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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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What is your first impression when you hear "Canada"? Most probably you think about deep snow, freezing temperatures, polar bears or perhaps never-ending sky season? There was a popular Hollywood movie "Canadian bacon" in the early 90s where the principal female personage associated the capital city of Ottawa mainly with some white winter landscape even during the summer months.

What is true of Canada is particularly true of the province of Quebec - "The country of the Big North", as its name is translated into the appropriate Chinese hieroglyphs. Never-ending winters, snow-storms, polar bears, some moos for distraction, at the end that's the picture most people in the world depict in their minds when they talk about Quebec.

Of course, in every exaggeration there is a bit of truth. Quebec is a big province so its climate is very diverse especially during the summer months. At the north side of the province the temperatures may still fluctuate around the point of freezing. At the same time, in the southern parts, where the majority of the population lives, the climate doesn't differ substantially from many regions in the Northeast United States. In July and August you can say what is the weather in Montreal by just taking a look at the meteo forecast for Boston and New York City.

The winter in Montreal isn't all-year-long and this can be experienced scientifically by anyone visiting the city from outside without winter cloths during the summer season. But the Quebecois have demonstrated that their country can't only be frost-free for a limited time of the year, they also have successfully turned it into a small Africa during the summer season. The big shock comes when a tourist passes the border between the State of New York and Quebec, takes Highway 15 North and takes Exit 6 to Hemmingford. What this visitor will see is...a Safari Park with lots of exotic animals varying from elephants to giraffes.

Yes, elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, and tens of other animals, many of them from African origin, living in Quebec as it's their homeland.

The Safari Park at Hemmingford unlike many other similar parks around the world isn't set up in their natural habitat, but far away in the north. It's not the end but just the beginning of the endless tourist adventures in Quebec during the summer season. Even to mention the major attractions and where exactly they are situated we would have to pour a lot of ink. But it's not our job to do that.

For all who still believe in the endless Canadian winters, I invite them to come right now to visit Quebec, the land of tigers and antelopes. But, don't forget to take your winter clothes, even if the forecast is for 100F, you never know!

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Canada.