GENERAL INFORMATION ON CANADA

Currency
Canada's currency is the Canadian dollar. Denominations under five dollars are coins, including the "Loonie" (one-dollar coin) and "Two-nie" (two-dollar coin).

U.S. dollars are accepted in most establishments, although change from transactions will be given in Canadian currency and exchange rates will differ with each merchant.

ATMs are available in most banks, hotels and shopping malls. Cash from ATMs is dispensed in Canadian currency.

Currency exchange is available at banks and kiosks throughout the city, as well as in the airport.

Tipping
A 15-20 percent tip on the pretax bill is a standard expression of appreciation when dining. Tips are also expected for services such as haircuts, shoe shines and taxi rides: 15-20 percent is standard in these situations as well.

Taxes and rebates
A 7 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged on most transactions in Canada. Goods may also be subject to provincial sales tax.

Foreign visitors to Canada can apply for a rebate on the GST that is paid on accommodations (up to 30 nights per visit) and on goods purchased in Canada and exported within 60 days of the purchase. Be sure to keep your receipts—you'll need to have them validated by Canada Customs at the airport or border crossing when you leave.

For more information about the visitors tax refund and to obtain an application form, go to www.cra.gc.ca/visitors or call 800-668-4748 (within Canada) or 902-432-5608 (from outside Canada). Some companies offer services to assist with rebates, including Global Refund (www.globalrefund.ca, 905-791-9099) and Premiere Tax- Free Services (Canada) Inc. (www.taxfree-services.ca, 905-270-2702).

Holidays
Banks, liquor stores and government offices observe these holidays, as do most stores and business offices:

	2005	2006	2007
New Year's Day	Jan. 1	Jan. 1	Jan. 1
Good Friday	Mar. 25	Apr. 14	Apr. 6
Easter Sunday	Mar. 27	Apr. 16	Apr. 8
Easter Monday	Mar. 28	Apr. 17	Apr. 9
Victoria Day	May 23	May 22	May 21
Canada Day	July 1	July 1	July 1
Civic holiday	Aug. 1	Aug. 7	Aug. 6
Labour Day	Sept. 5	Sept. 4	Sept. 3
Thanksgiving Day	Oct. 10	Oct. 9	Oct. 8
Remembrance Day	Nov. 11	Nov. 11	Nov. 11
Christmas Day	Dec. 25	Dec. 25	Dec. 25
Boxing Day	Dec. 26	Dec. 26	Dec. 26

Border and customs
Citizens of the United States do not need a passport to enter Canada, but should carry proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, as well as a photo ID.

However, new U.S. customs rules are being phased in. Beginning December 31, 2006, travelers entering the U.S. by air or sea will be required to show a passport; beginning December 31, 2007, travelers entering the U.S. by land will be required to show a passport.

Every 30 days, returning U.S. citizens are allowed to bring back $400 (retail value) in merchandise duty-free, provided they have been out of the U.S. for 48 hours. This amount can include one carton of cigarettes, 100 cigars (not Cuban), two kilograms of smoking tobacco and one liter of liquor.

If the length of the stay is less than 48 hours, $200 in merchandise may be taken back to the U.S. dutyfree (including up to five ounces of alcohol and 50 cigarettes). Goods bought in Canada but manufactured in the U.S. are duty-free and not included in the basic exemption. Original handmade crafts and works of art are also exempt; however, a receipt of purchase may be required. For further information on U.S. Customs regulations, call 905-676-2606.

CALGARY

Best hotels for a business stay
Fairmont Palliser
133-9 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 2M3
403-262-1234
www.fairmont.com

Hyatt Regency
700 Centre Street SE
Calgary, AB T2G 5P6
403-717-1234
www.hyattregencycalgary.com

Westin Calgary
320-4 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 2S6
403-266-1611
www.westin.com/calgary

Hotel that captures the city's character
Kensington Riverside Inn
1126 Memorial Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3E3
403-228-4442
www.kensingtonriversideinn.com

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
For lunch:
The Metropolitan Grill
318 8th Avenue SW
Stephen Avenue Walk
Calgary, AB T2B 2Y9
403-263-5432

For dinner, the private rooms at:
Centini
160 8th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0K6
403-269-1600
www.centini.com

Vintage Chophouse
322 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0C5
403-262-7262
www.vintagechophouse.com

Best way to spend a free hour
If it's during the lunch hour, go for a stroll down Stephen Avenue Walk and take in some of the local colors as people walk by on their lunch break, or walk to the Eau Claire and Prince's Island area.

