MANITOBA "LAND OF 100,000 LAKES"

BY CLAY LARROY 

Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

MANITOBA

Visitors to Manitoba, one of Canada's best kept secrets, will find huge skies, vast expanses of wilderness, thousands of lakes, icebergs, prairies, deserts and plenty of wildlife. In fact, everything about Manitoba screams majesty, beauty and nature at her best. Best of all, hardly anyone else will be there to spoil the views.

In Manitoba, utter peace and quiet is apparent as you amble around a landscape that is carved up into sprawling rivers, desert dunes and forest. You can travel from sub-Arctic coastline to fields that bloom with a startling patchwork of red, yellow and purple. When the sun sets into the flat, open land, the sky turns similar, sumptuous colors.

This abundance of wilderness is a haven for fauna. Manitoba is home to hundreds of species of birds that flock to the province's 100,000 lakes and marshes. Additionally, you can expect to see wolves, bears, elk, moose, beavers, polar bears or whales, depending on your location in the province.

Manitoba is a huge province with comparably few residents but the people that do live there are renowned for their friendly, hospitable natures and diversity. Winnipeg is the center of the cultural festival Folklarama, a celebration of Canada's ethnic communities. Manitobans are a vibrant international mix, and include Icelandic, Japanese and Italian.

Best Time To Visit

A winter visit to Manitoba will give you a true Arctic winter experience complete with doses of icy winds, driving snow storms and cool, calm starry nights (not to mention periodic displays of the northern lights). July or August is the ideal time to visit for warm, sunny days and pleasantly cool nights. 

The scenery and tourist opportunities are at their best in the summer months. This is also the best time for walking, canoeing, fishing or even hunting in the vast tracts of Manitoba wilderness. Festival season is in full swing through the summer with almost endless quirky and more mainstream events, from the Boissevain Turtle Derby, the Morris Stampede and the Morden Corn and Apple festival to the Winnipeg Fringe and Folk festivals.

REFERENCE SITES:  http://www.travelresearchonline.com

Back in the late 1970's, when I was fifteen years old, I spent every penny 

I then had in the bank to fly across the continent in a 747 jet to Brandon, Manitoba, 

deep in the Canadian prairies, to witness a total eclipse of the sun. - 

 Douglas Coupland

Live life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

NUNAVUT, "OUR LAND, OUR STRENGTH"

BY CLAY LARROY

The purposes of traveling are different for different people. There are some people who travel for the sake of pleasure. The people that are heavily burdened either at their domestic front or at their offices move too far off places for relieving their worries and anxieties. The poets and writers make a trip to distant places for collection of facts for their writings. Businessmen also visit various places to enquire as to whether there are scopes for expansion of their business. Travelling provides the benefit of sightseeing and gives pleasure to the visitor. In addition, it gives a scope to an individual to have firsthand knowledge of variegated people inhabiting the world. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

A Polar Holiday - Exploring the Wildlife of Baffin Island

By Marissa Ellis-Snow  

  

In the far north of Canada, in the newest and largest part of the country, Nunavut is one of the most sparsely populated areas of the world and is inhabited only by a spread of around 32,000 Inuit people. A polar holiday to the region will often focus on Baffin Island, which is the country's largest, and the fifth largest in the world.

The capital is Iqaluit and the whole island is home to about 11,000 inhabitants. Take time to explore the capital before heading out on guided treks to see the stunning wildlife off the coast. The island is renowned for its wildlife, both in the waters surrounding it and on the coast. Inuit guides can take you out along the coast on snowmobiles and komatik, or Inuit sleds, to observe the myriad sea life and birdlife that call Baffin Island home.

Sea life off the coast of Baffin Island

As you head out of the town of Iqaluit on your polar holiday and move along the coastal region, keep a look out for the Narwhal. The Narwhal is a distinctive, toothed arctic whale that is known for its pointed tusk, which is actually an elongated left canine tooth. The whales are born dark and lighten with age and a male Narwhal can weigh up to 1,600 kilograms and have tusks up to three metres long. The females are slightly smaller and they have shorter, straighter tusks. If you see a Narwhal on your polar holiday, you can consider yourself extremely fortunate; these creatures are particularly sensitive to changes in climate and are being driven further north. As well, while on the coast, look for the white gleam of the Beluga Whale, a relative of the Narwhal, that lives in the cold arctic waters and is known for its distinctive high-pitched chatter. You may also see the large Bowhead Whale, which is second in size only to the Blue Whale [although the Fin Whale is the second longest]. The Bowhead Whale lives its entire life in the arctic, without travelling for breeding, and it has one of the longest life expectancies of any mammal, sometimes reaching up to 200 years. The Bowhead Whale also has the largest mouth of any animal on Earth.

