Traveling Alberta

‘Why discuss Australia in an Alberta Site?’- This could be the question that would flash across your mind when you see this headline.

Well, there are two reasons. Firstly this relates to a global issue, the recession. Secondly, we came to hear of it from a marketing guy working with Appco Group Australia who was on a visit to Alberta recently.

Ayurveda is travelling places today. Though Ayurvedic medicine is native to India, today the benefits of this system  of traditional medicine has travelled across boundaries and continents and is luring thousands of people to the Indian Subcontinent. Even in the 21st century when allopathic medicine seems to be ruling, there is a huge segment of people who believe in the benefits of Ayurveda and who are ready to travel kilometers to indulge themselves in this unique experience in wellness. In fact there are many tourists who travel to India for the sole purpose of benefitting from this healing touch of pure Ayurveda. 

There are a lot many places in India and more especially in Kerala where Ayurveda is delivered in its best form. And, among the most ideal places for one to experience this healing therapy is the Kalari Kovilakam. Quoted to be “The Palace for Ayurveda”, the Kovilakam is perhaps the only one of its kind. The  Palace hotel, restored as authentically as possible combines together the facets of an Ayurvedic hospital, the ambiance of an ashram and the luxury of a spa. 

 

If you are on a visit to Alberta, it would be worth it to pay a visit to the Alberta Legislature Building, in Edmonton.

We happened to come across a group of visitors there on the premises of the Legislature Building. They were sales/marketing guys from Sirius Star Marketing, a direct sales company based in Singapore and were visiting places where they had associate companies working. They were very happy to have visited the Legislature Building.

When it comes to tourism dollars, nothing trumps Alberta’s iconic Rocky Mountain vistas. A new report on the economic impact of Canada’s national parks and historic sites suggests that visitors spend significantly more money in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper than they do at Parks Canada sites in other provinces.

“Alberta has some of the greatest parks in the country,” opined my friend who have made frequent visits to the country during her business trips. She works for the Marketing Company, 'Blackcode Advertising.'

Alberta's rural community leaders and small business owners will meet up from April 2 – 4, 2012 in Camrose for the 12th Annual Growing Rural Tourism Conference.

I was looking for something like this, as I am working in the tourism sector. And, I was happy when I got an invitation from a friend of mine who is working with Appco Group USA, to join this event.

The Alberta Government is planning to raise taxes on alcohol and tobacco, in a bid to encourage a healthier lifestyle and at the same time going in for an increase in revenue for the government.

My best friend’s wife, who works with Oracle Advertising, doesn’t seem to believe in the healthcare angle of this decision and has this to say - “Well, wouldn’t it be better to ban these things altogether if healthcare is the concern. This would just add to the government’s revenue as those addicted to such things won’t quit in the name of taxes”. 

Alberta is a beautiful country in Canada to enjoy your holidays. There are plenty of things to do in and around our Albertan towns of Canmore and Kananaskis, of course — hiking, skiing and a long list of other outdoor activities.

It is a great option for those of you who are looking for some surprise to gift someone with. An activity gift voucher is indeed something that everyone would love have. You can even find great cuisine and luxury accommodations at resorts or boutique hotels in or near both of these places.

Just as Alberta gets going with the Distracted Driving Law, here's news from across the seas, from UK. The new UK Bribery Act gets its first victim, a magistrates court clerk.

Munir Yakub Patel becomes the first person to be charged under the Bribery Act 2010, which has come into force on July 1 this year. Munir Yakub Patel has allegedly accepted  £500 for fixing a motoring offence; he is to appear before the Southwark crown court on 14 October to answer the charge. He has been charged under section two of the Bribery Act 2010, for supposedly "requesting and receiving a bribe intending to improperly perform his functions". The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Munir Yakub Patel for misconduct during his employment at Redbridge magistrates court, in Ilford, east London. He had allegedly done the act of crime on August 1 and is now in custody.

Seems, it's the season of new laws all across the world. So, what next? Are we going to hear of India and the Lok Pal Bill? Keep guessing...

Read More: The UK Bribery Act

                      More About the UK Bribery Act

                      The Lok Pal Bill

Alberta gets ready for the Distracted Driving Law, which will be applicable to all vehicles including bicycles and would be enforceable on roadways. 

The bill, which is seen as the toughest law in the country, would deter people from using electronic devices while driving. This applies not just to the use of cellphones, but to all other kinds of distracted driving and brings in its purview things like eating, grooming and using any kind of electronic devices. 

