Leto

Hey there fellow 'Nucks, we've got a great place here that is 2nd (!!! how Canadian is that eh?) in the world for over all desire to visit.

Personally, I can't wait to explore Italy, but based on the following article, the world is looking at us with fresh eyes. Oh yes, and with the help of some smart marketing. Perhaps one day we'll surpass the Aussies.

What do you guys think? Is there any desire to explore your own country first, or will international destinations lure you away?


Survey ranks Canada second most respected brand | Sympatico / MSN News


Survey ranks Canada second most respected brand


Canada has vaulted up the rankings to second place in a survey of the best national brands, according to tourism and branding experts as well as international travellers.





Canada second ranked country brand
View more MSN videosGo to CTV.ca





The Canadian Tourism Commission's new ad campaign features home videos shot by tourists who are zip-lining in British Columbia.

CTV.ca News Staff

Canada moved up from a sixth-place finish last year and a twelfth-place finish two years ago in the Country Brand Index, largely on the strength of a new marketing campaign established three years ago by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

The CTC set out to change the perception of Canada as a place of moose and Mounties to a destination that can offer tourists a wide array of exhilarating adventures.

The CTC's ad campaign features home videos shot by tourists who are:

zip-lining in British Columbia.
dog sledding in the Far North.
having close encounters with seals while kayaking on the East Coast.
(Tourists) are no longer satisfied just seeing Canada from the windows of a bus," Greg Klassen, the CTC's vice president of marketing, said Tuesday on CTV's Canada AM. "They want to get out and have an experience and we're the perfect country for those kinds of experiences."

The Country Brand Index, compiled by international consulting firm FutureBrand, ranks Canada behind only Australia for establishing a reputation as a safe, friendly destination for families.

The United States ranked eighth.

Rina Plapler, FutureBrand's executive director, said a strong brand will be appealing to travellers looking for a fun, but safe, place to go during an uncertain economic climate when travelling often includes tight security measures.

"In times like this people do want to know that they are going to get quality accommodations, good food, it's going to be easy to travel in and around the country, the people are friendly and welcoming and those are certainties with Canada," Plapler told The Canadian Press.

However, Canada does still have some work to do to compete with top European destinations.

Canada ranked eighth behind first-place Italy as the country most people want to visit.

Klassen said he hopes the CTC's marketing campaign can push Canada into a top-five finish next year.

"The world will be chasing those few customers who will be travelling next year, so one of our focuses is to really hit their emotional hot buttons," Klassen said. "Use our advertising to get in the heart of the traveller so they think of Canada first ahead of many other destinations out there."

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Amaras

I can find almost anything I want to do right here in Canada, so I don't really need to leave.
But, I loved New Zealand due to the fact that it has most of the same things we do, but
everything is about 3 hours away.

I liked B.C., but Quebec is my first true love.

Still, I like other countries for the people, the culture. It helps me see the world through
different eyes.

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

Leto

I've been through Europe as well and really like the special feeling that I get when in Holland. The fact that their Queen was born here makes it special I suppose. But when I think of the distances that I have to cover just to get to a place like the Maritimes or BC, sometimes I envy the ability of Europeans to get cosmopolitan with ease. My father explained that some of the world's fascination with Canada (at least from a German perspective) was the wide open feeling here. The untamed spaces with all the amenities.

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Amaras

Makes sense they loved it. Like you say though, the distances, those who haven't lived it, have no idea.
I remember traveling through Texas, hearing them talk about wide open spaces. Until you've driven
through Winnipeg and on through the prairies, well, there is no comparison.

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

Baraka_Guru

My SO used to work for Customs in B.C. She would see a constant flow of German travellers, many of whom gave a similar reason for their visits: "Campa' vahn!" They leave their mountains at home to go driving through ours and love every minute of it.

As I mentioned in the passport thread, there is still so much I want to see in this country before travelling abroad. I want to see the Maritimes, I want to see more of the mountains out west, I want to see the Great White North. I want to see more of Quebec and Northern Ontario. I want to see more of the great plains of the Prairies.

This is a large and varied place. I can see the appeal. It appeals to me as well!

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

snowy

I love Canada! It is one of my favorite places to travel to. People in Canada are generally polite and helpful, plus the places I've been there have been beautiful. One of my life goals is to see more of Canada; I want to visit all of the Canadian Pacific railroad hotels. I've already stayed in one of them (the Hotel Vancouver). I haven't visited eastern Canada at all, but I really intend to.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Amaras

Toronto's okay, but if you want something with a slightly more exotic flavour, come to Montreal (if you like cities). If you want the great outdoors, I suggest the Saguenay region. We have good skiing (BC has better), terrific camping, etc....

