In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.
A Mari Usque Ad Mare. From Sea to Sea. It’s the motto of Canada and it’s also what Maddie, Jozef, Sam, and us, Danny and Timothy, did in May and June 2023. We travelled from Halifax in the East to Vancouver in the West. Mostly by train.
So what struck us in those sixteen days in Canada?
Flights on rails
Train journeys are treated like flights. No second and first class, but economy and business. Boarding is air travel style. You get a safety briefing as well, certainly when you sit at an emergency window exit.
Cashless
We brought cash, but we could have done without. Only a few times cash was practical for tipping. Tipping lovely Ben of The Canadian for instance.
Food and eating out
Compared to the United States, portions are much more reasonable. Is that a Canadian thing, or a post-COVID-19 pandemic cost-cutting thing?
Also, restaurant visits felt way less rushed than in the US. Some people like it when a meal is quick and effective. As Belgians, we prefer taking our time to enjoy.
Language laws
In Belgium, with its regions (gewesten) and communities (gemeenschappen), we are no strangers to language laws. As train guards, we apply them every day when we bring trains to Brussels and / or Wallonia and travel through facilities municipalities.
But Canada is next level. Some expressions are more French than France. “Arrêt” for a stop sign. Every federal (national?) area or institution is bilingual. Regardless of where it is.
And people are really sensitive about the issue.
Peculiar French
The internet is full of comparisons between Québecois and metropolitan French. But one thing I found really peculiar: hyphening place names.
O Canada!
There are so many souvenir shops, and the maple leaf is on everything. Patriotism is huge in Canada, but not as effective as the marketing of Switzerland. Still, syrup and maple leaves everywhere.
Perhaps Canada wants to underline it’s not “just America“, “like the United States”. It isn’t. Canada has its own customs and culture.
Every city its own vibe
An open door, really. But every city and town we visited had its own vibe. The weekend getaway vibes of Halifax, French savours in Montreal, business-like Toronto, mountain town Jasper, resort Whistler and the green spaces of Vancouver.
Rainbow invasion
Sure, June is pride month, but everywhere there were rainbows and references to LGBTQIA+ people. Jasper was in full pride mode, as was Granville Island.
It was borderline pinkwashing. It’s good to feel supported, but sometimes that support can be… a bit pushy.
So?
We had a great time in Canada. We have know seen quite a bit of the country, but we see ourselves returning in the future.
2023 Trans-Canada Train Trek
- REVIEW | Brussels Airlines Brussels to Munich in Economy.
- REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Munich to Montreal.
- REVIEW | Air Canada Economy Montreal to Halifax.
- Flying Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Air Canada Brussels – Munich – Montreal – Halifax in minimal economy.
- HALIFAX | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
- REVIEW | The Westin Nova Scotian Halifax.
- NOVA SCOTIA | Sampling Halifax.
- REVIEW | VIA Rail Canada night train 15 ‘The Ocean’ from Halifax to Montreal.
- QUEBEC | Meandering Montreal.
- REVIEW | InterContinental Montreal.
- FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal track walk.
- MONTREAL | Dining solo at Monarque felt like being part of a tv show.
- MONTREAL | Exporail – Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant.
- REVIEW | VIA Rail train Montreal to Toronto in business class.
- ONTARIO | Touring Toronto.
- REVIEW | Little Canada museum in Toronto.
- TORONTO | CN Tower.
- REVIEW | Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District.
- CANADA | Train excursion to Niagara Falls.
- THE CANADIAN | Day 1: boarding in Toronto and crossing Ontario.
- THE CANADIAN | Days 2 & 3: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
- THE CANADIAN | From Jasper via the Rocky Mountains to Kamloops and Vancouver.
- Life on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian: eating, sleeping, showering and keeping busy.
- Is the four-day The Canadian night train journey something for you?.
- REVIEW | VIA Rail’s The Canadian four-day night train from Toronto to Vancouver.
- Discovering Vancouver.
- REVIEW | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver.
- BRITISH COLUMBIA | Introduction to Whistler.
- REVIEW | Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre.
- VANCOUVER | Granville Island.
- VANCOUVER | St. Lawrence Restaurant.
- REVIEW | Hotel Belmont M Gallery Vancouver.
- Vancouver & Whistler 2023.
- REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Vancouver to Frankfurt.
- Flying on a Lufthansa Boeing 747 in economy from Vancouver to Frankfurt.
- REVIEW | Lufthansa Economy Frankfurt to Brussels.
Great summary and yes our portion sizes are typically smaller than in the US, and yes we do not like to be confused as ‘American’ 🙂 Maggie
Thank you. I will not confuse you with your southern neighbours 😬
🙂
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