On arrival in Vancouver, you’ll be greeted by green temperate rainforest, sparkling ocean and the North Shore Mountains on the horizon. Welcome to the most liveable city in North America, according to EIU’s 2023 ranking.

Nestled in lush greenery, Vancouver’s cityscape is one of the most sustainable on the continent. The natural birthplace of Greenpeace, Vancouver has high walk- and bikeability and is firmly committed to growing its green spaces, reducing waste and curbing its carbon output.

From the city, visitors can easily set out on foot, ferry or even cable car for sightseeing with jaw-dropping views. Can’t-miss attractions include the VanDusen Botanical Garden – a 55-acre oasis in the heart of the city – the Vancouver Seawall and the nearby Grouse Mountain. Vancouver’s beloved Stanley Park, the green heart of the city, contains 405 hectares (1,000 acres) of parkland, featuring old-growth forests, restaurants, breweries, beaches and gardens.

Indigenous Peoples have called this region home for thousands of years, harvesting its abundant salmon, plants and berries. Incredible, locally sourced food is a mainstay of menus across the region, pulled straight from the sea or foraged in the nearby forest.

British Columbia is known for its sustainably harvested oysters, and red, green and purple sea urchin. Visitors can sample seasonal delicacies fresh from boats at Granville Island Public Market or try to secure a table at one of the city’s eight MICHELIN-starred eateries, such as Kissa Tanto and Bao Bei.

Sushi lovers won’t want to miss the renowned Tojo’s, which melds authentic Japanese flavours and local Canadian ingredients. Each year, master chef Hidekazu Tojo curates a menu dedicated to spot prawns, with dishes such as amaebi nigiri.

Vancouver’s love affair with the outdoors has made it one of the greenest cities in the world. The Vancouver Convention Centre is a double LEED® Platinum-certified space that boasts a six-acre “living roof” – home to more than 400,000 native plants and grasses.

Acting as a natural insulator, the roof reduces heat gains in the summer and heat losses in the winter. It is the largest non-industrial living roof in North America.

An innovative marine habitat “skirt” built into this waterfront meeting hub also helps to improve water quality and support marine life such as invertebrates, fish and sea otters. Inside, a “scratch” kitchen sources fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, lowering the centre’s carbon footprint, while the wine list features British Columbia-produced wines.

Take to the sea to catch a glimpse of the region’s marine giants on a sustainable whale watching tour. Look for the magnificent fins and tails of orcas and humpback whales peeking out from the waves. Tours also occasionally spot harbour seals, sea lions, grey whales, minke whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbour porpoises, Dall’s porpoises and otters.

The waters surrounding Vancouver and nearby islands are home to large resident pods of nearly 100 orcas, spotted most frequently from March to October – especially during the salmon migration in the summer months.

During the covid-19 pandemic, local tour operators sitting with empty boats came together to launch a six-week industrial-scale clean-up of the British Columbia coast.

Together, they picked up more than 2m lb of marine debris from the coastline, recycling nearly 60% into new products. Kevin Smith, president of Maple Leaf Adventures (MLA), led the charge for the coastal clean-up: “Looking back in hindsight at the so-called competition, I realised how much we all had in common, how much we all loved this place and how much we loved that the very act of bringing out guests here helped to protect it,” he says.

Today, MLA offers multi-day adventures that promise to respect the environment and coastal communities, providing unique experiences and access to wildlife, landscapes and culture from its expedition yachts.

More than 98% of electricity generated in British Columbia is clean or renewable, and the province’s expertise is much sought after by industry professionals.

Foresight Canada, the country’s leading cleantech accelerator, supports innovative companies in the fight against climate change. The company’s Earth Tech: 2050 project is an accelerator for the technologies we will need to avoid climate catastrophe, backing companies that have the potential to directly or indirectly reduce or remove at least half a gigatonne of CO₂ by 2050.

Vancouver is working to cut carbon pollution from two major sources: vehicles and buildings. Already, the city has the highest percentage of sustainable stays worldwide, with nearly 44% of hotels recognised for sustainability efforts, according to UK-based price comparison service and switching firm Uswitch.

