By Adiba Hasan
In May 2023 the Institute for Canadian Citizenship commemorated the one-year anniversary of our transformative relaunch of the Canoo Access Pass (Canoo). As a charity dedicated to unlocking Canada for newcomers and working to facilitate the journey from arrival to citizenship and belonging, Canoo has proved to be an extraordinary initiative, supporting hundreds of thousands of newcomers to explore and engage with the country.
Since its inception, Canoo has unlocked Canada for almost 500,000 newcomers, providing free admission to museums, galleries, festivals, concerts, and other experiences across the country. In this quarterly Canoo Insights Report, we are delighted to share some highlights and accomplishments from the past year.
Canoo started as a pilot program in 2015 to encourage the newest Canadian citizens to explore museums in their new chosen country. The program evolved into the Cultural Access Pass, which granted discounted or complimentary access to a myriad of cultural and artistic attractions. Since then, the program has transformed into Canoo, Canada’s biggest welcome network for new citizens and recent permanent residents, providing newcomers with access to over 1,400 venues and a multitude of events spanning the vast expanse of Canada, from coast to coast to coast.
In 2018, Canoo saw a modest redemption rate, with a total of 23,854 members taking advantage of the benefits offered. The number of individuals benefiting from Canoo’s offerings remained relatively flat in the years following, ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 members annually (notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19 in 2020-2021). However, with the relaunch of Canoo in May 2022, the program experienced a surge in active memberships, propelling the number of Canoo members to a remarkable 55,027 for 2022 overall.
Barely halfway through 2023, Canoo has again experienced significant growth in sign-ups. Since January, 40,015 individuals have joined the program (this represents 72% of the total downloads recorded in 2022 overall). This rapid growth is a testament to both the appeal and the undeniable value that Canoo brings to the lives of newcomers in Canada.
Museums, Theatres, Art Galleries, Parks and much more!
Calgary Stampede, Seal World Tour, MLSE and much more!
Value saved by Canoo members since Canoo was relaunched in May 2022
Each day, Canada welcomes one new permanent resident every 1 minute and 5 seconds, and each of these individuals is eligible to benefit from Canoo as they embark on their journey in Canada! Between May 2022 and May 2023, Canoo was activated by 92,666 newcomers and currently, there are 89,940 active Canoo members accessing over 1400 destinations and many events and tourist attraction sites.
(May 2022-May 2023)
On relaunch in May 2022, Canoo had 9,379 new downloads. By May 2023, Canoo saw a growth of 87% whereas in May 2023 there were 17,494 new downloads.
A ‘Check-in’ refers to the moment that a Canoo member visits a venue, attends an event, or participates in an activity offered through Canoo. Over the past year, Canoo members along with their children checked-in more than 213,000 times to different venues and events offered through Canoo. At least half of Canoo members bring children. As shown below, Canoo members check-in the most when major holidays take place — typically during periods when families spend time together. For example, Canoo members and their children checked-in 32,172 times during the Victoria Day long weekend in May 2023, making it the highest check-in period on record!
| Date | Holiday | Check-ins (Adult+Children) | Value Saved ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2022 | End of Summer Break | 19,112 | 294,721 |
| December 2022 | Winter Break | 13,754 | 275,575 |
| March 2023 | March Break | 21,412 | 380,976 |
| April 2023 | Easter Break | 26,856 | 513,073 |
| May 2023 | Victoria Day (Long Weekend) | 32,172 | 515,981 |
At the heart of Canoo’s success lies the unwavering support of our members, whose feedback has been invaluable in shaping and expanding this initiative. Without our members’ active participation, the Canoo program, along with the enriching partnerships it has forged across Canada, simply would not thrive. Check out one of our Canoo members’ experiences of Canoo that showcases the value of Canoo in fostering a sense of belonging and exploration in Canada (click here).
Other Canoo Members’ Experiences:
Canoo to us is like a lens through which we can explore Canada, we get to know all the beautiful, scenic, historical & cultural places in one place and in the most economical manner. ~Amandeep Kaur Bhatia
It [Canoo] helped me want to discover more places, and experience more after I moved as I was financially tight and that stopped me from exploring the culture, nature and more, of Canada. Canoo helped me fall in love with my new home. ~Thanzeem Kassim Rawther
If you found this report interesting, dive into our earlier editions of the Canoo Insights Report! We delve deeper into the valuable partnerships and stories of Canoo members:
As Canoo continues to improve and reach new heights, our quarterly reports aim to provide a better understanding of Canoo, the diverse individuals it serves, and the valued partnerships that bring Canoo to life for newcomers.
To stay updated on the latest happenings at the ICC, please sign up here and follow us to get upcoming content from Ideas & Insights at ICC.
Stay in touch by signing up for our newsletter.
Canoo
ICC Insights
OTHER ARTICLES/VIDEOS/PODCASTS/RESOURCES
How physical distancing enforcement is negatively affecting Canada’s marginalized communities
25.06.2020
COVID-19 has prompted wide-ranging physical distancing ticketing measures across the country, with over $5.8 million in coronavirus-related fines reported by May of this year.
Article
Research
ICC Insights
CAP members invited to saddle-up for the Calgary Stampede
06.07.2018
‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’ begins on July 6 with the start of the Calgary Stampede, and CAP members are once again invited to the annual 10-day celebration of […]
Article
Cultural Access Pass
New IPSOS-ICC Study Reveals Newcomers Feel Welcomed and Treated Fairly yet Challenged by Housing and Finances
06.02.2024
Early findings from The Newcomer Perspective, a study conducted jointly by Ipsos and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), show that newcomers have mixed feelings as they acclimatize to life in Canada. Preliminary results from the research, which will gather the views of 20,000 newcomers to Canada in 2024, demonstrate how critical it is for governments, businesses and all Canadians to understand all phases of the newcomer journey to Canada. That journey is indeed a very dynamic one, with significant shifts in perspectives and behaviours across different demographics and throughout the first ten years in Canada. As results also demonstrate, it is also a journey of mixed emotions.
Article
Research
Press Releases
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for all people. We strive to provide events and services that are welcoming and accessible to everyone. Should you require an accommodation to better support your interactions with us, please email info@inclusion.ca.
LEARN MORE
© 2022 Institute for Canadian Citizenship / Registered Charity Number: 82303 4145 RR0001
