Canoo member Monique Brown came to Canada from Jamaica with her children in 2012. She received her Canadian citizenship in January of this year. She chose this country because, “Canada is well-known for a good quality of life, especially for families.”

After moving to Canada, Monique was able to fulfil her dream of returning to school and becoming a Registered Nurse. Now, in her spare time, she enjoys exploring with her children and volunteering. Monique is proud to be a new Canadian citizen and is excited to vote in the upcoming federal election later this month.

Monique has used her Canoo app for a family adventure to Montreal, using her VIA Rail discount to take the train to the city and her app to receive free admission at cultural locations.

“I used the Via Rail discount to travel to Montreal. It was a fantastic adventure!” says Monique, “We visited Mont Royal and Montreal Science Centre, [which] was spectacular. I was very surprised that Canada has a wonderful location like that and hasn’t really promoted it. My children and I had a lot of fun. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it considering that I am an adult. Initially, I thought the location was more geared towards children… [but] I learned a lot in my short visit there. We wanted to visit again but time did not permit.”

Monique enjoys visiting cultural locations, such as science centres, with her children to learn about Canada. “I believe cultural places play a role in building social inclusion by creating a safe place for persons from various backgrounds to congregate without feeling discriminated,” says Monique, “Also, it is my opinion that cultural places help to foster a sense of identity, local pride and positively impacts the social determinants of health.”

We recently spoke with Véronique Couillard, officer, media, public and Francophone relations and Alexis Boyle, community access, curator at the Ottawa Art Gallery. The OAG’s newest building imagines new ways of tackling acccesibility, and works with their community through out-reach programs. It’s clear that access, inclusion, and innovation are at the forefront of everything they do; how they structure their programming; who they bolster in their exhibitions, and even in how they’ve designed their new building.

The Ottawa Art Gallery opened up a new building in 2018 and its architecture speaks to accessibility in ways that people don’t necessarily think about. Could you talk a little bit about the design of the OAG and how it encourages participation?

Véronique: I’ve worn many hats and a long, long time ago, I was in public programs and that’s when I first started to be involved with redesigning the building. We worked with KPMB Architects but the vision of the building very much came from Alexandria Badzak, our director and CEO, who made sure to include staff in this process.

We would sit at meetings … and all imagine what the Gallery should be or could be. And in that, of course, we talked about things like what kind of flooring and where should the groups come in, and how high the ceilings should be, but we also talked about this [as] an opportunity to rethink accessibility in … a broader way … like being welcoming.

Physically, it meant that we wanted to have … everything in the building accessible to anyone who might not be mobile or be able to walk.…We also decided to stay free — our admission is free in the whole building, and we offer free childcare every Friday evening. Kids are super welcome in exhibition spaces, but if parents or guardians want a couple of hours of free time to look at art, that’s an option.

We also extended our hours, so [the redesign] was also an opportunity to look at other barriers, not just physical barriers, but also social and economic; what makes someone not be able to come to the Gallery?

The new layout of the OAG is rather inviting, with several entrances and no front desk.  Can you speak to the new design?

V: It’s true that upon walking in one of our two main entrances, the first thing you encounter is not a desk! You will see people sipping on coffee in Jackson, a beautiful staircase, interior windows to give you a peek in exhibition spaces, or even art right in the lobby. In a sense this is about removing a physical barrier or any kind of sense that one might feel like they shouldn’t go further.

What does accessibility mean to the OAG and what does it look like?

V: It means that we’re part of a conversation, I think that’s the best way to put it. We’ll never be finished with being accessible, you know? It can’t be a mould or a cookie cutter situation, we have to keep kind of looking into it, researching, or working with partners.

One way we learned that is [by working] with Carmen Papalia, who is an artist based in Vancouver. Carmen describes himself as a non-visual learner, and we worked with him and a place called VocalEye, also based in Vancouver. These two partners helped us in terms of accessibility, looking at how we design exhibitions and our interpretative materials like tours.

We looked at becoming accessible audio-wise … [and at] the height of objects in galleries to make sure that objects are not way up high, and either if you’re shorter or sitting, you can still enjoy the art.

