Peace by Chocolate: from Syria to Antigonish

This is a story about peace, the human spirit, refugees, chocolate, and the promise of a small-town Canadian dream. It is a tale that inspired a community, a film, a book, the prime minister’s speech at the United Nations, and even astronauts in space. It certainly inspired me.

We begin in Damascus, where a former civil engineer named Isam Hadhad reinvented himself as a chocolatier, pouring his heart into a business that eventually grew into the second-largest chocolate manufacturer in the Middle East. He courted his future wife with a box of chocolates and a note that read: ‘I don’t make chocolate, I make happiness.” Life is good until war comes to Syria, and bombs begin to fall.

Thanks to contributions from donors like Kruger Products, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is restoring and protecting some of Canada’s most valuable ecosystems

When you think of the Rocky Mountains, you likely don’t think of open grasslands and wetlands. And yet, in the valleys below the snow-capped peaks and glaciers that dominate our imagination lies an astonishing diversity of habitats that support a wide array of wildlife. This is especially true at the Kootenay River Ranch Conservation Area, which protects part of a critical wildlife corridor in a rapidly developing valley in the Rocky Mountain Trench in southeastern British Columbia. Here, thanks to the efforts of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and its partners, crucial habitats are being protected and restored.

Located in East Kootenay, B.C., the Kootenay River Ranch Conservation Area is a crucial expanse of land that encompasses prime grassland and open forest habitat for hundreds of species, some of which are at risk. Bordered by the Rocky Mountains in the east and the Purcell Mountains in the west, the area is home to dozens of ecosystems essential to maintaining the life and beauty of the region.

Do rabbits really love carrots? Is Pikachu actually based on a pika? January 22 marks this year’s Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Rabbit. Lunar New Year is a time-honored festival celebrated in numerous countries in Asia, including China, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines and Indonesia, as well as by each nation’s respective diaspora here in Canada. Each lunar year corresponds to one of the 12 animals that form the Chinese zodiac. This year’s star, the rabbit — along with its fluffy cousins, the hare and the pika — belongs to the lagomorph taxonomical order. How much do you really know about them? Read on for Can Geo’s 11 favourite lagomorph facts.

Journey to the Canadian Arctic where you will marvel at towering icebergs, cruise pristine natural areas to spot amazing Arctic wildlife, enjoy the warmth of an Inuit welcome, and explore the spectacular west coast of Greenland. You’ll travel with local guides who know the place best and can share their cultures with you firsthand.

Expand your knowledge of the places we visit alongside Canadian Geographic ambassador Joseph Frey and Adventure Canada experts on this life-changing journey.

Check out these other upcoming trips:

- Egypt Nile Cruise with Joseph Frey
- Annapurna Sanctuary Trek with Javier Frutos
- Classic Dolomites with Marlis Butcher