The four-star Fairmont Waterfront is a sustainable pick for accommodation, with zero-waste policies and stunning views of the North Shore Mountains. Its rooftop apiary is home to thousands of bees, producing a bounty of honey each season, foraged from many of the plants and flowers in its own garden. “We do so much education through the hotel,” says its chief beekeeper, Julia Common. “It’s important for people to understand where the food comes from and why bees pollinate because it gives a much fuller picture of what's going on in our world.”

Vancouver’s Listel Hotel, whose 129 boutique rooms and suites are filled with original artwork, has also been recognised for its eco-friendly offerings. It has 20 solar panels, turns all organic waste into compost, reuses all recyclables and ensures that all its seafood is 100% sustainably sourced.

Sitting at the edge of the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian prairies, Calgary is renowned for its Western spirit, which is on full display at the wildly popular Calgary Stampede – an annual rodeo and festival. Calgary has stayed true to its roots over the years, but is today also a bustling metropolis where the beautiful Bow and Elbow rivers meet.

A leader in the agribusiness, energy and health and wellness sectors, Calgary has emerged as a hub where international organisations can connect, innovate and collaborate. Its BMO Centre is undergoing a dramatic expansion that will make it the largest convention centre in Western Canada by 2024.

In downtown Calgary, a new pedestrian-friendly Culture + Entertainment District aims to bring new life and vibrancy to meeting and event venues. For a deeper understanding of what has shaped Albertan lives over the years, the Glenbow Museum offers the largest public art collection in Western Canada and one of the country’s largest Indigenous collections. Guests can currently visit a satellite gallery – Glenbow at The Edison – while renovation is under way as the museum is transformed into the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture.

Calgary has a booming culinary scene, featuring chefs who are committed to locally focused menus, and nature is never too far away. The city is the perfect base camp for adventure, with the bucket-list Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park roughly an hour’s drive from downtown.

Canada is the world’s top exporter of canola oil, oats and durum wheat, and Calgary helps to power its agribusiness sector. It is an ideal backdrop for events and meetings that address ways of protecting the planet through efficient use of natural resources, smart farming, and safeguards for people, animals and the land they live on.

In downtown Calgary, the TELUS Convention Centre draws international event groups and associations that, among other things, are rethinking food sustainability needs. The city is investing $1bn to revitalise its downtown area, including a massive expansion of the BMO Centre at Stampede Park – home of the legendary Calgary Stampede.

Calgary’s convention centres are natural starting-points for business event decision-makers looking to tap local know-how and reach cutting-edge food and technology experts such as Logan Skori, founder of AgGene – a sustainable agriculture firm based in Calgary – who is searching for ways to boost protein in rice and canola oil.

Named “Best New Restaurant in 2022” by Canada’s 100 Best, Major Tom offers sweeping views from the 40th floor in downtown Calgary and a stunning mid-century setting where modern dishes meet traditional Alberta steaks broiled at 1800° for a caramelised crust. Guests can also indulge in crispy hen eggs with pepperoni jam and roasted Alberta lamb.

At this “Castle in the Rockies”, guests can nourish themselves with food from the region. Executive chef Atticus Garant at Fairmont Banff Springs works with local purveyors to bring in the highest-quality ingredients – pastries, cured meats and preserves are made on site and an in-house butcher shop provides fine cut, locally sourced meat.

To reduce its carbon footprint, Fairmont Banff Springs grows microgreens in its urban cultivators, as well as house-grown herbs, greens and small vegetables in its greenhouse.

The spa is a steward of sustainable development. Surrounded by Canada’s first national park, dedication to conservation, community and conscious living run as deep as the crystalline waters of the region.

A 10-minute drive takes you to Banff Upper Hot Springs, which at 1,500 metres above sea level is the highest operational hot spring in Canada. Soaking in these natural hot springs relaxes tense muscles, while the concentration of minerals in the water rids the body of toxins.

From Calgary, it’s less than a two-hour drive to the Canadian Rockies, which offer dramatic mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and endless recreational activities.

In Banff, take a breathtaking gondola ride one kilometre to the top of Sulphur Mountain and discover food from small farms at a “dining sanctuary in the sky” – 2,400 metres above sea level.

Scott Hergott, Sky Bistro’s head chef, showcases the best of Canada – from coast to mountain top – in his dishes, while trying “to limit food waste, avoid overproduction and, ultimately, to keep things simple”.

