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Try these accessible hiking trails across Canada

Reshetnikov_art/Shutterstock

The outdoors are for everyone, and there’s no shortage of trails across the country with accessibility features. From a salt marsh on the East Coast to a winding boardwalk through coastal rainforest, here are some must-do accessible hikes across Canada.

*Please keep in mind that some of these trails may not be as accessible (or at all) in the winter or early spring months.

Before you head out

  • In most provincial and federal parks, interpretive signs have braille. However, this may not be the case for every trail. Using the Open Government Portal, you can search “tactile maps” for an extensive library of maps that include accessibility features. 
  • Parks Canada also has detailed information on accessible camping, broken down by National Park—each link gives more details about the accessibility features at each park.
  • There are organizations across Canada that facilitate outdoor experiences for people living with disabilities, such as Rocky Mountain Adaptive or Recreation Nova Scotia. 
  • Both the Ontario Trails Council and Parks Canada keep an extensive list of accessible trails and central services, like BC Disability, Champlain Health Line (Ontario), or the Active Living Alliance (national). These provide information about local chapters and groups that facilitate outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. 

Ontario

Visa Trail at Dundas Valley 

Partial wheelchair access—Mostly soil surface

Located in Hamilton Region’s beautiful Dundas Valley Conservation Area, Vista Trail delivers on views, as per its name. An admission fee covers the other 40-plus kilometres of trails available.

Humber Arboretum & West Humber River Valley

Complete wheelchair access—Paved surface

Part of Toronto’s larger Discovery Walk, this 10-kilometre section of trail takes you through the beautiful Humber Arboretum, some ornamental gardens, and ecologically sensitive forests protected by the Toronto Conservation Authority. 

Rockwood Conservation Area Trails near Guelph

Partial wheelchair access—Soil and boardwalk surfaces

Located in Guelph Region, visitors love this area for the beautiful, diverse views on a network of well-trodden trails. In the winter, the trails are usually free (as the gatehouse is often closed), but in spring and summer, there’s a fee of $7 per person. 

Spruce Bog Boardwalk in Algonquin Park

Complete wheelchair access—Soil and boardwalk surfaces

A boardwalk trail means no worrying about muddy, wet, or otherwise unfavourable conditions to trod through—no wonder this trail is a favourite in Algonquin Park. This 1.5 km loop shows off—as per the name—two typical Northern spruce bogs.

Balsam Lake Lookout Trail in the Kawarthas

Partial wheelchair access—Soil and boardwalk surfaces

A lovely trail in the Kawarthas, Balsam Lake is popular for the fact that it shows off several landscapes: a cedar swamp, a deciduous forest, and an open meadow that’s breathtaking in the spring. Please note that this trail is subject to seasonal closures if the conditions become too difficult; check before you go. 

Millenium Trail

Complete wheelchair access—Soil and boardwalk surfaces

Known for its “emerald” forest and lake scenery, the Millenium Trail near Petawawa in the Ottawa Valley packs a punch. Interpretive signs along the way and some unique traditional structures make this a great outdoor museum-style experience.

Western Canada

Sundance Canyon Trail in Banff

Partial wheelchair access —Soil and paved surfaces

With the majority of this trail being on a paved road, it’s a great option of decent length in the heart of Banff National Park. It’s wheelchair accessible until you approach the canyon, where there’s a short, steeper loop that involves some climbing and brings you closer toward it.

Lake Annette Loop in Jasper National Park

Complete wheelchair access—Soil and paved surfaces

Jasper National Park is home to some of the most stunning nature in Alberta, and Lake Anette is no exception. This short, mostly paved path offers a great view of Lake Anette, and hikers also love it as a picnic spot. 

Elbow Falls Loop & Recreation Area in Kananaskis

Complete wheelchair access—Paved surface (*on main trail)

While crowds flock to Banff National Park, Kananaskis often has fewer people, and locals love the area for its quiet, rugged beauty. Elbow Falls is a great spot for a picnic, with a path along the river with views of the rushing water.