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

snowy

I've got a good friend in a small town in Ontario that I have promised to visit. It wouldn't be my sole reason to travel to eastern Canada; I fully intend on going to Montreal and eating my way through that city, should I ever make it to eastern Canada (as it makes no sense to go all that way and not travel around a bit to other places). Evidently I need to have bagels and smoked meat.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

fresnelly

A couple years ago we drove from Toronto to Prince Rupert, took the Alaskan State ferry up to Skagway, drove over to see friends in Whitehorse and then drove back down through Alberta to visit the inlaws and then home through the States. This took about a month and it was wonderful. I've been very fortunate to travel all across Canada excepting rural Quebec and New Brunswick.

I can't quite explain it but my main interest in travelling right now is food. I want to go where there's great and unique food. On that note, I think our next road trip (once the kids are a little older) will be along the Eastern Seaboard, from lobster down to BBQ.

__________________
Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

Amaras

Eat your way through the city? It takes more than "Just a bit!".
DO NOT eat in a franchise, unless it's to have steamed hot dogs at "La Belle Province".
If you eat the occasional hot dog, this is an interesting treat. Get it "all dressed". Don't specify what you want, and if asked (if they peg you as a tourist), just say "Montreal style".
For the smoked meat, Do NOT eat at Nickel's, it sucks. I like my smoked meat lean, and I usually order the platter.
If you like greek food, you have hit the motherlode, my dear. Pretty well 60% of our restaurants have involvement from Greeks, from the cooks, to the managers or the owners.
When you are coming, PM me and I'll specify places. Cheap, medium, and pricey, as you wish.
We also have TONS of Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese soup places, almost like Asian fast food joints (under $10, in and out in 30 mins). We also have the real thing.
Sushi is all over the place......
Anyway, I'm salivating right now. Did I mentioned our Lebanese friends? Shish-Taouk and Shawarma (basically slow roasted chicken or beef sandwiches, served in pita with a delightfully tangy sauce), mmmmmm!
I'm gonna go eat.

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

Leto

ditto with Toronto. Greek here is second nature. But you can't pass through our city without trying some peameal bacon on a bun at the St Lawrence Market. I recognize that Montreal has us beat, hands down, when it comes to smoked meat (heck they have all of the US beat hands down!) but our peameal bacon on a bun is to die for.

Both Ontario and Quebec have a very serious and varied cheese industry. If your aim is to increase your body mass on your trip, then you must try our most excellent cheddars (Cookes Very Old white Cheddar at Cookes Fine Foods in Kingston) and the Oka cheese from, well, Oka in Quebec. Go to any city market (like the St Lawrence in Toronto) and you will find hundreds of cheeses to add to your waistline.

Wine is important here too, as the Niagara region has its own micro climate and produces reds & whites that are medal winners. It also has a consistant (unlike Germany) ice wine industry that is the best in the world. - if youlike that sweet stuff. Nothing goes better together than wine & cheese eh????

Fruit wines are produced all the way through from Ontario's kawartha's to Nova Scotia's Lunenburg winery. Strawberry, blueberry, peach, pear.

As you swing through the eastern part of the country and reach the Maritimes, you will find that sea food abounds. Lobster is the king. Lobster rolls, lobster bisque, lobster, lobster , lobster. Too bad I don't like it so much but at least there are options. mussels by the roadside. $5 for a huge bowl full. exquisite. fried clams. periwinkles. scallops. Everything battered and fried that you can imagine. get out the Ketchup & mayo.

Local dishes are worth investigating, but there is a huge international fusion going on too, as grolsch indicated. Not just in TO & MTL, but in Halifax & Saint John too.

If you do happen to make it out here, be sure that a Toronto TFP meet can be set up!

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Amaras

Never heard about the peameal bun, I'll give it a try next time I'm there.
He's right about the wines, Southern Ontario is the place to go for that.
Cheese is pretty well a toss-up. We might have the edge in fame, but Ontario has some good ones, no doubt.

The East Coast is altogether different. Fantastic people, slower pace, wonderful seafood.

Leto, are you proud of me in that I'm not bringing up the Montreal vs. Toronto rivalry?

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

percy

Years ago Montreal was, and probably still is known for it's smoked meat, unfortunately thought it is a reputation which nowadays precedes itself.

I go to Montreal at least twice a month, used to love the smoked meat but don't eat it now because it's crap. Instead of that deep maroon colour and almost rugged texture that would taste out of this world, a taste that no matter how full you were you had to have one more bite, now is replaced with the most dismal pinkish colour and smooth, almost slippery feel.

