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Powwow at Piapot - Treaty 4

2011-08-27T10:53:00.000-06:00

I had a chance to attend the Powwow at Piapot First Nation just North of Regina recently. It was a hot day, but a beautiful one nonetheless. Finding shade was a significant challenge. I like the way branches of trembling aspen were laid on the arbour structure to make the experience all the more enjoyable.

This setting right in the Qu'Appelle Valley is magnificent.

Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation... Making a Difference!

2011-08-27T10:34:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to let you know about the work of the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. The Foundation is a well-known entity in heritage conservation circles around Saskatchewan for the grant programs it offers in a number of areas. More recently, the Foundation has also published a series of conservation booklets on topics ranging from the conservation and restoration of roofs, windows, and basic principles of heritage conservation that respects nationally-recognized standards and guidelines. The booklets also offer practical insight into foundations repairs, among other suggestions.

These booklets are available in print form by contacting the Foundation at this address:

Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation
9th Floor, 1919 Saskatchewan Drive
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 4H2

Or, simply download the booklets directly from the SHF's website.

On the Foundation's website, you will also find the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation's Annual Reports, available for download as PDFs. These will give you an idea of some of the heritage projects the SHF has contributed to in recent years. The reports will give you a sense of how SHF grants have helped leverage additional financial resources for the benefit of communities, and ultimately the people of Saskatchewan because as a result of these heritage preservation efforts, future generations will be hopefully be able to enjoy and gain a more vivid appreciation of tangible and intangible elements of their ancestors collective journey in the part of the world known as Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation's efforts are:

informative because the staff is able to provide valuable technical guidance in heritage conservation.
collaborative because the SFH works with individuals, businesss, governments (municipal, provincial and federal) and other organizations to achieve heritage conservation goals and objectives.
economically significant because they help set into motion conservation projects that might not otherwise be financially viable, by providing an incremental funding solution that makes all the difference.

This beautiful rural chuch is located south south of the Qu'Appelle Valley, east of Highway #6 on the road to Piapot First Nation.

One of the most fruitful collaborations the Foundation has been involved in over recent years is its partnership with the J.M. Kaplan Fund, a philanthropic family Foundation based in New York which administers a conservation program to help restore and protect aspects of the natural and historic legacies of the North American continent. By the end the 2010 fiscal year, the Kaplan Fund had provided nearly $250,000 to conservation efforts of historic churches and other sites in the province, as matched contributions.

Indian Head's Bell Barn - Rising Star in Saskatchewan's Heritage Tourism Landscape

2011-08-25T11:23:00.000-06:00

Over the last few years, the Historic Bell Barn has gone from being one of Canada's most endangered heritage properties to becoming a fully-reconstructed replica, thanks a group of dedicated volunteers and substantial financial support from various levels of government, community and private investments. It is with great pleasure that I stopped by recently to take a closer look at what is nothing less than a success story for rural economic diversification through heritage.

"In 1882 the Canadian Pacific Railway pushed construction of Canada's first transcontinental railway across Saskatchewan. Before it reached the future site of Indian Head, a massive corporate farm was being built but a mile north of the railway right of way." (source: Bell Barn Society)

Originally an experiment supported by the federal government of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, Saskatchewan's first round barn, was dismantled in April 2008 because of its deteriorating condition. It was reconstructed stone by stone on another portion of the original Bell Farm yard. Although the corporate farm only operated until 1889, the mythology of this farm has lived on in history books and through people of the Indian Head district.

Frank Korvemaker, a well-known figure in heritage realms is one of many volunteers who have invested thousands of hours, preserving through a replica what would have been lost forever, had it not been for The Bell Barn Society's efforts.

The original field stones were used as much as possible to rebuilt the structure in a manner which resembles as closely as possible the original plan.

Where new stones needed to be used, they were gathered in a manner that most closely approximated original provenience and type of fieldstone.

The final product is well worth the field trip to Indian Head.

The first impression for visitors is one of entering a very special building indeed. The Bell Barn invites further exploration. It is a feat of heritage conservation engineering using a combination of field stone and post and beam weight-bearing structures, configured around a graciously laid out circle. I understand that much of the lumber had to be imported from British Columbia.

Creating a space that serves both interpretive and multi-purpose facility uses requires balance in design. A couple of original stalls have been integrated to the main floor space, to further enhance authentic character and the preservation of the original Bell Barn fabric.

The main floor space incorporates a theater, which combines as meeting space.

Artifact displays are plain, yet effective with a great combination of both of natural and artificial light sources.

All these aspects contribute to creating just the right atmosphere for meetings or programs to which a Prairie agriculture theme might be imparted.

Special care and attention was given to the Bell Barn's interpretive elements. It would be easy to travel back through time.

One of the real attractions of the Bell Barn is the loft area. I understand that the barn has been used avenue for a barn dance two or three times already. What a way to capitalize on the tourism potential of such a unique facility.

In the centre of the loft, stairs invite visitors to go up to a third level and visit the cupola.

The edges of the loft allow visitors to still "feel" the fieldstone walls.

The string of fanions lining the barn's structural element and subtle colour to the space.

The view from the cupola frames evocatively the Prairie landscape.

Blending the feel of wood with that of stone touches on all senses.

Back on the main floor, one's curiosity for how this brilliant re-creation came into being can only be refuelled by the richly detailed interpretive panels on display.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Indian Head, Saskatchewan - Sense of Place

2011-08-24T14:12:00.001-06:00

Indian Head is one of four communities selected for Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration projects. Here are a few picks from the August 19 announcement on Grand Avenue.

The announcement coincided with Customer Appreciation Day, an opportunity for merchants to take over the town's sidewalks with food stands, flower pots, tables and chairs to create an attractive venue on that special day.

This sketch of Indian Head's downtown viewshed provided an attractive backdrop for local media. Global and CTV came out from Regina for the occasion. The Leader-Post published this article.

Copies of the Indian Head submission to the Main Street program were available for consultation.

Director of the Heritage Branch Carlos Germann (left) looks forward to seeing how Indian Head will be impacted by its Main Street Saskatchewan participation in two or three years time.

Heritage Branch representatives exchanged with community stakeholders. Citizens, community leaders, current and future partners in the four selected demonstration communities all hope their efforts will make a difference in fostering the kind of revitalization that will inspire other towns to embark on similar projects.

The Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sports, Bill Hutchinson, an architect by trade, was obviously pleased to attend this significant event for the Town and for all those who believe in the economic, social and environmental benefits that can be generated from investing in a community's sense of place.