I think is best to … at each opportunity that we can … re-think and re-define accessibility, either because of a new exhibit, a new theme, a new audience, or because we have a new partner, or a new project in the community, and just keeping in mind that it has to be flexible and flowing.

Could you speak about your program, Mine the Gap?

Alexis: Mine the Gap was funded by the Ontario Seniors Grant, and a big part of the program was being able to host older adults and folk from outside of the downtown core. We were able to provide transportation to and from OAG, which is a big one when it comes to diversity accessibility. It’s not just ‘can wheelchairs go through the doors.’

And what were some lessons that you learned from Mine the Gap?

A: Just that we should keep doing this. It was so well received. I think it is quite obvious that this kind of inter-generational programming that brings folks in different communities together for exchange through art experiences is needed.

People love the Ottawa Art Gallery … let’s keep bringing them and adapting programming specifically for their community. Whether that means translators for the tour, or adapting the workshops.

V: What I extracted from it is that … there needs to be more opportunities for inter-generational programs, and that initiatives that are designed for us, by us, work really well. It just ensures that the programming that we do is relevant. Because we’re connected to the community and we’re constantly asking ourselves questions, letting other people be hands on and almost take over our programming if you will, that is also being accessible and welcoming.

What do you mean by “letting other people take over the programming”?

V: We have two concrete examples of that. OAG has a Youth Council, and also Art Wise, which is an older adult council. I’ll call them volunteers, but they’re volunteer council members. And they, along with Alexis, organize programs, series, or events based on what they identify as a need, and based on partnerships they create themselves, and basically the Gallery becomes, in a way, just the venue. We let these two groups lead the activities and those turn out to be a huge success, because we can’t know everything, we can’t be on the pulse of everything, and it’s a way of giving a voice.

On your website, you talk about how Music and Portraits worked to break down barriers. Could you speak to how the event achieved that?

A: Most of the seniors that participated, the Chinese traditional instrumentalists and Tai Chi performers, as well as members of Chinese Community service Centre, didn’t speak English. We had high school art students from Canterbury High School sketching their performances.…It was a giant room filled with beautiful music and dancing, and students just sitting on the floor, around, sketching as these performances happened. It was so beautiful and I think the performers were honoured to be able to share their gift in a large, professional space like that.

Even though verbal communication wasn’t possible, there was this tangible respect for one another’s talents … It was an example of how art and creative expressions, those languages can transcend.

N: Do you have any advice to other cultural institutions that are trying to be more inclusive in their practices and in their processes?

V: My one advice is that there’s probably somebody out there already doing it. For us, we know that there are groups, or there’s an artist, or there’s a community out there that we can go to and partner with, or just invite over or ask for advice.

A: I would say look around at who’s not coming through the doors and who’s not participating in program – those are your target audiences. Whoever is not coming, go seek them out and create a program or a space, or touching relationship, and a reason to come. That being said … [with] some of the sensitive populations I work with, I often go to them. I’m doing off-site workshops once a month with people, and once that relationship of trust is built, I can invite them in, but it takes time, especially if I’m operating from a trauma-informed place.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

As of today, the Château Dufresne has partnered with Canoo to welcome new Canadian citizens into their space with free admission.

Canoo is a mobile app that helps new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, and historic sites across Canada.

The Château Dufresne is a museum and national historic site located in Montreal, QC. Canoo members can use their mobile app to enjoy free, general admission for themselves and up to four children every time they visit the Château Dufresne.

A rare historic monument since 1976, Château Dufresne is a semi-detached residence built by brothers Oscar and Marius Dufresne (1915-1918), two important figures of the French-speaking bourgeoisie in Montreal. Its architecture and interior design take us back to the prosperous atmosphere of the early 20th century, and reflect the aspirations, mentalities and tastes of the influential and avant-garde French-Canadian bourgeoisie of the time. Its wall decorations, painted in the 1920s by the Florentine artist Guido Nincheri (1885-1973), represent his most important secular work.

Canoo members in Montreal and the surrounding area, check your app to learn more about Château Dufresne and to visit!

To find more places to visit near you, be sure to enable location services on the Canoo app. Learn more about the app on the Canoo Help Centre

On August 14, 2019, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, and the community of East Gwillimbury celebrated 37 new Canadian citizens from 16 countries at a special enhanced citizenship ceremony. The ceremony was held at the historic Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum. The temple is the newest member of the ICC’s Canoo program — which provides free access to museums, science centres, parks, and historic sites across the country.

