Little Canada Just Got Bigger

The downtown Toronto attraction, which features miniature replications of regions in this country, unveiled its latest addition late last week (Oct. 16), Little North, a showcase for Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

“Nearly 15 years ago, our beloved founder and chief visionary officer, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, embarked on a journey fueled by creativity, generosity and resilience. His dream: to build a nation in miniature — a place where every citizen and every visitor stands equal, shoulder to shoulder, united in the belief that the unique stories of this land and our peoples, and a shared optimism for a caring and bright future together, deserves to be celebrated. From the beginning, Jean-Louis envisioned Little Canada as a place to celebrate the many stories that make up our vast country, ” Little Canada CEO Brad Ford told those on hand during the opening.

“Little North represents a crucial piece in realizing that dream — a destination that brings the stories of Northern communities, cultures and landscapes into the heart of downtown Toronto.”

The Thursday opening began with Nunavut native Alexandra Anaviapik and a colleague giving a demonstration of Inuit throat singing, followed by guests being invited to tour Little North, with the North the eighth featured Little Canada destination.

The exhibit features recreations of Northern landscapes and communities, among them Dawson City, Whitehorse and Yellowknife.

The room housing the exhibit is kept cooler than the rest of Little Canada, a nod to Arctic and sub-Arctic weather.

Lighting in the room continually switches from bright — recalling summertime midnight sun — to dim, enabling Little North to provide a Northern Lights effect.

Meanwhile, Brenninkmeijer made it clear Little Canada is still a work in progress, ultimately planning to have 12 regional exhibits.

“The ultimate goal is to tell the story of Canada through the art of miniature from coast to coast to coast, ” he said. “There is no place other than Little Canada where our guests can explore, experience and learn about our country in such a visceral way through the art of storytelling in one afternoon.  I recognize that most Canadians will never have the opportunity to see and experience all of Canada for themselves.

“Telling these stories through our intricate and detailed miniature models invites our guests to in turn to tell their stories, evoking a sense of wonder and curiosity about Canada, supported by our talented guest experience guides and storytellers who made our guests feel welcomed, cared for and connected to Canada.”

In the photo

Little Canada CEO Brad Ford and founder Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer were on hand to welcome people to Little North, Little Canada’s latest exhibit.