At other times, you could take a ride to the top of the Calgary Tower (www.calgarytower.com) to take in the view of downtown Calgary and the Rocky Mountains to the West, or check out the wares in one of Calgary's trendy shopping districts, either Uptown 17 (17th Avenue SW), Kensington (along Kensington Road, between 14th and 10th Streets NW) or Inglewood (9th Avenue SE).

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
There are many day trip options available using Calgary as a home base, including driving down to Drumheller, to see the Canadian Badlands, home of the Tyrrell Museum, where countless dinosaur bones have been found. Or get outdoors in Bragg Creek or Kananaskis Country, which are less than an hour's drive from downtown Calgary. You can hike, mountain bike, picnic or just inhale that fresh mountain air.

Worth planning a trip around
The Calgary Stampede
(www.calgarystampede.com)
July 7-16, 2006
Visit www.tourismcalgary.com for a complete list of events.

Airport savvy
Airlines do not currently offer express lanes. However, travelers running late for their flights will be accommodated. The usual tips apply here—wear shoes that are easy to take off and on, and pack your jacket in your carry-on bag or be ready to remove it in the security line.

Calgary International Airport has a street pricing policy, so all shops and services must benchmark their prices to a comparable off-airport location. Retail outlets range from the standard airport newsstands and bookstores to very local, national and international brands: Heritage Trading Post, National Geographic, Who's Who in the Zoo, Harley Davidson and much more.

The ORA Oxygen Spa and Massage Garage provides a full range of services to rejuvenate the weary traveler. Oxygen treatments, showers, pedicures, manicures and massages are all available.

Spaceport is an education and entertainment facility located in the main terminal adjacent to the Destinations Food Court. Flight simulators, space exploration labs and other hands-on exhibits will make your time fly by at the airport.

Dining choices are many: fine dining at the Delta Calgary Airport Hotel, which is connected via skywalk to the terminal (403-291-2600, www.deltahotels.com), Kelsey's Restaurant, Montana's Cookhouse, Cheers, Chili's, Tim Horton's, Harvey's and a variety of food court outlets are located both pre- and post-security throughout the terminal and cover a wide range of menu choices and prices.

Quiet corners in the terminal or adjacent Delta Calgary Airport Hotel can be found by asking one of the White Hat Volunteer Hosts identified throughout the terminal by their distinctive red vests and Western hats.

Data ports, work stations and electrical outlets are available throughout the terminal. The entire terminal is also a Telus wireless hotspot, available on a commercial basis.

Ground transportation
Metered taxi, hotel shuttles and downtown limo services are available curbside on the Arrivals level. A premium flat-rate Town Car sedan service is also available on-demand curbside.

Car rental outlets are in the Rental Vehicle Centre located on the Departures level mid-terminal.

On-site airport car rental agencies have vehicle pick-up and dropoff adjacent to the Rental Vehicle Centre in Level Three of the Terminal Parking Complex.

Inquiries for shared ride shuttles and shuttles to Canmore, Banff and other area communities can be made at the Ground Transportation Counters, located on the Arrivals level mid-terminal.

Five topics of long-standing interest to Calgarians
1. Hockey (Calgary Flames)
2. Beating Edmonton at any sport (hockey, football, lawn darts...)
3. The price of oil (Calgary's the oil and gas capital of Canada)
4. Weather
5. Outdoor activities: skiing during the winter; mountain biking, rollerblading, running and hiking during the summer months

What Calgarians want you to know about their city
Calgary is truly the heart of the New West: safe, clean, friendly and cosmopolitan. Calgary offers the best of two exciting worlds—stimulating city life and outstanding outdoor adventure.

MONTREAL

Best hotels for a business stay
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
Gold Floor
900 Rene Levesque Boulevard W
Montreal, QC H3B 4A5
514-861-3511
www.fairmont.com

Le Germain
2050 rue Mansfield
Montreal, QC H3A 1Y9
514-849-2050; 877-333-2050
www.hotelgermain.com

Hotel Le St-James
355 rue St-Jacques
Montreal, QC H2Y 1N9
514-841-3111; 866-841-3111
www.hotellestjames.com

Sofitel Montreal
1155 Sherbrooke Ouest
Montreal, QC H3A 2N3
514-285-9000
www.sofitel.com

Tip: Business travelers may want to partner with the Montréal Golden Square Mile Association, which offers up to 1,000 rooms and suites, and the Mount Royal Centre, a meeting and convention centre of international caliber. For more information, visit www.goldensquaremile.com.

