Canada Magazine 2009

CANADAmagazine

explore the unusual in...

canoeing on theYukon rivercamping in the wildernesswith an expert guide

green lodges

family travel:West Coast IndiansRocky Mountain CowboysNova Scotia Adventure

More to explore: motorhome travel

5 best train tripsvisit a ranch

sail to the Great Bear Rainforest ride the powder

the bear whispererSprin

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De kunst van het ontdekken

Actieve reizen door heel Canada. Van lichte wandelreizen tot pittige wildernistrekkings,vakanties voor het hele gezin, fietstochten, autorondreizen, natuurexpedities en themareizen.

SNP is de grootste Nederlandse touroperator gespecialiseerd in actieve natuurreizen.Deskundigheid, liefde voor de natuur en een grote keuze aan bestemmingen zijn de kenmerken van onze organisatie.

www.snp.nl SNP Reiswinkel 024-3277000

welcomeWelcome to Canada at its best; a world created by Canadian Travel Design.We are a Canada based company that provides travel

agents and tour operators all over the world with creative ideas in order to be successful in offering Canada as a destination in their respective country. Our carefully designed 2009

magazine, gives both travelers as the travel industry access to some of our suggestions.With our hand picked products and creative packages, we will be able to offer curious travelers that typical authentic Canadian experience they are looking for.

greenAs a team, we also realize that tourism puts some extra pressure on our environment and we therefore have tried to find ‘greener’ ways of doing business. In stead of printing our brochure, we have chosen to develop this new e-brochure, that eliminates all the paper and ink that is needed for the print. We hope that you like it. Furthermore we have adopted Hertz‘s more fuel efficient ‘Green Collection’ of cars in our self-drive packages and selected some of the the most unique green wilderness lodges.Last but not least, we want you to know that all of our customized customer travel packages are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled wood fiber. No new trees have been cut to produce this paper.

it’s all about exploring...Dream about canoeing on the Yukon River, or explore the Rocky Mountains as a family, take the classic Rocky Mountaineer Train or ride your mountain bike through the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia. It doesn’t matter what you dream, as dreams are always perfect!My personal idea is that “if you can dream it, you can do it!”Let us, together with you as travel partner, assist your customers in realizing this dream.

Enjoy reading! Enjoy dreaming! Enjoy the travelling!Oh, and please check out page 24 for our contact details.

Dirk TerpstraEditor, Canada Magazine

© 2009, Canadian Travel Design, Canada

Canadian Travel Design - www.canadiantraveldesign.com 3

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introducing CanadaOh, it’s big all right. Damn big. And we’re not referring to Canada’s size (a whopping 10 million sq km, making it the world’s second-largest country). What we’re talking about here is the handle on a Canadian beer case – big enough to fit your hands, even with mittens on. If you think that’s impressive, consider Canada’s other mondo attributes. Its terrain is filled with them, from mammoth mountains to hulking glaciers to immense polychromatic skies. Then there are the creatures that roam the terrain and its waterways – grizzly bear, moose, polar bear, humpback whales – each one huger than the next.Canada is impossible to dislike, but go ahead and give it a shot. You don’t like festival-packed cities like Toronto and Montreal that offer the world’s best quality of life? Then take a double dose of history in St John’s, Newfoundland, North America’s oldest city. Not enamoured with the prospect of hiking, skiing or snowboarding over the cloud-poking mountains of Banff & Jasper National Parks? Try a slow ride through the wheat-waving prairies of Saskatchewan. You want a nosh lighter than Alberta beef or Nunavut whale blubber? Pick up ripe peaches and cheeses from the Kelowna’s local farmers’ markets.

fast facts about CanadaCanadians who speak only French: 13.3%Hours TV watched per week: 21.4

Median family income: $67, 600Amount of world’s diamonds produced: 15%Defense budget: $10.9 billionAnnual potato consumption: 15.8kg per personUnemployment rate: 6%Population: 33 millionLife expectancy women: 83.7 years, men 76.9 yearsAnnual beer consumption: 77 L per person

when to go?You can visit Canada at any time of year, but most people arrive in summer when temperatures are pleasant and much of the action moves outdoors. Just what constitutes ‘summer, ’ though, varies by region. In southern and west Canada, it generally refers to the period between Victoria Day (late May) and Labour Day (early September). In the northern regions, however, summer starts as late as mid-June and ends, often abruptly, with the first snowfall in early to mid-September.In most areas, March to May and September to October bring fewer tourists and often surprisingly pleasant weather. Fall, which finds forests cloaked in a spectacular mantle of color, is a great time to visit.Canadian winters in the west are the big draw for ski and board enthusiasts. With many arctic systems coming in, you are always sure of a nice blanket of the ‘white stuff’ and often much dryer than in the European Alps.