Inland Lake Trail in Powell River

Partial wheelchair access—Paved, soil and boardwalk surfaces

Best used in the late spring or summer, this lovely 12-kilometre trail in beautiful Powell River winds around a gorgeous lake. The trail features many spots to dip in and cool off and can be made as long or short as you like. 

Grasslands Loop in Kamloops

Partial wheelchair access—Soil and gravel surfaces

The unique topography of this region often flies under the radar compared to the sea and soaring mountains of B.C., but there’s a unique beauty in the more arid areas of the province, as showcased in this short Kamloops trail. Note that the terrain can get muddy when wet, and some parts can be grown in with weeds and tall grasses. 

Shorepine Bog Trail in Tofino

Partial wheelchair access—Boardwalk surface (*boardwalk can be narrow and uneven at points)

Beautiful Tofino has no shortage of stunning views, and the Shorepine Bog Trail—which has boardwalks constructed throughout to keep you off the perpetually wet ground—is a great option! At just under one kilometre, this easy trail dips you right into the unique coastal rainforest environment of the area. 

Valley Trail in Whistler

Complete wheelchair access—Paved and boardwalk surfaces

An excellent way to see both the village of Whistler and its surrounding beauty, the Valley Trail is a dedicated car-free path looping through the area that is paved, with some bridges and boardwalks along the way. 

Northstar Rails to Trails, Kimberley to Cranbrook

Complete wheelchair access – Paved and soil surfaces

A 25-kilometre adventure between the cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook, this trail is an awesome bucket-list item that offers unmatched views. Popular with hikers and cyclists, the trail gets its name from the fact that it makes use of decommissioned railway lines to connect the two mountain towns. 

East Coast

The Bog Trail in Cape Breton National Park

Complete wheelchair access—Boardwalk surface

The Cabot Trail is a bucket list item for the East Coast, and this boardwalk is a great go-to loop. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance to see some unique wildlife in the region, such as colourful dragonflies, green frogs, and even moose.

Salt Marsh Trail in Cole Harbour

Complete wheelchair access—Paved and boardwalk surfaces

Popular in this region, the Salt Marsh Trail will have you feeling like you’re part of this unique habitat, with a paved road and boardwalk that gives you a panoramic view of the marsh. 

North Beach at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

Complete wheelchair access—Ramp/boardwalk surface (*does not encompass whole beach area)

Getting to sea level to be among the stunning Hopewell Rocks was once only possible by a long staircase, but a wheelchair-accessible ramp was built a few years ago, allowing users to enjoy the natural beauty up close.

Gulf Shore Way East & West in Prince Edward Island National Park

Complete Wheelchair Access—Boardwalk and paved surfaces

These trails encompass a 10-kilometre paved pathway that offers unparalleled views of the North Shore of P.E.I., where you’ll catch sights like the red sandstone cliffs of Cavendish, the Covehead lighthouse, and numerous beaches that are popular for swimming. 

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Porter Airlines cancels flight service between Toronto and Muskoka

Photo by Shutterstock/The Bold Bureau

It’s back to driving if you want to head up to Muskoka. On January 11, Porter Airlines announced that it’s discontinuing flight service between Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport and Muskoka Airport, north of Gravenhurst, Ont.

“Porter has appreciated working with local tourism and airport partners to promote Muskoka over the years,” said Brad Cicero, the director of communications and public affairs for Porter Airlines, in a statement. “Our joint efforts have contributed to generating broader interest in the region that we hope will have long-term benefits for the community.”

James Murphy, the CEO of RTO 12, a regional tourism organization that has been advocating for commercial flights to Muskoka since 2016 and was responsible for attracting Porter to the area, said that Porter’s cancellation of the flight service was a business decision.

While Jeff Lehman, the district chair for Muskoka, said: “The service was cancelled due to changes made by the terminal operator at the Island Airport in Toronto.” He added that the cancellation will impact Muskoka tourist operators who used the service as a way to bring people to the region from the city. “It’s disappointing to be sure, given the service was successful.”

