Canada's Breadbasket

The fertile plains of the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, commonly known as "the Prairies," spread out as far as the eye can see, fading into the blue sky and seemingly stretching the horizon to infinity. They reveal a colourful patchwork when seen from the sky, and the roads that crisscross them from every angle take travellers into the heart of their natural beauty.

Overview / Attractions

The modest Prairie farmhouses were hastily erected by immigrants from Central Europe, large numbers of whom settled all over the Prairies in the early 20th century. The architecture of some of these houses, now either abandoned or converted into museums, was vaguely inspired by the traditional styles of old German, Hungarian, Polish and Ukrainian villages.

Alberta

On the western border of Alberta stand the Rockies, a mountainous region that is home to some of Canada's most renowned national parks, like Banff and Jasper. But Alberta also boasts other treasures: the great cities of Edmonton, the capital, and Calgary, the metropolis, not to mention its numerous historical and archaeological sites.

The Rockies

The Rockies offer exceptional mountain scenery, wild rivers that are sure to thrill white-water rafting enthusiasts, still lakes whose waters run the gamut from emerald green to turquoise blue, parks abounding in all sorts of wildlife, world-renowned ski centres and quality resort hotels.

Calgary

Alberta's largest city, Calgary has taken advantage of its renewed vigour to freshen up. The city's arts and culture have gained in importance: the metropolis is proud of its museums, theatres and festivals. And the architecture is not too shabby either, with a downtown area dotted with modern skyscrapers and outdoor sculptures.

Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta harbours some of the nicest sites and scenery in the province. In summertime, neat rows of wheat and other grains, perfectly round bales of hay, and the occasional grain elevator make up the extent of the relief found along the slow-rolling terrain of this part of the province.

Central Alberta

Central Alberta encompasses a vast swath of the province that includes the Canadian Badlands, the Foothills, the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve and the heartland: this region holds an inestimable amount of natural resources. Forestry, farming, oil and archeological tourism drive the economy of the region.

Edmonton

Alberta's capital, Edmonton keeps on growing. This boomtown city boasts an attractive downtown core, Canada's largest urban parks system and numerous cultural facilities. Its restaurants and vigorous artistic community give the city an exceptionally refined atmosphere.

Northern Alberta

A vast hinterland, Northern Alberta offers excellent opportunities for outdoor activities as well as a chance to discover some of Alberta's cultural communities. An important French-Canadian population lives in this region, as more than 200,000 Albertans speak French.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is much more than a continuous wheat field. The spectacular Qu'Appelle Valley slices into the plain, creating deep glacial creases that run down to the river. Saskatchewan's two major cities, Saskatoon, the metropolis, and Regina, the capital, reveal stunning architectural features.

Regina

The city of Regina, queen of the Prairies, was founded in 1903. Since then, some 350,000 decorative trees have been planted on its territory. Regina also boasts a huge green space, reputedly one of the largest urban parks in North America that includes a lake, a university, bridges, lawns, gardens, a convention centre and even a bird sanctuary.

Southern Saskatchewan

The Trans-Canada Highway runs east to west through southern Saskatchewan, crossing wheat fields and the occasional town. East of Regina, it gives no hint of the spectacular vista lying just a few kilometres to the north in the Qu'Appelle Valley. West of Regina, the land is perfectly flat; the scenery makes humans feel, as a saying goes, like a fly on a plate.

Saskatoon

The largest city in the province, Saskatoon is Saskatchewan's hip metropolis. Home to a large university, and a world leader in agricultural biotechnology, it also offers a host of outdoor activities and cultural events year-round, including jazz, theatre and folk festivals.

Manitoba

Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, shows a surprising mix of immigrant cultures more diverse than any other city between Vancouver and Toronto. In fact, Manitoba is steeped in Ukrainian and Mennonite influences, and counts a sizeable population of Icelandic immigrants. Furthermore, the histories of these peoples are proudly preserved in the province.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg, a bona fide metropolis, rises improbably from the plains at the convergence point of two rivers: the Red River and the Assiniboine River. The Riverwalk trails take you on a lovely stroll along the banks of the Red River and offer a superb view of the city of Saint-Boniface. Moreover, Winnipeg is also home to many museums ad historical sites.

Saint-Boniface

Saint-Boniface shows another aspect of Winnipeg: mainly composed of French Canadians, the town is the cradle of Western Canada's Métis. A kind of shrine for the French-speaking people, the city's cathedral stands beside the cemetery where Louis Riel is buried. The museum tells fascinating stories about Saint-Boniface's French roots, and author Gabrielle Roy is commemorated in her own house.

Central Manitoba

Two main roads pass through central Manitoba: the Trans-Canada Highway and the Yellowhead Highway. These roads lead to different ethnic communities, each with its own history. Small museums, historical sites and replicas of historic buildings relate the important persons and events of each community.

Where on earth?

• Neighbouring British Columbia, the province of Alberta (660,000 km2) begins on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and extends eastward into the vast Canadian prairies to the province of Saskatchewan (651,900 km2). From there, the Prairies continue to extend east to Manitoba (650,000 km2), which lies between Saskatchewan and Ontario.
• Map ›