Hotel that captures the city's character
Hotel Nelligan
106 Saint-Paul Street W
Montréal, QC H2Y 1Z3
514-788-2040; 877-788-2040
www.hotelnelligan.com

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
Beaver Club
900 Rene Levesque Boulevard W
Montreal, QC H3B 4A5
514-861-3511, ext. 2448
www.fairmont.com

Cube
Hotel St. Paul
355 rue McGill
Montreal, QC H2Y 2E8
514-876-2823
www.hotelstpaul.com

Europea
1227 rue de la Montagne
Montreal, QC H3G 1Z2
514-398-9229
www.europea.ca

Toqué
900 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2
514-499-2084
www.restaurant-toque.com

Best way to spend a free hour
Walk through Old Montreal, which includes the Notre-Dame Basilica, a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture built between 1824 and 1829.

The magnificent interior sculpted in wood, paint and gold leaf and the bold modern design of the Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur Chapel captivate hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows illustrate biblical passages, as well as 350 years of parish history. Daily tours are offered in French and English. In the evening, a sound and light show presents the founding of Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica. This state-of-the-art presentation highlights the Basilica's exceptional works of art and brings to life its cultural, architectural and spiritual heritage.

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
The Eastern Townships (www.tourismecantons.qc.ca) are within an hour's drive. The region is a great place for biking, golf and enjoying the Canadian countryside.

There are charming inns and small villages, as well as spas for relaxing. Quebec City is within a three-hour drive, or you can go by train or bus (www.ville.quebec.qc.ca).

Worth planning a trip around
Montreal International Jazz Festival
www.montrealjazzfest.com
June 29-July 9, 2006

Just for Laughs Festival
www.hahaha.com
April 4-15, 2006

Montreal High Lights Festival
www.montrealenlumiere.com
Feb. 16-26, 2006
For a complete calendar of events, visit www.tourism-montreal.org.

Airport savvy
Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (also known as Dorval International Airport) handles all scheduled and domestic flights. Montreal's secondary airport, Mirabel International Airport, handles cargo and some charter traffic.

Ground transportation L'Aerobus (514-931-9002) runs shuttle buses every half hour from the airport to the central bus station, train station and several hotels downtown. The cost is C$12. There are also taxis and on-call limo providers. A flat taxi fee of C$31 and a flat limo fee of C$50 apply.

Five topics of long-standing interest to Montreal residents
1. The weather
2. The new "in" restaurants
3. What to do this weekend
4. World news
5. Sports

What Montreal residents want you to know about their city
Montreal is an international, dynamic and modern city with a human scale. Montreal is a city that celebrates with its numerous festivals and busy cultural life. Montreal is a clean, safe and green city. The boutiques, restaurants and cafés radiate the soul of Montreal, and the vitality and joie de vivre of its inhabitants.

OTTAWA

Best hotels for business stays
Fairmont Château Laurier
1 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 8S7
613-241-1414; 800-441-1414
www.chateaulaurier.com

Ottawa Marriott
100 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5R7
613-238-1122
www.ottawamarriott.com

Ottawa Westin Hotel
11 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4
613-560-7000; 800-228-3000
www.ottawawestin.com

Hotel that captures the city's character
Brookstreet Resort
525 Legget Drive
Ottawa, ON K2K 2W2
613-271-1800
www.brookstreetresort.com

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
Courtyard Restaurant
21 George Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 8W5
613-241-1516

Empire Grill
47 Clarence Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 9K1
613-241-1343

Signatures by Le Cordon Bleu
453 Laurier Avenue East
Ottawa, ON K1N 6R4
613-236-2499

Best way to spend a free hour
Take in the Rideau Canal. From May to October, watch boats climb the first eight locks—it's like an elevator for nautical craft. The mechanisms work the same today as they did in 1832, when the canal's construction was finished.

From late December to March, you should be able to skate on the frozen canal—recently named by The Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink. The portion of the canal maintained for skating snakes 7.8 km (4.8 miles) through downtown. There are warm-up huts along the way offering skate rentals, change rooms, hot chocolate and BeaverTails (a hot pastry treat that was born in Ottawa).

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
What about whitewater rafting? The Ottawa River is world-renowned for its powerful rapids. Several outfitters (Wilderness Tours, OWL Rafting, Esprit Rafting, RiverRun, etc.) will take you out for the trip of your dreams—whether that's nonstop adrenaline-pumping action or a more sedate float trip. Wilderness Tours, for one, also offers cabin or camping accommodations, a bungee jumping crane, beach volleyball, a pool, organized recreational activities and a central lodge.

