India visas for Canadians resumes
UPDATE December 2, 2023: Tourist visas for Canadians travelling to India has now resumed.
Good news for Canadians planning to travel to India. The Indian government has resumed visa services for travel to the country. However, not all visa categories are available, such as tourist.
Following is copy from the news release issued yesterday by the High Commission of India in Ottawa:
October 25, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada
News Release
The High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada and its Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver were constrained to suspend visa services temporarily because of safety and security considerations.
After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it has been decided to resume visa services for the following categories with effect from October 26, 2023:
(a) Entry Visa
(b) Business Visa
(c) Medical Visa, and (d) Conference Visa
Emergency situations will continue to be addressed by the High Commission and the Consulates General as it is being done currently.
Further decisions, as appropriate, would be intimated based on continuing evaluation of the situation.
As well, following are the links with information related to each of the categories for applicants:
Entry Visa: https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/visa-entry/
Business Visa: https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/business-visa/
Medical Visa: https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/medical-visa/
Conference Visa: https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/conference-visa/
Please note, however, what is not included is the tourist visa for Canadians to travel to India as tourists. I hope this resumes soon.
Interview: Jim Byers, Canada’s Travel Guy, on his favourite places in Ontario
My Adventures on Twitter Spaces continue.
As I wrote in my previous post, I have been active lately on Twitter Spaces, Twitter’s cool new live audio feature.
I had the opportunity to chat with Jim Byers, fondly known as “Canada’s Travel Guy,” who is the author of “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now” (2020), available on Apple Books. Jim is the editor at Canadian Travel News and TravelPulse Canada, and a contributor to the LA Times. For many years, he was the travel editor at the Toronto Star, and before that he covered sports, and, of course, has his own blog.
Jim Byers (photo courtesy of Jim)
Jim lives in Toronto and he shared his top places to love in his home province of Ontario, Canada – a place I also call home. There is lots to love about Ontario.
Here are some brief highlights from our discussion. We covered a lot of ground in our one hour chat, so I condensed as much of it as I could for this blog post.
Screenshot from my phone of our Twitter Spaces live audio broadcast
Jim Byer’s top places to love in Ontario, Canada.
“Mostly, I love the natural spots and the small towns.”
- Thunder Bay – Sleeping Giant Park, trail hikes and walks, and lots of nature.
- Lake Superior Coast – hiking the Lake Superior Coastal Trail (note: Jim says there are not enough places to pull over or Tim Hortons restaurants).
- Muskoka – sort of the “playground of the rich and celebrities,” where you can to boating amongst beautiful islands such as Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau; and the town of Huntsville.
- Ottawa – cool, thriving neighbourhoods, the Rideau Canal, museums, the National Gallery of Canada, the Byward Market and its very Canadian “beaver tails.”
- Kingston/Ganaoque – Kingston castles (and helicopter tour), and for the “1,000 islands.”
- Kawarthas – Peterborough city, the lovely towns and a “crazy garden filled with stone carvings from Zimbabwe;” also a cool winery and “butter tarts.”
- Lake Huron coast – Grand Bend community is “best beach town in Canada.” Jim says it reminds him of California, where he grew up.
- Toronto – Ontario’s largest city offers a lot of nature, which Jim calls “quiet Toronto” (Toronto islands especially).
- Niagara region – especially Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries.
- Lake Erie shoreline – “Canada’s Forgotten Coast,” has lovely small towns such as Kingsville, culinary and beer/wine gems.
- Grey County – the town of Meaford, hiking and kayaking on Georgian Bay, spectacular waterfalls.
- Stratford – “more than theater festival,” bacon and ale trail, and parade of swans, and B&Bs.
For more about Ontario destinations, check out Jim’s book: “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now” (2020), available on Apple Books. It is filled with tips, advice and fun and quirky stories written with great humour. The book was published by Sharon Creelman at Black Sand Digital .
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How to join me on Twitter Spaces:
- First, you need an iOS or Android phone. Spaces is not accessible on a computer yet.
- Go to my Twitter account @Shannon_Skinner
- You obviously need a Twitter account
- At the time of broadcast, you will see a live link appear in my feed (in purple). It was say something like “join me.”
- Click on the live link and it take you to my Space.
