OUR travel MISSION
- TO TRAVEL WITH BENEFIT -
Our main FOCUS
We focus on five key destinations, partnering with them to provide the Canadian travel industry with the most up-to-date resources and information. These destinations include Great Britain, North America, Europe, South East Asia, & Costa Rica. Over the years, we've come to harness an in-depth understanding of each of our destinations, which allows us to provide the travel industry and their Canadian travellers with the resources and expertise needed to make an extraordinarily authentic and tailor-made travel experience.
We are wonderfully DIFFERENT
We Are Wonderfully Different
We give the travel industry direct management for their clients. Our team is actively involved in every aspect of your program—from site inspections to contributing to DMC (destination management company) events, travel shows, and publications, all to enhance your journey. At Connection, we believe in the value of face-to-face meetings with our suppliers and partners. Our hands-on involvement ensures we're always in tune with the offerings of each destination, providing unparalleled authenticity. This means our partners and travelers are confidently ahead of the pack.
WHO we ARE
Founded in 1987, Connection Tours has been dedicated to providing authentic, trusted, and customized travel experiences designed to benefit Canadians.
At Connection Custom Travel, we aim to inspire, educate, and respect every traveler. We curate meaningful, life-changing experiences that bring together creativity and passion from around the world.
By embracing and fostering this unique travel style, we’re building a community of individuals who seek authentic, personalized journeys—whether for themselves or others. We craft tailor-made trips that meet the unique goals and personalities of our travelers, working with a professional organization committed to growth and meeting your needs.
We custom design itineraries at the required level and purchase directly from destinations—whether it’s tours, accommodations, transport, entertainment, or dining. Every component is chosen to ensure a travel experience like no other.
With direct management, we offer competitive rates without relying on intermediary suppliers, keeping costs low and giving you more control over the project. And we’re with you every step of the way to ensure a seamless experience.
OUR core VALUES
What we believe
Everyone should embark on at least one journey in their lives encouraging learning & discovery. Authentic travel experiences should be complimented with a first-hand discovery of culture, locally sourced dishes, and explorations that are deeply connected to the local community.
AUTHENTICITY
Focused on Canadians, with Their Best Interests in Mind
At Connection Custom Travel, we focus on the unique needs of Canadian travelers, building strong relationships with communities and tourist boards across Europe, Britain, Southeast Asia, and Costa Rica. We embrace authenticity by offering local dining, carefully selected accommodations, and working directly with trusted partners to ensure a memorable experience.
Even if you've visited these places before, our tours offer exclusive access and local insights, providing a fresh, immersive perspective on the destinations you thought you knew.
education
Experiencing the World, Igniting Understanding
We believe that firsthand experiences are the best way to foster deeper understanding. Travel connects us with world history, builds global community, and encourages sustainable practices. It’s an opportunity to celebrate passions and gain a richer, more profound knowledge.
Whether you're joining a Battlefield Tour or participating in a performance program, we tailor every itinerary to fit the unique needs of each group. Our team collaborates with organizers to align with your goals, offering pre-tour educational talks to ensure travelers are fully prepared for the journey.
COMMUNITY
A Travel Community Built on Decades of Experience
Our travel community traces its roots back to the 1980s. During this time, our founder, Ian Cowan, served as the principal escort for Canadian veterans and their families, guiding them to special events, ceremonies, and sometimes simply connecting families to the places where they had once lost a loved one. (See our Battlefield Tours, which continue to operate today.) Regardless of the reason for travel, our team’s passion and respect for these individuals fostered repeat journeys year after year.
Some of our travelers have participated in more than 16 official programs with us!
For you, this means joining a well-established, motivated community full of knowledge and experiences they’re eager to share.
INVOLVEMENT
Representing Canadians and Building Lasting Connections
No matter where we are on tour or how many people we travel with, we believe it’s our duty to represent Canadians at events and ceremonies around the world. We’re committed to immersing ourselves in the destinations we visit, strengthening relationships, and contributing positively to the local society, environment, and economy.
