I am going on my biggest adventure yet!

Jittery, fidgety as I type this, because: as soon as I hit publish, there is no turning back: this would already be on the Internet. 

Saying this out loud has made me bring this to reality even more everyday: I am on a journey to travel solo through Canada. I will be exploring all 10 provinces and 3 territories, and showing you what makes each one of them unique!

This is the most daunting, exhilarating, exciting and purpose-driven trip I have done in several years. But before I dive into this all: how did we even get there?

2004 was the year I took my first international trip. Germany, summer holidays. I will never stop thanking my mom for this experience. I remember the nervousness from having to apply for the visas (as a teenager), the excitement to pack my bags (two suitcases were allowed back then), to get my hair done (braids please!) in anticipation for this big trip! 3 months in Germany? My departure day could not come fast enough. At the peak of the holidays within a transitional academic year, in retrospect I realize this was the best time to have that first travel experience. Young enough to still wander and dream big, and wise enough to understand the intricacies (both time and finances) that come with planning an international trip.

I remember wearing the neck tag from Lufthansa, as a sign that we were traveling as (authorized), unaccompanied minors). I remember the air hostess and Airline staff taking us all the way through the arrivals terminal where our family members were waiting for us: it was going to be the best summer ever.

From spending time with family to exploring new landscapes and discovering a new culture, how could this not have been one of the best trips of my youngest years?

Bit by the travel bug upon my return, I knew for sure I had to find a way to travel more as an adult. 

When I decided to get into medicine, I took the opportunity that “away clinical rotations” offered to explore different countries, but most importantly healthcare systems and just as i.. cultures. From elective rotations to research placements to medical conferences, I seize every single opportunity: both hidden and in plain sight. And so, my desire to learn more, immerse myself more and see more of the world led me to 28 countries on this earth:

• Africa: Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, 
• Asia: Malaysia 
• Europe: France, England, Belgium, Portugal, England, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy,
  Americas: USA, Canada, 
• Australia
• South America: Brazil, Venezuela
• The Caribbean: Dominica, St Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe

So much already seen, and so many yet to see. So one may wonder: why … Canada?

Why Here?

20 years later, here we are! (Has it been this long?)

Toronto is the most culturally diverse city of this country, and if you were to come here for the fulminant expression of culture, the exhilarating experiences, and the buoyant city life, then you would have had it all. But Canada is so much more than that. Circa Banff, 2023. My first trip outside of the province. I had lived in Africa all my life and in the Caribbean for 15 years thereafter, so I thought: I have seen it all when it comes to nature. I have seen it all. Then came the majestic view of the snow capped mountains of the Canadian Rockies. The unfiltered beauty of Lake Minnewanka in the spring. And the “oh-so close and personal” experience I had walking at the feet of the Athabasca glacier (don’t worry, it’s only more than 240 000 years old, definitely not a big deal! Lol). After that trip, I had my travel Eureka: nature looks different based on where you are, and the beauty of it is, you can appreciate it in all its shapes and forms. Shortly after, came a second realization: “is this all I’ve been missing by just staying in Toronto for this entire year”? What if I was missing out on other things? Other beautiful sceneries within this vast country? Culinary experiences and traditions rooted in immigrants, settlers and indigenous cultures? Then, it hit me: I had to see more of Canada to get the full picture.

And so, the idea of this trip was born.
Fast forward a year later (after battling the desire to go forward with this, mixed with doubt, uncertainty and a bit of imposter syndrome), my stronger calling took over me: I had to do a Cross Canada tour, and in the best way that I knew how: Solo.

Why now?

Because there is no better day and time to go for your dreams than today. 

But also: the tourism landscape changed drastically since the pandemic, and whilst several businesses are working to recover and get back to what was their normalcy, the impact of these historical two years is still being felt by many. Doing this trip and showing you businesses and companies you wouldn’t have otherwise not known, in a way, is me playing my part in helping raise awareness to the fact that community tourism is a thing, and we should support locally owned businesses as much as we support big chains (across the board) when we travel. 

Why this? 

Through this trip, my goals are manifold, but can be bundled in a few categories:

Invite: I want to invite you to lean into your dreams. Go for them. Every single one of them. Leave nothing undone. If you are afraid, it’s okay (I am too). Courage comes with doing. So, do it afraid. The worst case scenario is that it doesn’t happen, but the best case scenario? It’s that it does. And we are always going for the best case scenario!

Inspire: I want to inspire you to travel more within Canada, by showcasing what makes each province unique. There’s got to be something, and I want you to see it. And even if you are not in Canada, let this also inspire you to explore more of your own country. The beauty is always there for the one who seeks to see it. 

Impact: Travel has changed over the years, and instead of going for the shiny bright object, let’s go for the meaningful experiences. I want to show you the local companies, businesses, adventures and experiences that make each province so unique. I want to connect with the people, the culture, and the stories. I want to hear what brought them there, and what they love about their land. And I want to share with you what they want visitors (like you and I) to know, that makes their individual provinces and cities so unique. 

So here we go, embarking on: Clem’s Canada Tour: 13 provinces, in 13 weekends. Wherever I go, you will go. And whatever I see, you will see. I hope this trip shows you another layer of the beauty of this country. I hope it inspires you to travel more, connect more with nature and culture, and do so sustainably. I hope it helps you get out of your comfort zone, try new things, and live (a little) more than you did last year. Afterall, this is the year of courageous journeys.

Here is how you can support this experience:

1. Follow the journey on all my social media platforms (or the one you choose):
2. Share this journey with someone you care about!
3. Leave me a note/comment/message to share your thoughts, especially what you want to see more of! Who knows? Some of your recommendations might actually be included in the itinerary!