• Explore Podcast: A canoe conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
• Jill Heinerth reflects on her time aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth to Alaska
• Opinion: Environmental racism and Canada’s wildfires
• A Banff Trail Riders adventure through the Banff wilderness
• Cunard: Luxury at sea

We’re thrilled to have Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as our guest on Explore as we kick off our second annual Summer Canoe series. This is a fun one.

As you will hear, he is absolutely passionate about canoeing. It’s a pastime he fell in love with early while paddling with his father, the late Prime Minister and fellow canoe enthusiast, Pierre Trudeau, and continues to enjoy today whenever his busy schedule allows.

In this episode, he talks about the canoe trips he took with his father, both as a child and an adult, and how he was taught to paddle by the filmmaker and canoeing legend Bill Mason. 

The conversation takes us into the rapids of the Nahanni, to the lakes and rivers of the boreal forests, and frothing waters of the Rouge, the Tatshenshini-Alsek and the Dumoine. And he shares some tips along the way: “Duct tape is like the Force; it has a dark side and a light side, and it binds the universe together.” And, “What happens if the wind comes up on the river? Well, paddle harder and sing louder.”

Enjoy! 

In the remote folds of the Inside Passage, where inlets carve into the land like the scars of ancient battles, nature’s unforgiving majesty unfolds, revealing a realm where mountains, mist, and frigid waters coalesce into a haunting symphony.

Travel stimulates my imagination. Whenever I break away from the routine of life, I find inspiration. The geography of a remote landscape and the people I meet are sources for new perspectives and a refreshing reminder of all that connects us. Truthfully, I might be considered a reluctant cruiser. I am normally forging my way through the wilderness in significant discomfort. My expeditions are not easy, meaning I might be fending off mosquitoes in my hammock in the Everglades or diving into the water with wild polar bears. I’m not accustomed to luxury when it comes to travel. Would I get bored? Would I have opportunities to stay active? Would I be able to meet like-minded people? 

Ocean Bridge Ambassadors address the burning injustice of the climate crisis on marginalized communities

By Johannah Brockie and Soomin Han

Canada is currently grappling with an unprecedented wave of wildfires. However, the devastating consequences of these infernos extend far beyond their immediate environmental impact. The flames tragically illuminate a persistent and often overlooked issue: the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on marginalized communities, despite their minimal contribution to its creation. This injustice manifests itself in forms of environmental racism. The current wildfires raging across Canada serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address and rectify this burning injustice.

the Bow River, travel along a historic pack trail and then ride up Allenby Pass, where jagged rock formations line the route.

And although you do climb to an elevation of 8,100 feet on this trip, the terrain is gentle for the entire way. And for all the rugged scenery that surrounds you on this trek, the adventure itself is far from ‘roughing it.’ Unwind in rustic luxury at the spacious Sundance Lodge and later at the cozy Halfway Lodge – both are quintessential mountain cabins boasting comfortable beds, a crackling fire and some of the most delicious backcountry cuisine you’ll ever try.

Meet your ambassador: Robin Esrock

Check out these other upcoming trips:

- Consummate Explorer Package with Ocean Quest
- Patagonia Birds and Wildlife with Kim Gray
- New Brunswick and Grand Manan with Marlis Butcher