Travel With Jo-Anne

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Travel With Jo-Anne I host unique small group tours for women for Journey by Maple Leaf Tours.
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HISTORIC FORT SASKATCHEWANI enjoyed a visit to Legacy Park and to The Fort Heritage Precinct in Fort Saskatchewan, Alber...
07/09/2024

HISTORIC FORT SASKATCHEWAN
I enjoyed a visit to Legacy Park and to The Fort Heritage Precinct in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. The city was founded as a North-West Mounted Police fort and later home to a large provincial jail. The original Fort was located across the river from the hamlet of Lamoureux, and Fort Saskatchewan opened a replica of the Fort next to its original site in 2011.

It was interesting for me to walk through the replica of the Fort as my Grandfather and Great Uncle were members of the NWMP but in a different area of the Praires.

The Fort was constructed in the spring of 1875 to serve as the northern headquarters of the North West Mounted Police. In 1885, following the Riel Rebellion, Fort Saskatchewan became the headquarters of the newly constituted 'G' Division of the NWMP but at the year end the headquarters were moved to Edmonton where they remained for only a few months. An average of twenty men were stationed at the Fort. This number was increased substantially during the Riel Rebellion, when 40 members of the 65th Montreal Rifles were sent to strengthen the Fort's guard.

In 1886, in preparation for the return to Fort Saskatchewan, the original buildings were removed for new construction, which served until 1908. The site was later leveled for the construction of the correctional institution and only a corner of the Fort grounds remains exposed.

A $200,000 provincial jail opened in 1915 on the site of the old fort, to replace the 34-cell guard house that had been used since the NWMP fort was constructed in 1875. This was necessary because by the early 1900s, the guard house was often filled beyond capacity; in August 1912, it held up to 71 prisoners at one time. In 1927, when the Fort was demolished after the opening of the gaol, the prison's warden unveiled a cairn on the site of the old guard room, made from stones taken from its foundation, to commemorate the old fort.

The Canadian Northern Railway (CNR) reached Fort Saskatchewan in 1905, eventually becoming a transcontinental rail line. The station is the only surviving model 100-19 railway station in Alberta.
The railway station and line through Fort Saskatchewan were in use until the late 1980s. Declining rail traffic and safety concerns regarding the transportation of dangerous goods prompted the Canadian National Railway to divert the line away from the city's non-industrial areas.

There is so much history associated with the development of the city of Fort Saskatchewan, the Northwest Mounted Police and the Railway in the area, but I will leave that up to you to explore!

A visit to Fort Saskatchewan is not complete without having lunch at The Atlantic Kitchen. People from the East Coast ha...
07/09/2024

A visit to Fort Saskatchewan is not complete without having lunch at The Atlantic Kitchen. People from the East Coast have a deep love for their cultural cuisine, enjoying fish and chips, mussels, scallops and more. The Atlantic Kitchen offers traditional home cooked meals. Warm and friendly server. Delicious food. It's a little piece of home in the Prairies.

It is always a wonderful experience seeing the aurora borealis no matter the intensity. I was so happy to see these last...
31/08/2024

It is always a wonderful experience seeing the aurora borealis no matter the intensity. I was so happy to see these last night north of Edmonton, Alberta.

30/08/2024
Be that last person to join me in Scotland in May!
27/08/2024

Be that last person to join me in Scotland in May!

As my followers know, I always like checking out restaurants during my travels, whether it is abroad, domestically or in...
20/08/2024

As my followers know, I always like checking out restaurants during my travels, whether it is abroad, domestically or in my hometown. Today I was in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta and we stopped in at Original Joe's. It had a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. The food was good too! Check it out if you are ever in the area.

GOODBYE TO CALGARY, ALBERTAFor my final morning in Calgary, I was treated to breakfast at the Galaxie Diner in the Beltl...
15/08/2024

GOODBYE TO CALGARY, ALBERTA
For my final morning in Calgary, I was treated to breakfast at the Galaxie Diner in the Beltline neighbourhood of the city. It is a tiny, old-fashioned diner with retro flair and a classic menu of all-day breakfast, burgers & milkshakes.......and bottomless hashbrowns and toast. I enjoyed the very well prepared Classic Breakfast. The diner fills up fast especially on the weekends but it is worth the wait. II highly recommend checking it out.

HELLO FROM BANFF NATIONAL PARKHow lucky I feel to be able to spend a day exploring Canada’s first national park. Banff N...
14/08/2024

HELLO FROM BANFF NATIONAL PARK
How lucky I feel to be able to spend a day exploring Canada’s first national park. Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 as Rocky Mountains Park. Located in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, 110–180 kilometres (68–112 mi) west of Calgary, Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 sq mi) of mountainous terrain, with many glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes.