Our picks

Swans Suite Hotel

Victoria

Tekarra Lodge

Jasper

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Banff

WEST CANADA


STEWART

PORTHARDY

PRINCEGEORGE

YUKON

Our picks

‘The Bear Whisperer’

Williams Lake

Cycling (day or multi day)

Vancouver Island

Bighorn sheep range safari

Fraser River

ON THE MAP

hike Nootka IslandJourney in the footsteps of 18th century Nootka Chief Maquinna. Fly to the north end of Nootka Island (off Vancouver Island) and hike the rugged, isolated, and pristine beaches and coast to Yuquot (Friendly Cove). See the west in its undeveloped state - like the West Coast Trail used to be.This is a 8-day package which starts and ends at Strathcona Park Lodge on Vancouver Island.Included is 2 nights accommodation in the lodge, 5 nights camping, all meals and out-trip food, instruction, guiding, tents, transportation.Group size 2-10 pers.

ask us for the details.

sea kayak Johnstone StraitJohnstone Strait is famous for its resident population of Orca

whales and abundant marine life. Kayakers keep a respectful distance; however, the whales often approach the kayaks for a thrill which is incomparable! Kayak strokes and rescue techniques are practiced in Strathcona’s protected paddling bays prior to every kayak trip - a good refresher for experienced and beginner kayakers alike.This is a 7-day package which starts and ends at Strathcona Park Lodge on Vancouver Island.Included is 2 nights accommodation in the lodge, 4 nights camping, all meals and out-trip food, instruction, single or double kayaks, PFD’s, guiding, tents, transportation.Group size 2-10 pers.


sea kayak Johnstone StraitJohnstone Strait is famous for its resident population of Orca whales and abundant marine life. Kayakers keep a respectful distance; however, the whales often approach the kayaks for a thrill which is incomparable! Kayak strokes and rescue techniques are practiced in Strathcona’s protected paddling bays prior to every kayak trip - a good refresher for experienced and beginner kayakers alike.This is a 7-day package which starts and ends at Strathcona Park Lodge on Vancouver Island.Included is 2 nights accommodation in the lodge, 4 nights camping, all meals and out-trip food, instruction, single or double kayaks, PFD’s, guiding, tents, transportation.Group size 2-10 pers.


elkin guest ranchNestled within British Columbia's Chilcotin region is the spectacular Nemaiah Valley, home of the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch. Comfortable accommodation in traditionally built log cabins, which consist of 2 bedrooms and comfortable twin or king size beds with private 3 piece en-suites, comfortable sitting room and private decks with mountain view. A third bed can be brought into each bedroom to accommodate larger families.From horseback riding and horsemanship training, to wild horse tours and river kayaking, to fly-fishing and mountain biking.


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SHORT

clayoquot wilderness resortClayoquot Wilderness Resort, is located in the fragile Clayoquot Sound Biosphere reserve near the seaside village of Tofino, British Columbia.The resort is one of the most exclusive and unique vacation offerings in the world.Clayoquot Wilderness Resort promises discriminating travellers an ultra-luxurious eco-destination, four-star accommodations, otherworldly coastal cuisine, super natural adventure, and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful wilderness frontier left on the planet. Deluxe 5-star tents Guest quarters are roomy prospector style white canvas tents on raised wooden platforms, complete with remote-controlled propane wood stoves, a /c power, Adirondack

queen or twin beds with down duvets, antique furnishings and accessories, oil lamps and opulent rugs. Generous porches overlook the river.All inclusive 4-day packages are now available.


kootenay wilderness adventuresKootenay Wilderness Tours is a cross-cultural, wilderness adventure and education organization, specializing in hiking, cross-cultural learning, and nature awareness eco-tours that provide guests with not only an amazing opportunity to encounter nature, but also an incredible experience learning from it. A certified local guide will take you out to subalpine meadows and

lakes; wildlife opportunities; river valleys and waterfalls; mountain summits and you’ll learn wilderness skills and learn about the first nations culture. The 2- or 3-day packages are all inclusive.


ecotoursEcotours is a grass roots outdoor adventure guide service offering truly Canadian wilderness experiences. Situated in the heart of one of the most unique and diverse areas on earth, the Quesnel Lake watershed drains over 12,000 sq km of land that has it's own unique micro-climatic zone on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountains. We can recommend you the 5-day ‘adventure in the cariboo mountains’ package.

ask us for the possibilities.

car rentalWe will always determine which car

rental company is the best option for your use. Of course we only work with reliable partners and all of the needed insurances are included in our rates, as well as unlimited kilometres and in most cases a second driver.


BREAKS

utter tranquilityWe’d just left the city, but already we had the jade waters of the Yukon River almost to ourselves. We were accompanied only by a pair of bald eagles, one of which soared overhead while the other fed stringy pink flesh to chicks in a nest and glared at us through haughty yellow eyes.

Around a bend, we came upon a group of young males that swooped and soared between the scraggy branches of the trees that lined the bank. We counted eight, then ten, then 12. Then we stopped counting, and the only sound we heard was the drip and slosh of our own paddles.

A hundred-odd years ago, this silent waterway bustled chaotically as thousands made their way downriver to the gold fields of the Klondike. Most of the prospectors had already hiked over the arduous Chilkoot or White Pass trails from the Alaskan coast. Next they built

boats and embarked on the mighty Yukon River, whose currents (they hoped) would take them to the gold rush town of Dawson City.

