Canada's Calling

There is an arctic that lives in the mind of those who have not yet been. There are ideas, concepts, trends and theories reported about the arctic everyday. But making the trip to Nunavut, experiencing the people, travelling the land, seeing the wildlife— these are what fill us with reverence and awe, kindness and warmth, humility and sense of achievement. The arctic is a lived experience, one that can’t be appreciated, until you’ve been.

Whether it’s the people you meet, the wildlife you encounter or the wide open spaces you explore, the phrase, “Larger than Life '' applies to most everything in the Yukon. Even its history is B-I-G big. With its original people crossing the Bering Land Bridge in the last Ice Age and it playing host to the legendary Klondike Gold Rush, Yukon is a place for those with big imaginations, hungry hearts and unique character.

Aurora, sundogs, moonbows; strange names for enchanting phenomenon in an unbelievable place. This is Northwest Territories. A place to delight in the folly and fancy of nature’s tricks. A place to meditate on earth’s biggest, deepest, highest wonders. A place where something will change you.

Wander through Saskatchewan, guided by the glowing hearts stories of the inspired and inspiring people who are shining a light on what has always been here, but hasn’t always been celebrated; a simple, hearty way of life, a pure connection to nature, a rich living history, and endless, diverse beauty ready to be discovered.

In a lot of ways, Toronto can be whatever you want it to be. It’s one of the most multicultural cities in the world, has a food scene that mirrors its diverse inhabitants, and a skyline that can steal your heart even in the brisk November winds. For us, Toronto was magic. It was re-capturing the joys of childhood holidays, discovering new foods, and by extension, new cultures, and honestly exploring how the concept of diversity, a tenet of Canadians’ identity, actually looks and feels in action.

PEI punches way above its weight class in all the right ways. Food isn’t just something to eat here; it’s a way of life. Whether fishing or farming, much of what occupies PEI resident’s brains and hearts is about what will satisfy their stomachs. But they don’t do it alone. Family comes first here, and on the island, there’s no way to separate the interwoven braids of food, family and music. And who would want to?

Edmonton’s winters are no joke, and this Albertan city’s residents are serious about making this season their brightest. With a city strategy dedicated to celebrating how Canadians have perfected winter and to telling Edmonton’s great northern story, you can let the winter professionals take the reigns as you revel in your own exploration of the Winter City’s flair.

The anticipation starts in Winnipeg, where visits to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre in Assiniboine Park set the stage for discovering what makes Canada’s heart beat. There's an undeniable spirit that exists in a community only accessible by rail or air, where residents co-exist with polar bears and belugas. Capture the spirit of Churchill, the small town in the "middle-of-nowhere" in Northern Manitoba, where the unbelievable is a part of daily life and the challenges of the north are met with perseverance and celebration.

Never an easy existence was to be had here, and through the many trials that have been put to them, Newfoundlanders have created their own way of being and doing; their own way of talking and singing; their own way of working and playing; their own way of hunting and cooking; and above all, their own way of life.

Life by-the-sea and resettled peoples have shaped every part of Nova Scotia life and culture. When the ocean calls the shots, you need to put down deep roots to thrive, and whether they be new or old, that’s exactly what Nova Scotians have done.

Montréal has everything you could hope for in a city, yet when you are in it, walking its streets, eating its food, immersed in its art, you feel a part of something bigger, something deeper, something that makes you want to find out more about the what, the how and the why behind it.

The Bay of Fundy's coastline seemingly stretches forever and the humbling power of the tides shape the land and people who live there. In this episode we crack open some of the secrets New Brunswick has been keeping and give you a look into this lesser-known province.

Hosts Mike and Ashley begin their journey to discover Canada and the people creating the mosaic of our country, by following their own personal calling in their home province of BC. They dive headfirst into the Okanagan Valley to learn about people working with products from the land and drawing inspiration from all around them.

Canada's Calling is a new podcast series that follows hosts Mike and Ashley as they travel to every province and territory to connect with Canadians who are answering their calling - a journey where they leave each visit changed by the people they encounter and the experiences they come across. They'll weave together the stories of the people and the places that make each area of Canada unique and connect to what it truly means to be Canadian.