Canadiana Backpackers Blog

It’s ten days before Christmas and there is virtually no snow on the ground. It has been like that for a good number of years due to the effects of Global Warming. A “White Christmas” has been largely a thing of the past.

The weatherman has predicted “the worst winter in 15 years” due to the effects of El Nina (sic) and it appears as if he will be right!

We are now under a “Severe Winter Storm Watch” and it is set to begin late tonight. It has been predicted that we will receive about 25 cm of the white stuff in a 24 hour period. If it arrives, as predicted, will be the highest December snowfall in Toronto since 1944.

The years of little snow have caused most Canadian drivers to lose their winter driving skills and the younger drivers have never developed them. As a result, the city will probably grind to a halt.

Fiona, another bonnie wee lassie from Kinross, Scotland (we get a lot of Kinross residents here for some reason) is due to fly home Sunday evening. She’s just praying that they get the runways plowed by then. The smart money is on a long flight delay, at best!

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The day after the storm!

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I love a good love story, or lust story, maybe you could say.

Here at the Canadiana you will always hear the stories of couples who met here and are still together after years or are even married. The thing is, when you put like minded people together, there is always a good lust story too.

David and Renae met here a couple of weeks ago, he is British, she is Australian.

David, a dairy farmer had not been to a hostel before, as this was his first time, in the beginning he was not sure how it all worked and was only booked in for a short time, but after a few days he extended and except for a short trip away he has been here now for a few weeks.

Renae is here on a work visa, working as an admin worker at the fundraisers for a non profit charity organisation. Renae is a bit of a free spirit she is loving her time travelling and has stayed in many hostels.

Who knows what will happen with these two travellers, David has left but rumour has it he will be back in a week or two….

Lesley

Canadiana Staff

Johan, or Rick, as we call him, is an Aussie here in Canada on his working visa. He arrived in March 2007 at the hostel to get some odd jobs before the summer childrens holiday camps began.

Things did not go as smoothly for Rick as he would have prefered and not long after arriving in Canada the summer camp job that he had already organised before coming here, fell through.

After getting some part time work he had a couple of accidents and with money slowly dwindling things did not seem to be coming together for him.

Then a man from Camp Wahanowin, a great childrens summer camp just north of Toronto came to the hostel to put up a notice for people who may be looking for work. He and Rick started to talk and then next thing you know Rick got the job.

In the spring of 2007 he went to Camp Wahanowin to teach achery, biking, tennis, fun sports and much more. After the spring they kept him on and he spent the summer teaching archery.

If you hear Rick talk about his time at the camp you will see his passion for it, he really loves the summer camps and I know he is hoping to do it again in summer 2008.

After camp finished Rick came back to Toronto, by then everyone was used to seeing him around and he was offered a job helping out around the hostel.

We are so glad that he came back, he is a fantastic guy and hopefully will be here a while.

Lesley

Canadiana Staff

There is nothing like that Christmas feeling, the Christmas lights are up in the hostel and the Christmas tree is standing proudly and beautifully in the corner.

I am a real sucker for Christmas, especially in Toronto.

If you are all wrapped up in you winter woolies and you walk down the main street you will pass by The Bay, The Bay shopping centre each year has a magical christmas window display, this year is a look into the life of Santa Claus before the big day, elves making toys, Mrs Clause making dinner for a happy Mr Clause.

Across from The Bay is Toronto’s new City Hall, below it is Nathan Phillips Square where a large brightly lit Christmas tree stands and next to that is a large open ice skating rink. People skate until late into the night when the square is lit with christmas lights and during the weekends they have a DJ or bands playing.

Coming from the New Zealand I am not used to these cold winter Christmas’s and usually spend at least part of my Christmas day at the beach, but to be surrounded by people wandering around with their big coats, hats, gloves and scalves, the snow slowly coming down while the lights shine, it is very beautiful just like something you will see in the movies.

If you come to Toronto dress warmly and enjoy this time of year.