I had the pleasure of touring Rocky Mountain Tours. Our first stop was Lake Louise, one of the most famous mountain vistas in the world. The lake is filled with views of several mountains, including Mount Temple, Mount Whyte, and Mount Niblock. It is a beautiful sight to see. I almost cried when I first walked up to the lake.

The next top was at the absolutely stunning Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake is a snow and glacially fed lake situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks at an elevation of approximately 1,884 metres (6,181 ft). The lake has a surface area of 50 hectares (120 acres). The lake, being fed almost completely by snow-melt and glacial-melt, does not reach its crest until middle to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinctive shade of azure blue. The unique colour is due to the refraction of the blue end of the spectrum of sunlight off the rock sediment deposited in the lake on a continual basis in summer by the surrounding glaciers. The lake is completely created by nature and has not been dammed, drained, or otherwise altered by humans in any way, other than the visitor services that are strictly controlled by the National Park.

It was then time to stop in the Town of Banff to wander around and grab a bite to eat. On the recommendation of my driver, Teddy, I enjoyed a nice cold Highline Lagered Blond from Canmore Brewing with my Alberta Bison Burger. Then it was time to just check out the pedestrian area of the town.

Last stop of the day was Lake Minnewanka, where I had been on Saturday. A bit cool and windy but just as beautiful.

It was a beautiful day in Banff National Park seeing some of the most beautiful lakes.

A beverage before exploring Banff.
13/08/2024

A beverage before exploring Banff.

Check back later for my story of today!
13/08/2024

Check back later for my story of today!

HELLO FROM BANKHEAD, ALBERTAI had a nice stroll through the town of Bankhead. You've never heard of it! Well, that is be...
13/08/2024

HELLO FROM BANKHEAD, ALBERTA
I had a nice stroll through the town of Bankhead. You've never heard of it! Well, that is because it is now just a ghost town. Between 1903 and 1922, Bankhead was a bustling coal-mining town located on the lower slopes of Cascade Mountain in modern-day Banff National Park. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) established the coal mine and the town soon followed. The town was divided into two parts, with Lower Bankhead containing the industrial components, while Upper Bankhead was where most of the residential areas were located. At its peak, the mine employed three hundred men, and the town was home to more than 1,000 residents. Bankhead was considered one of the most modern in all of Alberta at that time. It had more amenities and was typically busier than nearby Banff.

The reason the mine was shut down sometime in 1922 is not clear, although it is widely believed that mining in that area was not very profitable. Many of the buildings were transported to either Banff or Canmore to be re-purposed. The church, however, was sawn in half, loaded onto railway cars, and transported to Calgary, where it remained in service until 1962.

All that remains today are a few crumbling foundations and the skeletal shells of several buildings. There is an interpretive trail that directs you through the remaining relics of Lower Bankhead.

10/08/2024

HELLO FROM LAKE MINNEWANKA
It was an absolutely gorgeous morning to drive to Banff National Park for a morning boat cruise of Lake Minnewanka. The lake is 21 km long, 2 km wide and 142m (466 feet) deep. In 1887 Banff National Park was expanded to include Lake Minnewanka. It is fed by the Cascade River and numerous streams from the surrounding mountains.

From the earliest indigenous occupation 10,000 years ago, to European settlers, to communities built and flooded, Lake Minnewanka has been a meeting place for bringing people together and connecting with nature. The Stoney Nakoda First Nations has been visiting Lake Minnewanka's shores for over 200 years. They called it "Minn-waki" or "Lake of the Spirits".

I highly recommend taking the one and a half hour Premium Tour with Lake Minnewanka Cruise. The cruise takes you all the way to the end of the lake, referred to as Devil's Gap. Here you can see the most easterly end of the Rocky Mountains.

HELLO FROM CALGARYWhat a nice little find for dinner last night, and just a block away! La Casa Latina Restaurant has a ...
07/08/2024

HELLO FROM CALGARY
What a nice little find for dinner last night, and just a block away! La Casa Latina Restaurant has a very warm, comfortable atmosphere where the owners, from El Salvador serve dishes from Colombia, Mexico, and Central America. Very good food. I'm glad we decided to check it out!

HELLO FROM CALGARY, ALBERTAAfter a huge thunderstorm last night, today was a nice day to check out the 24th Annual Taste...
05/08/2024

HELLO FROM CALGARY, ALBERTA
After a huge thunderstorm last night, today was a nice day to check out the 24th Annual Taste of Calgary. Taste of Calgary is the city’s premier international food and beverage festival. It is the city’s most appetizing festival, giving visitors the chance to sample the city’s food, beverages, music and other cool things. There are cuisines from a mix of unique restaurants, food trucks and beverage companies. There was also local musicians and even line dabcing demonstration! Free admission to the grounds and food purchased with tickets purchased....$1.00 a ticket and food and drink items ranged from 2 tickets to 7 tickets. It was very busy but a fun way to spend a couple hours tasting different foods.

