The Current - Which of these beautiful Canadian spots should you visit?

Episode Date: April 1, 2025

Three listeners make the case for their favourite vacation spots to be included in The Current’s travel bucket list. Ellie Poirier tells us why she loves Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Yvonne Kyle fights for Quttinirpaaq National Park in Nunavut, and Nancy Edwards explains why you can’t miss the Saguenay fjord in Quebec. You can see the full shortlist and vote for your favorite on cbc.ca/thecurrent.

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Hello, I'm Matt Galloway and this is The Current Podcast. I woke up at probably five o'clock in the morning, left the hotel, walked down on a beach. The sun was coming up. It was a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was the most beautiful thing I think I've ever slapped my eyes on. And it's just a tremendous, tremendous place and I might be killed for this because I come from Newfoundland. This

beach spoke to me in a way that nothing else has. That's Rick Mercer on this program yesterday talking about his first visit to Tofino, British Columbia. And it's a familiar feeling, you know, it's kind of unmatched. That moment when you first see a beautiful place that just speaks to you, especially when that place happens to be in your own country. There are a few people who have traveled the length and the breadth of the country the way that Rick has, hosting his own program here at CBC for 15 years. And at a time when people are looking to spend their travel dollars at home, he was here yesterday to talk about The Current's quest to create the ultimate Canadian travel

guide. Yesterday, we revealed the top 20 finalists for The Current's travel bucket list and over the next few weeks, we will be joined by listeners championing those destinations. You can vote for your favourites and see the list of the top 20 online at cbc.ca slash the current. This morning, we have Nancy Edwards in Ottawa, Yvonne Kyle in Winnipeg, and Ellie Poirier on Manitoulin Island in Ontario. Good morning, everyone.

Good morning. Ellie, let's start with you. What place in this country? Take us to the map and where's the pin for you? What are you championing for our Canadian travel bucket list? That's a great question. I love how you phrased it on take us to the map because in my submission for this project I wrote in it and that gorgeous little like character map you have of Canada,

Manitoulin Island isn't even represented on there. It's so small or large, I guess however we're going to think about it, but we're this small island in northern Ontario in Lake Huron and that's my submission for Canada's bucket list. I'm actually here right now. It's always a privilege to wake up on the island. I live in Little Current, which is the first community when you come across the swing bridge. So yeah, we're nestled on these gorgeous waters of Lake Huron.

We're connected to the mainland from this historic swing bridge that used to bring trains across to the island. And the summer, the other way to get to the island would be via ferry on the southern tip that connects to Tobermory, an entirely gorgeous place in Ontario all on its own. And it's like one of those things that you don't understand until you're here. There's just something about this place. There's seven different vibrant First Nations across the island from tip to tip. All of

the communities are so small, the pace of life is so fantastic, to the point where in the summer and our heyday when we're really, really busy and we've got tourists coming in, it feels like you're overwhelmed and busy because there's three people ahead of you at the grocery store.

So that's what they get. One big long pitch and one big breath, it seemed like. I loved that. I, that is like. I loved that. That is like the story of my life in general, but I never missed opportunity to wax poetic about the island.

All right, so I've taken the ferry, the Chichimon, a number of times from Tobermory up to Manitoulin. It is a beautiful place. You've said that it is easily Ontario's greatest hidden gem. How did you end up there? How did you find Manitoulin Island? So that is a great question. I kind of stumbled upon it from a friend who had moved here to work. She had family that had originally lived here. And I'm from about four hours away towards our

nation's capital. And I had never heard of Manitoulin Island growing up, like at all. And then so when I moved here, kind of like got connected to this random job, I was supposed to be here for two months. That was seven years ago. I moved here and I've never left. The place got its claws into you and you never left. Exactly. And I'm always struck by, um, I've worked in like a couple of tourism facing

industries before, and when I meet people here and they'll be from like Germany. And I'll say like, how did you hear about this? Like, oh, well, it's like the world's largest freshwater island. Like it's got its own claim to fame in and of itself. And here I am thinking like my entire life, I was basically down the street and I had never heard of this place.