Lesley

Canadiana Staff

We all call her Muffin (because she’s so sweet)? but her real name is Myriam. She worked at the Canadiana this Summer and is now teaching in Yellowknife which is close to the Canadian Arctic. Here is her story:

“WHY oh WHY would one go to the Yukon?” was most peoples’ reaction when I told them I was going to be spending the next nine months living in Yellowknife. Often enough, that is how little Canadians, let alone travelers from abroad who stay at the Canadiana, know about our northern territories. In case you didn’t catch that, Yellowknife is not in the Yukon, but the Northwest Territories. Canadians have a vague notion of having three territories, but living in urban southern Canada, these territories represent little more than a vast expanse of land filled with questions marks. It’s where Santa Claus and Rudolf live, right?

The $700 one-way ticket from Toronto to Yellowknife is enough to put a stop to any budget-conscious traveller’s thought of visiting the north, if for some reason such a strange idea should creep into their minds. So through the Canadiana blog, let’s take a look at a tiny piece of what Canada’s “true north” is all about.

I must admit I was as clueless as any only a few months ago. When the opportunity arose to go work in any province or territory in Canada, I chuckled at the idea of ACTUALLY living in the Northwest Territories. The idea had certainly never crossed my mind before. It is then that I realised that I had a grossly stereotyped and dramatized idea of what living in Yellowknife might be like, so of course I needed to find out for myself. Now that I live here, I realise how much more I have to learn from this place.

In many ways, Yellowknife is no different than any capital city of a population of 19 000. No, we aren’t stranded in the middle of nowhere hunting for our meals. We’ve got your regular grocery stores, restaurants, pubs, movie theatre, library, gyms, Tim Hortons and Walmart. (Starbucks hasn’t plagued our streets yet though!!) But if you look below the surface, there’s something really different here. I noticed it as soon as I arrived. There is a strong community buzz that makes me itch to get involved. The lesser anonymity in a smaller community can be intimidating, because the pressure is on. It is more difficult to just sit back and watch things happen before you, as it is possible to do in a big city like Toronto. Slowly, this place begins to make you feel responsible for your actions.

Yellowknife is a quirky place. In the local newspaper, there is a weekly column dedicated to stories about the Yellowknife dump. Yes, the dump. As Yellowknife a transitional city for many, and it is costly to ship belongings back to southern Canada, many people dump great quality things at the dump when they leave the NWT. As soon as they do, others begin to look through the dumped items to find what is salvageable. Some people make a real hobby of salvaging treasures from the dump. Are they broke? No, in fact, they are probably making an awesome northern salary. However, they are living by the three Rs: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE. Sure, in Toronto I throw things in the blue bin because I’d be the lowest form of life if I didn’t: but I don’t go picking through other people’s trash to make sure they aren’t wasting good quality stuff.

This is getting much too long for a blog entry, and I haven’t really given you any idea of what Yellowknife is like, which was the point of writing this thing. I guess Yellowknife is just too complex a place to capture in a single blog entry. As a read over my text, I realise it sounds like a “holier-than-thou”, city-bashing rant. I love the city, but Yellowknife was a much-needed reality check. I may not have changed the world, and I’ve only visited the dump once, but at least I feel like being a tangible part of this community is within arm’s reach.

Myriam (Ex-Canadiana-now-in-Yellowknife-Staff)

“Hooter’s” is a North American pub chain that hires their waitresses because of their unique qualifications and it has nothing to do with making noises like an owl!

Our lovely Peruvian lass Jennifer just left for an interview for a job as a Hooters waitress. We have no doubts that she’ll land the job. We have a lot of faith in her because we’ve all noticed her “qualifications”.

Actually, Jennifer just came in and told us that she got the job! We’re not surprised. Hooter’s is a well known chain well known for it’s unique decor.

We know that Jennifer will make a beautiful addition.

Marie and Catherine are two more lovely coleens on a one-year working holiday in Canada. They’ve been with us about two-and-a-half months. And they’re two lovely additions to the hostel.

They’re both working office jobs and plan to work for most of the winter before continuing their travels across Canada

Quite often people on working holidays look for rooms, flats or apartments to share outside of the hostel once they have found employment. And quite often they don’t.

Catherine and Marie are both working for an “Office Temp” agency. The work involves acting as replacement for full-time employees away from work due to vacation, maternity or illness.

The two lovely lasses have elected to stay at the hostel for “social” reasons. As temporary replacement workers they really aren’t at a job long enough to form firm friendships. But living at the hostel lets them meet people – a lot of people.