HELLO FROM CALGARY, ALBERTAIt was a beautiful, sunny day in Calgary Thursday. I decided to explore more of the Beltline ...
03/08/2024

HELLO FROM CALGARY, ALBERTA
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Calgary Thursday. I decided to explore more of the Beltline community of Calgary. The Beltline is a bustling, inner-city community, south of the downtown core, considered to still be in Downtown Calgary.

On my walk, I came across a beautiful sandstone building. I found out it was the DR. CARL SAFRAN CENTRE. It was originally named CENTRAL COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE and was the first structure in Calgary built specifically for secondary education. When it was completed in 1907, it was the most modern school in Calgary featuring a self-contained heating plant and indoor plumbing. I love its castle-like roofline and ornate carvings. It was designed by W.M. Dodd, who also designed Calgary City Hall. Like City Hall, it also has a clock tower and arched entrances. If you look closely at the photo I took, you'll notice one entrance is clearly marked for boys and the other for girls. The school name was changed to the Dr. Carl Safran Centre in 1972. Carl Safran was Alberta's first school psychologist and began the special education system in the province. He was also the Chief Superintendent of the Calgary Board of Education, wrote several key educational texts, and introduced culture-based intelligence tests that are used throughout the world. He has been called one of Alberta's great heroes of public education, and the school name pays tribute to him as a leading light in the field. Now part of the adjoining Calgary Board of Education office complex, the school was carefully restored to retain its original stairwells, skylights, and dark wood windows. My photo really shows the contrast between the old and new buildings.

I carried on a couple more blocks east and came to the LOUGHEED HOUSE NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL HISTORIC SITE. James Lougheed was in the Senate of Canada in 1889, appointed by Sir John A. Macdonald. He was appointed to replace the deceased Richard Charles Hardisty, Lougheed's wife's uncle.

In 1891, James Alexander Lougheed commissioned a new mansion on the outskirts of Calgary for his wife, Isabella Hardisty Lougheed, and their two sons, Clarence and Norman. Following the move to the large mansion, the Lougheeds had four more children: Edgar, Dorothy, Douglas and Marjorie, and the house was enlarged in 1907 to accommodate the family and their large social calendar. The interior of the 48-room house is decorated with Spanish mahogany, Italian marble, stained glass windows and doors, and hand-painted images of Alberta flora and fauna. It contained a billiards room, smoking room, drawing room, four large bedrooms on the second floor, and six large rooms on the third floor. The mansion quickly became the center of the Calgary social scene, hosting a number of parties and galas.

Lady Isabella Clarke Hardisty Lougheed was a Metis woman born at Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories in 1861. Her and her parents were members of a fur-trading family with ties to the Hudson's Bay Company. Isabella married James Alexander Lougheed on 16 September 1884, and soon after their marriage, James stepped into the Senate.

The Lougheed estate continued to own the property following James Lougheed's death in 1925 until 1934 when the estate was unable to pay the municipal property taxes and the City of Calgary took possession of the home. The City allowed Lougheed's widow and children to continue to live in the house until Isabella's death in 1936, and finally Norman A. Lougheed moved his family out in 1938.

Over its long history, Lougheed House served many roles, including as a family residence, a training centre for young women, a women's military barracks and a Red Cross blood donor clinic. For many years, it was cared for but sat empty. But in 1978, following the Alberta Provincial Historic Resource designation, the Province of Alberta took possession of the house and began restoring the property. The provincial government designation and purchase occurred during the Premiership of Peter Lougheed, James Lougheed's grandson. Despite the purchase, Peter Lougheed was reluctant to see public funds spent on restoring the house while he was premier.

The Lougheed House Conservation Society was created in 1995 after local lobbying began to see the mansion and grounds restored to their former glory. The City of Calgary purchased surrounding areas in the early 1990s with the intention of creating an outdoor public space, and construction began in 1997 to rebuild the Beaulieu Gardens, and restore the mansion.

As I made my way back, I couldn't resist taking another photo of the Cougar by Faith47, painted in 2018 during the BUMP Festival.This mural was painted on the outside of a condo building. The artist, Faith47, is from Cape Town, South Africa, and lives in Los Angeles. She is an internationally acclaimed muralist who began as a graphic designer when she was 19 years old. She has painted murals across the world in Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia, China, the United States, and more.