- Your mic will automatically be muted.
Shannon Skinner is a broadcaster, author, international speaker and loves to explore the world through travel and wine. Watch her interviews at ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com. Join me live for Inspiring Conversations on Twitter Spaces, M-F at 10am EST. Follow me at @Shannon_Skinner to join (you need an iPhone or Android phone).
Romantic cities for getaways (when we can travel again)
This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is a good time to start dreaming about that romantic place to whisk away to, by car or plane, once we can travel (safely) again.
Budapest, Hungary
I decided to put together this list after I was thinking about the line in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Sally (Meg Ryan) tells Harry (Billy Crystal) about her and her ex-partner talking about flying off to Rome on a moment’s notice while they were still in their relationship. It was a fantasy that never transpired.
That lead me to think about one of the most memorable lines in film, from Casablanca, when Rick (Humphrey Bogart) says to his former lover, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), “We’ll always have Paris,” a reference to their romance on the eve of World War II.
Rome, Paris…so many places in the world for romance.
So I put together a list of my top 10 cities to consider for your next romantic getaway. Some will be expected and others might be a surprise.
Quebec City, Canada (photo: Allice Hunter, WikiMedia)
1) Quebec City, Canada: Canada’s predominantly French-speaking city with European flare, cobblestone streets, quaint alleys and bistros with delicious food (be sure to try the crepes). Rest assured, you don’t need to speak French to visit.
Paris, France (photo: Pierre Blache, WikiMedia Commons)
2) Paris, France: Cliché, maybe, but Paris is Paris, brimming with history, art and literature, museums, romantic strolls along the Seine, and so much more.
Vienna, Austria
3) Vienna, Austria: A city filled with music and cafes, and stunning architecture, palaces, and, of course, chocolate. I have visited Vienna a couple of times and want to explore more of this stylish city.
Viennese chocolate
4) Budapest, Hungary: It is a superb choice for travellers interested in wellness because besides the wonderful architecture and safe nightlife, Budapest is home to world-renowned spas. See my photo essay.
Budapest, Hungary
5) Jaipur, India: The Pink City is one of my favourite spots in the world, with its ancient palaces and forts, with some, such as the Samode Palace, being popular spots for weddings and honeymoons. It has many heritage boutique hotels that were once royal family residences, like the Samode Haveli.
Fort Amer, Jaipur, India
6) Cheyenne, USA: Not an obvious one, Wyoming’s capital city is filled with intriguing cowboy and cowgirl history. It is a terrific starting point for those wanting to go hiking or skiing in Wyoming’s vast parks.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
7) New York, USA: It’s almost too obvious to put on a list, but it’s New York and you can find anything you want to do and buy there.
Me, in New York (thanks to my friend Andrea for taking photo)
8) Boston, USA: One of my favourite spots. Years ago, I worked on the Massachusetts tourism account representing the commonwealth in Canada, and had the privilege of experiencing Boston at its best. From delicious seafood to history to the Boston Pops, there is much to do and see.
Boston, USA (photo: Nelson48 Wikimedia Commons)
9) Geneva, Switzerland: One of my favourite European cities, Geneva is a walkable city where you can enjoy international cuisine, world-class wines, chocolate and cheese, and high-end fashion, plus quaint art shops.
Geneva, Switzerland
10) Toronto, Canada: I can’t not mention my hometown, Toronto. It can be best described as a smaller and friendlier version of New York. It has high-end shopping, museums galore, international cuisine, an entertainment scene, some of the finest hotels and many parks.
Toronto, Canada
While this is merely a short list, the world is a big place and there are many destinations to consider. Rome, however, is not included because, unfortunately, I have not yet been! Hopefully this has sparked some inspiration to pack your bags and go…when it’s safe to do so.
Shannon Skinner is a broadcaster, author, international speaker, and travel and wine writer and consultant.
You may be interested in these related posts:
My perfect day in New York City
Geneva’s special ‘chocolate pots’ for Escalade
Top 12 gardens near Toronto to visit this summer
For eager day-trippers based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), if you are looking to visit some gardens this summer, here is a list of the top 12 Ontario gardens that are in or near Toronto.