A bright, breezy day greeted members of the East Gwillimbury community as they welcomed the new Canadian citizens. The day started with the ICC’s signature roundtable discussions offering the new Canadian citizens a chance to share their journeys to citizenship with members of the community, and for everyone to reflect on what being Canadian means to them. Some new citizens observed that the cold weather was a shock and they all agreed that people had been welcoming and kind. The feeling of safety that comes from living within Canada’s secure and calm atmosphere was noted as a feeling that many Canadians take for granted.

The site of this citizenship ceremony made it especially meaningful. The Sharon Temple was where Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine sought the support of Anglophone Canadians for a North York byelection after being forced to withdraw from seeking a seat in his home riding of Terrebonne in 1841. LaFontaine was one of the architects of Canada’s immigration and citizenship policy. 180 years ago, he called for immigrants to come to Canada from around the globe, declaring that their children would be Canadians. He was a visionary who imagined an inclusive and egalitarian Canada stating, “…our political liberty can only be denied if we let go of the social equality that is a distinctive characteristic of our society”. His vision helped create the Canada that continues to welcome new Canadians today. This citizenship ceremony formed a proud part of that tradition.

Neelam Kushwaha became a Canadian citizen in September 2018.

“I came to Canada with my son who was two to accompany my spouse who was on work permit at that time,” Neelam explains, “We had no clue that we would like Canada so much that we would become a part of it. The reason we decided to stay in Canada was [because of] its multiculturalism, which doesn’t make us feel left behind as an individuals. There is always a feeling of togetherness. From the day you enter Canada, it makes you feel welcomed. Although it took us some years to become Canadian, it’s all worth it. It has opened a lot of opportunities for all of us.”

Neelam appreciates the Canoo program (formerly known as the Cultural Access Pass program) because of the knowledge allows her to provide to her children. “Since I have been homeschooling my son, [Canoo] has helped us much more than expected,” she says, “We repeatedly explore the Ontario Science Centre and Royal Ontario Museum to learn and understand science, nature, and Canadian history.”

When asked about the value of arts and culture to new Canadian citizens, Neelam explains that the program allows new citizens to appreciate the many cultures of this country. “Because the entry is free for [many different] museums and galleries, it lets you [experience] all cultures that exist in Canada,” she says, “It makes you appreciate and value different cultures within Canada and that are part of your community. ‘It’s easy to make friends when you about them.’”

As of today, Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum has partnered with Canoo to welcome new Canadian citizens into their space with free admission.

Canoo is a mobile app that helps new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, and historic sites across Canada.

Sharon Temple is a museum located in East Gwillimbury, ON. Canoo members can use their mobile app to enjoy free, general admission for themselves and up to four children every time they visit Sharon Temple.

The Sharon Temple was constructed by the Children of Peace, an Upper Canada Quaker sect from 1825 – 1831. The Temple is an architectural symbol of their vision of a society based on the values of peace, equality and social justice.

Canoo members in East Gwillimbury and the surrounding area, check your app to learn more about Sharon Temple and to visit!

To find more places to visit near you, be sure to enable location services on the Canoo app. Learn more about the app on the Canoo Help Centre

Meet Canoo member Viri Sanchez. Viri came to Canada from Mexico in 2005 with the help of a friend from Calgary.

“I was so lucky to meet my friend Amanda while she was working in Playa del Carmen, Mexico,” explains Viri. “We both worked at a hotel and quickly became friends. Amanda and her family very kindly offered to host me at their home in Calgary, AB. I instantly fell in love with Calgary and the Canadian customs, the wide-open spaces, clean air, the kindness of people, [and] especially Amanda’s family. They helped me for the first two years when I arrived. It was Brenda, Amanda’s mother, who suggested I study cosmetology at a time when it seemed like I was out of options to stay and live in Canada. Thanks to this Canadian family, I found friendship, a new family and opportunities for the future. Afterwards, I started working at a hair salon, where my boss Margo, also an immigrant, was very supportive and we started the process for permanent residence.

