11 July, 2024

 

Warm Up to Winter in Canada

From coast to coast, it's a joyful and welcoming season

Canada is the home of winter, but that doesn't just mean skiing and huddling against the cold. From coast to coast, winter brings a fresh perspective of the same-old, an invigorating wake-up call to seize the moment and experience everything this northern destination has to offer.

From culinary escapades in Western Canada to sleet-covered cities celebrating the season, to unique snow sports in the Prairies (kicksledding or crokicurl, anyone?), the country is a cold-weather bucket list come to life. Here, you can sip a flight of sub-zero vodka, zip electric snowbikes along a mighty river, or join an Indigenous survival-skills workshop. You can watch the northern lights dance from a rooftop hot tub, follow an icy road across the Arctic tundra, or build a traditional Inuit igloo.

In 2025 You can also attend the Invictus Games, during the international sporting event's first year incorporating winter adaptive sports.

Embrace our expansive, ebullient definition of winter here in Canada. Bundle up, and step into the north's warm embrace.

WESTERN CANADA: Dining, Over Ice
As temperatures drop and snow forms on the mountains, dining in British Columbia and Alberta starts to feel like a warm, cozy culinary blanket. Its pleasures are inspired by the land – whether après-ski cocktails and bites, world-class Alberta beef, or fresh-from-the-ocean seafood. Here, some of the world's most acclaimed chefs channel their creativity into comfort food influenced by Indigenous, Korean, Ukrainian, Italian and other cultures, tied together by locally sourced ingredients. Throughout these two provinces, you'll find a cornucopia of experiences – from cowboy cuisine to Michelin-starred restaurants, Indigenous fine-dining to taste-making food trucks, and much, much more.

You'll also find award-winning beers – in the 2024 Canadian Brewing Awards, BC and Alberta cleaned up with 79 medals.
One such accolade was the Canadian Evergreen Beer category, which honours beers brewed with needles from evergreen trees or shrubs; it was awarded to T.W.S. Sitka Spruce Tip Brut IPA from Rusted Rake Brewing in Nanoose Bay, BC.

ALBERTA
The province has close to two million more cattle than it does humans, so it's synonymous with quality beef. But that isn't where the story ends – agriculture is a major industry here, too, with locals producing everything from honey, hops and artisan cheeses to berries, veggies, and grains. Check out Alberta's beer festivals, including Banff in November, Jasper in February, and Calgary in March. Did you know? Canada's national cocktail was
invented in Calgary in 1969, and as many as 400 million Caesar cocktails are consumed in Canada annually. 

Here's what to add to your culinary itinerary in Alberta:
➢ Indigenous roots: Noted chef Scott Iserhoff recently opened his first restaurant, Bernadette's, in Edmonton's Ice District. Named after Iserhoff's grandmother, with whom he shared a passion for food, the restaurant elevates ingredients and techniques learned from his Mushkego Cree background. Near Jasper, sip a cup of nihty (the Cree word for tea) and learn about edible and medicinal plants and their healing properties with Warrior Women. The mother-daughter storytellers offer the experience throughout winter for up to 25 people.

➢ Winning combo: What do you get when you combine the sport of skijoring and fondue? Skijordue (late February) is Calgary's “snowdeo” event and it's all about cheese and speed. It's a chance to watch competitors on skis being pulled by a horse at high speed. And to eat cheese. Lots of cheese.

➢ Choco-delights: Enjoy hot chocolate the Alberta way at more than 175 different local spots during Calgary's Hot Chocolate Festival (February), or take a stroll along the Hot Chocolate Trail in Banff and Lake Louise.

➢ Best burgers: Try Alberta's legendary beef at a local burger joint. Alberta Food Tour has compiled a list of top burger spots, including The Chuckwagon Café, which was featured on Food Network's “You Gotta Eat Here” and The Next Act, an Edmonton joint that serves award-winning burgers
alongside local craft beer.

