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Gay, eh? Canada's for you.

Tolerant and progressive, that's the True North. Here, our top 10 gay-friendly cities.

Ladies, want to marry your gal? Guys, want to walk hand-in-hand with your man down the lane, sans gawkers? In Canada, can do. Canada is a world leader in recognizing gay rights and is among the most gay-friendly countries on earth. Maybe that's why it's also one of the most creative and prosperous. From our largest city to some less familiar stops, here are our picks for Canada's top 10 gay-, lesbian- and GLBT-friendly cities.

Calgary, AB With plenty of ruggedly handsome, macho cowboys around, Cow Town is home to Canada's premier gay rodeo. Whoop it up at parties, steer riding, bronc busting, zany à la goat dressing, steer decorating and the ever-popular pole-bending competition. Gender bending is A-OK, too. www.argra.org

Halifax, NS Halifax is an original - just hitting the hipster zone, but its own fresh version. This far-east-coast town is home to the largest pride parade in the Maritimes (well over 7,000), now in its 20th year. The just-launched rainbowhalifax.com is a website tailored specifically to GLBT. halifaxpride.com

Kelowna, BC Lakeside and balmy for British Columbia, Kelowna is surrounded by thousands of Okanagan Valley vineyards and rural horse country. The sparkling lakes and soft beaches of this outdoor playground make it a favourite with gay travellers. The Okanagan Rainbow Coalition organizes events - bowling, dances, dog shows - throughout the region year-round. www.gayokanagan.com

Montréal, QC Euro-style, French-kissed Montréal is a prime haunt of the international gay party circuit. This chic city is as renowned for its stylish hotels and cutting-edge eateries as for its progressive, open attitude. Dust off the French phrase book. The city's gay village is the largest in North America. www.go-montreal.com/areas_village.htm

Ottawa, ON Canada's capital is sometimes chided for being a bit ho-hum, but no one familiar with the gay scene would use that adjective. On any given night, there's something fun brewing - with gay square-dancing groups, hockey teams, scuba diving, volleyball, choir and theatre. The picture-perfect architecture and famed Rideau Canal (skating in winter, paddling in summer) aren't bad, either. www.outottawa.com

St. John's, NL A bawdy, historic port city bursting with lively pubs, funky shops, candy-coloured saltbox houses and lilting Irish accents, St. John's emanates rowdy fun in unpretentious style. Gay-owned-and-operated B&Bs (try Abba Inn and Banberry House) offer a cozy respite from the late nights and parties on the bar circuit; see The Five and Dime and Zone 2-1-6. www.travelgaycanada.com

Toronto, ON This one's a no-brainer. Canada's largest gay community thrives in Canada's Big Apple, renowned for its tolerance, warmth and overall live-and-let-live mantra. Most of the action is centered around Church Street, home to the queer-owned-and-operated Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and the famous Woody's Bar. Museums, art, theatre, shopping, cinema and music abound. www.gaytorontotourism.com

Vancouver, BC No. 1 in gay travel, say umpteen polls. A glittering green-glass city set between mountains and ocean, Vancouver is consistently voted one of the world's top gay destinations. Much of the action unfolds on granola-leaning Commercial Drive and counter-culture Davie Street, part of the Gay Village ("gaybourhood"). Gay travellers find the beaches and mountains equally welcoming. Kayak, bike, hike, spa, golf, ski - you name it. www.gayvancouver.net

Whitehorse, YT "Frontier, wild, anything goes" - yep, that about sums up the Yukon Territory. Whitehorse is base camp for both soft and hardcore wilderness adventures. Yukon Pride Adventure Tours operates out of this northern town, where it specializes in custom-designed travel itineraries for gay travellers. www.yukonpride.com

Winnipeg, MB Recognized as a hotbed of artistic talent, Winnipeg has a reputation for cold, sunny winters and warm, welcoming folks - a Prairie trademark. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is based here, as are many other arts orgs and leafy parks. Each autumn, the Reel Pride Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Festival showcases the work of local and international gay filmmakers. www.reelpride.org www.travelgaycanada.com

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Usage guidelines

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.) If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author's byline and "courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission." If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: "The text has been modified from the original." Thank you.

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