Porter would not specify what factors led to the decision. Although, the airline has shifted its focus to its 100 new aircraft, which will be flying out of Toronto’s Pearson Airport to Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary starting in February.

Despite the cancelled service, Murphy stressed that RTO 12 had no hard feelings towards Porter. “At the time, we partnered with Porter, we were an untested airport and destination for the aviation industry, and our business case was built on projections,” he said. “Now, we have solid data and experience for building scheduled service at the airport, including successfully increasing the number of international visitors in 2022 over the inaugural season.”

Porter partnered with RTO 12 and the Muskoka Airport in 2019, offering flights between the two airports twice a week. The average cost of a roundtrip flight was around $200 with the trip taking approximately 20 minutes one way.

The pandemic, however, forced Porter to cancel the service in 2020 and 2021. The company restarted service in 2022. Despite a successful relaunch and, according to Murphy, an increase in passengers in 2022 compared to 2019, it wasn’t enough for Porter to continue the operation.

Moving forward, Murphy said RTO 12 will use the data collected during Porter’s flight service to create a compelling business case that will ideally attract other commercial airline services to Muskoka Airport.

“Our objective all along has been to increase international visitors to the region because they stay longer and spend more,” he said. “Commercial air service also allows us to be competitive with urban tourism destinations, such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara Falls.”

Muskoka Airport’s CEO, Len O’Connor shared similar thoughts. “Muskoka continues to be a popular destination for both business and leisure passengers. Scheduled service in Muskoka has proven to be successful—the Porter Airline service offered many opportunities to enhance operations and we are looking forward to what the future brings.”

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Ontario’s integrity commissioner and auditor general investigating Greenbelt development

Photo by Shutterstock/NelzTabcharani316

On Wednesday, Ontario’s integrity commissioner and auditor general announced that they would both be launching separate investigations into the provincial government’s Greenbelt development plan.

In December 2022, Premier Doug Ford’s government finalized a plan that would remove 7,400 acres of land from the province’s protected Greenbelt to build 50,000 homes. While examining the plan, a team of journalists from the Toronto Star and The Narwhal discovered that eight of the 15 Greenbelt parcels selected for development had been purchased by developers after 2018, when Ford was elected. Opening the land to development made the parcels extremely valuable, leading some to believe that the Ford government had tipped off developers before the November 4 announcement.

On November 28, Mike Schreiner, Ontario’s Green party leader, sent a letter and an affidavit to J. David Wake, the province’s integrity commissioner in charge of enforcing ethical conduct among Ontario’s members of parliament. In the letter, Schreiner asked him to investigate whether Ford and Steve Clark, the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, had contravened the Members’ Integrity Act by providing insider information and engaged in a conflict of interest regarding the Greenbelt development.

When Wake asked Ford and Clark about the accusation, both denied it, claiming that “the selection of the affected lands was made by public servants who were subject to an enhanced confidentiality protocol and that the minister was briefed and accepted their proposal only a few days before he presented it to Cabinet.”

After assessing Schreiner’s request, Wake determined that there were insufficient grounds to investigate as the majority of supporting material were media articles, which don’t qualify as evidence in an inquiry.

On December 8, newly appointed Ontario NDP leader, Marit Stiles, provided an affidavit and “direct evidence” to convince Wake to launch an investigation into whether Clark had contravened the Members’ Integrity Act. Stiles did not ask Wake to investigate Ford.

A spokesperson for Clark responded to a request for comment in an email, stating the minister is confident that the integrity commissioner will find “there is no evidence that either the premier or the minister advanced their private interest through the recent changes to the Greenbelt.”

Stiles, Schreiner, and Ontario’s Liberal party leader, John Fraser, next wrote a joint letter to auditor general Bonnie Lysyk, who ensures public money is being spent responsibly, on January 11, asking her to conduct a “value-for-money audit and an assessment of the financial and environmental impacts of the government’s decision to remove land from the Greenbelt and repeal the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act.”

