Canada is beautiful.

It serves as a natural attraction for people like us.

I started this thread because there is SO MUCH that I'd like to learn about Canada ...

LW.

It's a good place to hide after you burn your draft card.

I wish they'd take back Celine Dion.

Have you ever been there ?

I'm wondering if there might be any Canadian citizens who can share their stories and tell us what it's like to be living up there in the beautiful northern country. I've heard that it's pretty warm and temperate in the southern part of British Columbia. Is there any good fresh water fishing over there ? I'd love to visit Quebec Province, but I've heard that the weather is super-duper cold up there.

LW.

I am sure there is great freshwater fishing in Canada.
Most rivers and lakes are probably cold enough to support trout.
There are lots of lakes including the Great Lakes.

Nah... we don't want Celine Dion back... vegas can keep her!!!!

I'm from the east coast (New Brunswick), and trout fishing is pretty good - in fact my dad's side of the family is from a small settlement called Trout Brook. I know quite a bit about the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island)... The rest of Canada, have a little knowledge, but i'm sure there's guys here that are from those areas that are more knowlegable.

Ask me any questions...

Kris

Hi all, as a Canadian, I'll try to help out

It's a huge country, so similar to the US, different regions vary wildly. Blanket statements don't really sum it up.

Firstly, please keep Celine

My part of Canada is similar to New York state...can be cold in the winter, and hot and muggy in the summer. South BC is fairly warm by our standards year round (freezing/snow is rare).

There is great fishing to be had, usually better as you go further North. Trout, bass, pickerel, pike, and muskie can be found here in the central/east, and salmon are also around in BC (and way north Quebec and Labrador). I wouldn't say most lakes are cold enough for trout, and with temperatures rising the numbers of lakes that can are dropping.

Most of our population is clustered close to the border with the US, as most industry and commerce actually runs north-south rather than between provinces. We have the population of California spread across a landmass bigger than the US, so there are large tracts of uninhabited land, owned by the "Crown" (government, as a commonwealth country the term is a throwback to British colony days). We're generally free to hunt/fish/camp on these lands with appropriate permits and licenses, but getting to the farflung places can be tough.

Ask away!

You can keep Celine Dion but I keep Nelly Furtado!

We took a Summer trip to the Whistler Mountain area near Vancover. We went on 4-wheel ATV riding on old logging roads, and mountain biking down ski runs. It was very fun and the scenery is breathtaking.

We also took a trip to the other coast to Saint John for the Canadian German Shepherd Championship in 2004. I have never seen such thick fog in my life. Interesting place to visit. The weather kind of reminded me of a Stephen King novel. We got a chance to hang out and party with the locals after the show. Canadians know how to throw a party. We had a great time.

Two thumbs up for Canada.

Okay, Canadians, can you answer this?

I understand that people from different places have different customs and habits. Tipping, for one. Some places do, some don't. But what about the Canadian double-standard?

When my sister and I worked in Las Vegas, we got a lot of Canadians and most of them didn't tip, just very, very few. But when my sister vacationed in BC (Victoria), everyone expected tips, and got really rude when Julie said, "Since you don't tip in my country, I won't tip in yours".

This has been a puzzlement for some time. Explanations welcome.

Sue

As a good will gesture, we accept to help you both, by welcoming Celine.
But, only for a short duration tour (already planned, I saw posters this morning).
Enough is enough....

The same reasoning for that, is the same reasoning why it happens in reverse too. You can't lump all of Canada in to that group, just like I can't lump all of USA in to that group.

People are people... One person doesn't reflect all of one country.

Just like when I use to work in the mid west, some parts of Indiana would not tip (I never worked in service industry, but boss at the time tried to explain it). They expected no tips in return where ever they went. Don't know if it was a 'town' thing or not.

Remember, Canada has 6 time time zones and 80%+ of our populate exisits along the US/Can boarder (probably closer to 70-75% now, but a stat is a stat). And we only have about 32 million people give or take.

I can go on and on, but if you where you are in the USA and someone from another state won't tip you, do you still get upset?

British Columbia is supposed to heavily forested. It is said to have millions of hectares of forest land; but it sure doesn't give the appearance of being heavily forested when you look at it on the map. The provincial parks, such as Garibaldi, are all marked in green; those places really STAND OUT and they are easy enough to spot on the map, but I'm wondering what it's like in those areas of B.C. that aren't designated as provincial parks or as cities. It seems to be a fairly desolate and sparsely populated region. I can hardly see any roads, but I don't see any forests there, or maybe I just need to bone up on my map reading skills.

We drove all over BC and the Yukon this time last year, on our way to and from Alaska. We found the people to be super friendly, the country beautiful (jillions and jillions of trees, unfortunately acre apon acre is being killed by the bark beetle. Good news is that they are logging off the dead trees and replanting), lots of critters to see (at least in BC, all we saw in the Yukon was one lousy squirrel). Lots of history to see (Barkerville in BC is not to be missed, and of course Dawson City in the Yukon). One big thing that we learned is that BC stands for Bring Cash. Everything is expensive there! Last year a gallon of regular gas was over $5.00!!! And booze, for those who like it, was just as bad. A 1.75 liter jug of no-name vodka, that I could get in CA for $9.00, was a whopping $49 in BC. So go on the wagon, but go, it is a great place.

ps: I would love to keep Terri Clark...

