Blind Love: An Inspring Way to Discover Québec

Not to be impolitic, how does one sightsee when one can't see the sights?

"Well, I don't know what a steak tastes like to you, but it tastes awesome to me!" says Danny Kean, a Long Island musician who has been blind since birth.

Eyes Forward
It was an ambitious undertaking on the part of Tourisme Qu�bec: To market a destination using a blind man. Now making the rounds on YouTube and with over a million hits, "Blind Love" explores how Kean experienced the French-speaking, Europe-tinged Canadian province.

"Today we have to win over a tourist who is already well-traveled. We had to find a truly original way to showcase Quebec in all its beauty," remarks Marc Fortin, Vice-President and Creative Director at lg2, the agency behind 'Blind Love.' "I believe we achieved that."

With Quebecois actress Judith Baribeau acting as tour guide, Kean takes viewers into a surprisingly personal state of virtual synesthesia as they explore some of the province's most notable destinations. Intimate moments are captured such as Kean's fingers grazing over a bronze statue, as well as sweeping footage that invokes the winds of Quebec's coast. The meticulousness of fashion designer Philippe Dubuc emphasizes the snugness of a perfectly-fitted suit, while flying a helicopter - yes, a blind man at the steering wheel - conveys the awesome power of nature and humankind's thrill-driven ability to defy gravity.

"There is so much more to 'see' about a place that really has nothing to do with seeing it," explains Kean. "There is how a place a place smells, how a place feels. And I tell people to close their eyes a little more often and you'll be surprised at what you can learn."

No Limits
Kean, whose voice takes a jazzy prosody when he "feels" a moment, is an avowed adrenaline junkie, and while his tour certainly had its culture-vulture side trips, there is no rollercoaster or zip line he doesn't like. But if whizzing by the roar of Montmorency Falls or taking the plunges on the Goliath at the iconic La Ronde amusement park in Montreal were all fine and good, it was an unplanned encounter with nature that impressed Kean the most:

"To hear a whale pop out of the water and breath some air is something... you know you are dealing with something mammoth and rare to see in your lifetime."

A melodic jack-of-all-trades, with singing, keyboards, guitar, drums, bass, and organ all on his resume, Kean is acutely attuned to his senses of hearing and touch. It is that very subtle ability Quebec hopes will eloquently spread its all-inclusive message and separate it from the rabble of other locales gearing up for the summer travel season.

Out Of The Dark
The campaign includes social media and an interactive website allowing visitors to relive the most memorable moments of Kean's trip, not only from the viewpoint of Kean, but also of Baribeau. The result is the exploration of a destination where all the senses revel independently on an equal playing field, as well as a few reactions.

"Of all the places I have been, I found Quebec unbelievably warm from a people standpoint," Kean concludes, and it isn't just a plug. "As a blind person, you are always against the obstacle of being the odd man out. The warmth of the Quebecois, the kindness they showed... it is definitely worth the price of admission."