Verified companions in Canada

Canada's largest city and financial centre, with a dense downtown core of hotels along Front Street and the waterfront, and distinct districts from Yorkville's luxury hotels to the condo towers of Liberty Village. Pearson Airport and Union Station bring a steady flow of business travellers.

A bilingual city with a compact downtown around Sainte-Catherine Street, the historic Old Port, and the Plateau's low-rise residential streets. Festivals through summer and Formula 1 weekend make it one of the busiest visitor cities in the country.

A dense peninsula downtown bounded by the harbour and Stanley Park, with Yaletown and Coal Harbour towers, and the suburbs of Burnaby and Richmond reached by SkyTrain. Cruise season and the Asian business corridor keep hotels full year round.

Alberta's corporate city, with an oil-and-gas head-office core around Stephen Avenue and the Beltline's restaurants just south of the tracks. Stampede in July is the year's peak for visitors.

The provincial capital, spread along the North Saskatchewan River valley, with a rebuilt downtown around Rogers Place and the independent shops of Whyte Avenue south of the river. Government and university traffic rather than tourism.

The national capital, where Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market and the embassy district sit within a short walk of each other. Government and diplomatic travel runs steadily outside the summer holidays, with Gatineau across the river.

Manitoba's capital at the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, with a compact downtown around Portage and Main, The Forks, and the Exchange District's warehouse blocks. A regional hub for the prairies.

A French-speaking provincial capital whose walled Old Town draws visitors year round, with the hotels of the Grande Allée and the newer Sainte-Foy district near the bridges. Winter Carnival and summer festivals set the calendar.

A steel city turned commuter city at the western end of Lake Ontario, an hour from Toronto by GO train, with a downtown along James Street North and McMaster University to the west. Burlington and the Niagara corridor are close by.

Twin cities an hour west of Toronto, home to the University of Waterloo and a technology cluster around Uptown Waterloo and Kitchener's Innovation District. Weekday business travel dominates.

A university and hospital city midway between Toronto and Detroit, with a downtown along Richmond Row and the Western University campus to the north. Insurance and medical research bring regular visitors.

Atlantic Canada's largest city, built around a harbour and a downtown that climbs from the waterfront boardwalk to Citadel Hill. Naval base, universities and the regional hospital network keep a steady flow of travellers.

British Columbia's capital on Vancouver Island, with a compact Inner Harbour downtown of hotels and government buildings, reached by ferry or a short flight from Vancouver. Mild weather makes it a year-round visitor city.

Saskatchewan's largest city, straddling the South Saskatchewan River with a downtown on the west bank and the university and Broadway district on the east. Agriculture, mining and the university drive visits.

The provincial capital, with government offices around Wascana Park and a small downtown core of hotels and the casino. A compact city where most visitors come for government, agriculture or the RCMP academy.

Canada's southernmost city, directly across the river from Detroit, with a riverfront downtown, a casino, and an automotive economy tied to the border crossing. Cross-border traffic shapes its visitor pattern.

The Okanagan's main city, set on a lake among vineyards and orchards, with a downtown waterfront and a busy summer and ski season. A resort rhythm rather than a business one.

Newfoundland's capital, a harbour city of steep streets and painted houses, with downtown along Water and Duckworth streets and the offshore oil industry nearby. Remote from the mainland, with a strong local identity.