In response, Lysyk wrote a letter back to the MPPs on January 18, saying: “I would like to confirm that my office will be conducting certain audit work on this issue commencing within the next few weeks.”

In a statement responding to the investigations, Schreiner said: “I am pleased that both the integrity commissioner and the auditor general have agreed to investigate Ford’s decision to break his often-repeated promise not to open up areas of protected Greenbelt land for development. There are serious unanswered questions about how certain Conservative-connected land speculators knew to buy the parcels in question—some of these transactions occurring mere months before the government’s announcement. This whole affair does not pass the smell test.”

Stiles responded with a similar statement: “I am relieved to see that this matter is being treated with the seriousness that it deserves and pleased to see this response from the integrity commissioner and the auditor general. Ontarians are owed answers about the Greenbelt, and I am confident that today is a step in the right direction to understanding what happened.”

On top of the integrity commissioner and the auditor general’s investigations, non-profit organizations Environmental Defence and Democracy Watch are pushing the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) anti-rackets branch to investigate whether the government did provide insider information to developers about the Greenbelt, amounting to a criminal breach of trust by a public officer.

“Removal of thousands of acres of legally protected farmland, forests, and wetlands from the Greenbelt threatens us all. A government doing so in a manner shrouded in secrecy that appears to benefit a select group of property owners, including recent purchasers, needs to be thoroughly investigated by the OPP,” said Tim Gray, Environmental Defence’s executive director, in a statement.

The OPP has yet to confirm whether it will press charges.

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Deadly white-nose syndrome detected in Alberta bats

By Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock

The fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome, an infectious disease that’s decimated bat populations across eastern Canada, is making rapid gains across the Prairies. Pseudogymnoascus destructans was detected last summer along Alberta’s Red Deer River, says Cory Olson, the coordinator of the Alberta Community Bat Program with Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. The fungus expanded more than 500 km in a one-year span, setting the stage for wider distribution into prime bat habitat in the Rocky Mountains.

Pseudogymnoascus destructans was first identified in eastern North America in 2006, likely arriving from Europe on clothing or equipment or from an infected bat on a cargo ship. The fungus spreads from bat to bat and thrives in cool temperatures. The infection irritates bats’ skin and disrupts hibernation, depleting their energy reserves and leading to starvation. Populations of little brown bats, northern bats (a.k.a. northern myotis), and tri-coloured bats have plummeted more than 90 per cent in affected areas as the fungus spreads west across the continent. 

Wild Profile: Meet the little brown bat

But there could be hope on the horizon. European bats are resistant to white-nose syndrome, and Olson says there’s evidence that a small proportion of affected species in North America have tolerance as well. “Assuming their offspring are also resistant, these individuals could help populations recover, provided they can successfully reproduce,” he says. Meanwhile, little brown bats and northern bats were recently listed as endangered under Alberta’s wildlife act.

Study predicts which bats will survive disease outbreaks

Bats are critical in regulating insect populations, including mosquitoes and defoliators of forests and crops. Olson points to an American study which suggests bats provide the equivalent of billions of dollars worth of organic insect control each year. “Bats are important for the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and the loss of bats is likely to have important long-term consequences,” Olson adds. “We knew this fungus would eventually arrive in Alberta, and that a cultural shift in how people perceive bats, and manage them, was urgently needed. We need to do more to protect bats.”

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Cottage Q&A: Builder liability if the cottage floods

By Pascal Huot/Shutterstock

Is my builder liable if my new cottage is built in a floodplain and it floods?—Sierra Marley, via email

We’re assuming you’re in Ontario, and that you’re asking this question because of the recent changes brought about by Bill 23 and the two proposed amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act. Unfortunately, it’s a tough question to answer. And not only because Bill 23 is a new piece of legislation.

“These sorts of things are very fact specific and a number of variables can drastically affect the legal issues,” says Oliver Cooper, a lawyer with MKC Law Office in Peterborough, Ont. Still, yes, it’s possible that the builder could be liable—it would likely depend on the contract that you signed with them at the time of the build.