Coastal Birds

As you veer away from the waters of Baffin Island, there is still plenty of birdlife to see on your polar holiday. Around the region you may possibly spot the Ivory Gull, which is a small, white gull that lives and breeds on the arctic coasts and cliffs. Larger than the Ivory Gull is the Glaucous Gull, which is pale grey and white with a yellow bill. These birds are extremely large and powerful and grow almost as big as the largest of the gull species. You may also have the opportunity to see the King Eider, which is a sea duck that lives and breeds along the arctic coast. The male King Eider Ducks are unmistakable with their dramatic black bodies, white chests and multicolored heads.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for a polar holiday, Naturetrek specializes in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to a polar holiday and other spectacular regions on Earth.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marissa_Ellis-Snow/1255710

The country I most admire is Canada, the one I've served my whole life. 

Erin O'Toole

 

Travel  and create wonderful memories for your family!

NUNAVUT, "OUR LAND, OUR STRENGTH"

BY Clay Larroy

In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable information about the wonderful vacation destinations in Canada. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 The article below offers a captivating perception on Nunavut.

A Trip To Iqaluit In Nunavut, A Canadian Arctic City

by Clint Leung

In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North airlines. The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air.

Only the last half of the jets was allocated for passengers as the entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian Arctic Inuit communities pretty well have to have everything shipped up there by plane or by boat during the summers since there are no roads connecting to the rest of Canada or even between each Nunavut community. The Arctic landscape from the air was desolate, hilly and barren. As the plane got closer to Iqaluit, the airport's small terminal building stood out with its bright yellow color. The airport itself is within walking distance to the rest of the town. There are taxis that charge a flat rate of $5 per trip anywhere in Iqaluit. Interestingly enough, these taxis also pick up and drop off other passengers along the way so shared rides with others are common here. There are several hotels in Iqaluit and rooms are generally clean, comfortable but quite basic. Accommodations and dining up north in Nunavut are both expensive. All food items with the exception of local Inuit fare must be flown up from the Canadian south. A carton of milk will cost about $10 in Iqaluit. Most Inuit locals cannot afford to buy overpriced fruits, vegetables and meat from the south. Many local families still rely on Inuit hunters who bring caribou, seal and whale to the table.

There is only one high rise building in Iqaluit and it is used mainly for local Nunavut government offices. All other buildings are low rise, including the hospital. The vast majority of the residential housing is similar to cabins that are raised off the ground because of the harsh Canadian Arctic winters. Many look a bit run down with junk and disposed items piled outside. With the fact that there are no lawns or trees possible this far north, the neighborhoods are certainly not the prettiest sights around. But one Inuit art carver told me that his government subsidized rent is only $36 per month. There are some small clusters of nice homes on the outskirts of town. Some houses have husky dogs tied up outside and many have snowmobiles. In fact, the roads, most of them unpaved, are shared by cars, trucks, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and people. During the summers, Iqaluit can get quite dusty with all the vehicles turning up the dirt on the roads. As a result, Iqaluit did look a bit nicer during my first trip which was during the winter when the city was in white snow rather than brown dirt. There is new construction going on since with the creation of the Nunavut territory, Iqaluit is growing as more Inuit from other Arctic communities are migrating to the city.

