Great Places in Canada
Visitors to this site say that these are great places in Canada. What is your favourite place in Canada? Search the nominations submitted so far, and place your vote!
If your favourite place isn't on our website, consider nominating it!
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Miller Point Peace Park
Dayspring (near Bridgewater), NS
Public Space
Along the LaHave River is a beautiful park for strolling, sitting, having a picnic or walking your dog, Beautiful trees, flowers and river scenery...More
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Powell River's Historic Townsite
Powell River, BC
Neighbourhood
"This is the coastal town that they forgot to close down," goes the lyric from 'Everyday Is Like Sunday,' one of Morrissey's early great hits. It's also the theme song for Powell River community radio host Bad Karen's Friday night show of the same name...More
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Old Port of Montreal
Montreal, QC
Public Space
In the summer, this is a gathering and entertainment centre of Montreal. On the water of the St. Lawrence, there are piers with the Montreal Science Centre, a promenade stretching the length of the port adjacent to the old city that is a tourist destination...More
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Parc Régional Éducatif Bois de Belle-Rivière
Mirabel, QC
Public Space
Cette espace public est situé à Mirabel. Elle se trouve à l'extérieur et existe depuis 1997. Elle constitué d'une forêt exceptionnelle, un refuge de grande valeur pour la faune, Elle comprend plusieurs spécimens d'arbres et espèces végétales. En parcourant les sentiers il est possible d'admirer de nombreux couverts forestiers tout aussi différents les uns des autres. Deux grands jardins sont aussi aménagés afin de vous faire apprécier la splendeur de plusieurs grands arbres indigènes du Québec...More
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Town of Churchill
Churchill, MB
Neighbourhood
Churchill is located on the shore of Hudson's Bay in Manitoba. It is believed that nomadic Arctic people who first populated this area in 1000 AD evolved into the Inuit. The Dene people also came into this area around 500, long before the Europeans first arrived in 1619 where only three of the 64 explorers survived their expedition. The Hudson's Bay Company had an important role in colonizing the area by setting up a permanent settlement in 1717, and named this trading post after one of Winston Churchill's ancestors, John Churchill, who was governor of this famous company and also known as the first Duke of Marlborough. Like many newly populated areas, Churchill had its share of wars, conflicts, and growing pains. Approximately 1000 people live in Churchill consisting of non-native, Aboriginal (Chipewyan and Swampy Cree), Métis, and Inuit...More
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Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Oakville, ON
Public Space
Bronte Creek Provincial Park is conveniently located between Oakville and Burlington just north of the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW). Established in 1974, it boasts over 10 km of walking trails, 144 campsites, an outdoor swimming pool, children's farm and play barn, nature centre, 1900s living history museum, and 11 picnic shelters and picnic areas. In the winter, you can ice skate on the Olympic-sized outdoor surface or toboggan down any number of slopes...More
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Saint-Boniface
Winnipeg, MB
Neighbourhood
Saint-Boniface is an area of Winnipeg that includes areas such as Windsor Park, Southdale, Island Lakes, Norwood, the 'Old St-Boniface' along with other areas of the city. It's home to over 65 000 people, which includes the biggest cluster of French-speaking inhabitants outside of Quebec. In 1818, the Roman Catholic mission settled in this area but it had been an area protected under Lord Selkirk's rule...More
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Rainbow Stage Theatre in Kildonan Park
Winnipeg, MB
Public Space
Rainbow Stage is an outdoor theatre situated in the heart of Kildonan Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The theatre has been around since 1953, making it the oldest of its kind in Canada. It seats over 2,000 patrons who are protected from the elements by a large triodetic dome that covers the seating area. In 2011, a mural was designed and painted along the building’s exterior to provide the venue with a fresh new look. The finished product was spectacular and received raved reviews from its visitors.Rainbow Stage Theatre is used primarily to provide Winnipeg with professional musical theatre productions during the summer. It is also used for a number of other community-related events during the year, which typically focus on the arts and culture...More
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The Dog Park - "Dogs in the Hood"
Kingston, ON
Public Space
This dog park is one of four off leash parks in the city of Kingston On and is located next to a public library and adjacent to the Cataraqui River in east Kingston. The dog park is accessed by a paved walkway making it accessible to people with handicaps. A fence surrounds it, and dogs and their masters enter through a set of gates. Bench seating is provided for the people while water, "poop bags," and waste bins are provided for the dogs. Once inside the park, dogs can run and play in open space with other dogs or walk the sawdust trail with their people friends...More