A notable thing about the law is that the police have been given the discretion regarding enforcing the law. Whether an instance of distracted driving is significant enough to get a fine imposed or whether the driver can be let go with a warning or whether he can be left alone is all for the officers to decide. The police feel that the focus is not on getting people who engage in distracted driving, but in telling drivers about the law and also generating awareness on the perils of distracted driving.

Also check  -  Fine for texting while walking

                          Text n' Walk and Fall into the Fountain

                          More teens use cellphone while driving

Visitors to the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, which is among the top tourist destinations in the world, have been unhappy about the ban that was imposed on swimming in the Milk River there. 

The Alberta Health Services had issued a fecal coliform health advisory warning a month ago. This was the third time in a period of seven years that the Alberta Health Services had issued such a health warning to swimmers asking them to stay out of waters because of the high levels of fecal coliform in the Milk River at the park. But now, the warning is lifted and it's stated that the water is now safe. Alberta Health Services has made this decision after confirming at the weekly water testing that all bacterial levels are below maximum acceptable guidelines. It will also continue to sample the river water regularly. 

The Milk River, it's to be remembered, is a tributary of the Missouri River and flows through Alberta in Canada and Montana in the US.

Read about: The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

                        The Milk River

The tourism industry in Alberta is seeing an upswing in tourist arrival ever since the  snapshots of Will and  Kate in white hats became one of the land marks of Alberta tourism. Check out the blog, ripple effects has some amazing snap shots of the royal visit.  

The royal visit of the Duke and Duchess has set off an increase in the visitors from the UK. The value of the publicity generated by the royal tour is put at $2 million in China alone. It is still too early to predict the long time effect of this celebrity tag. However more than half of  Alberta's recorded 23 million tourists were from within the province as people love to stay closer to their ground and enjoy fine  camping weather.

The rallying Canadian dollar and the strong oil and gas sector of Alberta has been providing the much needed impetus to business tourism in Alberta. Canada  was granted "approved destination status" in China, which allows Alberta to market itself in the booming emerging Chinese economy, which will see a marked rise in the number of Chinese tourists, who form  the fastest-growing demographics of Alberta's share of tourist outside the key markets of Canadians, Americans and the British.

Car Hire 

Section 7 of the UK Bribery Act constitutes a severe liability for corporate offense for failing to control bribery.   The act applies not only to governmental bribery but also to corruption between private enterprises. The only way for companies to shield themselves is if it shows it has "adequate procedures" to check bribery by its employees or courier or those associated with it. There is also a particular offence for any directors who acknowledge to or enters in such an offence. 

The UK Bribery Act's more debatable clause is its wide-ranging extraterritorial reach: it makes it compulsory to corrupt actions charged anywhere in the world as long as the company maintains any business in the UK. Therefore, even if a company is headquartered outside the UK, it is will have to face the same law as it applies to UK based firms. 


It has to be seen how it will affect such companies who cover these area of business. It is fairly anticipated that companies will now start to express more distinguished and anticipated behavior and how to operate their business. Companies in the UK as well with their office outside the country will have to be very careful if they need to do business in the UK. If proved the punishment is very severe resulting in ban and imprisonment.

The Peace Country Sun Run Motorcycle tour  that was held from July 29-31attracted motorcyclists from all over the province to the open roads of Northern Alberta. Over  50 motorcyclists took part in this event which started at Grande Prairie on July 30 and arrived in Peace River in the evening. The route of the bike race included Peace River via Shaftesbury and head to Tangent Park and Girouville, then back through Peace River and on to Fairview, where the tour ended at the Harley Davidson building.

The first Sun Run was held in 2009, and has since attracted more cyclists who are looking for a new venture to the unexplored hinterlands of the province. Apart from adventure, this bike tour offered some of the most beautiful scenery of Alberta and nature trails, which was the added advantage of this racing event. Alberta is famous for its exciting bike trails, which bring in hoardes of enthusiastic bikers from all over.  Read more on some of the popular bike trails in Alberta right here in Betty's blog 

Drumheller Valley, popularly known as the Dinousaur Capital of the World is unlike anywhere else in Alberta. Located in Southern Alberta, Drumheller has a unique combination of leisure activities and spectacular scenery and the best part is that it is within easy driving distance of Calgary and  Banff.

From the natural wonders of Hoodoos in Drumheller,, which are bizarre geological structures formed  by erosion to the imposing fossils of the  prehistoric beasts at the  Royal Tyrrell Museum and  Stand 86 feet high in the mouth of the World's Largest Dinosaur made of steel, which  is actually four and a half times the size of a real Tyrannosaurus rex and weighing a total of 145,000 pounds. A guided tour will be the best choice to explore the charm of Drumheller valley; take a look at this blog Yes, I wander to get started in Drumheller Valley

Alberta Prairie allows you to enjoy a steam engine train journey in Alberta and  offers  an exciting one day adventure trip on board a real steam or diesel-powered train.   Different themes are enacted throughout the season, including murder mysteries, family and dinner theatre among others. The train leaves Stettler, Alberta, and  returns five to six hours later after a journey through some of the most picturesque spots of Alberta. This train journey is a good option to enjoy the breathtaking spectacles of the  treed countryside of Alberta's Parkland.

All excursions include a full course buffet meal, on board entertainment and even surprise game events like a  train robbery. The meals are served in a large tent in Big Valley or the community hall in Stettler during summer season. In case you are in a mood to enjoy an old fashioned steam engine ride, where you can snuggle up and watch the glimpses of Alberta pass by, this activity will be a good choice. Enjoy the thrill of an exciting train journey and get a feel of Alberta Prairie Railway Excursionsin this mefeedia video clipping, whcih I found really interesting.

The recently released iPhone app of GeoRoamer Boomtown lets the Alberta travellers create a personalized audio tour of the Boomtown Trail, a beautiful scenic touring route between Edmonton and Calgary. The Boomtown Trail dates back to over 100 years thanks to the expansion of railways, which saw a spurt in people travelling between these destinations.  The first of its kind in Alberta, the GeoRoamer Boomtown combines GPS, tour guides maps and brochures in one convenient application.

The  Boomtown Trail app shares stories with the travelers and inform them about the various attractions on the way. The best part is that you can either plan your own tour or set out on an existing tour. This all-in-one app will tell you where you are, where you're going, what's near and how far to the next point. You can also store photos and videos collected along the way so you can upload them and share your experiences online with friends and family. The amazing spectacles and travel experience will make it a life time experience for sure. If you do not believe me , see the beautiful pictures of  Connie Limoncelli on Boom town trail, which would drop enough hints on why this trail is a must do in Alberta.

Alberta is a haven for outdoor sports and tourist activities. Experience the wilderness and intriguing beauty of the Alberta Rocky Mountains, thick forests, fast flowing rivers and remote lakes , which set a perfect backdrop for a range of adventure activities. In case you are planning to do something a bit off the beaten track, then the bush man tours will be a good option to consider. Experience the charm of original  Canadian bush living heritage through interactive sessions and participation.

There are various tour operators in Western Canada that offers bush man packages, which will ensure a rewarding experience. The guided tours will help you learn more about the bush experience, bush craft and shunting and foraging skills that have been handed down the generations. To get a fair idea on what Alberta has to offer , trip advisor will be another handy reckoner.

There  is a range of diverse accommodation options in Western Canada including ski lodges , self catering cottages and log cabins to cater to every need and budget of the travellers. Check out for cheap  Alberta packages to get the best deals loaded with tons of adrenalin .

An 18 year old teen aged boy has become the first space tourist in Alberta as he gets ready to  blast off with commercial space travel company Virgin Galactic the next year or two, a travel agent confirmed.

“He’s an 18-year-old from Calgary, going with his family. They’re booked to go,” said Michael Broadhurst of Calgary-based Vision 2000 Travel, the Prairie representative for British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson’s spacecraft flights.

The names of the boy and hos family have been kept confidential. The teenager will be in the company of  nine Calgarians have also signed up to become space tourists. The trips cost $200,000 a ticket and it will include  training and a flight up to about 100 kilometres above Earth. Space travelers should be 18 years of age before they can fly and the space tourists are also required to have the Federal Aviation Administration approval and safety certification.

Job prospects is attracting Canadians to Alberta since the start of the year. It was recorded that almost 5,300 people moved to this province which ultimately saw an increase of 0.4% increase in population in Alberta.  With a higher demand in the energy professions and oilsands being the major hype, people from Ontario, B.C., Newfoundland and Labrador tend to come to Alberta to find jobs and stay here.  Though it was noticed that there was a fall during the recession period, the job market has gradually grown and is known to be the most important thing in recent years.

Whatever it is, when compared to the other developed nations, Canada is still in good state. Most of the jobs are still filled from Alberta but still local talent is required and is running out. Alberta was hit in 2009 with the economy slowing down and people leaving the province.  Easing out of the economic slow down that is affecting the country will result in a shortage of 77,000 workers and so Canadians will be moving to places where they could find jobs and that is Alberta.

