Canadian Crossing

British Columbia decriminalizes some drugs but at a really low threshold

Decriminalize. A powerful word that we don't hear much about in North America. For example, the perception is that the Netherlands legalized marijuana for their coffee shops. In fact, marijuana is not legal but coffee shops are permitted to sell up to 5 grams of marijuana to customers for consumption on-site. No takeaway orders.

As of today, Canadians 18 years of age and older in British Columbia will be able to possess up to a cumulative 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA within the province.

Note that the total is half of what is the law in the Netherlands. British Columbia wanted a threshold of 4.5 grams but the federal government lowered the threshold to 2.5 grams.

We have noted that the marijuana threshold in Canada, where pot is legal coast to coast to coast, is 30 grams. So the threshold seems higher for the other drugs but that isn't a fair comparison.

The pilot program is in effect for 3 years. You still can't sell drugs though such a small possession marker would make that an odd charge.

The threshold may not matter too much in Kamloops, Prince Rupert, Abbotsford, Fort St. John, Kelowna, and Penticton. The limit may not be as much of a concern on Vancouver Island in places such as Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, and Ucluelet.

The key concern is opioids in Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Fentanyl and its analogues were detected in nearly 86% of drug toxicity deaths from 2019-2022, according to the latest report from the B.C. Coroners Service.

Experts say that some opioids users consume more than 2.5 grams in a day, citing the need for a higher threshold.

Your humble narrator is a bit surprised that the program is province-wide, given the significance of Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Then again, opioids use isn't limited to that area. 

Experiencing marijuana tourism in Canada

CanadianCrossing.com marijuana coverage

CanadianCrossing.com British Columbia coverage

While we promote the idea of marijuana tourism, we aren't as excited about the prospect of tourists taking too much advantage. An 18-year-old might find it unusual to be able to possess 2 grams of cocaine while marijuana is still illegal until they turn 19.

The help for opioids users is that they can have a safe supply and not overdose and die. That isn't the same as recreational use. There is also the theory that an American possessing a legal supply might be suspected of trafficking more than someone with a British Columbia drivers licence. 

We will be very curious to see how this pilot program goes and maybe a higher threshold within the 3 years.

photo credit: Victoria Police Department/CBC News

Sarah Polley gets Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay but not Best Director

I'm very happy today and so grateful to the incredible collective of cast and crew who made Women Talking.

— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@realsarahpolley) January 24, 2023

Women Talking did get Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Sarah Polley for Best Adapted Screenplay. The absence of any female directors is a shock. Polley would have made sense being up for Best Director. The film also got shut out of any acting nominees.

Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) is still the last Canadian director to have an Oscar nomination.

Polley's fellow contenders for Best Adapted Screenplay are All Quiet on the Western Front (screenplay by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell); Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (written by Rian Johnson); Living (written by Kazuo Ishiguro); and Top Gun: Maverick (screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks). Polley adapted the screenplay from the Miriam Toews novel of the same name.

This is Polley's second Oscars nomination, having been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Away From Her.

The other Best Picture nominees are All Quiet on the Western Front; Avatar: The Way of Water; The Banshees of Inisherin; Elvis; Everything Everywhere All at Once; The Fabelmans; Tár; Top Gun: Maverick; and Triangle of Sadness.

Women Talking, technically not a Canadian film, opens in the U.S.

American-Canadian actor Brendan Fraser got a Best Actor nomination for The Whale.

Besides Best Picture, James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water was also nominated for best sound, production design and visual effects.

Toronto's Daniel Roher is up for Best Documentary Feature Film for Navalny about Russian political dissident Alexey Navalny.

Eternal Spring misses the Oscars shortlist cut for Best International Feature Film

We have the Top 5 films for the Best International Feature Film: Argentina (Argentina, 1985); Belgium (Close); Germany (All Quiet on the Western Front); Ireland (The Quiet Girl); and Poland (EO).

Your humble narrator is pulling for Close and EO. Hoping to see the other nominees before the Academy Awards ceremony.

These films made the shortlist but didn't advance to the Top 5 for Best International Feature Film: Austria (Corsage); Cambodia (Return to Seoul); Denmark (Holy Spider); France (Saint Omer); India (Last Film Show); Mexico (Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths); Morocco (The Blue Caftan); Pakistan (Joyland); South Korea (Decision to Leave); and Sweden (Cairo Conspiracy).