A healing walk with Mahikan Trails – an Indigenous-owned company based in Canmore, just outside Banff National Park – will teach you all about natural medicine.

Owner and guide Brenda Holder, a member of the Aseniwuche Winewak, the "Mountain People of the Land", helps visitors connect more deeply with the land. On her guided walks, she points out the plants, trees and bushes that can be used for healing – to make a fire cider for a flu or cold – a food source or a fire starter.

As the leader of Warrior Women Inc. – a collective of Indigenous women who drum, sing and seek to educate others about the beauty of their culture – Matricia Bauer helps people discover why the heartbeat is what connects every living thing. She explores why this is critical to our personal well-being, and also to the well-being of the world.

Extend your stay and explore the region from the rails, with menus that are locally sourced and reflect the spectacular landscape. Book seats on the Rocky Mountaineer from Calgary to Vancouver to take in the sights on board a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will permanently connect you to the people and places of Canada.

Private dome cars, luxurious lounges and stunning vistas – the journey includes panoramic views of glacier-capped jagged mountain peaks, swirling rivers pooling into lakes and big-game wildlife that can be seen from the rails.

"When we were on the motorcoach from Jasper to Banff, the ice fields were impressive," says Debbie Terwilliger, who recently travelled on the Rocky Mountaineer. "We have been to Alaska and seen glaciers, but not like this. I've heard people refer to a Rocky Mountaineer trip as the 'trip of a lifetime', but that to me implies it's a one-time thing. Not for us. We are already trying to decide on our next Rocky Mountaineer trip!"

On the shore of Lake Ontario and a couple of hours from Niagara Falls, Toronto has stunning waterfront views. But what really makes the capital city of Ontario stand apart is its people – Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with more than 250 ethnicities and 200 languages.

This diversity makes Toronto more vibrant – the food, sights and even business opportunities. Visitors can encounter multiple cultures in a day – Jamaican kitchens, Chinatown boutiques and art from the First Peoples of North America at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

This incredible mix of people powers innovation, making Toronto a top destination for international organisations to host business events and share ideas.

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is the largest conference facility in Canada, and one of the many establishments that host business events in the city.

Venues, however, are not the only institutions that event hosts can leverage in Toronto. There is also a wealth of intellectual capital to tap into. Tech incubator DMZ and MaRS, an innovation hub covering 1.5m sq ft and home to more than 120 tenants, have raised billions of dollars in funding and generated thousands of jobs. They are exemplary of the kind of highly connected organisations that visiting events can engage with to enhance their agendas and create more impactful conferences.

From boardrooms to city streets, diversity is an integral part of Toronto’s character, with immigrants accounting for nearly half of the population. Roughly four out of ten Toronto residents have a mother tongue other than English or French.

This mix of people has made Toronto a popular destination for business events looking to leverage the city’s diverse talent and global mindset.

Toronto is a hotbed of disruptive thinking across numerous sectors. For example, the city is the second-largest finance hub in North America and is home to 600 fintech firms. This expertise attracts organisations from across the world. HSBC opened an innovation lab in the city in 2019 to tap into local tech talent, while over 70 incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces offer programmes to a range of start-ups.

Across Toronto, innovation is driven by inspiring individuals such as Rebecca Darwent, co-founder of the Foundation for Black Communities, who has led fundraising, community engagement and advocacy that resulted in a $200m commitment to black philanthropy by the Canadian government.

Kensington Market is considered the most diverse neighbourhood in Toronto, featuring street food, multicultural markets and vintage shops. The Golden Patty restaurant, a West Indian bakery, has been making its popular Jamaican patty sandwiches for decades in flavours such as spicy beef and curry shrimp. Or step into the Poetry Jazz Cafe, a black-owned business established in 2010 as a live poetry and music venue that attracts talent from all over the world.

Toronto’s bustling Distillery District is a cobblestone, pedestrian-only area, home to theatres, art galleries and festivals. There are more than 40 unique shops in the district, including Hoi Bo, a sustainable clothing brand known for using strong natural fabrics.

