1st March, 2021 

Making Headlines

A curated compendium of news items from across Canada 

A pledge to protect: Canada is one of 14 countries that signed a non-binding pledge to sustainably manage 100 percent of its oceans by 2025. By doing so, Canada has committed – or recommitted – to measures that include protecting 30 percent of marine waters by 2030, rebuilding fish stocks, reducing plastics in the ocean and drafting an actionable sustainability plan.

You are (almost) there: Amazon has launched an immersive, moment-in-time portal called Amazon Explore that enables customers to book virtual experiences led by seasoned experts across the globe (currently in beta to US consumers). From the comfort of their computers, users can indulge in real-time excursions around the world, from wine tasting in Argentina, to coffee tasting in Costa Rica. Twelve adventures are available in Canada, including a virtual walking tour of historic Upper Town in Old Quebec City; a livestream tour of Vancouver, BC's artisan hub Granville Island; and a virtual maple syrup cooking experience in Montreal.

Climate conscious: Prince Edward Island's ambitions to become the first province in Canada to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 have inspired sustainability efforts across the region – including a first-of-its-kind climate research centre. In 2021, the province will welcome the 45,000-square-foot Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, a net-zero energy-use building part of the University of Prince Edward Island. Students attending the school will have the option of graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation – the only degree of its kind in the world. It will also serve as a living laboratory that allows for unlimited access to nearby wetlands, forests and coastal habitats directly affected by climate change. 8 

Delayed diagnosis: In 1989, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta, excavated a bonebed containing the remains of dozens of the horned dinosaur Centrosaurus. Among their findings was an injured fibula, or lower leg bone – but it wasn't until just recently that scientists discovered the trauma was actually caused by osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. The milestone discovery marks the first time a malignant cancer in dinosaurs has been confirmed through multiple lines of evidence.  

Going all in: Canada's first Club Med village opened this past December in Charlevoix, Quebec, idyllically situated between the St. Lawrence River and soaring Rocky Mountains. In winter, Club Med Quebec Charlevoix offers all-inclusive ski stays encompassing lift passes, group lessons, children's ski clubs, fine dining and après-ski entertainment. In summer, visitors can embark on a whale watching adventure on the river, visit Quebec City's famed Old Town, sample locally produced maple syrup at the Sugar Shack or simply wander the picturesque surroundings. Committed to protecting the environment, the resort has partnered with Solucycle, a company that specializes in food waste management, to implement a sustainable system that converts waste into green energy; in addition, the village's buildings are designed to maximize energy efficiency.

Lone wolf: In 2016, a mummified wolf pup was uncovered by Yukon miners in the permafrost of the Klondike goldfields near Dawson City. Nicknamed Zhùr (“wolf” in the Northern Athabaskan Hän language), the pup was recently profiled in the journal Current Biology as the most complete specimen of a mummified Pleistocene grey wolf. After extracting DNA from the female wolf's hair follicles and observing its tooth enamel, researchers determined she lived between 56,000 and 57,000 years ago. The mummy is now on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre in Whitehorse.

New hockey merch: Smudge the Blades, founded by Harlan Kingfisher – a father of four from Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan – celebrates Canada's hockey heritage and First Nations culture with streetwear-inspired T-shirts, hoodies and hats. The brand's name was inspired by Kingfisher's own ritual of smudging his hockey stick and skates with sweetgrass to promote luck during games. A passionate advocate for supporting his community, Kingfisher donates a portion of sales to help First Nations youth purchase new hockey equipment and pay for hockey registration fees.

Guardians of the coast: Canada's first Indigenous coast guard auxiliary has launched in BC, bringing extensive knowledge of their territorial waters. The Indigenous Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary comprises 50 volunteers from five First Nations along BC's coast: the Ahousat, the Heiltsuk, the Gitxaala, the Nisgaa and the Kitasoo. The team will work in tandem with the Canadian Coast Guard, responding to remote areas that would take the Coast Guard a longer time to reach. 10 

Ontario openings: The province will see two hotels and one spa debuting in the coming months, offering locals and visitors brand-new places to stay and play.