(Photo courtesy of Don Telfer) I rarely get to be in the pictures

(Photo courtesy of Don Telfer)

A couple of long time Indian Head residents were invited to say a few words about what living in Indian Head means to them.

(From left to right) Jonathan Potts, Director of Marketing, Tourism Saskatchewan; Don Telfer, Board Member, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation; Garth Pugh, Manager, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation

Wolseley, Saskatchewan - Sense of Place

2011-08-23T13:07:00.007-06:00

Wolseley does shine...

A view from Banbury House

It is easy to fall in love with Wolseley.

The old Le Parisien Restaurant

The famous restaurant seemed closed when I stopped by, but the building still has good "bones".

One of the many heritage homes in Wolseley

A view from the commercial district

"Wolseley can still boast having two more elevators than many Saskatchewan communities," to quote a friend.

A fine example of the use of fieldstones in a Prairie context.

Hard to beat this entrance point of view.


The Wolseley Courthouse

"The Wolseley Court House is the oldest existing court house in Saskatchewan, and the only one built during the period of Territorial Government. Designed under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Dominion Architect, the building was constructed between 1894 and 1895 to serve the judicial district of Eastern Assiniboia.

Following its closure as a court house in 1909, the building was used as a jail and as a boys' detention home until 1921, when it became an annex to the newly constructed home for the infirm. The original metal flagpole still stands south of the building."

A view of the lake

The swinging bridge

A view of the Wolseley Town Hall and Opera House from the swinging bridge

Late summer light in the morning certainly lingers on nicely.


View of the weir

This area sustained significant flooding this spring.

Wolseley Mayor Dennis Fjestad show us the extent of the flooded area

Wolseley Town Hall and Opera House

"In the early twentieth century, Saskatchewan was fueled by optimism and many small communities planned for a thriving future. Believing that growth was inevitable, many towns and cities built elaborate town hall/opera houses. The Town of Wolseley commissioned Manitoba architect, J. H. G. Russell, to design its Town Hall/Opera House, one of the most elegant buildings of its kind in the province. Some of the brick used in the building's construction was produced locally, while the rest was manufactured elsewhere, giving the building a two-toned effect. This variety of architectural elements contributes to the structure's impressive design. The building was restored between 1990 and 1993."

The dividing line between bricks that were fired locally (darker shade) and those that were brought in from Manitoba (lighter shade) is visible on the left edge of the photograph

Main Street announcement hosts get ready

Plenty of fruit punch

One of the Fire Insurance Plans on display

Wolseley has managed to acquire copies of the 1905 Fire Insurance Plans commissioned by insurance companies to help guide them in assessing risks of fire. These precious historical documents provide accurate depictions of town layouts and the built environment. They are coded and extremely valuable as a research tool for historians and heritage archaeologists. These are photocopies that were coloured to reflect the original system indicating the building materials that were used (wood, structural brick, brick veneer, stone and concrete). They show where liveries, coals sheds and boilers were located among a wealth of additional information. The earliest plans available for the City of Regina date back to 1911. Therefore these are rather significant.

The Honourable Bill Hutchinson, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sports announces Wolseley's inclusion among Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration projects

Wolseley has developed historic walking tours of the community

Cenotaph located next to the Town Hall and Opera House

The monument's design is recognized for the solemn character of the soldier's figure depicted

Garth Pugh, Manager, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation (left) and yours truly
(photo courtesy of Don Telfer)

Wolseley and Indian Head Among Four Main Street Saskatchewan Communities Selected

2011-08-23T11:43:00.000-06:00

Following the earlier announcement that Saskatchewan would invest $1.65 million over three years to provide funding assistance to demonstration communities for implementation of the Main Street Saskatchewan approach to downtown revitalization, we learned recently that Wolseley, Indian Head, Maple Creek and Prince Albert were selected from the 18 communities which had submitted proposals.

Main Street has an interesting history. The approach has proven popular in the U.S. and evolved under the stewardship of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1979, the Heritage Canada Foundation launched a Canadian version of the program, which took root across Canada with varying degrees of success. Quebec developed its own extremely successful program through the Rues Principales Foundation, which organizes a well-attended annual conference where municipalities making commitments to revitalization that enhances a community's sense of place are invited to submit their initiatives for Excellence and Achievements Awards in categories like heritage enhancements, economic development, promotion and sustainability. The annual conference takes place in Quebec City on September 28. I had the privilege of attending the 2008 conference as an keynote speaker on placemaking along with the executive director of Main Street USA at the time.

That conference was held in partnership with the Heritage Canada Foundation. I remember running into delegates from Saskatchewan at the meeting. My understanding is that this is where seeds for Saskatchewan's own initiative were planted and where the Heritage Canada Foundation rekindled its own commitment to Main Street approaches. A Saskatchewan project emerged as a result, and the Province is now firmly moving ahead on Main Street development.

Wolseley

The Banbury House Inn

Wolseley as long been recognized as one of Canada's prettiest towns, with a vast inventory of character homes and valuable heritage properties. Its configuration around a lake and general setting along Highway #1, as well as local community support of initiatives that seek to enhance the local sense of place, would make it an ideal choice for a demonstration project.

Indian Head

Equally compelling is Indian Head for similar and different reasons. The inventory of built heritage, the dynamic nature of a community at a crossroads in its evolution, ready to embrace the Main Street concept make it equally worthy of consideration.

I had an opportunity to attend Friday's Main Street announcements. I will share some observations and photographs snapped that day in Indian Head and Wolseley in coming posts.

Indian Head Elevator/Tea House Closed - Loss or Opportunity?

2011-08-22T11:28:00.000-06:00

I stopped by the Indian Head Elevator Tea House and Crafts business located just off Highway #1 recently and discovered that the place had closed. I hadn't been for a few years. I remember it being such a cool spot to stop for some homemade food. What is special about the building is that this is a converted elevator dating back to the early days of the Agriculture Canada Experimental Farm. I was moved to its current location and did thriving business for some time. It may not look like an elevator from the outside, but the dining room area is fascinating because the access doors to the grain bins were still visible and the original wood work decor made the establishment rather quaint.

There are For Sale signs posted in the windows, along with a sign announcing that it is closed for renovations. Perhaps, there is an opportunity there for an entrepreneur? Time may be of the essence as Indian Head is embarking on a very promising Main Street program that will surely help harness the community's potential as a tourism destination over the next two years. More on this in later posts.