Today though, the easy gold has gone; we had no hopes for it. And so, after a couple of hours’ easy paddling, we paused for a floating lunch. There were six of us in three canoes,

including our guide Stefan, and, as we ate, the current carried us along. It was flowing at about 10 kilometres an hour. We could arrive at our camp for the evening with almost no effort at all.

The current weakened in Lake Laberge but we had a favourable wind. “Let’s sail across the lake,” Stefan.

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exploring the Yukon

suggested. And so we lashed our canoes together into a makeshift trimaran, built a square mast from driftwood and tied on a tarp. A black bear stared from the shore at this strange scooting craft, then turned on its heels and loped away.We camped that night on soft, mossy ground among wild roses and aspen trees. Our camps were in recognized spots but we were always gloriously alone: we only passed a couple of other canoes each day. While cities and tourist hotspots have filled across the rest of the planet, the Yukon River has gone the other way.

The Klondike stampede died after just a couple of years. The hundreds of steamboats that subsequently plied the Yukon – bringing supplies to those who still lived here and providing business for the wood camps that supplied their fuel – ceased to operate after the 1950s, when the Klondike Highway opened to link Dawson City to the Yukon Territory’s new capital,

Whitehorse. Now, just crumbling cabins and slowly oxidizing artefacts remain to remind the few who pass of those prosperous years. We shared one camp with a rusting object that looked like a freestanding loo-roll holder. “It’s a vice, for clamping planks of wood,” Stefan explained.

At Hootalinqua, where the river widens and accelerates, there was once a police station with two constables, a telegraph office, a store, a roadhouse and a tiny island where ships could be pulled up for repairs and winter storage. The steamer Evelyn never left. She made her last voyage in the 1930s, but she’s still sitting on the island, a huge, dark, dilapidated hulk.

As we paddled on, the clear teal waters grew muddy; now the current churned loose silt, which hissed quietly as it stroked the body of the canoe. A belted kingfisher flitted alongside us; on the shore we saw a Canada goose with a huddle of goslings. A tiny mouse


with a canoe by Polly Evans

attempted to cross the river before us. Its desperate whiskery face stuck up above the currents while its feet and tail paddled for dear life. Later that evening, Stefan caught three pike. “I don’t know if I should tell you this,” he remarked as I fried the fish over the fire, “but when I gutted them, I found two mice in one of the pikes’ stomach. One was quite fresh. The pike hadn’t even started to digest it.” I hoped it had not been the courageous creature whose tenacity we had so admired.

Whatever its end, our efforts compared poorly with those of the mouse. After eight leisurely days we arrived at Carmacks where our trip came to an end. This tiny village with its population of little over 400 is named for George Carmack, the lucky prospector who started the whole hullabaloo. Very few that followed him to the Klondike ever did find riches. Less than half the hundred thousand that set out arrived in Dawson, and by then the best claims were gone.

Many headed straight back home and when, just a year later, gold was found at Nome in Alaska, most of those who remained packed up their sluice pans and moved on. Within a few short years, the gold rush was over. The decades passed and the river grew quiet. Now the seething crowds of humanity are elsewhere and, on the Yukon River, the bears and the bald eagles rule once more.

Polly Evans is the author of ‘Mad Dogs and an Englishwoman’, which tells the story of her learning to drive sled dogs in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Published by Bantam, February 2008.

suggested itineraryDay 1: Arrival WhitehorseArrival in Whitehorse, meeting of group members. Overnight in Hotel. Day 2 - 16: Whitehorse / Yukon RiverStart of your exciting canoe tour in Whitehorse down the Yukon River. You will be spending 16 days on this mighty river, traveling over 700 kilometres and exploring the vast hinterlands of the Yukon. Day 17 & 18: Dawson CityYou arrive in Dawson City, the historic gold town and home of many old legends. A visit to the Jack London and Robert Service cabins, the theatre and the Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling hall are on the program. A highlight is the drive into Bonanza and Eldorado Creeks where e visit an active gold mine. Two hotel overnights in Dawson City. Day 19: Dawson City - WhitehorseVia Klondike Highway, drive back to Whitehorse, where you overnight again in a hotel. Day 20: Departure Whitehorse

2009 travel dates04.06. - 23.06.200925.06. - 14.07.200916.07. - 04.08.200906.08. - 25.08.200927.08. - 15.09.2009

For more information about this journey please contact us, or one of our partners. E: [email protected]

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In August of 1994, Khutzeymateen was designated Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary under the joint management of the province of British Columbia and the Tsimshian Nation. Located 40 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert on BC’s northern coast, Khutzeymateen, a Tsimshian word meaning a confined space of salmon and bears, provides about 45 000 hectares of protected wilderness for the grizzly - a species at risk. The valley’s rich wildlife population includes moose, wolves, migrating owls, grouse, shorebirds, geese, harlequin ducks, kingfishers, harbour seals, orca and humpback whales along the coast. With its dense rain forest, river mouth estuary and ocean fjord, the park sanctuary is able to provide refuge for about 50 grizzlies.Urban expansion, agriculture, logging, mining, hydroelectric development, oil and gas exploration and increased recreational use of the back country have all caused a loss of the grizzly habitat and have placed these magnificent creatures at risk. Habitat loss has a most devastating effect on the grizzly because of two factors: they require a home range up to several hundred square kilometres and they have a very slow reproductive rate.