All of Canada is expensive, its all about taxes. If you think BC is expensive, go East. I think gas is around $1.20 a litre (might be more now - dad heard it being 1.50 at one stage - YIKES) cdn. Smokes, booze, etc... all the fun stuff is heavly taxed!!!

Not to mention the wages are crap, so if you make say 100k (an example) a year, your total tax that the gov't takes (depending on province) but will be in the 48.2% (last time i lived in Canada).

Just a few years ago, the highest tax bracket in Canada was when your salary was 60k plus... Since then, they changed the rules to be 100k plus. May sound like a lot, but your actually better off making less money then being in the high tax bracket.

Then add on all the taxes one has to pay, in the east, its HST (provincal sales tax plus GST), and when I lived there it was tax on tax that came out to be like 15.2-15.8% (8% pst, total bill, then charge 7% gst that sum).

Canada is all about the taxes.

Its why i now live in a tax free island far away from any snow and cold!!!

Originally posted by 'NightHiker" :

"I use to live between Seattle & BC and have made frequent trips there."

Would you say that it's a big hassle when you cross the border into British Columbia and vice versa ?

LW.

Do they accept US dollars over there ?

LW.

Would you say that it was a big hassle when you crossed over the border into B.C. and vice versa ?

LW.

BCH;

Yes they accept US currency there (and gladly) just expect your change to be in Canadian.

Getting in and out of Canada is fairly simple, just have your US passport handy along with a drivers license and similar identification for all of your party. By no means take any firearms into Canada; they really frown on that sort of thing. Canadian Customs folks are usually super nice, very efficient, and helpful to those who are open and honest about their business in Canada.

We traveled by ferry from Washington to Victoria BC last year and it was a great experience. As was our travel from Haines Alaska to White Horse and back to Skagway. Extremely nice folks all around, and some terrific eating as well.

BC and the Yukon are beautiful as are the Rockies in Alberta.

I use to cross the detroit/windsor tunnel daily for a few years.

Boy do I have some stories!!!!

Ohhh, some border towns take US cash and give you back US cash... Places like Windsor, etc.

Forgot to mention that in my last post.

Are you allowed to take a fixed blade bowie knife into Canada ?

LW.

Not sure... I would imagine its not an issue if going hunting. You can take a rifle into Canada so long as you do the paperwork before hand. A simple search on the their site http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/visitors-e.html should give you the necessary info.

I EDC a pocket knife for years while crossing the border daily... A couple times had to empty pockets on both sides and neither cared about the pocket knife. Its a CRKT Kiss with (i think) 2.25" blade.

For the first 6 months of working in detroit, i was keeping one of those asp batons in the door pocket on the driver side. US customs asked about it, I explained where I worked and where the parking lot is... He joked and asked where's my shotgun!!! LOL!!! (note: i'm sure its illegal to bring one of those into michigan, but he was cool about it). Since then, i always carry a 6d mag light up in the front of car, under passenger seat. Less questions.

If you want an adventure... Go to Newfoundland. Big rock in the Atlantic ocean. Beautiful senery, ice burgs in the harbours during summer, and every town has their own accent! I'm not talking a slight difference, i'm talking like a whole new accent! If you see all the villages there, we are talking hundreds of different accents!!!

But you'll never find nicer people. If you get into the rural places, strangers will ask you to come in for a beer. If there is none in the house, they'll run to the store while your waiting. Every weekend is like thanksgiving but with double or even triple the food, and a big party afterwards.

Its it own world!

"...i now live in a tax free island far away from any snow and cold!!!..."

You lucky dog you!!!

Nope, best thing to do is go into a bank near the border on the US side and trade your dollars for loonies, toonies, and bills. And to keep things as simple as possible, use your credit card as much as you can...

ODB,

It took lots of effort to get where I am now, and no way am I moving back to North America unless I have to.

Nice small caribbean island, if it goes below 70f in the winter I pull out my jacket. That to me is cold!

Yes, spoiled i am... but to be able to go sailing anytime, or go for a scuba dive during a lunch break, its a good life.

The tax free part isn't really true. There's no income tax or country/state/provical tax... but there is duty on the stuff that comes in. That can't be avoid, but still definitly worth it. Cost of living is high and no income tax... it works out to be the same in the end.

I agree with the Credit Card. Some of the best interest rates you can get are thru Credit Cards.

Local currency is always good, but your golden with plastic!

We took a shotgun with us, not a bit of a problem. Downloaded the forms in advance, took them into the border crossing office, they went out to inspect the weapon (has to be in a locked container, separate from the ammo), took $25 from us, and we were on our way. They did make us throw a couple of apples we had away...

Have you checked out the cemetary @ The Caymans yet? The cemetary tells it's own story!!

