COMPASS
Atlantic Canada
St. John’s
Take a Gander at
Newfoundland and
Labrador’s top cities
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism’s Cathy
Anderson knows there are a lot of factors
that have spurred her destination’s recent
record tourism growth.
Her short list includes the islands’
UNESCO World Heritage sites, natural
beauty, Viking culture and Old-World
charm. “Plus,” she adds, “we are good at
exceeding the expectations of today’s dis-
cerning travelers who seek off-the-beaten
track, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”
The province’s cities also are a vital part
of its appeal, and Anderson rec ommends
the following three for travel planners:
Corner Brook Located on the western Gander The city in the central part of the St. John’s Visitors can discover the
shores of Newfoundland at the mouth of
the Bay of Islands, Corner Brook offers
a spectacular combination of ocean and
mountain scenery. It is the gateway to the
Viking Trail and Gros Morne National Park,
two popular destinations for groups. province has a rich history with aviation,
dating back to the time during the mid-1900s,
when it was as a key stopover for transatlantic
flights. Gander is receiving recent notoriety
from the award-winning Broadway musical
“Come From Away,” which details how the
city became the unexpected haven for 7,000
passengers following the 9/11 tragedy. coastal charms of the provincial capital
that’s situated at North America’s
easternmost point. The city includes a
thriving urban center that blends centuries-
old traditions and colorful buildings with
eclectic sophistication and a noteworthy
culinary scene.
Contact Anderson at [email protected] or visit newfoundlandlabrador.com to learn more.
Banking on PEI’s Acadian culture
Village Musical Acadien
56
November 2017
“Prince Edward Island is such an interesting place to visit
because you’ll feel at home upon arrival, whether you’ve been
here a hundred times or it’s your first trip,” says Tourism PEI’s
Grant MacRae. “I think that has a lot to do with how friendly
the people are here. Locals are so willing to share their expe-
riences, traditions and lifestyle with visitors.”
MacRae says two top spots to get a cultural lesson are the
Farmers’ Bank of Rustico museum and Village Musical Acadien.
Located 15 miles north of Charlottetown in Rustico, the
bank is a symbol of Acadian survival. As groups tour the bank,
which operated from 1864 to 1894 and is a National Historic
Site, they can learn more about the Acadians’ settlement of
the area and how the bank provided loans to island farmers
at reasonable interest rates to help them through hard times.
During the summer high season at Village Musical Acadien
in Abram Village, groups can enjoy daily musical program-
ming, experiential workshops, and the French and English
dinner theaters—each of which detail Acadian traditions that
have been passed down from generation to generation.
MacRae says no visit would be complete without seeing “Anne
of Green Gables–The Musical” at the Confederation Centre of the
Arts in Charlottetown. “Plus, in 2018 the center will also be fea-
turing ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ ‘Dutch Mason,’ a musical about the
famous Canadian blues icon, and ‘Stories from the Red Dirt Road,’
which features four Island stories woven together through song.”
For more information on PEI vacations, contact MacRae at
[email protected] or go to tourismpei.com.