➢ Giant bites: Point your car towards the Giants of the Prairies, a group of the world's biggest roadside attractions found in Western Canada. Among
them: the world's largest mushroom in Vilna, a giant perogy in Glendon, a giant pumpkin in Smoky Lake, and giant potatoes in Vauxhall.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
The province, especially its largest city of Vancouver, is a global culinary hub. Beyond the many accolades, awards and rave reviews about BC's farm-fresh, ocean-to-plate cuisine, there are the lineups for brunch, the addition of a Vancouver MICHELIN Guide in 2023, and a smorgasbord of diverse dining options – whether hearty mountainside fare, guided culinary adventures, or delicious spreads of Indigenous dishes (for inspiration on the latter, refer to Indigenous Tourism BC's guide to local Indigenous-owned eateries). One benefit of winter dining—no problems getting a table last minute. Start here to eat your way through BC:
➢ Pillows of goodness: Brought to Canada by Chinese immigrants, dumplings are pieces of dough stuffed with savoury fillings such as meat, egg or vegetables. Richmond is home to several eateries that dish up these delights, 15 of which are featured on the Dumpling Trail. Refer to the
Dumpling Trail brochure to see where and when you can get your fill.

Storyteller:
Michelle Ng, founder of Vancouver Foodie Tours, offers an Authentic Asian Eats tour that showcases her deep knowledge and passion for Richmond's food scene.

➢ Festival of food: Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Canada's largest food and drink festival, takes place each winter in Vancouver (end of January to beginning of February). The festival brings together nearly 400 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, suppliers and more for a three-week season of dining, food-forward events and experiences designed to give culinary enthusiasts a tantalizing taster of the city's many flavours.

➢ Slope-top bites: The only thing better than skiing in BC is the post-ski après (and for many, it's the main event). Ski resorts across the province beckon hungry visitors with an assortment of culinary indulgences, including an Alpine Fondue and Starlight Descent at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, where guests tuck into fondue at Sunburst Mid Mountain Restaurant, then take a headlamp cruise down 5 Mile, a ski run set aglow by lanterns; the Mountain Top S'mores Snowshoe Tours at Kimberley Alpine Resort in Kimberley, which includes a 30-minute snowshoe tour towards a
s'mores and hot chocolate pit stop; and Eagle's Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, perched atop the mountains at 7,700 feet with views of five national parks. In Whistler-Blackcomb, try Bearfoot Bistro, where you can indulge in a flight of sub-zero vodka in its ice room; Chic Pea, a family favourite with melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon buns; and the new Flute & Fromage, a cheesemonger with a cozy après patio in the heart of the village.

PRAIRIES: Snow Sports, Without the Slopes
While winter is synonymous with skiing in many parts of Canada, some areas have a different perspective on the season. Take the prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Flat, vast landscapes peppered with lakes and forests, paired with five solid months of winter, provide an icy outdoor paradise for winter enthusiasts with nary a ski hill in sight (well, that's not exactly true; see “Skiing on the Prairies,” below).

The prairies have perfected winter sports such as kicksledding (picture a dogsled without the dogs, steel blades that help steer, and footrests) and crokicurl (first played in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it's a combination of curling and the board game crokinole). They're home to the world's largest snow maze. And they take winter adrenaline seriously, with opportunities to dogsled, snowshoe, ice fish, ice skate, snowshoe, fat bike, and much, much more.

Fun fact:
Curling is the provincial sport of Saskatchewan, producing renowned athletes such as Sandra Schmirler and Ernie Richardson. CURLSASK is the collective voice for curling in Saskatchewan, providing services and programs for the curling community, from grassroots to elite. See the experts in action in 2025, when Moose Jaw hosts the World Men's Curling Championships.

MANITOBA
Its winters can be long, cold, and seem harsh to the uninitiated – a climate that has instilled resilience in its residents, and exceptional creativity for enjoying the outdoors year-round. Here's a sample of Manitoba's must-do winter activities:

➢ Icy treat: The Forks, a sporty gathering place in Winnipeg, becomes an ice-skater's paradise in winter – in fact, new architect-designed warming huts are added annually, with the year's design awarded through a competition. Huddle in the huts in-between skating sessions or visits to diverse food vendors – everything from Caribbean to Filipino – and artisanal shops.
Rent ice skates and glide down the Nestaweya River Trail, one of the longest frozen river trails in Canada, stretching across the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

➢ Get lost: Wander the world's largest snow maze, just 10 minutes outside Winnipeg. Along the way, you can marvel at snow buildings, slide down Snow Mountain, warm up by a bonfire, try the giant luge run, and sip a drink at the Snow Bar. Afterward, dine at The Den, a restaurant carved out of 500,000 pounds of snow. The restaurant was envisioned and built by snow architect Clint Masse, who also created the nearby maze.

