Canada for the hip and active

Forget the image of Canada as the dull, polite and freezing northern neighbour to the colourful United States. Lonely Planet — the travel guide publisher popular with young travellers worldwide — has listed Canada among its top 10 countries to visit in 2009, along with such exotic destinations as Kyrgyzstan and Tasmania. In Lonely Planet's Best in Travel: 2009, Canada is singled out as "a land of action, with an insane amount of terrain to play on."

Examples of Canadian must-sees this year include the Calgary Stampede, surfing in Tofino, British Columbia, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the World Men's Curling Championships. Elyse Mailhot, a spokeswoman for the Canada Tourism Commission, told the CBC that she's pleased with Canada's addition to the Lonely Planet top 10. "We're totally gratified to be included in such a prestigious travel book," she said.

The commission, which is responsible for marketing Canada as a destination for tourists, had previously depicted Canada in a more tranquil, natural light, filled with racoons, loons and placid lakes. But the government agency is rebranding Canada internationally to focus more on the "explorer" side of the country — one that is "hip and active," said Mailhot.