Guest post by Andrew Salmon

Keeping up with the ever changing landscape of the economy both in Canada and around the world has become a by the minute exercise which traditional print newspapers can no longer handle. Timing is everything and people are turning to alternate suppliers for their financial information. The Internet has changed the way we do business and it’s no surprise that most of our attention is now turned there as we keep our fingers on the pulse of the nation.

5. Canada.com

4. Canadian Business

3. Financial Post

2. CBC News – Money

1. Globe And Mail

This article was written by Andrew Salmon from LifeCover – a website with information about life insurance in Canada.

Guest post by Nacie Carson

When you think of the great vacation destinations in North America, what locales come to mind? Las Vegas? New York? The Grand Canyon? Montreal? While all of these destinations are worthy in their own right, they often overshadow one of the great gems of the Northern Hemisphere: The Banff region of Alberta, Canada. Located in the breathtakingly beautiful Canadian Rockies, the Banff region is home to some incredible vacation activities and destinations, not the least of which is Banff National Park, which spans almost three thousand miles of the most stunning natural scenery you can imagine. There are so many things to do in Banff, it makes you wonder why it is not one of the number one destinations on the continent!

Banff is such a special tourist destination because it offers such an interesting variety of diverse activities and unique attractions. The area was originally built up around the natural hot springs in the area; in the nineteenth century, the a stretch of the Canadian Pacific Railway was built to specifically serve the area, bringing visitors from around the world to the mineral-rich waters that abound in the region. The clear mountain air and pristine natural setting, combined with the therapeutic hot springs, soon became a favorite recuperation destination for patients in the Northern Hemisphere, and by the dawn of the twentieth century, Banff was a unique combination of bustling tourism and remote natural beauty.

While other, more sensationalist tourist destinations have sprung up around the continent since Banff’s boom years, the region maintains many of the same draws that it had a hundred years ago: the spring water is still world class, the mountain vistas are still incomparable, and the air is just as pure as ever.

In 1985, Banff National Park was been considered a World Heritage Site. However, in addition to all these over-looked wonders, Banff now boasts some incredible additional attractions, including the Banff Gondola. The Banff Gondola ascends nearly 2,300 feet to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, and offers incredible views of the six mountain ranges that surround Banff. Riding the gondola is one of the best ways to take in the real grandeur and splendor of the region’s mountains, and the summit is loaded with activities, learning opportunities, and fun to entertain a whole family or just a curious traveler for hours. There is truly no other gondola ride that is as heart-stopping or truly awe-inspiring as this one! Sure, the Banff region doesn’t have replicas of the Eifel Tower. There is no beach where starlets play and no massive skyscrapers that charge you an arm and a leg to enjoy. But what Banff has sadly very few other places in the world have: natural, unsullied beauty. Banff is a much-overlooked vacation destination not just for the variety of things to do but also for its most fundamental element: a deep connection with the natural world. In the Banff region, you can see in abundance things that are quickly disappearing from the rest of the world: glaciers, clean air, certain species of plants and animals. Cities, those concrete jungles, are the future of humankind; we are building them everywhere, and really, what makes one so special you have to see it? But the Banff region helps everyone who travels there remember our human past, one that was connected and integrated within the natural world, not on a quest to force it into submission and scarcity.

If you have an opportunity to travel this year, why not check out the Banff region? It holds more uniqueness, more specialness, and more opportunities to recharge your batteries than those other travel destinations you’ve been thinking about!

Guest post by Jim Huinink, Director of Web Strategy for ourkids.net

Whether you are new to Canada or just a new parent in Canada, there are many choices to be made in finding the right school for your son or daughter. Many of the public schools in Canada offer an exemplary education.

However, many parents and children have more specific needs or desires that can be met only by one of Canada’s many private schools. Within the broad sphere of private education there are a wealth of options for parents and their children. These options include girls’ boarding schools, boys’ schools, Montessori schools, Christian schools, Jewish schools and Waldorf schools, to name a few. On top of those broad options, parents of children with special needs can find schools across Canada that specialize in helping their children. There are schools both public and private with programs to help children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and many other learning disabilities and challenges children might face.

Since every child and every family is unique, parents in Canada should investigate many different options to find out what school is right for their child or children. For parents living in or moving to any of the major centers such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Ottawa, there will be private schools to suit any need or challenge.

Like many countries in the Western world Canada prides itself on freedom of choice. This applies to education as well, where there is no need to think that there is one size to fit all. In fact, private schools in Canada are often at the forefront of innovation in education methods as well as technology. For example, Toronto was the first home of Montessori education in North America, where the Toronto Montessori School was founded in 1961. Innovation by Canada’s private schools is still seen today, exemplified for example, by the growth of the Arrowsmith Program.

Welcome to Canada

For families outside of Canada considering sending their children to Canada for English language immersion and exposure to Western culture, there is no better, safer alternative imaginable than a private school in any of Canada’s larger cities. Since parents sending their children to Canada will have to pay tuition and board no matter where they go, there is no better choice imaginable than sending a daughter or son to one of Canada’s premiere boarding schools which welcome students from abroad with open arms.

