Growing G up in the Yukon during the 1960s and ’70s was an isolating experience. Physical mail was limited, black-and-white television was restricted to four hours per day, long-distance phone calls were prohibitively expensive and consumer goods, such as magazines, only showed up in Whitehorse well after they were available in other major cities throughout Canada.
Due to hindered transportation, logistics and not having a 24-hour news cycle, there were fewer resources for me to form a balanced view on the rest of Canada, other than what I was taught in elementary school. For reasons that I, as a young student, didn’t probe, these seemed to centre on the East Coast. I was taught sea shanties, told about the spectacular tides of the Bay of Fundy, read stories of Ontarians raking and burning leaves in the fall (a bizarre concept in the Yukon), and heard of faraway places with exotic names such as Charlottetown or the Plains of Abraham, which somehow were important to our country.
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Three Days in Southern Alberta
Jackie Gartner of Lloydminster, Alta., shares the amazing scenery, wildlife and historic sites encountered on her brief but awesome adventure
Taking Root
With two years to go, The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is transforming our continent’s busiest highway into the world’s largest living tribute to veterans
The UNSUNG HEROES of WWI
Answering the call to honour Canada’s Nursing Sisters
The Littlest Stowaway
Recalling a surprising security breach at Esquimalt Naval Base!
FANTASTIC FALL FOLIAGE
Capturing the breathtaking beauty of autumn in Canada
PRESERVING A LEGACY
Keeping the memory of a WWII Halifax bomber crew alive
Tubs & Whimsy
When their yard space was cut in half, this fun-loving couple let their creativity soar
AN ICON IN THE MAKING
“Certain car brands are more than mere steel, plastic and glass, but a metaphor that breaks all conventionality. The Mustang was one such car.”
A NEW, UNDISCOVERED CANADA
A cross-country trip provided a brand new perspective on the beauty of the East Coast by Mark Lane, Calgary
A FLYER DROPPED BY
“I wish to invite your family—I would be honoured— to join me tomorrow afternoon for aperitifs. I met my first ‘Canadien’ about 60 years ago today. He just… dropped by!”
A Look at Country Life—Canadian Style
From the city to the country, a homeowner finds simplicity and joy on the prairie.
Liz “Snorkel” Thomas HIKING ICON
Thomas has thru-hiked more than 20 long trails, including the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide and Appalachian Trails (the Triple Crown). On top of that, she set a fastest known time on the AT for an unsupported woman and has completed dozens of urban thru-hikes as well. This issue, she joins Backpacker as a contributing editor. Here’s some of Thomas’s best advice and insight fed by more than 20,000 trail miles.
Fire and Ice
Find alpine bliss halfway through this snowshoe beneath an active volcano on Artist Point Trail in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington.
How a Philanthropic Darling Became Political Scandal
A Canadian development charity courted celebrities, enlisted legions of schoolchildren to raise funds, and built a new, commerce-fueled model of philanthropy. Then a Covid relief deal got people asking who was benefiting most
Handloading Harder, Denser Shot
The Evolution of Tungsten Shot
Junco family tree
Meet the many variations of this beloved snowbird and popular wintertime visitor.
Cannabis Not to Blame For Workplace Injuries
In the recent United States election cycle, we saw even more states adopt cannabis as a legally accepted recreational substance. See our article and infographic on Page 16.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY
The U.S. could adopt a few easy reforms—and a few tough ones—to take the drama out of its democracy
CANADA'S FORGOTTEN CAPITAL
Beneath the streets of Old Montreal, the rubble of a short-lived Parliament building offers a glimpse into a young country’s growing pains
KITTYHAWK JUNGLE RESCUE
P-40 GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE