CHRISTMAS IN
QUEBEC CITYO
ne can only imagine how Tom
Wilson must have felt as the
fi rst white Canadian taken by
Indigenous guides to ‘the lake
of little fi shes’ in 1882.
“As God is my judge,” he said, “I never in all
my explorations saw such a matchless scene.”
Since then, generations of adventurers have
come to know the incomparable beauty of the
emerald gem known as Lake Louise, in the heart
of Banff National Park.
The Rocky Mountain wilderness is one of
Canada’s most spectacular destinations, especially
in winter. It’s the season to be jolly, and Christmas
is white magic.
The pocket-sized resort town of Banff lights up
like a carnival when Santa Claus comes to town.
It’s impossible to ignore the adventurous spirit
when forest peaks are swathed in snowy cloaks
and the call of the wild means that, sooneror later, decisions must be made. Do you strap
on snowshoes or crampons, ride toboggans or
snowmobiles? Do you jingle bells on a horse-drawn
sleigh; ski on one of Canada’s world-class ski
resorts; go dog sledding, cross-country skiing,
ice-skating, ice fi shing, or just head for the ice
bar and a boozy hot chocolate?
The smell of roasting chestnuts and hot
maple syrup hangs heavy in the Banff Christmas
Market, where old world melds with new world,
in a Yuletide pageant of artisan products from
the Bow Valley.
If you’re not a winter sports enthusiast, you
might rather lounge beside a crackling fi reside
in a castle at the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake
Louise or the Banff Springs hotel, or settle for the
rustic mountain retreat of Deer Lodge. You can
always snap-chill a wine bottle in the snow that’s
powdering your windowsill and imagine what life
might have been as a trailblazing pioneer.LET IT SNOW
Pack your appreciation for snow-capped mountains, cobblestone streets,
local spirits and traditional festive fare for Christmas in Canada.
A GOURMET TRAVELLER PROMOTIONLOVE IT LIKE A LOCAL
It’s a cool Yule in the far northern frontier
of Quebec City, too. The remnants of stone
ramparts in this ancient turreted town mark
the foundations of the only walled city in
Canada. The cross-pollination of French
and English history here has evolved into
a joyously unique place where tales are
entwined with tinsel.
The city is crowned by a French chateau- Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – a hotel
that looks like a gothic wedding cake perched
on the cliff top above the ice floes of the St
Lawrence River.
Snow wafts over silver church spires and
clings to the steeply pitched roofs of the stone
merchant houses that date from the 18th and
19th centuries. The cobblestoned streets of the
historic district of Old Quebec (Vieux Quebec)
must be the prettiest on Earth, and certainly,
UNESCO fell for its charms, classifying the
city as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
The lower town is a warren of narrow
alleys bristling with galleries, wine bars
and bistros that are pungent with the scent
of Parisian epicure. In one of Canada’s oldest
buildings, at Aux Anciens Canadiens, the
feasting is a smorgasbord of seasonal
specialities: bison fondue, tourtiere (game
meat pie), duck confit and the obligatory
poutine (fries slathered in cheese curd
and gravy).
What’s not to love in this fairytale city
filled with jovial locals who rightfully feel
proud of ancient streets lined with excellent
restaurants and glittering boutiques. It’s
all there, dusted in diamond snowflakes - destination Christmas in Canada’s most
beautiful season.