Quaint, friendly and absolutely delicious. There are many ways to describe the historic British Columbian capital of Victoria, a small city with a very big heart. It’s often referred to as the highlight on any Canadian itinerary – it’s certainly one of mine – and anyone would surely agree once they walk the serene Ogden…
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A surprising mix of artists descended on the Budweiser Stage in Toronto tonight, with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds shortly into their set when I arrived, after an earlier set from openers AFI. What does link these acts though are ever growing, rabid fanbases. You mat not feel like you’ve heard much new music from these…
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Transiting from a domestic to an international flight at Toronto’s Pearson International, as we’ve talked about in the past, can prove to be a bit of a nightmare. But how does it compare when you’ve got to connect from international to domestic? You may not have to clear US customs post security, but you still…
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Saying a hotel had a “motel vibe” used to be a dirty word, but now it’s a bit chic, with clever hoteliers renovating outdated accommodation options into hotels bursting with sophistication and modern comforts – all with a touch of nostalgia. One such hotel is The Burrard, located less than 15 minutes walk from Vancouver…
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As one of the top rated boutique hotels in Victoria, British Columbia, The Oswego Hotel gets by beautifully on the simple pillars of good hospitality, great guest rooms, and excellent food and wine. Although you’d expect nothing less; as BC’s capital and one of the most pleasant small cities in the world (something that’s been…
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It it feels like Sydney trio Middle Kids haven’t stopped touring the globe over the last few years, you’re probably not wrong. It’s been one success after another for the group – and a lot of it has been happening quietly overseas. Currently, the troupe are on the road in North America supporting Local Natives,…
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Last night in Toronto, Canada, iconic New York group The Strokes officially kicked off their 2019 tour – their first since 2017. The headline show was a part of the band’s “global comeback” that also saw the group play a surprise, intimate warm up show in Los Angeles earlier this month. The gig, which kicked…
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Back in 2009, a band by the name of Passion Pit – hailing from Boston, Massachusetts – made waves around the world with their debut LP Manners, just as their debut EP Chunk of Change had done the year prior with tracks like “Sleepyhead” and my personal favourite, “Cuddle Fuddle”. But Manners was truly a…
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There may not be a hotel group as iconic in Canada as Fairmont. From Quebec and Whistler, to Lake Louise and Vancouver, the defining locations of this inspiring country are almost always accompanied by one of Fairmont’s historic properties. The group boasts an enviable claim on location, thanks to its history and position in Canada’s…
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Fresh off the release of the first part of their two part record Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, UK quartet Foals are on a world tour that tonight saw them play Toronto venue Rebel supported by Canada’s Preoccupations and Atlanta outfit Omni. First up, three piece Omni were singing songs with entertaining lyrics like…
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Late last year, I flew with Canadian carrier WestJet from Halifax, Nova Scotia to LA via Toronto. It’s a long journey – about as far from one side of North America to the other as you can get. And there’s no way to do it direct. You start off with a two hour flight from Halifax…
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In a spontaneous, last minute decision, tonight I attended the latest arena spectacular by rock legends Muse in Toronto, Canada. The show comes off the back of their latest record Simulation Theory, with the tour in question given the same name. Hype articles have been floating around over the last few weeks talking about how the current arena show…
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There are a string of new budget carriers popping up in Canada, but the two major players in the market remain Westjet and Air Canada; with each airline placing the “Encore” and “Express” brands alongside some of their shorter routes. Towards the end of last year, I tried out the service from WestJet Encore, on…
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Back when I lived in Vancouver, the only real option of getting between downtown Vancouver and Vancouver Island – home to British Columbia’s capital Victoria – was by way of a large, run-of-the-mill ferry operated by BC Ferries. It’s relatively affordable – at under $20 each way – takes about 90 minutes and has food…
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One would reasonably expect that Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver is entirely worthy of the opulent luxury brand and its reliable reputation. It is, after all, Shangri-La’s North American flagship and – so far – only one of two on the continent, with the other being in Toronto. In 2008, it was the first to open; slightly…
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Canada, stereotypically known for its love of hockey and maple syrup, is also home to some incredible bands. We were recently over on their fine shores to attend the conferences BreakOut West and Halifax Pop Explosion, and have returned with a compilation of seven bands from this great country that you need to listen to…
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There was a time in the travel industry when saying you ran a motel was anything but an attractive quality. Now, all over the world, clever hoteliers are bringing inspired re-fits to motels, helping not just reframe what we know a motel to be, but to go so far as to make it, dareisay, “chic”….
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Earlier this month, I was flying around Canada with WestJet and Air Canada, long the only Commercial players in the Canadian domestic market. Now there are finally budget (or “ultra low-cost”) airlines entering the country, with Westjet’s Swoop (like Jetstar to Australia’s Qantas) having commenced flights in June, Jetlines commencing flights next year and Flair…
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Located “just three kilometres from downtown Toronto”, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport sits on an island off the city’s centre; accessible by ferry or a relatively new underground walkway. And it may just be the world’s most conveniently located airport, as they go out of their way to make sure every passenger feels like a…
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The final three months of 2018 bring plenty of opportunities for gastronomic tourism (the best kind of travel), whether you’re heading over to North America, travelling around Asia or just keen on a road trip in your backyard. These six highly curated food festivals are well worth getting off the couch for, from historic long-running…
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Whether wizard, witch or vampire everyone is invited. On 27th October, Network Canada’s famous Halloween shaker Halloween International – Devil’s Night is set to return to Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel. In addition to 3 DJ areas, the party has several Canadian activities lined up for guests, from bull-riding (Calgary Stampede style) to snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies. They’ll…
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Tommy and the Commies are a punk band from Ontario, Canada, and have just delivered their debut project Here Come. Even as most punk releases go, this project is quite short, weighing in at just 16 minutes. But it makes up for its brevity with some excellent pacing, writing, and instrumental work. The project starts…
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Anyone planning on exploring Canada’s fall season would be wise to head along to Whistler’s 22nd annual Cornucopia. The world renowned event, taking place from 8th to 18th November on the cusp of the town’s ski season at the iconic Whistler Blackcomb, is often recognised as one of North America’s most unique and diverse food…
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Kicking off next week, Australian Singer-Songwriter Julia Jacklin is touring some massive venues across North America with Swedish sister-Duo First Aid Kit. Starting on September 9th, the two groups will play no less than 19 shows together across the States and Canada, with one of their Brooklyn dates already sold out. For those unfamiliar with…
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We got the chance to experience Taylor Swift in Toronto this weekend, and in anticipation of her imminent tour of Australia, we’re counting down the 5 reasons its a show not to be missed… and a look at the songs she played along the way. Indoor fireworks!! Selling out Toronto’s Rogers Centre two nights in…
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One of the most exciting Canadian outfits right now goes by the name of Partner. Led by Lucy Niles and Josée Caron, the Ontario group recently were short listed for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize (the Canadian equivalent of the AMP), won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize (the Canadian equivalent of the Vanda & Young Songwriting…
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Winnipeg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian Provence of Manitoba, and is known as the “Gateway to the West” thanks in part to its location on the country’s rail network; sitting almost exactly halfway between Toronto and Vancouver on the itinerary of the iconic train experience that is “The Canadian”. Recently I…
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Audacious is definitely the right word to start with when it comes to describing the Mathieu Denis and Simon Lavoie-directed Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves. At 180 minutes, it’s a leviathan of a film that often comes across as equal parts provocative and indecipherable. The central narrative here centers on…
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Put in simple terms, Below Her Mouth is a story about a girl meets a girl except that the latter is engaged to a boy. It’s a tender lesbian romance that showcases the sexual awakening of one of its lead characters. But it’s also one that could do with a lot more conversation and a…
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As we enter the second half of the annual Ottawa Bluesfest in Canada (running until 17th July), we’re bringing you the second half of our feature on a summer’s weekend in Canada’s capital city. A couple of weeks ago we filled you in on the places to eat, drink and shop, and now this week…
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