➢ Cold fish: Ice fishing in Manitoba is an angler's dream, with the harsh climate supporting a healthy population of big specimen fish. Tip: book your ice fishing excursion with a seasoned outfitter to maximize your likelihood of snaring a catch.  Recommended operators include Blackwater Cats, which takes guests to proven fish-filled spots; Icebound Excursions, which offers rentals of Snobears, recreational vehicles built to service ice fishermen; and Bruin Outfitting, whose all-inclusive packages include transportation from your accommodation straight to the lake. Many outfitters will provide warming shacks, so you can fish in comfort.

➢ Winter sports and camping: Winter in Riding Mountain National Park offers a wonderland of snowshoeing, ice skating and hot chocolate, as well as fat bike and kicksled rentals. After a long day in the elements, retreat to your tent, or snuggle up by a woodstove in a winter OTENTik. For those seeking a more rustic camping experience, all backcountry campsites remain open year-round.

SASKATCHEWAN
Residents scoff at cries of “it's too cold!” Here, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to cold-weather escapades. Suit up and sample the activities below.

➢ Icy angling: Home to some 10,000 lakes, Saskatchewan takes ice fishing to another level. Stocks of trout, walleye, perch and pike are plentiful, and there's lots of time to lake-hop since these bodies of water remain frozen for up to six months a year. The pros recommend Piprell Lake, three hours northeast of Saskatoon; Last Mountain Lake, an hour north of Regina; and the Fishing Lakes in the Qu'Appelle Valley, an hour northeast of Regina. With so many options, it's best to find a guide to show you the hot spots. Did you know? Anglers have caught three world-record-sized fish in
Saskatchewan.

➢ Dogs on the run: There's no feeling like flying through snow-dusted woods pulled by a pack of excitable Huskies. Sundogs Excursions is an
established dogsled expert, taking guests through the north-central wilderness of Anglin Lake and Great Blue Heron Provincial Park on thrilling backcountry expeditions. The experience provides a unique combination of solitude in nature, companionship with the dogs, and bursts of high adrenaline, as well as a connection to Canada's explorer past.

➢ At one with the land: Engage in nature therapy or take a survival workshop in the wilderness of the Saskatchewan River Delta with Aski Holistic Adventures. The Indigenous-owned company offers a suite of winter experiences, from snowshoeing and fat biking, to plant picking and trapping lessons. Shared cabin accommodations are offered for multi-day adventures.

➢ Slice the ice: Outdoor rinks are plentiful in Saskatchewan, with many ponds, lakes and sloughs cleared for skating. Top picks include Echo Valley Provincial Park, which features a two-kilometre skating loop; and Boffins Public Garden, whose pond transforms into a skating pond in cold season, complete with twinkling lights and an outdoor firepit.

➢ Skiing on the prairies? Yes, there are ski resorts in the prairies. Some of Saskatchewan's best ski slopes aren't hills; they're valleys, cut into the plains 14,000 years ago by melting glaciers. Try Ski Timber Ridge, which has six runs and a snowboard park; or Duck Mountain Ski Area, which has a whopping 22 runs.

Storyteller: Olympic athlete Mark McMorris learned to snowboard at Mission Ridge Winter Park in the Qu'Appelle Valley, northeast of Regina.

CENTRAL: Winter in the City, Indoors and Out

No hibernation here – cities in Central Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec keep buzzing in the winter. Whether world-class gateways such as Toronto and Montréal, or smaller urban communities such as Niagara Falls, the colder months bring an influx of festivals, markets, and seasonal attractions.