Where to unpack your bag while visiting Toronto’s diverse districts? In Chinatown, stay at the sleek industrial Hotel Ocho – a former cigar factory and garment warehouse that was revitalised by owner Louise Choi, who was born in Suriname and raised in Amsterdam. The hotel is within walking distance of Kensington Market, shopping on Queen Street and the CN Tower.

Another option is the striking Ace Hotel in the downtown Garment District, which features a red brick facade, towering concrete arches and cabin-like rooms. The hotel is near Queen Street West, with its boutiques, art galleries, hip bars and restaurants.

In Yorkville, an old bohemian neighbourhood that is now one of the most upscale parts of the city, the Hazelton Hotel is often Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s choice when he’s in town. This luxury boutique hotel has easy downtown access and its sumptuous ONE Restaurant, led by executive chef Darby Piquette, crafts globally inspired dishes with local ingredients.

“No matter who you are or who you love, you should have every opportunity to succeed in Canada,” the Canadian government said when it announced measures last year to support a more inclusive future for the 2SLGBTQI+ community (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender-diverse people).

In Toronto, up to one million people attend the city’s yearly Pride Festival – a month-long summer event that includes a Trans March, Dyke March and Pride Parade. Many of the festivities can be found in Church-Wellesley Village, also known as the Gay Village.

Here, you can visit Woody’s, a gay bar that has been a fixture of the community for decades, or stop by Glad Day Bookshop, known as North America’s oldest surviving gay bookstore. Glad Day also hosts Canada’s longest-running drag brunch on Sundays, where you can spot drag queen and podcast host Selena Vyle.

Consider planning your trip in summer to coincide with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, a stunning display of costumes, dance and music that is one of the world’s largest celebrations of Caribbean culture. The four-week-long festival culminates in a Grande Parade in the streets, a tradition to commemorate emancipation from slavery.

“The carnival is an expression of freedom,” says Mischka Crichton, the carnival’s CEO, who has attended the festival since she was four years old. “And that's not just freedom in the fact that it celebrates emancipation, but it's freedom in terms of your artistic freedom, your cultural freedom, your economic freedom, and the freedom to engage and celebrate each other.”

The festival includes storytelling tents, a carnival for kids, and a king and queen showcase. The Ontario Steelpan Association also performs tropical steel pan music – a tradition from Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaican jerk chicken with West African jollof rice? Bánh mì and kimchi fries? These sort of wild combinations can be found on menus across Toronto, which has a food scene unlike anywhere else in the world because of the way people mix traditions and flavours.

Eden Hagos is an Ontario native and founder of BLACK FOODIE, a platform that is raising awareness about black food culture with restaurant tips and recipes. She travels the globe showcasing African and Caribbean cuisine, and recently sat down for a feast with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Her insider tip for great food in Toronto? The Danforth area, where you’ll find everything from Greek gyros to Ethiopian stews. “I don't think it's typically where tourists go, but it is where Torontonians go because they know that's where the good food is,” she says.

After exploring Toronto’s food scene, head out for some fresh air. Toronto is home to gorgeous views from many vantage points.

Take in the city from above at CN Tower’s SkyPod, the highest observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, where you can see Niagara Falls and New York State on a clear day. Niagara Falls, about two hours from Toronto, also makes for an easy day trip.

The Toronto waterfront is just a 10-minute walk from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre when meetings end. After a stroll along the boardwalk, visitors can explore several waterfront parks, including the 195-acre Colonel Samuel Smith Park – a haven for birdwatching and wildlife spotting, with incredible views of the Toronto skyline (don’t miss it at sunset!).

Home to seven of Canada’s nine national museums, Ottawa is the country’s historical centre of gravity, inspiring visitors to reimagine the frontiers of human innovation.

Canada’s capital sits on the Ottawa River and is defined by a beautiful blend of historical landmarks, green spaces and waterways. In winter, the Rideau Canal – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – offers visitors the world’s largest naturally frozen ice skating rink.

Whether discovering the technologies that Canadian astronauts are using to traverse the frontiers of space or exploring the renovated parliament buildings where the critical issues of the day are decided, a stay in Ottawa will reinvigorate a visitor’s imagination and spark their passion for discovery.

Situated on a 170-foot bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, Canada’s Gothic-style House of Commons not only oversees debates that decide the direction of the country, but literally overlooks its capital. In the city below, guests can immerse themselves in Canada’s oldest and largest markets, perusing vintage clothing or tasting local delicacies at the world-famous ByWard Market, which was established in 1826 by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, builder of the Rideau Canal.