“I feel even more so I belong in this beautiful country [after becoming a citizen]. Every time I tell someone I became a citizen, they always show me a warm smile and even hugs, congratulating me on this great achievement. I feel that now I can continue moving forward building a great life for myself and my family knowing that I am Canadian and we are welcomed. Here in Canada, I have found the best quality of life, friends, inclusion, a safe and peaceful place to build a family, and endless possibilities.”

Viri has already started using her Canoo app to explore venues in and around Calgary.  “[I visited] the Glenbow Museum,” says Viri, “It showed me so much more about Canadian history, culture and heritage. I have also used [Canoo] to visit Banff National Park. Being in the mountains is always a relaxing and enjoyable experience; during summer, my husband and I go for hikes and camping, during winter, we like to snowboard. Cultural places are proof of the welcoming heart of Canada and its constant evolution thanks to multiculturalism.”

“Because we had to work hard to get Canadian citizenship, we are also making a choice to be a Canadian,” explains Viri, “When we finally become [citizens], we appreciate it with a different perspective; we see new beginnings and new opportunities, [and] we are so grateful to be accepted, to become a part of it. We were not so lucky to have been born here, but we now feel the luckiest to have found it and to be welcomed.”

June marked National Indigenous History Month in Canada and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) celebrated with seven citizenship ceremonies across the country. We believe that reconciliation is the shared responsibility of all people — existing and new Canadians alike — and our ceremonies in June shone a light on the spaces, traditions, and practices of Indigenous Peoples. At our ceremonies, new Canadians and Canadians that have been in the country for years or generations came together to reflect on what being Canadian means, what reconciliation looks like, and how to be active, and engaged citizens.

Highlights included:

At Conservation Halton, we heard from Jennifer Harper, founder of Cheekbone Beauty, a cosmetic brand that aims to help Indigenous youth, and Elder Edebwed Ogichidaa Kwe (She who speaks the Truth Warrior woman leader) . Catering was provided by Anishinabe catering company NishDish. 

Thank you to Edebwed Ogichidaa Kwe (She who speaks the Truth Warrior woman leader) Valarie King for this welcome song! pic.twitter.com/NJ5cA5B93y

— Institute for Canadian Citizenship (@inclusion_ca) June 4, 2019

And thanks to Jennifer Harper, founder of @cheekbonebeauty, for her remarks: “As creatures and humans, we all crave and desire peace and security…When we can come together and break bread, remove hate, and sit in that space and share in love, that is a successful country.” pic.twitter.com/pqqTj1tQGW

— Institute for Canadian Citizenship (@inclusion_ca) June 4, 2019

At UBC First Nations Longhouse in Vancouver, Dr. Richard Vedan, Elder Scholar welcomed new citizens and shared the history of his people.

“We’re in the process of truth and reconciliation…you are part of that because you have inherited all of the benefits of the people that went before.” – Dr. Richard Vedan, Elder Scholar to new Canadian citizens at today’s ceremony at @UBCLonghouse. #IndigenousHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/PgpZf3DocK

— Institute for Canadian Citizenship (@inclusion_ca) June 18, 2019

At the Saskatoon Indian & Metis Friendship Centre, Marianne from May Henderson catering held a demonstration of how to make bannock and spoke about the dish’s significance for her community.

“This is one of our staples,” Marianne, who works with our wonderful caterer May Henderson, teaching new citizens about bannock at today’s citizenship ceremony in Saskatoon, part of our #IndigenousHistoryMonth celebrations. pic.twitter.com/5DByPE7nkx

— Institute for Canadian Citizenship (@inclusion_ca) June 20, 2019

We also held a citizenship ceremony for the first time in Yellowknife — at the Chief Drygeese Centre on the land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

Join @ICCICC for a special Citizenship Ceremony in #YZF this Thursday, June 20, to honour National Indigenous Heritage Month: https://t.co/z5y8kxCquT

— City of Yellowknife (@OurYellowknife) June 18, 2019

All of ceremonies celebrating National Indigenous Month:

• Conservation Halton (Rattlesnake Point) in Mississauga, ON
• Neeginan Centre in Winnipeg, MB
• La Cité de l’énergie in Shawinigan, QC
• UBC First Nations Longhouse in Vancouver, BC
• Town of Fort Macleod – Community Hall in Fort MacLeod, AB
• Saskatoon Indian & Metis Friendship Centre in Saskatoon, SK
• Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Yellowknife, NWT

While National Indigenous History Months is over, we will continue to engage Indigenous Peoples in all our ceremonies, and in all our work, year-round. Join us at an upcoming citizenship ceremony and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on other ways you can get involved.