In British Columbia, the population of grizzly bears, Canada’s largest carnivore, is as low as 4000 or as high as 13 000. Although they are now extirpated in former habitats such as the Peace Lowland and Georgia Depression and rare in the southern interior, Canada still represents the last country in which bears survive in any significant numbers. Their diet ranges from grass and roots through wild berries, insects, fish and other animals. Coastal bears are great fishers and make salmon the mainstay of their diet. The

reproduction rate of a grizzly is one of the slowest of any land animal in North America. Females are not ready to bear young until they are 5 to 8 years old and males may not mature until age ten. Females average fewer than one cub per year. The cubs, born blind and defenseless while the mother is still hibernating, are about the size of a kitten and they must remain under the mother’s protection for two years. Females require a home range of no less than 27 square kilometres while the male may need as much as 1350 square kilometres of pristine wilderness. Habitats may be mountainous areas, salmon estuaries of BC, or the treeless tundra of the Northwest Territories. Although the natural life span of wild bears can be 25 years or more, the BC government has estimated that each year, 6355 bears are shot and killed before they reach maturity; the outfitters of British Columbia charge from $10 000 per grizzly. Thousands of peaceful human/bear encounters occur every year - in fact only 16 fatal attacks have been recorded in BC over the last 20 years. Although there were more deaths from spider bites, if one is ever in the vicinity of a 700 kilogram bear, standing at 2.6 metres and capable of reaching speeds close to 50 kilometres an hour, there is comfort in knowing that bears instinctively retreat from any human contact.


Khutzeymateen, Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary

idea:“Explore British

Columbia”21 days from Vancouver

idea:Sailing the

“Great Bear Rainforest”

8 days.

Work horsesBusy schedules. Daily work, traffic, kids to school, activities in the evenings and the weekend is for soccer or hockey.Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could just have some more family time? Playing with the kids, building that ever-dreamt tree house or exploring the local beaches?You’re not the only one who might feel that. And the cliche “before you know they have grown up”, is true. And we damn know that!

We have some interesting travel suggestions for you.Self-drive holidays for you and your family, fully balanced. Just enough driving to explore the area, staying in typical local, authentic accommodations to excite your kids and get the true ‘Canada feeling’. Get out with local naturalists to learn about the nature, culture and be active as a family.

West Coast IndiansStart in Vancouver From the airport it’s a short drive to a cosy hotel, perfectly located on English Bay, overlooking the beach and on walking distance from Stanley Park and vibrant downtown Vancouver. Explore the famous Vancouver Aquarium, hiking or biking in Stanley Park or take a small water taxi to Granville Island, the paradise for kids.

TofinoA beautiful ferry trip to Vancouver Island. From old growth giant cedars to the sandy beaches of the Pacific Rim. Stay in a cabin close to the beach and the centre of Tofino, whale watching, and canoeing with native Indians to Maeres Island and explore this beautiful coast is a unique experience.

Strathcona Provincial Park. During the next 3 days you’ll enjoy the private family guiding in rock climbing, white water kayaking and survival skills, sea kayaking, high ropes challenge, canoeing; a true wilderness experience for families. The lodge's accommodations consist of rooms in log and timber framed chalets. This is a family experience, unique in its kind.

Pender Harbour After morning's activities, a short drive brings you to Courtenay where you take a small ferry to BC's Sunshine Coast. Stay in a beautiful private house and explore the coast together with your children. Here is a lot to explore...

WhistlerFamous mountain village Whistler is ready for the Winter Olympics in 2010. Visit the local shops, go on a ZipTrek tour through an old rainforest or take the gondola to the ‘top of the world’. Here is never a dull moment.

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kids explore

Back to VancouverBack to the civilized world. A few hours drive brings you back to Vancouver and you will be staying in the same hotel as on your first day. Chinatown? Robson Street for some great souvenirs? Or inhale the peace of Stanley Park?You will probably come to the conclusion that this was the best 'true-family-holiday' ever.

Rocky Mountain CowboysThis is the perfect self-drive package for young families with an active lifestyle who want to explore the Canadian Rockies, in a different way. Your holiday starts and ends in Calgary. We have included some unique and authentic Canadian adventures for the whole family.Places like Waterton National Park, a very comfortable backcountry lodge near Fernie, cabins in Golden and Jasper and the prestigious Banff. Lots of hiking, biking, canoeing and horseback riding.No more dreaming, just come over here and enjoy!

Lighthouses, beaches and whale watchingNova Scotia, probably a little closer to home, offers a very unique Atlantic experience for families.Follow the famous Cabot trail, along steep cliffs, go with a naturalist out on the open ocean looking for whales, porpoises and sea lions, while staying at family friendly resorts, chalets and cabins.

ComfortableThese three suggestions are all very unique in character but also share the same values.

