A mini guide to Canada
Canada is an independent nation, the second largest country in the world by area, occupying all of North America east of Alaska and north of a border with the USA, including adjacent islands of the Arctic Archipelago.
Canada boasts many exciting, cosmopolitan cities with both modern and historic character, despite the fact that most of the country is inaccessible wilderness.
Situated on the St. Lawrence River, Quebec is a world heritage site, with a cliff-top position, ancient walls, narrow streets, old stone buildings and a famous citadel. It was founded by Champlain in 1608 and after a brief period of English rule, was made the capital of New France in 1663. In 1759 English forces under James Wolfe defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham and captured the city. It has twice been the Canadian capital, but still has a distinctly European feel about it with many French influenced restaurants, galleries, cafes and historic buildings.
Named after Mount Royal, Montreal is another French enclave, situated on an island at the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway. It has a charming and relaxing character. Cobbled streets in the old precinct feature stone buildings, French-style cafes and boutiques. It is also an architectural gem.
Ottawa, the capital, also has some fine buildings, including several impressive museums, but is dominated by the neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings. The city was selected by Queen Victoria in 1858 to be the capital of the newly formed United Provinces of Canada and began to function as such in 1865
The largest city in Ontario Province, Toronto is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario. Originally a French trading post, it was founded as York by the British in 1793 and renamed as Toronto in 1834. It is an important Great Lakes port and industrial centre. It is Canada’s principal city, with a multi-cultural, lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere. It boasts one of the world’s tallest structures, the CN Tower, plus plenty of waterfront bars and restaurants. Toronto’s best-preserved historic buildings can be found in York Old Town.
Vancouver is Canada’s third largest city, its principal Pacific port and main western terminus of the trans-Canadian railroads, highways and airways. Oil refining, fish processing, and the manufacture of textiles dominate a diversified industrial economy. Notable attractions include Stanley Park, an anthropology museum and aquarium. Originally called Granville, it was first settled around 1875 and renamed for Capt. George Vancouver in 1886. Vancouver has a backdrop known as the Coast Mountains and its convoluted bays criss-crossed by many bridges offer stunning views. The old town sits on a peninsula jutting out into English Bay with renovated neo-Victorian houses, restaurants, bars, boutiques and galleries. Lively Chinatown is supported by Vancouver’s sizeable Chinese community and features a wonderful classical Chinese garden.