So what's the one spot, we're gonna get to the other pitches, but what's the one spot for you, if you were taking somebody who is arriving on Manitouan for the first time, where would you take them to say, this represents the place that I love? I would take them to hike the Cup and Saucer hiking trail. And I would take them to hike it

because you get panoramic views of both sides of the island. And it is beautiful. Especially if you can go in the fall, like late September when the leaves start to change. It is so gorgeous. And it feels like when you're up there, like just like remote almost, but you're, I don't know, 20 minutes away from the town you just came from,

but it's so quiet and it's just trees everywhere, looks over the different inland lakes, it looks over the big water that the island is on. I would take them to the Coven Saucer Trail and I would say, get to the top, look around, this is Manitoulin. That's a great pitch. Yvonne, Kyle, follow that.

What is your pick for the great Canadian travel bucket list? Well, first of all, I have to argue that Manitoulin Island is not north. Um, I would have taken it self-admitting. This is a great, this is a great Canadian debate. I'll concede, I'll concede, I'll concede. But no, we're going actually north.

My personal bucket list is to visit all of Canada's national parks. And so we're going to Cotinapac, which is in the high Arctic. If you go much further north from Cotinapac, you will be going south because you will pass the North Pole. Describe the landscape that far north. For people who've never been to the top of our country, what does it look like? Well, first of all, you have to get there and it's a full day's flight from Ottawa to Resolute and then you have to go on a charter airplane, take a twin otter. Every Canadian should take a twin order, every Canadian should take a twin order into the

rural wilderness and it's a four hour flight from there. You get there and it's, it's, it looks like nothing, it looks like there's nothing there until you look at it. And it's big wide open spaces, there's no trees, zero trees at all, so there's nothing to block your view of anything. You can see the hills, the rocks, the trees, and when you look down, you can see the flowers. I happened to be there in July and the tundra was in bloom, so there's brilliant bright reds and yellows and purples all over the place. You have to watch where you step because all the ground is very soft and there's mosses and lichens and everything.

And then there's river valleys. The rivers are not really, you'd think of them more as streams than rivers, but they're all rivers, well, at the time of year, depending on the time of year and how quickly the glaciers are melting, we could walk through them. But beautiful river valleys and hills and valleys and it's just, it's to die for. What did you love about it? I mean, the way that you describe it is beautiful, but what is it about the place that spoke to you?

Well, for starters, it's North and North, North speaks to me. Just being North speaks to me. But I was walking on a rocky place and there's a plant that had dug itself into just the tiniest little crevice in a rock, and this flower was blooming. You think of the tenacity of that little plant that just, I'm going to do this. And it was just amazing. And then the whole total side of the opposite side of the size extreme, we walked along the

Air Force Glacier, which is about, we walked along it for two days. So probably 15 kilometers in length and like a hundred meters. And just that grandeur is so big. And the whole space is so big. There are 37,000 square kilometres and there were 18 people in the park when I was there. Um, so you don't have to be third in line at the grocery store.

Just the last thing before we get to Nancy is you talked about the North and you wrote about this, um, in your submission. Rick talked about this as well yesterday when he was here, the fact that we are a northern nation and yet many Canadians for cost and for distance purposes don't often get to the north.

But one of the things you wrote was that if more of us went north, really north, we would understand what a treasure we have and work harder to protect it. Yes. I think that's so true because you can't, you can't, you don't work to protect something you don't love and it's hard to love something

you've never seen. And, um, we talk a lot about sovereignty and we talk about global change or climate change and all those things that we don't see nearly as much unless we go there. And so, um, yeah, the North is, I mean, I grew up in North Manitoba, which even that is not North, but, um, the North is just, it's in your soul.

The North gets into your soul. And if you go and spend time in the North, it's, it's just a totally different world. And yeah, then you, you learn to love it and then you understand why we need to protect it. Well, well said. Uh, Nancy Edwards, follow that. Tell us about your pick.

