick to whiskey.

Q. Enough about Canada – what have you been up to lately?

You know, travelling the world, seeing the sites, taking some pictures. I’ve been working hard on my website Brendans Adventures which has been a lot of fun. A couple months ago I also started a travel magazine called Vagabundo Magazine which is ready to publish the second issue in April. I’m very excited about that venture!

Q. Any tips, advice or wise words you can share with those who want a piece of your lifestyle?

Join me, there’s lots of room on the bus/train/boat for you and I’m always looking for people to tag along. The truth is that if you want to travel the world just do it. Stop telling yourself that something is holding you back, you are in control of your own life’s path.

 Special thanks to Brendan for taking the time to answer some questions about Canada and his lifestyle as a pro-traveler. Be sure to follow Brendan’s travels on Twitter @BrendanVanSon.

Interview with Canadian Travel Blogger Brendan Van Son is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Need your brain checked? That's free in Canada!

The Canadian Healthcare System

In 1984 a large piece of federal legislation was adopted by the true north strong & free. This legislation in short said “Hey insurance people, hospitals, doctors, it’s time to heal those that are sick, injured, or that require medical assistance. By the way they don’t have to pay you. If you don’t abide we’re coming for you. Boom!” While universal health care may not be perfect, it’s still a success story in most eyes. Canadians have access to free, high quality health care, it’s pretty tough to complain about the price. At the end of the day we’re strides ahead of other countries in terms of quality of life. I can’t imagine what life in Canada would be like without this perk.

Need some video explanation on the Canadian Healthcare System? Check out Real Canadians Talking Real Healthcare, or if your feeling like something a little more polished with a bit of humour check out Michael Moores Documentary Sicko. 

Same-sex marriage

I like to think Canadians have a good grasp on human rights. While there’s clearly been some hiccups in the past, we’re a pretty progressive country that’s happy to face the ridiculous claims of “1 man + 1 women = true family” and drop the gloves all over that craziness. In July 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize the sanctity of marriage between same sex couples. LGBT rights in Canada are still the most advanced in the western hemisphere. So neighbouring countries and such, maybe come stop by the Village in Toronto, or Le Village in Montreal and see for yourself it’s all about love! It’s been almost seven years since the same-sex marriage legislation passed, and the world still spins.

Bilingualism

Throughout Canadian history, the French language has been there for nearly every step it. Over 22% of Canadians call french their mother tongue. While officially, Canadian language comprises itself of English and French there’s still a lot of work to be done in order to perfect the bilinguality of the citizens of Canada. I was fortunate enough to have parents who enrolled me in the French Immersion program, which means that from Kindergarten onwards, all subjects were taught in French. I have that program to thank for my french skills. While I clearly don’t use those acquired skills often enough, french immersion is the main reason I’m a huge supporter of the french language and culture in Canada. Being raised in that environment makes it easy to be proud of the bilingual aspect of Canada.

Mosaic of cultures

I remember being taught by a teacher at a young age one of the key differences between Canada and America. She preached that America was a melting pot, where languages and cultures are encouraged to assimilate and become “Americans”. Canada, on the other hand, is a mosaic of cultures. While each person becomes a Canadian, they are still encouraged to maintain ties with their mother land. They’re encouraged to hang on to their familial ties, keep their traditions and culture, and ultimately enjoy the freedom in Canada. It’s sometimes hard to find this “mosaic” in smaller anglophone communities (but I assure you it’s there). If you want it to hit you in the face, a weekend in Toronto exploring the different neighbourhoods will prove that no matter what your background is, we can all get along.

Underground Railroad

In the 19th century, Canadians from all walks of life helped enslaved african-americans escape to the northern parts of the United States as well as Canada. Estimates indicated that anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 slaves successfully made it to Canada through the secret network of stations. Stations were said to have been as far west as British Columbia, and as far east as Nova Scotia. Survival on the railroad was hard, and on many occasions had it not been for the help of the Native Americans along the trail, many people wouldn’t have survived. While freed slaves found safety all over Canada, the majority settled in the Ontario area where they formed their own communities and pioneered their own farmland.

As it turned out many of the new arrivals to the “promise land” found the weather to be cold, the life to be hard, and when civil war erupted in the United States, some chose to fight with the Union and help rebuild the United States from the ground up. While many African-Americans headed home in search of family and friends, some stayed and formed communities. Men like Josiah Henson began to purchase land in Ontario and formed communities around what is now Dresdon Ontario, such as the famous Dawn Settlement. Josiah Henson is/was the inspiration behind the famous abolitionist tale, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Hariet Beecher Stowe. This book is said to have been one of the books Abraham Lincoln read which encouraged him to pass the Emancipation Proclamation.

While the most of the credit needs go to the brave souls of the african-americans who made that journey, I couldn’t be more proud that Canadians helped people find their own freedom.

Peaceful country

According to the 2011 Global Peace Index, Canada scores an in the Top 10, at the relatively charming number of 8, just behind Finland (7) and Austria (6). This index looks at up to 23 different measures, including military spending, percentage of violent crime, possibility of violent demonstrations, deaths from conflicts with neighbouring countries, along with the political terror scale, which apparently we didn’t score too high in due to the G20 Protests in Toronto. But to most Canadians, you don’t need a fancy number to know we’re a pretty peaceful bunch.

This is Canada, the land of everlasting sorry’s, a free country built on a strong foundation of coffee and donuts. The majority of our violence is kept on the ice, one of the few places the majority of Canadians can agree is a completely acceptable place to air your frustrations with another through the use of hard body-checks and taking a break in the game to drop the gloves and punch the crap out of another human being. We do not have a nuclear program, despite being one of the largest providers of uranium in the world. Gun crime is crazy low, so the chances of getting shot are pretty minimal unless you’re chasing illicit drugs. We’re raised in a country where health-care is free, where you accept your neighbour regardless of race, creed, or sexuality. We have flaws like any other country, but spending any amount of time in this country, it becomes easy to see that Canada is ultimately a peaceful country. One that I’m proud to live in.

The Canadian Pride

Canadians are a proud people, not the obnoxious type of proud but the “grateful for what we have” proud. This feeling has been building over the years, heck, even Molson Canadian tried monetizing it (see “My Name Is Joe“). What started off as a quiet type of pride evolved. The notion of “keep your love of Canada, inside Canada” was more or less obliterated after the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. There was a call to arms to cheer loud, embrace our differences and show the world how proud we are to live in a country where you can be gay, straight, french, english, sick without worry, practice any religion you choose, and hail from any background and not have to worry about persecution. Canada’s not perfect, but it’s trying to get there.

6 Reasons I’m Proud to be Canadian is a post from: I Backpack Canada

The video has received over 9,300 views and has been tweeted over 100 times. It’s also been featured on World Hum! Props goes out to Cailin for her hard work on this project, same with Kate! And props for me too, for not sissing out last minute.

Sh*t Travel Bloggers Say is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I’m making this short, and asking you to do a few simple things.

If you’re Canadian: 

Write your Local MP – (Here’s a template if you suck at writing politicians)

Sign this Petition

Protest Bill C-11

Join this Facebook Group & Share the crap out of it

If you’re not a Maple Syrup Sucker:

Please just help spread the word. Tweet, share on Facebook, Stumble, you name it. Any Canadian you educate is another that could help turn the tides in our favour. #StopBillC11

Help Stop Bill C-11 from Ruining The Internet is a post from: I Backpack Canada