Travellers to Canada seeking new ways to immerse themselves in the destination are discovering foraging as a powerful experience for understanding the history, landscape and people, and a must-do activity for food lovers.
While foraging has been part of Indigenous ways of life for millennia, it has become a mainstream trend, partly propelled by an awakened consciousness during the global pandemic.
“Harvesting is an act of mindfulness,” said Leigh Joseph, part of the Squamish First Nation, ethnobotanist and owner of British Columbia-based Skwálwen Botanicals. “When I close my eyes to introduce myself to the plant and share my intentions in how I will utilise it for food or medicine, I feel both grounded in the present moment and connected to the continuum of my Squamish ancestors and future generations.”
Visitors to Canada can try their luck with roadside foraging for ingredients like stalky rhubarb, dandelions, which can be brewed with star anise and lemon verbena into healing tea; and morel mushrooms, which add rich, earthy flavours to soups, stews, pizzas and salads. Click here to discover prolific ingredients that can be foraged in Canada.
Alternatively, join a foraging tour or workshop and discover more about Canada’s natural bounty and the diverse terrains in which they flourish. Read on for five of the best:
Edmonton, Alberta: Visitors can join a three-hour foraging workshop that takes place in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley. During the tour, participants learn about wild edible plants and fungi, with a focus on their use in the home kitchen.
Guide: Kevin Kossowan, a two-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee for his work on From the Wild, a web series dedicated to wild food harvesting and cooking, and co-creator of reality show Wild Harvest.
When: May through August.
Halifax, Nova Scotia: Chef Sean Laceby offers gourmet wild food experiences in Nova Scotian landscapes that involve harvesting ingredients, cooking and dining outdoors.
Guide: Gourmet by Nature encourages people to sustainably connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors in all seasons through wild food excursions, cooking classes and private dining. When: Select dates year-round.
Winnipeg, Manitoba: This tour leads participants on a craft beer-inspired foraging journey along the Seine River for edible plants such as dandelion, rosehip and rhubarb – ideal ingredients to add a pop of flavour to homemade brews.
Guide: Kilter Brewing, whose owners have visited more than a thousand breweries in over 30 countries to learn about the people, places and ingredients that make great beer.
When: Select dates in September and October.
Fredericton, New Brunswick: This medicine walk meanders through the old growth forest of O’dell Park, where Wabanaki medicine keeper Cecelia Brooks and her son Anthony share their extensive knowledge about local flora and fauna and their uses as medicines and foods.
Guide: Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours’ owner, Cecilia, has dedicated her life to the preservation of plant knowledge and teaching Anthony plant wisdom through countless hours spent in local forests, including Fundy National Park. Anthony is an avid hunter of mushrooms, while Cecelia is a rich source of stories and legends of the Wabanaki people.
When: Select dates year-round.
Halifax, Nova Scotia: Join a day-long tour with Wild Foods Excursions to discover new tastes while in the Nova Scotian wilderness, starting just outside Halifax. You’ll taste various wild foods and a meal prepared with hand-picked wild items during the excursion.
Guide: Belgium-born Fred Dardenne has been foraging since the age of seven, when he accompanied his father, grandfather, uncle and friends on their searches for wild food.
When: Select dates and by appointment.
Note for all travellers:
We encourage all travellers to be fully informed of the pre-entry and on-arrival public health and testing requirements both federally and provincially. This includes the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app. For the latest information on travel to Canada please visit the Government of Canada website.
GETTING THERE
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney. Since 3 July 2022, Air Canada’s Brisbane – Vancouver direct flights resumed four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Internal flights are available throughout Canada from all major cities, in addition to VIA Rail train service.
www.keepexploring.com.au
