Adventure Canada

Story

Discover the story of Adventure Canada, a company that begins as a dream shared by the Swan brothers, Matthew and Bill, and their friend David Freeze. After building experience as white-water rafting guides on the Ottawa River, the founders set out to take adventure farther afield. By 1988, Adventure Canada introduces backpacking and camping expeditions to what is now Nunavut, gaining valuable experience in northern relationships, logistics, and authentic adventure travel while inspiring travellers to explore beyond the beaten path.

Experience the origins of expedition cruising with Adventure Canada's first hiking adventure in Auyuittuq National Park from Pangnirtung. Ships soon become the ideal way to explore the Arctic, allowing you to travel comfortably while minimizing the impact on local communities and reaching destinations beyond the road network. Onboard collaboration, learning, exploration, and shared discovery quickly become the signature style that defines every Adventure Canada journey.

Travel continues to expand across Canada's three coastlines through pioneering expeditions, including the Environmental Discovery Series on the west coast, Project Arctic Coast aboard expedition vessels, and the first voyages to the Labrador Coast and the fjords of the Torngat Mountains in Nunatsiavut. Scientists, local artists, musicians, and cultural ambassadors join each voyage, creating immersive experiences that connect you with nature, history, science, and culture. Accomplished Canadian voices, including Robert Bateman, David Suzuki, Farley Mowat, and Margaret Atwood, also contribute to these enriching journeys.

Today, Adventure Canada operates expeditions aboard vessels such as the Ocean Endeavour, Island Solitude, La Pinta, and other purpose-built expedition ships. Comfortable ships, agile Zodiac landing craft, and a team of educators, researchers, cultural ambassadors, and expedition specialists allow you to reach some of the world's most remote destinations while enjoying meaningful exploration both onboard and ashore.

Adventure Canada grows from a small basement operation into a family-led company supported by more than one hundred accomplished resource staff and dedicated office professionals. Expertise, local knowledge, and lasting community relationships create authentic experiences that distinguish every expedition. Continuous leadership development, youth mentorship, staff training, and a safety-first culture strengthen Adventure Canada's position as an industry leader in expedition cruising.

The Swan family continues to guide Adventure Canada's future, with the next generation leading operations, product development, business growth, logistics, and expedition management while the founders remain actively involved. Adventure Canada remains a family operation at heart and stays committed to the mission that inspires every journey: engaging, entertaining, and educating by connecting people to each other and the land through innovative travel experiences. Every expedition cultivates connection and community, celebrates culture, and reflects the values of heart, humanity, and hope.
Mission

Adventure Canada engages, entertain, and educate by connecting people to each other and the land through innovative travel experiences. We cultivate connection and community. Adventure Canada celebrates culture. Adventure Canada is driven by heart, humanity, and hope.

Vision

Adventure Canada can be the company that does expedition cruising best, but it can also be the company that does it for the best reasons.

Sustainability at Adventure Canada
Thoughtful, accountable travel—grounded in care for people and place. 
Approach to Sustainable Travel
At Adventure Canada, sustainability begins with honesty. Adventure Canada knows that expeditions leave footprints—on climate, landscapes, cultures, and communities—and Adventure Canada believe responsibility starts by acknowledging those impacts clearly. Adventure Canada approach is twofold:  

• to actively reduce the harm the operations may cause, and;  
• to strengthen the positive contributions travel can make when it’s thoughtful, respectful, and grounded in learning.  

For them, sustainable travel is an ongoing practice of care and accountability that connects environmental integrity, cultural respect, and long-term stewardship. 

Adventure Canada Focus

• Climate & Operations - Adventure Canada works to understand and reduce the environmental impacts of the expeditions, from fuel use and emissions to waste and on-board systems—knowing that improvement is an ongoing process, not a fixed endpoint.
• Food Systems & Supply Chains - What Adventure Canada serves on board matters. Adventure Canada continues to lower the carbon footprint of the meals through thoughtful menu design, responsible sourcing, and a focus on reducing food waste across the voyages.
• People, Equity & Leadership - Sustainability includes how Adventure Canada treats one another. Adventure Canada is committed to inclusive teams, equitable leadership, and creating a respectful, supportive environment for guests and crew alike.
• Education, Community & Connection - Learning is central to the expeditions. Through on-board education and community engagement, Adventure Canada aims to deepen understanding, foster respect, and support more hopeful, informed conversations about place, culture, and reconciliation.
• How Adventure Canada Holds Accountable - Adventure Canada believes responsibility requires transparency. That’s why Adventure Canada publishes an annual Sustainability & Impact Report—sharing our progress, our challenges, and the work that remains. These reports are not declarations of completion; they are checkpoints in an ongoing process of learning and improvement.
• An Ongoing Commitment - Sustainability is not something achieved once—it’s something Adventure Canada commits to, together. Adventure Canada shares the work openly to encourage dialogue, invite scrutiny, and strengthen collective responsibility. Adventure Canada believes thoughtful travel can contribute meaningfully when guided by care, respect, and continued learning.