Canada

Discover Canada like a local with concrete city recommendations, regional insights, nature routes, and practical planning tips.

Security Scan

This is an instruction-only travel guide for Canada that only reads/writes a local memory folder (~/canada/) and otherwise aligns with its stated purpose.

Purpose & Capability

Name, description, and provided files (city guides, itineraries, setup, memory-template) align with a travel guide skill. The only external requirement is a local config path (~/canada/), which is coherent for storing trip memory.

Instruction Scope

Runtime instructions are scoped to trip planning: create/maintain ~/canada/memory.md, ask travel questions, and consult the local markdown files. This is appropriate, but the skill instructs the agent to "read it silently" for returning users—this is functional for convenience but is a privacy-related behavior users should be aware of.

Install Mechanism

No install spec and no code files — instruction-only skill. No downloads or binaries are required; lowest install risk.

Credentials

No environment variables, no credentials requested. The only resource requested is a single config path (~/canada/), which matches the memory behavior described.

Persistence & Privilege

always is false and the skill does not request system-wide privileges or modify other skills. It persists only to its own folder (~/canada/). Autonomous invocation is allowed (platform default) but combined with no extra privileges this is expected.

Assessment

This skill appears coherent and low-risk: it will create and use ~/canada/memory.md to store trip preferences and will read that file for returning users. Before installing, consider: (1) review the memory template and avoid storing sensitive personal identifiers (passport numbers, full payment details, or health records) in ~/canada/, (2) confirm you are comfortable with the agent reading that folder silently for context, and (3) if you prefer, create the folder yourself and inspect its contents after the skill writes to it. The skill declares it will not access files outside ~/canada/ or make network requests; if you see behavior that contradicts this, uninstall and report it.

Setup

If ~/canada/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally.

When to Use

User planning a trip to Canada or asking for local insights: what to eat, which regions to prioritize, what to skip, season tradeoffs, and practical logistics.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/canada/. See memory-template.md for structure.

~/canada/
└── memory.md     # Trip context

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Cities & Regions
Toronto complete guide	toronto.md
Vancouver complete guide	vancouver.md
Montreal complete guide	montreal.md
Banff & Jasper complete guide	banff-jasper.md
Planning
Sample itineraries	itineraries.md
Where to stay by style	accommodation.md
Useful apps	apps.md
Food & Drink
Regional dishes and restaurants	food-guide.md
Wine regions and tastings	wine.md
Experiences
Signature experiences	experiences.md
Beaches and lake towns	beaches.md
Hikes and safety by season	hiking.md
Nightlife by city	nightlife.md
Reference
Provinces and regional differences	regions.md
Culture, etiquette, expectations	culture.md
Traveling with children	with-kids.md
Practical
Intercity transport	transport.md
Phone and internet	telecoms.md
Emergencies and safety	emergencies.md

Core Rules

1. Specific Over Generic

Do not say "visit Toronto neighborhoods". Say "start in St. Lawrence Market before 10:30, then walk to Distillery District after lunch when crowds thin, and skip CN Tower at sunset unless you prebook a timed slot."

2. Local Perspective

What locals actually do, not brochure advice:

• Toronto food courts in major landmarks are expensive and average; better meals are often one block away
• Vancouver's Capilano Suspension Bridge is polished but pricey; Lynn Canyon is free and quieter
• Montreal downtown chain brunch spots are crowded; neighborhood bakeries are better value and faster
• Banff town can feel overrun in peak summer; sunrise starts and shuttle-first planning matter

3. Regional Differences

Region	Key difference
Ontario	Big-city pace, museum and food density, easy road trips
Quebec	French-first culture, stronger local identity, distinct food scene
British Columbia	Ocean + mountain access, outdoor focus, high accommodation costs
Alberta Rockies	Nature-first itineraries, weather shifts fast, shuttle logistics crucial
Atlantic Canada	Coastal towns, seafood focus, slower pace, weather variability
North (Yukon/NWT/Nunavut)	Extreme distances, northern lights potential, higher costs

4. Timing is Everything

• Peak summer in major parks: book accommodation and shuttles months ahead
• Fall foliage: late September to mid October in many areas, but dates vary by province
• Winter city trips: easier prices, fewer crowds, but daylight is short
• Long weekends: highway and airport congestion spikes
• Shoulder seasons: often best value for urban + nature combinations

5. Flag Tourist Traps

Be explicit about what to avoid:

• Any restaurant with giant wait and mostly social-media hype near main attractions
• Last-minute Banff parking attempts in July and August
• Paying premium prices for generic airport transfer options without checking rail or bus alternatives
• Underestimating drive times in mountain areas because map distance looks short

6. Match Trip Style

Traveler	Focus on
Foodie	food-guide.md, montreal.md, toronto.md
Nature	banff-jasper.md, hiking.md, experiences.md
Family	with-kids.md, accommodation.md, itineraries.md
City break	toronto.md, montreal.md, nightlife.md
Scenic road trip	itineraries.md, transport.md, hiking.md
Wine trip	wine.md, regions.md

Common Traps

• Treating Canada like one compact destination. Distances are huge.
• Trying to combine too many provinces in one short trip.
• Booking Rockies logistics too late in peak season.
• Assuming weather stability in mountain regions.
• Ignoring bilingual context in Quebec service interactions.
• Expecting cheap data plans without checking eSIM or prepaid options first.
• Relying on rideshare in remote areas where coverage is inconsistent.
• Missing travel insurance for trips with outdoor activities.

Security & Privacy

Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/canada/

This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/canada/ or make network requests.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• travel — General trip planning and trip structuring
• food — Deeper restaurant and cuisine recommendations
• english — Language support for bookings and communication
• french — Useful for Quebec travel context

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star canada
• Stay updated: clawhub sync