Soldier projects: Ebenezer Harrison

In order to prepare for their upcoming journey to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, students from across Canada research the life and death of a particular soldier in order to better understand and relate to the circumstances faced by so many young men and their families. Researching primary documents Read More …

Meet the designer behind Explorica’s Vimy 100 jacket

In preparation for Vimy 100, Explorica invited students to design an emblem for the official Explorica commemorative jacket. Students from across Canada were asked to share what the Battle of Vimy Ridge meant to them. The winner, high school student Maddy Haggith of Strathroy, Ontario, was inspired by a sense of responsibility to honour the Read More …

FAQ: Explorica tour directors

On tour, your experienced Explorica tour director guides your group every step of the way. They leverage their local expertise to bring the destinations to life and provide insider tips you won’t find in guidebooks. They’re fluent in your destination’s languages and are always one step ahead managing trip logistics, so you can relax and Read More …

2017 photo contest: Learning in action

It’s our favourite time of the year! Photo contest time! We received a record number of submissions in 2016 and we want to make 2017 bigger and better than ever! This year, we’ve chosen a theme: Learning in action. Show us the candid learning moments from your 2017 tour and you could win a $300 Read More …

Group leader spotlight: Gary R

Meet Gary, a Canadian history and social studies teacher for grades 9-12. He has 24 years of teaching experience, has led four tours with Explorica and is bringing his students to Vimy 100, a commemorative event hosted by the Canadian government marking the 100thanniversary of the First World War and the Battle of Vimy Ridge Read More …

FAQ: Spending money on tour

We stay in close contact with our group leaders and tour directors throughout the entire trip-planning process; from the first phone call to returning home, we are there every step of the way. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions that we get during the planning process regarding spending money on tour: How Read More …

2019 Commemorative D-Day tours

2019 marks the 75th anniversary of one of the most infamous conflicts in our history. The bravery that so many young Canadians exhibited during that fateful summer still touches our lives, and Explorica will be commemorating their sacrifice throughout the 2019 school year with a collection of tours specifically focused on D-Day. On June 6, 1944, a massive Allied force crossed the English Channel Read More …

Canadian history travel guide

The conversations we start on Remembrance Day can and should span all year long. Visitors to modern-day Europe can find ample reminders of a time when the continent was bitterly divided into Allied, Axis, Central and neutral powers. On this Remembrance Day, as a record number of Canadians prepare to visit Europe for the 100th anniversary Read More …

Bringing Canadian history to life

Meet Ron Labrie, a history teacher in Ponoka, Alberta. With years of experience leading commemorative tours with Explorica, Ron has gained some fascinating insight and stories to share about Canadian history, Vimy Ridge, and the impact of bringing students around the world to witness history firsthand.   What are your school’s connections to WWI? Ponoka Composite High School was the Alberta representative at the 90th Anniversary Read More …

Group Leader Spotlight: Phil Cassidy

Meet Phil Cassidy, a history and band teacher for grades 9–12. He has 22 years of teaching experience and has led seven tours with Explorica, with two more in the works. Phil served in the Canadian infantry for eight years—one of the many reasons he believes in the importance of connecting students with Canada’s military history. Has your military experience shaped how you teach Canadian history to your students? Absolutely. I Read More …