QUÉBEC
Here, winter is more than a season – it's a way of life, where locals take every opportunity to play outdoors before retreating to decadent meals, museum exhibits, and wellness enclaves. Here are a few ways to spend your winter in Québec:

➢ Holiday shopping: Already a wintry temptress, Québec becomes even more enchanting during the holidays – and Christmas markets (late November to late December) are some of the most beloved ways to ring in the season. The German Christmas Market, which takes place in Old Québec in Québec City beckons with European holiday traditions, including delicious food and mulled wine, artisan crafts, and festive performances.

➢ The Grand Christmas Market, which is hosted in Le Grand Marché de Québec, an iconic indoor market in Quebec City, convenes over 200 food companies and artisans offering holiday décor, hostess gifts, and a smorgasbord of ingredients for a proper Christmas feast.

➢ Catch a fish: Care for some urban ice fishing? In the Port of Québec's Nordik Village in Québec City, outdoor enthusiasts can fish amid the bustle of the city. Cast a line from an inflatable igloo, or directly on the pool. A warming area, entertainment, and restaurant service offer all the amenities needed for a relaxing angling adventure.

➢ Get thee to a nunnery: Inject peace and calm into your winter at Le Monastère des Augustines in Québec City. Located on the site of the first hospital built in North America several centuries ago, the monastery today attracts people seeking wellness, culture and history. Visitors can choose to sleep in a contemporary room or authentic monastic cell. The itinerary is self-driven, with options to do yoga, meditate, browse the onsite museum and heritage
centre, and more.

➢ Thermal therapy: Strøm Nordic Spa in Québec City, situated next to the St. Lawrence River, is a haven of tranquility considered one of the most beautiful escapes in the province. Here, guests can relax in marble steam baths, indulge in thermal therapy with warm pools and ice baths, get a massage, and more.

➢ Toboggan thrills: Adjacent to the iconic Fairmont le Château Frontenac in Québec City is Dufferin Terrace, where visitors can experience the thrill of a century-old toboggan slide. Each toboggan can hold up to four passengers, but hold on tight: the descent can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per
hour.

➢ Ice palace: From January through mid-March, Hôtel de Glace in Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, the only ice hotel in North America, opens with
spectacular rooms and suites, a chapel, and an ice bar serving cocktails. Visit for a day tour, or dare the ultimate winter experience with an overnight stay.

➢ Frosty festival: One of the largest winter celebrations in the world is Montréal en Lumière (February) in Montréal. During the annual event, guests can ice skate on a dedicated trail, view stunning outdoor light installations, dine at pop-up restaurants and food trucks, and watch a medley of musical acts. The festival takes place during Nuit Blanche, a full day and night of over 100 cultural activities.

➢ Grand heights: Take a spin on La Grande Roue de Montréal in Montréal, a 60-metre Ferris wheel that's the tallest in Canada. Running year-round, the attraction is equipped with 42 climate-controlled cabins – a good option to warm up while taking in aerial views of the city skyline and St. Lawrence River.

➢ Museum icon: Wander to the historic Golden Square Mile in downtown Montréal and spend a leisurely afternoon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art – the oldest museum in Canada, founded in 1860. The museum's vast collection contains some 43,000 works, much of it on display in the building's five pavilions. It also hosts travelling blockbuster exhibitions.

ONTARIO
Winter days might be short in Ontario, but there's no shortage of ways to fill the daylight hours. Whether you prefer to play in the snow or stay toasty inside, you'll find a plethora of fun, family-friendly attractions. Here are a few:

➢ Light the night: The Winter Festival of Lights (mid-November to mid-February) in Niagara Falls is the largest free outdoor light carnival in Canada. Some three million lights adorn the city, including an eight-kilometre stretch along the Niagara Parkway. In addition, there are concerts, fireworks and other festivities to enjoy.

➢ Ice wine flight: Did you know Canada is the world's largest producer of ice wine? One of the sweet bounties of the colder season, icewine is made from grapes left on the vine past the typical harvest season – specifically, until the temperature drops to around –8°C. Ontario's unique climate and dedicated vintners have elevated the province as a global hub for ice wine production. Here's where to experience ice wine across the province. During the last two weeks of January, you can sample ice wine and food pairings at the annual Icewine Festival in Niagara on the Lake.

➢ Snow kingdom: At Winterlude (February) in Ottawa, visitors can play in the Snowflake Kingdom, view beautiful ice sculptures, ice skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway – the world's largest skating rink – and explore local art.

➢ Cultural hub: Museum-hop in Ottawa, home to seven of Canada's nine national museums. The National Gallery of Canada houses the most comprehensive collection of Canadian art, including strong collections of Indigenous, Asian and international works. The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is in a hangar-like building that features the most extensive aviation collection in the country. The Canadian Museum of Nature
can be found in a historic castle-like building where visitors are greeted with dinosaur replicas, whale skeletons, and more. 

➢ Slide and glide: Winter skating is a rite of passage in Ottawa. In addition to the well-known Rideau Canal Skateway, glide over to the Rink of Dreams in front of City Hall, the outdoor rink at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and more.

➢ Spot of tea: Take a break from the cold and pop into a tearoom, lounge or café for afternoon tea in Toronto. Whether an elegant spread in the Fairmont Royal York's lobby lounge, or the Cocktail High Tea at Reid's Distillery, there are plenty of unique spins on the tradition across the city.

ATLANTIC CANADA: Black History is Canadian History

The story of African-descended peoples in Canada dates back over 400 years – starting with Mathieu da Costa, an interpreter for European explorers and the first documented free Black person to step on Canadian soil in the early 1600s. The following centuries carry a number of remarkable stories about Black people in Canada. When Lunenberg, Nova Scotia was invaded by US soldiers in July 1782, Colonel John Creighton's servant Sylvia bravely
shuttled cartridges in her apron and protected his son and valuables. In October 1830, Josiah Henson, known as the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, escaped from Kentucky to Canada and helped other escaped slaves adapt to life in the country. And in 1946, Viola Desmond, who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was arrested for sitting in a “white's only” section of a theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She fought her conviction – a struggle that became a powerful catalyst for change.

History worth knowing: Nova Scotia can be considered the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada. In 1783, 3,500 Black Loyalists (those who sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War) arrived in the province. Considered free people in the eyes of the law, they nevertheless experienced racism, discrimination and violence. In 1784, Canada's first race riot took place in Shelbourne. And in 1792, when the British offered land in Sierra Leone, 1,200 Black Loyalists departed Nova Scotia to settle in Freetown, the capital of the new colony. A few years later, around 600 Black people, called the Trelawny Maroons, were exiled from Jamaica to Nova Scotia. After a difficult few years of cold winters and delays in supplies and clothing, most departed for Freetown. Following the War of 1812, a third wave of migration occurred when enslaved Blacks from the US accepted an offer of freedom from the British if they fought in war. Unlike the Loyalists and Trelawny Maroons before them, these Black refugees stayed in Nova Scotia, as well as New Brunswick. Today, Nova Scotia boasts the largest indigenous Black community in Canada.

While slavery isn't widely discussed in relation to Canadian history, it happened and was legal. It wasn't until the turn of the 1800s that
attitudes toward slavery began to shift. In 1793, a Black man named Peter Martin petitioned Governor Simcoe to act against a slave owner who had violently transported Chloe Cooley, an enslaved Black woman, from Upper Canada to the US to be sold. The case inspired Simcoe to introduce the first anti-slavery law in British North America. On March 25, 1807, the slave trade was abolished throughout the British Empire, including British North America.

NOVA SCOTIA
Black History Month in Canada takes place in February, but there are opportunities year-round for education on Black heritage in Canada. Here are a few ways to explore this important part of Canadian heritage in Nova Scotia.

➢ Resilient community: For over a century, the African Nova Scotian community resided in Africville, located on the northern shore of Halifax Harbour. In the 1960s, the community was destroyed and its residents displaced to make way for industrial development. Today, the Africville Museum stands in a replica of the church that was the heart of the community, with audiovisual kiosks, pictures, and artefacts telling Africville's story.

➢ Maritime stories: The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax – Canada's largest and oldest maritime museum – shares the story of William Hall, the first Black person and the first Nova Scotian to receive the Victoria Cross, the British Empire's highest award for bravery.