Actually, “there are a number of parties who could potentially be liable, including any contractors, municipalities issuing permits, builders, and inspectors,” says Cooper. Who is legally at fault for damage to the flooded cottage would be affected by “any contracts entered into which may limit liability and the duty of care and standard of care each party has to the owner,” he says. “I have seen claims where all of the above have been named in lawsuits, along with prior owners.”

Your question brings up other questions: what if this flood happens years after the cottage is built and the builder isn’t even around anymore? And what about insurance—would a company insure such a property without excluding flooding as an insured risk? Would a company insure it at all?

Cottage Q&A: Insurance for lake ice damage

Bottom line: it’s complicated. (Legal matters usually are.) As always, if you have concerns, you’re best to contact a lawyer directly and lay out the specifics of your particular situation.

Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.

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9 delicious (and budget-friendly) Acadian comfort foods you have to try

Photo by Sergii Koval/Shutterstock

Acadian cuisine is made for snug winter nights. With plenty of root vegetables, stewed meats, and rich molasses, these eastern-Canadian dishes are as frugal as they are delicious. Vegetables often take the starring role, nothing is ever wasted, and recipes are easily adapted to accommodate available ingredients. These nine Acadian dishes should be on everyone’s radar.

Chicken fricot

If chicken soup is the answer to any ailment, the delicate broth, chunky vegetables, and tender chicken of an Acadian fricot might just make it the best medicine around. Soft dumplings cooked in the soup’s steam take the comfort factor to the next level.

Chicken fricot Acadian cuisine with a bun on the side
Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

Corn chowder

Acadians might just do chowder better than anyone. Their creamy seafood chowders are legendary but humble corn chowder is not to be missed. Potatoes, onions, and creamed corn come together to make the coziest bowl imaginable.

Rappie pie

Generosity and community are at the heart of Acadian cuisine, and no dish personifies these qualities better than rappie pie. Many hands come together to make light work of the task of grating, draining, and then rehydrating the potatoes that top the poached meat. You’ll find this casserole at every Acadian family event in southern Nova Scotia and across the region.

Canadian Rappie Pie, an Acadian classic comfort food dish made with grated potatoes and chicken closeup in a baking dish on the table. Horizontal top view from above
Photo by Sergii Koval/Shutterstock

Meat pie

Acadian meat pie is a dense, delicious dish of seasoned shredded meat baked in rich pastry. A combination of pork and chicken is popular but in the olden days, other meats like stewed rabbit were often used. Excellent with a side of molasses or maybe some homemade pickled veggies.

meat pie on a white plate with a side of baked beans and pickled veggies
Photo by Foodio/Shutterstock

Fried smelts

Fresh fish, smoked fish, and salted fish all play a big part in Acadian cuisine but perhaps none is as tasty as fried smelts. These petite fish, popular with ice fishers, are irresistible when fried up with a bit of salt and butter and served with some fresh homemade bread on the side.

smelt fried in flour in a black pan close up view from above.
Photo by Venediktov Vladimir/Shutterstock

Mashed turnips and carrots

Root vegetables dominate regional menus, but that doesn’t mean that Acadian cuisine is all about potatoes. A mash of turnips or rutabagas and carrots, along with plenty of butter, salt, pepper, and maybe a splash of maple syrup, is popular at holidays and Sunday dinners.

Salted onions and salted herbs

The waste-not, want-not mentality of Acadian cuisine extends to condiments. Green onions, chives, and herbals like parsley are preserved with salt and stored in jars to save summer’s bounty well into winter to season every main course.

Molasses cookies

It’s impossible to imagine an Acadian kitchen without molasses. The thick syrup is equally at home in savoury dishes (like old-fashioned baked beans) as it is in desserts. You can find large, soft, lightly spiced molasses cookies in every Acadian grandma’s cookie jar.

