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Everyone likes a good list (shopping list, A-list, The Bucket List…), but some have a genuine cachet. One of those is the “50 Places of a Lifetime,” the second of which has just been published by National Geographic Traveler magazine after a 10-year hiatus. And Canada has picked up some serious accolades, with Auyuittuq National Park, NU, the Gaspé Peninsula, QC, and Vancouver, BC, taking a bow and bouquets.

This special issue of the magazine (which is also in its 25^th year) places a premium on “sense of place, authenticity, culture, sustainability and experience,” according to Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief. These values are very similar to those encompassed in the Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC) five “Unique Selling Points” for this country.  

The majestic and unforgiving beauty of Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, with its towering mountains and fragile glaciers, featured in the “Wild Places” section. The culture and tradition of the Gaspé Peninsula, along with its rugged scenery on the eastern outpost of Quebec, made it a natural fit in “Country Unbound.”

And Canadian author Douglas Coupland (of Generation X fame) has a paean of praise for all things Vancouver, BC, from its stunning natural environment to its plethora of funky attractions and cuisines—one of the mag’s choices for “Urban Spaces.” In 1999, the Canadian Rockies and Canadian Maritimes took the spotlight.

“I’m delighted these great Canadian travel experiences have been given the exposure they deserve, and for all the right reasons,” says Michele McKenzie, CTC President and CEO. “There are so many reasons to celebrate what Canada has to offer, and these choices are just the tip of the iceberg for wannabe travellers.”