All Quiet on the Western Front is also up for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of @RRRMovie - winners of the #criticschoice Award for Best Foreign Language Film.#CriticsChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/axWpzUHHDx

— Critics Choice Awards (@CriticsChoice) January 16, 2023

RRR (India) won Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics Choice Awards on January 15. The film beat out these other nominees: All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany); Argentina, 1985 (Argentina); Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (Mexico); Close (Belgium); and Decision to Leave (South Korea).

Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) won Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the 2023 Golden Globes on January 10. The other nominees were All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany); Close (Belgium); Decision to Leave (South Korea); and RRR (India).

The Independent Spirit Awards has its ceremony on March 4. These are the nominees for Best International Film:

Corsage (Austria/Luxembourg/France/Belgium/Italy/England) Marie Kreutzer
Joyland (Pakistan/USA) Saim Sadiq
Leonor Will Never Die (Philippines) Martika Ramirez Escobar
Return to Seoul (South Korea/France/Belgium/Romania) Davy Chou
Saint Omer (France) Alice Diop

Canadian film review: Eternal Spring

Eternal Spring gets the nod from Canada for Best International Feature Film

Eternal Spring, which was Canada's nominee for Best International Feature Film, was a potential nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film and Best Animated Feature Film. The film didn't make the cut in either category. This was the first documentary and animated film that Canada submitted in the Best International Feature Film category.

Fire of Love, a Canadian co-production, is a nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film. Turning Red, the "Canadian film" that isn't, is a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film.

2022 WIFF Canadian films in review

Turning Red shows the beauty of Toronto thanks to Domee Shi

The thought of Women Talking losing out to Top Gun: Maverick in 2 Oscars categories is a nauseating thought. The Academy has clearly returned to a pre-pandemic approach in many ways.

We talk about films that appear Canadian but are not. Still rooting for Turning Red and Women Talking because they are good films.

Polley's speech for Best Adapted Screenplay, if she wins, will be the reason to watch the Oscars.

Ryan Gosling, Denis Villeneuve get Oscar nominations

2022 Oscars through the lens of Canada

Canadians Oscars nomination scoreboard

Christopher Plummer (finally) wins his first Oscar

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The 95th Academy Awards will be held on March 12, 2023.

Twitter captures: @realsarahpolley; @CriticsChoice
photo credit: Women Talking

Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays is available on Netflix in the U.S.

A few readers were surprised that Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays made our Top 10 list of the best Canadian television during the 2010s. This included the 12 episodes in its original form in 2011 as well as 6 more episodes in 2017 under the title Michael: Every Day.

The roots of some of the program can be found in Slings & Arrows. Bob Martin, who co-created Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, co-created the Shakespearean inspired show with Susan Coyne and Mark McKinney. The latter 2 wrote episodes of Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Don McKellar, the other co-creator, directs 6 of the 12 episodes of the original incarnation and all 6 episodes of the 2017 version.

The neuroses of Matt Watts, who was prominent in The Newsroom, the Ken Finkleman show and not the American program with a similar name, figure prominently in Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Watts plays Michael, who has been going to David (Martin), his therapist for 15 years. David is trying to write a book based on Michael, who has named him Miguel to protect his identity. At the start, David hasn't asked Michael for permission for his story to be in a book.

Claire (Tommie-Amber Pirie) is David's incompetent receptionist. Carlos (Pablo Silveira) is Michael's rival at work who tries to take advantage of Michael's insecurities. Jasmina (Martha Burns) and Samantha (Jennifer Irwin) are David's book publisher and editor.

The surprising co-star in the program is Ottawa, the relatively boring federal capital of Canada. The Nicholas Hoare bookstore, Parliament buildings, city buses are just some of the scenery in the background. Don't know of too many other Canadian television shows shot in Ottawa.

The joint fragile nature of Michael and David is what makes the show work. The therapist can be seen as the all-knowledgeable yet therapist and patient have significant issues.

David sees Claire as incompetent but she turns out to be more complex. Samantha has her own insecurities, managing sex within a professional relationship with David. The female characters aren't throw-away people.

We see guest appearances from Canadian icons such as Ottawa are native Sandra Oh as well as Samantha Bee.

You don't have to be in therapy or a therapist to get the show. The humour is subtle and dry, which is also true of the other shows we have mentioned.