Keep in mind, though, given that we are still in the midst of a pandemic and the province not yet fully open, please check their respective websites to determine if they are open, hours of operations and public safety guidelines.
1. Allan Gardens, Toronto: One of the oldest gardens in Ontario, is both a park and indoor botanical garden, has six greenhouses and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto. (https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/41/index.html)
2. Casa Loma Garden, Toronto: Canada’s most famous medieval castle has more than four acres of gardens with a lovely roses garden, rare wildflowers, and plenty of rhododendrons and azaleas, on an escarpment overlooking Toronto’s downtown. (https://casaloma.ca/)
3. Edward Gardens, Toronto: The (former) Edwards estate has gardens that features perennials, roses, wildflowers, rhododendrons, a rock garden and a valley view. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
4. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara: Renowned for its carpet bedding and Butterfly Conservatory, in the heart of Niagara. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/)
5. Niagara Parks Floral Clock and Gardens, Niagara: The face of the floral clock is made with about 16,000 carpet bedding plants and the tower portion has Westminster chimes. Centennial Lilac Gardens and Niagara Parks Botanical Garden are located nearby. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/nature-garden/floral-clock/)
6. Ontario Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington: Canada’s largest botanical gardens, comprising 2,700 acres of land, including five garden locations and 2,400 acres of conservation lands. (https://www.rbg.ca/)
7. Parkwood Estate Gardens, Oshawa. Estate built in early 20th century, now a national historic site, has a large conservatory, pavilions, an ‘art moderne’ garden, indoor Japanese garden and an Italian garden. (https://www.parkwoodestate.com/)
8. Queen Victoria Park, Niagara: Nineteenth century park with carpet bedding, rock garden and rose garden, overlooking the famous Niagara Falls. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/)
9. Spadina Gardens, Toronto: Victorian-era house with a restored garden, formal bedding near the house, including kitchen and cutting gardens, in the style of the 20th century. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/)
10. Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington: Canada’s largest botanical garden comprising 2,700 acres of land, includes rose and lilac gardens, and a rock garden. (https://www.rbg.ca/)
11. Toronto Botanical Gardens, Toronto: These botanicals are located in Edwards Gardens. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
12. Toronto Music Garden, Toronto: Designed by landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Design is music theme-based on the First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach, comprising six garden “movements.” (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
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Resources: Ontario Tourism , seetorontonow.com
Source: GardenVisitGuide
The world’s 10 happiest countries to put on your travel ‘love list’
Would you visit the places where people are the happiest? As a traveller, this sounds ideal because while every country has its own beauty and hidden gems, it is always the people, to me anywhere, that make or break a trip.
Norway (photo: hh oldman)
This past Spring, Conde-Nast Traveler magazine put together a list of the 10 Happiest Countries in the World. This was based on the United Nations World Happiness Report. I’ve been to many of these countries and read this report when it came out, but after the story appeared in my Twitter feed over the weekend, I decided to list them here for you, dear reader, to put on your ‘love list.’
New Zealand (photo: John Tripperson)
So if you have not yet visited the happiest places on Earth, get to it!
1 Norway
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Finland
6. Netherlands
7. Canada (woo-hoo!)
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10.Sweden
As a Canadian, I am pleased to see Canada on the list. What stands out to me, though, is that the United States did not make the cut.
If you have a favourite spot in one of these top 10 happiest countries, tell me about it at @Shannon_Skinner.
Love xo
Shannon
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning television and radio show host and producer, speaker, author and travel writer. For more information, visit: ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com and ShannonSkinner.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Visit Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Canadian Rockies
UPDATED: This post, originally posted on July 1, 2017, has been updated on July 19, 2020.)
Canada is now 150 years old. We might be a young country, but as a destination, we have many offerings for tourists. With ten provinces and three territories extending from coast-to-coast-to-coast, covering a vast 9.98 million sq. kms, Canada is the world’s second-largest country by total area.
What you might not know is that Canada has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. UNSCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – recognizes world heritage sites that are of significant cultural or natural value. And we have plenty of them. Here is a list – so time to pack your bags and hit the road and see these amazing sites:
Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
1. Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, B.C. and Alberta: includes Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho national parks; and provincial parks Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber.
