A Special Welcome for New Canadians: Canoo

Written by Kristine, staff member, Halifax Central Library

Is this your first year as a Canadian citizen? Check out Canoo.

Visit local attractions and more—for free

Canoo was designed to open doors to Canadian culture and allow new Canadians to choose their own cultural experiences in their first year of citizenship. The app offers free admission for every new citizen and up to four children, every time you visit special locations for the first year of citizenship.

Canoo gives you free access to many attractions right here in Nova Scotia, including:

  • Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
  • Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
  • Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
  • Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
  • Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 

What is Canoo?

Canoo, opens a new window is a mobile app that helps new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, and historic sites across Canada. Canoo is open to all new citizens of Canada within one year of your citizenship ceremony. Pass holders also receive special travel discounts, including 50% off VIA rail travel. The program is administered by the charitable Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC); they note that this program is “the only one of its kind in the world”, opens a new window.

Halifax Public Libraries has been proud to be a pickup location for Canoo (formerly the Cultural Access Pass program) since January 2017. It’s a partnership that makes sense; libraries are often a first stop for newcomers.  We love being the face of this very special “welcome to Canada” gift.

Visit the Institute for Canadian Citizenship website to learn more about Canoo.

Download Canoo

Canoo is available to download on the App Storeopens a new window and on Google Play.