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Spotlight on Canoo Members, sponsored by Canadian Western Bank    

After getting his citizenship in 2019, Canoo member Smeet Pandya has embraced all that Canada has to offer, especially all the different types of weather. When we asked what he loved most of all about his chosen country, he said there was no contest. Having four seasons is the best.  

About Smeet

Arriving from India and settling in Toronto, Ontario, Smeet and his wife have had a great time exploring Canada with the Canoo app. Smeet originally picked Canada for personal growth and to get to be a part of one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Getting to create memories in cultural places has been a big part of him feeling like he is a part of the mosaic that is Canada.  

“Access to cultural places plays a vital role in building a strong community that feels inclusive and like home,” he said.   

Smeet and his wife used their Canoo benefits to travel across the country and enjoy some of Canada’s most stunning natural sites with VIA Rail.  

“Last year my wife and I decided to utilize our Christmas holidays by visiting the Canadian Rockies, so we explored the Canoo app and found out that free entry to National Parks is included,” Smeet told us. “We decided to use our discount at VIA Rial. We departed from Toronto Union Station in a VIA Rail Premium coach and the experience was breathtaking. This was the best trip we ever had.”  

Smeet and his wife traveled on VIA Rail’s Great Western Way line, which runs from Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia. The trip offers unique views from beautiful northern Ontario to the awe-inspiring area of the Prairies, all the way to the stunning majesty of the Rockies. The Pandyas loved every minute of it.  

“The train experience was so amazing, and we got to see the mountains as the train cruised through the dense forest and snowy hills. We visited Banff and Jasper National Park, and celebrated Christmas in the town with the locals. Skating on Lake Louise was an experience on its own. Our trip of 10 days went so fast, and we would love to do it again.”  

“We got to see the natural wonders of the True Canadian North, which we would have never planned if it wasn’t for Canoo. Thanks a ton!”  

We’re so glad that the Pandya family was able to see so much of this incredible country, and we’re wishing them a long, happy, and peaceful life in Canada, with many years of exploring the mountains ahead. Thanks to Canadian Western Bank for supporting Canoo so that Smeet and thousands of newcomers like him get to build incredible memories in Canada’s one of a kind cultural sites.    

Are you interested?

If you’re interested in discovering some of the same incredible natural sites that Smeet enjoyed, check out Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in the Canoo app. The summer season is just getting started, and the parks are ready and waiting for you to build lifelong memories in them. Happy exploring!  

Looking for other Canadian spots to explore over the summer, from coast to coast? Check out our guest post with Windmill Microlending, where we’ve spotlighted some of our member’s favourite places in Canada. 

Want to discover Canada through the windows of a train? VIA Rail generously provides a one-time 50% discount on train travel to all Canoo members! To unlock this offer, open the Canoo app, select “More” on the bottom right of your screen, and then click Via Rail Offer and follow the onscreen instructions.  

Would YOU like to be featured in our next newsletter? Fill out this questionnaire about your Canoo journey to be eligible to be featured in an upcoming Canoo Spotlight.

Canoo gives new Canadian citizens and their families access to more than 1400 arts and culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their families feel like they belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — 11 May 2022

MEET CANOO 2.0 — FREE ACCESS TO OVER 1400 EXPERIENCES FOR MILLIONS OF NEWCOMERS

Institute for Canadian Citizenship Works With Canada’s Biggest Organizations and Brands to Relaunch VIP Access Program for Newcomers

TORONTO – The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) — Canada’s leading citizenship-building organization and the world’s foremost voice on citizenship and inclusion — has relaunched its signature Canoo Access Pass, by making the app available to some two million permanent residents for the first time and adding hundreds of new free and discounted experiences and attractions for newcomers to enjoy in every province and territory.

Canoo is Canada’s only national welcome network for newcomers. The ICC created Canoo in 2010 to help new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship. Since then, Canoo has welcomed over 420,000 members and their families with free VIP access to more than 1,400 of Canada’s top destinations.

Canoo 2.0 massively expands the program’s reach to serve more than two million recently arrived permanent residents, and vastly extends the range of available benefits to include free and discounted access to live events, volunteer opportunities, travel, and exclusive deals with Canada’s leading brands.