A Few Chinese Cuisine Favorites in Regina

2011-08-08T11:25:00.002-06:00

Regina's demographic evolution brings about a more diversified dining scene these days, that is reflected equally in the variety of experiences offered on the Chinese cuisine front. A new discovery last night brings me share the following appreciation of what is available around the city these days.

Chinese Lantern

My discovery last night of the Chinese Lantern was a rather satisfying one. I had been told that this humble establishment located in a strip mall next to Shopper's Drug Mart and Shear Escapes, was the latest favorite among the University of Regina's Chinese student population. I went with my family. We loved the lamb curry, the stewed eggplant and steamed chicken dishes on offer. We saved the pigs' feet and intestines for another time. The flavor did not disappoint, despite the light use of MSG which we were told afterwards could be avoided upon request. The service is excellent. Customer comments handwritten on bits and pieces of paper are pinned on a bulletin board at the entrance. Check it out: B-4112 Albert St. ph. (306) 352.4588.

H & K Bakery and Coffee Shop

This is Regina's version of the quintessential Hong Kong-style cafe. I like to go there on Saturday or Sunday to find myself immersed in a culture that has refined the art of preparing the Chinese clubhouse sandwich (crust removed) and Hong Kong Chinese spaghetti with tomato sauce. The real treats are the freshly baked egg tarts, as well as the curried and barbecued beef buns that you can take home to savour as the munchies hit you again in the afternoon. They also make a fine layered birthday cake with real fresh cream and fruit salad which beats just about anything else available in terms of simple, wholesome flavour. Ideal for impressing colleagues at the office! 5512 7th, near the RCMP Depot at the corner of Horace. Don't call...just go!

Four Seas

Beside the Dim sum dishes, this weekend classic went through various phases since the Taiwanese cuisine inspiration of a few years back. I loved some or the spicier dishes then. A fine spot for family gatherings, the food is always great. It is easy enough to find parking on Sunday morning. 1779 Rose St. (306) 522-1818.

Regency Palace

Always busy it seems, likely because of the buffet option. Ask for the Chinese specials (written in Chinese) that are not on the English menu. Steamed chicken, vegetables dishes and hot pots are consistently satisfying. 2220 Victoria Avenue, Regina, SK (306) 721-2828 ‎

Lee's Chop Suey East

We keep going back to eat at Mike's every now and again. Excellent service. It is a nice facility and it offers a buffet option. But the real treat there is the chance to try a traditional 10-course meal prepared for special occasions like weddings. This is where we held our own Chinese wedding reception a few years back. Mike and his team work hard and deliver consistently. There are two small private dining rooms available here for special occasions at no extra cost if booked in advance. 200 Victoria Avenue (306) 525-524

Peking House

A long time favorite downtown, this dining establishment doesn't shy away from non-traditional experiences like fundraising evenings for arts and culture organizations. The Regina Plains Museum held a fundraiser featuring a slam poet that I attended a few years back. Reliable value for the money. I am a sucker for their sweet and sour pork dish (not really traditional Chinese food) b1840 Rose Street (306) 757-3038

New Town

If the colorful owner doesn't win you over, what is left of the original concept decor will intrigue you, and the lemon chicken dish will ensure you remember the experience in positive terms. Don't forget to explore beyond the buffet. There is a private room available here as well for more intimate dining gatherings. 2332 11th Avenue (306) 757-7722.

There are other Chinese cuisine establishments worthy of mention out there... I will save them for later.

Saturday at Bridlewood Farms, near Regina

2011-06-27T23:27:00.000-06:00

An afternoon spent enjoying time with members of the equestrian community in the Regina area at Bridlewood Farms in White City. Lovely horses, skilled riders and best of all from a visitor's perspective, a chance to just appreciate the first few days of a summer that is well deserved by all.

Virtual visit of Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site

2011-05-10T17:22:00.002-06:00

All photos courtesy of Donald Telfer

Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation (SHF) board members and staff recently visited the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site/Lieu historique national du Canada de la briqueterie de Claybank, to meet with representatives of the Claybank Brick Plant Historical Society and monitor progress on on-going conservation efforts.

The SHF oversees conservation efforts in partnership with the Goverment of Saskatchewan, Parks Canada and the friends of Claybank at this best preserved historic brick plant in North America. Bricks fired here have made their way around the world. They were used to build the famous Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, the rocket launching pad at Cape Canaveral. They lined the fireboxes of steam locomotives and sailing vessels. They were a prized Saskatchewan product valued for their esthetic quality but, more specifically perhaps, as fine refractory bricks.

Every last Sunday in June (June 26 this year) the friends and volunteers organize a special Heritage Day of activities for the public featuring Saskatoon pie and a yearly brick pressing demonstration that earns rave reviews. For more information on the Claybank Brick plant, visit www.claybankbrick.ca.

The kilns at Claybank are simply amazing. A domed sructure, supported only by the weight of gravity and lateral forces holding and binding these tens of thousands of bricks together as an oven. It took a week to load green bricks such as the ones seen on the cart into the kiln. It took a week for the kiln to cool down sufficiently for the workers to take them out. It took five weeks in all to produce a brick from raw clay to finished product ready to be shipped out.

SHF Board Member Toos Giesen-Stefiuk of Gravelbourg takes stock of a recent artist's project.

Like many other families around Claybank, Hilda Maier is one of those key people who have made a difference through their involvement in the Claybank Brick Plant Historical Society. When I ran Great Excursions and took visitors to Claybank, she always made sure their experience was the best it could be. Hilda invests just as much passion and authentic character in the experience and activities offered today. Claybank is worth it!

Hilda Maier demonstrates how the brick press works. It'll be fired up on Heritage Day (June 26, 2011)

Hard to resist isn't it?

The brick plant maquette provides a good introduction to its context on the north slope of the Missouri Coteau.

With a heritage site, comes an impressive collection of historic wheelbarrows.... probably some of the oldest one left in Saskatchewan. One could stack up to 300 pounds of bricks onto one like this.

I like this view of the Claybank Brick Plant yard. There is no other place like this in North America.

You will notice in the background that the kilns are braced with steel that could could be tightened and loosened in response to temperature changes and resulting compressions/expansions of structural bricks through the firing process.

A happy bunch!

Remembering Allan Blakeney

2011-04-22T23:21:00.000-06:00

I was trying to find a photo of former Saskatchewan Premier Allan Blakeney in my private collection that I could publish here, but couldn't find a suitable shot to illustrate my "particular" fondness for our ex-Premier -- "particular" being pronounced with the distinctively Blakeney touch that our late-Premier was famous for.

