In a captivating interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Little Canada, shared the inspiring story behind the creation of this unique attraction. Jean-Louis combined his deep love for Canada with a lifelong passion for miniatures to bring the country’s diverse landscapes and rich histories to life on a smaller scale. Little Canada offers visitors a chance to explore the wonders of Canada, from coast to coast, in just a few hours. Jean-Louis also highlighted the New to Canada program, which aims to welcome immigrants by connecting them with Canadian culture, history, and stories that inspire. Through its educational experiences, Little Canada fosters community connection and serves as a standout destination for both locals and tourists, earning it a 4.9 average Google rating and the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award.
Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer is a visionary leader and founder of Little Canada, a meticulously crafted miniature replica of the country. Over the past decade, he has dedicated his resources and expertise to creating this detailed exhibit, which currently features six destinations: Little Niagara, Little Toronto, Little Golden Horseshoe, Little Ottawa, Petit Quebec, and Little East Coast.
Jean-Louis brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career in the family business, Brenninkmeijer’s C&A, a global retail empire. His professional journey has taken him across major European cities, including London, Paris, Rotterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, and Toronto, where he honed his skills in business development and management.
Can you share the founding story of Little Canada and how your love for the country and passion for miniatures came together to create this unique attraction?
Little Canada is Canada in miniature – think polly-pocket sized scale of Canada, where the CN Tower could almost fit through your front door and the figurines are small enough to get lost in a handful of change.
I moved to Canada in the 1999 with my family. It’s here that I started to discover the richness and diversity of the country and the wonderful stories behind its people. Combine that with my childhood memories of visiting Madurodam with my family and the joy from my father’s model train set that has since been passed on to me… that’s how the idea took root!
In all this, I noticed that Canadians weren’t boastful about their country. Canada is the second largest country in the world. Very few Canadians will have the opportunity to visit it all. I saw in this opportunity a way to allow people to discover the wonders of Canada, it’s stories, histories and moments that have shaped this incredible nation in a matter of hours. I was happy to do the boasting on behalf of Canadians and allow guests to discover Canada in a way that’s never been done before.
Tell us more about the New to Canada program at Little Canada. What motivated you to develop this initiative, and how do you hope it will impact newcomers to Canada?
Annual immigration will amount to almost 500,000 new immigrants this year. Emigration happens when immigrants encounter difficulties integrating into the Canadian labour market or society. Retaining immigrants needs to be a focus of all Canadian companies.
Immigrants have an important impact on our country. They pay taxes and contribute to our infrastructure funds, account for 32% of all business owners with paid staff and increase our labour market supply. Importantly, about one-third have volunteered, and two-thirds are part of social organizations. Immigrants are involved in every aspect of our economy. Their integration is vital for social cohesion, inclusive growth and their ability to become self-reliant and productive.
Little Canada’s New to Canada program is meant to welcome immigrants and provide them with a means to connect to Canada – from its land to its culture and people. With so many stories of Canadian immigrants who have had an impact on the Canada we see today, we believe Little Canada is an important starting point to inspire Canadian immigrants. We share stories like:
- Jean Lumb: When she married her husband in 1939, she was given the status of “alien”. That didn’t stop her from raising her 6 children, having a pivotal role in changing Canada’s immigration laws that separated Chinese families and being a key contributor to saving Toronto’s Chinatown. Without Jean Lumb, we wouldn’t have the Toronto we have today, with its vibrant Chinatown and community.
- Thornton and Lucie Blackburn: Having escaped the slave market in the United States in 1834, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn established the first taxicab company in Toronto the 1850s. Their business doing well, they gave back to the community and even billeted escaped slaves who came to Toronto. The Blackburns built house which were rented at nominal rates to families of freedom seekers. They also helped create Buxton, a new community for formerly enslaved people near Chatham, ON.
We believe in putting our weight behind the power of immigrants for the benefit of Canada. Little Canada aims to be a part of their welcome committee, offering a platform to experience Canadian culture, history and stories that inspire.
How does Little Canada serve as an educational and community-building resource? What unique experiences do you offer that foster learning and connection among visitors?
We pride ourselves on telling stories that might be less known. An example of that is the standalone Little Vimy Ridge, unveiled in April. While we could have detailed the war itself, we chose to tell the story behind 100 Vimy Oaks that line Centennial Park in Vimy, France.
We bring an opportunity to connect to our multifaceted culture through various scenes like the Chinese Railroad Workers Memoria, a Punjabi wedding and the Nunatsiavut Assembly, to name a few. Our Guest Experience team is always present to elaborate on the stories we depict, which is key to fostering engagement and community.
What are some of the unique experiences that make Little Canada a standout destination for both locals and tourists?
Little Canada is a place to experience our country and its diversity in the matter of hours: from the rugged terrain of Newfoundland to the snowy and folkloric culture of Quebec to the romantic Niagara-on-the-Lake.
We tell Canadian stories through the art of miniature where guests can discover whimsical moments, delightful easter eggs and moments in time that capture your imagination. Real magic happens when guests share nostalgic memories with each other and our team, based on what they see.
We offer the opportunity to be part of something small – we are the only experience where you can leave your mark…literally. You can be part of the growing little Canada population of almost 5000 now, by getting yourself littlized in a ¾” statue and placed within the experience, in a spot that holds a special memory or moment for you. You become part of the experience!
Little Canada has received a 4.9 average Google rating and recently won the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. What do you think contributes to such high levels of visitor satisfaction and recognition?
I believe the experience of the attraction in its totality is why we get such great reviews. To begin, we welcome our guests at Little Canada – before they even purchase their tickets. We want everyone to feel like they belong here.
Guests are wowed from the first moment they walk in – while our world is miniature, it spans 45,000 sq. ft. It’s small and yet so GIANT! It’s filled with impressive “blink-and-you-miss-it” details that capture your attention at every turn.
Guest satisfaction comes with the opportunity to learn, discover and experience Canada in a way that’s never been done before.