Canoo 2.0 partners include:

These are just a few of the many organizations and brands across Canada offering deals on travel, experiences and more to newcomers through Canoo, and the ICC will continue to add new partners and experiences to the app, including those that connect newcomers with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, organizations and events.

“Newcomers to Canada are builders, dreamers, entrepreneurs, and job-creators. As a country, we are better, stronger and more competitive when newcomers don’t just to come to Canada, but love it here, become citizens, and make Canada their permanent family home. Yet recent surveys reveal that up to 30% of newcomers under 35 are likely to leave Canada within two years,” said ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard. “Canoo is a powerful way to invite newcomers to experience the very best of Canada. It provides tangible proof that Canada values them and believes in them, while also celebrating the people, places, and experiences that make Canada amazing.”

86% of Canoo members report feeling an enhanced sense of belonging to Canada after just one year of using Canoo. A further 92% of members will be continuing visiting Canoo partner attractions after their membership expires.

“In short,” said Bernhard, “We know that Canoo works as a tool to create a feeling of home at scale. As of today, it works even better, for many more people.”

To download Canoo 2.0 for iPhone or Android, visit canoo.ca or search for Canoo in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

From our partners

“VIA Rail has been a proud partner of Canoo for 10 years and we are excited to be expanding our 50 per cent discount offer on the best available fare to more than two million permanent residents for one trip to a destination of their choice during their Canoo membership. There is no better way to fall in love with this country, and truly make it your home, than to explore it by train. Encouraging newcomers to Canada to travel this country by rail is an enchanting way to welcome them, and support them, as they discover the beauty and splendor of their new home.”

Martin R. Landry, Chief Commercial Officer, VIA Rail

“Air Canada is very proud to partner with the ICC on this initiative as exploring the country to experience Canada’s diversity in-person the diversity of Canada is the best route to welcome newcomers and engage them in active citizenship”

David Rheault, Vice-President, Government and Community Relations, Air Canada

“TIFF is delighted to partner with the Institute of Canadian Citizenship and Canoo as part of our efforts to open our doors to all film lovers to participate in transformative film experiences at our home, TIFF Bell Lightbox,” stated Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “Those who take up our offer of a free Membership will have access to over 200 free screenings of new essentials, classics, rarities, and recent restorations in our TIFF Cinematheque programming this year, in addition to other exclusive benefits in the lead-up to the Festival. This is an exciting moment for TIFF to welcome these film lovers to Canada and bring them closer into our film community.”

Cameron Bailey, CEO, Toronto International Film Festival

Project benefactors

The ICC is grateful to our generous benefactors, whose vision, support, and financial backing underpin this ambitious expansion of Canoo, including:

Government of Canada
Canadian Western Bank
Irfhan Rawji
Sandra and Jim Pitblado
Power Corporation of Canada
Drs Munira and Kabir Jivraj
George and Martha Butterfield
The Kim Family Foundation
Catherine and William Graham
Naim Ali and Family
Peter Cheung

About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) is a national non-profit organization co-founded by The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. The ICC unlocks Canada for newcomers, facilitating and encouraging the journey toward full and active Canadian citizenship. Since 2005, the ICC has supported more than 450,000 newcomers with programming to encourage a sense of belonging and build a more inclusive Canada.

For comment and more information: media@forcitizenship.ca

MARCH 23, 2022 – A new national survey conducted by Leger on behalf of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) — Canada’s leading citizenship organization and the world’s foremost voice on citizenship and inclusion — challenges some cherished Canadian assumptions about immigration and citizenship.

“Canada is a nation of immigrants — and one of the stories we tell ourselves is that we are welcoming to new immigrants, wherever they may be from,” says ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard. “But while this may be generally true, new survey data points to the fact that many new Canadians are having a crisis of confidence in Canada — and that should be ringing alarm bells all over Ottawa.”

Survey findings include:

The full survey data is available here.

“The data suggest that younger, highly skilled immigrants in particular are starting to fall between the cracks,” said Dave Scholz, Executive Vice-President at Leger. “We need to continue working hard to ensure that we are welcoming newcomers with the resources they need to succeed, and that we continue to be a country that provides opportunity.”

