Oh, Canada!

Every seasoned Canadian traveller knows that you don’t necessarily need to go abroad for adventure. Exciting destinations can be experienced without leaving your own country. With thousands of kilometres of opportunity, from coast to coast to coast, Canada offers an array of attractions, activities and accommodations, and some stunning scenery to boot. Much of it is accessible. Get out and enjoy!

Access Guide Canada
Most travellers with disabilities are aware that information and careful planning are key to any successful trip. But that doesn’t mean that the homework is hassle-free. By the time you’ve researched modes of travel, places to stay and things to do and see, you’re exhausted – and you haven’t even packed yet!

That’s why the Canadian Abilities Foundation created Access Guide Canada. This online community guide brings information about lodgings, attractions, transportation, restaurants, parks and more into one easily navigable site – complete with accessibility details. Choose your destination, click and go! Need a hotel room with a bath seat? A restaurant with Braille menus? A theatre with assistive listening devices?You’ll find it here – and new listings are being added every week! Visit www.abilities.ca to browse or add new listings.

Tourism Associations
Visiting a Canadian city? It’s worth a visit first to the website of its tourism association. Tourism websites often contain a host of ideas and information, including trip planners, upcoming events, top attractions, hotel directories and links to related sites. They also include image galleries – glorious pictures that enable you to picture yourself there! If you don’t have access to the Internet, not to worry. Many tourism associations will mail you a free travel kit – and they’re just a phone call away. Refer to the contact information in this article.

Take A Peek
Also included within each province listing below is just a taste of the adventures that await you. Let your interests, and accessibility needs, be your guide as you plan the perfect Canadian travel experience.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
1-800-563-6353
www.gov.nf.ca/tourism

Tourism St. John’s
Phone: (709) 576-8106
www.stjohns.ca/visitors/index.jsp

Of Interest:
Marine Atlantic Reservations Bureau
For a unique travel experience, ride the ocean highway! This ferry service to Newfoundland and Labrador is equipped with features for passengers with disabilities, including accessible cabins.
1-800-341-7981
www.marine-atlantic.ca

NOVA SCOTIA

Explore Nova Scotia
1-800-565-0000
www.explore.gov.ns.ca

Central Nova Tourist Association
1-800-895-1177
www.cnta.ns.ca

Destination Halifax
1-877-422-9334
www.destinationhalifax.com

Of Interest:
Peggy’s Cove
One of the most photographed sites in the country, this breathtakingly beautiful section of rocky coast includes Canada’s only working post office located inside a lighthouse. Also on site: an accessible gift shop and ice cream parlour.
Phone: (902) 823-2256
www.peggyscove.net

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Prince Edward Island Visitors Guide
1-888-PEI-PLAY (1-888-734-7529)
www.peiplay.com

Visit Charlottetown
1-800-955-1864
www.visitcharlottetown.com

Of Interest:
Prince Edward Island National Park
This beautiful park includes 40 km of Atlantic coastline. Stanhope Beach, the section of “coast with the most,” has a playground, picnic areas, walking trail and accessible family washroom.
Phone: (902) 672-6350
www.canadianparks.com

NEW BRUNSWICK

Tourism New Brunswick
1-800-561-0123
www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

Go Moncton
1-800-363-4558
www.gomoncton.com

Tourism Saint John
1-866-GO-FUNDY (1-800-463-8639)
www.tourismsaintjohn.com

Of Interest:
Town of Shediac
This coastal paradise is a community worth checking out! From its annual lobster festival to its sandcastle-building contest, from its restaurants to its lovely, family-friendly Parlee Beach with a host of accessible amenities, who wouldn’t love a visit?

QUEBEC

Bonjour Québec
1-877-BONJOUR (1-877-266-5687)
www.bonjourquebec.com/anglais

Quebec City and Area Tourism and Convention Bureau
Phone: (418) 641-6654
www.quebecregion.com

Tourism Montreal
1-877-BONJOUR (1-877-266-5687)
www.tourisme-montreal.org

Of Interest:
Kéroul
This non-profit organization offers resources and information for travellers with disabilities in Quebec, and advocates to improve access to travel opportunities across the province.
Phone: (514) 252-3104
www.keroul.qc.ca

ONTARIO

Ontario Tourism
1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746)
www.ontariotravel.net

Northern Ontario Tourism
Phone: (807) 768-6716
www.getnorth.com

Tourism Toronto
1-800-499-2514
www.torontotourism.com

Of Interest:
Ontario Tourism Network Online Manual
www.ontournet.com
Use this site to find travel and tour information for many corners of Ontario. Sample itineraries offer some great ideas for spending a few days in a specific region.