➢ Hidden history: The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne tells the story of Black migrants to Nova Scotia through a multimedia presentation,
archaeological artefacts, and staff who are descendants of the Black Loyalists. Visitors can also see the national monument commemorating the Black
Loyalist landing in Birchtown in 1783.

Storyteller: Andrea Davis, the executive director of the Black Loyalist Centre, is a Nova Scotian born of Black Loyalist descent, with ancestral ties to Black communities across the province.

➢ Civil rights leader: Viola's Way in New Glasgow shares the story of Viola Desmond, a Canadian civil rights leader. Located next to the former Roseland Theatre, where Viola refused to give up her seat in the “white's only” section in 1946, the pedestrian-only street has a commemorative plaque, interpretation panels, and artwork inspired by Viola's story.

➢ Storyteller: René Boudreau founded tour company Elevate & Explore to encourage Black travellers around the world to visit Nova Scotia. “I believe that with more representation and cultural awareness, Nova Scotia will become a top tourist destination for Black travellers,” she says. The company's Black History Bike Tour, in collaboration with I Heart Bikes, takes guests to important Black history sites such as the Halifax Waterfront, Citadel Hill, Africville and more.

➢ Game on: The Hidden Histories GeoTour highlights diverse, and sometimes relatively unknown, histories in Atlantic Canada. The first phase of the self-guided geocache journey explores Black history, with six locations in New Brunswick and 10 in Nova Scotia.

THE NORTH: Dark Skies, Heightened Senses
Dark star-filled skies bring magic to winters in northern Canada. Here, the Arctic Circle cuts an icy path through the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; above, low solar energy blankets the land in a cold darkness – except when the auroras silently explode across the skies.

Did you know? Although the sun never rises during northern winters, there is a period of twilight that can last several hours in the middle of the day. Beloved among photographers, it's called the “blue hour” due to the blue tint it paints across the landscape.

Age-old cosmology: Skywatching is an ancient practice, used by humankind for millennia to navigate the earth, measure time, and provide fodder for folklore and mythology. Indigenous Peoples have many phrases for celestial objects, such as whǫ̀ hodàèhkw'o (shooting stars) and Chipewyan (solar system). It's no wonder many dark sky and aurora-watching experiences in the north are provided by Indigenous hosts.

Darkest of skies: Canada has 13 Dark Sky Preserves, including Wood Buffalo National Park – the biggest in the world, straddling northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Aside from this, the northern territories don't have many Dark Sky Preserves; this is due to minimal light pollution, and therefore less of a need for dark sky protection. Visitors will find vast, minimally populated areas ideal for aurora viewing and stargazing, with
the lack of light heightening all the senses.

The time is now: If ever there was a time to visit the north, it's now: due to the sun reaching the peak of its 11-year cycle, also known as the solar maximum, NASA scientists predict that 2024 and 2025 will bring intense, frequent northern lights activity.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Here, the northern lights dance an average of 240 days per year. With clear skies, ultra-low humidity and a massive land base directly under the auroral oval, there's a good chance of witnessing a stunning spectacle during your visit. Most aurora viewing tours – many Indigenous-owned and -operated – make their home base near the capital city of Yellowknife. Here are a few to add to your itinerary:

➢ Perspective-shifting: Indigenous-owned Aurora Village has 21 traditional teepees and hilltop viewpoints surrounding a pristine lake. On cold nights, guests huddle inside the teepees, around bonfires, or on heated outdoor seats that offer 360-degree views of the auroras as they flicker across the sky.

➢ Sky tales: Experiencing Dene culture is part of the aurora tours offered by Indigenous-owned B. Dene Adventures.

Storyteller: B Dene owner Bobby Drygeese says, “Our aurora tours are unique because they include traditional drumming, cooking fish over a fire, and the sharing of our language and culture. Guests love speaking with our Elders and hearing Dene legends and stories.”

➢ Magical moments: Tundra North Tours offers an immersive Authentic Arctic Experience that teases every sense in anticipation of a northern
 ights show. Visitors sit near a flickering fire and sip on warm tea; illuminated igloos, ice Inuksuks, and towering Gwich'in influenced teepees
set the scene as the auroras glide overhead. The tour also includes a thrilling trip along the Aklavik Ice Road, a crystal blue path that cuts across the Arctic tundra.