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White Rock Beach
White Rock, BC
Neighbourhood
White Rock Beach is the waterfront area of the City of White Rock in the southwest corner of the lower mainland of British Columbia, bordering Washington State. The White Rock Beach district runs along Marine Drive and overlooks the warm, shallow waters of Semiahmoo Bay. The borders of this area are defined somewhat informally by approximately 8 km of sandy beach, with a 2.5 km waterfront promenade. The actual city of White Rock is 45 minutes from Vancouver, BC and minutes from the Canada/USA border. The city dates back to the turn of the 20th century (1900) and has a population of 18,250...More
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Icefields Parkway (Highway 93)
Banff to Jasper, AB
Street
The natural, pristine beauty of Banff and Jasper National Parks with excellent public access along the Icefields Parkway is world-renowned. Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, Maligne Lake, Banff and Jasper townsites, are among the fabulous highlights. It is readily accessible by motorized and non-motorized methods as well as by foot. The broader community of Canadians and foreign tourists are welcome to travel the Parkway...More
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Parkdale
Toronto, ON
Neighbourhood
Parkdale is located in the southwest of downtown Toronto. It's a residential and commercial neighbourhood adjacent to the Roncesvalles and High Park neighbourhoods, and it includes the historic Sunnyside waterfront park. Currently home to about 50,000 people, Parkdale was founded as an independent settlement in 1850, eventually joining Toronto in 1889...More
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Central Memorial Park
Calgary, AB
Public Space
Central Memorial Park is a large public space in the heart of downtown Calgary. Redeveloped in the summer of 2010, Central Memorial Park has been rejuvenated by The City of Calgary Parks department. The major concept of this park was to recreate the landscape following the original design that was constructed approximately 100 years ago. One of the biggest elements of the recreation was the intricate pathway system, which allows visitors to access every corner of the site at any angle. The path is made up of City of Calgary trail mix and a discrete heavy aluminum edger, which overall gives the pathway a natural appearance and captures the essence of the original design. Another unique feature of this park is the annual/perennial planting bed designs, which add interest and bring a lot of attention to the seasonal plantings. A majority of the plantings were preserved from the original park and the topsoil mix was recreated to match the original composition...More
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London Road Neighbourhood
Lethbridge, AB
Neighbourhood
Developed between the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the London Road Neighbourhood is one of the most well established neighbourhoods in Lethbridge and is centrally located adjacent to Downtown. London Road is home to over 3,500 residents, and this population has remained very stable throughout the years due to a good balance of post-secondary students, young families, and senior citizens...More
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Town of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
Gravelbourg, SK
Neighbourhood
The Town of Gravelbourg in Saskatchewan is “a Touch of Europe on the Prairies.” Gravelbourg is unique and in a rural central area. For its population of 1,300 people, it offers many amenities. The uniqueness of this town is summarized in its four pillars: Culture; Heritage; Architecture; and Spirituality...More
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The Lunenburg Heritage Society Bandstand
Lunenburg, NS
Public Space
The Lunenburg Heritage Society Bandstand sits in the centre of the Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The current bandstand is an exact replica of the original built in 1889 and was rebuilt in 1987 by the Lunenburg Heritage Society. It is located at the junction of Cumberland and King Streets – next to the Town Hall. The great wooden structure was re-created with great attention to detail and is a favorite of townspeople and visitors to the town...More
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Queen Street
Fredericton, NB
Street
Queen Street has been Fredericton’s main East-West street since the city of Fredericton was founded in 1783. After the first buildings were erected along the Saint John River—namely those forming the Military Compound such as the officers’ quarters, barracks, guard house, and training grounds—a street was traced running parallel to the river behind the compound that joined these buildings and spaces with each other. On the other side of the street, houses and shops were built, creating a continuous row of two- to three-storey buildings establishing the beginnings of the economic life of the town. This was Queen Street...More
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Portage and Main
Winnipeg, MB
Street
Located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Portage and Main is the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street. It is known as the most famous intersection in Canada. Its history dates back to 1919, the year of the well-known Winnipeg General Strike...More
