---

 
 
 

BRITISH COLUMBIA

ALBERTA

SASKATCHEWAN

MANITOBA

THE YUKON

Western Canada is one of the most beautiful areas of the world and a perfect holiday destination, whatever the season!  There is so much to do here, we cannot possibly do the area justice without directing you around via internet links. As our area stretches from the Manitoba/Ontario border to the Pacific coast, we have broken down this massive area by Province. The Provinces from east to west are: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.  All of them offer a real Canadian adventure!

The name Manitoba comes from Lake Manitoba, named by Native Americans, meaning 'great spirits strait'.  With an area of 649,950 sq km, it is the sixth largest province of Canada.  Manitoba's major city is Winnipeg, which is located in the south of the province.  The climate in Manitoba ranges from sub arctic in the north to an extreme continental climate in the far south.  Winters are harsh and summers are warm, with temperatures ranging from -50 degrees celsius to + 40 degrees.  In summer warm moist air from the USA causes thunderstorms and the occasional tornado.

Manitoba has a number of interesting historical sites.  Fort Garry, near Winnipeg is now a national historic park and Fort Prince of Wales National Historical Park, near Churchill, has the remains of a British fort.  Tourism is now a major aspect of the Manitoba economy with 2.5 million visitors a year.  Riding Mountain National Park is a popular destination.  There are 150 provincial recreation areas, with parks and camp grounds and fine sandy beaches on the shores of Lake Winnipeg attracting visitors.  In the north, Churchill is a popular destination for Polar Bear watching.

Head for our LINKS page for more info on tourism in Manitioba.

Saskatchewan is Canada's 5th largest province and is best known for its prairie.  The province is 75% prairie and the grain capital of Canada.  The other 25% being forest.  The climate is cold-continental with the lowest temperature being around -50 degrees celsius and the hottest at +45 degrees.  The province has very little snow and light rain in the summer, which encourages drought most summers.  Population is sparse and concentrated in the south, in fact, there is only 1 person per sq km.  The main cities are Saskatoon and Regina, but the province is also famous for having towns with unusual names such as Moose Jaw and Swift Current.

Almost all of the historical sites are concerned with the early pioneers, but it is the countryside that brings the most tourism.  The numerous streams, lakes and forests are teeming with wildlife, trails and a haven for hunting, shooting and fishing.  The Prince Albert National Park is very popular.

Head for our LINKS page for more info on tourism in Saskatchewan.

Alberta has it all and is considered the jewel of Western Canada.  From the contrasting prairies in the south to the frozen tundra in the north to the amazing beauty of the Canadian Rockies in the west.  There is so much to do in Alberta all year round, from hiking in the Rockies to the Calgary Stampede, to fishing and skiing.  The major cities are Calgary and Edmonton and both rest on the banks of magnificent rivers.  The oil and beef rearing industries are the largest economies of Alberta, but tourism is becoming a close third. In places, Alberta is still the 'Wild West', with rolling ranch land, cowboys and steers. The Rockies have great towns such as Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, that can be reached in a couple of hours from Calgary or Edmonton.  We think that Alberta is one of the best holiday destinations in the world.

There is so much to learn about Alberta and surfing the web is a great way to get around, head to our links page.

The most western province, British Columbia is very diverse.  With the Rockies in the east and the Pacific northwest coast, BC has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.  BC is the third largest province both in people and area, with 3 million people and 947 000 sq km.  The major cities are Vancouver and Victoria on Vancouver Island.  The coastal climate is very mild and wet all year round, but overall, the temperatures range from -15 degrees Celsius to + 20 degrees.

Vancouver is a cosmopolitan and thriving city on the same scale as Toronto or Montreal.  As Canada's gateway to the Pacific, Vancouver is a major sea port and rail terminus, and an obvious stopover for culture, restaurants and nightlife.  Victoria is a charming small city, much as it was in Queen Victoria's day.  It is more English than an English coastal town.

BC has excellent Salmon fishing, hunting opportunities and hiking trails criss-cross the whole province.  Vancouver Island is also famous for its storms and whale watching opportunities.  Around 23 million tourists visit BC per year, but you would hardly notice them once you are engulfed in the beauty of this western province.

Head for our LINKS page for more info on tourism in BC.

As the title suggests, the Yukon is a Territory not a Province.  It is rugged, scenic and wild, with high mountain ranges, unexplored lakes and 60% forest.  The major river being the Yukon River which contributed so much to the Klondike Gold Rush.  The climate is sub arctic, and for much of the year severly cold, with temperatures getting as low as -60 degrees Celsius in January.  The summers are extremely short, with long days and little rain.  Only 30 000 people live in the Yukon, mainly around the urban towns.  This population density could be expressed as 1 person for every 17 sq km!

The major towns in the Yukon are Whitehorse, Dawson City (the original Klondike gold town) and Bonanza Creek.  If you are visiting the Yukon, you will, probably, be intersted in the pioneer spirit of the wilderness.

Head for our LINKS page for more info on tourism in the Yukon.