One thing that was very noticeable in Iqaluit was the large numbers of children everywhere. Nunavut has a very young population with 56% under the age of 25. I saw many Inuit mothers wearing traditional Inuit parkas with large hoods in the back where their babies are carried. The Inuit youth is one of the Canadian Arctic's untapped resources and its future. They have access to satellite television and dress just like their counterparts in the south. However, at present only about 25% of high school students graduate so a big challenge for the Nunavut government is to encourage the Inuit kids to stay in school. During my second trip, there was darkness for only a few hours each day so it was very strange to be walking around town at 10 pm in the evening with daylight still present. Even at this hour, there were still quite a few young Inuit children playing outside. The locals, Inuit and non-Inuit alike were very friendly. I got the impression of a tight community perhaps because of the isolation of the Canadian Arctic. However, the local Inuit were also very open to visitors and willing to share a bit of their lives. During the daytime, I went up to a few Inuit art carvers who were working outside their houses. Each turned off their power saws when I approached them and seemed happy to talk to me. I met most of them later during the evenings when they showed me their finished works of Inuit art.

I had the opportunity to walk about 30 minutes to the outskirts of town past the airport one day. I climbed up a hilltop with a satellite dish facility overlooking an expansive valley. There was nobody else around and it was incredible how silent the area was. It was like a vacuum where I could hear only my own breathing. It was a very peaceful and even spiritual moment there. While sitting on this Arctic hilltop, I was suddenly startled at one point by a noise and it turned out to be the flapping wings of a large raven flying by. There are tours offered by local outfitters to see the northern wildlife and experience some of the Arctic tundra further out. I hope to take one of these tours on a future visit. A trip to Nunavut is not cheap since everything, including flights are so expensive. However, I will definitely return not only for more Inuit art, but also to experience more of the local Inuit culture and the Arctic land.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca, an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://ArticlesFactory.com

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. 

Jack Layton

 

Enjoy and travel to create great family memories!

NUNAVUT, "OUR LAND, OUR STRENGTH"

BY Clay Larroy

Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

The article below offers an enchanting viewpoint on Nunavut.

Commune With Nature in Nunavut on a Dog Sledding Expedition

by Philippa Westwood

Anyone seeing Nunavut's landscape (magical and otherworldly in turns) for the first time usually drops their jaw in sheer awe. The sights and sounds of Nunavut are delightfully unique. Indeed, "Nunavut" simply means "our land" in the Inuktiktut language, indicating the simple yet dignified pride of the Nunavummiut in their native land. Here is a place that can best be explored via a dog sledding expedition or snowmobile tour, because paved highways are largely nonexistent here. But the very challenge of accessing it only adds further to its charm--that's why it has become one of the most preferred destinations by those with an uncompromising taste in personal adventure.

The Dogs

A dog sledding expedition would not be called such without its most important component: the dogs. In Nunavut, sleds are typically pulled by a husky breed called the "Qimmiq", or the Canadian Inuit dog. The Qimmiq is, in fact, North America's oldest and rarest purebred domestic dog species, believed to have been first tamed by the ancient Thule people. Hence, the dogs are highly respected and sometimes revered--although that does not spare them from pulling sleds. If you're going on an expedition, keep in mind that the Qimmiq are no poodle or labrador--while faithful and tenacious, they are not exactly one you would cuddle or allow to sleep with the baby. The Qimmiq are formidable animals that can withstand even powerful blizzards and survive without eating for days, and these qualities are most valued in the context of the Nunavut's icy landscape. Knowing this dog's character can go a long way when working with them on a sled.

Watching the Springtime Coastal Action

In spring, as the sheets of ice covering the sea slowly break up, the Inuit would typically get on their dog sleds and head toward what they call the "Sinaaq"--the Inuktitut term for the edge of the floe. Why do they want to be on the floe's edge, you may ask? A floe is a flat sheet of ice floating on the sea, and during spring as the ice thaws, a floe's edge teems with wildlife. You too can follow in their footsteps to the edge of the floe. By embarking on a full-day dog sledding tour you can go to the very edge of the melting ice floes and be in the front seat of the action. Watch as countless species of birds and marine mammals feast on the feeding opportunity offered by the thawing ice. From seals, walruses and beluga whales, to an amazing diversity of birds, there is so much to see from the floe's vantage point. The fun is fully guaranteed.

The View from the Icebergs

Alternatively, as part of your dog sledding tour you can admire the spectacle of the floating icebergs--gigantic masses of floating ice formed from snowflakes that have accumulated in the past thousands of years. Every iceberg is ancient, and, thanks to nature, most of them are sculptured into wonderful forms and shapes. The coastline on the northern part of Baffin Islandis world-renowned as a must-see "iceberg gallery".