It was a wise choice on their part and all of us at the Canadiana are glad they have decided to stay with us. You see, we’d miss them a lot.

We’re the most centrally located hostel in Toronto. We’re right in the middle of the city’s “Entertainment District”. (Live Theatre, Clubs, Music Venues, Pubs, Movies etc.) A lot of places claim to be a “five minute walk” from the CN Tower; but we actually are!

I don’t know of the exact number of Nightclubs located within a four block radius of our building; but, as a rough guess, I quite certain it’s close to eighty. Add in the Pubs and Music Clubs and the number is well over a hundred!

Just recently, the Circa Nightclub opened its doors one block from our front door. It is possibly the largest club in the city . Spread over four themed floors (Drum and Bass; Techno; Fetish; Gay etc.,) the club covers a massive 55,000 square feet.

The Circa was started by Peter Gatien (a Canadian) who was one of the prime movers of the New York City club scene starting such places as the star studded Studio 54, the Limelight and the Tunnel and Palladium.

The cost of opening the club is rumored to be in the area of six-million dollars – a massive renovation! It is located on the next street from the hostel hidden behind a simple unposted facade.

Each Friday, the hostel organizes a visit to the Circa Club with free admission (normally a $15 to $20 cover) to the first 20 or so people who sign up at the hostel for the visit.

So when you stay with us in Toronto, check out the Circa, it’s really quite an experience!

There are also quite a number of pubs within one or two blocks of the hostel. If your not into the club “scene”.

There is the “Fox and Fiddle” (our ‘local’ a.k.a. “The Pox and Piddle”) for excellent chicken wings; “Hooters” for beer, good food and, of course, hooters; the upscale “Alice Fazooli’s” (50 meters from our door) with it’s hi-tech mist-cooled patio; the “Friar and Firkin” and the “Duke of Argyle” for excellent selections of draught beer.

There is even a multi-plex cinema right across the street complete with an IMAX Screening Room.

All of this within one block of our front door!

When you stay here at the Canadiana and are looking for entertainment, you are close to anything you could possibly want The following pics were all taken less than one block from hostel doors.

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The world famous Much Music Studios of CITY TV.

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The Scotiabank Cineplex IMAX Theatre and Chapters Bookstore.

Montana’s Restaurant and Nightclub opposite the Cineplex.

There are long stays and then there are looooooooong stays.

A long stay by definition is someone whose stay at a hostel for a lengthy period of time, they get to know the hostel and it becomes like a home to them.

Colin from Scotland has been here for about 4 months, he is a very easy going and works at a cafe very close to the hostel, he is very friendly and very generous as when his cafe has food left over at the end of the day he is able to bring it back to the hostel and shares it with everyone.

Colin is a long stay.

Evert however, is a looooong stay.

Evert from South Africa is also very easy going and has been here since March 2007. Evert really is like family here and he is always a friendly face to see, he works two jobs but he would work three if he could, I am sure. Although he works all the hours he can he always has a smile on his face and can easily put a smile on others faces too!

Thanks guys for being so great and for being part of the Canadiana Backpackers Family.

Lesley

Canadiana Backpackers Staff

Colin from Scotland.

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Evert from South Africa.

This guy is hard to miss, Michael is huge, he was born in London, England, but grew up in New York.

Every morning here at the Canadiana we prepare a pancake breakfast with a maple syrup, its a great way to start the day. Sometimes we also have a grill at the back so that the late risers can also enjoy pancakes that they can make themselves.

This morning our hostel ‘jokester’ decided to make a bunch of pancakes, they were very good and a lucky bunch of staff and guest got to try them.

Michael decided his pancakes were the best the hostel had seen and they needed to be promoted, so over the course of the following hour I had people come up to me to express the perfection of the pancakes, I noticed that it was always the same pancake and Michael was suggesting to people that they could help him to advertise his great pancake making with staff by bringing the pancake up and exclaiming how great it was. It was a very hilarious morning and it kept staff and guests entertained.

Michael wants to be a singer, Im looking forward to hearing his voice…. though as the jokester says.. he is NOT giving interviews!!!!!!

Lesley

Canadiana Staff