Chinois, Ben's, Schwartz's,....it's all the same. And it's too bad.

I guess it's easier to inject it with pink dye than to naturally take the time to smoke it properly.

Can't go wrong with a steamer with mustard, onions and sauerkraut though.(especially at this place right off of Papillon,..Mmmm)

Leto

My chest is bursting with pride, you lug you!

I've always had a love-love relationship when it comes to our two cities. I grew up Torontonian, and my wife even more so as I lived in the burbs while she's a hard core Cabbagetowner (downtown). But we met at a football game in Montreal (Concordia) and spent many vacations there, visiting friends in Anjou as well as honeymooning in Quebec City.

So the only way to get a rise out of me with this ancient rivalry is to mention the Habs. when it comes to the Bleu, Blanc et rouge, if you cut me, I bleed Maple Leaf blue. - and before you get on my case about Gabrowsky spearing Carey Price... Hey, Gabbo deserved the grief he got from the Habs for that little antic, notwithstanding that he pretty well ruled the roost last Saturday.

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Amaras

I thought hockey would be the "touchy" topic. It usually is.
Kostopoulos' hit was cheap.
Grabovski is on fire, man.
Honestly, which team would you rather have going into this year? MTL or TO?
I give you guys credit for the improvements over last year, but.....
Hey, let's stop this hockey talk before it drives off EVERY single American on the board! Like Bettman with TV ratings....

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

Charlatan

The more I am away, the more I want to visit. I've explored a lot of Ontario and been to Montreal a few times but have not been to BC or the Maritimes. These are both places I really want to spend some time visiting.

If anyone goes to Montreal they have to do me a favour and eat at Pied au Cochon... I've never been but the documentary I just screened about the place makes it top of my list visit if I make it to Montreal.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

rmarshall

I lived 40 years in Montreal and can tell you Montreal Smoked meat if the best in Canada. However, I recently tried a smoked meat at Carnegie Deli in New York City and I think I liked it better. Hate to say it, but...

This first photo is a Montreal smoked meat from Dunn's website. What is the best Montreal Smoked meat? Dunn's, Ben's, Chenoy's or Schwartz's?

The second photo is a New York smoked meat. And Carnegie isn't even considered the best New York Deli. The american sandwich cost more, though.

Attached Images

	jumbo smoked meat platter 4 small.jpg (9.9 KB, 92 views)
	IMG_1327.jpg (67.5 KB, 92 views)

__________________
"Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege" Irish proverb

percy

[quote=grolsch;2558917]I thought hockey would be the "touchy" topic. It usually is.
[QUOTE]


Ottawa and Montreal tonight,..Go Sens Go
-----Added 11/11/2008 at 05 : 38 : 18-----
I had a terrific smoked meat sandwich also in NYC a few months back. Can't remember the place but it was just off Broadway in Times Square. One of the best if not the best I have ever had.

Oddly enough when I travel now my tastes have changed. Always like the steak in TO but now end up having it in Montreal almost all the time now. I think Toronto used to have that edge but not so anymore.

highthief

It was always Dunn's for me and mine in Montreal.

And Decarie Hot Dog for a good steamie and frites.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Amaras

You know Decairie? Awesome. Small effin' world. I eat there about once every two
weeks! Love the steamies. You ever notice nobody working there is over 5'3"?

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

fresnelly

Apparently the best place for authentic smoked meat in Toronto is at Caplansky's Deli on Clinton in Little Italy. I just need an excuse to take an extended lunch from work to find out for myself. Pastrami or corned beef just ain't the same.

When I'm really jonesing for a big filling sandwhich I go to Californina Sandwhiches for their Eggplant parm. Every day there's a lineup of cops, city workers and Suits for their veal, chicken and eggplant parms on a kaiser. Mustachio's in the St. lawrence Market is pretty good for that too.

__________________
Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

Fly

've been through the prairies............made it as far as Kenora Ontario........

not much to see but............soon as i started going northern Alberta and BC......man is it ever beautiful.

i have no real need nor desire to go anywhere other than these 2 provinces.it's all right here.




neither ..........Vancouver

__________________
BASTARD

SterlingStudios

Leto

Fly.. you stopped short. Nothing can compare to the highway along the North of Superior. Dramatic views, windy roads, impressive Canadian Shield landscapes juxtaposed with vistas of Lake Superior. And if you got to Thunder Bay, there's the cheap beer and wings at Uncle Sam's tavern.