In fact, Canada’s universal reputation for being exuberantly welcoming certainly extends to its private and boarding schools. As one student puts it, “I have friends here from Zambia, Jamaica, Korea, China, Ukraine and Hungary. The school is so welcoming that we all feel comfortable, regardless of where we are from or what our first language is.”

Jim Huinink is the Director of Web Strategy for ourkids.net, Canada’s premier guide to private schools, including private education choices from girls’ boarding schools to schools with at risk programs.

Guest post by Andy Hayes, Managing Editor of Sharing Travel Experiences

I’ve always wanted to visit Vancouver. Actually, correction: I’ve always wanted to live there. At least from the brochure, it looks amazing: decent weather, great culture, and a very liveable lifestyle. I finally just made my first visit to the city, and it is without question, fantastic. I’m definitely in love with Vancouver, and here are a few reasons why.

Great Outdoors

When I first got a glimpse of Stanley Park, the massive forest preserve in downtown Vancouver, I thought it was Vancouver Island – surely such an incredible mass of greenery couldn’t be in the middle of a major city. But it’s true; I went for a run in Stanley Park and didn’t see another person (or animal for that matter) for a good half an hour. It’s totally incredible, and one of the reasons why Vancouver tops the lists of best places to live.

Stanley Park isn’t your only option though; via a quick ferry for busy ride, you can hit idyllic islands or go skiing – and still make it back home for dinner. It’s always a difficult balance between being a major cosmopolitan city and a liveable, active village, but Vancouver plays this balance perfectly.

Gastronomy

Canada is well known for just a few select dishes – mostly those involving maple syrup, would say the cynic – but Vancouver is a foodie’s delight. It is home to a lot of expats (who wouldn’t want to come?) so you can get tasty French crepes served up with the indecipherable accent, homemade pastries and tarts, dim sum experiences all but identical to the ones in Hong Kong, and of course some hot, hearty comfort food for those wet and rainy days.

Like the rest of its Pacific Northwest Neighbours, Vancouver is also not to be outdone on the café culture front, and so you have plenty of choice for good coffee. Though, I’ll be quick to agree that you can’t go wrong with the Canadian classic: a mug of fresh Tim Horton’s coffee and a doughnut!

Friendliness

Maybe it’s because they’re on a caffeine jag, or maybe it’s just because of all that fresh air, but people in Vancouver are awfully friendly. Not in that annoying way, but everywhere you go you will find people are helpful and smiling. Restaurants have great service, shop assistants are helpful without being overbearing, and you’ll be delighted with the service on ferries and local tour operators. It all adds up to a pretty spectacular package, reinforcing the reason why Vancouver is so highly rated on those lists. Come to visit, stay to live and work, but if you haven’t been to Vancouver, you are missing out.

Andy Hayes is managing editor of Sharing Travel Experiences, a popular travel lifestyle magazine. Don’t miss their further tips for Vancouver sightseeing.

Guest post by Sarah Harris, Marketing Manager of Adiamor

If you are considering relocation, Canada is the country to think about. Whatever your reasons for moving, Canada is an amazing, dynamic, beautiful country to end your search. Located in North America and surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans, it is a wonderful place to create roots with its rich history.

The United Nations has rated Canada as the best place to live every year since 1994. Mix that with an economy that’s in better shape than most all the developed nations, and you have a great thing going. It’s fast growing and modern which provides a lot of opportunity. There are vast natural resources, and the development that is going on is huge. The forests, oils, and minerals mean sustainability and stability. Take a trip to Horseshoe Falls and wonder at the beauty. It takes a minute to realize that beauty is a huge source of hydroelectric power.

With clean land, clean living, clean environment, mixed with healthcare, the life expectancy is about 76-1/2 years old. Crime rates are very low. There are strict gun control policies, and a strong community police system. It is a safe place to live. The general atmosphere is more laid back than you find in other countries, even in the metropolises. Less stress means a better life.

The rate of unemployment is lower than other countries. New jobs are created every year. With low taxes, there is a stable personal economy. Canadians keep more of what they make. A great educational system is in place, plus subsidized post-secondary education. Canadians invest a lot of resources into their education plan. They have a great educational reputation.

There is a strong sense of diversity. Multiculturalism is encouraged and unique cultures are celebrated. There are a wide range of Visa programs, with a points based immigration system. This leads to legal immigration, with increased prosperity both as a country and for individuals. The Canada Charter of Rights and Freedoms enables the practicing of your religion and language.

The varied landscape is beautiful. Large cities, calming mountains, oceans, farms, plains. The nature to experience is simply extraordinary. Of course, that means if you love outdoor activities, you have a lot to look forward to in Canada. Whether you head to the Atlantic region to catch lobsters, discover the Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories, visit the Niagra wine region in Central Canada, or see white pelicans in the prairies, just come. Explore. Investigate. See if it is time to call Canada “Home.”

Sarah Harris is the Marketing Manager at Adiamor Engagement Rings. Adiamor offers a large selection of engagement ring settings, loose diamonds, and other fine diamond jewelry at affordable prices.

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Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your stay!