Immerse yourself into Canadian culture. Here are things you can do this summer

By Gautam Viswanathan

With the sun shining, what better time for newcomers in Canada to go deeper into their lives and absorb the wonders of Canadian culture than the present? Here are things to do across Canada as you settle into life in this wonderful country.

Learn about Indigenous culture in Wendake, QC

Immerse yourself into the history of the Indigenous Huron-Wendat culture at Onwha’ Lumina, on an enchanted night walk that celebrates life. As night falls, you will be transported along a 1.2-kilometre pathway infused with the magic of light, sound, and video projections. This multimedia experience will invite you into a collective adventure rich with emotion, that bridges the founding myth to a vision of a bright and promising future. Under the starry sky, immerse yourself in ancestral rhythm and song. Step inside the Great Circle to feel your connection with all living things.

Where: 110, Grand Chef Thonnakona Street, Wendake, Quebec
When: The event runs over a discontinuous period from March to September
Cost: $14.5 for children (6 to 12 years), $21.75 for teens (13 to 17 years), $29 for adults (18 years and up)

Also watch: Experience Canadian culture at the Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto

Explore Canada’s maritime history in Newfoundland and Labrador

With a country that has ‘From Sea to Sea’ as its official motto, it is only natural that Canada has a long history of seafaring and maritime prowess that lives on to this day. Set sail on an amazing voyage of learning and discovery at the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton, a picture postcard-perfect town on the island of Newfoundland. Designed to provide both a cultural and hands-on experience, visitors can also learn about the history behind traditional Newfoundland boats. Workshops provide an overview of basic structure and construction techniques before focusing on one of the four elements of boat building.

Where: 273 Main Road, Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador
When: May 20 to September 17, 2023
Cost: Boat Building Workshop – Full-Day Workshop: $100; Week-long Workshop: $800; Oar Making: $350; Junior Builders: $25

Immerse yourself in Inuit art in Winnipeg, MB

Founded in 1912, the Winnipeg Art Gallery is one of Canada’s first civic art galleries, housed in an iconic modernist building in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. Qaumajuq was opened in 2021 and is a contemporary architectural landmark that connects to the gallery building on all four levels.

The Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA) is a biennial prize that supports the practice of an Inuk artist by facilitating opportunities for artistic development and career growth. The five shortlisted artists for the 2023 KAMA will be featured in a special group exhibition at WAG-Qaumajuq.

WAG-Qaumajuq features an impressive collection of over 27,000 artworks spanning centuries, cultures, and media, including the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world.

Where: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba
When: May 19 to November 12, 2023
Cost: $18 for adults, $ 15 for people aged 65 and above. Youth under 18 and Indigenous Peoples can enter for free. Entry is free for all on Canada Life Free Sundays, which occur on the second Sunday of the month.

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