RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER

101 Nights of Twinkling Lights

The most enchanting of Niagara Falls attractions, the annual Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights is back to continue the tradition of holiday lights and family fun! What better way to light up the end of the year than by enjoying Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival?

This bright and cheery festival is on now, featuring over three million lights and dazzling 3D displays along Dufferin Islands, the Niagara Parkway, and across Niagara Falls. This year, the Festival will illuminate Niagara Falls for 101 nights, almost doubling the amount of time you can discover the winter magic of twinkling lights.

© COURTESY OF NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM

With over 75 spectacular displays providing colourful visuals, including returning festival favourites like larger-thanlife 3D animals, giant gingerbread house, and illuminated trees, plus new displays such as a gingerbread family, narwhal, candy canes, and more, Niagara Falls has transformed into a twinkling winter wonderland.

This year’s OPG Winter Festival of Lights is delighted to introduce family-friendly live entertainment every weekend and nightly during the holidays, featuring musicians, magicians, jugglers, and more. Hosted at the Hilton Fallsview Hotel & Suites, the new indoor entertainment is the perfect opportunity to warm up and enjoy more family fun, in accordance with Public Health measures.

Surround yourself and loved ones with inspiring, bright displays of happiness, hope, and cheer. Friends and family can make new memories throughout the extended Festival season that runs until Family Day on February 21, 2022.

Come for the lights and to reconnect with family and friends, stay for the colourful illumination of the city’s famous waterfalls—a magical, not-to-bemissed viewing occasion for all, every night of the year.

Experience the spectacular light displays safely by walking along the wide-open park pathways, by driving along the route with your family, or by viewing from the warm comfort of Niagara Falls’ many wonderful restaurant and hotel windows.

Niagara Falls is a popular destination to create long-lasting memories, and winter is the perfect time to experience the beauty of the icy Falls and explore the engaging outdoor displays. With plenty to see and do for visitors, whether it’s your first or fifth time visiting, make it your winter tradition to bundle up, enjoy the fresh air, and add some sparkle to your holiday plans. Overnight getaways provide the perfect staycation to explore Niagara Falls by day and night!

Find event calendars, things to do, and how to plan your stay at WFOL.com

ADVERTORIAL

Tree for Boston: How a Century-Long Friendship Began From Tragedy

ALLIE MURRAY

On December 6, 1917, an explosion in the Halifax harbour shook the city to its core.

Two ships, the Mont-Blanc and the Imo, were travelling through the Halifax Narrows when they collided. The Mont-Blanc was carrying high explosives, causing a fire to engulf the ship, later leading to an explosion.

The explosion sent shock waves through the regions of both Halifax and Dartmouth—killing approximately 2,000 people and injuring 9,000 others.

In a time of need, Halifax officials put out a call for help, asking for doctors to aid them in the recovery. The mayor of Boston at the time, Mayor James Curley, and former Massachusetts Governor Samuel McCall answered the call and sent a group of doctors, nurses, aid workers, and medical supplies on a 1,000km trip from Boston to Halifax.

A letter from Governor McCall dated December 6, 1917, reads, “I am sending Hon. A.C. Ratchesky, of the Massachusetts Public Safety Committee, immediately to your city, with a corps of our best state surgeons and nurses, in the belief that they may be of service to you in this hour of need. I need hardly to say to you that we have the strongest affection for the people of your city, and that we are anxious to do everything possible for their assistance at this time.”

Upon arrival, the healthcare workers began immediately distributing food, water, and medical supplies. In Nova Scotia schools, to this day, students are taught about the heroic arrival of Boston’s doctors, noting them as true lifesavers.

With many of the officials in Boston still in Halifax just a few short weeks later for Christmas, they decorated the hospitals and put up a Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday, despite the crisis that brought them to the region in the first place.

The following year, in December 1918, Nova Scotia sent a Christmas tree as a way to say thank you. Another tree was sent in 1971 and has been sent every year since. Amid war, a pandemic, international turmoil, and differences that set us apart, Nova Scotia and Boston have continued a 104-year friendship with a holiday gifting tradition.

