Gap Adventures is a multi-national adventure travel company that’s been around since 1991. Since Day One they have been promoting social and eco-friendly travel to each of their many locations, which believe it or not, now includes all seven continents on Earth. Gap continues, to this day, to be the leader in eco-tourism and bringing travellers out of their shell and into the world.

As of recently not only can you experience the the thrill that Gap offers, you can do so with the benefit of Flight Centres travel consultants. They’ll be there for you, helping you make the crucial decisions needed to make your trip a successful one.

Flight Centre and Gap Adventures take care of just about everything, so the hardest part of it all is deciding where you want to go next. Gap Travel currently offers more than 1000 adventure tours, so the best thing you can do is research and ask questions. Thankfully Flight Centre makes that simple as well. You can easily browse through every tour that is offered and find out the specifics. From price, to length of time, to what you’ll see and what you’ll be doing when you’re there.

One thing I love about this partnership they have setup, is the information they have available for you. Upon finding a tour you’re interested in, clicking ‘More information’ will bring you to a page with a tour summary, details on the itinerary, the difficulty of the tour, the dates and rates, as well as a contact number which you can call if you have any other questions. For those not in a hurry, you can also inquire online, something that’s crucial in this day and age, however something that is often overlooked by booking companies.

So what am I getting at? Well, if you’re new to travel, and want to experience something a little outside the realm of normality, booking a Gap Adventure through Flight Centre can be an amazing wall to lean on while you’re adjusting to your newfound surroundings. You can never have too much help when making a big decision like travel!

Live streaming begins Saturday March 13th, 2010 at Yahoo.CBC.ca. Not only that, but the live NHL streaming will also be active through the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs! All you hockey fiends will be happy to hear that you can finally watch the NHL Live online. This is a first for a professional sports partnership to offer live online streaming, and rumour has it this might expand to include more sports in the near future.

This is life changing stuff people! We can now travel, and so long as we have an internet connection, watch Hockey anywhere we go.

Hotels

Many large hotel chains offer free wifi to it’s residents. If you’re able to get close enough to the hotel without looking too suspicious, you might be fortunate to find an unencrypted wifi signal. If it’s encrypted though, you’re going to have to either find someplace else, or find the balls to pretend you’re staying in the hotel and asking the front desk for the Wifi Key. Check out hotels like Days Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Delta Hotels, Super 8’s, Howard Johnson Hotels (aka Hojo’s), or any other decent looking hotels.

Public Librarys

Canada’s public library system is pretty awesome. With most large cities having several locations, you’re never too far from one. Almost all public libraries will have some public computers to use the internet on for free, and many locations are beginning to offer free wifi. Particularly those that are close to Colleges and Universities. A quick google search in your area should turn up the cloesst Public Library in your area.

Coffee Shops

Tim Hortons aside, there are thousands of small locally owned coffee shops that offer wifi to it’s patrons. Order whatever’s cheapest on the menu and you can hang around. Most of the larger coffee shops such as Starbucks and Second Cup will have free Wifi as well.

Tim Hortons

Canada’s favourite coffee shop has slowly, and begrudgingly begun to put free wifi in many of it’s locations. Just ask one of the Staff and they’ll know right away whether it’s offered. It’s a bit of a hit and a miss though.

Hostels

It’s becoming more frequent that hostels offer wifi to it’s patrons. Hostels normally indicate if it’s offered on their brochures and on their website. If you don’t see it a quick phone call will let you know if the internet’s free or if they have Wifi.

Computer / Technology Shops

Many shops that offer computer repair or sell computers and technology have free wifi to offer. Check your local Best Buy, FutureShop, and particularly any Apple Store. You’re best bet is at an Apple Store though, I haven’t come across one yet that doesn’t offer it.

Fast Food Chains

This one’s a head scratcher, but I’m not one to complain about free Wifi. Many Fast Food joints are starting to offer wifi. Check McDonalds first (read more), then try A&W, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, or any other store that’s prepared to sell you burgers and fries.

Large Apartment Buildings

If you have any morals against hopping onto somebody else’s Wifi signal, this one may not be for you. But for those who don’t care, hang out around a large apartment building and you’re sure to see a whole list full of signals. You wouldn’t believe how many people leave their wifi signals unencrypted.