SGang Gwaay (credit: Grizzly01en)
2. SGang Gwaay, British Columbia: 19th-century Haida village.
3. Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta: located in the ‘badlands’ of Alberta where important fossils were discovered from the ‘Age of Reptiles,’ especially 35 species of dinosaur, dating back 75 million years.
4. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta: marked trails, an aboriginal camp and buffalo skeletons are what remain of a 6,000 year-old hunting custom.
5. Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, Alberta: the word’s first international peace park, with stunning scenery.
Rideau Canal (credit: John Talbot)
6. Rideau Canal, Ontario: a slackwater canal from Kingston to Ottawa, originally built for strategic military purposes.
7. Historic District of Old Québec, Quebec: a fortified colonial city founded in the early 17th century by French explorer, Champlain.
8. Miguasha National Park, Quebec: on the southern coast of the Gaspé peninsula.
9. Landscape of Grand Pré, Nova Scotia: marshland and archaeological site of the first European settlers in North America.
10. Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: British colonial settlement.
11. Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia: the “coal age Galápagos.”
12. L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Newfoundland: remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement.
Gros Morne National Park (credit: jcmurphy)
13. Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador: spectacular scenery displaying some of the world’s best examples of the process of plate tectonics.
14. Red Bay Basque Whaling Station, Labrador: archaeological testimony of a pre-industrial whaling station.
15. Kluane/Wrangell-St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek, Yukon Territory, BC (and Alaska): Spectacular parks, contains the largest non-polar icefield in the world.
16. Mistaken Point, Newfoundland: rugged coastal cliffs that stretch 17 kms.
17. Nahanni National Park, Northwest Territories: one of the most spectacular wild rivers in North America, plus deep canyons, waterfalls, and a limestone cave system.
18. Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories and Alberta: home to North America’s largest population of wild bison.
UPDATE (July 19, 2020):
On July 20, 2020, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian Geoparks Network announced that the Cliffs of Fundy, in Nova Scotia, and Discovery, in Newfoundland and Labrador, have been designated UNESCO Global Geoparks. Geoparks are sites recognized by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, for their exceptional geological heritage. Being designated a Geopark means having the ability to mobilize local stakeholders to preserve unique geological sites and educate visitors about them. Geoparks also play a leading role in fostering high quality, sustainable tourism and contributing to the vitality of local economies (source: Canadian Commission for UNESCO news releease).
Canada. What’s not to love?
If you have visited any of these sites, I would love to hear what your favourite spot is. Tweet to me at @Shannon_Skinner or leave a comment below.
Love xo
Shannon
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning television and radio show host/producer, international speaker, author and travel writer. For more information, visit: ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com and ShannonSkinner.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
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Source: compiled from UNESCO World Heritage List.
Photo credit: Rockies – popejon2, Paddington, Australia (via Wikimedia Commons)
Gender equality forum brings women (and a few men) together
While the President of the United States is busy rolling back protection for women workers and defunding the UN Population Fund, north of the border, a room full of women gather in Toronto to engage in learning and discussions about solutions for gender equality, a topic that is not going away anytime soon.
After millions of women and men marched last January in solidarity across the U.S. and around the world, out of both concern and inspiration of what the future holds, it has never been clearer that women are on the rise. While the collective voice of women – and men – is greatly needed, we still need organizations to lead the charge and set the agenda to advance gender equality and take action for any meaningful transformation with real staying power. And that is exactly what happened on April 4th-5th in a conference room in Deloitte’s swanky offices at Yonge and Adelaide Streets.
The Gender Equality Forum 2017 brought together women leaders in business, government, and UN agencies, to explore opportunities for partnership and collective action. It was organized by the Canadian network of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary corporate strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies in the interest areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and spearheaded by Helle Bank Jorgensen.
Speakers included the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne; the European Union Ambassador to Canada, Marie-Anne Coninsx; and The Honourable Maryam Monsef, the Minister of Status of Women Canada, who began her inspiring speech by telling the group, “I’m here because I’m interested in a relationship.” As it turned out, as she would later tells us, the relationship was with us.
“Canada can lead the world,” said Minister Monsef, whose own personal story of being raised by a single mom to eventually becoming an MP – and beacon of light for all Canadian women – is in itself a dose of inspiration.