Storyteller:
“The world needs to see this way of life, just how beautiful it is… and only we can tell our stories,” says founder Kylik Kisoun Taylor. Check out this
video featuring him.

➢ Must like dogs: North of 60 Aurora Adventures offers guests the chance to travel by dogsled across a secluded frozen lake. The journey leads to a cozy skydome used for aurora-watching; hot drinks and bannock are served at the end of the tour.

➢ Celestial quest: Instead of staying in one place and waiting for the northern lights to appear, Northstar Adventures takes visitors aurora-hunting to find the clearest skies. While guests watch the celestial activity, Indigenous guides share legends and stories of the Dene Nation.

Storyteller: Northstar Adventures founder Joe Bailey is an ambassador and advocate for the region.

➢ Build an igloo: Under new ownership, Blatchford Lake Lodge and Wilderness Resort will see significant renovations this year, including ensuites in all the cabins. The lodge's immersive activities include a million-dollar view of the northern lights from the rooftop hot tub, skating on a frozen lake, and tasting maple syrup served on fresh snow. From mid-February to mid-March, guests can try their hand at building a traditional Inuit igloo.

➢ Winter fest: Snowking Winter Festival (late March) beckons with a winter wonderland on Yellowknife Bay. Here, the Snowking and his helpers brave –30°C weather to build a castle made entirely of snow and ice, over the course of two months. The Snowcastle hosts children's plays, arts exhibits, musical performances, a film festival, dance clubs and more.

YUKON
It's ideally situated under the auroral oval, with minimal light pollution offering a striking canvas for the northern lights. Here, aurora viewing pairs seamlessly with outdoor adventure, Indigenous storytelling, or simply stargazing from unique accommodations.

Here's where to go:
➢ Northern lights in comfort: Chase the auroras with Epic North Tour Experiences in Whitehorse, whose four-hour northern lights viewing tour is hosted at the company's heated Aurora Basecamp. Guests sip hot chocolate and roast marshmallows over a campfire as they wait for the lights to make their appearance; guides also share tips on aurora photography.

➢ Lights and lore: Located at the edge of Christmas Lake near Kluane National Park, Shakat Tun Adventures' Shakat Tun Wilderness Camp invites visitors to experience Southern Tutchone culture and see the northern lights in the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

Storyteller: Owner James Allen, a former First Nation chief, not only takes visitors to the best places to see the northern lights, he also regales them with Southern Tutchone legends.

➢ Side of spa: Pair a muscle-melting massage with a nighttime spectacle at Northern Lights Resort and Spa. The family-run lodge near Whitehorse welcomes visitors into glass-fronted chalets that showcase magical outdoor landscape via floor-to-ceiling windows, and cozy log cabins made with locally grown timber. The spa experience includes Finnish and infrared saunas, a gym, signature massages, and an outdoor jacuzzi where guests can soak as they scan the skies for the aurora borealis.

NUNAVUT
The winter months usher in some of the most frigid conditions travellers will ever experience. Amid the lows of –35°C – and windchill that can drop this to –80°C – is crystal-clear visibility in the night sky, dramatically enhancing the appearance of the northern lights. Paired with activities such as dogsledding, snowmobiling and igloo building, winter in Nunavut truly embodies the spirit of northern Canada. Here's what to do:

➢ Three-day tour: Arctic Kingdom's three-day northern lights tour combines aurora viewing with an exploration of Iqaluit's must-see attractions, including the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, the original Hudson's Bay Company Trading Post and more. The itinerary also includes an aurora photography workshop.

➢ Epic journey, with dogs: Kool Runnings offers a quintessential northern adventure – dogsledding – with a team of enthusiastic sled dogs taking visitors on a 1,000-kilometre journey from Iqaluit to Igloolik. The experience is offered at the tail end of winter, in March and April.

➢ Frosty brew: Order a tasting flight at Nunavut Brewing Company – the province's first brewery – and sample northern-inspired brew such as The Floe Edge lager; Aupaqtuq (“red” in Inuktitut) Irish red ale; and Frob Gold British golden ale. Pick up a case and bring it with you to your nighttime northern lights viewing.