The U.S. audience can see for themselves whether they think the show belongs on our list or is just a good show that should have been an honourable Canadian TV mention.

Top 10 best Canadian TV shows in the 2010s

Netflix picked up Season 1, which are the 12 episodes from 2011 but not the 6 episodes from 2017 (as Michael: Every Day). Hopefully, all of the episodes are available in Canada via CBC Gem.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Speaking of Canadian TV shows on U.S. streaming outlets, we had been complaining for some time that Hulu hadn't picked up Season 3 of Jann. That complaint feels insignificant now that Hulu no longer carries Jann in any form. If we hear news about Jann south of the 49th parallel, we will pass on that information.

video and photo credit: Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays/CBC Comedy

Canadian film review: Soft Shell Man

A deep sea diver has an accident while diving in the Indian Ocean. Alex (David La Haye) regains consciousness in the hospital and starts flirting with the female doctor.

Un crabe dans la tête profiles his behaviour, which is clearly changed from the accident where he is really interested in women. Alex starts a relationship with a journalist named Marie (Isabelle Blais). He is also interested in Sara (Chantal Giroux), a woman who is deaf. Sara is Marie's co-worker and the girlfriend of Sam (Emmanuel Bilodeau), Alex's best friend.

Alex is fascinated with the silence around Sara, which feels tied back to the accident. He also seems to break into places throughout the film.

Un crabe dans la tête | Soft Shell Man shows a deterioration within Alex as reflected by images of crabs and the jerking of the camera.

There are subplots such as Alex helping his agoraphobic friend Audrey (Pascale Desrochers) by working with a drug dealer and a gallery owner who wants to run some of Alex's photos.

Un crabe dans la tête is a film you can see through different lenses. The film could be seen as a romantic comedy with Alex's many attempts at love. Personality changes based off a traumatic incident. The ending gives us a different take.

The film is all about Alex yet writer/director André Turpin creates strong female characters in Marie and Sara. The portrayal of Sara is particularly poignant because she treats her deafness as a small bump in getting through life.

Turpin is mostly known as a cinematographer for Cosmos, Un 32 août sur terre, Maelström, Un crabe dans la tête, Childstar, Familia, Congorama, Incendies, Tom à la ferme, Mommy, Juste la fin du monde, Ma vie avec John F. Donovan, and Matthias & Maxime. Turpin is also married to Canadian filmmaker Louise Archambault, who worked on this film.

Turpin also directed Endorphine, which we reviewed. The 2015 film was Turpin's first full-length feature since this film. He also directed the Jules & Fanny segment in Cosmos (1996). Canada also submitted Cosmos for the Academy Awards.

Canadian film review: Endorphine

Un crabe dans la tête is a creative adventure of a film with complex ideas in a simply told story. This might be limited to those who love quirky, independent films but does well in this genre.

The film has minor inconsistencies but has the energy and script to have you follow to see what happens.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Un crabe dans la tête | Soft Shell Man was Canada's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2002 Oscars. The film received 4 Genie Award nominations: Best Motion Picture, Best Screenplay (Turpin), Best Actor (La Haye), and Best Cinematography (Turpin).

The film may be available here.

photos credit: Un crabe dans la tête | Soft Shell Man

Canadian film notebook: Turner Classic Movies to show Emporte-Moi

Emporte-Moi | Set Me Free became my white whale after your humble narrator saw Goin' Down the Road, which was the white whale up to that point.

There was a possibility before the pandemic of seeing the film for free but the people couldn't find a copy with subtitles.

Turner Classic Movies will air the film early in the morning of January 13 at 3:45 am Eastern (after you go to bed on January 12).

Let's go through a few reasons why this film has been a white whale for your humble narrator.

Léa Pool — a Canadian filmmaker whose films have dazzled, most notably Lost and Delirious.

Karine Vanasse — a Canadian actor I have enjoyed in a number of performances in English and French, all as an adult. She is a teenager in this film. Curiosity to how she is as an actor as a teenager.

Vivre sa vie — There are many references to Anna Karina and this wonderful Jean-Luc Godard New Wave film.

Pascale Bussières — She plays Vanasse's mother in this film. Bussières is charming on screen no matter what kind of role she plays.

Some regular readers could point out our OCD on the Canadian nominees for Best International Feature Film. While the OCD is a factor, my genuine interest in seeing this film overshadows that OCD. That doesn't hurt as a reason to see the film but not the primary focus.