Universities

Take a walk or drive through campus and you’ll probably find an unsecure Wifi hotspot somewhere. Check the dorms and the library first. Universities these days are getting pretty secure about this kind of stuff, so you might want to leave this as a last resort, unless it’s real close by.

Office buildings

Like Universities, most offices remain pretty secure. But if you’re desperate and you’ve got time, they might be worth giving a try. Smaller business’s tend to be a lot less secure than the larger ones.

Free Wifi Services

Many larger cities have begun to offer free wifi throughout their cities. Keep in mind they are usually a little spammy, with lots of ads and what not, but with a good ad blocker, they’re perfect in a pinch. Check out Wireless Toronto for details

Downtown City Centres

Many large cities offer Free Wifi in the downtown core of it’s city. They are usually unsecure and always busy. Expect slow speeds and intermittent connections.

Campgrounds

Believe it or not some of the larger campgrounds offer free wifi. You’re best bet are ones with RV and Motorhome facilities. If it’s just a piece of land in the bush, you’re probably out of luck. But a quick phone call will reveal if it’s offered.

**If you’ve got any other tips or locations you’d like to reveal, feel free to post a comment and let the world know.

CTV Live Olympic Video Feed

Click image to enlarge!

Seeing as I live in Canada I cannot confirm if this will work in any other countries. Make sure your computer has Microsoft Silverlight installed, head to the CTV Video section and you should be able to catch the events live. If you look in the photo the green arrow indicates where you’ll end up needing to click. Take a close look at the big arrow, there will be a Red Box there with whatever is currently airing live. I’ve got it on right now, watching Canada rock the rink in Speedskating. Woop!

**Update: Just found out if you go to CTV’s Listings they’ll link you up with whatever station is broadcasting the Olympics Live Online. Which is extra handy.

NBC Live Olympic Video Feed

Live Olympics Feed for Americans Only

I just did a quick look to see if I could get connected with NBC’s Live video feed. However like Hulu, NBC has let me down. Turns out they won’t let international viewers take a peek at their intense content. But if you’re in the States, or if you want to bother setting up a proxy, head to the NBC Video Section and give it a whirl.

3rd Party Olympic Streams

I played around with these and had no luck. Just a lot of ads and spam. However according to lifehacker and some of the comments on these 3rd party sites, people have managed to get them to work. I read a post on one of them that their website crashed recently from all the traffic, so it might be a hit and a miss until they sort their website out. If the first two fail you then you should give these a try.

• Watch Vancouver Olympics
• Watch Olympics Online

Head to the Pub

If all else fails, find yourself at a sports bar or pub anywhere in Canada or the US and there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find at least one TV with the Winter Olympics playing.

Best of luck people, hopefully by the next Olympics, streaming video will be all the rage and we won’t have to fight so hard to figure this stuff out. Unfortunately ’til then, we’ll have to settle with what we’ve got. Which is a couple streams, and some archive videos posted within 30-45 minutes of the event finishing.

Photo courtesy of Wili

For traveling couples, the thought of spending a night together in a hostel may not be the height of their romantic lifestyle. However, hotels have a tendency to be expensive. But if you do enough digging, you can find last minute hotel rooms for the cost of a double room in a hostel. Using RatesToGo, RedTag, or CAA,  you should have no problem finding a last minute hotel for under 70 dollars in any major city in Canada, however a little luck can make all the difference.

As a backpacker, it sometimes feels like cheating when you’re comfortable and have the ability to spread out in your own space. It’s way too easy to grow accustom to being in a cramped dorm. However, if you’ve been on the road for months, sometimes decompressing in a private room is all you need. I’ve personally used RedTag along with CAA several times without any problems. These hotel deals are fairly easy to find, you just need to set aside a few minutes to search through some websites to find the best deal, along with the best location.

Remember that if none of those engines turn up with any good deals, hostels and backpackers tend to have some good doubles and ensuites. However during the peak season you may notice they are booked up. So plan a couple days in advance just to be safe.

Our Hostel Booking Engine can be a great tool to use for planning out your next backpacking trip around Canada, especially during the peak seasons when hostels can fill up in no time at all. So book ahead or simply use our engine to find out the cost per night at the hostel of your choice, and you should be well on your way to having a great time backpacking across Canada.