The next mural I saw was Sarah Slaughter's entitled "Sneaky Peek" on 12th Avenue. Her aim was to put a smile on the faces of people you walked or biked by. Smiling reduces stress and generates more positive emotions, and her colourful, quirky mural was designed to contribute to good health. The mural is a display of condominium-style birdhouses, with sneaky cats popping up in several spots. A singular little bird is successfully avoiding their daunting hunt, happily placed right in the middle. I, personally, have always liked this mural.

TODAY'S ADVENTURE IN CALGARY, ALBERTAArrived safely in Calgary late last night. Taking it easy today by just taking a sh...
31/07/2024

TODAY'S ADVENTURE IN CALGARY, ALBERTA
Arrived safely in Calgary late last night. Taking it easy today by just taking a short walk in the immediate area. Details can be found within each photo's caption.

And so my Trains, Planes, and Automobiles Day begins!
30/07/2024

And so my Trains, Planes, and Automobiles Day begins!

25/07/2024

Devastating! Thoughts and prayers to all the families and businesses in Jasper, Alberta who have experienced this great loss. I am heartbroken for you all. 💔💔💔

Tell me how you deal with jet lag?
22/07/2024

Tell me how you deal with jet lag?

Checking out Welborne Commons in Bath, Ontario. Great place to go for lunch.
20/07/2024

Checking out Welborne Commons in Bath, Ontario. Great place to go for lunch.

TRAVELLING THE WORLD THROUGH A MOVIEDuring my downtime from hosting tours, I find myself watching a lot of movies. And w...
18/07/2024

TRAVELLING THE WORLD THROUGH A MOVIE
During my downtime from hosting tours, I find myself watching a lot of movies. And while watching movies, I usually see a location that I become curious about to see where it was filmed.

Scotland is one of those countries popular as location for movies and television series like Outlander. I am sure to see the following movie film locations during my tour of Scotland in May 2025.
ONE DAY - 2024 Romantic Comedy starring Anne Hathaway had film locations in Edinburgh on Vennel Steps and Arthur's Seat.
BABY REINDEER - 2024 Netflix Drama based on a true story of a female stalker had locations in Grassmarket and The Royal Mile.
DA VINCI CODE - 2006 Mystery Thriller starring Tom Hanks had film locations at Rosslyn Chapel and the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.
CHARIOTS OF FIRE - 1981 Drama where the famous beach running scene was filmed on West Sands in St. Andrews next to the 18th hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews Links.

What film locations would you like to visit with me?

LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS AND TIPSUPDATE: Accommodation secured for London but still interested in hearing your attraction...
16/07/2024

LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS AND TIPS
UPDATE: Accommodation secured for London but still interested in hearing your attraction recommendations and tips!

Hi everyone! I am planning a week in London next May after hosting a tour of Scotland. What are your suggestions for a twin share accommodation in London? What area do you suggest? I am looking for hotel or AirBnB recommendations as well as top things to see during my limited time there. Do you have any tips? Please post below or send me a private message.

Tell me one of your best travel stories! 🌎
16/07/2024

Tell me one of your best travel stories! 🌎

Have you ever wondered how many planes are flying each day? I came across this interesting video. On a summer day, aroun...
15/07/2024

Have you ever wondered how many planes are flying each day? I came across this interesting video. On a summer day, around 30,000 flights cross Europe, traveling a distance equal to 100 trips to the moon. 

This video from the U.K.’s National Air Traffic Services shows each flight over a 24-hour period in a mesmerizing net of glowing blue lines.

This data visualization of Air Traffic in Europe was created from real flight data. It shows the air traffic which flies on a typical summer day and highligh...

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Why Do You Travel?

Why do you travel? This simple question would have so many different answers depending on who you ask. Some people travel for business, some for pleasure. They travel to visit family or friends. They travel to experience different cultures. They travel as part of their Bucket List or they travel to fulfill a loved one’s missed dream. No matter the reason, they have so many options to do so. I have always believed that life is too short and so many of us put off until tomorrow what we should do today. Travel is one of those things. We are not guaranteed what tomorrow will bring. Travel while you are healthy, while you are mobile, while you still have a partner. If your partner doesn’t want to travel or is unable to travel, travel for yourself. Have no regrets or “I wish I would have”s. Today’s Woman Traveller (TWT) has offered amazing tours for small groups of women for over fifteen years. Women on these tours are single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed. They are travelling solo or with a family member or friend. They travel with us because their partner does not like to travel or is unable to travel. They travel with us because they have no one to travel with but want the secure of travelling with others. TWT makes it easy to fulfill ones dreams of travelling. I am lucky to be able to host some of Today’s Woman Traveller’s tours. Don’t be fooled by the name. Some of our tours are also offered as mixed tours. I hope you will join me as I fill my Travel Bucket on my tours – easy hiking in The Azores, exploring Ireland and island hopping in Greece, just to name a few. If you have any questions, never hesitate to contact me at [email protected]