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The Grotto (in Bruce Peninsula National Park)
Near Tobermory, ON
Public Space
Everyone hikes to the Grotto. It’s the most popular attraction in Bruce Peninsula National Park. A big cave on the shore, it was carved out by the waves of Georgian Bay over thousands of years. From the Bruce Trail, climb down through the natural chimney in the rock of the Niagara Escarpment. It’s a pristine setting; there are no signs, lights, stairs, or handrails here. The cave itself is stunning, with sunlight from the outside revealing a brilliant underwater tunnel on the inside. You can walk along a ledge inside its cavity or swim in its cool, clear, turquoise water...More
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Beacon Hill Park
Victoria, BC
Public Space
The crown jewel in Victoria's park system, Beacon Hill Park is an oasis of both natural and landscaped beauty. The park is a spectacular, publicly owned 183-acre property. Wildlife abounds in Beacon Hill Park. More than a hundred bird species occur here, along with a number of mammals such as river otters, raccoons, and squirrels. Sunfish, painted turtles, and crayfish make their homes in the waterways. The park is a perfect blend of natural and recreational features...More
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Ducks Unlimited Trail, "Miner's Marsh"
Kentville, NS
Public Space
Our Ducks Unlimited site, known as "Miner's Marsh" is located just seconds from the downtown core of Kentville. It was officially opened in August of 2010 after 7 years of planning, land negotiation, trail work, grant applications, conservation work, environmental permit applications, and bridge installation. The site includes 1.7 km of walking trails, interpretive signage, picnic areas, benches, viewing stands, and a 100-foot bridge across the Cornwallis River. Amenities at the site are all made to complement the natural landscape of the property, including the color of the bridge, which was designed to blend into the marsh rather than stand out. Crusher dust is used on the trail; viewing stands and boardwalks are constructed from wood. The site is a protected wetland featuring wooded areas, marshland, and ponds. The site is also complemented by the Cornwallis River that runs directly through it and along the north side. The marsh is home to hundreds of species wildlife including ducks, muskrats, frogs, fish, and herons...More
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Plateau Mont-Royal
Montreal, QC
Neighbourhood
The Plateau is an inner city neighborhood in Montreal. To many, it is defined as a destination for Montreal's best restaurants and nightclubs, but knowing the history of over 100 years as a working class residential neighborhood for primarily French-speaking citizens of Montreal, today it is a vibrant place to live, work and play. Le Plateau Mont-Royal is a definite destination for all WestJet travelers visiting Montreal. It represents the true "Esprit" of what Montreal is, was, and will be...More
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Minden Boardwalk
Minden, ON
Public Space
The Township of Minden Hills invites everyone to come out and enjoy the completed Minden Riverwalk pathway along the beautiful Gull River running through downtown Minden, along with the newly completed Boardwalk, constructed through the existing Minden Walking Trail. It displays flora and fauna of the area while providing a comfortable walking environment for residents and visitors to Minden...More
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Officers' Square
Fredericton, NB
Public Space
For 230 years and counting, Officers’ Square has been Fredericton’s main public gathering space. Back in its heyday, it started off as the soldiers’ training grounds and was located adjacent to the military barracks. Gradually, it has come to form a part of a whole row of public, civic, and institutional uses along Queen Street, the historic core´s main axis. Officers´ Square lies in the centre of this historic and cultural area, equidistant from City Hall to the west as it is to the Provincial Parliament Building to the east...More
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Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
Street
Yonge Street is a historic main shopping street in Toronto. It's the Times Square of Canada, a singular melting pot with unparalleled history (especially music history). Tons of musicians come to mind: Ronnie Hawkins, The Band, Gordon Lightfoot even wrote a song about the street. It's remained a great pedestrian stroll with vibrant storefronts and buildings (for the most part) kept to a human scale. There really is something for everyone on Yonge Street; it's the biggest and best example of large-scale urbanism come to Canad...More
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Richmond Olympic Oval
Richmond, BC
Public Space
The Richmond Oval was the venue that held the speed skating events and the official anti-doping lab during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a 33,750-m² facility, including a 20,000 m² main floor that includes a 400 m refrigerated track. It is built on a location beside the Fraser River and is the first Olympic venue that visitors can see as they fly into Vancouver...More
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Victoria Row (on Richmond St.)