There is always a possibility the film may not live up to the hype. Willing to find out for myself. There will be a review, no matter how the film turns out.

Beans won the 2021 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award

Anne at 13,000 Ft. wins 2020 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award

And the nominees for the @Rogers Best Canadian Film Award are:
-BROTHER, directed by Clement Virgo
-CRIMES OF THE FUTURE, directed by David Cronenberg
-RICEBOY SLEEPS, directed by Anthony Shim

The winner of the $100,000 prize will be revealed at the #TFCAawards gala on March 6! pic.twitter.com/MX0FZaHSq1

— Toronto Film Critics (@TFCA) January 8, 2023

The Toronto Film Critics Association announced the 3 finalists for the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award, which carries a cash prize of $100,000.

• Brother (Clement Virgo)
• Crimes of the Future (David Cronenberg)
• Riceboy Sleeps (Anthony Shim)

All 3 films made the TIFF Top 10 Canadian films for 2022. Brother and Riceboy Sleeps played at the Toronto International Film Festival and Windsor International Film Festival with the latter film winning the 2022 WIFF Prize in Canadian Film.

We have seen all the nominees going back to 2019. We recently saw Crimes of the Future. While that was an intriguing film, either Brother and Riceboy Sleeps would be logical picks to win the award.

We won't know the winner until the 26th annual TFCA Awards, which will be an in-person gala at the Omni King Edward Hotel on March 6. The cash prize of $100,000 is the largest purse in Canadian film.

We will have seen 16 of the last 17 winners (counting 2022), the exception being The Stairs from Hugh Gibson (2016). Maybe we will see that film before the March 6 ceremony.

Seeing Emporte-Moi | Set Me Free will only leave 2 other films we have not seen that have been a TFCA winner, both from David Cronenberg: Spider (2003) and A History of Violence (2005).

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Reviews will come at some point for these films (more than likely). Did pick off a couple of recent TIFF Top 10 films. Charlotte (2021) and the aforementioned Crimes of the Future (2022) are both featured on Hulu in the United States. If you want to go way back. finally saw Barney's Version (2010), which is also available on Hulu.

Rather unusual to have TIFF Top 10 films in such a major outlet south of the border. David Cronenberg films do well in the States. Barney's Version has a number of American and non-Canadian actors. Charlotte is more of a European film than a Canadian film.

That leaves 4 not seen from the 2022 list and 2 from the 2021 list.

photo credit: Emporte-Moi | Set Me Free
Twitter capture: @TFCA

Canadian film case study: Just a Breath Away

Just a Breath Away | Dans la brume feels like a Hollywood film with a slight French feel. An earthquake triggers an underground smoke cloud. The cloud is more of a concern for their daughter Sarah (Belgian actor Fantine Harduin), who survives in a bubble.

The case study concept covers a wide variety of technically Canadian films. Early on in the film, Mathieu (French actor Romain Duris) says he has been to Canada secretly to find a solution for their immuno-compromised daughter. Anna (French actor Olga Kurylenko) expresses her disdain of the prospect of living in Canada, even if that means a life for her daughter. To be fair, they do live in Paris.

That was the visible Canadian content for the whole film. No Canadians in a significant acting role.

Everything is laid out perfectly for Mathieu and Anna. They reach the top floor, conveniently just above the cloud. He remembers that the neighbour has an oxygen tank and happens to be one floor below. Mathieu happens to be an excellent climber.

Mathieu and Anna are separated though he lives close to his wife and daughter. There is no visible tension between them before or after the earthquake. There isn't even much to their personalities.

Sarah communicates with her friends in a Zoom type setting, even in 2018. She wonders whether she is in love with Noe, a boy who is also immuno-compromised. Her character is way more interesting than her parents.

I've seen more Romain Duris French films than I can count. Seeing him as an action hero is farcical at best.

Duris was featured in another Canadian film in 2018 (The Great Darkened Days | La grande noirceur) where both films were nominated for Best Motion Picture at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards.

Schitt's Creek, Anne with an E win big at 7th Canadian Screen Awards

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Just a Breath Away | Dans la brume is a very easy film to consume if you ignore a number of basic realities. An intriguing premise not backed up well by the script from Guillaume Lemans and the direction from Daniel Roby. Soft on conflict and tension, the film is interesting but could have been intriguing.

