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Spotlight - AlbertaAlberta Celebrates in 2005 |
Canada’s Rocky Mountain Playground is celebrating its Centenary in
2005. Its official birthday is September 1, 2005. The province has a
lot to celebrate with its rich native and Wild West history,
culture, and 2 billion year old geological history.
Alberta became a province and Edmonton was named the provincial
capital in an address by Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier on
September 1, 1905. The province was named after Princess Louise
Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.
Canada’s National Park system began in Alberta with the creation of
Banff National Park in 1885. Today Alberta boasts five national
parks: Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Elk Island, and Wood Buffalo. The
parks offer wilderness adventures and year round recreation for
visitors. Alberta has also been honoured with five UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, including Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Dinosaur
Provincial Park.
There are a number of themed trips developed by Travel Alberta in
their Official Vacation Guide 2005, divided into six geographical
regions:
• Edmonton & Area
• Calgary & Area
• Canadian Rocky Mountains
• Alberta South
• Alberta Central
• Alberta North
You can go mountaineering and hiking in the Rockies and Kananaskis
Country, dig for dinosaurs in the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial
Park, canoe a heritage river, shop in the world’s largest mall in
Edmonton, or play on one of province’s 280 golf courses. There are
caves to explore, all-terrain vehicle trails to blaze, natural
wonders to discover, and urban escapes where you can enjoy world
class dining, galleries, and museums.
The Canadian Rockies provide travellers some of the most
spectacular and dramatic scenery in the world. The legendary Banff –
Jasper Highway (Trans Canada from Banff, then north on Highway 93 on
the Icefields Parkway) is a trip not to be missed. On the Parkway
drive, travellers will be awestruck by the chain of massive icefields that run along the Continental Divide.
Calgary and Edmonton are two of the pet friendliest cities in
Canada. Their civic websites provide information on leash free parks
in and around their cities. Please note that due to wildlife living
and protected within the boundaries, pets must be leashed in
provincial and national parks unless otherwise posted.
The highlights, events and festivals around the province are too
numerous to mention. There are events planned throughout the year,
and specific events will take place during the “100 years in 10
days” celebrations, from August 27-September 5, 2005 at Fort
Calgary. There will be an unveiling of the Colonel Macleod statue,
and feature exhibitions. For more information,
click here.
For more information about travelling to Alberta and to order
regional guides,
click here.
Pets Can Stay Canada has over 25 accommodations in Alberta now
certified or just completing the certification process. For more
information,
click here.
Images courtesy of Travel Alberta.
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