The Great Excursions Company

CA

Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Assemble communautaire fransaskoise Bear Hills and Prairie Trails Tourism Association Bottineau Chamber of Commerce (ND) Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Socit Radio-Canada Canadian Tourism Commission Chief Electoral officer to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada Conseil de dveloppement conomique du Manitoba Cumberland Regional College Destination Nord de l'Ontario Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau (ND) Farm Credit Canada Government of Canada (Privy Council Office) Historic Reesor Ranch Marketplace of Ideas (ND) Ontario Department of Tourism North Dakota State University Prairie West Regional College Rosetown Chamber of Commerce Rural Municipality of Good Lake Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association Southeast Regional College Southeast Rural Resource Program Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference Sunrise Community Futures Development Corporation United States Department of Agriculture Upper Dakota Resource Conservation and Development (ND) Tourism Industry Association of Canada Town of Mortlach Travelinx Victory Agricultural Society

'This is just a quick note to thank you again for your presentation & tour of the back (... and front lanes) of the regina Downtown. Your knowledge of the area is amazing and you present it with such enthusiasm that I am sure our Board of Governors went home with a better appreciation of Regina and its history & built environment. Thank you as well, for arranging the room and meal at Alfredo's. By taking care of that, you made the evening even easier for us.' Laureen Snook and Roger Green on behalf of The Saskatchewan Association of Landscape Architects and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects

'I really enjoyed the Back Alley Safari offered by Great Excursions. Our guide, C-J, was excellent. His tremendous enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject matter made the tour very interesting and enjoyable. I learned a great deal about Regina, its development, and how people have used their city spaces. The Back Alley Safari is a unique and delightful way to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend it!' Kim Byrns on behalf of a group of Sasktel Mobility team

'Great Excursions has a knack for making the 'out-of-the-way' gems that one would normally 'stumble across' by chance into the main course!' Kevin O'fee, Regina

'What I especially like about Great Excursions is the extremely knowledgeable and entertaining proprietor/tour guide Claude-Jean Harel. Claude brings his passion for Saskatchewan (its history, landscape, flora/fauna, people) and adventure to every excursion to make a truly memorable experience, which is enhanced by sharing the journey of discovery with a small, intimate group of like-minded individuals who are seeking the kind of exacting experience that is offered. Through Great Excursions I have discovered the diversity, exoticism and magic of Saskatchewan.' Gordon Lawson, Oxford, UK

'What a wonderful time I had exploring the Big Muddy Lake area and the St. Victor Petroglyphs with Great Excursions! The scenery alone would have made it a memorable day, but your extensive knowledge of the area - historical, geological, archaeological - provided a context and perspective that made the experience truly unforgettable. Thank you again for sharing your enthusiasm for this fascinating place.' Krista Page, New York

'Great Excursions chief guide, Claude-Jean Harel, makes the journey more important than the destination. With charismatic style, humourous charm and a contagious laugh, he never fails to entertain travellers with his genuine interest in Canadian history and local landscape.' Larissa Lozowchuk, Regina

'Great Excursions gives adventurers a sense of local flavour, literally and figuratively, combining geography and gastronomy in a recipe for success.' Larissa McWhinney, Toronto

'Living in Regina for a year and a half was, I thought, going to be a pleasant if uneventful adventure. Claude-Jean and his company, Great Excursions, has helped me discover Saskatchewan in ways I would never have otherwise. The excursion to Last Mountain Lake was truly memorable - a personalized guided tour to birds in SK at their migration time, followed by a wonderful home-cooked meal in a nearby small town gas-station restaurant! Claude-Jean and his wife also hosted a cheeses-of-the-world evening accompanied by wine and good friends. I've enjoyed both experiences so much - thank you Claude-Jean! Your experiences are memorable!' Jennifer Bayne. Toronto

'Claude Jean Harel was a genial, knowledgeable guide. He regaled us with tales of local lore and encouraged us to revel in our natural surroundings. His enthusiasm for both the curious and the commonplace was positively contagious!' Sandra Bobyk, Regina

'When I got a year contract in Saskatchewan, I didn't know much about the province. I soon met Claude-Jean from Great Excursions whose genuine love of the province is quickly transferred to his clients. He helped plan weekend trips and made sure I would not miss any of the interesting sites along the way. I never knew that Saskatchewan was a whole lot more than the prairie, and even the prairie is fascinating when seen the way Great Excursions presents it. I was also very impressed with Claude-Jean and Helen's knowledge of Saskatchewan history. I am so happy that I was able to experience Saskatchewan in this way and feel I know Canada that much more.' Genevive Martin, Kingston, Ontario