Canada is one of the world’s leading aerospace hubs, attracting industry experts from around the world, and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum – at a former military air base in Ottawa – immerses visitors in the history of flight. Of the 430 Lancaster bombers built in Ontario, only one survived the second world war. It now has pride of place in the museum, where visitors can learn about the thousands of missions crews undertaken in the plane, and how it survived.

Ottawa’s museums also inspire action on Earth. The Museum of Nature takes a unique look at our world through time, transporting visitors from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the future of climate change.

The museum not only showcases ecological change but actively works to improve our understanding of it. Jordan Mallon, one of the museum’s senior palaeontologists, leads excavations across Canada to determine how life responded to a changing planet, even discovering a new species of dinosaur in the process.

In the heart of Ottawa, the Shaw Centre is not only the meeting point for leaders of global industry, but an architectural attraction in its own right. The building’s huge glass dome gives attendants a 360-degree view of Canada’s capital, while the 192,000-sq ft conference hall has held everything from conventions on neuroscience to exhibitions of Indigenous cultures.

“When you bring brilliant people together, you experience things that would not take place over a Zoom call,” says Nina Kressler, president and CEO of the Shaw Centre. “Such energy brings collective ideas to the surface that cannot be done unless you're meeting in person.”

“The Shaw Centre is a purpose-built modern facility designed for bringing people together from the community and right around the globe to collaborate, to meet, to celebrate, innovate and contribute to their respective industries.”

With entrepreneurs making up 17% of the Canadian labour force, and Ottawa committing significant funds to accelerate the best, the city is the perfect location for business events. Whether it’s a multi-day conference or a more focused workshop, each business event in Ottawa gets attendants face-to-face with industry leaders, inspires them with new ideas and helps each of them take their business further.

At its centre is Bayview Yards, one of the city's leading accelerators, which offers tech entrepreneurs a launchpad to convert their ideas into commercial success stories. Bayview Yards is base camp for trailblazers, founders and companies in fields from AI and machine learning to robotics, analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, connected and autonomous vehicles, augmented reality and virtual reality.

Montréal, located in the province of Québec, is renowned for its rich history, diverse arts and culture, and thriving tech scene. The city offers an exceptional quality of life with a global culinary landscape and festivals throughout the year.

Montréal has many iconic buildings and promotes sustainable living through innovative design and green landscapes. The city will help you to calculate the carbon footprint of your visit.

Montréal’s tech and artificial intelligence (AI) economy, and its rich cultural heritage, make it an ideal destination for combining business with play. The city offers a compelling travel package at the intersection of culture, technology and luxury.

Montréal has positioned itself as a leading global hub for AI, attracting top talent, innovative start-ups and major tech companies. Microsoft Research Lab, IBM, META’s Fundamental AI Research Lab, Google Research, DeepMind and the Samsung AI Center are all researching AI in the city, but it is Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute - that puts Montréal on the map for AI.

Mila’s community is the largest concentration of deep learning academic researchers globally and has fostered groundbreaking advances in machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision. Also breaking ground in AI is the CHUM School of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare – the first of its kind to focus on the development of human capacities and the implementation of AI in real health environments.

You’ll find influences of AI across the region, including in the Palais de congrès de Montréal, the city’s convention centre, which in partnership with RE-AK Technologies is experimenting with biometrics that capture audience biosignals such as brain waves and heart rate. That very convention centre in 2024 will be home once again to the heavyweight World Summit AI Americas.

Don’t miss several jaw-dropping immersive experiences across the city, including an urban data-responsive light installation on the Jacques Cartier Bridge activated by real-time social media activity and big urban data. Also, the AURA at the Notre-Dame Basilica is a stunning experience with dazzling sound, light and video.

Behind these incredible spectacles is Montréal-based Moment Factory, an award-winning multimedia studio which has created several other digital art installations around the region, including immersive art exhibits and augmented reality experiences.

Montréal fully embraces winter: it's not the days that gets shorter, it's the nights that get longer. At the annual outdoor art exhibit of Luminothérapie, visitors can have an interactive ice skating experience, walk past colourful installations and admire video projections on the facades of the Quartier des spectacles.