I remember attending a Blakeney speech in 1979 or 1980 at Saskatoon's Forestry Farm, when my grasp of "Blakeney-speak" was only slightly less seasoned than my grasp of the English language. Still, Allan Blakeney made a positive impression on me that day. Perhaps this impression was partly shaped by the fact that his speech had been delivered from a flatbed truck trailer in the shadow of a shelterbelt in Sutherland, or that some of my later colleagues at CBC had learned to parody Blakeney-speak to a level of excellence worthy of an Oscar. But clearly, Blakeney had impressed me that day. He would not be the only Saskatchewan politician to do so.

As a University of Saskatchewan student during post-1980 years, I learned to also appreciate John G. Diefenbaker's wit, as I catalogued the voluminous resources he has bestowed to the U of S' Diefenbaker Centre. Learning how Dief approached -- how he learned -- about electoral campaigning in French in Quebec during federal elections by annotating his speeches, using phonetic symbols meant to guide him through particularly challenging passages in French, was a revelation to me, to be honest.

And there were no campaign planes then -- only campaign trains!

Dief didn't speak French - something an aspiring Prime Minister could never get away with today. But he was incredibly funny, in my view. Humour is a universal language. Here was a man who saved every political cartoon, caricaturists from sea to sea, to sea produced at his expense, for the benefit and postumous enjoyment of all Canadian citizens who would dare make their way to Saskatoon one day.

The P.A.-based Member of Parliement was a most impressive Western Canadian charismatic national politician -- until Trudeaumania -- one could ever find. "Dief the Chief" kept somewhat artistically-inspired black velvet portraits of himself made and given to him by admiring fans over the years. These are part of the magnificent Diefenbaker Centre collection. Check it out... really! I never met our former Prime Minister, but I frequently and respectfully swept the snow off his grave during my years as a U of S Anthropology Major, as a Diefenbaker Centre student interpreter.

As someone who was born in Quebec and came to Saskatchewan in 1979 -- someone who studied closely a number of significant private correspondance pieces that John G. Diefenbaker left behind for posterity -- I get of sense of the "Chief" being a good-hearted man who came into office more closely aligned with Eisenhower's views than those of Kennedy, but who also kept Canada's interests at heart. Maybe the time has come for political scientists and historians to look at Dief's contribution to Canada through a fresh lens.

Similarly, I believe that Allan Blakeney's legacy is not that dissimilar to Dief's in this way: Blakeney helped make Canada a better place by being himself, a humble public servant who never lost sight of his public service duties. This is something that has influenced every Saskatchewan Premier and political leader since Blakeney, in my view. I would venture to say that Grant Devine, Roy Romanow, Elwin Hermanson, Lorne Calvert and our current Premier, Brad Wall, have been inspired to some extent by the same principles as Diefenbaker and Blakeney in how their public duties ended up being carried out.

Blakeney's legagy is one where:

the politics of honesty, transparency and authentic electoral engagement prevailed.
where insignificant attempts to create a society where the beliefs of a few can overshadow fundamental democratic right of the majority are doomed.
reasoned approches where building better communities that protect individual freedoms -- and nurture rather than destroy the things that make a diffence in our collective lives -- are always the first option.

I miss "Dief" -- although I may not have agreed with him on a regular basis had I been around during his times, had I met him while he was alive. I respect his efforts, most notably in helping the Bill of Rights come into being. That historical document celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Even Pierre Elliot Trudeau had this to say about Dief, according to the Toronto Star:

"I was struck,” Pierre Trudeau said, “by his vigorous defence of human rights and individual liberties. The Bill of Rights remains a monument to him.”

Soon political scientists will start taking another look at Blakeney's own legacy. I will miss Allan Blakeney because seeing him at work at a time when Quebec sovereignty efforts tended to be a simpler story than is today helped me realize that perhaps I did not quite have the grasp of Canada I should have until I had met Blakeney.

Pictured as a technocrat by many former media colleagues and political analysts, his legacy is likely, in coming years, to be measured through in-depth investigation of dedicated public policy contributions, personal acts of kindness and honest willingness to play the best cards dealt to him on Saskatchewan's behalf, and ultimately, for all Canadian citizens. That is how I will remember Allan Blakeney: a truly worthy Canadian citizen.

The Mighty Wascana shows its true nature once again

2011-04-20T13:03:00.000-06:00

There has been no shortage of intriguing spring thaws on the Assiniboine river system in recent years, especially on Wascana Creek. On three occasions, a group of friends and I took advantage of its surge in flow to try to paddle downstream to Lumsden by canoe, unsuccesfully. Each attempt ended in a number of our participants discovering first-hand how treaturously unpredictable our favourite creek's current can become with its meandering passages that are frankly typical of such prairie streams. On one occasion, we even lost a canoe for three weeks, until someone spotted it buried in a bank downstream. Great stories to tell.

I figure we earned our "stripes" as seasoned navigators of the "Mighty Wascana". It's best now to leave it to others to immerse themselves in the whitewater universe Regina's navigable waters produce during the short April window when this stream reminds us that it should never be taken for granted.

Moose in Wascana Park, Regina

2011-04-12T12:13:00.000-06:00

Zlatan has a knack for finding the wilderness in Regina, as his latest YouTube video demonstrates! Wascana Centre and the Creek are taking a particularly wild air this spring as the creek is set to reach levels we haven't seen in Regina since the 1970s.

Regina Welcomes World's Curling Enthusiasts

2011-04-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

While most Regina residents wait for a long awaiting spring thaw, world curling enthusiasts have converged on the City this week for the Ford World's Men Curling Championship. Once again, hotels are full with visitors from countries where the sport is sometimes big, in in some cases much less popular than it is in Saskatchewan. The local tourism industry has quite some time ago realized that business flows from hosting events where attendance to events by regional fans can create the kind atmosphere - and ultimately revenue - that attracts sponsors. Curling certainly does that for Regina.

The same factor played a large part in ensuring that Regina was a successful hosting venue for the fascinating Royal Red Arabian Nationals, until the organizers opted to look for another host. For many years, Royal Red participants - many of which originated from the USA - were delighted to show off their know-how in front of such a welcoming crowd made-up mostly of Saskatchewan residents.

We will be sad to see the Royal Red move on, as others discover the genuine hospitality Regina's population extends to visitors from away. I hope that as the City's tourism stakeholders will carry on bidding for world-stage events, while emphasizing that Regina's tourism appeal as a destination extends beyond the quality of its sports venues, hotel capacity and hunger among local residents for more leisure and special events that take place in the city itself.

