Western Canada. 4th ed.

Nora D.S. Robins is liaison librarian, University of Calgary Information
Resources.

This substantial guidebook covers the four most westerly provinces of
Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although
lumped together here, these provinces are quite different, and this
Ulysses guide does a good job of bringing out the differences and giving
each of the four its due. Special sections cover the large cities:
Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton. Since the guide is intended
for foreign tourists as well as Canadians, it begins with a section of
practicalities such as requirements for entering Canada, means of
travel, health, pets, holidays, money and banking, tipping, and weights
and measures.

For each province there is an overview of its history, geography,
economy, flora, fauna, and parks. Detailed descriptions are given for
the best attractions and tourist sites, outdoor activities, cultural
offerings, accommodations, restaurants, and shopping. Must-see
attractions are star rated, while hotels and restaurants are rated by
price.

The guide is enlivened with colour photos, maps, and a good index. The
Ulysses travel guides first appeared in the 1990s, an offshoot venture
by a successful Montreal bookstore devoted to travel. Their guides now
cover the world. One acknowledges that guidebooks are rather difficult
to keep up-to-date, but one would expect that by the fourth edition a
Canadian company would know that Canadian Airlines International no
longer exists, and therefore cannot service Calgary.

All things considered, the writers of Western Canada have done a fine
job of preparing the way for travellers, both Canadian and foreign. It
is nice to have a Canadian guide written by Canadians. This one will be
good for travel planning and as a “take-along.”