Employment and Study

The resort towns of Whistler and Banff are especially popular with young workers from across Canada and beyond. Aside from Help Wanted ads in local papers, a good place to start looking for work is the Whistler Chamber of Commerce (click on Employment Resources at www.whistlerchamber.com) and, in Banff, the Job Resource Centre (www.jobresourcecentre.com).

International visitors wishing to work or study in Canada must obtain authorization before entering the country. Authorization to work will only be granted if no qualified Canadians are available for the work in question. Applications for work and study are available from all Canadian embassies and must be submitted with a nonrefundable processing fee. The Canadian government has a reciprocal agreement with Australia for a limited number of holiday work visas to be issued each year. Australian citizens aged 30 and under are eligible; contact your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. For general information on immigrating to Canada contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca).

Visitors with Disabilities

A lack of mobility should not deter you from traveling to western Canada, but you should definitely do some research before leaving home.

If you haven’t traveled extensively, start by doing some research at the website of the Access-Able Travel Source (www.access-able.com), where you will find databases of specialist travel agencies and lodgings in western Canada that cater to travelers with disabilities. Flying Wheels Travel (507/451-5005, www.flyingwheelstravel.com) caters solely to the needs of travelers with disabilities.

The Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (212/447-7284, www.sath.org) supplies information on tour operators, vehicle rentals, specific destinations, and companion services. For frequent travelers, the annual membership fee (adult US$45, senior US$30) is well worthwhile. Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com) is a U.S. quarterly magazine dedicated to travelers with special needs.

Access to Travel (800/465-7735, www.accesstotravel.gc.ca) is an initiative of the Canadian government that includes information on travel within and between Canadian cities, including Calgary and Edmonton. The website also has a lot of general travel information for those with disabilities. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (800/563-2642, www.cnib.ca) offers a wide range of services from its Vancouver (604/431-2121) and Edmonton (780/488-4871) offices. Finally, the Canadian Paraplegic Association (613/723-1033 or 877/324-3611, www.canparaplegic.org), with chapter offices in Vancouver and Calgary, is another good source of information.

Traveling with Children

Regardless of whether you’re traveling with either toddlers or teens, you will come upon decisions affecting everything from where you stay to your choice of activities. Luckily for you, western Canada is very family-friendly, with a variety of indoor and outdoor attractions aimed specifically at the younger generation.

Admission and tour prices for children are included throughout the destination chapters of this book. As a general rule, these reduced prices are for children aged 6–16 years. For two adults and two or more children, always ask about family tickets. Children under 6 nearly always get in free. Most hotels and motels will happily accommodate children, but always try to reserve your room in advance and let the reservations desk know the ages of your kids. Often, children stay free in major hotels, and in the case of some major chains—such as Holiday Inn—eat free also. Generally, bed-and-breakfasts aren’t suitable for children, and in some cases don’t accept kids at all. Ask ahead.

As a general rule when it comes to traveling with children, let them help you plan the trip, looking at websites and reading up on the province together. To make your vacation more enjoyable if you’ll be spending a lot of time on the road, rent a minivan (all major rental agencies have a supply). Don’t forget to bring along favorite toys and games from home—whatever you think will keep your kids entertained when the joys of sightseeing wear off.

The websites of Tourism British Columbia (www.hellobc.com) and Travel Alberta (www.travelalberta.com) have sections devoted to children’s activities. Another handy source of information is Kid Friendly (604/926-0061, www.kidfriendlycanada.com), a non-profit organization that has compiled an online database of, you guessed it, kid-friendly attractions, lodgings, and restaurants throughout Canadian provinces, including British Columbia. The website even has room for your children to write about their vacation. Another useful online tool is Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com).

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition