A Transatlantic Tall Ships race is always an exciting event, but the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta will be an extra special extravaganza as it also celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday. To kick off the celebrations, we’ve put together Sail On Board’s seven best things about Canada…
Lakes, Lakes, Lakes
One of the top reasons to love Canada is its lakes… although we might be biased! Canada has more lakes than any other country – more than two million. And, as approximately 30,000 of them are larger than 3 km2, they make up more than nine percent of the total area of the country. Perfect for an adventure under sail.
Movies
There’s one place that might just love Canada more than we do at Sail On Board, and that’s Hollywood. So, you thought that all movies were shot on location? Wrong. Titanic – off the coast of Halifax, not the North Atlantic. Brokeback Mountain – Southern Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, not the American West. Twilight – all those vampires can be found in Vancouver.
A $1,000,000 Coin
This might seem pretty far-fetched, but it’s true. In 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint produced the world’s first million dollar coin. It was originally created as a unique showpiece and it boasts a gold purity of 99.999%!
Music
Canadian musicians are worldwide favourites… but it’s not all about Neil Young, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. Just take a look at the top 10 artists in any country and you’re likely to spot a Canadian or two. Drake, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, and Deadmau5 are all flying the maple leafed flag.
City of Opportunity
Want to get ahead of the game and enjoy a happy life? Well, according to one of the world’s largest consultancy firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Toronto ranks third in the list of cities worldwide that provide the greatest quality of life for their inhabitants.
Hawaiian Pizza
Cheese, ham and pineapple. A staple choice in any pizza restaurant around the world, and a great creation from the 50th State. Well, not actually. The Hawaiian pizza was in fact invented in Ontario, Canada. A Greek-Canadian pizzaiolo, Sam Panopoulos, created the recipe in his diner in 1962 after first coming across pizzas when visiting Naples, Italy.
Batman University Course
There are many subjects that you might choose to study at universities around the world; Maths, English, Science, Art, History and… Batman? Well, the University of Victoria has a course that focuses on the caped crusader, named the “Science of Batman.” It “examines human potential using Batman as a metaphor for the ultimate in human conditioning,” and looks like the best way to complete your studies if you ask us.
What’s Next?
Has our list of the seven best things about Canada inspired you to get involved with the 150th birthday celebrations? The Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta is one of the best ways to take part in the celebrations, check out our event page for more details. You can book your place on any of the race legs directly with a participating vessel, or if you’d like help, simply email our friendly team on enquiries@sailonboard.com who can make recommendations, answer questions, and process your booking for you.