'Claude-Jean, Thanks for guiding us with such enthusiasm, knowledge, and of course good taste! Many thanks!' The Outdoor Life Network Crew, Toronto

'Thanks again for all your help - you were an excellent adventure guide for us - and just plain fun to have along on our shoot. We'll be sure to send you a copy of the show once it's all put together.' Andrea Bilash, CTV Toronto

'I have been back a couple of days now and my Saskatchewan travels sadly already seem like a long time ago! I really had the most amazing time. Claude-Jean Harel from Great Excursions really put a great package together for me. And I liked the fact that I was completely independent. Though I think if a group were to book he would accompany them if he were free. He picked me up from the airport on arrival in Regina and took me to the Saskatchewan hotel where I stayed my first and last night. He then gave me all the details of my trip, with maps etc. The next morning he met me and took me to the car hire firm after which I set out to my first destination, the Eastview Wilderness Ranch near Arborfield, run by Corrina and Larry Kapeller.

I had the most amazing time with Larry & Corrina Kapeller. They run a fantastic outfit there and it is still a true working ranch which is what I wanted (totally different from the many guest ranches you get in America). The horses were great and the riding was just amazing and Larry & Corrina are just very nice down to earth people. I learnt an awful lot about farming, horses, wildlife etc. and came away feeling part of the family. We rounded cattle, mended fences, rode a lot, tore around on a quad bike and many other activities which are part of life on a farm. At night we sat around the campfire and chatted and I saw the Northern lights on three of the 5 nights there, which was stunning. The accommodation is in cabins (though you can camp if you want) which is basic but has everything and the food prepared by Corrina each day was fantastic. I will definitely go back there at some point. In fact I can't think of a better place to ride anywhere. I can thoroughly recommend the Kapeller Ranch.

After 6 days I then moved south to the Cowesses First Nation Reservation in the Qu'Appelle Valley, by Crooked Lake, where I spent time with Hugh and Barbara Lerat, Cree Indians, who run Spotted Medicine Horse Outfitters. My accommodation there was a Tipi with a fire in the middle. My time amongst the Cree Indians was great. I was the only visitor there so got to spend a lot of time with Hugh & Barbara Lerat. They camped with me and I learnt a lot about their culture, traditions and religion by just talking with them, their family & friends. We did some riding (lovely Appaloosa, Paint & Pinto horses), though only trail riding through the Qu'Appelle hills and coulis which are very beautiful. On the trail rides Hugh showed me plants, roots, flowers, etc. that he uses (he is a medicine man) - he has a cure for everything! Some plants etc that don't grow in Sask. - he gets from other places in Canada & the US usually by trading with others or sometimes he makes a trip and gathers stuff himself.

I attended a Pow-Wow on the next reservation which was an amazing display of colours, dancing and drums. You really feel the immense sense of pride the Indians have on such an occasion. The highlight for me was the Sweat Lodge, which I found a very moving experience - I guess it's their 'church' and I felt very honored to be allowed to participate. They are so very much in tune with nature -even now- and I found the basis of their beliefs and spiritualism very honest and refreshing. Their attitude to animals other races and cultures is a very embracing one which is probably one of the reasons why they are in the situation they are now.

Sadly, they also don't help themselves so the prejudice towards them gets perpetuated and it becomes a vicious circle. Hugh and Barbara run a lot of camps for First Nation children from Regina & other cities to try and teach them about their own culture & traditions, trying to give them a sense of pride back which many have lost.

Living in the Tipi is great fun and its right by a lake in which you can swim and they have some Indian type canoes as well. The only thing which might put people off is the toilet & water facilities which are very basic. You can get a good shower for a couple of $ though on a campsite 10 min ride from the reservation. My Tipi was great - much bigger than I had expected and it had a fire in the middle which was very welcoming some nights.

Staying amongst the Cree Indians was a very moving experience for me but then I have always been interested in their culture. It probably wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea, particularly if creature comforts are important, but if people are open minded and don't mind basic camping facilities and want to learn something about their culture and traditions, it is ideal!

So my trip was truly amazing; Sask. doesn't seem to be a big tourist destination in Canada, most people tend to go to BC and Alberta but I certainly fell in love with the place and people and really didn't want to come back to England. I will definitely go back to both places I visited.'

Gesa Paulfeierborn, England

721213, 541619, 561520