Maker’s Spotlight: Meet Jordan Stranger

This May, Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg are coming together to welcome the world to Winnipeg for Rendez-vous Canada, the country’s premier travel trade show. With guests arriving from across the globe, it’s our time to shine and we’re making sure Manitoba stands out.

To build excitement, we’ve invested in a joint event brand that visually unites all event materials while showcasing Winnipeg and Manitoba as world-class destinations. At the heart of this brand is something truly special—local artwork that offers attendees a deeper connection to the land, people and stories of Manitoba.

Through a competitive process, we selected Winnipeg-based artist and graphic designer Jordan Stranger to bring this vision to life. Jordan’s work blends Indigenous perspectives with modern storytelling, making him the perfect choice to represent Manitoba on the international stage.

“I got my start as a Winnipeg artist after college. I worked in advertising for about nine years, and then I went out for myself and have been working as a muralist, designer and illustrator for many clients since then,” Jordan shares. His journey into the arts was fueled by a passion for clarity in storytelling, a theme that runs through his work.

Stranger grew up in Peguis First Nation, about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

"We grew up on the land and we got to understand the trees, the water, the animals. All of our culture is embedded in that, and that will always be embedded in my work."

This connection to the land played a major role in shaping his illustration for Rendez-vous Canada. “Winnipeg and Manitoba are the main inspirations to my work. You'll see it in everything I do because everything comes from the land around us.”

Bringing Manitoba to Life Through Art

When it came to creating the piece, Jordan’s goal was to showcase Manitoba in an authentic, visually compelling way that speaks to both locals and visitors alike.“Once I started, I went back to what I knew, what I grew up with, what I understand now as an adult. You don’t want to put something out there that people won’t understand. I wanted people to know exactly what they were looking at when they're thinking of Winnipeg or Manitoba—whether it's the animals, the land itself, or the landmarks that we have. Having that all beautifully or harmoniously living together is important.”

The piece reflects Manitoba’s vast landscapes and ecosystems, from the prairies to the northern lights.

"It all starts at the ground level, and that ground for us is Turtle Island. That story has been shared and is being shared much more now. Above that, we have landmarks like The Forks, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and teepees that you see throughout Manitoba. The seasons, the wildlife—polar bears, belugas—are all there, reflecting the beauty of the province."

For Jordan, Manitoba is best described in one word: “Enriched. We have so much culture in this province, so many things that are right in front of us every day. We just have to dig deeper, look into that ourselves and explore beyond the four walls that we all live in.”

With his illustration, Jordan has given Rendez-vous Canada attendees a new perspective on Manitoba, building excitement for when they experience it for themselves this May.