Reports also show that the numbers moving from other provinces to Alberta is higher when compared to those that are moving from other countries. A piece of advice would be that the country needs to find new ways of attracting workers which the other countries are smart at!

Next time when you stuck for an answer for any nagging issues in your life, like what to do on a Saturday night or whom to marry, all you need to do is to go to this mobile app that will  come up with some cheeky answers.

For anyone having trouble making decisions, this new smartphone application will be  a boon. Jeff Kuryk,  a registered psychologist from St. Albert, Alta., has developed an app called iAwoke, which will help the users think about what they want in life and how to get it. This innovative discovery was inspired by his long and exciting career of psychology.

The app is not a set of questions or a quiz, but rather offers a series of thought-provoking descriptions of human characteristics, based on which the users gets a better idea of their strongest desires. The app also details different components that make up a person’s psyche. Kuryk like to see his app in the  Great Canadian Apps. So, in case you are  facing a dilemma , try out this mobile app which is offered for free now, but  might become a paid service in future.

Nasser S Al Hajri Corporation a Saudi Arabian based construction company successfully aligns its capabilities to meet the emerging trends. The projects undertaken by the team have set new benchmarks in terms of scale, sophistication, safety, quality & speed. The company continues to play a key role in the economic growth of the GCC with on-time project completion which has, time and again, generated additional value to its clients.

 

With the increasing requirements from clients, Nasser S Al Hajri has established two world-class fabrication shops with state-of-the-art facilities at Dammam 2nd Industrial city and Al-Jubail. These workshops specialize in piping prefabrication and fabrication of equipment with round-the-clock facility for NDT and PWHT services.

 

Nasser S Al Hajri Corporation rely on staff attitude, commitment, dedication and ability to maintain the highest degree of safety, quality and construction management in all the projects undertaken along with delivering reliable technical solutions in various industries like Oil&Gas, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Fertilizers, Cement, Power Desalination and Steel Industries.

The  surge in immigrants seeking accommodation caused a rise in demand in rental accommodation options.  The  strong demand for apartments drove up prices and the average price for a two-bedroom apartment in April stood at $864 during the month, up 1.8 per cent from $848 a year earlier.

Condominium was in low demand compared to apartments and there has been a huge demand for these types of housing units.

Winnipeg and Regina tied for the lowest vacancy rate in the country, at 0.7 per cent. Quebec City was next at one per cent, with Toronto coming next at 1.6 per cent and Kingston, Ont., at 1.7 per cent in April. In terms of prices, Vancouver was the most expensive rental market in the country, with a standard two bedroom apartment going for $1,181 a month, on average, followed by Toronto, at $1,124, then Ottawa at $1,056 a month, then Calgary at $1,040.  The  highest average monthly rents in provinces were in Alberta, at $1,029 where as the cheapest were in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Central Alberta celebrates a two day Children's Festival on 3 and 4 of June 2011 at the Recreation Centre. This is the 5th Annual Central Alberta Children's Festival.

This two day interactive festival is for people 0-99 and believe the motto "Never Grow Up". The admission price includes all activities, crafts, entertainment and snacks.  Canadian children's entertainer Al Simmons will be performing as well as many talented local performers.  

Ticket Prices are like $5.00 for one person, Family Anytime Pass $15.00 (for family of 4), School Classes buy 6, get one free and Children under 1 are free.

Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette  opined that Young ATV riders need education and  not age restrictions, to prevent injuries and deaths. However , the Canadian Paediatric Society and Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons have called for a complete ban on children under 16 riding quads and all-terrain vehicles.

The minister said  “We have to make people realize that these are powerful machines. They can be used for all kinds of things work-wise and play-wise, but you have to show respect when using them.”  Children under 14 are not allowed to ride ATVs without direct supervision, but many parents do not follow this safety rule. Ouellette said education will be effective only by spreading the importance of safety messages in the province.

Alberta’s mortality rate for ATV accidents is eight times higher than that for car incidents, and in 2008 there were 5,834 ATV-related emergency room visits, and 781 people were admitted to hospital.

The massive stage for a U2 concert at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton that rose up to 160 feet into the air  was an engineering marvel. It took 108 trucks to transport the stage and production equipment ably assisted by  a crew of hundreds used cranes, booms and lifts to erect four arched, metal spikes — the frame work of a light show leviathan that took four days to build.