Click Here to browse through hostels you can book online

Click on Red Icons to show drinking age

Canadian Provinces where the drinking age is 18

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Quebec

Canadian Provinces & Territories where the drinking age is 19

• British Columbia
• Saskatchewan
• Ontario
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland & Labrador
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon
• Northwest Territories
• Nunavut

As you can see, there are only a few provinces left in Canada where the drinking age is 18. I’ve heard rumours that even those few may end up at 19 sooner or later. So take advantage of Canada’s younger drinking age while you can. Drink responsibly.

The iPhone Camera is one of those tools I find myself using almost everyday. Sometimes I’m snapping a picture of the scenery, sometimes some buildings, other times I’m just grabbing a stealthy snap of the ‘Perfect 10‘ I saw on the weekend. While I tend to go a little crazy sometimes with pictures, I find myself angry on occasion just over small things. It always seemed as if the iPhone Camera was missing something. Then came ‘The GorillaCam’. It has the abillity to turn your semi-awesome iPhone Camera into a fully-awesome iPhone Camera. Some of it’s most notable features include:

• Self Timer – A great tool to have for catching those group photos or scoring a shot of your sweet boy-band pose. You’ll probably want the Gorillamobile Tripod for this, unless you’re a master of leaning your phone against Pillows or books.
• Unlimited Rapid-Fire – With the GorillaCam app you can get snap-happy with a sweet 1.6 shots per second. Just click & hold your shutter button and you’ll find yourself telling your subjects, “You’re a tiger, grr”
• Grid Overlay – Overlay an grid to help create more pleasing photos to the eye using that magical “rule of thirds”.
• Time-Lapse – One of my favourite features, take multiple photos spaced at an interval of your choosing. Perfect for getting some cool shots of the clouds moving, cars going by, or actually cattching that action shot you’ve been trying to nail with the old school iPhone camera.
• Auto-save – This extremely handy feature allows you to keep firing away while your photos are being saved in the background. No more holding your phone up waiting between shots.
• Bubble Level – Level out your shots everytime. Great for lining up your photos horizontally and vertically.
• Read more features at the GorillaCam website

These features are all trumped by the best feature of all. It’s free! It’s like they read my cheap mind. Thank you GorillaCam. You rock my world, and my phone.

Download the GorillaCam iPhone App here

1. Dog Sledding

Take a guided trip and command your own team of dogs. There are several options to choose from in different areas of Canada. Be sure you’re ready to brave the cold. Overnight trips are available as well. Dog Sledding trips are perfect for families and couples, or anyone who wants to see some of the most remote parts of Canada.

2. Tobogganing

Tobogganing (or sledding) is one of the most popular things to do in the winter. Grab a crazy carpet, GT, wooden toboggan, anything that’ll let you slide, and aimlessly propel yourself downhill. Get ready for face washes, snow in your boots, ice burn, and tingling fingers. But like the heat in the kitchen, if you can’t take the cold, stay out of the snow.

3. Snowmobiling

Many provinces, such as Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, have an intricate network of trails for snowmobiles. Many of which are groomed as well. Find your nearest ski doo rental shop and hop on a Polaris. The thrill is that of riding a motorcycling all terrain through the snow. It’s awesomeness won’t let you down.

4. Ice Fishing

Canadians have an unhealthy obsession with fishing. Spring, summer, fall, and even winter, there’s always something to catch. Drive to the nearest lake and expect to see a village of wooden shocks on top of the ice. Many Fishing Supply Stores will have their own shack, and some even rent them out. Be sure to bring coffee or hot mocha.

5. Snow shoeing

Snowshoes are one of those great inventions that made the Settlers in Canada extremely thankful to have. Several parks around Canada offer guided tours, including Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay and Glacier National Park. Although not nearly as thrilling as snowboarding or skiing, this activity is great for snapping pictures of the Canadian terrain.

6. Skiing & Snowboarding

Most skiing and snowboarding activities take place on the west coast of Canada, between Alberta and British Columbia. Rentals are available at nearly every ski shop once you make it into one of the many mountain villages. Rentals are occasionally done right at mountain as well. Canada has some of the best mountains for skiing and snowboarding, so be sure to give it a go during the winter.