We take a hands-on approach, booking directly and integrating our travelers into the communities we work with. As a result, wherever we go, our travelers are always welcomed into a warm, inviting community.
RESPECT
Honouring Host Communities and Their Rich Histories
Our primary goal is to honour the communities we visit and the rich histories and cultures they embody. By returning year after year to Europe, Southeast Asia, and Costa Rica, we cultivate deeper, lasting relationships with these destinations. This continuity allows us to offer travelers more meaningful and immersive experiences, where they can truly connect with the places they visit. These ongoing connections also create greater opportunities for travelers to engage with local communities in a way that respects their traditions and supports sustainable tourism. Through these long-term partnerships, we strive to provide not just a visit, but a truly transformative journey.
SUPPORT
Supporting Travel Agencies Across Canada
We support both partnered and independent travel agencies across Canada by providing resources and information for customized travel to Britain, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America.
We work closely with renowned tourist boards like Visit Britain, Visit Scotland, Visit Wales, Visit Ireland, Flanders, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Costa Rica.
Through these partnerships, we share valuable destination insights, ensuring agencies can create exceptional travel experiences for their clients.
MEET our TEAM
A Team of Specialists with Diverse Expertise
Our team is composed of specialists from a variety of travel fields, including air ticketing, military history and battlefields, sustainable tourism, and more. Each member brings a wealth of experience and passion to their role.
From site inspections to in-house destination clinics, nearly every team member is actively involved in the destinations we work with. Over the years, we’ve built the flexibility to adapt alongside our suppliers and destinations, ensuring we stay aligned with the ever-changing travel landscape.
Our tour operators, managers, and guides include both locally sourced professionals and Canadian-based experts, many of whom have long-standing relationships within our organization. They are an essential part of our community, with many being historians or specialists in their fields. All of our guides are full-time, English-speaking professionals, ensuring our travelers benefit from deep destination knowledge, captivating stories, and meaningful experiences that resonate with the communities we visit. We take pride in having some of the best guides, escorts, and managers in the industry, and we only work with those we know and trust.
MEET OUR TEAM
Ian Cowan CEO & Lead Program Director
Ian Cowan is the CEO and founder of Connection Custom Travel and The Battlefield Tours, with over 35 years of experience in the travel industry. His journey began in 1986 when he first encouraged and escorted Canadian veterans and their families to the historic battlefields of France and Belgium. This initiative was born out of a deep respect for Canada's military history and the desire to ensure that the sacrifices made by those who fought in the world wars would never be forgotten. Over the years, Ian’s commitment to honoring the past has led him to design and lead numerous specialized programs for a variety of groups. These include Canadian families, choirs, performance groups, government associations, and student groups, all of whom share a common desire to connect with the history of Europe and the UK. Under his leadership, Connection Custom Travel and Battlefield Tours has grown into a trusted name, known for providing exceptional travel experiences that are both educational and transformative. Ian is deeply involved in every aspect of the company’s operations, ensuring that the programming remains true to its mission of delivering personalized, meaningful travel experiences. His passion for history, coupled with his dedication to creating immersive and respectful tours, has allowed Connection Custom Travel to continue making an impact, fostering a deeper understanding of history for each traveller. Through his active role in the execution of all tour programming, Ian Cowan ensures that every tour is a journey of both remembrance and discovery.
Jip Meijer
Tour Manager Holland
Since 2008, Jip Meijer, a dedicated military historian based in the Netherlands, has been guiding and organizing military-historical trips and battlefield tours, focusing primarily on the significant battlefields of the First and Second World Wars. His deep passion for history and expertise in military strategy and tactics have made him a highly sought-after guide for those wanting to explore the stories and events of these pivotal conflicts. Jip’s knowledge doesn’t stop at the 20th century. His expertise spans centuries of military history, ranging from the ancient Roman period to the Middle Ages, the Eighty Years' War, and the Napoleonic Wars. This wide-ranging understanding allows him to provide a comprehensive view of military history, tracing the evolution of warfare and the impacts these battles had on the course of history. Whether guiding tours through the battlefields of Europe or offering in-depth analysis of key moments from earlier periods, Jip’s insight and ability to weave together military facts with human stories make his tours both educational and engaging. His ability to contextualize these historic events and their enduring effects on the world today provides travellers with a deep and well-rounded understanding of military history from multiple perspectives.
