SELECT Magazine Fall 2020 | Page 45

DELIGHTFULLY MULTICULTURAL While it's easy to picture Canadians in stereotypical roles, such as hockey players, lumberjacks or mounted police, those images do not come close to the true identity of their people. Due to their welcoming nature and open immigration policies, Canada is one of the most multicultural places in the world. An adept linguist could catch snippets of more than 140 languages in Toronto alone, a gorgeous city where 50% of the population was born outside of Canada. English is still the most widely spoken language across the country, with French a close second, so as long as you have a firm grasp of one of those two languages, traveling here should be a breeze. CREATIVE FOODIES Since Canada is a modern multicultural mixing pot with English and French roots, their national cuisine showcases a diverse mix of influences. Any adventurous eater would thrive on a cross-country trip in Canada, feasting on poutine, a tasty mix of french fries, cheese curds and gravy; tourtiere, a doublecrusted meat pie; nanaimo dessert bars made from wafer crumbs, custard and chocolate; fish and brewis, a unique dish made with salted cod and hard bread; figgy duff pudding, which contains raisins and not figs; and fresh, handmade, wood-fired Montreal bagels. If such fanciful fare does not tempt your tummy, there’s always a Tim Hortons nearby serving biscuits, doughnuts and coffee. Poutine is a pleasurable surprise to many CONTACT US TODAY TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE VIP AMENITIES | 43