About the Author

Philippa Westwood is Marketing Manager at Windows on the Wild, a specialist of wildlife watching tours and dog sledding holidays. Destinations include Canada, Lapland and Sweden where dog sledding holidays can take you on adventurous experiences across the world.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://goarticles.com/

I used to live in Canada. It's a beautiful country with a lot of 

different kind of topographic regions.

 Sebastian Bach

Enjoy life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

NUNAVUT, "OUR LAND, OUR STRENGTH"

BY Clay Larroy

Traveling can be an important part of your life, whether for business or for pleasure. You need to do all of your research so that you don't forget to pack something important, see what the best methods of transportation are, etc. Avoid crowds and save money by visiting in the off-season. If you want to be able to enjoy your vacation without having to battle a crowd of people everywhere you go, learn when the popular months are for the location and plan your vacation for the less popular time. Be aware, while it can save you money, in some locations you may have to contend with less than ideal weather. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Things to see and do in Nunavut

Arctic animals

You can seek out musk ox or tundra swans near Cambridge Bay or take a boat trip to Coats Island in Hudson Bay to see walrus and polar bears. Nunavut's herd of 500,000 caribou is the world's largest. Many species roam the tundra in the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, which straddles the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.

Art tours

Inuit art tours offer visitors an opportunity to learn about native carving, tool-fashioning, weaving, print-making, jewelry-crafting and hat-making.

Authentic tours

Nunavut's fauna, flora, culture and history come alive on one of the territory's nature and cultural tours.

Dog sleds and igloos

You can take a trip across the frozen tundra by dog sled with an Inuit guide in Iqaluit, or bed down for a night in a bona fide igloo.

Fishing

The catch of the day includes Arctic char and lake trout. Enthusiasts should note that catch-and-release is practiced in all areas and that possession limits are based on regular and seasonal evaluation of stock.

Go with the floe

Wildlife is particularly abundant in spring (April to July) at the 'floe edge', where the land ice meets the sea. Plankton, shrimp and fish attract seals, whales and polar bears, making for excellent wildlife viewing. Bring your binoculars, as this is the time of year when migrating birds fly north by the millions. Good wildlife-spotting locations include Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay.

Hiking and rafting

Utter wilderness greets those who hike around amazing destinations such as Auyuittuq National Park's mountains, the waterfalls of Katannilik Territorial Park, wildlife-rich Quttinirpaaq National Park, or Sirmilik National Park (a haven for polar bears, walrus and migrating birds). If you have excellent white-water paddling skills, challenge yourself to the heart-stopping waters of the Coppermine River in Kugluk (Bloody Falls) Territorial Park.

Photography

Dramatic scenery and seasonal variations in light and temperature provide rewarding conditions for photography. One of the best times is during the sunlit nights (between 2000 and 0300 in spring and summer), when shadows are long and colors and textures particularly well defined.

Spring frolics

Not surprisingly, in a land where winters are long and harsh, spring is a traditional time for celebration. Cheer on snowmobile and dog sled racers, or join in a community supper, at the Taloyoak Spring Games in Taloyoak or the Toonik Tyme Festival in Iqaluit, among others.

Food and Drink in Nunavut

Known as 'country food', the cuisine of Nunavut is mostly based around subsistence living and products that come from hunting and fishing.

Regional Specialties

- Arctic char (with a taste somewhere between salmon and trout) is served in many ways - as well as sampling it stewed, baked or smoked, try it dried for a true northern experience.
- Mussels, scallops (especially from Cumberland Sound), clams, turbot (especially from the Baffin region) and Greenland shrimp.
- Musk ox and caribou.
- Local bannock (a simple unleavened bread dough cooked slowly in a frying pan, baked or boiled), which kept for weeks in an easily transportable form, was a favorite of early Arctic explorers.
- Raw whale blubber and skin, known as maktaaq or muktuk, is a highly prized local specialty - despite whaling being frowned upon internationally.

