Throughout the seasons, and from coast to coast to coast, Canada is full of wonderful places to discover. But did you know that it’s now possible to travel across the country and access services in French all along the way? It was to help travellers visit Canada in French that the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada) developed Corridor Canada.
The Corridor is a selection of Francophone heritage, culture and tourism products in Canada, chosen for the availability of services in French to visitors from here and abroad.
Businesses participating in Corridor Canada provide services that correspond to at least one of the three levels identified in the National Classification of Services in French:
- French services at any time
- French services upon request
- promotional items and/or documentation available in French
The National Classification was created to inform visitors of the level of service available at tourist sites.
Did you know that there are approximately 307.2 million potential Francophone and Francophile tourists in the world? More than 10 million people in Canada speak French and contribute to tourism in Francophone and Acadian communities (7.6 million in Quebec and 2.7 million elsewhere).
The driving markets for international Francophone tourism are France, Belgium and Switzerland. Attracting Francophone tourists from these countries requires the following:
- welcoming tourists in French and providing them with French-language services
- promoting Franco-Canadian heritage and culture
- promoting Francophone and Acadian communities
Corridor Canada, which is accessible on the web or through a smartphone application, includes approximately 400 participating businesses. You can plan your route geographically, by province and territory. Or you can take your time as you visit sites of interest, following an itinerary of culinary tourism or urban exploration, travelling along the waterways or from festival to festival.
Each participating company’s page is well illustrated with numerous photos and sometimes even videos, which will certainly give you a taste for travel. You can easily locate each company on a map and add it to your favourites to create your personalized itinerary.
The Corridor's blog (available in French only) is full of all kinds of tips, grouped by season, with suggested activities for families, couples, hikers, adventurers, etc. Everyone will find something to satisfy their urge to get out, and discover and explore Canada.
And of course, the Corridor can be found on social media, complete with an array of stunning photos.
Whether you're a tourist for a day or a dedicated explorer, Corridor Canada will provide an infinite source of inspiration from one end of the country to the other ... and in French to boot!
Translated by Josephine Versace, Language Portal of Canada