➢ Hike and ski: Qausuittuq National Park (“place where the sun doesn't rise”) is rich with natural and cultural heritage. The High Arctic destination, managed by Inuit and Parks Canada, protects a key habitat for Peary caribou, which visitors can see on Bathurst Island. Together with herds of muskoxen, the caribou roam a striking  landscape of rolling tundra, wetlands and low-level plateaus. Experienced backcountry adventurers can hike and ski in the park. For a true north experience, set up camp and spend the night scanning the skies for the auroras.

➢ Storyteller: Chef Sheila Flaherty is a recognized leader in Inuksiutit (Inuit food and cuisine). In addition to competing on MasterChef Canada and cooking for the visiting royal family, she founded Sijjakkut, an organization that promotes Inuit culture through tasting menus. Flaherty uses fresh ingredients like tuktuviniq (caribou), Ammuumajuq (arctic surf clams) and Iqaluk (arctic c-har) – wild foods used by Inuit communities to feed each other and help their cultures thrive.

Upcoming

Winter 2024-2025
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler
(February 8–16, 2025) The Invictus Games – founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex to help wounded, injured and sick service personnel recover and rehabilitate through sport – are coming to Canada again (Toronto hosted in 2017.) Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler will be the first Invictus Games to incorporate winter adaptive sports. Participants and spectators can look forward to an exciting roster of alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic
skiing and biathlon, skeleton, and wheelchair curling, in addition to the core Invictus Games sports of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball. Competitions will take place at venues across Vancouver and Whistler, BC, including the Vancouver Convention Centre, Hillcrest Centre, Rogers Arena, UBC Aquatics Centre, Whistler Olympic Park, Whistler Sliding Centre, and Whistler Blackcomb.

Indigenous partnership: Unique to Canada, the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler have involved Indigenous Peoples from the beginning. With competitions and events taking place on the traditional territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, each Nation contributed to the initial bid and has representation on the Games' Board of Directors. Also, four local
Indigenous artists designed a new visual identity for the Games, representing the first time the four host First Nations have united to create a piece of art for a major sporting event. The final designs are rooted in cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest's Salish people, incorporating symbolic elements such as oval shapes, crescents, and trigons.

Storytellers: Indigenous members of the Board of Directors, including Chief Dean Nelson of Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), yəχʷyaχʷələq; Chief Wayne Sparrow of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam); Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, spokesperson and general councillor of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish); and Chief Jen Thomas of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

The Indigenous artists who designed the Games' visual identity are Levi Nelson of Lil'wat Nation, Mack Paul of Musqueam Nation, Ray Natraoro of Squamish Nation, and Olivia George of Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

Winter is for everybody: With its culture of inclusivity, tolerance, and accessibility, Canada has long been a leader in adaptive skiing and inclusion in winter sports. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people or about 16% of the global population lives with a significant disability. “More people are waking up to the abilities everybody has, it's not you have a disability, you can't do this,” says two-time Canadian Paralympian Tony Walby. “It is, you have a disability and you'll be able to adapt to do what you want to do.” Leading by example: Canada leads with many programs and nonprofit organizations that work to make winter sports more inclusive and accessible. These efforts include training instructors, recruiting volunteers and developing adaptive sports programs. Vancouver-based Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CAD) works to give people living with disabilities the opportunity to eliminate barriers that have prevented them from experiencing the joy and freedom of snowsports. The focus is on creating a fun and inclusive environment that embraces diversity, particularly for individuals with visual, physical, and cognitive impairments or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Almost all Canadian ski resorts offer adaptive programs, including Whistler, in BC, and Mont Tremblant, in Quebec.

Storyteller: The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) was established in 1995 by Peter M. Treacy, a disabled skier from Knowlton, Quebec. ASF became more than just a ski school for children and adults with physical disabilities. It offers adapted alpine skiing, para Nordic skiing and Nordic para skate
winter programs.

Did you know? The National Hockey League (NHL) broadcast the Stanley Cup Final Games in sign language - a first for any major sports league. 

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