I mean, we're, we're moving around on this map and you can imagine people kind of plotting the map out in their minds. Where should we go according to you in this great country? Well, my pitch is for the Saguenay Fjord on the north side of the St. Lawrence. It's just a spectacular place. Um, I grew up in Montreal and I never heard of it, but friends had been there and I decided to visit. The first time I went was

at the end of August, which is when the whales come into St. Lawrence and eat the plankton and so on. And that was a very spectacular aspect of it because there's 13 species of whales. I was most taken by the belugas. And there's one spot at St. Margaret's Bay where you can walk out to the fjord. And honestly, the whales were maybe 20 feet away from the shore because it's so deep. So the copper tannins of the colouring the water and the white skins of these mammals, and there was many of them, was just really a sight to behold. But it's just I drove up there from Ottawa, which is where I live. And it takes you to Quebec City

and then up to the Charlevoix region and then into Lac-Saint-Jean. And you can go around the south of the fjord or the north of the fjord and over to Tadoussac, which is right on the inlet. And just spectacular landscapes all the way, the French culture, the architecture, the art shops. Great little food from the side of the road.

And everything. I mean, one of the things, and it's interesting because the way that you're describing it, you've spent a bunch of time traveling outside this country, right? I have. What is it like, as you said, you grew up in Montreal, but you had never been to or heard of this area. What is it like to discover things here at home? Oh, well, I just love that when it happens, but our country is so fast.

I think it's not surprising. Um, most of us will never see even all the provinces and territories in, in Canada. Uh, but it's just, um But it just makes you feel so Canadian and so proud of this country and all that it has to offer and its diversity. And I think that's part of what I really liked about the Saguenay Fjord because it's got the boreal forest, it's got the fjord, it's got the Canadian shield,

it's got the St. Lawrence River. These are all iconic parts of the Canadian landscape all in one place. Hey there, I'm David Common. If you're like me, there are things you love about living in the GTA and things that drive you absolutely crazy. Every day on This is Toronto, we connect you to what matters most about life in the GTA, the news you

got to know, and the conversations your friends will be talking about. Whether you listen on a run through your neighbourhood or while sitting in the parking lot that is the 401, check out This Is Toronto, wherever you get your podcasts. Yvonne, you said that you, you want to visit every national park in this country, is that right? That is my goal, yes.

It's interesting in looking through the top 20 destinations that people put forward, we got 2000 submissions and we ended up calling it down to 20, but a lot of them are national parks. What is it that makes Canada's parks, our national parks, so special do you think? Well, first of all, it gets you around the country. And so there are parks in every territory and province, so we get to see everything. And I have been, I mean, I've been blessed because I've been able to visit a lot of them

already, about 40%, 19 out of 48. And I make a point of making time to stop and smell the roses. And so I see the things that are there, but then also take the time to stop and meet the people. And so you get to see the country, and you get to meet the people who live and have cared for the country for decades and centuries, and who care for it now and

who have a vision and a future. And it's just a really, I don't know, it's a way for me, it's really cool because it also, I do a lot of drives to places or, and then you see, and then everything makes sense. You say, when talking about, okay, I've never, I've been to this place, but I've never heard of, you know I've heard of this place in the news and now I know where it is and so I can position it and I can put it In my hand and now I know when you're talking about it. I know what you're talking about I passed through the forest fire where the fires have been Okay

I know where those fires have been and I know so and it's just it's just it's just kind of a grounding and it is and I've never I mean, I've never traveled outside Canada. I've only traveled in Canada. Really? Exactly. And I, it's, it's been my stay home. I've stayed home forever. I didn't even have a passport until a couple of years ago, um, because.

You're ahead of the, you're ahead of the moment that Canada is experiencing. Way ahead in the moment on that one. Yeah. No, it's been my goal forever to stay in, I love my country. I love my country, um, immensely. And, and I want to see it and I want to know it and I want to

appreciate it. Allie, what do you make of this moment? I mean, as I said, we had more than 2,000 submissions for this bucket list. Thousands of people have already voted on the place that they think Canadians should go to. There were also people who said, I'm not telling you about the place that I think you should go because you'll come and ruin it. It's my special place.

But what do you make of this moment where people are so, people are so excited, Ellie, to travel inside Canada? What do you think is going on? Yeah, I mean, it reminds me of during the COVID times, like that period where the restrictions had lifted and there was the encouragement to travel within the province. There was that government rebate, I think, for like staycations within the province. We saw an influx of tourists here even from that. And I, from a personal note, kind of was jealous a little bit or happy thinking of these people that were getting the opportunity to experience Manitoulin. Meanwhile, my entire life, I lived again four hours down the street, basically. And I just never heard of this place. It had been this great kept secret is what it feels like to me.