Jon Haslock Tour Manager & Guide,
France
Jon has a strong military background, having served in the Territorial Army for five years, which deepened his understanding and knowledge of military history. His passion for history led him to pursue a full-time history degree at Leeds University, which he completed in 2005. Shortly after, Jon and his family moved to the Somme, where he combined his love of history with a career in guiding. Jon began his guiding career part-time at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire. In 2006, he became a full-time battlefield guide for the Musée Somme 1916 in Albert. In 2013, he took the step to become an independent guide, furthering his expertise in the history of the Great War and offering personalized battlefield tours.
Vic Piuk Guide, France
Vic is a specialized WWI battlefield guide, covering key sites from the Belgian coast to the southern Western Front. His tours span Flanders, the Somme, Verdun, and more, focusing on the British, Commonwealth, American, French, and German forces. Vic is passionate about walking tours and integrates Great War literature and poetry into his programs. With Slovenian heritage, he also guides in the Isonzo Front in Slovenia and Italy, offering a diverse and enriching experience.
Rose Nguyen Tour Guide, Vietnam
Rose is an experienced local and culinary guide from Hanoi. With a degree from the University of Languages & International Studies and an International Tour Guide License from the Vietnam Administration of Tourism, she has a strong foundation in guiding. Her passion for Vietnamese cuisine led her to take culinary courses, and she worked as a professional chef. Rose's expertise and enthusiasm provide visitors with a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and values, especially those lucky enough to experience her guidance in Hanoi.
Melody Johnson, Creative Director & Tour Manager Western Europe
Melody Johnson is an honours graduate of the University of Toronto’s world and fine art history specialist program, as well as the Liaison Culinary Arts College, combining a deep academic foundation with a passion for creativity. Her diverse educational background allows her to offer a unique perspective on history, art, and culinary traditions. Melody has always been drawn to the rich stories that art, history, and food can tell, and she brings that passion to every tour she curates. With an extensive background in event planning, curation, and creative design, Melody has had the opportunity to plan and coordinate numerous group tours, each tailored to the specific interests and goals of the participants. Her expertise is not only in logistics, but also in creating unforgettable experiences that connect travellers to the culture, history, and local flavors of each destination. She takes a hands-on approach in organizing everything from intimate culinary experiences to large-scale tours, ensuring every detail is meticulously planned. In addition to her work in event curation, Melody frequently accompanies the Battlefield Tours, sharing her knowledge of art, history, and culture with travellers. She also leads fine art and culinary programs in Western Europe for Connection Custom Tours, where her deep understanding of both the historical significance and the regional gastronomy enhances the travel experience. Melody’s expertise provides an opportunity for travellers to engage with history and art in a meaningful way, offering them a journey through time and taste. With her passion and dedication, she continues to create enriching and immersive experiences that inspire and educate travellers from all over the world.
Joel Stoppels, Tour Manager & Guide, Netherlands
Joël Stoppels is a passionate historian and battlefield guide based in the Netherlands. He founded Battlefield Tours and dedicates his work to preserving the memory of the wars, particularly through detailed tours of significant WWII operations. Joël organizes tours for both military and civilian groups, focusing on key events such as Market Garden, the operations of the 1st British Airborne Division, the US 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, the French SAS in Operation Amherst, and the Canadian contributions in the Netherlands and Germany. He is an active member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides (badge no. 70) and serves as the coordinator for the Liberation Route Europe's guide network.
Jo Hook, Guide France
Jo Hook is a skilled guide specializing in military history tours across several key locations. She covers Arnhem (Operation Market Garden), Normandy, the Western Front, and Gallipoli, with in-depth knowledge of significant British sites as well. Jo also provides services related to the Battle of Britain and Britain on the home front during World War II. While Jo can offer driver-guide services, she prefers conducting hop-on/hop-off tours. This format allows more flexibility, offering a more interactive and immersive experience for participants as they explore these historically rich locations.