About the Study

The study included an online survey of 1,519 general population Canadians aged 18+ completed between February 25th – 27th 2022, using Leger’s online LEO panel, in addition to an online survey of 2,103 New Canadians using ICC’s New Canadian panel completed between February 24th – 28th. Weighting has been employed to ensure that the sample composition accurately reflects the adult population of Canada, as per the latest Census Data.

No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 2000 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) is a national non-profit organization co-founded by The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. The ICC works to inspire Canadians to be inclusive, create opportunities to connect, and encourage active citizenship. Since 2005, the ICC has also supported more than 300,000 new Canadian citizens with programming to encourage a sense of belonging and build a more inclusive Canada.

About Leger

Leger is the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics company, with more than 600 employees in eight Canadian and US offices. Recently, Leger presented the most accurate polling results for the 2021 Canadian federal election (including the most accurate results in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia) and the 2019 Canadian federal election. This accuracy is due to the quality of the company’s LEO panel and its employees’ expertise. For more information: leger360.com

For further information: media@forcitizenship.ca

Spotlight on Canoo Members, sponsored by Canadian Western Bank

When we asked Zoran why he picked Canada, he simply said, “It’s the best country in the world.” Originally from Croatia, Zoran became a Canadian citizen in 2019 and settled in Alberta. Since arriving here, Zoran has fallen in love with the great outdoors of Western Canada, especially the mountains. As far as he’s concerned, the only thing that can match up to the Rockies is the Canadian people themselves.

Zoran has used Canoo to get up close and personal with all that Canada’s national parks have to offer, taking himself on as many solo trips as he can.

“I am a frequent goer to all of the national parks in Alberta and British Columbia,” he said. “I saw incredible glacier caves; I rode some of the most amazing ski mountaineering objectives and managed to meet a multitude of amazing people.”

These frequent trips to national parks have been a huge part of Zoran feeling at home in his chosen country. “Every outing is special and creates a special bond between me and Canada.”

He feels that having access to cultural sites of all kinds is incredibly important to building memories and feeling at home in Canada. “Cultural places build and expand knowledge. They add to a sense of identity as a Canadian,” he said. “The trips I took with Canoo were absolutely exhilarating!”

If you’re interested in discovering some of the same incredible winter activities that Zoran has been enjoying in Canada’s national parks, check out Parks Canada’s Winter Activity Hub here. Canada’s great outdoors has something for everyone. Happy exploring!

We’re wishing Zoran a long, happy, and peaceful life in Canada, with many years of exploring the mountains ahead. Thanks to Canadian Western Bank for supporting Canoo so that Zoran and thousands of newcomers like him get to build incredible memories in Canada’s one-of-a-kind cultural sites.

Would YOU like to be featured in our next newsletter? Fill out this questionnaire about your Canoo journey to be eligible to be featured in an upcoming Canoo Spotlight.

Canoo gives new Canadian citizens and their families access to more than 1400 arts and culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their families feel like they belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

Spotlight on Canoo Members, sponsored by Canadian Western Bank

Lorena arrived in Canada from Cuba, with dreams of studying and working hard, and soaking up all of the natural beauty that Canada has to offer. She settled in Québec and became a citizen in 2019. Since then, she has been deep diving into the incredible parks and natural wonders throughout her home province with Canoo.

“For many new Canadian citizens, including myself, Canoo has opened a door to connect even more with our new home,” Lorena told us. “Canoo has been a wonderful platform to discover the variety of cultural and natural places around me. Thanks to this opportunity, I have felt even more motivated to attend different museums, art galleries, and parks.”

So far, her favourite Canoo discovery has been La Gaspesie, Québec, the peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River that is home to spectacular seascapes, mountains and crystal-clear rivers, as well as a vast array of activities and impressive cuisine drawn from the sea, land and forests.

In the summer of 2019, Lorena and her partner organized a week-long road trip from Montreal to La Gaspesie. “We spent two days in Gaspé where we visited Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse and of course Forillon National Park. The beach at the foot of the mountain was spectacular, though the water was too cold for a tropical girl like me.”

Located at the northeast tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, Forillon National Park offers sea and cliff views, quiet pebble beaches, camping areas and opportunities to observe all kinds of incredible wildlife, from moose to seals to whales.

