A Canadian Signature Experience

Our rugged landscapes are considered among the best Canada has to offer international tourists according to Destinations Canada!

Sault Ste. Marie has some bragging rights. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train, a local tourist attraction, has been named one Destinations Canada's "Canadian Signature Experiences."

"Having the Agawa Canyon Tour Train recognized as a Canadian Signature Experience will help gain international recognition for this iconic attraction and help our efforts to attract visitors to our city from all over the world," said Ian McMillan, of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, in a statement sent to SooToday.

Explore the rugged landscapes of Ontario that inspired the iconic Group of Seven.

PAINTED LAND: In Search of The Group of Seven (sizzle reel) from WhitePinePictures on Vimeo.

The following is an excerpt from the news release issued May 11. 2017 by Destinations Canada:

VANCOUVER — Destination Canada is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the Canadian Signature Experiences collection: Agawa Canyon Tour Train and Canyon Sainte-Anne. These new experiences allow visitors to follow in the footsteps of Canada’s most iconic artists on a heritage train tour in Ontario, and explore Canyon Sainte-Anne in Quebec on a thrilling ride by Air Canyon and a via ferrata adventure through the spectacular Giant’s Pothole geological formation.  

“Canada’s world-class tourism experiences make travelling across our great country unforgettable,” said the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. “It’s small and medium businesses like these two new Canadian Signature Experiences that enable travellers to truly explore and enjoy all that Canada has to offer.”

The Canadian Signature Experiences are once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences offered by Canadians who are passionate about showing the best of Canada to the world. As diverse as Canada itself, these unique experiences are offered from coast to coast to coast and provide an introduction to the best Canada has to offer, from urban gems to wilderness adventures. 

The two new Canadian Signature Experiences have been chosen for the exceptional ways they connect travellers to Canada’s remarkable geography and rich cultural heritage, with an emphasis on unique modes of transport.

Agawa Canyon Tour Train in Ontario allows travellers to follow in the footsteps of the Group of Seven, Canada’s most iconic artists, whose work is displayed in the world’s most prestigious galleries. This immersive group travel experience guides travellers through the works of the Group of Seven, as well as the landscape of Northern Ontario’s Algoma region that inspired them so passionately. Explore this vast and rugged scenery—boreal forest, meandering rivers, pastoral homesteads and thunderous waterfalls—on a two-day experience that features gallery tours, engaging live theatre, dining in a National Historic Site and a daylong guided heritage train tour culminating with hands-on instruction while you paint the same landscapes depicted by the Group of Seven.

It is a privilege for Sault Ste. Marie's Agawa Canyon Tour Train to be added to this prestigious list. This is a ride you will never forget.

Additional web links: 

About Dionne Elgie

Dionne Elgie grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and has a deep personal love for this city, and like many Saultites, a real passion for the great outdoors. Along with her team at DIG (Digital Intelligence Group)—she works with Tourism Sault Ste. Marie to curate compelling travel stories and collect truly useful tour tips that appeal to both local residents and out-of-town visitors. You can contact Dionne at dionne@digdeep.ca—she’d love to hear from you!

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