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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Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden
St. John's, NL
Public Space
Established in 1971, the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden is located at 306 Mount Scio Road, situated on the north side of St. John’s. The Garden encompasses 110 acres, mostly a managed and interpreted nature reserve featuring a large natural pond, fens, streams, mature boreal forest, and an old forest-fire regeneration area. The Garden also has 5 acres of cultivated gardens including heritage gardens, wildlife friendly gardens, shade gardens, medicinal gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, vegetable gardens, and alpine house. The Garden’s field centre features indoor interpretive displays about various aspects of gardening and natural history as well as hosting a variety of art shows featuring local artists’ images of nature. Their gift shop and café will complete any visit to this great place...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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Main Street
Summerland, BC
Street
Located in the heart of downtown, Main Street is roughly four blocks long, with Rosedale Ave and Victoria Rd at either end. The street is over 100 years old...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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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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Old Montreal
Montreal, QC
Neighbourhood
Old Montreal can be measured by the number of people visiting it. It has reached millions of people, including regional residents. It is located on the waterfront and the access is easy by subway or walking from downtown Montreal. Several old buildings made the renown of this beautiful location...More
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Samson Trail
New Glasgow, NS
Public Space
The Samson Trail, located along the banks of the picturesque East River, is a 4 km groomed trail built along the bed of Canada's first iron railroad. The trail is lined with Victorian style lampposts providing visitors and residents alike with a scenic vista that offers the freshness of nature's blooms in spring, spectacular sunsets in summer, a tapestry of color in autumn, and a serene winter beauty. A walk along the Samson Trail is sure to nourish your spirit, no matter what the season...More
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Bois-des-Esprits
Winnipeg, MB
Public Space
This is an 80-acre outdoor space that incorporates river bottom, marshland, tall grass prairie, and forest. Wildlife including deer, beavers, rabbits, squirrels, and birds live in this area. The Save our Seine organization lobbied hard in 2003 to keep this area as a natural habitat and was ultimately successful. Local wood carvers have carved dead trees throughout the space into representations of people and animals...More
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Granville Street
Vancouver, BC
Street
Granville Street is known as the entertainment district of Downtown Vancouver and is home to numerous shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. During the 1950s, Granville Street attracted many tourists to one of the world's largest displays of neon signs. In the middle of the 20th century, the Downtown portion of Granville Street had become a flourishing centre for entertainment, known for its cinemas (built along the "Theatre Row," from the Granville Bridge to where Granville Street intersects Robson Street), restaurants, clubs, and the Vogue and Orpheum theatres...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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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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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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Heartland Forest
Niagara Falls, ON
Public Space
This location is deserving of an award as it is a barrier-free (fully wheelchair accessible) nature trail with a wheelchair accessible treehouse AND playground. It is also FREE ... there is absolutely no cost to visit and walk amongst the protected forest and wetland areas. At any time you can see a variety of animal and plant species. It is just gorgeous there...More
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Le parc du mont Royal
Montreal, QC
Public Space
Le parc du mont Royal est un lieu de convergence pour les résidents du centre-ville de Montréal, les jeunes des grandes écoles autour du mont Royal, les aînés, les touristes du Canada et d'ailleurs, des francophones d'Outremont et des anglophones de Westmount. Diverses activités récréatives se déroulent à chaque saison autour et sur le lac des Castors. En 1874, le Québec vote la première loi pour protéger ce milieu naturel. Depuis 1938, le lac des Castors est un bassin artificiel aménagé par l'architecte-paysagiste, Frédérick Todd et son secteur a été réaménagé en 2005. Les Amis de la Montagne est un organisme citoyen qui veille à la sauvegarde de ce milieu naturel...More
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LaHave River
Near Bridgewater, NS
Neighbourhood
This neighbourhood is located near the beautiful town of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. There have been people living here and fishing for a living for many, many years. At one time, there was a fish plant here but it has since closed. This area is a favourite spot for tourists because it is so picturesque and there is much history here. I grew up about 80 miles from here so it has always been one of my favourite parts of Canada, and that is saying a lot. I have travelled by plane and motor vehicle across this scenic country more times than I can remember...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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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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City Market, Saint John
Saint John, NB
Public Space
The City Market first opened for business in the heart of Uptown Saint John in 1876. It is an indoor space that occupies a full city block and is located on King Square, one of the City’s most important greenspaces...More
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Botanical Beach (in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park
Near Port Renfrew, BC
Public Space
Botanical Beach is a beautiful spot to explore. You must first walk along a gorgeous path where the sights, sounds and smells stimulate your every sense. Once you've reached the beach, you can hear and see the waves crashing against the rocks creating huge splashes. You can enjoy a sunrise, a sunset, or simply an afternoon escape. While you're there, don't forget to explore all of the tide pools sculptured in the sandstone, which is home to many living organisms such as Purple Sea Urchins, fish, sea cucumbers, clams, and so much more. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins during their migration...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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Whistler Olympic Plaza
Whistler
Public Space