Charlottetown, PEI
Street
Victoria Row is one of downtown Charlottetown’s gems. It’s a pedestrian street located on Richmond St., between Queen Street and Great George St. The street is approximately 800m long and can be found here on the map...More
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The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Vancouver, BC
Public Space
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first of its kind outside China. It is a haven for quiet in the big city. It is made of natural woods, stones, plants, and the light affects it differently at different times of day. There are separate room-like areas which give you privacy. The walls are high, keeping out the noise. You feel at peace, can meditate, and just reflect -- it is gorgeous (take a virtual tour online)...More
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Wascana Park
Regina, SK
Public Space
Wascana Park is a large public park in Regina, Saskatchewan. It has existed for as long as I can remember -- an early, albeit not my first, memory of it is attending wonderful birthday parties that were held at some of its numerous BBQ or picnic spots. It is one of the largest urban parks and is broken down into many areas, some of which are still not developed...More
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Town of Ladysmith
Ladysmith, BC
Neighbourhood
Ladysmith is located on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is an oceanside town with a great deal of character and has a rich history. Ladysmith is 112 years old, and the population of Ladysmith is around 7,500 people...More
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Main Street
Warkworth, ON
Street
Warkworth is a small, rural town nestled in the rolling hills of Northumberland, approximately 90 miles east of Toronto, Ontario. Although Main Street is less than a mile long, it features a vibrant community of unique stores, boutiques, studios, and a stylish coffee shop. Over the past few decades, it has grown from a simple farming community into a thriving artistic and social location that showcases many seasonal events...More
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Beauty Bay
Kenora, ON
Neighbourhood
Nestled alongside Black Sturgeon Lake in beautiful North-Western Ontario, Beauty Bay is located 15 minutes from downtown Kenora. Having originated in 1972 with the establishment of a golf course, Beauty Bay has grown into a residential community where families and retirees can live seasonally or year-round. This intimate and quaint community is home to approximately 125 individuals...More
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City of Fernie
Fernie, BC
Neighbourhood
Fernie was incorporated in 1904 and now has a population of over four thousand residents. The municipality of Fernie covers a smaller footprint than the social and economic community of Fernie, as many would consider West Fernie, Fernie Alpine Resort and other outlying rural areas as part of our community...More
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Algonquin Provincial Park
Ontario
Public Space
The most scenic trajectory through the park is on Highway 60 between Barry's Bay and Huntsville. The park is readily accessible from major urban centres such as Ottawa and Toronto. You can see the boreal forest and its inhabitants, including many Canadian animal icons like the beaver, spotted loon, moose, timber wolf, and the black bear without much exploratory effort...More
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Liberty Street Linear Park
Toronto
Public Space
Located in the creative and vibrant neighborhood of Liberty Village, Liberty Street Linear Park is located on the north side of Liberty Street between Fraser Ave. and Jefferson Ave. The Liberty Village neighbourhood is a mixed-use community with live/work buildings, offices, residential and retail shops contained in a mix of building types including townhouses, towers and mid-rise buildings. A number of heritage buildings in the area have been retained, reflecting the neighbourhood's past. Liberty Street Linear Park is a public space that contributes to the beauty and open space in the community, as well as, serving as a gathering place and north-south pedestrian connection. The park occupies the strip of land between a large parking lot next to Lamport Stadium, and the neighbourhood's main thoroughfare, East Liberty Street. On Liberty Street, between Fraser Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, paving stones, benches, sod and ground cover, low-level ambient lighting and an irrigation system for the vegetation were installed. The plan created “rooms” along an extended wall area, which encourages sitting, eating lunch or holding meetings...More
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Komoka Provincial Park