A great significant element in Saskatchewan's and Regina's charm lies, after all, in the special sense of place that is found in this city, and in the surrounding grasslands environments that are easily accessible from Regina.

Ogema forges ahead with its tourist train project

2011-02-28T09:51:00.000-06:00

I just heard a report from Ogema (via Al Scholz) that the tourism train project is coming along nicely there.

Carol Peterson sent me this note: "We have bought the engine and a passenger car and are moving them to Ogema. It will be the only large tourist train tour in Saskatchewan. Should be up and running for our 100th Anniversary Celebrations in July 2012".

Good on these these dynamic folks!

One of the product and marketing collaborations that should be considered is a partnership through the development of themed experiences aimed at high-yield consumers with the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina, which should really be looking at such partnerships across Canada at a range of locations, and abroad. For instance, in Yukon Great Excursions sells expedition dog mushing trips from 5 to 15-days in length to Canadians, Australians, Kiwis, Brits and Americans. It would not be very difficult for us to theme one departure around the role mushing has played traditionally in serving remote communities, and sharing sales revenues with the Centre through simple profit-sharing formulas, not unlike those we currently use.

Some product models that could explored are charity challenge products targeting international police forces (charity challenges are popular with affinity groups in the UK). Lots of possibilities.

Mazatlan Residents Speak Out On Tourist Safety Concerns

2011-02-22T21:08:00.000-06:00

Worried about the economic impact of recent decisions by some cruise lines to avoid Mazatlan, local expats who live there are speaking out on what they believe are overblown, isolated incidents, not reflective of what life in Mazatlan is like for tourists and residents in general. They hope their efforts to make Canadian and American visitors feel safe in this popular Mexican Riviera destination will help alleviate some of the concerns tour operators and consumers might have about travel to Mexican cities like Mazatlan.

Harnessing Canada's International Tourism Competitiveness

2011-02-07T09:20:00.000-06:00

Travel Alberta's weekly tourism industry e-newletter "The Buzz" always gives us the pulse around the latest intelligence available on where Alberta's tourism industry is heading. Quite often the information shared is if direct relevance for Canada's tourism industry as a whole. That is especially the case in this morning's edition, the gist of which you will find below.

Canada will continue to lose its attractiveness as a world tourist destination unless governments take immediate action to ease tax, regulatory and other burdens on the $71.5 billion industry, according to a study by the National Travel and Tourism Coalition (NTTC).

“Since 2002, Canada has slipped from the eighth most‐visited destination in the world to the fifteent“noted Tourism Industry Association of Canada President and CEO David Goldstein. “If we are to compete globally and regain our position as a top ten destination in the world, the policy‐based impediments that have been built in to our sector need to be addressed.”

The Coalition’s analysis and recommendations are contained in Looking to 2020 – The Future of Travel and Tourism in Canada, an unprecedented look at the state of the sector. The study provides a description of the opportunities tourism presents for Canada, together with a set of realistic policy recommendations that will set the stage for economic growth and export development in the short to medium terms. The whitepaper identifies four areas in particular that require public policy fixes:

* A fair taxation regime that assists the growth of international travel and tourism;
* A level playing field with the United States in competition for overseas and trans‐border travel and tourism;
* Policies that enhance global competitiveness of Canada’s travel and tourism industry;
* Access to a sufficiently large and skilled labour force: for Canada’s travel and tourism industry.

If you are not already , you may want to subscribe to "The Buzz"

Claude-Jean Harel Unveils 2011 Great Excursions Canada Tours Catalogue

2011-01-13T09:41:00.000-06:00

Great Excursions Founder Claude-Jean Harel unveils the new adventure travel specialist's 68-page full-colour 2011 Canada and the North catalogue, a compilation of some of the most immersive journeys available in Canada and abroad. The catalogue can be downloaded from the company's website where more details about many of the trips offered can also be accessed.

Ask for your copy of the new Great Excursions catalogue at your nearest CAA/AAA office.

Skidegate Days Log Sawing Contest - Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

2011-01-05T09:50:00.001-06:00

Festivals and events drive as much tourism activity in Saskatchewan and across Canada than pretty much anything else. Skidegate Days (Singaay Laa "Good Day") is an annual community fundraiser on Haida Gwaii. The log sawing contest is always popular. Blending traditional lumberjack skills with fun and games, this friendly competition brings families, friends and Queen Charlotte Islands visitors together for a bit of wholesome fun.

Dog sledding in Regina

2010-12-29T09:01:00.000-06:00

Here is something you don't see too often in Regina. Dog sledding in Wascana Park. Regina has enjoyed record snow snowfall this year. While the Regina Plain receives on average about 18 inches of rain a year, from a snow accumulation perspective, this winter has turned Saskatchewan's capital into what is evidently a dog musher's paradise. Kudos to our friend Zlatan for thinking outside the box.

Yukon Dog Mushers Heading Out Onto the Trail with their Huskies

2010-12-17T21:43:00.001-06:00

How will it feel to head out onto the trail with your own team of huskies? You will feel a certain amount of exhilaration, a sense of boundless optimism at the prospect of leading a team of winter sport athletes on what is essentially a quintessential Canadian experience. Above all, you will be learning leadership skills in a little understood place, Yukon, a place where this living history tradition is very much part of the territorial culture, where mushers are valued knowledge-keepers and placemakers, going against the more superficial tourism currents. Authenticity of experience is at the core of mushing protocols and tourism rituals in Yukon and Alaska. Your participation in a trip like this is an investment jn responsible tourism practices that are beneficial to the community, the local economy and move us closer toward sounder environmental stewardship practices. Come make a difference with us!

Same Day Return Air Transportation from Regina to the 2010 Grey Cup Available

2010-11-22T11:05:00.002-06:00

If you have been thinking about going to the Grey Cup for the day, Great Excursions has space available on a special jet charter from Regina to Edmonton for Roughrider fans on game day.

The charter flight for Rider fans will be sold on a round trip basis from Regina to Edmonton with airfares starting from $529 return, plus GST with the following timetable:

* Regina to Edmonton: Depart 1:00 P.M., Sunday, Nov. 28 and arrive 1:15 P.M.

* Edmonton to Regina: Depart 10:30 P.M. Sunday, Nov. 28 and arrive 12:40 A.M. +1

On Grey Cup day the charter and shuttle to/from Commonwealth Stadium will allow Rider fans to take in the pre-game festival, the Grey Cup game and return home that evening.