Its prongs, levelled with a computer made to build bridges, converge at the structure’s flat top, rivalling the height of Commonwealth Stadium’s nosebleed seats, about 150 feet above the field. The huge structure in a green, reflective skin was adorned with orange lights nicknamed “polyps.” A lit spire atop it all will add yet another 10 feet for the concert.

Edmonton is one of the first North American stops on the third leg of the U2 360° Tour, which began in Barcelona in 2009. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 210 put around 300 workers on the week long construction job here in Edmonton, which makes it the largest crew the union’s ever committed to a single rock stage.  With more concerts lined up, it is going to busy days ahead for these machine operators and climbers in Alberta who have even sourced  manpower from sister chapters in Calgary and Vancouver to cope  with the heavy workload.

Inorder to improve the tourists inflow into the country, Alberta has set a trade mission to China.

Representatives from Tourism Calgary, Travel Alberta, Heritage Park and the Calgary Stampede are all currently in China, trying to tap into one of the biggest pool of travellers in the world. About 24,000 Chinese tourists came to Alberta last year.

But there are a few challenges that Travel Alberta is facing to boost this number, including a lack of direct flights from China to Alberta and visa issues.

A photo of a five-year-old boy on his first train ride at Heritage Park is the winner of Tourism Calgary's Capture WOW contest in which Calgarians were asked to capture and share their biggest tourism moments in the city. The winning entry features Joe Fraser, who is enjoying his train journey  and it will now be seen in Tourism Calgary's marketing campaign in key regional markets.

The image has captured the excitement and thrill of this tiny tot on his first ever train journey . He was thrilled to be able to see the engine pulling us and to hear its whistle blow," said Grant Fraser, contest winner and grandfather. "I have been promoting Calgary for 35 years as a bus driver, and am very excited to be a part of this campaign."

Little Joe,  who is now six years old and in Grade 1, said "it was fun to go on the train." The image was selected from 12 snap shots which showcased  Calgary in the Experience WOW regional campaign. The image will be flashed in both print and electronic media in the tourism promotional campaigns in the days ahead. By involving the  Calgarians, the WOW campaign has succeeded in giving it a local touch and also has encouraged the locals to  become enthusiastic ambassadors of the city.

As thousands flee as strong winds fanned the raging wildfire into a northern Alberta town, the local  administration has clamped down fire ban orders all along the province, considering the windy conditions and wild fire risks. Alberta is reeling under the wild fire issue as there are over 100 wildfires in the province of which  23 of them blazing out of control.

Alberta residents including campers are banned from using wood, briquette and propane/natural gas fires including those in designated fire facilities and portable fire pits. The only exceptions to the ban are federal lands where there are no fire control agreements.

Open air burning, fires in park areas and fireworks are also prohibited  though legal backyard fire pits are still allowed. City officials are urging all residents to take care using backyard fire pits, barbecues and cigarettes. Although many parts of Southern Alberta has a fire ban in place, it has not effected the weekend traffic to  Banff National Park, a popular spot among campers.

There is no better place to base your exploration and discovery of the Canadian Rockies. Canmore is the base camp of choice for the discerning traveler who recognizes the value of an authentic mountain community oriented to sharing a passionate sense of place with its guests.

Canmore is located on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, 1 hour west of Calgary (1.5 hours west of the Calgary airport). For a traveller, Canmore offers all that is needed for an enjoyable time, i.e, from accommodation, restaurnats & shopping to activities and entertainment.

The wildlands of Canmore, Kananaskis, Banff and the mountain parks are definitely wild. As a single destination, Canmore Kananaskis offers an incredible variety of opportunities in all four seasons for an amazingly diverse audience. While it may be true that you can’t be all things to all people, most people seem to find what they want and need here. A full service four season destination, Canmore Kananaskis offers recreation services and options for families, individuals, couples, and groups.

Canmore boasts an overwhelming inventory of year round and seasonal activities. There are a number of year-round activities in the Canmore & Kananaskis area. Caving, Heli-Tours, Gondola, Guest Ranches, Wildlife Tours, etc.

Canmore offers a wide range of accommodation options ranging from quaint Bed & Breakfast accommodation to full service hotels, budget motels and luxury vacation rentals & suites.

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The basis of success for Clover Advertising is how they have a planned approach towards their sales campaigns. Creative analysis is conducted by highly qualified professionals; Clover Advertising has everything to make it big in the direct marketing industry. It is the mix of these skills that enables them to serve their clients better.