laid-back, cosmopolitan cities are complemented by remote, quirky outposts. Whether you’re a hardcore adrenaline junkie looking for a backcountry adventure, an explorer heading out on a big road trip, a city lover hunting for cutting-edge culture and fine cuisine or a combination of all the above, Canada ticks all the boxes.

The landscape is diverse, ranging from the Arctic tundra of the north to the great prairies of the central area. Westward are the Rocky Mountains, and in the southeast are the Great Lakes, the St Lawrence River and Niagara Falls. The country is divided into 10 provinces and three territories.

Currency

Canadian Dollar (CAD; symbol C$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of C$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of C$2 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 cents. Although the 1c coin (or penny) remains legal tender, as of 2013 it is being phased out of circulation.

Electricity

110-120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style flat two-pin and three-pin (grounded) plugs are standard.

2020

New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Good Friday: 10 April 2020
Victoria Day: 18 May 2020*
Canada Day (Republic Day): 1 July 2020
Labor Day: 7 September 2020
Thanksgiving Day: 12 October 2020*
Remembrance Day: 11 November 2020*
Christmas Day: 25 December 2020

All information subject to change.

Calgary’s international arts festival is, rather unusually, held in midwinter. International and Canadian acts stage experimental theatre, avant-garde dance shows, poetry readings and musical performances. One of the highlights is the annual 10-Minute Play Festival in which local up-and-coming theatre groups perform 10-minute plays with just 24 hours’ notice, the only inspiration being a prop and one line of dialogue.

Bringing laughs to Calgary since 2001, FunnyFest aims to improve your mental and physical well-being through stand-up comedy. Each year, Western Canada’s largest comedy festival hosts around 70 acts, many of them Albertan born and bred, and claims to deliver over 11,000 punchlines. Shows generally last around one and a half to two hours during which you’re guaranteed to see at least six performers.

Each July, for 10 days, Calgary hosts one of the grandest celebrations of cowboy culture in the world. Over one million visitors, most of them in cowboy hats and boots, descend on the city for a week and a half of chuck wagon races, rodeos (the roughest in North America), parades, square dancing and free pancake breakfasts. By night, there is music, cabarets, dancing, fireworks and a lively bar scene. The main venue for the Calgary Stampede is Stampede Park (complete with an amusement park, concert halls, bars, restaurants, animal displays and a range of stalls), although the festive atmosphere infects the entire city.

Spread out a picnic blanket in Shaw Millennium Park to enjoy the best of North America’s blues artists. Several acts take to the outdoor stage each day, then the partying continues with late-night dancing at the nearby Kerby Centre. Aspiring blues musicians can sign up to singer-songwriter and instrumental workshops. The organisers also run a Midwinter Bluesfest in late February.

Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this steadily growing indoor theatre celebration presents local, national and international acts, some experienced, others new to the fringe scene. There’s a vibrant assortment of music, dance, theatre, kids’ productions and comedy. What makes this festival especially intriguing is that performers are selected by lottery, so expect the unexpected. All shows take place in the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood, with venues a short walk from one another.

Thousands throng to Elliston Park to watch Calgary’s late-summer skies light up in this international fireworks competition, with several countries competing for the ‘Best Of’ and ‘People’s Choice’ awards. As well as extraordinary pyrotechnic displays, there are live musical performances, cultural pavilions reflecting Alberta’s diverse ethnic communities, a café serving international specialities, a night market and a kiddie zone with bouncy castle, story area and crafts.

Established in 1999, Calgary’s film festival is fast becoming one of Canada’s largest. The event screens more than 200 films from over 60 countries in 12 days. There’s every genre imaginable, from aboriginal, action and animation to family, fantasy and food. The most outstanding films are selected by juries, with glitzy award presentations and gala evenings all part of the fun.

Calgary shares this respected literary festival with nearby mountain town Banff. An impressive line-up of over 70 authors arrives in Alberta each October, leading an exciting range of discussions, debates and readings in both English and French. Previous participating writers have included Margaret Atwood, Annie Proulx, John Irving and Alexander McCall Smith. At WordFeast, you can join top authors for dinner in one of the city’s best restaurants.

Heritage Park opens up for weekends in the run-up to Christmas with an old-fashioned, winter wonderland-themed event. This is a real family affair, with horse-drawn carriage rides, carol singing in the church and live historical theatre. Children (and grown-up kids too) can pass on their requests to Santa Claus and pat his reindeer. The Haskayne Mercantile Block is also open for a spot of Christmas shopping.