Jet charter tickets can be booked by visiting our website or calling us toll free at 1-866-975-8687.

Planning an RCMP Troup Anniversary Reunion in Regina?

2010-11-19T11:47:00.001-06:00

If you, a friend or a family member are planning an RCMP troup anniversary reunion in Regina in the near future, you might find it worth your while to work with a local IATA-member receptive tour operator. A specialist company like Geat Excursions, for instance, knows all the attractions and has all the expert staff. We enjoy privileged relationships with local industry partners who can make a lot of things happen for your group, especially when challenges arise. Trip participants and organizers may gain more benefits as the result and definitely will save money in the process.

Experience tells us over and over again that a meeting organizer's first reflex is to book a block of rooms in a hotel, and then ask all members to book their own flights. That is easy enough to do for anyone. Then they will look at event venues and other aspects. The challenge reunion organizers will run into as plans evolve is that when it comes to details like shuttle transportation between the hotel and reunion venues, or even getting a quote for a city tour on a per person basis, they will find it difficult to finalize their plans because they have broken up the leverage they initially enjoyed with their project into too many small parts that lose clout independently.

An IATA-member receptive operator offers meeting planning services than range from air tickets sales, staffing services and comprehensive travel insurance services, to registration, transportation, tours, tickets and logistical services What would happen if a participant became ill before coming on the trip or had to cancel for another reason? Would the meeting organizer be able handle emergencies, how much would an individual supplier be willing to extend goodwill if push came to shove. Obviously, all suppliers want to help up to a certain point. But in the end working, with an independent, bonded receptive company goes a long way to ensuring peace of mind for all project partners and the client.

Boot Camp for Calgary Stampeder Fans?

2010-11-15T10:51:00.000-06:00

Given that we now know that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are headed to Calgary with a significant following, I was wondering if there might not have been a secret agenda to some of the activities featured recently at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller? Hoping to scare the Riders into submission this Sunday? All in good fun, no doubt!

If you are putting a group together and need assistance with your flights, coach charters and hotels, let us know.

Whooping Cranes - Quivira NWR, Kansas

2010-11-14T22:32:00.002-06:00

We don't get to see whopping cranes like these very often, but we do see them at Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife area, a 2-hour drive from Regina. And when we do see them, usually through a long lens or a spotting scope in the distance among hundreds of sandhill cranes, one gets the feeling of being witness to a very special moment in time.

Where to stay in Paris -- Suggestions for a travel trade partner from Saskatchewan

2010-11-09T14:34:00.001-06:00

Photo: David Monniaux

One of our Saskatchewan travel trade partners asked yesterday if she knew an hotel near the Louvres where she could stay at an affordable price. I thought this might be useful info for everyone.

It has been a few years since I was in Paris now, but I do find the city always amazing to discover and re-discover…

You will find a few videos of interest about Paris and ideas discussed below in the France Stories playlist on our new web TV channel Great Excursions TV.

Depending on how much time you have and your own longing for the authentic Paris, I would suggest that you consider staying at a hotel away from the Louvres, which is a very busy area and likely overpriced… and you are more likely to experience the most aggressive driving on earth… after possibly Cairo, if you dare to cross a street in the neighbourhood. On the other hand, the Metro makes it very easy to travel around the City if you are well prepared, and it gives you more price and destination flexibility if you carry a suitcase on wheels.

Money vanishes very easily in Paris… It is a mystery…. a curse perhaps. When it comes to restaurants… go for the “Table d’hôte menu” – a multi-course meal at a fixed price. They are surprisingly affordable.

To get around when you land, I would take the RER (train) from Charles de Gaulles Airport to the Jardins du Luxembourg, right downtown… a Paris quintessential destination park with chairs that people can move around, great ice cream/sherberts “glaces” and lots of cafés to watch people. It is an eminently walkable district.

Tripadvisor reviews will confirm this…

You will be able to walk into a charcuterie to get some wonderful patés, fresh baguette and anything you want at the price Parisians pay – not tourists- that you can eat in the park or in your room. You could stay at the affordable Jardins du Luxembourg Hotel (3 stars) at around CA $206 a night right now… a bargain in Paris.

To get to the Louvres, all you have to do is take the Metro with one transfer on an average 50-minute ride

Here is a map of the Metro. You can save it as a PDF. It is laid out a bit like a map of the London Underground and easy to read. Here is a printable wallet- size version for you as well.

Here is a primer in English on the Paris Metro

…and a Primer on the RER train from the CDG airport

… at the Jardin du Luxembourg, you will be able to access both public transit systems… another plus.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.

Happy trails and… Bon voyage!

The Great Sandhills of Saskatchewan - Germany-market Style!

2010-10-21T09:45:00.002-06:00

Sanddünen - Saskatchewan, Kanada... This is a nice piece I found on The Canadian Tourism Commission's German-language youtube channel featuring Saskatchewan's Great Sandhills. I am sure this was produced in partnership with our friends at Tourism Saskatchewan. Notice the emphasis on nature, the wide open spaces and unusual places. That is what most European travellers look for when they look at Canada... and something Saskatchewan is able to provide. This is why even when developing meetings and conventions product in Regina, attention should be paid to ensure those visitor needs are met if we wish to engage audiences outside of our traditional domestic markets.

Reflections on a Saskatchewan Ranch Weekend Getaway

2010-10-17T01:49:00.001-06:00

Those who lead busy lives are always looking for short breaks to get away with friends and family. Few experiences in Saskatchewan rival with the ranch stay. Always a chance to discover new facets of life in the Great Plains, this is the kind of experience that often brings out the wellness we all long for.

Great New Documentary Filmed at the 2010 Regina Ice & Fire Carnival

2010-10-05T16:25:00.007-06:00

What a joy it was to experience this edgy new documentary about one of the many layers unfolding at the 2010 Regina Ice and Fire Carnival. Many participants and artists will recognize themselves in the piece. Thank you to all the volunteers, Carnival partners and artists who help us make a difference.

The Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) has Regina on its radar

2010-09-24T11:39:00.007-06:00

...Thanks in part to Saskatoon... This is a real coup for all of Saskatchewan. When Saskatoon hosts the Canadian Society of Association Executives Conference and Showcase from September 15 to 17, 2011, Regina, Saskatoon and other Saskatchewan cities will have a chance do display not only their meetings and conventions capacity to a very receptive audience, they will also be able to convey the destinations' sense of place. It will an opportunity, a stone's throw away from Regina to feature our meetings, conventions and exhibitions capacity.

Have a look at Tourism Saskatoon's media release and let me know me know if you are interested in supporting a collaborative strategic initiative that would work hand in glove with the constructive work our Saskatoon neighbours and partners have undertaken.

Looking for new motorcoach tour ideas?

2010-09-16T09:38:00.004-06:00

There no more valuable knowledge than that of consumer preferences. You may or may not know that WestWorld Tours is already the most successful tour operator in the province in terms of volume, with annual passenger figures in the 4-digit range, originating from across North America. It its efforts to lead the way in motorcoach travel experiences, my WestWorld colleagues and I are asking clients for new destination and trip ideas. If you know regular coach travellers or if you are one yourself, let us know what future journeys are on your radar.... whether you are thinking or Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, the U.S., Australia or South America. Bear in mind that we are looking for trip ideas with demonstrated revenue-generating potential, of course.

Your thoughts may well be developed into new trips!

Be an extra on CBC's new comedy ''InSecurity'' by the producers of ''Corner Gas''

2010-09-14T21:56:00.005-06:00

I am just returning from the set of InSecurity, CBC's new action comedy about espionage misfits that take on missions vital to Canada's national security. The series is shot in Regina this summer and the producers need a few more extras Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 15 and 16) from 4:00 pm to 8:00 am the next morning to film a fancy diplomatic office party scene in a posh setting.

We are looking for young men and women between the ages of 20 and 30 years who would shine wearing evening dresses and suits....for both nights.

Please let C-J of Great Excursions know ASAP by email and include a recent photograph if at all possible if you if you feel you match this profile before Wednesday Noon (tomorrow).

The series is scheduled to follow the Rick Mercer Report on prime time after Christmas.

Extras will be remunerated for their contribution.

--
Claude-Jean Harel MA MAHI
The Great Excursions Company
200 Albert Street N.
Regina, Saskatchewan CANADA
S4R 5E2
Phone: 1.866.975.8687 (North America)
0.808.101.7327 (UK)
1.800.424.705 (Australia)
fax: +1 306.791.4414
cj@greatexcursions.travel
www.greatexcursions.travel

Journey for Life to be featured on Access 7's Talk of the Town

2010-09-10T17:34:00.003-06:00

Journey for Life's Wendy McDermitt and Claude-Jean Harel will talk about the Canadian Cancer Society & Great Excursions partnership which led to the special Mexico vacation they've developed for people living with cancer and their family on Monday's edition of Talk of the Town on Access 7.

Watch Wendy and Kelly's latest video invitation right here:

Farm Progress Show's sucess is result of collective effort

2010-08-31T09:13:00.008-06:00

Today's Leader-Post article comes as excellent news! Our Regina-based destination management company worked with a Swiss tour operator to develop a 2-week agricultural tour in Alberta and Saskatchewan (starting in Saskatoon) for a small group of Swiss producers. We ended the trip at the Farm Progress Show.

We hosted a farewell BBQ for them before they flew back to Switzerland. The tour was organized in collaboration with the Swiss equivalent of the Western Producer. Participants were in awe of the sized of farms and equipment in this part of the world.

Revamped Virtual Museum of Canada exhibit on the 1912 Regina Tornado

2010-08-29T13:31:00.011-06:00

The Virtual Museum of Canada recently revamped the old 1912 Regina Tornado exhibit that I co-curated with the Regina Plains Museum's Jaymie Koroluk a few years ago. Because of lack of resources at the time -- and possibly also because of the low awareness among tourism stakeholders of the relevance of that story as a differentiating factor in the city's journey -- we were never able to capitalize fully on how our recovery from the tragedy continues to influence who we are and how we evolved as a city.

This is a national story of hope, various facets of which were chronicled in the material record, the fabric of the City, as well as among organizations and individuals everywhere which responded with generosity to what was an unparalleled crisis at the time.

2012 will be a year to celebrate the power of the human spirit, to show that when there is a will to make a difference, no challenge is to great, no obstacle too high.

2012 could be the year that we show again that when there is a will among all those who can make a difference to positively influence a desired outcome, and to move forward to make an even greater leap that benefits all people, all industries and communities, that momentum becomes unstoppable.

Upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Regina Tornado in 2012

2010-08-24T17:29:00.011-06:00

I have had a few discussions lately with local heritage tourism stakeholders about developing a meetings & conventions strategy around the theme of the 1912 Regina Tornado that would aim at attracting national and international organizations that could be tempted to host one of their meetings in Regina in 2012. There are market-ready product and customizable solutions available today for meeting planners if they decided to bring their meeting to Regina.

Great Excursions owns a number of these products, and ownership is shared in other product with business improvement districts, cultural organizations & museums at local and national levels. As Regina’s longest established destination management company with internationally-recognized expertise on that particular aspect of Regina’s heritage, we would certainly be ideally suited to work collaboratively with our tourism partners and local hospitality businesses which are asking us to consider working with them regularly. We have already started to approach potential partner associations and organizations about this. I believe there is an opportunity here to harness a virtually untapped potential. Time is of the essence.

In a different but slightly related vein, Joanne Browne of Regina shared her thoughts about Regina's heritage and what it represents to her and her family recently. She gave me permission to reproduce an excerpt below:

"Claude-Jean, you won't remember me, but I certainly remember you, and I love getting your updates on adventures.

My name is Joanne Brown and I'm a member of the Regina Archaeology Society. I was at the presentation you gave on Regina (as a CPR) "town," and how the layout of the city helped with the clean-up after the 1912 tornado. I was also very impressed with your maps of existing buildings at the time, and the details, including the make up of facades on various buildings in Regina.

In the very early 1930's, my grandfather bought the property at 1766 Osler Street, a livery stable at the time, built circa 1904. All rural folk coming into Regina for "supplies" parked their horses, buggies, wagons, and what-ever across the street. Although it was one of the oldest buildings in the city, it was never deemed a historic property; it was just a barn. My grandfather turned the building into an auction room. My father bought his father out in 1951. A few years ago, the building was demolished to make way for the new STC depot. Fitting in a way. It started out as a transportation hub, and it has returned to one. At the time the building was razed, I was working for RPS. It was all fenced in, but I went there and begged a worker for a number of bricks. I told him my story, and he complied.

