Arrive To: Independent arrivals, Québec City.

Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK IN: Check-in to the hotel after 3:00 p.m., the front desk will let you know where to register with Road Scholar program staff and pick up your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule and program information. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting program elements. In the event of changes, we will notify you as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding. ORIENTATION: Following check- in we will have introductions and an orientation of the program to review the updated schedule, responsibilities, safety, guidelines, emergency procedures, any other administrative issues, and answer your questions.

Dinner: Fine dining at the hotel restaurant offers you an outstanding culinary experience. Plated service features three courses with choice of soup or salad, two entrée choices and dessert plus coffee/tea.

Evening: Take the rest of the evening to become acquainted with your fellow participants or stroll around the local area. You are embarking on a learning adventure to discover Québec's vibrant culture and history through a broad range of presentations and exciting field trips led by some of Québec's most knowledgeable and engaging experts. You will explore the heart of Old Québec's Upper and Lower Towns, discovering many of the most important sites, institutions, and monuments along the way. This exciting new program embodies the best that Québec City has to offer.

Lodging: Manoir Victoria

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Full American breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant includes scrambled eggs, home-fried potatoes, bacon, ham, sausages, home baked beans, thin pancakes and French toast.

Morning: PRESENTATION: History of Québec City. A power point presentation by a local historian entitled, "The History of Québec City", will give you an excellent overview of Québec City from its founding to the present day. Learn about the principal historical events that occurred here. The city was awarded its World Heritage City designation in 1985 based partially on the preservation of the fortifications around the Old Town, which date from 1745. FIELD TRIP: Old Québec. Explore historic Old Québec on a guided walk. Experience the distinct European feel with its stone buildings and winding streets lined with shops and restaurants.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the heart of Old Québec.

Afternoon: LECTURE: Role of the Church. Learn about the important role played by the Church in insuring the survival of French-Canadian culture, language and customs to its loss of influence in 21st-century Québec. FIELD TRIP: Ursuline Convent. Learn about the educational mission of the Ursuline nuns and their way of life. The Ursulines' landed in New France in 1639 and concerned themselves with the education of girls, both French and Native. The Convent is the oldest institution of its kind in North America. The Chapel dates from the early 20th century and preserves the interior decor of the original 1730s chapel. Much of the carving is the work of Québec’s master-sculptor Pierre-Noël Levasseur. There are also paintings by French masters of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Ursulines museum contains one of the richest ethnographic and artistic collections passed down from the early days of New France, including exquisite embroidery worked by the nuns. FREE TIME: Enjoy some free time to explore Québec City on your own or relax at your hotel. Some may choose to visit the Musée National des Beaux Arts du Québec. The museum is made up of three linked buildings that display an impressive array of architecture. The museum's collection includes more than 22,000 works produced mainly in Québec from early colonial times to the present day. The museum acts as a custodian, keeping alive the memory of Québec art and artists.

Dinner: Dinner this evening is at a restaurant in Old Québec specializing in traditional Québecoise cuisine.

Evening: FREE EVENING: Following dinner, the remainder of the evening is free to explore Québec City on your own. You may want to check the official Québec City tourism website to see what’s on: www.bonjourquebec.com

Lodging: Manoir Victoria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Full American breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant includes scrambled eggs, home-fried potatoes, bacon, ham, sausages, home baked beans, thin pancakes and French toast.

Morning: LECTURE: The Evolution of Nationalism in Québec. At first French Canadian nationalism consisted in insuring the survival of the race. Later on it would focus on defending provincial jurisdictions from federal encroachments and finally it would call for an outright independent country. A local historian outlines the events that define this radicalization of options. FIELD TRIP: Plains of Abraham. Travel by coach to National Battlefields Park, also known as the Plains of Abraham. This is the site of the most significant battle in Canadian history, despite the fact that the battle lasted only thirty minutes. Following the visit to the Plains of Abraham, enjoy a short city coach excursion en route to the train station.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to explore local fare.

Afternoon: Travel by train from Québec City to Montréal. Upon arrival in Montréal, check into your hotel.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a restaurant near your Montréal hotel. Old stone walls, wood floors, large picture windows, cozy fireplaces; these are just some of the words that describe and evoke the warm and inviting atmosphere of the restaurant.

Evening: Following dinner, the remainder of the evening is free.

Lodging: Marriott SpringHill Suites Old Montréal

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Transportation Revolution/French Empire, British Conquest/Historic Old Montréal

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: The Montréal Merchants and the Transportation Revolution/The French Empire in North America and the British Conquest. Presentations with a historian provide a historical analysis of transportation technology and its impact on Montréal commerce. FIELD TRIP: Architecture of Old Montréal. Explore the architectural history of the city, as you walk the cobbled streets on a guided walk of Old Montréal. Notable highlights during the walk include Notre Dame Basilica, Place d'Armes and Place Jacques Cartier. This historic city center is rich in museums, galleries, restaurants and grey stone architecture spread out along narrow, cobblestone streets. Stroll through Place Jacques Cartier, a lively public square, and then turn south to the waterfront (Vieux Port). Its impressive harborfront facilities include a 1.5-mile (2.5-km)-long recreational park along the St. Lawrence River, a state-of-the-art science center, a theater, antiquarian bookshops and inviting cafés.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant in Old Montréal.

