Thompson Okanagan General Interest

The best wines in the world seem to come from temperate, warm places like France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South America and California. It sometimes comes as a surprise to people, then, that Canada—often associated with cold, harsh weather patterns—has a booming wine industry that has been producing world-class vintages for decades. Canadian wine has garnered the country international recognition as a producer of fine, award-winning vino.

Upon thinking of Canada, one cannot suppress images of open space, diverse landscapes and striking hospitality spread among urban centres and rural communities. With a total area of 9,984,670 sq km (3,855,103 sq mi), plus natural attractions such as...

Spas have a glorious history, dating back to the ancient Babylonians, when people would travel miles to bathe in hot springs and mineral rich pools for their restorative effects. While water based treatments remain popular with the European spa goer, spas in Canada and the United States are seeing an increasing interest in a variety of holistic experiences grounded in the traditions of the middle and far east.

Canada is a hotbed for heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping action. Geographically, it is the second largest country in the world and accordingly, it offers one of the most diverse landscapes in the world. Canada is known internationally as a world-class skiing and snowboarding destination due to long northern winters, heavy snowfall and a wild assortment of mountains and peaks that span the nation. But the country also offers many other activities that cater to hardcore thrill-seeking individuals. From the tides of the Pacific to the flatlands of the Western Canadian prairies, this enormous country has the right fix for any adrenaline junkie.

In the past few decades, Canada has started to shed its image as a frigid land of vast wilderness in favour of a sophisticated, urban persona. Canada's major cities are now being seen for what they are—vibrant, modern hubs of activity. The country's urban centres boast many attractions, one of the most significant being their world-class shopping facilities.

Although widely regarded as a hotbed for Winter sports, regardless of the time of year Canada hosts a large array of top-notch sporting events. Spanning sports as diverse as ice-hockey and equestrian show jumping, to golf and Formula One racing, no sport is ill-represented in this country of 33 million inhabitants.

Canadians welcome, celebrate and appreciate summertime in a way that only residents of a country which receives six months of cold and snowy winters can. For many, one of the most anticipated and exciting aspects of summer, along with the long days and hot weather, are the many music festivals that take place in the country between June and September.

Located in British Columbia’s lush Okanagan Valley, the city of Kelowna is a virtual summertime playground for both kids and adults. Boasting near picture perfect weather with hot sunny days and warm evenings being the norm, and situated on the shores of the massive Lake Okanagan, the city and surrounding area offer a mind-boggling array of exciting outdoor activities.

British Columbia’s Okanagan region is a paddler’s paradise with an abundance of lakes and rivers that offer a variety of experiences and sights for both novices and experts. Whether paddlers are looking to participate in one of the many dragon boat festivals or solo across a quiet lake, there are endless opportunities to enjoy this relaxing and athletic pastime.

Think Canadian winters, and a few of the images that come to mind are icicles, toques and hockey sticks. And while many Canucks delight in the sight of a fresh covering of snow, conjuring visions of powdery white ski hills, few are enthusiastic about the frigid temperatures accompanying the white stuff. Unbearable winters may be as much of a Canadian trademark as the beaver itself, but not everyone in the country is feeling the sharp tines of Old Man Winter quite so severely.