Things To Know

In group meals, elders are usually served first. Alcohol is controlled in Nunavut and in some communities is prohibited. Hotels and restaurants in Iqaluit are licensed.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Life is short and the older you get, the more you feel it. Indeed, the shorter it is. People lose their capacity to walk, run, travel, think, and experience life. I realize how important it is to use the time I have.

Viggo Mortensen

Live Life, Have Fun and Travel Often!

NUNAVUT, "OUR LAND, OUR STRENGTH"

BY Clay Larroy

The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. I enjoy researching all the sights at the location I will see once I arrive at my destination. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Nunavut is a wilderness that forms one-fifth of Canada. Polar bears dot the landscape, whales the seascape; and it is possible to do all those things that visitors may associate with the Arctic, from enjoying a dog sled to visiting an igloo to watching the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the dense darkness.

There are also less traditional but equally adventurous activities to sink your teeth into, such as mountain and rock climbing or challenging hikes across breathtaking national parks. The landscape is one of ice and snow but also spectacular flora and fauna, all the more startling and beautiful for their sparseness and their contrast to the barren scene that they have managed to wriggle out of and flourish in. Any visitor to Nunavut will most likely also flourish, in an area with plenty of indigenous history and plenty of stunning tundra, mountains and deep fjords.

Nunavut became Canada's largest and newest territory in 1999, when it was separated from the Northwest Territories. It emerged from around 20 years of negotiations by the Inuit communities that constitute about 80% of the population of this Arctic territory. Nunavut means 'our land' in the language of the Inuit people, Inuktitut, and it is a land that is both Canadian and uniquely distinct from the country's other provinces and territories.

Where to stay in Nunavut

Hotels

Most communities have accommodation facilities, hotels, hostels and/or bed & breakfast establishments open all year. Space is limited so the accommodation and facilities may be shared, and are often quite basic. There are, however, full service hotels in the larger centers that also have meeting and conference facilities. Hotels can be very expensive. Iqaluit, the capital, now has approximately 260 rooms, including hotels and bed & breakfast establishments. Nunavut Tourism publishes an annual vacation planner detailing accommodation and other tourism services in Nunavut.

Camping Caravanning

Backpacking and tent camping is a popular summer activity. Auyuittuq National Park, Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary and Katannilik Territorial Park are particularly popular with hikers.

Other

Lodges designed for outdoor activity holidays or naturalist trips can be found in some areas.
For the more adventurous travelers, staying with an Inuit family is an option. Families are very hospitable but the accommodation is not regulated. Contact Nunavut Tourism for more information.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

A lot of funny stuff happens in Canada. 

Samantha Bee

Live, Love and Travel to create memories that will last a lifetime!

SASKATCHEWAN, "LAND OF THE LIVING SKIES"

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places.  When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

REGINA, "THE QUEEN CITY"

Regina is the capital city of the province of Saskatchewan. It is in the south part of the province on highway No. 1. Regina is home of the RCMP Training Academy and the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders.

See

Museums

·        Saskatchewan Science Centre, Powerhouse Dr, off Wascana Dr. Over a hundred permanent, hands-on exhibits, live stage shows, amazing Gryo-Gym, and one of the tallest climbing walls in Canada.

·        Kramer IMAX Theatre, , located right next to the Science Centre and one of about 250 such theatres in the world. It is one of the most dynamic ways for people to experience the places, people, and principles of science and nature.

·        The Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Albert St and College Ave, . An interesting natural history museum that describes the features of the province. Also features a half-size robotic T-Rex called "Megamunch".

·        Mackenzie Art Gallery, Albert St and 23rd Ave,. Major touring exhibits, Gallery Shop and 175-seat theatre. Tours available.

·        RCMP Heritage Centre, 5907 Dewdney Ave. Through the use of permanent and temporary exhibits, multimedia technologies, and extensive programming, the Heritage Centre tells the RCMP story and educates Canadians and the world about the past, present and future of the RCMP within Canada and abroad. The RCMP Heritage Centre also boasts a Gift Shop and e-store. Tours of the RCMP Academy, Depot Division are offered daily from May-Aug.

·        Civic Museum of Regina, 1375 Broad Street has been preserving Regina's history for fifty years. It is the only museum with a mandate to collect materials related to the cultural, social, political and economic growth and development of the peoples of Regina. This is made possible through collecting, documenting, preserving and exhibiting artifacts and other heritage collections.

