My latest “Canada Shorts” item is centred on Regina, a city I visited a few years ago and quite enjoyed. One of the things I liked most in Regina was the Farmer’s Market, where there stands selling lemon kombucha and locally made chutneys. There was also a Pride display on a day in mid-June and a stand selling gluten-free ginger snaps. The best thing I sampled were the cakes (some with fresh ginger, pear and lime) from a stand called “The Cake Witch.” Crave Kitchen and Wine Bar served up a perfect plate of duck confit when I was in Read more
Canada
Many destinations are just beginning to get back to pre-pandemic visitor levels. The Palm Beaches left its 2019 numbers in the dust some time ago. Tourism representatives from The Palm Beaches touched down in Toronto this week for a cocktail meet and greet with advisors, industry officials and the media. Some 2.8 million visitors came to The Palm Beaches during Q1 of 2023, up 8.5% from last year, said Erick Garnica, Associate Vice President Global Leisure Sales. Canadian numbers were even more dramatic, with 153,000 first quarter visits; up 28% from last year and up 16% from 2019 levels. Canada Read more
Canada has its first-ever direct flights to Singapore. Air Canada today announced the strategic expansion of its international network with the addition of non-stop flights between its trans-Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Singapore’s Changi International Airport (SIN). The new route will operate four times weekly beginning April 3, 2024*, onboard Air Canada’s flagship Dreamliner fleet. “Air Canada continues to adapt its international network strategy in response to evolving global trends and is broadening its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to capitalize on growing business links and Canada’s changing demographics,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Read more
It’s always great to get away to the wonderful J.W. Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa. It’s doubly great when you get a fabulous meal from one of Canada’s top chefs, and assisted by one of the top names in French cuisine, with wine pairings to boot! My wife and I were invited to take part in a six-course tasting menu at the resort on the weekend. It was a perfect June day, with sunny skies, temperatures around 21 C, and no visible smoke in the sky. We were treated to appetizers (including parmesan fritters) on the sun-splashed patio, Read more
WestJet and its pilots have ratified a new contract that provides pilots with a big pay boost, and eliminates low-cost carrier Swoop. The second collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, was ratified today. As negotiated in the collective agreement, the WestJet Group will now begin integration efforts of its ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop. Through an expedited process, the airline anticipates a full integration into its mainline operations by the end of October. To avoid traveller impact, Swoop will operate its existing network through to the end of Read more