The Montréal en Lumière festival, which was staged for the first time in 2000, turns part of Montréal into an interactive art playground for several months each winter.

Montrealers take great pride in their food – a beautiful mix of everything from poutine to haute cuisine. Montréal hosts several food festivals, such as the restaurant week MTLàTABLE, the flagship event of Montréal’s culinary scene.

In downtown Montréal, Lufa Farms boasts the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse, with rows of vegetables produced and harvested with minimal energy.

For more fresh greens, farmers markets such as the Jean-Talon Market (the largest public market in North America) and the Atwater Market (nearly a century old) are huge draws for foodies.

Perhaps one of the best-known reasons to visit Montréal is the Montréal International Jazz Festival. Each summer, millions of people travel to the city to listen to thousands of different musicians, making it one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. The festival offers a diverse range of jazz, blues and funk performances, showcasing an impressive line-up of both renowned artists and emerging talent.

A walk through Montréal reveals a wide range of architectural styles, featuring both modern buildings and Gothic-style cathedrals such as the Notre-Dame Basilica and the neo-Renaissance Marché Bonsecours, one of Canada’s ten most beautiful heritage buildings. Many of these historic structures operate as luxury, boutique hotels, such as Le Mount Stephen, a neo-Renaissance building with sleek, modern rooms. The William Gray hotel in Old Montréal is spread across two buildings that date back to the late 1700s.

Superbly positioned on Canada's Atlantic coast, Halifax boasts a unique blend of rich history, vibrant culture and stunning natural beauty. From the iconic waterfront boardwalk, adorned with boutiques and bistros, to the majestic Citadel Hill overlooking the city, there is an abundance of sights to explore.

Culinary enthusiasts can feast on some of the freshest seafood the world has to offer in the city’s countless waterfront restaurants. Visitors can indulge in Nova Scotia's burgeoning wine region, or embark on a culinary adventure through vibrant farmers’ markets and hidden cafés. Aside from seafood, the city is home to a variety of cuisines, such as traditional Acadian, Mi'kmaq and other Indigenous foods.

Halifax, the largest city and capital of Nova Scotia, is steeped in maritime heritage, boasting an active waterfront that not only provides a picturesque backdrop to dining and entertainment options, but also offers a range of water-based experiences and adventures. Prominent among these is the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Canada’s oldest and largest maritime museum, where visitors can discover the story of how Halifax played a key role in the aftermath of the Titanic’s 1912 sinking. The more outdoors types can explore lighthouse villages, hike trails overlooking the Atlantic and go kayaking.

Halifax visitors can charter a private yacht that takes them past Peggy’s Cove and anchor on a secluded island for a private picnic. Charters can also take guests to deep-sea fish with expert guides, dive down to WWII shipwrecks or explore coves inaccessible by land. However, one unique experience offers visitors a truly unforgettable culinary adventure.

At Burntcoat Head Park, which boasts the world’s highest recorded tides with an average tidal range of about 54 feet, several eateries, travel agencies and other groups offer a “dining on the ocean floor” experience. Dining takes place at low tide and includes a lunchtime seafood feast, guided tours of the ocean floor, tidal pools, and local beer and wine pairings.

After learning about the wild edibles of Nova Scotia, guests can enjoy a multi-course dinner against the backdrop of the rising tide.

Nestled in the heart of historic Halifax, with a prime waterfront location, the Halifax Convention Centre stands as a beacon of innovation. Boasting state-of-the-art facilities, this event venue sets the stage for unforgettable gatherings and bespoke experiences.

One of these events is OCEANS 2024, which will see the world’s pre-eminent ocean scientists, along with government officials and corporate leaders, arrive in Halifax in September to discuss some of the most pressing questions concerning the health of our oceans. According to the conference’s co-chair, Christopher Whitt, OCEANS will not only drive conversation around aquaculture and automation in offshore wind energy, but will also discuss how best to align the diverse communities across the blue economy.

One prominent challenge lies in the absence of mutually accepted objectives. While some prioritise economic expansion through the utilisation of marine and aquatic resources, others advocate a more inclusive approach, aiming to ensure that economic growth benefits all stakeholders.