• W Hotels arrives in Toronto's fashionable Yorkville neighbourhood in April, boasting 255 luxurious rooms that pay homage to the city's social, historical and physical surroundings. Upon entering, guests will be immersed in lab-style experiments and modern biophilia, leading to an indoor/outdoor lobby bar and lounge equipped with DJ booth and recording studio; also worth the trip is a rooftop restaurant with glass exterior elevator accessible from street level; 3,300-square-foot fitness centre; and 4,800 square feet of meeting space.
• Also in spring, the Park Hyatt Toronto will open its doors with 219 rooms incorporating sophisticated décor, views of tree-lined Yorkville, and thoughtful touches like blackout curtains and Nespresso machines. Onsite, guests can book a day of pampering at the full-service Stillwater Spa, or sip cocktails at the 17th-floor bar. Guests bringing furry friends can rest assured the hotel is pet-friendly, with dog bed, water bowl and treats provided on arrival.
• Finally, relaxation awaits in Whitby at Thermëa, a village-style spa opening in spring that offers solace, peace and refuge to guests seeking a decadent escape. Expanding the traditional spa experience to an entire wellness village, Thermëa encompasses buildings rooted in the past, when life was intimately connected to nature, alongside mindful sauna rituals, bathing areas, firepits and hammocks, and farm-to-table fare.

Quetico Provincial Park protects pristine night sky

Ontario Parks is pleased to announce Quetico Provincial Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).

 With the support of Starry Skies Lake Superior IDA chapter and the Heart of the Continent Partnership, Quetico becomes the 3rd public land in the region to achieve the Dark Sky Park designation following Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. This unique international partnership builds on a long history of cooperation to create an internationally significant area of pristine protected night skies in Northwestern Ontario and Northeastern Minnesota.

 Achieving this designation involved a rigorous two-year process which required:

• Light management planning to convert existing external lighting to dark sky compliant light fixtures.
• Annual sky quality measurements to ensure dark sky criteria were met.
• Development of new educational programming and signage to help visitors learn about the importance of protecting our night skies.

Quetico joins Killarney Provincial Park and Lake Superior Provincial Park as the third provincial park in Ontario to receive a Dark Sky designation since 2018.

The Lodge at Metis Crossing Opening Fall 2021

Metis Crossing, the major Métis cultural interpretive centre in Alberta. Sitting on 512-acres of land, comprised of river lot titles from the original Métis settlers to the region in the late 1800s, the Crossing is designed to engage visitors through an exploration of Métis cultural experiences.

With its unique design that combines both traditional and contemporary Métis craftmanship, The Lodge at Métis Crossing is a special blend of comfort, culture, and Métis history.

Directly adjacent to the Métis Crossing Cultural Gathering Centre, our 40-room boutique lodge offers scenic views overlooking the majestic North Saskatchewan river, the very route used by our Métis ancestors as they gathered at this very spot.

Once refreshed from a sleep in your cozy and comfortably appointed guestroom you are welcome to join us at the main floor Bistro for coffee and express breakfast.

After a day of exploration and experiences, we invite you to enjoy our second-floor Lounge with cocktails and light snacks. With its floor to ceiling windows, you are sure to revel in the evening nightscape of stars and constellations.

The Lodge at Métis Crossing – an exquisite setting in which to replenish your spirit and feel the connection to our historic Métis land.

They have difference experiences available depending on the season. Paddle Into the Past is their summer experience which begins in June. Explore Metis culture through traditional crafts like finger weaving, paddle down the North Saskatchewan River in an authentic Voyageur canoe, cook bannock over an open fire and dance the Metis job in a historic homestead.

The Malahat Skywalk 

Opening Spring 2021, The Malahat Skywalk is an exciting project on Southern Vancouver Island. The Malahat Skywalk is an accessible 600m treetop walk through beautiful arbutus forest leading to a spectacular gentle spiral ramp that takes you up to 32m to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains. 

Image Credits : 

Location, Red cliffs Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Credit : Destination Canada 

Readers wanting more information on Canada can access www.explore-canada.co.uk

Media seeking images, news upates, story ideas go to : www.destinationcanada.com/media 

For more media information please contact Ms. Nim Singh, Media and PR Manager, Destination Canada care of singh.nim@destinationcanada.com(not for publication)