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Cirque du Soleil ECHO Comes to Calgary!

From August 30 to October 19, Cirque du Soleil will be under the Big Top at Stampede Park (Lot #6)!

A spectacular performance combining poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and technology explores the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we all share.

Special Offer for Must Do Canada Family/Friends: Use this link to save up to 20% off select seats/dates. Groups of 10+, save 25% and reduce handling fees, contact [email protected] for details.

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What was the Acadian Expulsion?

In the mid-1700s, one of the most tragic and defining moments in early Canadian history unfolded — the Acadian Expulsion. Also known as Le Grand Dérangement, this forced removal saw more than 10,000 French-speaking Acadians deported from their homes in what is now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Torn from the land they had cultivated for generations, many families were scattered across the American colonies, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Today, you can explore the living legacy of the Acadian people through historic sites, vibrant music, and rich culture that still thrive in parts of Eastern Canada — a powerful reminder of resilience, identity, and the stories that shape this country.

While both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are home to large populations of Acadians, most of the museums and National Historic Sites where you can learn about it are found in Nova Scotia, both in the Annapolis Valley region and the Acadian Shores. Having explored both regions extensively, we can tell you first-hand that it’s a great place to learn about the history and culture while also indulging in great food, wine, music, and more. You can learn more in our guide to the best things to do in Annapolis Valley, which features both Grand-Pré National Historic Site and Port-Royal National Historic Site.

Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores

Once you’ve learned about the history at the wonderful National Historic Sites in Annapolis Valley, continue driving south to the Acadian Shores, where most of the Acadian people living in Nova Scotia can be found. Here, you’ll not only get to enjoy more Acadian history, but you can meet the people and enjoy their unique French cuisine and culture. Learn more in our guide to the best of Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores.

Aside from the Acadian attractions in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick is also home to many Acadians. Learn more with this fantastic road trip featured below…

Watch

If you’d like to see some of this Acadian history, check out the video we made about Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.

Beaver Bites

• Everyone loves delicious food mixed with summer vibes, so add some of OpenTable’s top 100 Canadian restaurants for outdoor dining to your food bucket list.
  
  

• If you’re looking for the best resorts in Canada and don’t mind breaking the bank to experience them, this posh Whistler resort (as well as several other BC resorts) took top spots in the latest Travel+Leisure magazine’s 2025 rankings of the best resorts and hotels in Canada.
  
  

• When it comes to infinity pools and spas, an incredible view enhances the experience. That’s why we’re pretty excited about the latest design updates for Therme Canada’s Ontario Place spa and waterpark, which overlooks the stunning Toronto Skyline.
  
  

• Those who love to visit ghost towns will have another one to visit soon. The Township of Fauquier-Strickland in northern Ontario voted to dissolve itself and shut down all municipal operations by August 1. The move will eliminate the town’s largest local employer, the municipality itself, which will likely force everyone to move away for greener pastures.
  
  

• BC’s Squamish region is getting a new attraction as a new forest boardwalk opens this August to assist with exploring the Squamish Canyon.
  
  

• Sitting on $6.5 million and not sure what to do? How about purchasing an entire ski resort in British Columbia?

Just for Fun

• In a story fit for a movie, a message in a bottle that was thrown into the ocean off the coast of Newfoundland was found over 2,000 miles away in Ireland. The Canadian couple who threw it into the ocean were on a date roughly 13 years ago, and after an inquiry by the Irish folks who found the bottle, it turns out that the couple is married now with three kids.
  
  

• There are many reasons to visit Nanaimo, BC, one of which is biting into a fresh mouth-watering Nanaimo bar. But the town has some competition now, with a group of five children in Ontario snatching the unofficial record of the largest Nanaimo bar ever made, clocking it at 544 kg.
  
  

• Canada is home to a large chunk of the Arctic and is now in a race to build more icebreakers.
  
  

• Looking for a new book to dig into? Here are 10 Canadian historical fiction books you’ll want to consider.
  
  

• Not into historical fiction? How about these top non-fiction books of 2025?

• Want to reach 65k+ Canadian travellers for your brand? Reach out (reply to this email) to sponsor an edition of Must Do Canada.