The two approaches are often intertwined. According to a report from UNESCO, around 33bn tonnes of CO₂ (about three-quarters of the world’s 2019 emissions) are captured by blue carbon sinks such as mangrove forests, but protecting these ecosystems relies on local communities. Bringing experts together at events such as OCEANS is essential to building ocean economies that benefit everyone.

Halifax is a prominent hub for marine research and ocean science events, boasting the highest number of ocean tech start-ups in Canada. The city has more than 500 ocean-related enterprises and serves as a meeting point for global leaders across the industry.

Researcher Dr Hilary Moors-Murphy’s passive acoustic monitoring of cetaceans off the coast of Nova Scotia is one example of the cutting-edge work under way in one of the world’s most active marine wildlife ecosystems. Using acoustic recording devices, Dr Moors-Murphy and her team are able to capture the unique sounds of more than 15 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, analysing their patterns to map migration routes, assess population dynamics and monitor ecosystem health. This not only informs conservation strategies, but can provide early warnings of environmental changes or threats.

The importance of this work is reflected in its economic value. Nova Scotia's oceanic industry contributes around C$6bn annually, equivalent to 13.5% of the province's GDP. Specialised areas encompass marine transportation, defence, oceanography, sensing technology and offshore energy.

Institutions such as the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), in nearby Dartmouth, and Dalhousie University’s Oceanography Department pioneer research initiatives and attract elite scholars from around the globe. The BIO is Canada's largest marine research centre and boasts state-of-the-art laboratories, oceanographic vessels and underwater vehicles. Dalhousie University researchers study every aspect of the world's oceans, from the velocity of the waves to the salinity of the water, the biology of the deep sea to the mud of the ocean floor. This research has tangible outcomes, including moving shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy to protect endangered whales and collecting valuable data from the ocean to help understand climate change and predict the weather.

Also in Dartmouth, COVE is an innovation incubator for the global marine technology sector. Its mission is to propel the ocean economy by providing high-quality marine infrastructure and a collaborative space for ocean enterprises to grow.

Stretching 165 km along the north-west of Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy is one of the world’s most distinctive geological environments. Visitors can stand on the ocean floor in the morning and watch as 160bn tonnes of water are funnelled into the bay during the afternoon, says Amber Trout, head of events at Tidal Bore Rafting.

Over millions of years, these tidal surges have carved basalt cliffs and towering sea stacks around the bay’s edge, revealing pre-Jurassic fossils etched into the face of the bay. Meanwhile, “standing waves” created by these massive tides have turned the Bay of Fundy into a prime spot for tidal bore rafting. “Unlike white-water rafting, where the waves are created by rocks or sharp undulations in the river bed, standing waves are created by the tides,” says Ms Trout, explaining that this pushes boats and canoes along the rivers and estuaries surrounding the bay, giving visitors a truly unique way to explore.

Meanwhile, visitors can take in the tidal surges from the coastal paths around the bay’s edge or indulge in exclusive experiences such as private boat tours to secluded coves or helicopter flights over the stunning landscapes.

Beyond its geological marvels, the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark offers cultural experiences among the charming nearby fishing villages and historic lighthouses dotted along the coastline. Additionally, the geopark is home to world-class seafood restaurants against a backdrop of breathtaking ocean views.

The Halifax area features several resorts designed to connect guests with the water landscape and which offer excursions along the Nova Scotian coast.

For those looking to unwind, Trout Point Lodge, nestled in the UNESCO Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve, is the area’s premier luxury wilderness lodge and resort. The resort, which lies adjacent to the Tobeatic Wilderness Area and borders two rivers, offers an abundance of experiences to explore the Acadian Forest ecosystem, rivers, lakes, bogs, glacial formations and marshes.

Guests can take a lesson from an expert astronomer, go forest bathing or hop into a wood-fired riverside hot tub or a cedar barrel sauna. There are countless nature trails to hike, or choose your water transport: kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards.

Another luxury retreat, Liscombe Lodge Resort, is a nature lover’s dream destination on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, where guests can book riverside chalets and take a harbour cruise. For guests looking for urban luxury, the Halifax downtown and waterfront areas boast several upscale hotels, including the Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, the Prince George Hotel and the Westin Nova Scotian.