Canoo: Opening Doors to Canadian Culture for New Citizens

For many of us born in Canada, experiencing Canadian culture is a routine part of our lives – from visiting museums on class trips, to attending live performances and festivals with our families. Participating in, and appreciating, all forms of arts and culture is a way for us to connect with our community and our country.

Feeling connected and a sense of belonging is paramount for Canada’s newest citizens; after all, it takes courage to start fresh in a new country. This is why the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a non-profit charity dedicated to celebrating Canadian citizenship and ensuring Canada’s newest citizens feel welcome and included, created the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program, which now exists as a mobile app under the name Canoo. Members who do not own a smart phone can request a Canoo paper card that will provide them with all the same benefits.

Canoo is a gift to Canada’s newest citizens and their children. It opens doors by offering a year of free access to over 1,400 Canadian attractions from museums, galleries and historic sites to national and provincial parks.

Cuthbert M., past Canoo Member, says:

It introduces you to all things Canadian from an artistic point of view. You cannot get that hands-on experience in any book.

New citizens can explore the best in Canadian culture from coast-to-coast like the Museum of Vancouver, Banff National Park, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax - just to name a few!

Canoo is in a league of its own. There isn’t another program in the world like it! This welcoming offer ignites a shared passion for Canadian cultural experiences, connecting attractions and new citizens for the long term.

Yan W. says:

It opens the door and it doesn’t cost you anything. By taking in these types of cultural experiences, you realize that life can be beyond what’s tied up in daily activities.

With the support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canoo is introduced to every new Canadian citizen at their citizenship ceremony, and to date, more than 280,000 new citizens have participated in the program.

Eric P, past Canoo Member, says:

I have no doubt that this will enrich me more about the heritage & current developments on arts and culture of Canada. Again, merci.

More details about Canoo, can be found here: https://www.icc-icc.ca/site/program/canoo/.
Canoo is free to download on Google Play and the App Store

This post has been updated with new information on 2019/06/26