London, ON
Public Space
This provincial park straddles the municipal boundaries of the City of London and Municipality of Middlesex Centre. Land acquisition began in the early 1970s, and 198 hectares were regulated in 1989 under the former Provincial Parks Act. The park protects a portion of the Thames River, a Canadian Heritage River in addition to significant natural heritage features including species at risk...More
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Marysville
Fredericton, NB
Neighbourhood
Marysville was a planned community developed at the height of the industrial revolution when it was becoming not only fashionable to provide industrial workers with better living accommodations, but also proven to be more economically efficient and profitable. Industrialists were finally realizing that providing workers with better housing resulted in more productivity from them. Alexander “Boss” Gibson planned the community so that his mansion was the epicentre of the community and was located on the west side of the Nashwaak River overlooking the cotton mill on the east side of the river. The cotton mill workers all lived in 58 duplex brick tenements beside the cotton mill. There were a number of local names to describe certain areas of the community like Brick Hill, Mud Alley, Punkin Centre, Front Row, etc. The managers, including Gibson, lived on the west side of the Nashwaak in a long row of houses locally known as Nob Hill...More
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Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park
Vancouver, BC
Public Space
The Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, Vancouver is the best-kept "secret" in Canada. Thousands of people walk, run, stroll, bike, and rollerblade along the seawall of Stanley Park, yet many go past the Lost Lagoon without even knowing it exists! For those of us who enjoy its serenity and beauty, we can't wait to get back there whenever we visit...More
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Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre
Haliburton, ON
Public Space
Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre is a public art gallery located in Haliburton's historic railway station. In 1980, a group of committed artists and arts-minded individuals were granted use of the decommissioned station by the township. The Gallery is the steward of this grand old building, which now houses two exhibition spaces and a gallery shop. The 1878 structure retains its original look from the outside, and many inside features such as the original ticket window and "wire from here" sign remain. The building has a wood frame exterior, cedar shingles, and the painted exterior is true to what would they would have been in the heyday of the lumber trade in Haliburton County. Today, the economy of the area is driven by tourism and a thriving arts community centred on the Gallery and Haliburton School of The Arts (founded by the same intrepid group that secured the railway station for the gallery)...More
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Chinatown
Ottawa, ON
Neighbourhood
Located moments from Parliament Hill and Downtown, Chinatown is a charming neighbourhood where east meets west in the heart of Canada's multicultural capital. Home to the award-winning Chinese imperial style arch. Ottawa's Chinatown welcomes visitors 365 days a year...More
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The South March Highlands
Ottawa, ON
Public Space
Just 20 minutes from Parliament Hill, this is Ottawa's Great Forest: an old-growth paradise that is recreationally enjoyed and spiritually revered. It has untapped ecotourism potential, but threatened by urban sprawl. Spanning over a thousand hectares, this Canadian Shield ecosystem is more than a billion years old. Rich in wetlands and mature forest, it is home to more than 654 species, including 18 species that are at risk of becoming extinct...More
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Victoria Park
Truro, NS
Public Space
A true gem in the heart of Truro! Victoria Park is one of Truro's greatest assets – a natural woodland park of roughly 400 acres in the centre of town. Lepper Brook, with its two sets of waterfalls, flows through a steep tree covered rocky gorge. Several walking trails follow along the brook, allowing a close view of this unique setting. The first set of falls is named after the distinguished Joseph Howe who admired them during a visit in 1830. The next are the Waddell Falls, named after Susan Waddell Stevens, who donated the first land in 1888 containing the falls and gorge, thus beginning this park for the enjoyment of Truro citizens...More
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Central Library