Ginger molasses cookies with crackly top
Photo by Josie Grant/Shutterstock

Nun’s Farts

Yes, this is indeed a real dessert! Nun’s Farts or Pets-de-Soeur are pieces of leftover pie crust turned into a cinnamon bun-cookie hybrid. Brown sugar or maple sugar, cinnamon, butter, and evaporated milk turn leftover scraps into a delicious dessert—and usually a few giggles too!

Nun's Farts, Acadian cuisine and dessert
Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

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‘No ice is safe ice’: OPP reissues warning after snowmobiler dies falling through lake

Photo Courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police

Ontario Provincial Police are reminding snowmobilers who are anxious to get on the trails that recent weather has made trail conditions unstable. They are asking riders to exercise caution when heading out on the water. The reminder comes in the wake of a snowmobile incident on Six Mile Lake over the weekend that left a 59-year-old man from Scarborough, Ont. dead and another injured after their snowmobiles went through the ice on Six Mile Lake in the Township of Georgian Bay.

“Right now, we’ve not had a deep freeze, like some very cold nights, that gets you that ice thickness. So, although it appears that there’s ice in most places, it’s been unpredictable, and it makes the conditions very poor,” said Const. Aaron Coulter with the OPP.

A mild winter has caused snowmobile trails to remain closed. As an alternative, Coulter says some snowmobilers are driving on waterways. “It’s just not safe,” he says. “Our message is always going to be to stay off the ice unless you’re very confident that there’s the thickness there. But no ice is safe ice.”

A 58-year-old from Toronto was also involved in the accident on Six Mile Lake, near O’Leary’s Island on Sunday morning, however, he survived.  A cottager spotted the two men struggling in the water and called emergency services.

Members of the Southern Georgian Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment, OPP Aviation Services, Georgian Bay Fire Department, and Simcoe County and Muskoka Region Paramedics arrived on the scene, taking over for residents who were attempting to rescue the snowmobilers.

Six Mile Lake
Photo Courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police

Emergency services managed to remove the 58-year-old Toronto man from the water and transport him to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. The 59-year-old, however, had gone under the water and wasn’t found.

The OPP brought in their Underwater Search and Recovery Unit to look for the man. Members of the recovery unit found the man’s body at 2:35 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

Six Mile Lake
Photo Courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police

If you witness someone fall through the ice, Coulter says it’s useful to have supplies, such as a rope and floatation device, on hand. But walking out onto the ice could put you in danger. The first step should always be to call emergency services. They have the equipment and training to rescue someone who’s fallen through the ice.

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Is now the time to renegotiate your cottage mortgage?

Photo by Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Have you heard about “Frugal February”? This social media trend encourages people to tackle all aspects of their finances throughout the month, no matter how small or big. For some, those goals are very big indeed, including renegotiating their mortgage.

Taking a long look at your mortgage is something that Ottawa mortgage broker Jacquie Bushell highly recommends, even if you don’t change anything. Having a robust discussion about your various options will leave you better informed and more confident about your finances (and no more feeling anxious when your nosy neighbour or pushy uncle says “Ya know what you should do with the cottage…”).

In the present economic climate, Bushell says, for the most part: “I’m in the camp of staying put… Rates are a little higher than what most people expect and nowhere near the sub-3 per cent mark. If there is no need to touch your mortgage, then don’t, and avoid a potentially higher rate than you currently have.”

Expenses are something that Ottawa and Toronto real estate lawyer Sabrina Ding wants clients to know about, noting that renegotiation often comes with costs. “Find out the penalty for ending your previous mortgage,” she says. “For example, if ‘Susan’ has a mortgage for $500,000 with a term of five years, and she decides to end her mortgage after only one year, then her interest penalty may be as high as $20,000 to $30,000. In contrast, if Susan can get a new mortgage with the same bank, then the bank will likely waive all interest penalties.”

