Canada

Originally settled by First Nations and Inuit peoples, Canada is now home to over 35 million citizens. It runs along the northern border of the United States, and generally experiences cold to severely cold climates, though southern regions do receive warmer weather during the summer. Major urban areas are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Quebec, the latter of which is primarily French-speaking.

Economically, Canada is buoyed by the service sector, which includes retail, financial services, communications, and real estate services. Up to three-quarters of the population is employed by the service sector. Other top industries in Canada are mining, quarrying, oil extraction, manufacturing, health care, and education.

Culturally, this country offers a mosaic experience of the diverse ethnic groups who live here. Although its culture tends to be dominated by British and French culture – thanks to its history of British and French rule – the country is also heavily influenced by other indigenous and immigrant culture. Some of Canada’s world-renowned cultural icons include Michael Ondaatje, acclaimed novelist who won the Man Booker Prize; Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood lead star of Deadpool; and Celine Dion, whose singing career skyrocketed after Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” in 1998.

Apart from its high standard of living and diverse communities, Canada also offers stunning scenic views from selected sites. Niagara Falls is arguably the country’s most famous attraction, with fierce, white showers that straddle the Canada-America border. History buffs might prefer Vieux-Quebec, otherwise known as “Old Quebec,” which was listed as a UNESCO heritage site in 1985. Of course, no trip to Canada would be complete without visiting the resort village of Whistler. Outdoor fanatics will find their fix in the form of mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding, while domestic souls might prefer a luxurious dining experience against the backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery.

Whistler

Located on the northern west coast of the American continent, Whistler is a resort municipality in British Columbia, Canada. This ski village is best known for its winter sports, most notably alpine skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling, covering an area of more than 3,000 hectares. Nearly 10,000 people live here, most of them involved in the town’s tourism sector.

Flanked by Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler Village is the central neighborhood of the town, filled with a myriad of sights and activities. Here, you can shop for high-quality winter clothing, attend open-air concerts, rent mountain bikes, and visit cultural hotspots like Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and Audain Art Museum. If you’re not afraid of heights, you might even want to take a ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, which is a 11-minute cable ride from the peak of Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain.

Another major attraction here is the Whistler Film Festival, held annually in December. Touted as the “mini-Sundance” for Canada, this festival celebrates all things film, having held exclusive film premieres for Carol and Rehearsal. This Whistler vacationland has also been the film location for White Fang 2, The Grey, and the first two parts of The Twilight Saga.