7. Cross Country Skiing

Picture yourself skiing down a mountain. Now picture that there is no mountain and you’re pushing yourself through the flat snow. Doesn’t sound all that awesome does it? Well believe it or not this is still a popular sport in Canada, and can offer some great views of Canada’s winter landscape. Be prepared for a sore body as this is an extreme workout for people who’ve never done it before. Bring a camera along as you should have plenty of time to snap a few pictures while waiting to catch your breath.

8. Build an Igloo / Quinzhee

Having the ability to construct a shelter out of nothing but snow and ice is a valuable skill to have. Despite the fact that it can take a good few hours out in the snow to complete one, once you’ve got everything finished, there is nothing like relaxing in the hollow sound of a Quinzhee or Igloo. As a kid I used to build a couple of these every winter. Until I got bored and put my smash-face on. They make the perfect forts for snowball fights and can keep you warm in the harsh winter conditions of Canada.

9. Snowball Fights

The art of molding a perfect snowball is a skill most Canadians possess. It’s something we acquire from birth really. We can tell you which snow to use, which to avoid, and how to properly remove the frozen sheet of snow which gives access to the hidden ‘good stuff’. In recent years, snowball fights have been banned at most schools, and there are always a few nutty parents screaming devil’s play at the sight of kids hurling snow and ice at one another. This hasn’t stopped snowball fights from happening. Whether it’s getting in a snowball fight with some random kids at a park, or taking part in a drunken snowball fight after a night out of partying, you should always be on your toes and be ready for a snowball fight to break out. Avoid picking up that frozen block of ice to throw, breaking faces is one of the few rules of war. Dirty snowballs are sometimes fair game, just try not to be the first to throw them.

10. Pond Hockey / Skating

By late December, most ponds and lakes have frozen over, and the cities have finished their public skating rinks in the parks, giving people another surface to play on. Whether it’s a quick game of hockey, or just practicing your sweet Elvis Stojko moves, you’ll have a good time out on the ice. There’s something magical about the sound of blades tearing through ice, the sound of pucks hitting the boards, the swish and spray of someone putting on the breaks, and the sight of your own breathe following you wherever you go. Depending on where you are, public skating rinks and ponds are nearly everywhere. Just be sure to watch for signs indicating ‘Thin Ice’, and never skate on pond or lake ice alone.

If you’re considering putting through the application yourself, visit the Foreign Affairs & International Trade website. They have several guides, and online applications that you’ll need to fill out in order to be considered for a working holiday visa. Make sure you have Adobe Reader, as these documents tend to be in .PDF format. There are certain restrictions & some requirements that you must meet in order to be accepted for a working visa.

Including:

• satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your employment;
• show that you have enough money to maintain yourself and your family members in Canada;
• be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to provide a police clearance certificate);
• not be a risk to the security of Canada;
• be in good health (complete a medical examination, if required);
• produce any additional documents requested by the officer to establish your admissibility.

The application process can take quite a while, and will require a lot of reading. An application can be rejected for the smallest of reasons, so go through the application at a slow pace and double check everything. Anyone who thought the application could be done in one sitting, I apologize, but that’s very unlikely.Global Backpackers have a Guide for applying for Canadian Working Holiday Visas, I highly recommend you read through it.

If you’re looking to simplify this process as much as humanly possible, I suggest you look into some third party companies who handle this sort of thing on a day to day basis. I personally recommend SWAP.ca – I went through SWAP to obtain my Australian & New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. Their prices are very reasonable and it’s probably the easiest way to get a working visa. This program is aimed at students, however young adults can also use their services. They simply ask that you’re between the ages of 18 – 35. You’ll first need to register with their website, but once registered they’ll be able to answer all of your questions and get the application put through for you. They don’t guarantee you’ll be accepted, but they do this for a living, so you have a way better shot at getting accepted through them.

SWAP Working Holidays is a non-profit program that was put in place by the Canadian Federation of Students. It offers young Canadians the chance to travel the world and work along the way. They’ve been doing this for 30 years, helping thousands plan their working holidays. They can also help those from outside of Canada obtain a Canadian work visa and provide you with all the information needed in order to find a job in Canada.

Remember, these application forms can be a headache, but once completed, and should you be accepted, you’ll be able to work in Canada without much of a problem. Hundreds of thousands of foreign travelers come to Canada each year to find a job, so long as you’re patient, you could be one of them.