However, Bushell notes that there are circumstances which make mortgage renegotiation a smart move these days, even when you take penalties into account: “If you are in an adjustable or variable rate mortgage and having troubles managing the increases, whether that’s financially or emotionally, you may want to consider converting to a fixed rate.” Ding echoes this sentiment, saying “A fixed rate means you get stability.”

Finally, Bushell points out that there might be special circumstances which warrant renegotiating your existing mortgage, including if you need to take out equity for debt repayment, renovations, or to build an emergency fund.“If you’re carrying large balances on your credit cards and/or lines of credit, you may want to exercise this option,” she says.

Before you make your final decision, make sure you understand the title requirements. Ding points out that the bank may require other family members to go on your cottage’s title for increased security if you have insufficient income. While it’s tempting to accept mom or dad’s nominal help, know that it comes with consequences. “If dad already has a property under his name, then going on the title to this second property means that he must pay expensive capital gains tax when this second property is sold,” says Ding.

In short, mortgage renegotiation is a good move for some cottage owners but unnecessary for others. However, everyone should know the rules, understand their options, and talk through their choices with a trusted professional.

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Property prices in popular ski areas are expected to drop in 2023, says Royal LePage

Photo by Shutterstock/Eric Kolly

Royal LePage released its Winter Recreational Property Report, and they’re predicting a decrease in the median price of Canada’s ski properties in 2023.

According to the real estate company, the median price of a single-family detached home in Canada’s recreational ski regions will decrease by 3 per cent over the next 12 months to $1,011,451. Rising interest rates are expected to reign in prices, although, they did little to affect things in 2022.

Royal LePage said the median price of a single-family detached home in Canada’s ski regions in 2022 increased by 15.1 per cent to $1,042,700.

“While the rapid rise in interest rates, which began in March of this year, has caused many would-be buyers in the residential market to move to the sidelines, some recreational property purchasers—most notably in higher-end markets—have demonstrated a greater tolerance to increasing monthly mortgage costs,” said Pauline Aunger, broker of record at Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate, in a statement.

Ski chalets were particularly popular among Americans who attempted to purchase recreational properties before the Canadian government implemented its two-year ban on foreign buyers, which started January 1, 2023 (despite vacation homes being exempt from the ban). According to a Royal LePage survey, 75 per cent of Americans who currently own a recreational property in Canada said that they made their purchase after the two-year foreign buyer ban was announced. Of those Americans who don’t own a recreational property in Canada, 67 per cent said the current strength of the U.S. dollar has made them more inclined to buy a home north of the border.

Despite attention from American buyers, and the increase in prices, all ski regions surveyed by Royal LePage saw a double-digit drop in sales volume.“For most Canadians, owning a recreational property is a nice-to-have lifestyle option,” Aunger said. “In the current economic environment, it is not surprising that sales have declined.”

But Aunger added that demand for recreational properties remains healthy; it’s just moderated itself compared to the sales volume seen during the pandemic boom.

B.C.’s Big White ski area, near Kelowna, saw the biggest jump in median price for a single-family detached home in 2022 with a 45.5 per cent increase to $1,600,000. Although, sales in the area dropped by 33 per cent.

“Transactions at the upper end of the market are largely responsible for the dramatic price increases in the single-family segment, as Big White continues to attract luxury recreational property buyers. However, demand has slowed over the last year as buyers adjust to the rising interest rate environment and sellers feel less urgency to list their properties,” said Andrew Braff, a sales representative at Royal LePage Kelowna, in a statement. “As activity moderates, we are seeing fewer multiple-offer scenarios compared to last year.”

In Whistler, the median price rose by 14.8 per cent to $3,648,200, with a 35 per cent drop in total sales.

In Canmore, Alta., the median price jumped 23.6 per cent to $1,588,900, but the area saw a 41 per cent drop in sales volume, trending back towards historic norms, said Brad Hawker, an associate broker at Royal LePage Solutions, in a statement.

In Ontario’s southern Georgian Bay area, which includes Collingwood, the median price increased by 11.3 per cent to $890,000, but saw a 27 per cent drop in total sales. Southern Georgian Bay is one of the few areas Royal LePage expects prices to go up in 2023, they’re predicting a five per cent increase in the median price.

