Alberta

A Canadian Honeymoon
Canadian Honeymoon

Canadian Honeymoon

Not everyone has the money to go to some exotic overseas location on their honeymoon. There’s plenty of great places right here in Canada that don’t require a passport or long flights across the country. Spend your time exploring this beautiful country instead of traveling to some remote destination where you have to spend the first day recovering from jet leg. Here are some ideas you may not have thought about for your post-wedding vacation.

Whitehorse, Yukon

Come see the Northern Lights and enjoy the most romantic view on the planet when you visit this capital city. With a population of less than 30,000, you’ll have plenty of privacy for romantic walks along the historic sites or at the outdoor attractions. There are a number of trails available for both motorized and non-motorized travel. For a peaceful honeymoon in the great outdoors, Whitehorse is a great place.

Montreal, Quebec

The second largest city in Canada, Montreal is the ninth largest in North America. It’s home to all types of music, but is probably best known for producing jazz musicians. There’s plenty of art museums and architecture if you want to get some culture on your honeymoon. Montreal is also home to a number of sports teams. Depending on the season, you’ll have lots of options for great outings to make exciting memories.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Home to the highest tidal range in the world, Bay of Fundy is a romantic getaway for brides and grooms everywhere. Take a walk along the beach or kayak down one of the many rivers when the tide is high. Visit a winery for a special bottle to take home, or enjoy whale watching during the right season. Bikes are available for rental to enjoy the rustic villages and trails during the day. Small communities offer unique restaurants and local artisan work for souvenirs.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is the eighth largest city in Canada, but named as one of the top five cities worldwide for livability. You’ll have indoor and outdoor options, with luxurious accommodations developed when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics. Art, music, and shopping are close at hand if you want to experience an urban getaway, while skiing and other outdoor sports complexes are within driving range for an active day of fun. You can explore the beach or the forest, both in the same day if you like.

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

For a natural vacation near glacial formations, the fishing village of Peggy’s Cove offers fresh seafood, lighthouses, and ocean walks. Stay at one of the inns or cottages along the beach to wake up to a sunrise over the bay or enjoy the sunset right from your own dock. There’s plenty to do and see, or you could just pack a picnic and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.

Quebec City, Quebec

As one of the oldest cities in North America, Quebec City is one of the prettiest with a number of historical landmarks. Enjoy the Parc Aquarium du Quebec on one of your dates. Come see hundreds of animals unique to North America and learn about the conservation efforts to protect the environment. For a more urban getaway, go shopping or enjoy the numerous nightclubs. If you enjoy sports, you’ll find professional teams of all kinds. There’s so much to see and do to make memories in Quebec City when you’re on your honeymoon.

Banff, Alberta

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff, Alberta is a small town in the Alberta Rockies. It sits 1,400 meters above sea level, making it the community with the second highest elevation in Alberta. Come for the hot springs or the outdoor sports. It’s a resort town with plenty to keep the two of you busy. There are a number of hotels and cottages offering accommodations all year long.

New Guidelines in Alberta for the LGBTQ Community Moving Forward

ThinkstockPhotos-470428983Alberta has been working toward making its schools safer for all students, especially for students in the LGBTQ community. When you consider that more than two-thirds of the LGBTQ students don’t feel safe in the schools, it’s about time that the government implemented guidelines that give all kids respect, no matter where they go to school. Bill 10: An Act to Amend the Alberta Bill of Rights to Protect our Children was passed in March 2015 to protect all students, but mostly the LGBTQ community.

Parents Have Questions

The Calgary Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) launched a website to help parents, students, and educators get answers to legitimate questions. It’s located at www.UnderstandingTheGuidelines.ca. This resource helps dispel myths and misconceptions about LGBTQ students. One of the most common misconceptions seems to be that boys will just decide that they want to be a girl to use the girls’ facility. Being a transgendered student goes far deeper than simply using the facilities.

The guidelines are not to give students a pass to behave disrespectfully but are to help all students feel safe and supported while they are at school. It’s more than just providing safe access to facilities; it’s about keeping records that maintain a student’s privacy. Using the correct terminology when referring to a person’s gender identity is another important aspect that cannot be overlooked.

Opponents to the Bill

The publicly funded Catholic schools have maintained that they should not have to comply with the guidelines, with Calgary Catholic Bishop Fred Henry being the most prominent opponent. However, a 2015 survey found that Catholics are very supportive of the policy. There was concern that the Alberta legislature would not pass the bill that protected the rights of all children, but in the end, only two MLAs who are members of the PC party opposed it. The majority supported the bill, but that doesn’t indicate that things will change overnight for these students.

Show Your Support for Equal Rights

Even though the bill passed last year, in March 2015, it’s important to let your MLA know that you support Bill 10. The CSHC website offers a sample letter that you can send to your MLA to let that person understand that the community stands behind this decision. You can also let the school board and staff know that you support the new guidelines. On the CSHC site, there’s a link to find your school board contact.

Parents should also talk to their kids. Use the resources on Understanding the Guidelines from the CSHC site to open a dialogue. Educating yourself is the first step to creating kids who are welcoming and inclusive. You don’t need to have family members who are part of the LGBTQ community to be open and talk. As a parent leader, when you see discrimination happening in the school community, you should step up and stop it.

Students can also take a stand against the discrimination in the LGBTQ community. First, students should not use derogatory language that hurts someone. Help your student report behavior that he or she sees to the proper authorities. Sadly, bullying not only happens during the day while kids are in school, it’s moved to social media. It might be unreasonable for schools to monitor Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, but posts can certainly be reported to the platform being used. Students should also understand that it’s okay to block bullies and unfriend other students because of their actions.

Alberta schools are working hard to make schools a safer place, but change will only happen within each individual. Use the information available to help understand why it’s so important for each child to have respect at school. Share this with your family to make a difference within your own circle. Together, we can change the attitudes around us.