The tree that is sent every year is chosen from a local Nova Scotian family. By agreeing to donate your tree, the province of Nova Scotia also sends the donor family to Boston for the tree lighting, allowing the family to experience the heart-warming event firsthand.

In 2020, at the height of the

© PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA

COVID-19 pandemic, Nova Scotia dedicated the annual tree donation to the frontline workers who came to their aid in 1917 and the frontline workers who worked tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19.

“We thank Boston for their kindness during our time of need by sending a big, beautiful Nova Scotia Christmas tree,” Lands and Forestry Minister Derek Mombourquette said in a 2020 press release. “This important tradition symbolizes gratitude, friendship and remembrance. It’s also our way of honouring those who have worked so hard to keep us healthy and safe during the pandemic.”

This year, a 48-foot white spruce Christmas tree was donated by landowner L’Arche Cape Breton, a non-profit organization that creates safe, supportive homes and meaningful work for people with disabilities.

“In response to the explosion in 1917, Boston extended a hand of friendship to Halifax, which was accepted with open arms and returned with an endless thanksgiving through the Tree for Boston,” explained Executive Director and Community Leader at L’Arche Cape Breton Mukthar Limpao.

At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Nova Scotia, visitors can tour photos, artifacts, and stories from the explosion. Travellers can also walk the Halifax harbour and learn about the vast history that sailed through those waters.

Make the Most of Winter in Vaughan

There’s a chill in the air and frost on the grass—winter is on its way!

Whether you’re planning your holidays or diving straight into outdoor activities, Vaughan is the place to be this winter. Between holiday festivities, time spent with family, and a host of both indoor and outdoor activities, Vaughan has everything you need for an enjoyable winter vacation just north of Toronto.

MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE

Your perfect holiday gifts are waiting for you in Vaughan. Support local artisans and small businesses at This is Made, your one-stop merchant shop and the first collective boutique in Vaughan, or take a trip to the 200+ stores in Vaughan Mills. From fashion to makeup, home decor to sweet treats, and everything in between, Vaughan has something for everyone on your list.

Still figuring out which local shops to support? Keep an eye out for the Safe Travels Stamp, which recognizes businesses that follow standardized protocols for health and hygiene. This means their top priority is keeping you safe while you shop this season! Many Vaughan businesses have their Safe Travels Stamp, and you can find a list of them at

visitvaughan.ca.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY WINTER ADVENTURES

Who says winter has to be boring? Vaughan is home to so many safe, family-friendly activities and local businesses to make your winter great. Whether it’s skating, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing, bundle up and head outdoors!

In Kleinburg, explore beautiful trails like the William Granger Nature Walk, or take a day trip to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Winter is the perfect time to get on the ice, whether you pre-

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© CENTRAL COUNTIES TOURISM

fer a friendly hockey game or a leisurely skate around the rink. Vaughan’s arenas and outdoor rinks offer drop-in activities and ice skating for all ages.

If you prefer snow to ice, swap the skates for winter boots and hit the trails. The Kortright Centre for Conservation offers more than 16km of hiking trails—the perfect opportunity for winter exercise with a view. Throughout December, Kortright is transformed into the Magical Christmas Forest, decked out with holiday lights and wintry cheer.

The holiday excitement continues at WinterFest at Canada’s Wonderland, an immersive holiday experience for the whole family, complete with ice-skating on Snow Flake Lake, live shows and holiday entertainment, millions of spectacular lights, and hundreds of beautiful Christmas trees throughout the park, including two 50-foot Christmas trees. Between gift shopping at Vaughan Mills, stop into the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre to experience the Holiday Bricktacular event and build a LEGO ornament to decorate the tree.

A COZY STAYCATION

From staycations to staying near family over the holidays, Vaughan has a variety of accommodations to suit whatever your needs are, all located right by unique attractions. All of Vaughan’s hotels have received the Safe Travels Stamp so that you can feel confident and safe throughout your stay.

Plan your winter fun at visitvaughan.ca/hellowinter

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SHOP, PLAY, AND STAY