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Great Places in Canada

16 June 2011 by Mark Stevens

Hot summer afternoon, sipping a Blanche de Chambly beer outside a bistro housed in a rough-hewn three-centuries-old building.

The glittering surface of the St. Lawrence River is visible from here – through a bunch of other historical and architectural gems – while up the narrow sloping street more tourists slip into boutiques and sip their own frosty beers.

Halfway down a hill between Quebec City’s Upper and Lower Town. And loving it.
Now it’s official. Le Petit Champlain has been awarded “Best Neighbourhood” on the list of Great Places in Canada.
 
Organized by the Canadian Institute of Planners, these annual awards recognize areas with unique architectural features that foster social and economic growth plus reflect local culture, among other criteria.
They sure got this one right.
 
Same for “Best Public Space”. Think boutique shops and nature sharing the same territory – hiking trails and live music, a river and a farmers’ market – all at The Forks in Winnipeg.
 
And that’s when it hits me – a sort of triple epiphany.
 
First, I’ve got pretty good taste in real estate.
 
Second, I’m putting Nanaimo’s Commercial Street (awarded “Best Street”) on my summer to-do list.
 
Third – and most important – off the top of my head I could come up with a million Great Canadian Places.
 
They only got to pick three – along with a few runners-up (see complete list of winners).
 
Glad they never asked me.
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Prince Edward Island, Credit - Mandatory Tourism PEI/John Sylvester - Background Image