Join Patti Balsillie, hailing from the Yukon, as she drives across the country, seeking adventures in every province, exploring national treasures and new water/land trails. Her cycling, paddling, hiking adventure is one of discovery and recovery – of community, self and Canada.

Not all those who wander are lost - JRR Tolkien

If you found yourself untethered for the next six months… where would you go in Canada? Would you choose Canada?

Through weekly travel log updates, Facebook (Connecting Canada) and Instagram (ichoosecanada), follow Patti Balsillie, hailing from the Yukon, as she explores and connects Canada from Coast to Coast, seeking adventures off her beaten path from the Pacific Rim of Ucluelet Tofino, BC to Gros Morne National Park, NFLD and all the trails and communities, cultures, landscapes and experiences in between. #connectingcanada #forglowinghearts

Land Acknowledgement: It’s ingrained in my values to acknowledge the First Peoples of a place and learn something of their culture - part of our Canadian story. As I venture, I commit to respectful land stewardship, cultural curiosity and sharing with all First Peoples of Canada, from Coast to Coast.

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TOURISM SPECIALIST

Tourism Destination & Sectoral Strategist, Community Specialist, Market Research & Facilitation, Explorer

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LIFELONG EXPLORER

Adventurer, Mother, Proud Canadian, Connector & Outdoor Enthusiast

The Catalyst

 

The current housing situation in my neck of the woods (Yukon) has left me without a fixed address for the next six months and where my work is online now, I’ve decided to take my expertise and passion on the road - connecting and celebrating Canada, from our national parks and trails to lakes and communities and bookstores and more. It’s my GREAT adventure - a driving, paddling, cycling, hiking, camping adventure – visiting communities, family and friends along the entire route.

As an explorer and fan of community, I’ve spent a lifetime (25+) in tourism and travel as an industry advocate, experience development adviser, champion of rural/community tourism and the gifts that indigenous tourism, people and culture can offer.

 

The Objectives

  1. To connect Canada through sharing journeys, images and stories.

  2. To live and work nomadically, testing out a post covid theory re: the potential of working remotely with travel.

  3. To cycle and hike trails and paddle oceans and lakes that connect and bedazzle our country.

  4. To identify opportunities for tourism development and connection points - linking national parks, community development and trails for communities, for visitors, for our future.

  5. To inspire, educate and inform others - of my enthusiasm for Canada and for exploring in the hopes of inspiring more Canadians to choose Canada too.

  6. Reframing a situation / This is my lemons to lemonade moment / That I will surely miss 100% of the chances I don’t take.

I am chronicling this adventure - for myself, my community and country. At the end of October, I will have cycled >2,000 km’s of ‘The Great Trail’, witnessed the diverse skies and their light across this country, challenged myself and my assumptions, and come home with a deeper appreciation for this land, our communities and cultures - and ideally - a renewed heart. #forglowinghearts

Photo by Ryan Stone / unsplash