What Makes Canada Special?

From May 15th – October 11th, my wife and I, along with filmmaker Justin Brunelle, traveled the whole of Canada, coast to coast to coast, to find out what makes Canada special. We experienced so many of the best things to do in Canada but we also interviewed people from all backgrounds to ask them what they think makes Canada such a great country.

We interviewed a wide variety of people, including celebrity astronaut Chris Hadfield, interpreters from Parks Canada, museum curators, tour guides, and even Syrian refugees. We heard many different answers to our question and it was so inspiring and heartwarming to hear the love that everyone had for their country, whether they had been here for generations or had just arrived.

It was an incredible trip, to say the least, and we actually experienced all of the things that people said they loved about Canada. They talked about their love for immigration and we heard the stories of many refugees. They talked about their love for the people and we met so many friendly and welcoming people from each province and territory. They talked about their love for the diversity of the country and we met with dozens of different cultures along the way. And of course, they all mentioned the nature and the landscapes and how vast Canada really is. This we really experienced, as we drove all the way from Newfoundland to Tuktoyuktuk and beyond.

We jumped into three different oceans, snorkeled with Beluga Whales, watched Grizzly Bears catch salmon in a river, flew over Niagara Falls, rafted the highest tides in the world, and sailed past icebergs. We also stood on one of the worlds largest glaciers, hiked through the worlds first UNESCO World Heritage Site, slept on a floating barge on a secluded lake, and drank a shot with a human toe in it. I know, the last part sounds strange but it’s just what you do in Dawson, Yukon.

All in all, it was an unforgettable experience that not only allowed us to experience Canada but to really feel the country and what truly makes it a wonderful place.

Along the way, we produced a 12-episode video series, which can be found on YouTube or on the Road to 150 page. In this series, we dive into each province and territory (except for Nunavut as there is no road to get there), and showcase some of the best things to do. Not only are they inspiring to watch but they’ll give you some great tips on what to do on your next Canadian vacation.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we also interviewed people during the trip but until now, most of those interviews have been hidden on a hard drive, as they didn’t really fit with the theme of our series.

Well, we finally put them all together in a 14-minute mini-documentary about what makes Canada special.

We hope you enjoy it.