Canada.
The great white north.
The world’s second largest country. A land bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. A nation of Anglophones, Francophones, inukshuks and Tim Hortons.
Canada.
The land of my forefathers.
My grandfather’s home, my own home for three unforgettable years, and a home away from home that I’ll continue to return to whenever time and budget allows.
Canada is an itch I will always need to scratch.
Ten years ago, it became our first expat home when we left the UK as Canadian permanent residents set for a life in the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest.
Several years later, we were planning a visit from Australia to the UK, researching cheap car hire in the UK, when an email came through from the popular US television show, House Hunters International. Months later, as we filmed our new life settling down on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, we were given an opportunity to shoot the early scenes of this TV show in Vancouver and the perfect excuse to return.
Now I’m going back.
The Canadian Tourism Commission are kindly sending me back to Canada so that I can share this breathtaking country with you once again.
Prominent bloggers from around the world will be travelling to Toronto in early June to attend one of the world’s premier travel writing conferences and, as part of this very special opportunity, some will also take part in familiarisation tours across the country.
I’ll be arriving in British Columbia in late-May to spend several days in Vancouver where I’ll sample the local cuisine, scale the heights of the local mountains, and soak up the many flavours of downtown Van. Taking a train across the province and into neighbouring Alberta, the next stop will be Jasper where I'll experience whitewater rafting, motorbike touring, and cable car rides to the peak of the alpine region. From Jasper to Winnipeg for a feast of culinary and cultural delights before travelling to Canada’s largest city, Toronto, at the end of May for TBEX, the world's largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, and new media content creators.
But I won’t be making this trip entirely on my own.
My wife and young son will be coming with me for the beginning and end to this extraordinary trip. This is my chance to show Elliot the home of his great grandfather and the country that stole our hearts. And while I’m touring across this vast landmass, Sarah and Elliot will spend time with family and friends in Eastern Canada before we come together to enjoy a final few days in beautiful Muskoka at the heart of Ontario’s cottage country.
A number of recognised and talented travel bloggers and writers from Australia will be taking part in this unique visit, including Caz and Craig from yTravel Blog, two people I’ve connected with online on many occasions, but haven’t yet had the pleasure to spend quality face-to-face time with.
This will truly be one of those rare and memorable journeys where a writer gets to unleash his or her craft and show you a country through their own eyes. It’s a golden opportunity for me to indulge my passion for this superb country and a chance to show you exactly why it means so much to me and to many others like me.
I want you to see the real Canada from the ground up – the sights, the sounds, the people, the wildlife, the wilderness, the jaw-dropping beauty. I want to show you the country that continues to take my breath away and the country where my expat and travel adventures first began back in 2003.
My Canadian experience begins on the 18th of May and, here on ISOALLO, I hope you'll indulge me by following along.
Have you been to Canada? Are you a Canadian or an expat in Canada? Tell me what you think makes Canada a great place to see.
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