Lorena and her partner enjoyed a breathtaking hike together. “The most spectacular view was from the top of the mountain!” she said. “You could absorb all the magnificence of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the vast diversity of flora, and the pleasant sensation of peace.”

The most exciting part of the day wasn’t the mountain itself, but the events that happened once Lorena and her partner reached the summit.

“At the very top, almost a little bit afraid of the height, and among low clouds, my fiancé proposed. I said: “Yes”.”

Forillon National Park will forever be a special place for Lorena and her fiancé. While we can’t guarantee that every Canoo venue will be that uniquely special for every Canoo member (romantic mountain-top proposals are pretty one-of-a-kind), we do think that Canada’s incredible natural locations and cultural sites have a sort of magic all of their own. Lorena agrees.

“Cultural places bring people together,” she said. “They are a means for people with common interests to meet and share or explore new interests. And cultural venues are not exclusively for able-bodied people; they are a safe place for everyone regardless of physical and mental disability to participate.”

We’re wishing Lorena and her fiancé a long, happy and peaceful life together as a married couple, and we’re so glad they were able to celebrate their special day with Canoo. Thanks to Canadian Western Bank for supporting Canoo so that Lorena and thousands of newcomers like her get to build incredible memories in Canada’s one-of-a-kind cultural sites.

Would YOU like to be featured in our next newsletter? Fill out this questionnaire about your Canoo journey to be eligible to be featured in an upcoming Canoo Spotlight.

Canoo gives new Canadian citizens and their families access to more than 1400 arts and culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their families feel like they belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

Spotlight on Canoo Members, sponsored by Canadian Western Bank

Yoradyl arrived in Canada from the Philippines, dreaming of a better future for herself and her family. She became a citizen in 2019 and since then thanks to Canoo, she was able to dive right into the natural world around her new hometown of Calgary.

“My family and I always love to go fishing in and around Alberta,” Yoradyl told us. “Our favourite place by far would be Waterton, it is the most beautiful place for us whether it be in spring, summer, fall or winter!”

For many newcomers to Canada (and even for those of us who have spent many, many years here), winter can be really hard. Whether you’re used to the cold or not, months of snow, ice and darkness can be tough to deal with – physically and mentally! Fortunately, Yoradyl and her family found the beauty in Canadian winters – and discovered a fun new family festival to go with it!

“The best place I’ve visited using Canoo was Banff and Lake Louise, where we experienced the Winter Ice Magic Festival,” she said. “We went there in January 2020 together with my whole family and my mother who was visiting us here in Calgary. We saw magnificent ice carvings made by different participants from all over the world.”

Experiencing the Winter Ice Magic Festival gave the Cuaresma family a close-up look at the incredible beauty that Canada’s national parks have to offer, even outside of the peak summer season.

“It was not that cold and the weather was perfect for strolling and enjoying the scenery, especially the magical ice carvings they made. Our favorite part was taking pictures with the incredible carvings. We also got to see people skating through the frozen Lake Louise,” Yoradyl said. She and her family have decided to make Lake Louise a year-round adventure spot, to unlock all of Canada’s outdoor fun. “We would love to come back when it’s time and try fishing, kayaking or boating in the lake.”

Yoradyl loves her new country, and has embraced the diverse and multicultural society with her whole heart. She sees cultural places as being incredibly important to fostering multiculturalism and inclusion in Canada. “Cultural places preserve and give importance to where we came from and what we were before becoming Canadian,” she says. “These places serve as reminder for us to celebrate multiculturalism in this wonderful country we now call home.”

She has been looking forward to becoming a Canoo member for a long time. “I learned about the Canoo app from a friend of ours and I was so excited to use it when we finally had our Oath taking as new Canadians. It was very user friendly and we were able to sign up easily with an account by scanning our Citizenship Certificates.”

Canoo has been a huge part of Yoradyl feeling at home in Canada. “I love using Canoo because it allows us to explore and enjoy the spectacular parks, sceneries, and museums that Canada has to offer for free. It also includes special discounts on trains and flights if we want to explore Canada from Alberta to Toronto. The perks and privileges Canoo offers are endless! I’m so thankful for the Canoo App and all its developers who did a fantastic job. This app made us more proud to be Canadians!”

