Hostelling International - Canada
Encyclopedia
Hostelling International – Canada (HI-Canada) is an organization providing youth hostel accommodation in Canada
. It is a member of the Hostelling International
federation.
, a German schoolteacher. Disrupted by World War I
it was not until the 1930s that the concept reached other countries. Following the launch of youth hostel associations in several European countries in 1930–1932 the idea spread across the Atlantic Ocean
. Canada was slightly ahead of the United States
and the Canadian Youth Hostels Association was founded in 1933 (the American Youth Hostels Inc was not formed until 1934). North America's first hostel opened in 1933 at Bragg Creek near Calgary
, Alberta
.
A National Office was established in Calgary but moved to Toronto
, Ontario in 1941. In 1976 the name of the organization changed to the Canadian Hostelling Association and to its current name in the 1990s.
and the association has 55 hostels in all the provinces except Nunavut and the Northwestern Territories. Over 270,000 overnight stays are recorded in Canadian hostels each year.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a member of the Hostelling International
Hostelling International
Hostelling International, formerly known as International Youth Hostel Federation , is the federation of more than 90 national youth hostel associations in more than 80 countries who have over 4,500 affiliated hostels around the world....
federation.
History
The Youth Hostelling movement began in 1909 by Richard SchirrmannRichard Schirrmann
Richard Schirrmann was a German teacher and founder of the first youth hostel.Born in Grunenfeld , Province of Prussia, as the son of a teacher, Schirrmann studied to become a teacher himself. In 1895 he received his qualification, and was sent to Altena, Westphalia, in 1903...
, a German schoolteacher. Disrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it was not until the 1930s that the concept reached other countries. Following the launch of youth hostel associations in several European countries in 1930–1932 the idea spread across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Canada was slightly ahead of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Canadian Youth Hostels Association was founded in 1933 (the American Youth Hostels Inc was not formed until 1934). North America's first hostel opened in 1933 at Bragg Creek near Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
A National Office was established in Calgary but moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario in 1941. In 1976 the name of the organization changed to the Canadian Hostelling Association and to its current name in the 1990s.
Modern hostelling
Today HI-Canada's national office is in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and the association has 55 hostels in all the provinces except Nunavut and the Northwestern Territories. Over 270,000 overnight stays are recorded in Canadian hostels each year.