Car rental including all needed insurances is included, as well as all accommodations, always located at beautiful spots. Some very unique and authentic experiences are also part of your holiday and to make it complete, you will receive a very helpful travel package with information about the destinations, of course all your driving directions, but above all, some very ‘secret tips’ from the locals.

After reading all this, you might want to talk to somebody who can answer questions you might have.Please send us an email and we will bring you in contact with your local, specialized agent who knows all about it. Email: [email protected]


“There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not runWhen the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sunLong before the white man and long before the wheelWhen the green dark forest was too silent to be real.”

Gordon Lightfoot sang about the Canadian railroads for a reason: rail travel is somehow quintessentially Canadian, in many ways a link to the early days of the country.

1. Across Canada by trainThe ultimate long-haul journey? Across Canada by train, Toronto to Vancouver on VIA Rail. The trip lasts nearly four days and there are several departures each week; if you want to save money, travel in winter, when prices are discounted. VIA Rail recently changed the schedule to improve daylight viewing in the Rockies.

2. Through the RockiesHalf the excitement of a cross-Canada train trip is going through the Rockies. No time for the whole thing? Rocky Mountaineer Vacations runs train trips through the mountains, Vancouver to Calgary or vice-versa. Travel by day when you can see the sights, and stay in a hotel overnight.

3. The far northThe best train trips take you to places without roads or cars. Like the VIA train from Winnipeg to Churchill, Manitoba, on the shore of Hudson Bay. It's a 1,700-kilometre, two-night trip that costs you less than $200 (one way) if you go coach.

4. The nearer northThe Polar Bear Express is a classic excursion train, travelling between Cochrane, Ont., and Moosonee on James Bay during the summer. The one-day, return-trip excursion is a quick way to experience the north -- especially if you're taking children along.

5. OvernightIf you've got the time and bit of extra cash, it's worth it to take a berth or a room on an overnight train and let yourself be rocked to sleep by the soothing clickety-click of the wheels on the track. The trip from Montreal to Halifax on VIA Rail's The Ocean lasts about 21 hours -- just enough time to kick back and relax.

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Michael’s 5rail


favourite “Canadian Travel Design will assist you in finding the most suitable and attractive rail trips for your customers.Please contact me personally to discuss.”

Michael van der KraatsDirector of Product DevelopmentE: [email protected]

trips

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The Magic is in the Details

not just for expertsMention heliskiing and most skiers subconsciously reach for their wallets. But just think about what you get for the money. It’s not just orgasmic skiing, but the memories of orgasmic skiing. The kind that remind you there is a world that is happy and shiny and was once yours - even if only for a day or two. After you’ve done it once, heliskiing will clutch at you like the worst sort of drug. And as with all drugs the cost becomes irrelevant, the high is what it’s all about. As a man who has spent his whole life looking for the cheapest ski deal going, I would officially now save, steal, borrow or sell my soul to go back and do it again. I am the classic intermediate. So when I stepped onto the helicopter at TLH Heliskiing for the first time - come to think of it, long before I stepped onto the helicopter - my main concern wasn’t so much the cost but whether I could do it. The spectacular wilderness of the Chilcotins is not exactly the place to discover that steep and deep doesn’t do it for you. “Can I take an easy groomed run down please” doesn’t cut it. There isn’t one for hundreds of miles. TLH is based at Tyax Lodge, a luxurious mountain lodge 90 kilometres down a dirt track. Arriving there on a Friday evening you are greeted with a quick session on what heliskiing is all about, including serious words like avalanche, rescue, and transceiver. In case you’re worried about what to do should you be involved in an avalanche fret not: you’ll be up at 6:30am the next morning to learn. Arising before light and walking around in -10C is best

favouritesfavourites

glossed over here. The real fun begins a few hours later after you have been supplied with an avalanche transceiver and fat skis and assigned to your group. (Based on ability levels, I was surprised to find that I wasn’t in a group labelled “Rubbish”.) Having consumed a hearty breakfast you climb into one of three helis. In moments you’re passing over true backcountry wilderness, and within 15 minutes you’re coming to land on unnamed peaks and glaciers. Deep blue

skies, dazzling sunlight and deep, untracked powder, yet strangely you don’t notice all of this at first. Exiting a helicopter in ski boots, with snow blizzarding all around and adrenaline coursing through your body, there are way too many things going on to calmly stand and appreciate the impassive, indifferent beauty of the mountains. No ski lift in the world could take you to a place like this. Smooth, untracked fields of powder tailing thousands of feet below. Yet even with 3,500 square kilometres of terrain and only 11 skiers to share it with, it’s impossible to shake the Pavlovian desire to get down it before anyone else. Our guide Cliff bid us follow him and I, like everyone else, couldn’t get there quick enough. Sure there were a few hiccups and a few falls, but after a couple of runs I found myself floating through airy snow and the steeper the run the easier it seemed.


the freedom of powder

This was some of the finest powder in the world, and you get what you pay for. Among the other things you are paying for is skiing all day long in angel dust, looking back up an empty mountainside and seeing your own deep S-turns cut in the snow, and realizing that with the right conditions and the right equipment powder skiing isn’t hard - though being rich does help. But please, please don’t whinge about not being able to afford it. Between a week in TLH and week in an average European resort, there’s only one you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

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FACTSTLH Heliskiing★ 100 kilometres northeast of Whistler, BC.

★ 830,000 acres of terrain (200 times the size of Vail, Co.).

★ Accommodates 44 guests

★ Uses to Bell 212 helicopters

★ Each helicopter services only two groups of 11, plus one guide per group

★ Packages all inclusive, food, accommodation, transfers return from Vancouver and Whistler to lodge

★ 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 day packages

★ Direct bookable with Canadian Travel Design or our agent

ultimate freedomWhat is better than taking your home out on the road and enjoy a Canadian adventure.The possibilities are endless, nature is unforgettable and the roads are so easy for driving.

When you look around, read travel brochures and check out the internet, you’ll soon discover that there are many choices to rent one.Travel agents are all competing on price, because that is the only way you can be different in this business...

We believe there is more than that.

First of all, we have chosen for a strong partnership with a rental company who have their focus on optimal service, high quality of vehicles and are very flexible.Because not all companies are as reliable as you might think.So, now you are like a stranger in a large country, ready get out on the road. Where do you want to go? Going after the well known highlights, making thousands kilometers? Seeing a lot from behind the windshield or experiencing more outside?

We like to provide route suggestions to our customers, provide some of our ‘secret tips‘ in an extensive travel package and more background information about the area.When you travel in let’s say May, June and September, finding a decent campground is not always so hard, but what about the Summer holidays?We have learned that it is very relaxing and comfortable to have the best choice of campgrounds pre-booked for you, so you don’t have to hurry to prepare for the next night and maybe get stressed while driving, knowing that your favourite campground is full.

On the next page, we give you an idea of an interesting route, through the most rugged and beautiful National Parks in West Canada and the USA.You will follow scenic routes, stay at campgrounds in natural settings, both in the Parks as on smaller private campgrounds. They are all pre-booked and pre-paid for you. And our travel package will help you find some nice hiking trails, good local restaurants and coffee places.Check it out, and if you’re not sure, please ask us.


camper life

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Pure Wilderness and Perfect Luxury

national parks of the westSuggested itinerary

Day 1 - 2 Calgary (arrival)Arrival at Calgary International airport. Day 2 & 3 Waterton Lakes National ParkWaterton Lakes National Park borders Glacier National Park in Montana to the south, and together they make up the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the first of its kind in the world; mild climate, rare wild flowers, and lots of wildlife.

Day 4 & 5 Glacier National Park USAExperience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. Explore Glacier National Park and discover what awaits you.Day 6 ButteWelcome to Montana’s Big Sky Country. A mix of the rugged Wild West and a few almost-modern cities make this state a great travel experience.Day 7 - 9 Yellowstone National ParkThis wonderful park is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk and world’s famous geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.Day 10 & 11 Grand Tetons National ParkLocated in north western Wyoming. The abrupt vertical rise of the Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base, creating a unbelievable scenery.Day 12 Arco and Craters of the Moon, IdahoCraters of the Moon also provides unique opportunities for visitors to encounter plants and animals in various lava habitats, enjoy hiking or just the solitude and beauty of this incredible place.Day 13 Missoula, MontanaCheck the Yankee Fork State Park and the ghost towns of Cluster and Bonanza.Day 14 & 15 Nelson, BCBack in Canada. Enjoy the picturesque hippy town of Nelson, the warm lakes and friendly people.

Day 16 Revelstoke (National Park)Revelstoke is an old railroad town with many restored buildings to memorize the golden age of the railroad. Visit: Mount Revelstoke National Park. Day 17 & 18 Clearwater and Wells Gray ParkFamous for the many volcanoes, waterfalls, mineral springs and glaciers; hiking, canoeing etc.Day 19 - 21 Jasper (National Park)You name it, Jasper has it when it comes to nature. Day 22 & 23 Banff (National Park)The Icefields Parkway, valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots.Day 24 CalgaryIt is time to take your home on wheels back to the rental station and say goodbye. A shuttle will take you back to the airport or to a hotel.

For more information about this journey please contact us, or one of our partners. E: [email protected]


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By Lauren Carter

Under leaves turned russet and gold by the first shift of the season toward winter, crowds of fish flash their way upstream in the pristine rivers of British Columbia’s Cariboo Mountains. At this special time of year, every animal, and interested human, gets involved in the hunt for the perfect specimen. “Everything that flies and crawls and walks is eating salmon” said Gary Zorn, owner of EcoTours - BC at Pyna-Tee-Ah Lodge. “The eagles are screaming and the salmon are fighting. The female salmon are making redds and the males are trying to fertilize the eggs and another male may come along so they’ll be fighting, splashing in the water and making noise. When you hear a noise behind you, you have to turn around and look because it could be a grizzly walking in the river, grabbing at fish.”If a bear did appear, most of us wouldn’t know what to do. Many of us would be alarmed by the sudden arrival of a grizzly bear, which is reputed to be a large, fierce bloodthirsty and easily provoked beast. In fact, we would likely be quite concerned, deeply frightened and unable to resist our urge to run. But this would not be true of Gary Zorn.Dubbed the “bear whisperer,” by a couple from Louisiana who watched him talk a grizzly bear out of threatening posturing, Zorn has a deep appreciation for these misunderstood beasts. Lucky guests at Pyna-Tee-Ah Lodge have the unique opportunity to share in his passion. The lodge is operated by Zorn, along with his wife, Peggy, and daughter, Melissa, both of whom are used to the outdoors and are quite comfortable with a