Finally, in Quebec’s Mont Tremblant, the median price increased by 23.5 per cent to $500,000, with a 38.1 per cent decrease in sales. While the median price of a condo in the area increased by 44.4 per cent to $475,000, but the area saw a 47.8 per cent decrease in sales.

“The current slowdown should help shift the Tremblant housing market back to a more normal sales cycle,” said Paul Dalbec, a chartered real estate broker with Mont-Tremblant Real Estate, in a statement. “I expect that in the coming months, slope-side luxury condos worth between $700,000 and $1 million, and single-family residences valued from $400,000 to $600,000 will be most affected by the price correction, as those properties appreciated much more during the pandemic.”

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New attraction at Timmins, Ont. resort will allow guests to sleep next to wolves

Photo by Shutterstock/AB Photographie

It was the late-night howls of sled dogs that gave Richard Lafleur the idea for his latest attraction. Lafleur, who owns Cedar Meadows Resort and Spa in Timmins, Ont., used to offer dog sledding trips to guests around his 100-acre property. But at night, the dogs howled, keeping guests awake. After receiving complaints over the noise, Lafleur spun the story. He started telling guests that the dogs were part wolf. It was in their nature to howl. Suddenly, guests wanted rooms close to the enclosure. They wanted to hear the wolves howl at night. It became an attraction.

That was 10 years ago, but Lafleur has held onto the idea. With the sled dogs no longer around, Lafleur plans to bring real wolves to the resort. After receiving a $300,000 grant from the provincial government intended to stimulate business in Northern Ontario, Cedar Meadows has started building five “wolf chalets”.

These accommodations will include a bedroom with a glass viewing wall that looks out onto a 10-acre enclosure, housing between five to eight wolves, which Lafleur will buy from a zoo. “The enclosure’s fairly big. And considering these wolves will be from a zoo already, there’s not too many zoos that have a 10-acre park. They might have a one- or two-acre park. I’ve also added a big half-acre pond in there and there’s a creek running through it, so it’ll be very natural,” Lafleur says.

Is the wolf the most Canadian animal?

Legally, Lafleur could fit 22 wolves in the 10-acre enclosure, but to avoid any in-fighting, he plans to keep the group to a small pack of wolves. These wolves will be kept in a secure enclosure as the rest of the 100-acre property houses 43 elk, 18 fallow deer, and 16 bison, which can be viewed on wildlife tours.

Lafleur doesn’t have a date for when the chalets will open, but he expects it to be some time in the summer of 2023, with average nightly prices going for about $500 to $600.

The wolf chalets have drawn some criticism, though. Lafleur says some locals aren’t crazy about the idea of living next door to an apex predator. And there are questions around the ethics of housing wild animals for people’s entertainment.

Meet the grey wolf

Simon Gadbois, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Dalhousie University who studies wolves, says that these types of attractions are popular in Europe but most of the sites in North America have closed down.

“It seems that in North America, we moved on from the concept of captive wolves. Especially, I would say, if it’s in the context of entertainment,” Gadbois says.

Nowadays, for wild animals to be held in captivity in North America, the public expects there to be a clear conservation and educational mission, Gadbois says. It needs to go beyond being an attraction.

The other concern about captive wolves is how much space they need. Gadbois says it depends on the type of wolf. “Canadian Siberian wolves are sometimes nomadic. You can’t even put a number on how far they travel because they will follow caribou wherever they go,” he says.

Wolves that have grown up in zoos, however, won’t have as expansive a range. Ten acres—while on the small side, Gadbois says—should be enough to accommodate five to eight wolves that have grown up in captivity.

“If you had said they were captured around the Mackenzie River and brought into that enclosure, then I would have said, that’s not good,” Gadbois says. “But if they’re coming from a zoo. I’m going to assume that they’re moving to better conditions. That makes me feel a lot better about this.”

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