Or, for something completely different, take a course at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute. There are four-hour demonstration courses, full-day hands-on activity courses, and even four- or five-day immersion courses.

You can complement your course with a stroll through the ByWard Market neighborhood. Not just one of Canada's oldest farmers markets, the four-block-square neighborhood also offers some of the best restaurants and food stores in the region. Search for the ingredients for your next masterpiece or simply indulge in a local chef's creations. The neighborhood also offers the best people-watching in town and plenty of unusual shopping.

Worth planning a trip around
Canadian Tulip Festival
May 4-22, 2006
For a complete calendar of events, visit www.ottawatourism.ca.

Airport savvy
The Ottawa airport has only one terminal, so everyone coming and going must pass through the same security checkpoint. Unless you are with children or have a disability, you'll have to wait with everyone else. So, allow plenty of time during busy travel days and times. Ottawa airport has full-service meeting facilities of various sizes. If your colleagues are coming and going and only have a short window of time, it might be most efficient to book one of these conference rooms.

Nate's Deli has a great view of runway, so it can be a fun place to sit and watch planes land and take off.

Or, if you're nervous about flying, the Food Court has a water feature, which can be relaxing, and Wi-fiaccess through Concourse (a pay-for-use service).

Ground transportation
There is a free shuttle service to downtown hotels, as well as on-call limo service and public transportation downtown via bus. There are information kiosks in both arrivals and departures, and they can assist with any further questions you might have.

Five topics of long-standing interest to Ottawa residents
1. Local concerns
2. LeBreton Flats
3. Transportation issues
4. Sports (especially hockey)
5. The federal government

What do Ottawa residents want visitors to know about their city?
When speaking with other Canadians, the biggest challenge is convincing them that there is a real, vibrant, exciting city beneath the version of Ottawa they see on their nightly news. For Americans and others, who generally aren't as hung up on Ottawa's political pedigree, Ottawans want them to know that the city offers a European feel (it's one of the most bilingual cities in the country and you'll often overhear conversations in French, not to mention several other languages) reflecting its position on the border between English- and French-speaking Canada.

Yet Ottawa is accessible, offers good value, and is truly an undiscovered gem for most Americans.

QUEBEC CITY

Best hotels for a business stay
Château Frontenac
1 rue de Carrieres
Quebec, QC G1R 4PS
418-692-3861
www.fairmont.com

Loews Le Concorde
1225 Cours du General de Montcalm
Quebec City, QC G1R 4W6
418-647-2222
www.loewshotels.com

Quebec Hilton
1100 René Lévesque East
Quebec, QC G1K 7K7
418-647-2411
www.hilton.com

Hotel that captures the city's character
Auberge St-Antoine
8 St-Antoine Street
Quebec, QC G1K 4C9
4l8-692-2211; 888-692-2211

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
Initiale
54 St-Pierre
Quebec, QC G1K 3Z9
418-694-1818
www.restaurantinitiale.com

Michelangelo
311 chemin St-Louis
Sainte-Foy, QC G1W 1R6
418-651-6262

Restaurant Laurie Raphael
117 rue Dalhousie
Quebec, QC G1K 9C8
418-692-4555

Le Saint Amour
48 rue Sainte-Ursule
Quebec, QC G1R 4E2
418-694-0667

Best way to spend a free hour
If you only have an hour, you have to take a stroll through old Quebec City. The architecture is a blend of French and English, with a lot of the buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Quebec City is the only walled city in North America, and it was built on a hill, so you get some spectacular views.

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
A great trip is to the surrounding natural areas outside of Quebec City. Orleans Island, or Ile d'Orleans, is a 25-mile-long island that can be reached via car over a bridge. The island is where the French settlers first landed when they came to the region and is protected wild land.

Just before the bridge, there is a waterfall that you must stop to see as well. It is 150 feet higher than Niagara Falls, with a manor house you can visit on the top of the cliff. It is called Montmorency Falls, and it is only 10 minutes from the city.

The resort Mont Ste-Anne is a nice place to stay—there is golf in the summer, and a nearby ski resort for winter visits.

Worth planning a trip around
Summer Music Festival
July 6-16, 2006

New France Festival, (Fête de la Nouvelle France)
August 2-6, 2006

Winter Carnival
January 27-February 12, 2006

For a complete calendar of events, visit www.bonjourquebec.com/anglais/.