husband and father who romps around with wild animals. Guests can hear stories of mountain life, explore rare eco-systems and local history and, of course, observe lots of wildlife, including grizzly bears, a creature that behaves nearly exactly the opposite, said Zorn, of how it is often portrayed.Turns out, that portrait of the fierce beast standing on its hind legs with razor sharp claws extended and spittle glistening on its sharp teeth isn’t the average grizzly’s most common pose. In fact, explained Zorn, “it is extremely hard to find a huge grizzly bear. Only five percent are huge. The rest are medium and small.” In an effort to educate people on “an animal they don’t really understand at all [but know] as this animal that is portrayed in movies as ferocious and terrible”, Zorn starts his trips with an orientation session. During the initiation at the bucolic lodge at the base of the mountains halfway between Prince George and Kamloops, British Columbia, guests are introduced to a different sort of grizzly – not a harmless, dancing beast like the kind of goofy oafs you might see in popular cartoons, but a complex animal that is often elusive, ranges widely in personality, can be aggressive when protecting young and gives clear signals of its intentions. Still, Zorn is quick to state to his intrigued and eager guests, viewing grizzlies is no walk to spot squirrels in a park.“The most important thing—and something that people have to remember all the time—is that grizzly bears are extremely dangerous and they’re wild animals” he said.

the ‘bear whisperer’

“When a bear stands up and he’s roaring or making sounds toward you, he’s telling you that he wants you out of his space. When a bear stops whatever he’s doing and drops his head down to the ground and looks at you through the tops of his eyes, he’s telling you that’s it, that’s far enough, I don’t want you coming any further or there’s going to be a problem.”


But they also give clear messages. “When a bear stands up and he’s roaring or making sounds toward you, he’s telling you that he wants you out of his space. When a bear stops whatever he’s doing and drops his head down to the ground and looks at you through the tops of his eyes, he’s telling you ‘that’s it, that’s far enough, I don’t want you coming any further or there’s going to be a problem.’ You have to recognize that and not get to that point” said Zorn.The adventure excursions that Zorn leads never get to that point. With a deep respect for the grizzlies, he takes very small groups of people out to view the animals and always makes sure that he is maintaining a certain distance. The result is a special and safe (in 20 years of outfitting among grizzlies, no one has ever been hurt) experience of quiet observation of a beast simply going about his business. From late summer into October, the sockeye salmon make their run from the Pacific Ocean through the Fraser River system and into the Mitchell River to spawn and finish their cycle of life. This trip brings animals from all over to the river, including some of the two-legged kind who climb into Gary Zorn’s jet boat early in the morning for a tour of a natural experience like no other. With a small group of no more than five, Zorn makes his way to various rivers, including the Cariboo, the Mitchell and the Horsefly, where there is a robust running of the salmon. He slows the boat, sits for half-an-hour to 45 minutes and then walks the boat out along the river, to turn a

corner and…“Bang, there’s a grizzly bear in front of us. He goes out and gets a salmon. There have been lots of times we’ve been viewing a bear and one will walk out behind us and one will walk out beside us. Lots of times we’ve had three, four bears around us and they are all in the river, getting their salmon and away they go again. That’s their main intent. It’s not to harm anybody” said Zorn.

“Here’s a large wild animal, eating their dinner or doing whatever they’re doing and we’re doing our photography and people

are absolutely astounded. They want to keep doing it day after day after day.”

Located 260 air miles northeast of Vancouver, the eight-guestroom lodge overlooks the Quesnel River, a tributary of the Fraser River that flows from Quesnel Lake, the deepest glacial water body in the world. In this beautiful environment, after a long day of being outdoors, excited grizzly-spotters and bird-watchers gather in the great room to shoot pool or swap stories by the stone fireplace before sitting down for the evening meal, made entirely from scratch. The fresh food includes home-baked bread and pies and, of course, salmon, the fish that draws the creatures of the forest, from the air and from the cities. Visitors to this special annual feast along the rivers or who are on other trips to observe grizzly bears should remember one thing as they watch these astonishing animals, “We are in their home,” said Zorn. “We have to respect what they’re doing and who they are.”

As you can imagine, this very unique experience can be the highlight of your adventurous holiday to Canada.Canadian Travel Design offers various packages with Gary Zorn, and they range from 3 and 4 days.

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we might be different...and that’s the point!

Canadian Travel Designhas it's head office in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. From here we travel, design the packages and communicate with you. Because we believe that local knowledge and short communication lines make the difference. We prefer to work with partners who believe in creativity, quality and who like to offer their customers a long lasting Canadian experience for a competitive price.

let’s work togetherWe believe in the importance of building strong relationships with our travel partners, especially in today's world, as travel is allabout people.

