7 Northern Soul Stories to Savour This Summer in Canada
Looking for meaningful travel inspiration this summer? Whether you’re road-tripping through the Maritimes, foraging in the forest, or exploring the wild North, these seven Northern Soul stories capture the essence of summer in Canada. Rooted in community, culture, and connection to the land, each story offers a taste of Canada across the country.
If you’re craving a journey that’s as nourishing as it is unforgettable, start with these soulful reads, each one a window into Canada’s vibrant foodways and the people who shape them.
1. A Butcher in the North: Local Food and Sustainable Practice in Dawson City
Explore how one Yukon charcuterie shop is bringing flavour and food security to the North.
BonTon & Co. Photo: Archbould Photography
In Yukon’s Dawson City, BonTon & Co. is redefining what it means to eat local in the North. Through whole-animal butchery, seasonal sourcing, and a deep commitment to community, this small shop offers a powerful model of food sovereignty and sustainability in Canada’s subarctic.
Read North of 64.
2. Healing Through Harvest: Indigenous Flavours at Feast Café Bistro in Winnipeg
Discover how chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther is using food as a tool for connection, healing, and education.
Feast Café Bistro
Chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther’s Feast Café Bistro in Winnipeg is more than a restaurant, it’s a place of healing, education, and celebration. With a menu rooted in Indigenous ingredients and tradition, Feast is a heartfelt invitation to experience culture through food.
Read: The Original Feast
3. Rooted in Place: A Local Twist on Ontario’s Bounty
Visit an Ontario restaurant giving familiar dishes a fresh, local twist.
Twisted Lemon
Nestled in the heart of Ontario, Twisted Lemon is redefining regional dining with creativity and intention. Explore how the restaurant celebrates locally sourced produce, supports area farmers, and adds unexpected culinary twists — showing how one kitchen can become a meaningful hub in seasonal, community-led food culture.
Read: A Local Twist
4. A Taste of the Land: Exploring Canada Through Regional Flavours
From coast to coast, see how food tells the story of where we are and where we’ve been.
Photo: André Quenneville/Bonjour Quebec
From coastal seafood to prairie grains and boreal herbs, food is a powerful lens on identity and landscape. Gabrielle Mueller of the Culinary Tourism Alliance travels across Canada to explore how flavour can tell the story of place — and why culinary tourism is about more than what’s on the plate.
Read: Taste of Canada
5. On the Water: Sturgeon, Storytelling, and the Bounty of the River
Follow the journey of an iconic Canadian fish from river to roe
Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar
In New Brunswick’s Saint John River, a sturgeon biologist is blending science and sustainability to protect one of Canada’s oldest species. This story explores how careful conservation methods are helping revive wild sturgeon populations—while producing a world-class caviar that honours both ecology and culture.
Read: The Sturgeon Experience
6. A Zero-Waste Farm Feast in Nova Scotia
Follow the rhythms of the season at a regenerative on-farm restaurant that sources ingredients just steps from the table, celebrating slow food, sustainability, and rooted hospitality.
GRÁ
Set on a working farm in Nova Scotia, GRÁ is an innovative restaurant rooted in slow food principles and sustainable practice. With ingredients harvested steps from the kitchen, Earth’s Bounty offers a regenerative culinary experience that’s both elegant and down-to-earth.
Read: Earth’s Bounty
7. Wild Foraging on Newfoundland’s Coast
Walk the shorelines and wooded trails of Newfoundland with Chef Alex Shaw who turn nature’s abundance into extraordinary meals — revealing the deep knowledge and creativity found in wild food culture.
Cape Broyle Newfoundland, Alex Shaw Cape Retreat
From foraging walks to tea-making workshops, a zero-waste culinary space is opening its doors just an hour from St. John’s on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. Chef Alex Shaw is showcasing culture and nature through food.
Read: Gather on the Cape
Experience Canada’s summer through community-driven flavors:
As summer unfolds across Canada’s diverse landscapes, these Northern Soul stories offer a tapestry of travel experiences that are both enriching and transformative. From the culinary innovations at Twisted Lemon in Ontario to the zero-waste culinary wonders of Nova Scotia, each story highlights the spirit of community-driven tourism. By embracing local flavors and traditions, these narratives not only celebrate Canada’s bountiful foodways but also foster meaningful connections with the land and its people. We hope they inspire you on your Canadian travels.
Read all of our Canadian stories in the latest issue of Northern Soul Magazine, available for free.