Parks

Regina has more parks and greenspace per capita than any major city in Canada. Wascana Centre is a huge 9.3 square kilometre (2300-acre) park that is built around the shores of Wascana Lake, a man-made lake in the heart of Regina. It is one of North America's largest urban parks, and includes several attractions, such as several walking and bicycle paths, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, an outdoor pool, a marina with boat rentals, the Saskatchewan Legislative building, and the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts.

·        Willow Island, [39]. This Island on Wascana Lake is both open to the public and available for group bookings. A pontoon boat which seats 12 passengers is used to transport people back and forth from the Island.

·        Central Park

·        Victoria Park is the park located in Regina's Market Square. It is the venue for many summer and winter events and concerts. In the centre of the park is a war memorial. A few statues dot the park, there is a playground on the South East corner. The park is well treed and has many benches. On summer afternoons expect downtown's business-people to populate the park equally with teenagers (who mostly stay on the grass). The park is on the North side Victoria Avenue between Scarth and Lorne Streets.

·        A.E. Wilson Park has the Northern entry point to the Devonian Pathway. There are many path intersections in this area, making it great for short walks. The park has the widest points in the creek on the North side of Wascana Lake. It is home to the Jack Hamilton Arena and Rick Hansen Optimist Playground.

·        Douglas Park houses the Canada Games Athletic Complex and Leibel Field.

Do

Annual Attractions

·        Downtown Ice & Fire Winter Carnival (15-18 Feb). Winter Carnival activities include snow sculptures in Victoria Park, evening lantern procession and a masquerade ball.

·        RCMP Sergeant Major's Parade (year round). A demonstration of the inspection of the troops, followed by a march through the Parade Square or the Drill Hall. The Sergeant Major's Parade occurs M-F at 12:50PM, statuatory holidays excluded. RCMP Depot Division 

·        RCMP Sunset Retreat Ceremonies (Jul-Aug). Colourful 45-minute ceremony centered around the lowering of the Canadian Flag. Features RCMP Cadet Band and Cadet Troops wearing the traditional scarlet tunic of the world-renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also in attendance uniformed members mounted on horses and carrying lances. RCMP Depot Division

·        Regina Folk Festival  (August). The Regina Folk Festival (RFF) is an annual folk music festival held in Victoria Park. Occurring the second weekend in August, the festival is a three-day annual event including evening headliner concerts and daytime workshops and performances. It is Western Canada's longest-running music festival.

·        Canadian Western Agribition  (21-26 Nov). Canada's premiere agriculture show and marketplace with over 4000 livestock on display including cattle, horses, bison, llama, sheep, and goats. Highlights: 14 breeds purebred beef cattle, Canadian Cowboys' Association Finals Rodeo, light and draft horse events, grain and forage events, agri-trade/technology and western craft trade show, stock dog trials, Agri-Ed showcase, food fair and daily entertainment.

·        Regina Farmers Market (Mar-Dec). Members of the market make, bake or grow their wares. The market offers the freshest fruit and vegetables, bison, lamb, tastiest breads, cookies, and original crafts and treats around. May to mid-Oct W 9:30AM-1PM, Sa 9AM-1PM; mid-Oct to mid-Dec, Sa 9AM-1PM.

·        The Queen City Ex  (1-6 Aug). The biggest summer fair in the province, featuring something for all ages - free stages, food, midway, exhibits and much more. Buffalo Days parade, home decor, pancake breakfast, Equifest, downtown activities.

·        Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival (10-13 Jul). Theatre lovers and performers will come from across the province and around the world for the festival running concurrent with Buffalo Days. Fringe is cutting edge entertainment bringing together performers and audiences in a fun, safe and exploratory environment.

·        Connect  - Yearly electronic music festival that can be found just outside of the Regina area.

·        Cathedral Village Arts Festival  - Annual celebration of the arts, located in Cathedral Village.

·        Mosaic  - local multicultural festival; usually runs for three days in late May or early June.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Regina

My goal is to be living back in Canada as soon as I can, 

hopefully somewhere in the Gulf Islands. 

Nicholas Lea

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!