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Wood Buffalo National Park – A Grand Adventure

Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park is a unique area to find experiences in the country’s outdoor regions of the North. The salt flats provide a startling backdrop to a morning sunrise, and you can watch for wood bison and whooping cranes circling overhead as they greet the day. You can also watch swans, geese and ducks ply the water as you wait on the shore, enjoying the spread of beauty across the Peace-Athabasca Delta. This area boasts the biggest freshwater delta located in the northern part of Alberta.

The park offers a number of outdoor activities, including camping, canoeing and hiking. There will be plenty of daylight for your adventures, as the sun never really sets during an artic evening. One of the most beautiful sights that you will see is the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. You can take a ship out to see them on the water or can just take them in the from the land.

The park itself is open throughout the year, with the busiest season during May up through Labour Day in September. During the peak time, you can access camping at either Kettle Point or the Pine Lake Campground throughout the week. If you want to stay Kettle Point as a group, you will need to contact the park and make a reservation. One of the first places you should stop is in one of two visitor centers in the park, either the Fort Smith Visitor Reception Centre or the Fort Chipewyan Visitor Reception Centre. Here, you can get park information, maps and weather news before you head out. You can also check out the park’s website online to find out further information regarding schedules, tours of the park online and various other valuable information. Wood Buffalo National Park is a treasure to explore and a place you will want to visit.

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A Taste of History at Carillon Barracks National Historic Site of Canada

Carillon Barracks National Historic Site of Canada came into being during the building of the Ottawa River system of canals. This structure was built in the period between 1830 and 1837. In the years of 1837 and 1838 the English took over the structure and added some of their own changes to it. It also served as a source of housing between 1840 and 1936, finally ending now as the home of the Historical Society of Argenteuil County’s museum. This museum has preserved a number of artifacts that will delight your fancy and pique your interest in history.

The museum focuses on preserving, exhibiting and educating the public about the cultural history of the various peoples in the area. These include the Quebec, British, French, Canadian and Aborignal peoples. There are approximately 7,000 artifacts preserved here, tracing the history of daily work, military, clothing and artistic traditions of the various people. It also displays the work of Sir John-Joseph and Maude Abbott. Their art collection featurs both local and famous artists from all over. You can take a look at various drawings, paintings and sculpture. For history enthusiasts, you can check out their military collection, which features such groups as the Argenteuil Rangers.

There is a fee to enter the facility, and is open from the latter part of March into the middle of December from Tuesday through Sunday. There are various locations around the site that are ideal for picnics, and you visit the local village of St-Andre d’Argenteuil, which is near the Ottawa River. This area offers numerous vistas, fascinating experiences and is worth an afternoon out. The beauty of the area and the chance to step back into history make the Carillon Barracks National Historic Site of Canada a must see stop on your trip through Canada.

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Retailers Encouraging Alternate Payment Methods

There a number of retailers in Canada who have an issue with fees charged for each purchase, especially with Visa and Mastercard. The Canadian Federation of Business has stated that they are considering a measure allowing retailers to post a choice of signage stating that people should pay with either their debit card or use cash. The credit companies are also being challenged on the fees that they charge in order to allow merchants to accept their credit cards. These fees can range from 1.5 percent to three percent, depending on the type of credit card used. Those customers using premium type cards are more likely to bring retailers higher surcharge fees.

The Competition Bureau in Canada is going to request that the merchant agreement retailers have does not include a surcharge on purchases made with credit cards. Some are even pushing for government legislation to help regulate the credit card companies on this issue. Another way retailers can help curb the charges of the credit card companies is to add their own surcharge to customer purchases on cards that charge them higher fees. They also plan to propose that they can decline higher fee cards from customers as well.

The credit card companies state this will work against customers, causing them to have to pay more for their purchases. It will also, as they feel, be a step into the past in pushing for the use of cash over credit cards. They plan to fight against the measures that are being proposed by retailers. As the contention heats up, the battle over surcharges on both sides of the table could get heated. Customers are in for an intersting time shopping in the future as the two sides work to find a middle ground. The question of cash, credit card or debit card may soon come to a head and get a final answer.

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The Fight Against Pension Reform

The Federal Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, may meet with harsh resistance as he puts forth proposed reforms on pensions. Six provinces have put out a message that the government needs to expand the Canada Pension Plan instead of focusing on proposed reforms. The Finance Minister stated that he will not be putting forth any plans that include expansion of the pension, but instead supporting a plan that puts the pension in the private-sector. It would outline a pooling of pension resources, from businesses to self-employed individuals, that would cost much less. The provinces of British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island want the possibility of expansion to be kept in consideration.

There is support for the private-sector route, but enacting a small increase in the near future. There has also been additional lack of support for Flaherty from those in opposing parties and those involved in the labor movement. The plans regarding the future of Canada’s pension plan has been going on for the last year, with the recent federal plan which would base the pension plans on established contributions. This would broaden their availability to more in the work world, such as self-employed individuals.

The government, as it planned in June of last summer, plan to go forward with analysis of a three-part reform approach. The three parts to be addressed are as follows: future additions to the pension, changes in regulations so that provinces could allow the private sector to offer employees the low-cost saving option and financial literacy. The battle over expansion versus the private-sector route looks to heat up as Flaherty heads to meet with the provinces regarding his proposal. They will have to find a middle ground in order to move the reform plans for the pension through the government.

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Stepping Back into Canadian History at Fort Anne National Historic Site of Canada

Fort Anne National Historic Site of Canada is the perfect to step back into the earliest years of Canada, which is the country’s oldest national historic site. It chronicles the military history of the fort as it experienced the battles and business involved with expanding empires. It changed hands numerous times throughout its history, and still stands today as a fascinating learning opportunity for visitors to get a peek into the past.

The museum is housed in the 1797 Officer’s Quarters, which has been renovated to its former appearance. There are more than 400 artifacts that you can look at, including the eight foot by eight foot Fort Anne Heritage Tapestry that park volunteers made. These are primarily military in focus, and cover the 400 year span of history that the fort was active. From September to the middle of October, the park is open from 9 AM to 5 PM, and is open on weekdays from October 16th through May 14th, but is closed Saturday and Sunday. There is a fee charged to enter.

During the warmer months of the year, the park is host to a number of special events, especially on Canada Day. There are demonstrations of military life and battle action, and you can also attend special presentations that give you greater insight into the history of the area. You will need to contact the park or check the park website to find a schedule of upcoming events.

While here, you can walk the Perimeter Walking Trail, which takes you through the foritifications that were built to help defend the fort. These are star-shaped and give you perfect views of the defenses and of the nearby Annapolis River. You will be walking a total of 1/2 a kilometre. You can also fly your kite on windy days or play croquet with your family. The site has a set that is able to be borrowed by visitors.

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