Explore the rugged landscapes of Ontario that inspired the iconic Group of Seven and view Quebec’s spectacular beauty by Air Canyon and via ferrata.

Destination Canada is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the Canadian Signature Experiences collection: Agawa Canyon Tour Train and Canyon Sainte-Anne. These new experiences allow visitors to follow in the footsteps of Canada’s most iconic artists on a heritage train tour in Ontario, and explore Canyon Sainte-Anne in Quebec on a thrilling ride by Air Canyon and a via ferrata adventure through the spectacular Giant’s Pothole geological formation. 

“Canada’s world-class tourism experiences make travelling across our great country unforgettable. As Minister, I have had the privilege to meet many operators, from coast to coast to coast, and continue to be impressed by the variety of unique travel activities that attract visitors the world over,” said the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. “It’s small and medium businesses like these two new Canadian Signature Experiences that enable travellers to truly explore and enjoy all that Canada has to offer.” 

“We’re delighted to welcome Agawa Canyon Tour Train and Canyon Sainte-Anne to our collection of Canadian Signature Experiences,” says David F. Goldstein, Destination Canada President and CEO. “These two innovative Canadian Signature Experiences highlight some of our industry’s most unique experiences for our international travellers and are showing the world what Canada has to offer.” 

The Canadian Signature Experiences are once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences offered by Canadians who are passionate about showing the best of Canada to the world. As diverse as Canada itself, these unique experiences are offered from coast to coast to coast and provide an introduction to the best Canada has to offer, from urban gems to wilderness adventures.

The two new Canadian Signature Experiences have been chosen for the exceptional ways they connect travellers to Canada’s remarkable geography and rich cultural heritage, with an emphasis on unique modes of transport.

Agawa Canyon Tour Train in Ontario allows travellers to follow in the footsteps of the Group of Seven, Canada’s most iconic artists whose work is displayed in the world’s most prestigious galleries. This immersive group travel experience guides travellers through the works of the Group of Seven, as well as the landscape of Northern Ontario’s Algoma region that inspired them so passionately. Explore this vast and rugged scenery—boreal forest, meandering rivers, pastoral homesteads and thunderous waterfalls—on a two-day experience that features gallery tours, engaging live theatre, dining in a National Historic Site and a daylong guided heritage train tour culminating with hands-on instruction while you paint the same landscapes depicted by the Group of Seven.  

Canyon Sainte-Anne in Quebec invites travellers to take a seat in the Air Canyon and then explore the Giant’s Pothole via ferrata. In the Air Canyon, travellers will sit back and soar over a stunning rock and water panorama, cross the forest at full speed to finally find themselves dangling 90m above the Canyon's gorge and its ferocious rumbling waters. This is an opportunity to observe the canyon the way eagles can and experience Canadian nature in a new unexpected way! Then slip into a harness, strap on a helmet and clip onto a steel cable to explore along a circuit on Canyon Sainte-Anne’s sheer rock walls. Travellers will feel and hear the powerful waterfall thundering down the cliff face as each step presents panoramas of pristine forest, the wild Sainte-Anne-du-Nord River that carved this gorge and the intriguing Giant’s Pothole geological formation.   

The Canadian Signature Experiences collection has grown to 199 members and Destination Canada works in partnership with all provincial and territorial marketing organizations to build and maintain the collection.

Posted: 2017-05-11