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What are some free attractions I can attend in Ontario?

Getting to know Ontario often starts with small moments like a museum visit that brings stories to life, a world-class concert that strikes a chord, or a national park that takes your breath away. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to access low-cost or free experiences across Ontario, thanks to the Canoo app.

The Canoo app connects newcomers to Canadian experiences through handpicked recommendations for the best things to see and do. The app is a project by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a national charity based in Toronto. For eligible newcomers, the Canoo app unlocks free access to more than 2,000 of the best experiences, including parks, museums, historic sites, performing arts and sports events, science centres, and more, helping people explore their communities and feel more connected to the places they now call home.

Whether you’re exploring solo or with loved ones, these activities turn everyday time into something memorable, and all while saving.

Who can join Canoo?

The Canoo app is available to all newcomers over the age of 18 who are:

• Permanent residents living in Canada who obtained PR within the last 5 years, or
• Canadian citizens living in Canada within 12 months of their ceremony.

Where can you go with Canoo?

With the Canoo app, you and your family can explore free attractions in Ontario. Here are just a few, starting in the Greater Toronto Area:

• Toronto Zoo - connect with wildlife over 10 km of walking trails or in one of four indoor tropical pavilions.
• Little Canada – experience Canada from coast to coast to coast in miniature.
• Royal Ontario Museum – travel around the world in a single day at Canada’s largest museum.
• Art Gallery of Ontario – home to 90,000+ artworks across five floors.

There’s also a bunch of great stuff to see and with Canoo around Ottawa, including:

• National Gallery of Canada – visit one of the largest art museums in North America.
• Canadian Museum of Nature – discover more than 14.6 million specimens of the natural world.
• Canadian Museum of History – honour the achievements and traditions of Canada, particularly of its Indigenous people, and take the kids to the incredible Canadian Children’s Museum under the same roof.

With Canoo, exploring Ontario’s natural landscapes is easier. Members can access Parks Canada locations and many provincial parks, from sandy beaches to rolling hills and clear-blue lakes. All these attractions are in Ontario, but Canoo also unlocks Canada for you. You could visit the penguins at the Biodôme in Montreal, walk among dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Alberta, or enter a world of discovery at Vancouver’s Science World.

Canoo is also renowned for its ticket drops, inviting members to join for free or at a discount. Members have scored tickets for the Toronto Symphony orchestra, shows at the National Arts Centre, Jonas Brothers concerts, Toronto FC soccer games, and many other events in Ontario.

Canoo members also enjoy exclusive gifts and perks in collaboration with some of Canada’s top brands, including a generous VIA Rail discount.

Is it safe to scan your immigration documents to the Canoo app?

Yes, it’s safe. Canoo does not keep any of your documents on file. That information is stored safely through a third-party server managed by the Government of Canada. For more information on the app’s privacy policies, you can visit the Canoo Helpdesk.

Presented by: Canoo

For More Information

• Discover Ontario - This website invites newcomers to learn more about their new home. It has information about arts and culture, history, tourism, geography, fun facts and more.
• Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries - Get information about what the Ontario government is doing to preserve arts and culture, heritage and libraries in Ontario.
• Ontario Heritage Trust - This website has information about hundreds of historical museums, buildings and sites across Ontario.