Thats all I thought that you needed for rifles.

As for handguns, thats a different story.

Cemetary? As in cemetary beach? I'm lost here...

I repeat, you lucky dog you!!!

Handguns are a no-no. They catch you trying to sneak one in, they keep the gun, a lot of your money, and possibly your vehicle to boot!!!

OBG,

Its not luck, just found me and I came running!

Kris

Tipping as a habit is a learned societal norm. We generally tip a smaller amount than Americans, period. While the general amount for Canadians to tip is 10%, I usually tip 15-20%. Since the min. wage for most jurisdictions hovers around around $8/hr here and has always been higher than in the US, we generally consider it less necessary to tip. Also we don't tip to nearly as many types of service persons as you might down south. I might tip the pizza guy a buck but usually it's the restaurant staff that reserve my tips for.

But wait let me put in a plug FOR Canada... my brother owns a fishing lodge north of Yellowknife (south of the Arctic circle). He would love to invite y'all up to spend a few days with him enjoying the sights and serve up helpings of grayling, trout and others. (Psst, every year he gets a group of female soccer players who like to lounge around in the hot tub all evening - can't tell which week they book, Gord thinks he might get too many requests!)

http://yellowdoglodge.ca/

Hey BigCityHillbilly...
you may get a better sense of the geography by checking Google and various web sites of some of the communities. If you think trees, also think arid/dry regions. The Okanogan is very dry and warm, kinda like some parts of western Washington or California. The valley grows a lot of fruit and wine.

Then again, also think cool rainforest or extreme mountains or snow filled resorts.... there is so much to offer in any of the locales and that's just BC.

The last couple of years I've been doing road trips and I dipped south into Americaland for a change of scenery. I covered a good portion of the terrain from Vancouver Island to Toronto and Washington to Michigan. Amazing world we live in is all I can say.

Can you hear me drooling???

One thing to be carefull of is what Canada considers a felony. DUI's are the most common and will deny you access.

And the more Northern and Western you go!, -the Better! (Taking Nothing away from the Greatnesses of Ungava, Labrador, and Most of Quebec!, etc, etc!).

And you just look at a Map of Canada's Northernmost! All those Many, Massive Islands of Canada's Northwest Territories! Here our Canadian Friends have Honored us / the U.S., -with the Naming of a Mountain Range, -the "United States Range"!

(I guess we've Returned the Honor, -with our Naming of the Canadian River!).

Some later Thotts in an Edit, -

Similarly Named, -You've there got things like "Resolute" and "Alert"! Moving on more Worldwide in that Same Spirit!, -I just Love Names like Capes Fear and Dissappointment! And in the much more Atypical Cold South!, -of Places like Latin America, -You've got Names such as Puerto Montt and Puerto Williams, Rawson, and Cape Horn and the Drake Passage! Not exactly Spanish Sounding! -There in the Spanish Speaking World! But then again, -These were the Explorers who made such Names! The Spirit and Genesis of such Great Names, -is Readily Apparrent and Obvious! Capes Fear and Dissappointment, -Really *was* Cape Fear and Dissappointment!, -Back in their Day! Such Spirit Lives On! In such remaining, present day Names of Today!

May such Spirit Always EVER Live On in us! Today as well!

Gosh!, -Wouldn't it be So Neat!, -to Live Self Sufficiently and Long!, -on a Sizeable Enuff Boat! (Which includes a large Stockpile of Food and Gear, -in addition to what Fish and other Sealife you Catch). Out there on the High Seas! International Waters Totally! Where you *Don't* have to Worry about Govt, Taxation, Jobs, Crime, War, Economic Pinches and Downturns!,...-Nothing! -Well, -Nothing of those sorts anyway! Pirates, Storms, and such, -would certainly be among the Concerns. (And maybe the Giant Squid and other Sea Monsters!-Laugh and Smile Emoticons, -I couldn't get them to Take!).And you can Always have a Select Few People and Pets there for Company!....I Dream On! But its Sure a Worthwhile One to have! The 7 Seas are your Country! *No* Country is your Country! "We the People" Rings Totally True! In that YOU *are* Your Own Govt! Economy, Government, and All!....!

Oh talk about how many Freshwater Lakes Canada has! Just look at any Map! Its Minnesota 1,000 Times Over! Probably many more than a Million!

And Places like their Lakes Winnepeg and Nipigon, -as well as Geat Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake!, -could be said to be "Additional Great Lakes", -of their own!

And with Great Rivers such as the Athabasca, Peace, Nelson, Frasier, and MacKenzie, -to name but a Few!, -Trout and such are as Common as Critters you'd Uncover under a Moist Rock!

To many People, -This is only such Common Knowledge! But its Always Good to Spread the Word! (Unless Too Many then come!). Canada is as much an Outdoors and Outdoorsman Country, -as France say is a Wine Connoisseur's one! (France is a Woman, -Canada is a Man! And I Mean that as a Compliment to Both!).

Oh, -I Like and Love Celine Dion and her Music too!