Afternoon: FREE TIME: Following lunch, enjoy free time to explore Montréal on your own.You may want to check the Montréal website to see what’s on: www.tourisme-montreal.org.

Dinner: Meet for dinner at a restaurant in Old Montréal, specializing in the exquisite flavors and aromas of Italy.

Evening: Continue your exploration of Montréal, or relax at the hotel.

Lodging: Marriott SpringHill Suites Old Montréal

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Canadian Railway Museum. On a field trip to the Canadian Railway Museum, examine transportation artefacts including giant steam locomotion engines and refurbished early coaches. One of Canada's most unique museums, the collection of railway material here is the largest in the country and one of the most important in the world.

Lunch: Today's lunch will be a traditional full meal in Montréal.

Afternoon: EXCURSION: En route to the train station, enjoy a coach excursion of Montréal. Travel by train from Montréal to Toronto.

Dinner: Dinner on your own onboard the train.

Evening: Arrival in Toronto and check into your hotel.

Lodging: The Strathcona Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP and LECTURE: A coach is the learning venue for the morning lecture, as you traverse the city and examine its history. Toronto is one of North America's most ethnically diverse cities, home to more than 80 ethnic communities from around the world.

Lunch: Lunch on your own at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: At the Royal Ontario Museum, either the Director of Design or the Vice President, Marketing and Major Exhibitions will conduct a private lecture and guided tour. Explore an exceptional array of themed galleries throughout the Museum, spanning both world cultures and natural history. With six million objects in the ROM’s collections, there’s something new to discover around every corner. The Royal Ontario Museum, commonly known as the ROM, is a major museum for world culture and natural history in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The ROM is the fifth largest museum in North America and contains more than six million items and over 40 galleries. It is also the largest museum in Canada. It has notable collections of dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history.

Dinner: Dinner on your own, to explore local fare.

Evening: FREE EVENING Suggestions: enjoy a professional theater performance in the city that boasts the third-largest sale of theater tickets in the English-speaking world. Only New York and London, England sell more theater tickets each year. Or you may choose to visit the CN Tower for a panoramic view of the city, or explore Toronto on your own. For information on what’s on during your visit, check out www.seetorontonow.com.

Lodging: The Strathcona Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: LECTURE: The theme of the two morning lectures is the history of Ontario and the United Empire Loyalists, with an emphasis on Toronto's origins as the capital of Upper Canada; the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, and contemporary Toronto. As well, your lecturer will discuss the building of the railroad through central and western Canada. Your lecturer is the Senior Program Officer at Historic Fort York, a municipally operated museum that specializes in the era of the War of 1812. Fort York features some of the oldest buildings in the city of Toronto.

Lunch: Lunch at a nearby restaurant

Afternoon: Free time to explore Toronto on your own. Possible visits include the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum or the Eaton Centre.

Dinner: Meet for dinner at a restaurant near Union Station. Following dinner, your luggage will be transferred from the hotel to the train station.

Evening: Depart by train for Jasper at 10:00 p.m. Your train journey to Western Canada begins at Union Station in downtown Toronto. The train route will follow the "iron road" that was carved out of solid rock more than a century ago. Journey past lakes and mountain peaks crowned with snow and wind your way across bridges and through tunnels. You will sleep aboard the train for three nights and cross four provinces traveling from central Canada to Canada's west to arrive in Jasper, Alberta.

Lodging: VIA Rail

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the train. Each meal on board the train promises to be a memorable experience: a sophisticated, enticing cuisine, served with a generous portion of stunning landscapes.

Morning: Audiovisual materials are available to enhance your learning experience on the train. Your Group Leader will make arrangements for a DVD presentation detailing the building of the railroad.

Lunch: Lunch on board the train.

Afternoon: Relax and enjoy the passing scenery.

Dinner: Dinner on board the train.

Evening: Games and movies are featured activities during the evening.

Lodging: VIA Rail

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the train.