There is plenty of action as in an action film, but lovers of the genre won't find as much action versus an actual action film. 

Just a Breath Away | Dans la brume is comme ci comme ca, which means so-so, neither good nor bad.

The film received 8 Canadian Screen Awards nominations in 2019. The film won for makeup and visual effects. The other nominations were for Best Motion Picture, Best Director (Daniel Roby), Best Supporting Actor (Michel Robin), Best Original Screenplay, and for overall sound and sound editing.

video credit: YouTube/Unifrance
photo credit: Just a Breath Away | Dans la brume

2023 Canadian politics preview

2020 pandemic elections favoured the incumbents. 2021 pandemic elections didn't favour the incumbents. 2022 sort of post pandemic elections favoured the incumbents who did a terrible job at managing the pandemic.

Ontario and Quebec weighed in seemingly on the leadership of the past 4 years, generally considered terrible (especially in Ontario) and decided for more.

Bill 21 and Bill 96 in Quebec are slowly winding through the justice system to see if they can survive the use of the notwithstanding clause.

The 2023 scheduled provincial elections won't be as dramatic with the Alberta exception.

2022 gave us new federal party leaders with new people in charge of the Conservative Party and the Green Party.

Pierre Poilievre has been a name those who follow Canadian politics have known for some time. Now Canada will slowly get to know the new opposition leader.

Elizabeth May is back as the Green Party of Canada leader along with Jonathan Pedneault

Pierre Poilievre wins Conservative Party of Canada leadership race

Pierre Poilievre also wants to defund the CBC

We even had an Ontario notebook during that provincial election. An election that should have been exciting but was not. Both the NDP and Liberals in Ontario will have new leaders for the next election.

Quebec selects CAQ for its second term as majority government

Exploring the consequences of Bill 96 in Quebec

Doug Ford and the PCs win a second term in Ontario

The pact between the federal Liberals and NDP brought stability to a minority government. We realize our American readers aren't used to having political pressure from the left but the NDP influence has compelled Justin Trudeau to make smarter decisions in the future of Canadians.

Seems shocking given the impact of Supreme Court decisions on Indigenous people that the Court only had its first Indigenous member in 2022. Progress comes very slowly.

Canada also slowly made progress to finally making arrivals in Canada a lot more sane.

Canada drops all COVID-19 measures at borders as of October 1

Michelle O'Bonsawin to become the first Indigenous person on the Supreme Court of Canada

Canada government engages in a LIberal-NDP pact to avoid a federal election until 2025

Erin O'Toole out as Conservative Party federal leader

The Alberta election will have enough drama for a provincial election in 2023. Interestingly, the battle will be between female party leaders, a rarity in Canadian politics but not the first time in Alberta. Danielle Smith will be in both races, this time against former premier Rachel Notley.

Smith is also a rarity in that she ran as the opposition leader for the Wildrose Party and lost to the incumbent and yet is currently the unelected premier of Alberta.

Heather Stefanson became the premier through a party leadership race and is running for the first time in Manitoba. Stefanson has been the Manitoba premier since October 30, 2021.

Prince Edward Island elected a minority government with Progressive Conservative control yet since acquired a small majority in the smallest Canadian province.

Danielle Smith completes her political comeback to be Alberta's premier-designate

Jason Kenney to step down as UCP leader and Alberta premier

Prince Edward Island has a Greens growth spurt with a minority government

Heather Stefanson will be Manitoba's first female premier

British Columbia is still under NDP control but switched captains. John Horgan is cutting back due to health concerns with David Eby now the unelected premier in the province.

David Eby to replace John Horgan as British Columbia premier

What did we learn from pandemic elections in Canada?

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

Here are the tentative election dates for the provinces in 2023:

• Alberta — May 29
• Prince Edward Island — October 2
• Manitoba — October 3

Here is the list of the provinces and the year of their last provincial election.

Quebec — 2022
Ontario — 2022
Newfoundland and Labrador — 2021
Nova Scotia — 2021
British Columbia — 2020
New Brunswick — 2020
Saskatchewan — 2020
Alberta — 2019
Manitoba — 2019
Prince Edward Island — 2019

2022 Canadian politics preview

2021 Canadian politics preview

2020 Canadian politics preview

2019 Canadian politics preview

2018 Canadian politics preview

2017 Canadian politics preview

2016 Canadian politics preview

2015 Canadian politics preview

Manitoba has a female premier in Heather Stefanson, who is running for election in 2023.