The packages we offer, are a good example of our design work, our travel specialists can however, work together with you on a unique design for your company. We will design a trip from scratch or customize one of our existing itineraries that will suit your customer's profile better.

easy bookingOnly an efficient reservation process makes doing business interesting, for both of us. A single email with your client's details and the package they are interested in is enough for us to start the booking process. An immediate confirmation of availability will follow. The sooner you can make your customers happy, the better. This is usually within 24 hours.

Contacting us is easy!

Interested to learn more, or to do business with us?We’re here to speak with you.

Head Office in BC:[email protected]: +1 250 832 6782

European Office in The Hague:[email protected]: +31 6 24710473

Website:CanadianTravelDesign.com

do more.... live more.... travel more!

www.canadotravel.nlTel. 030 - 711 2858To

urism

BC

- Tos

hi K

awan

o


book tip!One evening when my boys were younger, Matthew, then ten, looked at me from across a restaurant table and said quite seriously, "Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid?"I asked what he meant."Well, you're always talking about your woods and tree houses, and how you used to ride that horse down near the swamp."At first, I thought he was irritated with me. I had, in fact, been telling him what it was like to use string and pieces of liver to catch crawdads in a creek, something I'd be hard-pressed to find a child doing these days. Like many parents, I do tend to romanticize my own childhood—and, I fear, too readily discount my children's experiences of play and adventure. But my son was serious; he felt he had missed out on something important.He was right. Americans around my age, baby boomers or older, enjoyed a kind of free, natural play that seems, in the era of kid pagers, instant messaging, and Nintendo, like a quaint artifact.Within the space of a few decades, the way children understand and experience nature has changed radically. The polarity of the relationship has reversed. Today, kids are aware of the global threats to the environment—but their physical

contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading. That's exactly the opposite of how it was when I was a child.As a boy, I was unaware that my woods were ecologically connected with any other forests. Nobody in the 1950s talked about acid rain or holes in the ozone layer or global warming. But I knew my woods and my fields; I knew every bend in the creek and dip in the beaten dirt paths. I wandered those woods even in my dreams. A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon rain forest—but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.This book, written by Richard Louv, explores the increasing divide between the young and the natural world, and the environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual implications of that change. It also describes the accumulating research that reveals the necessity of contact with nature for healthy child—and adult—development.

LAST CHILD IN THE WOODSSaving Our Children From Nature-Deficit DisorderBy Richard LouvPaperback , 390 pagesISBN: 9781565126053Published by Algonquin Books

Adjacent to Strathcona Provincial Park, on Vancouver Island, Strathcona Park Lodge is a wilderness resort offering customized holiday adventures for adults of all ages and families.Visitors return from the lodge empowered by the fresh air, clean water and invigorating lifestyle.Inquire for the 3-day unlimited adventure package. A perfect add-on to your Canada holiday.For more information please contact us, or one of our partners. Email: [email protected]

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experience the extraordinaryeducational adventureWhether it’s experiencing the wonders of the rainforest with your partner, crossing off that elusive warbler from your birding life list, learning to paint in watercolors, seeing magnificent rookeries of puffins at sunset, enjoy a theatre performance in the quaint fishing village of Trinity, whatever you’ve dreamed of learning, doing or seeing — there’s still no time like the present to make it happen.

Expert InstructionOur expert instructors provide unparalleled access to knowledge and opportunities unknown to

most travelers. Our programs feature expert lecturers who are active authors, researchers and professionals on the cutting edge of their fields

The participants come from every walk of life to learn together, exchange ideas and explore the world. This diversity of backgrounds and experiences enhances and enriches the learning community that forms, as lively discussion among participants and experts illuminates issues and broadens horizons. Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to

educational travel, you will be welcomed by peers who know you have much to offer.


We invite you to take the plunge into an educational adventure and experience the joy of learning and warm camaraderie that are — now more than ever — the richest joys in life.

Exclusive for European AgentsMost of these wonderful programs have been created to suit the North American traveler. That’s why Canadian Travel Design and Routes to Learning Canada (the maker of these programs), have decided to create travel packages that are fully tailored to the desires of the Europeans.This unique and exceptional partnership —a “natural fit”— has been developed exclusively for European agents who strive to separate themselves from the competition with unique and differentiated adventure-based/outdoor active, nature-oriented, and cultural/historical Canadian travel programs. Together, Canadian Travel Design and Routes to Learning Canada will offer you the following:

· Over 25 years of combined experience developing and customizing Canadian travel programs and building travel partner relationships· Extensive European product/marketing expertise, thorough understanding of European culture, and experience working with European-based agents · Full communication capability in English, German, and Dutch· Exceptionally diverse and flexible travel programs— including customization and extension options· Fostered long-term relationships with local providers and resident experts— providing individual travelers with access to people, places, and experiences “unheard of” in conventional large group travel

surprise your customersNow, you have a very attractive opportunity to start introducing these programs a rapidly growing group of customers.Canadian Travel Design will gladly work with you and support you to make this introduction successful.

Please email us at [email protected].

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your partner in Golf

Documents

Canada Magazine 2009