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Category: Canada

Forks Pavillion
Making Plans for Spring Break

Making Plans for Spring Break

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For those of us who didn’t grow up in North America, the words ‘spring break’ don’t really mean very much. In the UK, universities have a reading week in February preceding exams while the school holidays in March are centred around Easter so binge-eating chocolate takes priority over binge-drinking on the beach. In Canada however March-break is synonymous with escape-Winter or all-inclusive sun, sea, and sand. As I am living in Canada, taking a vacation in March is definitely something I…

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Captain George Vancouver

Captain George Vancouver

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Every now and again I find myself noticing small things that seem to hint at my subsequent moves around the world. Of course the connections are easy to spot in hindsight and are almost certainly mere coincidence but one such link between my hometown in the UK and my current home in Canada is quite interesting. Since I am feeling nostalgic for all things British at the moment I decided to do a bit of further research into this link…

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Alert Bay For A Day

Alert Bay For A Day

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Located on Cormorant Island, Alert Bay is accessible by car ferry from Port McNeill and is well worth a visit for anyone staying on the North of Vancouver Island. Alert Bay inhabitants are probably the friendliest people I have met and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to travel there for work many times over the past year. The first time I visited Alert Bay was in early January 2014. We set off with intentions of visiting the…

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Shops Port Hardy Local Books
6 Places to Shop in Port Hardy

6 Places to Shop in Port Hardy

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As Christmas is fast approaching I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about shopping in Port Hardy. Although it’s a small town there is still quite a bit of choice when it comes to places to spend your money and one of the best things about living in a small community is that there are lots of products that are made right here on the North Island. 1) Drift & The West Coast Community Craft Shop – Located upstairs…

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The Language Barrier

The Language Barrier

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Moving to a foreign country can be a wonderful opportunity to learn a new language and to experience a new culture. Moving to Canada is no different. Canada is officially bilingual so you will have the opportunity to put those school French lessons to good use (depending on the region). The First Nations of Canada have their own languages such as Ojibway and in my current location Kwak’wala and many people are making efforts to preserve their native languages and…

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Trees by power lines
The Power of Trees

The Power of Trees

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For the second time in the space of four days I am sat in candle-lit darkness.  It is not uncommon for rural areas in Canada to experience frequent power cuts, especially if power lines are surrounded by trees like we are here.  Last year, several times, my residential area was affected by trees pulling down power cables and blocking the route into town. Once in a while the power outages go beyond my residential area, affecting the entire region; today…

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Port Hardy Halloween
Small-Town Spirit

Small-Town Spirit

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It’s been a little over a year since my last blogpost and as usual it feels like everything and nothing has changed. I continue to search out new ways to pass the time on the north of Vancouver Island. This week I discovered a different aspect of the small-town spirit here in Port Hardy as the town came together to celebrate Halloween on the day of the dead in the form of a Pumpkin Patch Walk. Last year I didn’t…

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The Bear Necessities

The Bear Necessities

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Despite working on average more hours than I have ever worked before, I can’t help but notice that since moving to Vancouver Island I am far less stressed than before. While some of this is due to leaving behind a source of negativity, a lot of it has to do with being close to nature. As I have mentioned before, Northern Vancouver Island is a wilderness destination. It’s an outdoor lovers’ paradise with hiking trails, fishing, and an abundant rainforest…

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Commuting With A Twist

Commuting With A Twist

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I have always been intrigued by people who choose long or complicated commutes to work. When I lived in France I commuted on a packed urban train for what should have been 45 minutes but door to door was more like 90+, including time spent waiting at cold and over-crowed metro platforms.  It was a battlefield to force myself onto the train and I am surprised I didn’t lose a limb to the doors, fighting the masses to climb aboard…

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Anglophone Flags
Accidental Accent

Accidental Accent

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I really do not understand why so many people this summer have assumed I am Australian. It’s one thing to be unsure and ask, it’s even ok to guess and get it wrong but why do people insist on making casual references to Australia in conversation, leaving me utterly confused and feeling as though I have to almost apologise to them for the fact that they have jumped to the wrong conclusion? One such offender decided to strike up conversation with me…

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