Five topics of long-standing interest to Quebec City residents
1. Eating.
2. Sports: Because of the proximity to the outdoors, people love to talk about their latest skiing trip, hiking excursion, fishing, etc.
3. Politics—a passionate point: How independent should the provinces be from the federal government?
4. Quality of life: Residents like to talk about how to keep things the same in Quebec City.
5. French language: Know that everyone speaks English as well as French. So, you can say "Bonjour" and then switch to English without feeling guilty.

What do Quebec City residents want you to know about their city?
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a rare distinction of honor. Driving in the city can be different from the United States. Streets are narrow and very windy, like Europe. Residents are very proud of their quiet city and how beautiful it is. They love that there is little pollution and that the cost of living is very reasonable. They think it is Canada's best-kept secret.

TORONTO

Best hotels for a business stay
Hilton Suites
8500 Warden Avenue
Markham, ON l6G 1A5
905-470-8500; 800-470-8500
www.torontomarkham.hilton.com

Holiday Inn on King
370 King Street W.
Toronto, ON M5V 1J9
416-599-4000; 800-263-6364 (reservations)
www.hiok.com

Toronto Airport Marriott
901 Dixon Road
Toronto, ON M9W 1J5
416-674-9400; 800-905-2811
www.marriott.com

Hotel that captures the city's character
Pantages Suites Hotel & Spa
200 Victoria Street
Toronto, ON M5B 1V8
416-945-5444; 866-852-1777
www.pantageshotel.com

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
Canoe Restaurant and Bar
54th Floor Toronto Dominion Bank Tower
66 Wellington Street West
Toronto, ON M5K 1H6
416-364-0054
www.canoerestaurant.com

Courthouse Market Grille
57 Adelaide Street
East Toronto, ON M5C 1K6
416-214-9379

Sage
1033 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3A5
416-923-8159
www.sagerestaurant.ca

Best way to spend a free hour
Visit the CN Tower, an iconic part of Toronto's skyline and a "wonder of the modern world." The tower has spectacular views, spellbinding Glass Floor, motion simulator ride, interactive arcade and fantastic shopping.

Eat at Horizons for casual fare, or 360 restaurant for fine dining (elevation is complimentary with entrée). www.cntower.ca.

Best way to spend a free day
Take a walking tour of Toronto (www.brucebelltours.com or www.genovatours.com) or a sightseeing bus tour (www.grayline.ca).

See the spectacular harbor with a Harbor Tour of Toronto Islands (www.tallshipcruisestoronto.com).

Finish your day with either a trip to the spa (www.camdenspa.com or www.elizabethmilanspa.com), or, if you love wine, visit one of Niagara's wineries for a tour and a taste (www.hillebrand.com or www.magnotta.com).

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
A visit to Niagara Falls is probably the most popular weekend excursion from Toronto. The Niagara region is about two hours away by car and, in addition to the spectacular waterfall, features beautiful scenery and wineries for touring and tasting.

Worth planning a trip around
Toronto International Film Festival www.e.bell.ca/filmfest September 7-16, 2006 For a complete calendar of events, visit www.torontotourism.com.

Airport savvy
The busier times for the airport tend to be early morning, noon and around dinnertime.

The Malton Airport Gallery, located on the public side of Terminal 1, is part of an extensive art program that was introduced with the opening of Terminal 1 in April 2004. Other highlights of the program include eight commissioned pieces located throughout the terminal, an aviation wall and rotating art exhibitions.

The Sheraton Hotel (www.sheraton.com, 905-672-7000), which is located directly across from Terminal 3 and accessible by a bridge from the terminal, is also a great place to spend some free time. The Sheraton offers half- and full-day passes to its health center, pool and sauna. Spa facilities and massage therapy are also available at the hotel.

Ground transportation
Toronto Pearson is located 25 kilometers northwest of downtown Toronto. Approximately 600 taxis and limos are licensed to pick passengers up at the airport. Their fares are based on a flat-rate tariff for destinations with the Greater Toronto Area. (Expect around C$40 to hotels and attractions by the lake.) Pacific Western Airport Express operates a bus service from the airport with stops at eight major hotels in the downtown area.

GO Transit, Mississauga Transit and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) provide regular public transit from the airport to points within the GTA. Additional information can be found at www.gtaa.com.

