26th August, 2021 

Cultural Experiences Across Canada

For many visitors to Canada meeting the locals also means connecting with Canadians from many different cultural backgrounds. As borders open up again, opportunities abound across the country to connect with Indigenous and global citizens who call Canada home.

The originals: In 2021, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) launched a new brand mark titled “The Original Original” that helps travellers identify and learn about Indigenous-led tourism experiences across the country. Part of a campaign to encourage Canadians and international visitors to support Indigenous tourism businesses – which were significantly reduced from 1,900 to 1,000 during the global pandemic – the branding addresses Canada's colonial history and erasure of Indigenous identity while promoting Indigenous tourism as a step towards reconciliation.

Indigenous experiences extend across the land, where tours, natural sites and attractions preserve and celebrate the cultures of the first peoples:

➢ At the foot of the Uapishka Mountains in Quebec, Uapishka Station – a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve – has been home to the Innu Nation for millennia, evidenced by portage routes, burial and assembly sites, and other cultural artifacts. Aiming to build scientific, community and tourist development, the site educates guests on the lifestyles of Indigenous ancestors, teaching them to smoke fish, snowmobile and mindfully enjoy
the scenery.

➢ Edmonton, Alberta, is home to the second-largest urban population of Indigenous people in Canada. Guests can learn about their culture and deep connection with the land at  the interactive cultural site Métis Crossing; on a guided nature adventure with Talking Rock Tours; at Fort Edmonton Park's new Indigenous Peoples Experience; or in Writingon-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai'pi, which means “it is pictured/written”), where thousands of markings and paintings on sandstone depict significant milestones in the history of the Blackfoot First Nation.

➢ In Campbell River, BC, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours has launched a new Whales, Wildlife and Culture Tour, which combines wildlife sightseeing including humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and otters – with Indigenous storytelling and exploration of culturally significant sites.

And in Vancouver, the Indigenous-owned Talaysay Tours has introduced the Spoken Treasures Tour, which guides visitors through Stanley Park with an Indigenous perspective, including a stop at the park's widely photographed totem pole “forest”.

➢ In Norris Point, Newfoundland, Gros Morne Adventures has launched an Indigenous tour that explores the land from a First Peoples perspective. Guests learn how to make fire using stone-age tools, cook bannock and capelin over an open fire, and hear local lore shared by an Indigenous guide.

Global feast: Indigenous and global cultures have heavily influenced Canada's culinary scene. Here are just a few examples:

➢ More than 50 percent of Toronto residents were born outside Canada – a diversity reflected in the multicultural neighbourhoods (Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little Italy, Portugal Village to name a few) with eclectic fare that has contributed to the city's reputation as a world culinary destination. In May 2021, ByBlacks.com – Canada's premier online magazine for Black Canadians – debuted ByBlacks Restaurant Week, which celebrates Black-owned restaurants, chefs and caterers. In Greektown, the Taste of Danforth Food Festival, the largest street festival in Canada, celebrates Hellenic cuisine and culture, attracting more than a million people (pre-pandemic) over three days. Toronto Food Tours is the only chef-owned and operated food experience in the city, with all guides hailing from the local restaurant and bar industry. And neighbourhoods across the region – including Little Italy, Koreatown and Little Poland – proudly share their heritage through tantalizing culinary delicacies.

➢ In Edmonton, Alberta, Mai Nguyen – owner of Gourmai Dumplings, a popular eatery renowned for expanding diners' expectations of dumplings – started her career as a line cook at Prairie Noodle Shop. She opened her restaurant with the support of the shop's owners; since then, she's appeared on MasterChef Canada and teaches fellow foodlovers through virtual cooking classes.

➢ In Regina, Saskatchewan, Milton Rebello and Louise Lu – owners of seed-to-plate Skye Bistro & Café, situated in the 2,300-acre Wascana Park – are immigrants who fell in love with the city during a casual visit and decided to stay. Milton is originally from Mangalore, India, and Louise is from Chengdu, Sichuan province of China, and their colourful heritage is reflected in the flavourful dishes served at their restaurant.

➢ In Merritt and Westbank, BC, Kekuli Café serves traditional Indigenous fare inspired by the meals its owners, Sharon Bond Hogg and Darren Hogg, savoured as children. Designed as a welcoming space to linger over decadent fare, the restaurant serves authentic bannock, buffalo burgers, wild smoked salmon and other staples of Indigenous cuisine.

Buying differently: Visitors can bring home a souvenir of Canada's cultural fabric from one of many cultural markets held across the country:

➢ The Black-Owned Market, in Edmonton, Alberta, shines a light on Black-owned businesses throughout the year, and Black entrepreneurs and creatives, popping up across the city. By providing these businesses with a platform to share and sell their products, the market aims to relieve economic disparity, spread awareness of Blackowned small businesses, and promote diversity in the Edmonton market. Shoppers can access the market year-round online, and watch social media for updates on the next pop-up location.

➢ The Cultural Market, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, connects global cultures under one roof, selling a plethora of multinational food,crafts and services.

➢ The Punjabi Market, in Vancouver, BC, is the epicentre of the city's Indo-Canadian community, marked by shops touting bright swathes of silk, intricate gold bangles and aromatic Indian food.

➢ In Calgary, Alberta, Crossroads Market features more than 150 diverse vendors whose cultural backgrounds range from Mexican and German to Indonesian and Turkish.

People to follow: Get inspired by these personalities that make up the country's tapestry:

➢ Since the beginning of the global pandemic, Yukon-based Bhangra dancer Gurdeep Pandher has shared messages of joy through his performances of Bhangra (a traditional Punjabi dance) set against the Yukon's show stopping scenery. The uplifting videos have garnered millions of views from around the world, with fans lauding Gurdeep's videos for helping them through tough times.

➢ In Alberta, Notorious Cree (James Jones) has amassed two million TikTok followers for his videos offering entertaining education about Cree culture. Hailing from the Tallcree First Nation, Jones engages his audience with comedy sketches, Indigenous hoop dances and emotive messages.

➢ In Edmonton, Sissy Thiessen of Wase Saba is a Treaty 6 Nakota Sioux, Cree and German Indigenous cultural facilitator, Jingle Dress dancer, spoken word poet and creative writer. She is committed to raising awareness of social issues around body image, mental health, race and self-identity; she is also a Powwow dancer and instructor, circle facilitator and youth programmer.

Readers wanting more information on Canada as a holiday destination should go to www.explore-canada.co.uk

Readers wanting to keep updated on the latest Covid Regulations regards travel to Canada should go to https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

Photo Credit: Heritage Park Historical Village,  Government of Alberta 

Media wanting more information on Canada and images should go to www.destinationcanada.co.uk/media or contact Ms. Nim Singh, Media and PR Manager, Destination Canada singh.nim@destinationcanada.com  (not for publication)