She said that she and her family have felt totally included in Canadian society. When we asked her what inclusion means to her, she said, “It means being accepted and equally privileged as anyone. Canada is our saving grace and we will be forever grateful to this country for the opportunity and privileges it offered to us.”

“I am so proud of this wonderful country who embraced and welcomed us wholeheartedly.”

We’re so glad that the Cuaresma family has been able to explore so much of Canada, and has been able to enjoy the magic of a Lake Louise winter. We wish them an incredible lifetime of exploring all that Canada has to offer! Thanks to Canadian Western Bank for supporting Canoo so that the Cuaresma family and thousands of newcomers get to unlock Canada.

Discovering the Lake Louise Winter Ice Magic Festival made the Cuaresma family’s first winter as new Canadians extra special. Do you have a special winter story or words of advice you’d like to share with a newcomer discovering Canada’s winter for the first time? Share it here!

Would YOU like to be featured in our next newsletter? Fill out this questionnaire about your Canoo journey to be eligible to be featured in an upcoming Canoo Spotlight.

Canoo gives new Canadian citizens and their families access to more than 1400 arts and culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their families feel like they belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

NEWS RELEASE

THE INSTITUTE FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP JOINS WITH WINDMILL MICROLENDING TO SUPPORT SKILLED IMMIGRANTS

ICC’s $500,000 investment will support 50 talented new Canadian professionals in putting their skills and training to full use

DECEMBER 15, 2021 – The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) — Canada’s leading citizenship organization and the world’s foremost voice on citizenship and inclusion — has made a $500,000 investment in Windmill Microlending’s innovative and highly-effective Community Bond program, helping 50 skilled immigrants build successful professional lives in Canada thanks to Windmill’s accreditation and upskilling loans.

“New immigrants don’t need more rhetoric about what a welcoming country we are. They need resources to carve out successful careers and lives here,” said ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard. “That’s why the ICC is proud to invest in Windmill Microlending’s proven loans that ensure qualified new Canadians can be recognized for their talents and get off to a flying start in Canada.”

The partnership is a natural one. Through its Canoo mobile app, the ICC  has helped over 425,000 immigrants establish their Canadian lives by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, and historic sites across Canada. As Canada’s largest and most successful microlending charity for skilled immigrants and refugees, Windmill converts potential into prosperity by offering low-interest loans to help skilled newcomers obtain the credentials they need.

“Windmill Microlending is thrilled for the support of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, another great Canadian charity supporting the integration of immigrants,” said Claudia Hepburn, Windmill’s CEO. “ICC’s substantial investment comes at a time when Canada is experiencing a severe shortage of skilled labour. This loan capital will empower 50 skilled immigrants to acquire the accreditation they need to fill the skilled jobs. We are grateful to former Windmill and ICC board member Andreas Souvaliotis for his vision and role in bringing our organizations together to make this investment possible.”

“Canadians think of ourselves as a welcoming country — and we are — but in the global competition for talent and energy, we need to do more than talk a good game,” says Bernhard.  “As economics, geopolitics and climate change drive increased migration worldwide, we call on individuals, business, government, and civil society organizations to join us as active participants in Canada’s welcome network. It’s time to step up to the plate.”

About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) is a national non-profit organization co-founded by The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. The ICC works to inspire Canadians to be inclusive, create opportunities to connect and encourage active citizenship. Since 2005, the ICC has also supported more than 425,000 new Canadian citizens with programming to encourage a sense of belonging and build a more inclusive Canada.

About Windmill Microlending

As Canada’s largest microlending not-for-profit for skilled immigrants and refugees, Windmill addresses the underemployment of internationally trained professionals across Canada.  By offering affordable loans of up to $15,000 to pay for launching or advancing their career, our clients are able to achieve career success and convert potential into prosperity for themselves and for Canada. Founded in 2005, Windmill Microlending is a registered charity supported by donors, government, sponsors and granting agencies.

For further information:

Windmill: Rob Hindley, rob@teamwindmill.org

ICC: Amy Leis, aleis@forcitizenship.ca

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for all people. We strive to provide events and services that are welcoming and accessible to everyone. Should you require an accommodation to better support your interactions with us, please email info@forcitizenship.ca.

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