Yukon Ranked Luckiest Place to Live in Canada; World Indigenous Tourism Group Founded; New Spa at Grand Wailea Maui

The Yukon is the luckiest place to live in Canada, but Ontario’s good, too, and Prince Edward Island also scores well.

Online gambling site Lucky Days analyzed seven varying factors to rank the luckiest place to live in Canada. Each province and territory was rated based on average life expectancy, hourly wage, population growth in the last five years, 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI), unemployment rate, the rate of crime incidents per 100,000 people, and annual investment in residential construction per 100,000 residents. The regions were then each given a luckiness score out of 70 and ranked. 

Despite being one of the least populated areas in Canada, the Yukon topped the study as the luckiest place to live in the entire country. The territory soared to the top of the list thanks to having the lowest unemployment rate of 3.6% in 2023. Meanwhile, the rate of investment in residential construction is over $50 million more in the Yukon than in any other region in Canada. Between November 2022 and November 2023, approximately $621,640,631 was invested in residential construction per 100,000 people. The Yukon also ranked high for population growth in the last five years, coming second with 11.39%.  

Falling just short of top spot and ranking above every other province, Ontario secured its position as the second luckiest region in Canada. Despite not ranking top in any of the seven metrics, Ontario ranked high with a life expectancy of 82.41 from birth, only second to British Columbia. The province also took fifth spot for average hourly wage ($26.25) and had the sixth-highest population growth within the last five years with 9.64%. Ontario also happens to be one of the safest places to live in Canada, averaging just 4,425 incidents of crime per 100,000 residents, lower than every other region except Quebec.  

British Columbia is Canada’s third luckiest place to live, according to the new study. The province ranked top for life expectancy, with the average in the state at 82.54, over 10 years more than the region with the lowest life expectancy, Nunavut. It seems that British Columbia is also the second-best place to purchase goods in Canada, boasting a Consumer Price Index of 151.2. The only region where inflation is lower is Nunavut. An average hourly wage of $27 and annual investment of over $545 million in residential construction per 100,000 residents mean British Columbia secured third spot on the ranking. 

Prince Edward Island ranked fourth among Canada’s luckiest regions to live. The eastern province has enjoyed the highest population growth in the last five years. As of Q4 2018, the population sat at 153,906, but it has grown by 14.26% to 175,583 by the end of 2023. The region also boasts the fourth-highest life expectancy and third-lowest rate of crime in the country. Despite this, Prince Edward Island is home to the lowest average hourly wage at $22.35 and the third highest unemployment rate in Canada at 8.1%.  

Here’s the full top ten, with lucky scoring numbers:

1. Yukon 56.43
2. Ontario 55.84
3. British Columbia 55.11
4. Prince Edward Island 53.71
5. Quebec 53.02
6. Nova Scotia 51.89
7. Alberta 50.94
8. New Brunswick 49.56
9. Manitoba 47.53
10. Northwest Territories 45.48
11. Saskatchewan 43.70
12. Newfoundland & Labrador 39.28
13. Nunavut 38.41

 

 

WORLD INDIGENOUS TOURISM GROUP BORN

As part of the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC), leaders from New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT), American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) announced today the brand and visual identity of a new organization in the works called Destination Original International Tourism (DO-IT).

Destination Original International Tourism (DO-IT) will be dedicated to the development and marketing of authentic Indigenous tourism destinations globally once its has been created. The goal is to bring the world’s Indigenous tourism industry together under one roof to ensure a larger presence and a unified voice in promoting the industry.
This entails generating opportunities for joint initiatives and fostering innovative marketing partnerships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous entities, as well as working close with
governments and industry leaders globally. In particular, the organization aims to gain recognition and a seat-at-the-table with UN Tourism to ensure an Indigenous voice is included
in their tourism marketing efforts.

“It’s so important to have an Indigenous-led organization like DO-IT lead the growth of Indigenous tourism. For too long we’ve seen global entities try to market Indigenous tourism on
our behalf, yet many travellers still don’t know about our industry, its importance to preserving our cultures and in reconciliation efforts,” said Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC. “By joining forces globally, we can elevate Indigenous tourism to new heights, ensuring its long-term sustainability and impact on Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. It is no longer about us without us.”

 

NIAGARA AND TORONTO CRUISES STARTING EARLY AGAIN

City Cruises Canada is preparing for another early opening in 2024 across all three of its properties.

Coming off a 2023 season that marked the earliest opening ever for a boat cruise to the base of Niagara Falls, Niagara City Cruises is once again looking at a March opening, with plans to have one of its twin catamarans operational on March 28^th — just in time for the Easter long weekend.

“We are getting set for the launch of the Niagara Thunder vessel and preparing the lower landing in the Niagara Gorge,” says Mory DiMaurizio, Chief Operating Officer of City Cruises Canada. “We are excited and looking forward to another early opening for one of Canada’s leading tourism experiences.”

The Niagara City Cruises Voyage to the Falls boat tour will operate daily; tickets (Adults 13+ — $33.50 plus tax; Child 3 to 12 years — $23.50 plus tax; Infants free) are available at niagaracruises.com. I’ve taken this cruise a couple times, and it’s absolutely awe-inspiring to get that close to the falls.

City Cruises Gananoque is slated to open April 13^th with cruises through the 1000 Islands archipelago where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River. Tickets for the 1-Hour Cruise, 3-Hour Cruise and 5-Hour Boldt Castle Cruise (starting in May) are on sale now at citycruises.com/Gananoque.

Ticket prices vary by cruise type.

Operating in the heart of Toronto Harbour, City Cruises Toronto has a full sailing schedule set for this season. Premier Dining Cruises — lunch, brunch, and dinner — aboard the recently renovated Toronto Odyssey will be available starting Easter Sunday, March 31^st, with more dining cruises set to follow from Mother’s Day through to the week before Christmas.

Live narration Harbour Tours with some of the best views of Toronto’s skyline begin operating daily on April 1^st.  Tickets for Harbour Tours and Premier Dining Cruises, are on sale now at citycruises.com/Toronto.

 

NEW MAUI SPA OPENS TODAY AT GRAND WAILEA 

Maui’s iconic Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, today announced the opening of its highly anticipated Kilolani Spa, an all-new open air luxury spa adorned by the natural beauty of Hawaii. At 50,000 square feet, Kilolani Spa will be the largest in the state and designed to preserve the heritage of the landmark hotel and honor local traditions.

“Kilolani Spa truly embodies our commitment to honoring Maui’s rich wellness culture, while embracing the modern innovations of the spa industry,” said JP Oliver, managing director at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. “We look forward to offering our guests personalized treatments imbued with local influences, natural ingredients, and the aloha spirit.”

The approximately $55 million Kilolani Spa encompasses 40 treatment rooms, including couples’ treatment suites, a meditation lounge, reflection lounge, halotherapy-infused infrared saunas, hammam, and hydrothermal gardens.