Vancouver, BC
Public Space
The Vancouver Central Library was constructed in the shape of a coliseum; however, in keeping with the theme of books, its walls are also slightly offset and actually wrap around the square, enticing the visitor into its centre. The public, exterior spaces are wonderful places to people-watch, relax, and take photos. The interior, glassed concourse level protects you from the often-rainy elements and gives you a grand, unobstructed view of the six floors housing the books, stacks, and staff of the Vancouver Central Library...More
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Village de Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc
Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Public Space
Le Lac Saint-Jean est l'une des plus belles régions touristiques du Québec. Beaucoup de rivières y sont accessibles. Celle-ci dans ce petit village est d'une beauté remarquable. Il s'agit de l'une des beautés naturelles du Lac Saint-Jean parmi plusieurs autres cours d'eau attrayant dans cette région. Vous pouvez vous y arrêter pour méditer, respirer un bon coup ou tout simplement y faire un pique-nique. Des cyclistes s'y arrêtent le temps de faire une pause...More
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Roncesvalles Village
Toronto, ON
Neighbourhood
Roncesvalles Village is located in west Toronto, just east of High Park. It has semi-formal boundaries due to local geography and urban features. Roncesvalles Village is bounded by High Park on the west, Lake Ontario/Queen Street to the south, Lansdowne/rail corridor to the east, and Bloor Street to the north. The neighbourhood is approximately 100 years old; many houses, churches and commercial buildings in this neighbourhood were built between 1909 and 1914. According to the 2006 census, Roncesvalles Village had a population of approximately 16,000. This has probably increased by about 1000 since then...More
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Woodfield
London, Ontario
Neighbourhood
Woodfield is a Victorian neighbourhood located in the heart of London, Ontario. This historic community is bordered by Richmond, Dundas, Adelaide, and the CPR tracks to the north. Woodfield's roughly 1,400 households fall mostly within two Heritage Districts (East and West Woodfield). Homes in Woodfield date from the 1840s, with most homes built between the late 1800s and early 1900s. Woodfield is one of the largest and finest examples of intact Victorian streetscapes in Canada...More
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King Street
Lunenburg, NS
Street
"UNESCO FRESCO" is the nickname of King Street, which is at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The street was established in 1753 as part of the town’s original British town plan of residential and commercial streets. King Street, along with the other streets in town, has remained unaltered since its early construction. With its colorful houses dating back to the 1830s, this street is cheerful and bright in almost any weather. Three blocks in length and the widest in the town plan, it stretches from Pelham St. near the harbor to Cumberland St., where it meets up with Lunenburg's historic parade square...More
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Assiniboine Forest
Winnipeg, MB
Public Space
It is unusual to find a forest within a city, but Winnipeg has one, specifically 700 acres of forest, marsh, and wildlife...More
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Cape Forchu Lighthouse
Yarmouth, NS
Public Space
Located at the tip of scenic Cape Forchu, approximately ten minutes from the Town of Yarmouth, the Cape Forchu Lighthouse is home to the first “applecore” style lighthouse with its 75 feet of statuesque beauty and 19 acres of pristine grounds. This towering beacon sits atop picturesque volcanic rocks, and has guided vessels safely into the Yarmouth Harbour since 1840. The light keeper's home is a duplex that housed both the light keeper and his assistant and their families. Today it's a museum, and a Tea Room is located in the kitchen and dining area. The fog building is still functional, but must be sounded manually. Cape Forchu is Nova Scotia's only intact lightstation open to the public. All the others have lost one or more keeper's houses and outbuilding...More
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St. John's Ecclesiastical District
St. John's, NL
Neighbourhood
This is a nationally recognized area in downtown St. John's (recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 2010). The national designation has formal boundaries, but the neighbourhood has more informal boundaries. The buildings date to the mid 1800s, but the area has been settled since the 1500s. There are several thousand people who live, work, and worship here...More