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

streak_56

Lake Gilmore (Northern Ont.), Sugar Shack (NW of Quebec City), Nanaimo (BC), Jasper and West of Grande Prairie are probably my favourite places in Canada. I spent a summer at my grandparents marina at Lake Gilmore in Ontario. There was a small water fall, canoeing, swimming, it was just a chill summer. Went on a school trip to Quebec and visited a sugar shack nw of Quebec City, and we made maple sugar popsicles in the snow (my favourite thing ever). My family and I also spent a summer in Nanaimo, BC. Lots of swimming, canoeing, exploring, the slow pace was really good and relaxing, yet another chill place to go. Jasper has a small town appeal of it, skiing, hot springs, its not as touristy as Banff but just as good IMO. And I worked for a time out of Grande Prairie, and one of the jobsites I looked after was deep in the woods and I would quad or helicopter in. Tons of wildlife, tons of snow, definately exciting to drive in an environment like that. Although I would rather stick to the woods than to stay in the city.

There's so much to do in our little country.... I love it so!

snowy

It's not very little

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Baraka_Guru

What are you talking about? You're just across the border from me....

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

snowy

As the crow flies, you are 2151 miles (3461 km) across the border from me

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Baraka_Guru

Oh, well, make sure you pop in for a beer sometime soon then!

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Amaras

[quote=

There's so much to do in our little country.... I love it so![/QUOTE]

Baraka,
I'm loathe to correct you, but I believe she was referring to sheer size.
Of the country, I mean.

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

streak_56

I'm with Baraka on this one, its like a 3 hour drive to the border, although like 5 hours to hit any civilization.

highthief

Last I was there, Decarie was still owned by the same, somewhat shorter, family. Still the same I guess.

I remember getting a full meal - 2 all dressed steamies, a bag of fries made with 20 year old grease, and a Coke for $2 - back in high school. What a deal!

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

snowy

Yes, of the country

Recently I watched a telemark ski video that showed a group of men telemarking on Baffin Island. It was beautiful! Living in the PacNW and having seen my fair share of amazing sights, I'm not often awed by the sheer scale of things, but where they were skiing was jaw-dropping. But Baffin Island, just by itself, is enormous!

I presume that it's much the same in Canada as in the United States--most of the populace has no real idea just how large the country is. I've crossed the United States, from Seattle to New York City, by train. There is a whole lot of nothin' between the Rockies and Chicago. I've seen it; I tried to sleep through most of it. In addition to that sense of east-west space present in the United States, Canada also has that sprawl of land to the north. But I would guess, given that three quarters of Canada's population lives within 90 miles of the U.S.-Canada border, that few people have a sense of what that space is like.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Dammitall

We spent the weekend in Ontario for a wedding at Niagra-on-the-Lake, an adorable town. I regret that we didn't have more time to walk around there.

Years ago I spent part of one summer in western Canada with my parents. We saw Vancouver, Calgary, Banff, Yoho and Jasper. I loved all of those places and want very much to go back and see them again.

Our experience riding the rails in Canada was also very enjoyable, when we took VIA Rail from Toronto to Sudbury. If I had the chance, time and money, I'd do a cross-country tour by train of Canada.

__________________
If one million people replaced a two mile car trip once a week with a bike ride, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 50,000 tons per year. If one out of ten car commuters switched to a bike, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 25.4 million tons per year. [2milechallenge.com]

rmarshall

When I was a kid, we had a cottage in the Laurentians about 100 mi. north of Montreal. We always thought of that as NORTH. It's nothing really, but since then, I don't think I've been any farther north. I don't even know if there are roads way north.

So, how far North have you ever been?

__________________
"Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege" Irish proverb

snowy

My parents have plans to do this during their retirement as VIA has some really good deals for seniors (not that I'd call my dad a senior at 62, but he sure knows how to milk that senior discount). They run a promotion from time to time where if the senior buys a ticket, their companion rides free (regardless of their age, which is good because my mom is 9 years younger). I wish I could go too Maybe someday!

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Amaras

How far North? Maybe Quebec city/Rouyn Noranda. Not to far North, when you look at a map.

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

Baraka_Guru

For me? Edmonton.

Looking at it now, I didn't realize it was so far north. Interesting.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

streak_56

Try putting Grande Prairie on there and I didn't know I was that far north.

fresnelly

Whitehorse. Nyah, Nyah!

__________________
Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

Leto

Ya, Whitehorse is north of 60. (60 degrees 43 mins approx)


Edmonton: 53/34
Grand Prairie: 55/10
Calgary: 51/6
Kamloops: 50/43
Kenora: 49/48
Vancouver: 49/15
Charlottetown: 46/17
Toronto: 43/39
Pelee Island: 41/47

The furthest north I have been is Banff which is just a hair north of Calgary or Kamloops: 51/10

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I