Alison Haslock Tour Manager & Guide,
France
Alison is a passionate WW1 guide with a deep love for history, particularly the First World War. Although she initially pursued a career in Pharmacy, history remained a lifelong hobby, and her interest in WW1 began over 25 years ago during her first visit to the Somme battlefield. She started as a "co-driver" for Jon on battlefield tours, which sparked a lasting passion for the subject. After several trips to the battlefields, Alison seized the opportunity to move to the Somme in 2005, where she has since made her home. She is now honored to live and work on the battlefields, sharing her knowledge and passion for WW1 history with others.
Martin Heyes Tour Guide, Hong Kong
Martin Heyes was born and raised near Liverpool in north-west England. He joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after secondary education and was commissioned in the British Army, serving in the infantry in the U.K. and Germany. After leaving the Army, Martin continued his service in the Royal Hong Kong Police, where he worked for 25 years, including after the 1997 reversion of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. He served in various roles within the Uniform Branch. Following retirement, Martin worked in the security industry, eventually becoming a Project Manager for the United States Consulate-General’s guard force contract in Hong Kong.
Glenn Edmonds, Tour Manager & Guide
Battlefields Western Europe
Glenn Edmonds has been a valued member of The Battlefield Tours team for the past 15 years. With extensive knowledge of Canada’s and our Allies’ military history, Glenn is dedicated to sharing the stories of those who served in the First and Second World Wars. His passion provides an in-depth understanding of these pivotal moments and the sacrifices made by our countries. Based on Vancouver Island, Glenn has worked closely with founder Ian Cowan to deliver unforgettable, meaningful tours. Glenn and the entire Battlefield Tours team are eager to share this journey of remembrance with you.
Carl Ooghe, Tour Manager & Guide
Belgium & France
Carl is a seasoned tour guide, author, and passionate historian with nearly three decades of experience. He specializes in organizing tours and providing expert interpretation at key historical sites, including memorials, monuments, cemeteries, museums, and other significant venues. His expertise is particularly focused on Flanders, Picardy, Marne, and Meuse-Argonne, covering the three main sectors of the old Western Front in Belgium and France. Carl’s tours offer deep insight into the cultural and historical heritage of these regions, making his work invaluable to those seeking a thorough understanding of the area's significance.
Brigitte de Cuyper, Guide France
Brigitte is an experienced and passionate battlefield guide with a deep connection to the sites she covers. Having worked for five years at the “Somme 1916 Museum” in Albert, she has a strong foundation in the history of the region. After spending 26 years in the UK, Brigitte brings a unique perspective and an excellent command of English to her tours, making her a fantastic communicator. For the past seven years, she has lived in the Somme, where she was born, and now runs her own guiding business. She specializes in the battlefields of Northern France, offering insightful and engaging tours, showcasing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the history of the area.
Jerry Dai Tour Guide, Vietnam
Having been working as an English Speaking tour guide for 10 years, and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Vietnam Tourism from Hue University, Jerry is our Vietnam Battlefield specialist. He is a local tour guide in Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue, Danang, DMZ tours). Jerry’s intense knowledge and infectious enthusiasm allows him to share interesting stories about Vietamise culture, history, food, Vietnam War, daily life and rural living. Jerry has over a decade of experience in tourism, and welcomes many groups from Canada, America, United Kingdom, Europe interested in Vietnam War andVietnam battlefields.
Sophon (Tom) Seang Tour Guide, Cambodia
Tom is a licensed tour guide, fully certified by the Ministry of Tourism, and has been guiding travelers through the Angkor complex and across Cambodia since 2016. He loves being a tour guide because it allows him to have incredible experiences while sharing Cambodia’s rich culture, art, history, and stunning landmarks with visitors from around the world. Additionally, Tom enjoys learning about different cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life. He looks forward to offering you an exciting and memorable journey through the temples of Angkor and the captivating surroundings of Cambodia.