The fact that more Canadians are being encouraged to explore and discover within their own backyards is so exciting. Even I've lived here for seven going on eight years now, there's still parts of this island that I feel like I'm still discovering even in my own very small backyard, which is so exciting. And the fact that the tendrils that reach into Georgian Bay and onto Lake Huron and Bay Finn and all that kind of stuff. So I'm so grateful that there is more opportunity for Canadians to look homeward, look inward

and see where can I go in my own fantastic country instead of maybe jetting off somewhere else. And it's encouraged me to do some more traveling within Canada as well. I can't say I'm quite up to the pedigree of hitting almost 50% of our national parks already. That's an incredible feat for sure, but definitely something to aspire to.

Where do you want to go next? I mean, aside from directing people to Manitoulin Island, Ellie, what's on your bucket list in terms of traveling in this country? I'm actually headed to Vancouver at the beginning of May. So I'm excited. I've never been to Vancouver. Maybe I'll have an opportunity to check out Tofino, which I know is quite a distance from Vancouver. But I'm listening to a little clip from Rick this morning. I was like, okay, why not add it to the list? Might as well. Nancy, what about for you? Where's next for you?

Oh, I'm not sure. There's many places I would like to revisit. I lived in Newfoundland for a while and I loved it there. That almost made my submission list. I think perhaps the Yukon. I came within two miles of the Yukon on a train, and then we ran into a landslide, so we didn't quite make it. And I've heard wonderful things about that part

of the north. I've been to Yellowknife. I haven't been to Nunavut. I think that would also be on my bucket list. But this is really interesting. Again, it picks up a little bit on what Yvonne and Ellie were saying, that there is a sense of being Canadian in some ways that is being cultivated through people having the opportunity. I mean, it's a really difficult time

and people I'm sure would not want to have to go through this time, but in this moment, people are having the opportunity to think more about their own country and think about what their country means. Do you see that, Nancy? Oh, I agree. I mean, I've always thought that travel is a fantastic education and it teaches you things that you just don't get in any other way. I think my hope would be that we can find a way to help those who don't have the income to travel, to be able to travel.

We need some organizations or some families or whatever who would be willing to help those who've never had the luxury of traveling the way I have to be able to do so. It really gives you a whole new perspective on history, and social studies, and geography, and really what makes this country tick despite its incredible diversity which is so rich in culture and views and opinions and

you know there's nothing like it. Yvonne what's the next national park on your list? I'm going back to Nunavut this summer, I'm going to Ayutthaya, which is on Baffin Island. And then after that, I have a plan. I have a pencil together that I should be able to get them all done by 2035. I think, I think, I think the next one might be an East Coast trip. I love that you're plotting this out. I mean, is it, it's one per year, a couple per year.

How are you doing this? It depends. Like Southern Ontario has a whole bunch of them all close together so I can get to them fairly easily, um, uh, as similar in the mountain parks and in the East coast. So there's there, I can make a trip that cameras two or three or four at a time.

Um, if I go North, it's usually one, maybe, maybe in a good year or two, um, to get to, but, uh to. But yeah, it depends on where I'm going. But yeah, I sort of have a plan. I've been to everywhere except New Brunswick and PEI. So I think I should probably go to New Brunswick and PEI next. It's a big country.

And I love that you all, you all have ideas on places that we should go, but also places that you want to go. Thank you for your submissions and we will see whether the picks that you had make it to our top 20. Thank you for your submissions and we will see whether the picks that you had make it to our top 20. Thank you for being here and thanks for talking to us. Thank you. Thank you.

Yvonne Kyle is in Winnipeg. She's championing Coternopac National Park in Nunavut. Nancy Edwards is in Ottawa. Her pick on our top 20 list is the Saginaw Fjords in Quebec. Ellie Poirier is championing the place that she now calls home, Manitoulin Island in Ontario. Which of those top 20 locations need to make it to the final bucket list? Are there others on the list that you want to vote for? You can see the whole list and vote at cbc.ca slash the current. The rules are as such, you can vote once a day for the next month,

and then we will unveil the top 10, the ultimate Canadian travel bucket list on the 1st of May. Again, go to cbc.ca slash the current. You can vote until the end of April. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.