Rachel Notley (Alberta) and Dominique Anglade (Quebec) are female opposition leaders. Notley runs in 2023 in Alberta and Anglade just ran in Quebec in 2022.

Marit Stiles will reportedly replace Andrea Horwath in Ontario as NDP leader and provincial opposition leader.

Sharon Cameron is the new Liberal leader in Prince Edward Island for fewer than 60 days. The Liberals are third in the PEI legislature.

Sonia Furstenau (British Columbia Green Party) and Manon Massé (Québec solidaire) are female leaders of a provincial party with legislative members.

photo credit: @qcgnjustice

Where to visit Canada in 2023

"The ArriveCAN app is optional." That might be the most glorious Canadian travel news of 2022.

We have feigned hope for more travel in the last couple of years but that hasn't been a reality. Canadians, who were vaccinated, were encouraged to come to the United States. Americans to Canada? Not so much.

Let's hope 2023 sees a return of Americans to Canada, swayed by beautiful scenery and landscapes as well as a cheap Canadian dollar.

Making up for lost travel time is an ideal goal for 2023, provided you have the time and money.

Experiencing marijuana tourism in Canada

Your humble narrator finally got to be on Canadian soil. As tempting as kissing the ground might be, didn't get that literal in my appreciation for being in Canada. Poutine, ketchup chips, butter tarts, even a decent shawarma were on the menu. All of that went well with legal marijuana in Canada.

Pope Francis I arrives in Canada on Sunday for an expected apology on residential schools

The most famous person who isn't Canadian who came to Canada in 2022 was Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church. The trip was mostly to Alberta with a brief stop in Quebec and an even briefer stop in Iqaluit in Nunavat.

The trip was good in that attention was brought to what happened in residential schools. Unfortunately, after the trip, the issue of reconciliation disappeared from the headlines.

Canada drops all COVID-19 measures at borders as of October 1

Canada to finally lift pre-arrival COVID-19 tests for air and land border crossings

Making travel plans for Canada in 2023 will be a lot easier now that restrictions have been lifted. You should be vaccinated but that isn't a requirement. Just a healthy suggestion.

Touchdown Atlantic 2022 showcased Nova Scotia and its love for the CFL

We are partial to Nova Scotia and happy for those who finally got to see a CFL game in that province. The 2023 version will be in Halifax proper. The donair is a beautiful local food to enjoy as well as amazing seafood.

Stanley Tucci has plenty of love for Toronto

Toronto, among many other Canadian cities, are great eating destinations. We aren't sure how many of those places are still in business. The pandemic did a lot of damage to restaurants.

Greyhound leaves Canada for good

If you want to travel by bus and haven't done so recently, Greyhound abandoned Canada in 2021 with the grand exception of incoming buses to Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver. If we travel by bus, we will share our experiences.

How the Canada-U.S. border closure has affected border towns

A trip back to Montréal. A first trip to Saskatoon. A chance to see relatively new CFL stadiums in Regina and Hamilton. The Icefield Parkway in Alberta. Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Gander in Newfoundland. Churchill in Manitoba, though that might be a pipe dream. The interior of British Columbia, a world not Vancouver or Victoria.

I've been to Quebec City but would like to try areas of the city I didn't get to see. Stratford, Ontario as an adult: have been there as a kid. Explore the Acadian part of New Brunswick.

The previous 2 paragraphs look familiar for those who remember our 2022 travel guide. We made a trip to Windsor for the film festival. Would love to go deeper into Canada in 2023.

Where to visit Canada in 2022

Where to visit Canada in 2021

Where to visit Canada in 2020

Where to visit Canada in 2019

Where to visit Canada in 2018

Where to visit Canada in 2017

All Canada national parks are free in 2017

Where to visit Canada in 2016

Where to visit Canada in 2015

Where to visit Canada in 2014

Even if you are able to travel, right now, travel sucks. Not what it used to be or what it should be. Do research. Hope that trip will be what you want that to be. Someday. Please make it soon.

CanadianCrossing.com now has stories grouped by provinces and territories

CanadianCrossing.com border crossings coverage

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Wish the short-term future was better for tourism in Canada. A day trip in Windsor would improve my mood.

Share your Canadian tourism wishes for 2023 in the comments section below. Time to make travel plans.

map credit: Ezilon.com