WONDERS Winter
Here comes the snow! Get set to sell wintersports, festive festivals and all things winter as the snow begins to fall in Canada, says Julie Baxter
W
inters are big in Canada. An inescapable reality of snow and ice, winters
are something the locals relish and certainly prepare for well. They have helped define the country's national identity and character and are certainly packed with events and activities as well as snow and superb wintersports. The wintersports crowd is drawn to Canada for the excellent facilities and great snow-record but winter also brings some of the country's most popular festivals and events. Skiers and boarders head for the key
resorts in British Columbia, Alberta and Québec where new runs, routes and passes have been added but remember developing business from non-skiers has never been easier either as they’ll be charmed by the range of winter-themed activities and entranced by the stunning
snowy scenery. Recommend Banff, for example, for its natural hot springs, dog sledding, snow mobiling and ice-canyon walks or Ontario for tobogganing and scores of ice skating rinks as in Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, and on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. For the more adventurous, there are ice-climbing routes in Batchawana Bay and Nipigon in Northern Ontario; or snowmobiling on the longest system of groomed snowmobile trails in the world. Central Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park or Haliburton Forest also offer dog sledding adventures. Festivals, carnivals, ice-sculpting and skating events all add colour and excitement. They attract glamour and star quality too with celebrities including Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, legendary actor Peter Fonda and supermodel Christie Brinkley, for example, headed to Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort, January 12 – 15, 2012, to support the annual Waterkeeper’s Alliance. The stars compete in toboggan and snowshoe races and giant slaloms and spectators can watch or catch the stars skiing or boarding after the event. More celebs can be spotted regularly
in Whistler. British singer-songwriter, Seal, and owner of the Fat Duck, Heston Blumenthal, were there recently
8 WINTER 2012/13 • SELLING CANADA
times and properties like the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, voted the number one ski resort in North America this year, has attracted celebs such as Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise, Kurt Russell, James Gandolfini and Mel Gibson. A-listers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas often ski in Mont Tremblant, Québec, having bought a property in the Laurentians. Canada's wintersports season runs
November until May in some places. With or without celebrities, the whole season is something of a celebration. It is an excuse to party and the range of festivals provides the perfect excuse to promote the destinations. Look out for and recommend some of the following:
Alberta ICE MAGIC FESTIVAL Jan 18-27, 2013, Lake Louise This Banff National Park classic includes International Ice Carving Competition, speed carving events and activities for all ages.
www.banfflakelouise.com
JASPER IN JANUARY Jan 11-27, 2013, Jasper Held each year, events include a Family
Above: ByWard Market, Ottawa; Opposite page: Montreal International Fireworks and children's slide plus Winterlude; and below skate-racing in Quebec
CREDIT CAROLINE WEST
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