Whistler Olympic Plaza is in the heart of Whistler Village. A destination in and of itself, Olympic Plaza provides a permanent outdoor venue for recreation, community celebrations, arts and culture. The long-standing intention for this space to be a vital community focal point in the Village was made real during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The transformation of the 4-acre, municipally-owned site has created a tangible legacy for public enjoyment in all seasons. At the north end of the Village stroll, visitors will discover...More
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Osborne Village
Winnipeg, MB
Neighbourhood
Osborne Village is many things to many people. This example of “good urbanism” is more than just a neighbourhood; it is a way of life...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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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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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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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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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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Osborne Street
Winnipeg, MB
Street
You can have it all...on Osborne Street...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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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
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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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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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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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West Montrose Covered Bridge
Waterloo, ON
Public Space
The bridge was built in 1881 and underwent major repairs in 1999. Light traffic is still crossing the bridge daily including horse and buggies. The bridge is often referred to as "The Kissing Bridge" because it is enclosed and the soft light provides a feeling of intimacy for the romantic...More
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Niagara River Parkway
Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie, ON
Street
I imagine the Niagara River Parkway has existed since the Niagara Parks Commission created it along with the help of Mother Nature. Its purpose is to display the beauty that naturally exists along the Niagara River. The cities and towns, along with their citizens, do a great job improving and maintaining the simple beauty of the Niagara Parkway. It is visited many ways: hiking, walking, running, cycling, buses, planes, trains and automobiles, helicopters, motor bikes. I have even seen a Penny Farthing. There are many trails down to the water’s edge where shore fishing is enjoyed. The waterway also has much activity from paddling in the water, and even the use of small to large water vehicles (canoes, paddle boats, motor boats, power boats, sail boats, sightseeing cruises) It would be nice to have quieter boats down the river, i.e., river cruises with dancing and dining...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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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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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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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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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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High Street
Grand Falls Windsor, NL
Street
High Street is located in the beautiful Town of Grand Falls Windsor along the Exploits River. Situated in the downtown core of the Town, High Street is the main source of economic, civic, and recreational activity...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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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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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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Victoria Park Neighbourhood
Kitchener, ON
Neighbourhood
The Victoria Park neighbourhood is bounded by Queen, Joseph, and Victoria Streets, as well as Highland Road and West Avenue in Kitchener, Ontario. It includes hundreds of homes as well as Victoria Park. The first home was built in 1816 and is now the Joseph Schneider House Museum and Gallery — a National Historic Site and Kitchener’s oldest building...More
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Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
Street
Sussex Drive is located in the oldest part of downtown Ottawa. It is approximately 3 kilometres long. It was built in the late 1820s during the time when Colonel By was building the Rideau Canal between Kingston and Ottawa. Starting at Rideau Street, it runs straight in a northwest direction through two grid-like City districts – the ByWard Market and Lowertown. About halfway, it bends in a northeast direction to follow the shores of the Ottawa River, defined by the steep slopes of the Bonnechère Escarpment, the same ragged slopes that form a backdrop to Parliament Hill. At this point, Sussex Drive becomes an institutional sector featuring large and medium-sized buildings in a campus-like setting of trees and open spaces. This is also where the Rideau River empties into the Ottawa River in dramatic fashion at the Rideau Falls. Further along, Sussex Drive becomes the western edge of another historic residential district, New Edinburgh, eventually ending at a newly-landscaped roundabout. This roundabout serves as the eastern gateway to Sussex Drive, in front of Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General and 24 Sussex, the Prime Minister’s residence...More
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Hecla Provincial Park
Near Riverton, MB
Public Space
The park was established in August of 1969 and opened for public use in 1975. The year 2005 marked its 30th anniversary. Hecla is 6.5 km wide and 26.5 km long. Other islands which are a part of Hecla Provincial Park include Black Island, Goose Island, Deer Island, Punk Island, and Little Punk Island. In 1926, the present Gull Harbour Lighthouse was constructed; the original one was built in 1898...More
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Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market
Halifax, NS
Public Space
The Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market opened in August 2010 along the city's waterfront, in a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly building. It has more than 4000 square metres, almost double the size of its previous location. In addition to the spacious vendor areas and storefronts, the Market boasts harbour views, a rooftop garden, a “living wall” (a wall of plantlife for air filtration), wind turbines, and outdoor meeting and shopping areas...More
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Brewer Park Oval
Ottawa, ON
Public Space
Brewer Park Oval is a 400-metre Olympic sized speed skating track located in downtown Ottawa across from Carleton University. It is a volunteer, community-run outdoor ice surface. It is an all-natural ice surface that is built as soon as the weather permits, usually around Christmas, and then maintained until it melts in March...More
