Our 2012 visit to Toronto was mainly to see Bruce Springsteen in concert, and my husband and I managed to squeeze in some date time that weekend. Little did we know that seeing “The Boss” would go beyond the typical arms-length encounter between the performer-on-stage and his audience, but something that was much, much closer. And it was totally unplanned...and unexpected. My husband is a huge fan of “The Boss.” When he heard that Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band were

Since moving to Ottawa, we’ve only been to Toronto four or five times, which is not a lot. I guess it’s because we have always preferred going to Montreal. It’s closer and more accessible to us, and my husband’s family lives there. It has become our second home here in the East Coast. And we’ve never really had any compelling reason to drive five hours to Toronto each way. However, the last two times that we visited were quite memorable. The first one involved a first date of

Toronto was the very first city I visited in Canada, even before I lived in Vancouver. I went to Toronto in the summer of my second-to-the-last year in university. That time, I was part of a theatre group that got invited by our North American alumni association to perform in four cities in the U.S. and Canada East Coast – New York, Washington D.C., Detroit, and Toronto. I liked Toronto right away. It is a bustling city with soaring skyscrapers and a dynamic metropolis life.

Located on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean, Halifax, Nova Scotia’s provincial capital, is defined by its maritime geography. We were welcomed by a bustling waterfront as we arrived. We were made aware of the fact that this is the same waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants from the Old World, many, many years ago. In modern times, it has become a central hub for locals and visitors, always buzzing with energy that is fed by a working por

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a National Historic Site of Canada and is the largest historical reconstruction in North America. Surrounded by Cape Breton’s rocky shoreline, the site brings you back to French colonial life between 1713 and 1758. Our visit provided us with the unique opportunity to experience life during the French occupation of Canada. I was very excited about this excursion because it was like stepping back in time. After a brief overview of the site, we tour

Sydney is known as the ocean gateway to Cape Breton Island, which lies at the eastern end of the province of Nova Scotia. Cape Breton is famous for its breathtaking coastal scenery, vibrant Celtic music, Gaelic culture, rich Mi'kmaq heritage, fresh seafood, and historical sites. As the primary entry point for visitors wishing to explore this island, Sydney has become Cape Breton’s largest urban centre and busiest harbour town. Standing strategically on the waterfront, propped

We had a day to explore the capital of Canada’s smallest and most charming province, Prince Edward Island (PEI). Famous for its red earth, white beaches, lighthouses, and fertile farmland, I was still surprised by the palette of autumn colours that welcomed us as we docked at Charlottetown. The thick foliage bursting with colours, from the fieriest reds to the brightest yellows, contrasted with the bright blue skies and rust-toned soil. It was like walking into a living paint

Our next destination was Saguenay National Park, situated along the east end of the St. Lawrence River and encompasses the regions of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Charlevoix, Côte-Nord, and Bas-Saint-Laurent. I must admit I had never heard of this place prior to the cruise. It was (and still is) not well-known and not well-explored, which made it less touristy, but it is special. The 146-mile-long Saguenay Fjord is a glacier-cut fjord and the only one in North America that is inh

Since it was my first time in Quebec City, we chose a shore excursion that focused on Old Québec, the historic city within the fortified walls, as opposed to other day tours that took would take you to the outskirts of the Old Town. When we docked at 7:00 am that day, the first thing I noticed was the imposing silhouette of the Chateau Frontenac, the most recognizable landmark of this city. After a hearty and relaxing brunch, we disembarked to join the tour that would introdu

The next morning, we packed our bags, took our eggs and some muffins and cookies along, and put our luggage and lunch containers in the car. The first order of the day was our big breakfast at the Wickaninnish Inn as planned. We saw the same friendly server, and he once more gave us a nice table by the window. All three of us ordered Eggs Benedict again, but we switched it around. I tried the shaved ham and cheddar this time. The next stop was our other B&B where we were to s

An easy early afternoon hike meant a short and flat trail, literally a “walk in the park.” And it’s a bonus if it is also beautiful. Thus, my housemate took us to Shorepine Bog Trail, a less-than-one-kilometre hiking loop that consists entirely of boardwalks. It sounded perfect. The trail is a simple loop on a rickety boardwalk that offers a unique, open-landscape contrast to the nearby dense rainforests. The main attraction is the bog itself, which is a unique ecosystem beca

After our hearty breakfast, we decided to visit Tofino’s downtown area, which was so small, that it’s more like a village core. We heard that despite the influx of tourists, the local folks prefer to leave the town as is, without the invasion of franchised establishments. I am glad they stood on their ground against commercialism. The town has retained its village charm and it actively promotes local shops and Indigenous artists, since it has an vibrant artisan community with

We reached Tofino a little after lunch. Our bed-and-breakfast house was a cozy Cape Cod-style house close to the beach. The owners did not normally stay there, and we were the only guests, so we had the entire house to ourselves. My housemate and her friend shared one big bedroom with two double-beds and I had the smaller bedroom with a double-bed. As soon as we unpacked and got settled, we ate cold-cut sandwiches for lunch then wasted no time. The beaches were waiting. We fi

During my fledgling years as a new immigrant in Vancouver, the first step that I took towards independence was moving out of my aunt’s house and partially trying it out on my own by living with room mates. I had lived in three different apartments with different sets of people, most of whom have become my good friends. On my last year at the last apartment where I stayed at before eventually moving to my own place (a one-bedroom condominium unit that I purchased in an up-and-

The title, “Chief” inspires awe. It denotes status or leadership. In North America, leaders of Indigenous peoples carry the title of “Chief.” When I was a child, the image of a “Chief” in my mind was that of a tall, red-skinned man, dressed in full regalia – an elaborate headdress with eagle feathers or maybe buffalo horns, a buckskin shirt decorated with geometric patterns, a vest with elaborate beadwork, or perhaps, a bone breastplate or a feather bundle, bear claw necklace