Top five topics of long-standing interest to Torontonians
1. The Waterfront regentrification
2. Hockey (Toronto Maple Leafs)
3. The rebranding of Toronto
4. Tourism to Toronto from China
5. Toronto restaurants, hotels, theater, nightlife

What Torontonians want you to know about their city
Torontonians display a level of openness unlikely in any city, let alone a city of Toronto's size and magnitude. Toronto isn't just diverse; it's the most diverse city in the world. Torontonians don't look to settle their differences; they are inspired by them.

Toronto offers innovative architecture, a theater district, hundreds of ethnic restaurants, distinct neighborhood character, open-minded legislation, a multitalented workforce, museums that are themselves works of art, storied street corners, cleanliness, the International Film Festival, parks, a lake, and the celebration of humanity. Toronto is a city built with and for the limitless imaginations of the people who come here. And it is these people who make Toronto the city of imagination.

VANCOUVER

Best hotels for a business stay
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
900 Georgia Street West
Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6
604-684-3131
www.fairmont.com

Pan Pacific Vancouver
300-999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B5
604-662-8111
www.panpacific.com

Westin Grand Vancouver
433 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 6L9
604-602-1999
www.westingrandvancouver.com

Hotel that captures the city's character
Listel Vancouver
1300 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1C5
604-684-8461
www.listel-vancouver.com

Best restaurants for business lunch or dinner
CinCin Ristorante
1154 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1B5
604-688-7338
www.cincin.net

Provence Marinaside
1177 Marinaside Crescent
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3
604-681-4144
www.provencevancouver.com

Raincity Grill
1193 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2N1
604-685-7337
www.raincitygrill.com

Best way to spend a free hour
Hit Denman Street in the West End for gelato from Mondo Gelato or a gourmet cupcake and coffee from Cupcakes. Then get some fresh air with a walk around English Bay into Stanley Park, where you can check out the beach, the enormous trees and the Lost Lagoon. It's amazing how remote you feel, considering how close you are to the downtown core (about a five-minute taxi ride or a 20-minute walk).

Best weekend trip to add on after a business trip
Start with the day described above, and on the second day, travel over to the North Shore to check out Capilano Suspension Bridge and their Treetops Adventure, and then up to Grouse Mountain.

Depending on the season, visit the two orphaned grizzly bear cubs at the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, or do some snowshoeing.

Take in a casual lunch at the mountain's Altitudes Bistro overlooking downtown Vancouver. After lunch, head back to downtown and take in the latest exhibits at the Vancouver Art Gallery before doing a little shopping on Robson Street.

For dinner head over to the South Granville area to West, voted best restaurant in the city by Vancouver magazine. Finally, take in a show at the Stanley Theatre.

Worth planning a trip around
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival www.coastaljazz.ca June 23-July 2, 2006
Visit www.tourismvancouver.com for a complete list of events.

Airport savvy
Vancouver airport features North America's first pay-per-use luxury lounges. There is also an airport 7-Eleven, a full-service dentist, pharmacy, and most recently, the world's first airport MetroNaps™ pods for napping.

Like many airports, the Vancouver airport has In Motion Pictures kiosks-where you can rent a portable DVD player to watch movies in the terminal or to take with you on the plane. The cost of the rental includes a headset and a DVD new release rental. When you arrive at your destination, you just drop the player off at another kiosk or ship it back to the Vancouver airport at no extra charge.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel has a full-service fitness center (604-248-2772). Day-use fees are C$15 for full access to the pool, sauna, fitness equipment, and classes like yoga and pilates; C$10 for just the pool and locker room access. There are showers and locker facilities. In the domestic departures terminal, Alliance Atlantis is a free screening lounge, where you can sit and watch free movie trailers and excerpts from various television shows.

Ground transportation
If you're traveling with a group of people, it might make sense to get limo service from the airport. Limousines can comfortably accommodate a maximum of six passengers (luggage pending) and charge flat rates to all destinations. The rate to downtown is C$41.73 (inclusive of all taxes).

If you have questions or need help, look for the Vancouver locals clad in green coats. They're friendly volunteers who can answer questions.

There are also Tourism Vancouver information counters where you can find out about shuttle services, discounted tickets, and so forth.

Five topics of long-standing interest to Vancouverites
1. Hockey (Vancouver Canucks)
2. Weather
3. Housing prices and architecture style
4. Food
5. Municipal transit projects, such as the new RAV line

What Vancouverites want you to know about their city
Vancouver's weather is milder than many northern U.S. cities like Boston, Chicago and New York, and when it's raining here, it's probably snowing in the rest of Canada.

Special thanks to the tourism and airport media relations staffs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec City and Calgary for the information provided in this resource guide.