Western Canada: Fun and Wild

Although parts of Western Canada offer vistas where, according to filmmakers John Wilson and Denice Wilkins, "you can watch your dog run away…for three days," much of the topography is suitable for adventures "fun and wild"--ranging from kayaking to mountain climbing--as well as visits to world-renowned festivals and famous gardens. Wilson, an award-winning wildlife cinematographer, and Wilkins, an environmentalist and naturalist, are the amiable hosts of this beautifully shot excursion that takes viewers from Winnipeg, Manitoba, across Saskatchewan and Alberta, to the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia. Along the way, the filmmakers mix several off-the-beaten-track trips in between stops at traditional sights, enjoying, for example, close encounters with beluga whales (that Wilkins lovingly terms "luminescent spirits of the deep"), or visiting with skier Nancy Greene (recently named Canada's female athlete of the 20th century), while also highlighting the customary tourist magnets, such as the Kamloops Cowboy Festival, Calgary Stampede, and Butchart Gardens. Not only is this a wonderfully filmed hour-and-a-half that armchair travelers and wildlife enthusiasts can spend in good and environmentally-aware company, Western Canada: Fun and Wild will also be a boon to travelers mapping out their vacation itineraries. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)