Category Archives: Railway Adventures across Canada

In three hours, our train journey travels 4,000 miles from the historic rail trails of Newfoundland into the heart of Canada and across to British Columbia. En route our videos explore historical and modern cities, rainforests, wildlife, culture and cuisine. (Photo: Matthew G. Wheeler)

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Québec – Spa for Men

Posted on October 4, 2013 by On Top Of The World


An hour’s drive southeast of Montreal in the Eastern Townships of Québec is Canada’s oldest spa destination and one of the very first in North America. Along with fresh air, beautiful countryside and healthy satisfying menus, it’s the clientele that makes this one unique. Men have discovered the benefits of massage, facial treatments and the opportunity to relax the body, mind and spirit in a stress-free environment. For more information visit www.ontopoftheworld.net and check out episode #25 in the Railway Adventures across Canada Category.

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Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada

Posted on September 10, 2013 by On Top Of The World


A flight into the interior of the St. Elias Mountain Range in Kluane National Park and Reserve reveals magnificent rivers of ice and the spectacular scenery of the Kaskawulsh Glacier. Pilot Andy Williams of Icefield Ranges Expeditions lands us on the Seward Glacier for an up close and personal view of majestic Mt. Logan, Canada’s highest mountain. This trip, into the southwest corner of Canada’s Yukon Territory, ranks as one of my all-time favourite experiences. Home to Canada’s highest mountains and biggest glaciers, Kluane encompasses the largest non-polar icefield in the world and has a diversity of plant and wild life. These factors resulted in the park being one of the first places designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. We were based in Haines Junction and while exploring the lakes and rivers in and around the park, visited an aboriginal fishing village and had a few wildlife encounters. For more information check out episode #24 in the Adventures across Canada category.

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Northern Ontario: Dog Sledding in Temagami

Posted on June 20, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Dog sledding in Northern Ontario is a truly unique Canadian experience. You are working with one of the oldest forms of transportation used by the early Inuit and aboriginal peoples, and close to nature, enjoying the scenic beauty of Canada’s winter months. Our feature was filmed in Temagami and took us through forests, over frozen lakes and along historic native trails. Along with learning the basics of dog sledding, harnessing and caring for the dogs, we also spent a couple of nights in a bush camp. For more information check out episode #23 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 8. BOREAS 1992-2002

Posted on May 15, 2013 by On Top Of The World


The view from space – revisiting BOREAS. While filming in the boreal forest, we connected with BOREAS one of a series of international projects started in 1992 in which the whole globe was divided into a patchwork of different biomes. Each one was studied to see how it interacted with the atmosphere and the potential impact on global warming. In Prince Albert National Park scientists and environmentalists worked with NASA to study the role of the boreal forest in the earth eco-system. From the smallest leaf to the tallest tree, through winter and summer, from ground to space, everything was measured and all the data integrated. This feature shows the work involved in a project of this magnitude and some of the results that were emerging. For more information check out episode #22 in the Railway Journeys across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 7. A Model Project

Posted on May 15, 2013 by On Top Of The World


While filming in the boreal forest, we connected with a project started in 1992, when a national park, a logging company, aboriginal communities, environmentalists and scientists got together north of the town of Prince Albert in Saskatchewan to create a Model Forest. Their combined efforts in studying the effects of extreme climates on forestry and regeneration outside of the park with the natural life cycle inside the park, helped to identify, explore and negotiate the trade-offs involved in responsibly managing their natural resources. The ten Canadian Model Forests originally selected have since played an important role in promoting a vision and providing support for the development of collaborative approaches to sustainable forest management. They have led to the formation of the International Model Forest Network with over 60 sites in 30 countries engaged in similar projects. For more information check out episode #21 in the Railway Journeys across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 6. Transformation

Posted on May 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


“Transformation” shows the transition of a glacial lake to a forested land. Industrious beavers build dams that create bogs where stagnant water reacts to sediment to give off methane gasses. Sphagnum moss creates a blanket over the bog and a park naturalist and snow scientist explain how plants and trees have evolved in this environment. Part six on the eco-systems in the Boreal Forest featuring Prince Albert National Park in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information check out episode #20 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 5. Snow Science

Posted on May 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


“Snow Science” reveals how the Boreal Forest regulates its own water supply, restores nutrients to the soil and controls its own climate. In this episode we look at the impact of snow on one of the largest terrestrial eco-systems on the planet. Filming took place over a 2-year period and, with the help of a snow scientist engaged in a research project we were able to understand the life cycle of the snow pack from heavy snowfalls on the forest canopy in the winter to spring melt-water. The project had surprising discoveries impacting global warming. Part five in a series on the eco-systems in the Boreal Forest featuring Prince Albert National Park in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information check out episode #19 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 4. Call of the Wild

Posted on May 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


“Call of the Wild” features the animals and wild life that make Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan, Canada their home. With the help of a naturalist and park warden we explore the regions of the park to see bison, wolves, foxes, beaver, otters and eagles in their natural habitats and learn how they have adapted to survive in the extremes of climate and the part they play in the eco-systems of the park. This episode is part four in a series on the eco-systems in the Boreal Forest and features Prince Albert National Park in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information check out episode #18 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 3. Adaptation

Posted on May 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


“Adaptation”, the third part in our series featuring the eco-systems and impact of climate on the forest, reveals the relationship between aspen and coniferous trees and the fungi that links the forest with other organisms. It explores how the designs of trees have adapted to the long cold winters of Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada. The trees have even adapted to fire, a natural part of the cycle in the Boreal Forest, and have their own methods of preventing attack by bacteria and conserving energy. For more information check out episode #17 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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The Boreal Forest: 2. Colonization

Posted on May 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


“Colonization” is a revealing look at Lichens, the real pioneers, self-sufficient organisms that are able to colonize bare rock, the sand and gravels left behind as the glaciers retreated. As this micro-ecosystem decomposes, organic soil is formed ultimately creating a seed bed. Close inspection of the lichens, fungi and mosses reveals their relationship with the trees and land and some unexpected environmental warning signals. This episode is part two in a series on the eco-systems in the Boreal Forest and features Prince Albert National Park in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information check out episode #16 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.

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