What is your role as Newcomers Librarian?
As Newcomers Librarian, I have the opportunity to work with a variety of government agencies and local organizations that are working passionately to provide connections and services for newcomers settling in Canada.

Why is inclusion important to the Calgary Public Library?
Inclusion is a foundational principle of the public library. Inclusion empowers our community by connecting people to ideas and experiences, inspiration and insight.

What does inclusion look like in practice through different departments or initiatives at the library?Eliminating barriers to our services and collections through free free memberships, fantastic meeting spaces in all our libraries and free programs for all ages.

The library’s focus on inclusion is reflected in the Indigenous Placemaking Commissions.  The program promotes an educational understanding and cultural communication of Indigenous peoples within Treaty 7 territory, and collaboration amongst artists of all disciplines, backgrounds, and stages of careers. It also develops specific artworks that reflect traditional cultural practices, materials, and techniques taught and overseen by Elders and knowledge keepers.

Our libraries are welcoming spaces for all ages and there’s fun to be had, too! The Early Literary Centres provide a free and accessible space to all and are intended to create an experience families might not otherwise have. The spaces are highly interactive and playful, informed by research supporting the importance of play in a child’s development.

We are also inviting our teen population to collaborate with us. The Teen Tech Lab is a dedicated creative space for teens, supported by technology and by volunteer mentors.  The Teen Tech Lab supports a range of programming, including after-school programs. The programs offered are free, drop-in, and support exploratory learning. They cover skills from sewing to nutrition, robotics to painting, and everything in between.

With inclusion in mind, which of your initiative(s) would you consider the most successful or innovative?One of our most successful programs is the ESL Coffee and Conversation Club. This is a six- week program facilitated by staff, where [people can] practice English with lesson plans and conversations, and ultimately build confidence in speaking their new language.  A large component of these types of classes is the socializing and connecting part. [Participants] make friends and enjoy a coffee and they are also learning about their city and country and the Canadian way of life.

Other initiatives that we are extremely proud of and align with our strategic direction include the Elders’ Guidance Circle and the Indigenous Language Resource Centre.

The Elders’ Guidance Circle is a space for anyone to speak to Indigenous Elders from multiple nations. Here, Elders are able to provide education, storytelling, and a spiritual component to programming and services, including ceremony and smudges. Elders are available on a daily basis, with the schedule updated regularly.

The Indigenous Languages Resource Centre will help protect, preserve, and promote Indigenous culture, thanks to $1 million in funding from the Government of Alberta. Located at Central Library, this will be the third centre of its kind in Canada, where anyone, with their free library card, can access language learning, storytelling, Elder guidance, and other materials. The project was launched at the same time the United Nations declared 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages.

What responses or results have you seen from implementing these initiatives?
Members are embracing the opportunity to enter the beautiful Guidance Circle and engage with Elders—they listen to stories and learn from their conversations. Children and families love playing and learning in these spaces and they are making connections with others. Six Indigenous artists — all from or with a connection to Treaty 7 — have contributed art for three spaces within Central Library.

Our results are also measured both qualitatively and quantitatively. We capture the attendance statistics, as well as wonderful stories that illuminate our successes.

The Calgary Public Library is open to everyone!

Sandra Lourdes Murillo Paz moved to Edmonton from Mexico in 2010 to join her family, who had moved there a few years prior.

She received her citizenship this year and was most excited to vote. Voting is important to Sandra because it enables her to make her “new country better for everyone.”

She has already used her Canoo app to start exploring her city, including the Art Gallery of Alberta. She plans to use her VIA Rail discount and her Canoo app to explore more of Canada during the summer months.

Sandra volunteers, when she has time, in the arts and creative community in Edmonton. She believes that the Canoo program is important because it allows new Canadian citizens to explore arts and culture in Canada. “It helps me to understand the importance of arts and cultural diversity, and promotes knowledge about who we are [as a country],” she says.