Amazing Race Canada - Season 1 airports recap

With Season 2 upon us, we thought we would recap the airports that the Amazing Race Canada teams visited in Season 1.

We started with our Amazing Race Canada - Season 1 Airport Quiz. Did you try it out? How did you do? If not, take the quiz now and check your memory!.

In Season 1, The Amazing Race Canada's visited 12 Canadian airports (the links below go to our transportation guides for each):

Air Canada is The Amazing Race Canada's lead sponsor

• Calgary International Airport (YYC)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
• Iqaluit Airport (YFB)
• Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
• Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• Quebec City Jean Lasage International Airport (YQB)
• Regina Airport (YQR)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Whitehorse International Airport (YXY)
• Yellowknife Airport (YZF)

As Season 1 unfolded, we blogged about the visits, and a bit more about the airports themselves. If you'd like to read up, here's a link to all our Amazing Race Canada Season 1 blog posts.

We also did a little feature on Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre Airport (YTZ) as, while the teams didn't visit the airport, they did visit the Toronto Islands, in the city centre, where YTZ is located (read it here).

We hope you will follow along as we blog about the airports visited on Season 2 of The Amazing Race Canada. We'll even tell you about the best ways to get to/from each, in case you are inspired to visit!

Related resources:

• 5 Busiest Airports in Canada 
• Canada's Story - Airport Councils International
• End of Days - YYZ to discontinue bus service 
• Do we really hate taxis?

Amazing Race Canada - Week 7: YQB, YFB

Week 7 of The Amazing Race Canada took the teams about as far north in Canada as you can go... but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

 

Quebec City is Canada's only walled city...

The teams began in Quebec City, which we wrote about in our Week 6 blog post. Before we leave this amazing spot, a few more facts about Quebec City:

• Quebec City's old town (Vieux-Québec) is the only remaining fortified walled city north of Mexico
• Vieux-Québec has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site
• There are lots of things you can do in Quebec City - here are just a few

From Quebec City Airport (YQB), the teams flew north north north to Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Iqaluit Airport's distinctive yellow terminal building

Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, Canada's largest, northernmost and newest territory, created when the region officially separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999. The teams landed at Iqaluit Airport (YFB) to tackle their challenges for this leg of the race. As so many other sites have detailed the team's activities, we'll focus our attention on the airport.

1928 Sikorsky S-38B at Iqaluit Airport (Source: Polar Pilots)

While tiny, Iqaluit Airport plays an important role as a diversion airport for airlines flying Polar Routes. As such, Iqaluit Airport can handle any type or size of aircraft.


This Douglas C47A 10DK Dakota 3 (DC-3) ran out of fuel and
landed on the tundra about 45 nm north east of Iqaluit in 1975.
Like many arctic plane crashes, the plane is still there
to this day. (Source: Polar Pilots)

Here are a few interesting websites about the aircraft that have landed here, various incidents and the airport's services, including:

• Polar Pilots - Iqaluit Trip Reports
• Polar Pilots - Planespotting at YFB
• Iqaluit Airport Promotional Brochure

Airbus A380 at Iqaluit Airport (Source: Polar Pilots)

Another reason the airport is so important here is that there are few roads in the region. Most travel is by air, although there are some trucks in Iqaluit. The most common form of transport amongst locals is by ATV (during the short summer) or snowmobile (during the very long winters). You may even see some dog sleds if you visit here.

Unless you arrive in winter though, you will find that around town most things are within walking distance.

Bilingual Inuit and English stop sign in Iqaluit.
The sign may say STOP, but if you are intrigued,
you should GO to Iqaluit!

If you are intrigued to the point of considering a visit, check out the Iqaluit Visitor's Guide - it is very well done and contains a wealth of information.

We hope you've enjoyed learning about this destination where the Race passed through. More next week...

Amazing Race Canada - Week 6: YQR, YUL, YYZ, YQB

Another week, another 4 airports! In Week 6 of The Amazing Race Canada, the teams moved between two cities, via two different routes.

Teams lifted off for this leg of the race from Regina International Airport (YQR). We wrote about this airport - and it's transportation issues - in our Week 5 blog post.

Some of the teams connected through Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Canada's 3rd busiest airport.


Just a few teams passed through Montreal's airport...

Too bad the visit was so brief. Named a UNESCO City of Design, Montreal is one North America's liveliest cities, with historical buildings dating from the 17th century. Maybe they will come back?

Other teams connected through Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), not the first visit here during the race!

The destination for the week was the amazing, historic Quebec City.

Bonjour! Welcome to Quebec City Airport!

The teams arrived at Quebec City Jean Lasage International Airport (YQB).

If you visit, you'll enjoy this airport, twice voted Best Regional Airport in North America by the Airports Council International's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program (2010, 2011). That's a pretty high honour! You'll find a taxi the best way to get into the city from the airport. There is a bus, but it only runs Monday to Friday, a little too inconvenient for most travellers. Fortunately, the taxi ride is short: YQB is just 11 kilometres southwest of the city.

Predictably, upon arrival in Quebec City, the Amazing Race Canada teams were faced with several language related challenges, testing their French language skills, and creativity. Great fun to watch - but don't worry, you can get along here without French (just learn a few words, as a courtesy, and the locals will welcome you.

Historic Vieux-Québec (Old Town) is divided into two parts: the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) and the Basse-Ville (Lower Town).

The fabulous funicular in old Quebec City!

While there are staircases that connect the two (!), most everyone takes the very convenient Funiculaire (Funicular). It's cheap and fun.

One of old Quebec City's amazing murals
(image source: Rambling Traveler, cc on Flickr)

Down below, in Basse-Ville, is where you can find several wonderful murals painted on the sides of old buildings, one of which was featured on the Race (do you think you could have worked out that puzzle of missing pieces, described in French?!). This is also where the teams participated in ice carving, part of the winter culture here.

The stunning Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City

Up above, in Haute-Ville, is the stunning Chateau Frontenac. While this grand hotel only got a walk-on role in the race, it truly is a gem worth visiting, even if you can't afford to stay (try a drink in the little bar overlooking the river).

Whether you stay in the historic old city, or downtown (just outside the city walls, adjacent to the Plains of Abraham the teams visited), you'll find Quebec City to be pedestrian friendly, so no need to rent a car for your visit. Unlike the Amazing Race Canada teams, you will be able to stroll the streets at a leisurely pace...

Au revior!

Source: all photos wiki commons, except where noted