Vacation Destinations

Looking to start a series of articles about favourite places to visit in Canada. Email us YOUR favourite destination at didyouknowcanada@gmail.com or send us a link to your blog discussing the best Canadian Vacation you've had.

Quality of Living & Eco-City Rankings

Did you know Canada.. according to the 2010 Mercer Human Resource Consulting Quality of Living Survey - Vancouver is tied for 4th in the list of cities with Top Quality of Life. Ottawa comes in 14th and Toronto 16th.  This is based on many factors including safety, health, education, transportation and more.

While Calgary is the world's top in our Eco-city ranking 1st and Ottawa coming in 3rd.  This report is based on factors including water availability, water portability, air pollution and more.

Congrats Canada!

Source: mercer.com

Flood

Did you know Canada..  Now that everything is melting outside my window today I was wondering what the worst flood in Canada has been.  There are a few reports including..

- The Saguenay Flood in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec in July 1996.  It rained for 2 straight days with flood waters were so powerful they swept away a whole shopping centre.
- The Red River Flood in Manitoba in 1950 - this was prior to a flood way being built in this area and flooded most of the Red River Valley.

And the worst flood occurred during Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954.  It struck Toronto killing 81 people, destroying 20 bridges, and leaving over 2000 people homeless with 285 millimetres of rain in Toronto region in just 48 hours.  Visit http://www.hurricanehazel.ca/ for more information on this tragedy.

Source: CBC Archives, HurricaneHazel.ca, Environment Canada, Wikipedia

Cricket's World Cup

Did you know Canada.. Cricket's World Cup is happening now in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka and there's a Canadian team involved.  We're Associate Members and have been since 1968 - The World Cup runs from Feb 19 - Apr 2.  One of our men - Nitish Kumar - is the youngest player at the World Cup at 16.  Canada lost to Zimbabwe Feb 28 and has 4 more group matches to go against Pakistan, Kenya, Australia and New Zealand - Australia is the defending champion.  Our next game is against Pakistan March 3rd.

Our team has had a struggle with sponsorship and uniforms this year.  Let's hope they have a great next match!

Source: Wikipedia, Canadian Cricket, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Canadians at the Oscars

Did you know Canada.. there are a few Canadians who can bring home an Oscar tonight..

• Makeup artist Adrien Morot for Barney's Version
• Sound designer Craig Berkey for True Grit
• DeBlois - co-wrote and co-directed How to Train Your Dragon
• Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve for Incendies - nominated for best foreign-language film

Some Canadian Oscar winners in our past include..

• James Cameron
• Paul Haggis
• Anna Paquin
• Jason Reitman
• Christopher Plummer

Look forward to seeing some Canadian's bring home an Oscar tonight!  Let us know if you're watching!

2011 BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships

Did you know Canada.. today is the final day in the 2011 BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships - being hosting in Brampton, ON at the Powerade Centre for the second straight year. The event runs February 24-26, 2011.

There are over 900 synchronized skaters and over 1,100 people including coaches and team staff.

In today's conclusion the Canadian titles will be given out in intermediate, junior and senior.

Check out Skate Canada for more information and results.

Water, Water Everywhere

Did you know Canada.. Canada has more lakes than any other country, containing much of the world's fresh water, including fresh-water glaciers. Unfortunately about 60% of Canada's fresh water drains to the north, while 85% of the population lives within 300 kilometres of the Canada-United States border.

The largest lake in Canada is Lake Huron (based on Canadian portion) and our longest river is the MacKenzie. The largest fresh water lake in the world is Lake Superior which we share with the US.

Source: Environment Canada, World Atlas

Canada Music Week

Did you know Canada.. we're coming up on Canada Music Week - March 9-13.  Canada Music Week began in 1981 and is now the single longest running multi-day Canadian music and media event. There will be more than 800 showcasing bands at 60 live music venues in downtown Toronto over the course of the 5 nights.

Canada Music Week also showcases "The Indies" - the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards. The Indies takes place Sat. March 12 in the Canadian Ballroom in the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto. There are many awards and nominations, for Album of the Year the nominees are..

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Caribou – Swim
The New Pornographers – Together
The Sadies – Darker Circles
Tokyo Police Club – Champ

Look forward to this and many other events as a part of Canada Music Week!

Source: CMW, Wikipedia

A licence to Canoe?

Did you know Canada.. there's some controversy going on right now in the boating community because they are saying Transport Canada changed rules and requirements that will now demand forms filled out and fees paid for excursion groups - even those on canoe and kayaks. Now Transport Canada says there have been no new rule changes but there has been a requirement to have non-pleasure vessels registered since July 2007! These would be the boats/canoes/kayaks that are leading a group.

Read more in the Star article and let me know how you read the rules?

Source: TheStar, TheRecord

Fly Fishing

Did you know Canada.. Fly Fishing is a huge sport in Canada.  There is a Canadian Fly Fishing Championships that will be held this year on October 17-22, 2011 - the 9th year for this competition.  It will be held near Montebello, PQ at Fairmont Kenauk. I've read so many articles about how once you get into Fly Fishing you're an addict and I'm sure this long, white winter has been killing the dedicated Fly Fisher.

Labrador is listed as the top location in the world for fly fishing with largely clear, untouched bodies of water,  sparse population and unequivocal beauty - you can easily see why this would be the top spot.

And check this out, Heli Fishing at Nimmo Bay in BC - for the top adventurer this would be fantastic.

Source: FlyFishingCanada, Canada On The Fly, Canada Fishing