Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

will lose this unique place to environmental change. And others come because the beauty, culture and sheer determination of the Inuit reconnects them with a less pam- pered, more elemental part of human existence. The North is a world away, but only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Montréal to Kuujjuaq in Nunavik. LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES This past year, Canadians celebrated 150 years. We hiked, attended concerts, listened to speeches, photographed a giant rubber duck in Toronto and had barbecues at the cottage. I did some of that, too. But I also had the privilege of being the official photographer on Canada C3's eighth leg, from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pond Inlet. For those who don't know, Canada C3 was an epic journey to celebrate Canada and connect Canadians. It was a Canada 150 Sig- nature project, a 150-day expedition on a former icebreaker from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage. It has inspired a deeper understanding of our land, our peoples and our country. Partici- pants included Canadians chosen through a video application process, youth ambassadors, Indigenous peoples, musicians, historians, scientists, writers, athletes and activists. Over the course of the journey, the Canada C3 team and participants on-board provided a lens through which Canadians can experience our country's coastline. Through the power of multimedia and dig- ital platforms, we are sharing the stories of people we met en route and engaging the voices of all Canadians in national discus- sions covering Canada C3's key themes: diversity and inclusion, reconciliation, youth engagement and the environment. C3 has had a large impact on the Cana- dian Arctic, opening the eyes of the world to greatly unknown regions of our country. But it also gave a voice to the Inuit and brought forward reconciliation in an inclu- sive way. The experience double-downed my own determination to have an impact through my foundation, Project North, co-founded with my friend, Joan Weinman. Nine years ago, Project North's vision was to deliver, one time, hockey equipment to four Nunavut communities, with the help of Adventure Canada and First Air. In a world where milk and orange juice cost ten times more than in southern cities, we wanted to make a small difference to kids who would otherwise do without. That was then. Now, in 2017, I am pleased to say that we have donated one million dollars in equip- ment to more than 30 communities in Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and the Northwest Territories. I credit that achieve- ment to the loyal volunteers, our team in Ottawa and our visionary partners like Sco- tiabank, the NHL, First Air and Canadian Tire. But more than anything, I credit the North for creeping into my heart, staking its claim and sparking a lifelong love affair. As we head into 2018, I hope that our col- lective passion for Canada only grows. More than that, I wish for every Canadian— born here or recently anointed—to visit the Arctic and allow it to infect them with its ineffable beauty. Wherever they may travel, from the Torngat Mountains to Banks Island, from Gjoa Haven to Kuujjuaq, I hope every visitor becomes a messenger for its incredible beauty. TRAVEL PLANNER For more information on the Canadian Arctic, tours and flight reservations or on how you can help the youth of Canada's north, visit: Adventure Canada: adventurecanada.com First Air: firstair.ca Northwest Territories Tourism: spectacularnwt.com Nunavik Tourism: nunavik-tourism.com Nunavut Tourism: nunavuttourism.com Project North: projectnorth.ca Tourism Nunatsiavut: tourismnunatsiavut.com DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2017/2018 50 LEFT: Aurora borealis in the Northwest Territories. DS

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