Lonely_Planet_Asia_September_2017

TRAVELS WITH TRUDEAU

As Canada Day falls in the country’s 150th anniversary year, we speak to prime

minister Justin Trudeau about his love of his homeland and of travel

From demonstrating his yoga skills in public to
playing hide-and-seek with his toddler in
Canada’s House of Commons, Trudeau has
dared to be different. So it’s no surprise that his
unconventional style has caught people’s
attention, a fact underlined by his following on
social media, which regularly features his
travels at home and abroad. We caught up with
Canada’s prime minister to talk about his
homeland’s broad appeal, get insider tips for
visitors and hear what travel means to him.

Lonely Planet named Canada the best country
in the world to visit in 2017 – how would you
sum up its allure in one sentence?
From surfing in Tofino to dogsledding in the
Northwest Territories, from the history of
Old Québec to the vibrancy of Toronto, from
the thrill of skiing in the Rockies to the
serenity of paddling past a moose in
Algonquin Park – there’s nowhere else on
Earth that offers the range of adventures that
await you in Canada.

What might surprise people about Canada?
Canadian PM Mackenzie King once said:
‘While other countries have too much
history, Canada has too much geography.’
Canada certainly does have a lot of
geography, but we also have an incredibly
rich and diverse history. Any proper story of
Canada cannot be told in one sitting, one
language or from one perspective. That’s
why I hope visitors spend some time
learning about the Indigenous Peoples

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit – who have
  lived here for thousands of years. I also hope
  they check out our national historic sites,
  which are a great way to connect to the
  extraordinary individuals and events that
  helped shaped Canada.

What’s unique for travellers this year?
As part of our Canada 150 celebrations, we’re
offering free admission to our national parks,
marine conservation areas and national
historic sites throughout 2017. There’ll also
be unprecedented opportunities to learn
about Indigenous Peoples, and to explore
Canada’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.

Any insider tips you can share with visitors?
Maps can’t provide any idea of the scope of
Canada, and air travel doesn’t do it justice.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU is Canada’s 23rd prime

minister. Read the full interview with him

at lonelyplanet.com

Prime Minister Trudeau

with his family enjoy a view

of the Canadian Rockies,

British Columbia. BELOW At

the Shoal Lake 40 First

Nation Reserve in

Manitoba

PHOTOGRAPH: ERIC LAFFORGUE, GUENTER GUNI/GETTY, OCULO/ISTOCK/GETTY

So, I encourage visitors to explore from the

ground level. Hike around glacier-fed,

turquoise lakes in Banff National Park,

cycle along the craggy cliffs of the Cabot

Trail, kayak through the waterways of

Haida Gwaii. These are just a few of the

many ways to appreciate Canada’s

geography, and to meet the people who

cherish its vastness and beauty.

We believe that responsible travel is a force for

good – have you seen this principle in action

during your time in office?

I’ve always seen travel as one of the best

ways to understand people, including one’s

self. Travelling removes us from our usual

surroundings, and that space from our daily

routine helps us reflect and recalibrate.

Travelling also exposes us to incredible

diversity. We meet new people, hear their

stories, learn new ideas and discover

common ground. We become more

comfortable with our contrasts, and realise

just how many shared values and

aspirations unite us.