MANITOBA

Travel Manitoba
1-800-665-0040
www.travelmanitoba.com

Destination Winnipeg
1-800-665-0204
www.tourism.winnipeg.mb.ca

Parkland Tourism Association
1-888-528-6484
www.parklandtourism.com

Of Interest:
The Forks National Historic Site
Located at the junction of the Red and Assininiboine Rivers in Winnipeg, the Forks has been a gathering place for thousands of years. The site is host to more than 100 festivals every year as well as a large market.
Phone: (204) 957-7618

SASKATCHEWAN

Tourism Saskatchewan
1-877-2ESCAPE (1-877-237-2273)
www.sasktourism.com

Tourism Regina
1-800-661-5099
www.tourismregina.com

Tourism Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 242-1206
www.tourismsaskatoon.com

Of Interest:
Wascana Centre
This 930-hectare area in the heart of Regina is designated for cultural, educational, recreational and environmental activities. It includes several parks, such as a thriving marshland that teems with waterfowl, and a family amusement park.
Phone: (306) 522-3661
www.wascana.sk.ca

ALBERTA

Travel Alberta
1-800-ALBERTA (1-800-252-3782)
www.travelalberta.com

Tourism Calgary
1-800-661-1678
www.visitor.calgary.ab.ca

Edmonton Tourism
Phone: (780) 426-4715
www.tourism.ede.org

Of Interest:
Calgary Stampede
This year’s stampede is scheduled for July 9 to 18. Grab hold of the reins and get ready for a great ride!
Ticket office: 1-800-661-1767
www.calgarystampede.com

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Tourism British Columbia
1-800-HELLO-BC (1-800-435-5022)
www.hellobc.com

Tourism Vancouver
Phone: (604) 683-2000
Website: www.tourismvancouver.com

Tourism Victoria
1-800-663-3883
Website: www.tourismvictoria.com

Of Interest:
Bowen Lodge by the Sea
Nestled between mountains and water, this Bowen Island lodge is owned and operated by The Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Rates are modest, and all proceeds benefit the CNIB.
1-877-947-2129
www.bowenlodgebythesea.com

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES & NUNAVUT

Northwest Territories Arctic Tourism
1-800-661-0788
www.discovernorth.ca

Nunavut Tourism
1-866-NUNAVUT (1-866-686-2888)
www.nunavuttourism.com

Northern Frontier Visitors Association
1-877-881-4262
Website: www.northernfrontier.com

Of Interest:
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
This museum in downtown Yellowknife showcases Aboriginal and European history in the North, and explores northern Canadian flora and fauna. Video and sound are incorporated into a variety of its displays, and hands-on activities for kids are available. Entrance, parking and washrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Phone: (867) 873-7551
www.pwnhc.ca

YUKON

Yukon Tourism and Culture
1-800-661-0494
www.touryukon.com

Of Interest:
Lewes River Farms & Resort B&B
Phone: (867) 393-2728
www.bbcanada.com/lrfrbd
Located on the historic Yukon River in a private, wilderness setting, hand-hewn guest cabins offer several accessibility features – as well as the promise of a glimpse or two of wildlife. Close to the airport and open year-round.

GENERAL TRAVEL RESOURCES

Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality
This organization works to raise awareness of the needs of all travellers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities around the world.
Phone: (212) 447-7284
www.sath.org

Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA)
Find a travel agent to help you! This free service connects you with travel agents based on your location and your needs – including those who specialize in travelling with a disability.
Phone: (613) 237-3657
Website: www.acta.ca

Parks Canada
Take a virtual tour of Canada’s parks and historic sites, whether close to home or across the country, or call the toll-free number with inquiries.
1-888-773-8888
www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca

Hotel Association of Canada
The association’s Access Canada training program helps equip hotel staff to serve customers with disabilities. It includes a course manual and either a VHS tape or CD-Rom.
Phone: (613) 237-7149
www.hotelassociation.ca

WEBSITES & USER GROUPS

Access to Travel
www.accesstotravel.gc.ca
This Government of Canada site provides information on accessible transportation and travel across Canada.

The disABLED Traveler Discussion Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedisabledtraveler
All about accessible travel issues and resources.

Gimp on the Go
www.gimponthego.com
An online disability and travel magazine.

Travelin’ Talk
www.travelintalk.net
This is a global network of people with disabilities who share knowledge about their own communities and help other members who are visiting or passing through town.