We are big and it is hard to travel around this country!

 Only have 2 main airlines (Air Canada, Westjet) competing with each other

1) Small population = very widely spread  Canada has a very low population density, with major cities spread out over vast distances.  Unlike in Europe where so many big cities are close together, which makes it cheaper to fly.

2) No foreign companies are allowed to compete in Canada.  In Europe, opening up the skies to allow foreign companies to compete was one of the major contributors to the drastic drop in airfare prices.  Air Canada has a monopoly on many flights and so can charge a lot

 Fly from Toronto to Vancouver = (approx. 4,300 km) 4:40 hrs, approx. 600$  Fly from Halifax to Vancouver = 8.3 hours, 900$  In Europe, it is approx. 4,300 km from one end of Europe to the other (Lisbon, Portugal to Helsinki, Finland)  Cost of flying = $273

 Example: a Westjet flight from Toronto to Vancouver in the fall = a return ticket is $370.  But then add...  HST: $60.98  AIF: $40.00 (a tax for using the airport)  ATSC: $14.25 (security fee)  NAV: $46.00 (navigation charge)  Total = you pay $570 on a $370 ticket!

 Our 2 main airlines run unprofitable routes in order to "complete" the network.  We have a lot of isolated cities (eg Thunder Bay, Saskatoon) that still need air service.  These routes are paid for by profits from other, more popular routes.

 The Transcanada Highway is one of the longest in the world  Drive from Toronto to Vancouver = 46 hours (4.5 days)  Drive from Halifax to Vancouver = 60 hours (6 days of driving 10 hours)

What about this whole area of Canada? There are no roads leading this far north...you have to fly in.

 To take Via Rail from Toronto to Vancouver = 3.5 days, $978

 For curiosity’s sake, how long would it take to walk across Canada?  From Halifax to Vancouver = 1,107 hours  That’s about 46 straight days of walking  If you only walk for 12 hours each day, then it would take 92 days

 The two main areas in Canada to go white water rafting are in BC and the Ottawa River valley.  be.com/watch?v=O d2zct3AA3I be.com/watch?v=O d2zct3AA3I

 You don’t have to go to Northern Canada to try dog sledding.  In the winter, many places in southern Canada have dog sledding, such as BC or even Algonquin Park in Ontario.

 Besides the 42 National Parks and Reserves, there are over 1,000 Provincial Parks (330 just in Ontario)  There are also hundreds of private campgrounds

 The Trans Canada Trail is the world's longest network of hiking trails.  When fully connected, the Trail will stretch 23,000 kilometres  It was 73% complete in 2012.

 Canada has some of the best cold water scuba diving in the world.  Off the coast of BC : you may see giant Pacific octopus, huge wolf eels, sharks, dolphins, orcas and sea lions.  In Ontario (Great Lakes) diving is unique because it is fresh water, darn cold and offers up to 4,000 shipwrecks.  Because of the cold, fresh water and lack of rampant marine life, wrecks dating back to the 1800s are preserved in excellent condition compared to their saltwater counterparts.

 We already talked about how we have some of the best skiing in the world  Whistler-Blackcomb in BC  Mt Tremblant in Quebec

 We have bison, black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears, lynx, moose, mountain lions, musk ox, wolves, etc

 The BC coast (orca whales)  The East coast including places in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (minke, right, and humpback whales)  In certain spots along the St Lawrence river in Quebec (belugas)  com/watch?v=KgUjyV CjsyY com/watch?v=KgUjyV CjsyY

 Churchill, Manitoba (pop: 813)  About 10,000-12,000 tourists come to see the polar bears  Can only get there by train or plane  e.com/watch?v=I3jv 7lETmkA e.com/watch?v=I3jv 7lETmkA

 Vancouver Symphony of Fire: the largest fireworks competition in the world  The Calgary Stampede: each year, more than one million people visit Calgary to partake in this 10-day party held every July.  Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto: is one of the leading film festivals in the world, ranking closely with Cannes and Sundance. It is held each September.

 Winterlude, Ottawa : Every February, ice- skating on the world's longest rink, ice sculptures, a snow playground, concerts etc  Winter Carnival, Quebec City : The biggest winter carnival in the world and is celebrated annually at the end of January until mid-February.

 Canada Day, Ottawa: July 1st celebrations in Canada are like the July 4th festivities in the US. We dress in red and white, watch fireworks, and drink a lot of Canadian beer.  Caribana, Toronto: North America’s largest street festival, 2 million people attend.

 Montreal Jazz Fest: Every June/July, there are about 500 concerts, most of which are free. About 2 million visitors visit an event.  Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival: Since 1983, Just for Laughs is held every July, is the largest international comedy festival in the world

 Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto  Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, Kingston  Canadian War Museum, Ottawa  Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

 Stratford Festival in Stratford, ON  Toronto Theatre District: 3 rd largest in world after NY and London  Princess of Wales  Royal Alexandra  Roy Thomson Hall  Canstage, etc