Morning: FREE TIME: Enjoy several hours of free time in Winnipeg, the largest city in Manitoba, containing over half of the provincial population. Winnipeg is also the provincial capital. Located at the eastern edge of the prairie region of Western Canada, Winnipeg plays a prominent role in transportation, finance, manufacturing, agriculture and education. Because all rail and highway traffic between eastern and western Canada must travel through or near the city, it is often called the "Gateway to the West". The city is located near the geographic centre of North America, at the confluence of the historic Red and Assiniboine Rivers, a point now commonly known as The Forks. This is a focal point for many celebrations, public events, museums, shops, skating, restaurants, and tours. Winnipeg lies in close proximity to hundreds of lakes, including Lake Winnipeg, Canada's fifth largest lake and the world's eleventh largest, as well as Lake Manitoba and the Lake of the Woods. The city is a cultural centre and is the home of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. It boasts historic architecture, scenic waterways, a heritage river, numerous parks including Assiniboine Park, and distinctive neighborhoods. Winnipeg is home to the Hudson's Bay Company Archives, and is in the area of the original settlements and farms in the west. Winnipeg has laid claim to the title of World's Longest Skating Rink along the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

Lunch: Lunch on board the train.

Afternoon: The train departs Winnipeg in early afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner on board the train.

Evening: Games and movies are featured activities during the evening.

Lodging: VIA Rail

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the train.

Morning: This morning the train approaches Jasper, nestled deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and recognized internationally for its rugged beauty. Jasper is a world premiere national park, with a combination of startlingly blue-green mountain lakes, soaring peaks, and broad, forested valleys.

Lunch: Lunch on board the train

Afternoon: Arrive in Jasper, and transfer to your hotel. LECTURE: a lecture provides an orientation to the extensive riches of Jasper National Park. Encompassing over 10,878 square kilometers (4,200 square miles), the park has healthy wildlife populations, including grizzly bears and wolves, living among the grand peaks. The park's distance from large urban centers and its relatively intact ecology create a special sense of the early days in the Rockies. FIELD TRIP: The afternoon educational component is an exploration of the Maligne Canyon. Your instructor will discuss the geological evidence of deep canyon formation; the rich natural history of the site; and wildlife habitats. There will be an opportunity to search for fossils.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Free evening to explore Jasper on your own. To discover what’s on, check www.jaspercanadianrockies.com.

Lodging: Amethyst Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: The second day in Jasper will involve a full day field trip with your naturalist instructor. The learning activities will be geared to the study of the natural history in a number of areas of this beautiful and diverse mountain terrain. Possible sites of study may include Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, Maligne Lake, and the Valley of the Five Lakes. Exact destinations may vary depending on the weather. You will also travel to the Columbia Icefields and experience a Snowcoach ride on the Athabasca Glacier. This is the largest icefield south of Alaska, and the shimmering glacial ice and snow cover some 389 sq. km. (233 sq. mi.). An exciting Snowcoach Tour will take you out onto the Athabasca Glacier, a tongue of the Columbia Icefield, for an awe-inspiring glimpse of icy crevasses and ice-fed streamlets.

Lunch: Lunch en route.

Afternoon: Your field trip continues during the afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant in Jasper.

Evening: Following dinner, the evening is free to explore Jasper on your own or relax at the hotel.

Lodging: Amethyst Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Following a lecture on the geology of the Jasper area, enjoy a visit to the Yellowhead Museum. At the museum, the educational program will address the human history of the area. This is a research and exhibit museum. Its documents and artefacts illustrate the human history of Jasper National Park and the Yellowhead corridor. The museum visit is followed by free time to explore the town of Jasper.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to explore local fare

Afternoon: FREE TIME: Enjoy some free time in Jasper, before the train departs for Vancouver in mid afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner on board the train.

Evening: Games and movies are featured activities during the evening.

Lodging: VIA Rail

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the train, prior to arrival in Vancouver.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Disembarking the train in Vancouver, you will immediately commence the exploration of this vibrant city. Downtown areas of the city, such as Stanley Park, Gastown and Chinatown will be the subjects of study. Both coach and walking excursions will be utilized as learning venues for this segment of the program.

Lunch: Lunch on your own at Granville Island Market.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: The focus of the afternoon educational program is the culture of indigenous people. The venue for the study will be the Museum of Anthropology, a spectacular building on the campus of the University of British Columbia overlooking mountains and sea. This museum is Canada's largest teaching museum. Its collections, exhibitions and programs are renowned for providing insight into the cultures of indigenous peoples around the world.

Dinner: Dinner at the Fish House in Stanley Park. Surrounded by Stanley Park's lush greenery, the Fish House overlooks panoramic English Bay and the spectacular gardens and forests of Stanley Park.

Evening: Following dinner, the remainder of the evening is free to explore Vancouver on your own. For a list of what's on, check www.tourismvancouver.com.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: LECTURE: Vancouver is Canada's gateway to the Pacific Ocean. The morning lectures conducted by a local historian consider the evolution of this dynamic city from a social, ethnic, and economic perspective. FIELD TRIP: Discover Vancouver's West End on a walking field trip with your instructor. You will visit the seawall walk in Stanley Park, with its impressive totem poles. Famous for its majestic wilderness in downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park spreads over 1000 acres and is the largest urban park on the continent.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: The afternoon is yours to continue your exploration of Vancouver.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Free evening to relax at the hotel.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Independent departures after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast