IBAAW

Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Although I moved here when I was seven years old, I consider Calgary to be my hometown! I've done most of my schooling here, and I know the city exceptionally well! Calgary is a fast-growing city with one million people and too many vacant job positions! We're known for our "Stampede," which is a carnival/rodeo held every summer on the grounds in Victoria Park, near the downtown core. It's the best time of year- you can eat as much as humanly possible for free during the ten day run, if you know where to go!

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada: I was lucky enough to live in Kelowna for three months during Katimavik! It's a lovely little city, even if the downtown is a little rough around the edges. It is absolutely gorgeous, surrounded by mountains and Lake Okanagan. The climate is really nice too. I wore sweaters for most of the winter! The people there were some of the nicest I'd met in Canada!

Ottawa/ Orleans, Ontario, Canada: Technically, during Katimavik, I lived in Orleans, which is a suburb of Ottawa. However, I spent as much time as humanly possible in the city! I loved visiting Parliament, especially watching Question Period and viewing the Library! It was a Social Studies nerd's dream come true! We also got to meet the Governor General during our stay, which was quite the event, and something I'll always remember. The tulips at the Tulip Festival were absolutely gorgeous! I wish I'd taken more photos! Ottawa is definitely one of my favourite cities, and I can't wait to visit again!


La Pocatière, Québec, Canada: La Poc is the cutest little town in Quebec! Unfortunately, I could not find any photos that give it justice! It's very french, but the Pocatois, as they are called, are so nice, and try so hard to help if you can't understand them. I obviously never had a problem with it, other than their strong-ish accent, but it was cool to see them put forth the effort to help anglophones in my group learn their language. I love this town. I love the intimacy of it, and all the things that make it different from the big city I live in. I also would like to send my kids to Collège Ste. Anne-de-la-Pocatière, no matter how much it costs!

Québec, Le Québec, Canada: La Poc is less than two hours from Québec, so naturally, we went to visit. The second I stepped into Vieux-Québec, I fell in love. It is absolutely drenched in history, surrounded by stone walls complete with canons, and containing old-world architecture, and monuments honouring some of the most important people and events of our century. If I ever leave the West, this is where I hope to end up. Somewhere within walking distance of the medieval shop, and the three story McDonalds, complete with fire places.