And while it was interesting hearing from a range of women (and a few men) speakers from NGO’s and corporations about the challenges women face in the world, the solutions they are striving for, and their achievements, the most intriguing part of the forum was something we don’t have enough of at women-themed events. It was a panel discussion of men who are interested, in earnest, in the advancement of women.
“Feminism is the greatest gift men ever received,” said forum panelist Michael Kaufman, author and White Ribbon Campaign co-founder, upon noting the lack of men in the audience.
And so, my takeaway is this: there are visionary men who want to reach more men to get engaged and involved to advance women’s interests. Let’s find them! Kaufman offers some ways to do that, which I will leave with you:
1. Positive messages work better than negative. “Be the guy who interrupts sexist jokes.”
2. Reach out to men with compassion and understanding, while challenging abuse.
3. Co-operation and outreach to happen at the community level.
4. Globalize men’s voices – encourage other men.
Let’s have more of this at women’s empowerment events, please. And thank you.
Shannon Skinner is a Toronto-based, award-winning television and radio show host, international speaker, author and creator of ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com. For information on her speaking engagements and interviews, visit: www.ShannonSkinner.com and www.ExtrarodinaryWomenTV.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Highlights from La Ronge, Saskatchewan
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking at a conference for women in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, my home province. The conference was organized by Visions North Community Futures and focused on providing women with skills and tools to help them in their work and personal lives. It was nice to be back in my home province and especially fantastic to visit La Ronge, which is the most northern destination in Canada I have traveled to. Before I gave my talk, in the wee hours of dawn, I managed to capture Lac Range in all its glory.
Sunrise over Lac Ra Ronge. Is there nothing more inspiring than watching the sun, the very thing that gives us life and energy? The sunrise over the lake is stunning.
Trees glowing along Lac La Ronge at sunrise
La Ronge is the southern most point in Canada’s Far North where the paved roads end and, well, after that you are on your own.
La Ronge has a large First Nations community and the richness of the culture can be experienced from the people, in nature, and also in the local art. This sculpture stands in a park along the lake, as was also captured at sunrise.
An open letter to Prime Minister Harper: Let Them In
DEAR PRIME MINSTER STEPHEN HARPER:
Let in the people who need our help. Every human has value and can make a contribution to our society.
For instance, Canadian businesswoman, Vian Sharef, whose family fled war-torn Iraq when she was a teen and lived in a refugee camp for 3 years in Turkey, while waiting to be accepted in Canada. She walked for days without shoes. When most teens here might be playing sports or partying, or whatever freedom offers, Vian was helping to translate, communicate and nurse people with burns and such in a make-shift hospital in the camp. She was learning to be of service. Later, after coming to Canada – with nothing – Vian put herself through school while working full-time and then, as a single mother, started her own business (http://www.dermedix.ca/) – and has become a Canadian success story.
Today, Vian Sharef is helping many women with their skincare and helping them to feel and look their best (including me). She has created jobs. She works hard and long hours. She is progressive. She is giving back to the society that accepted her. She continues to make a contribution to Canada.
There are many others like Vian.
Let’s open our hearts to the people who are fleeing dismal circumstances and let them in. Instead of being fearful of “what they are taking away from us,” let’s focus on the gifts they have to offer.
If you want to learn more about Vian’s story, listen to the interview I did with her here: http://www.voiceamerica.com/…/86027/beauty-and-anti-aging-s…
Tour of Grange of Prince Edward County winery & vineyards
I spent a fabulous afternoon at the Grange of Prince Edward County vineyards and winery estate, which included a tasting of their spectacular wines, running the gamut from Pinot Noir to Riesling to Cabernet Franc to a buttery oaked Chardonnay.
Cheers! Loving their sparkling wine.
Run by two women, a mother and daughter duo – Caroline and Maggie Granger – it was such a delight to learn about their business as I toured, along with my friend Darcelle Runciman, publisher, Infinity Magazine (which I write for), and a fun picnic lunch complete with a delicious sparkling wine.
I will be writing more about our adventure in the next issue of Infinity Magazine – but wanted to offer a sneak peek of what’s to come – so stay tuned!
Maggie Granger and Darcelle Runciman on tour of vineyards. This is what Pinot Noir grapevines look like.