When my father was a young boy, he met another young boy across the back alley of their father's businesses. The Broadway Theatre was on Broad Street, Brown's Auction Rooms on Osler. Murray Bercovich was two years younger than my father (and it just so happened he was in the same kindergarten class with my mother (at Strathcona School). I have their class photo. In that photograph Murray was dressed to the nines, showing off his fine toy sailboat. My mother is depicted in a drab dress (probably her best), holding on to a rag doll.

Many years later he hosted a party to expose this photograph to their many mutual friends. My mother was both horrified and delighted. He had it enlarged and placed on an easel inside the entry to his home.

My father and Murray Bercovich became the best of friends.

Murray's father was a legend in this city. He was nick-named Scotty, and the writing on his tombstone states: Scotty was a Showman. It's one of the "stops" on one of the tours of the "Old Regina Cemetery."

One more tidbit about Regina history before I give you the gist of this correspondence. In the mid 1940's my paternal grandparents bought the house, still standing, on 1800 block Halifax Street (I think the # is 1876). It's the house immediately south of the martial arts studio.

This house has a huge history. It was built in 1929, by the owners of Army and Navy Department Store, to accommodate Jewish men from central Europe recruited to work for them. The house was built as a boarding house. My grandmother turned it into a "rooming house." Upstairs and basement residents did their own cooking (on hot plates). There was only one electrical outlet in each upstairs room, and only one of those rooms had an actual closet.

It had two kitchens, one of them kosher. I was conceived in this house and it was my home until my parents were able to build a home of their own in 1954. My parents and three of us "little Brown girls" lived in one room, the best room, being the front parlor. Many other relatives lived there as well, and there were boarders, some who stayed for years, others who were fleeting. My grandmother lived in the house until the late 1960's, and me and my older sister visited often.

I still dream about that house.

By chance I got to re-visit that house about eight years ago. Very little had changed. I was able to answer questions of the current owner. She had some vague knowledge of the history of the house, and was delighted to meet me and learn more. Yes, some tacky reno's had been done since the 1960's, but all of the original light fixtures were still in place, as were the French doors into the parlour, and crystal door knobs were still in place.

I know this house has been renovated again, and I hope the new owner has respected the integrity of it.

There was a grand bannister leading upstairs, that me and my older sister used to shimmy down on. It was still there when I last visited, polished to a gleam (from our little bums).

Sometime between two to five years after my grandmother sold the house, someone (a woman) was murdered there.

Now for the gist.........
A recent acquaintance asked me if I knew if anything was being planned for the anniversary of the 1912 tornado? I didn't know, but it made me immediately think of you and all the work you had done. That is why I am writing. Is anything being planned? The graves of the young Blenkinsop couple who died so tragically that day, are on list of monuments to stop on one tour at the Old Regina Cemetery.

Thank you for this Joanne"

Raising funds for your organization? Mexico has lots to offer

2010-08-19T09:22:00.005-06:00

Raising funds for charity organizations is always a challenge. That many Saskatchewan residents volunteer their time to raise money for community and support programs in a number of areas is is almost legendary. Some of the best known initiatiaves include the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life, or the Arthritis Society's Joints in Motion programs which features more of a travel-related element.

Recently, Great Excursions partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society to create Journey for Life, a trip to Mexico in February 2011 specially designed to meet the needs of people living with cancer and their caregivers -- a portion of the revenues from which will help fund the Cancer Society's programs.

Large projects like these requiring significant air capacity to be profitable and leave you vulnerable to the impact of airline schedule changes. This is where smaller, more niche types of initiatives -- let's say in the adventure travel sector -- might lend themselves to more diversified offerings for all tastes.

Living in Saskatchewan brings its own set added considerations. Our harsh winter climate instills in many residents a longing to get away during winter months. Baja California becomes then a particularly attractive destinations for those who might be willing to consider an active holiday that aims to raise funds for charity organizations. Any of the trips Great Excursions feature on its Adventures in Mexico product page would be suitable as a resource. This is food for thought for a future post.

River boat cruises offer convenient solution for older group travellers

2010-08-17T09:07:00.007-06:00

Do you have friends or relatives who are planning a special commemoration: a reunion or an anniversary seniors' tour that is at once very special, but also well suited to older travellers? How about a multi-day river cruise on the St. Lawrence Seaway?

Multi-day river cruises used to be quite the journey along the Mississippi River and others in North America. Our very own North and South Saskatchewan Rivers and waterways where at one time challenging yet evocative routes for sternwheelers until the early 20th century. But the number of vessels that once sailed these great rivers in calm waters has declined in recent years -- victims of the economic climate and changing customer preferences. Some operations continue in the US, but they often put up passengers at hotels and casinos along the way instead of allowing travellers to sleep in cabins, which makes for a much richer experience for travellers.

One of the advantages of true multi-day river cruises is that passengers unpack when they board the vessel in the same room that they will keep for teh whole holiday, which makes it much more convenient. Also, one gets more of a sense of journey when one lives aboard the vessel. A different kind of chemistry is created among passengers. there is more of that sense of living the experience together....which keeps people young at heart.

We are lucky enough in Canada to still be able to offer this kind of trip for groups on itineraries that feature cities like Kingston, Montreal, Québec City and Ottawa, the 1000 Islands, and numerous attractions. Visit these links to see all departures for the rest of 2010 and 2011. Let us know what you think!

2010 CFL Hall of Fame Luncheon held in Regina

2010-08-12T23:24:00.009-06:00

A hard-to-beat moment when former Saskatchewan Roughrider Don Narcisse was officially welcomed to the honoured list of CFL Hall of Famers by another Saskatchewan football great George Reed.

It was great seeing the 2010 CFL Hall of Fame Luncheon being held in Regina today before Saskatchewan's convincing win over the BC Lions at Mosaic Stadium. Anytime a national organization like the CFL stages special events like these across the country, much goodwill ensues. This is especially true of Saskatchewan, as this is arguably Canada's most warmly football-crazy city. Hall of Fame representatives recognized this inspiring normality in Regina today. It was a chance to host many of Canada's football greats, a chance to shine as a meetings destination with understated charm and appeal.

Quebec motorcoach tour operator features Regina and Gravelbourg

2010-08-10T10:38:00.006-06:00

Spotted last week in Regina... One of Groupe Voyages Québec's motorcoaches. This is one of relatively few out-of-province tour operators which publishes Saskatchewan products consistently. These are escorted tours with a francophone tour director. The highlight for many travellers is a Gravelbourg stop featuring a meal and the opportunity to meet local community members. There are 4 departures this year, with one more coming up later this month.

An example of Saskatchewan leisure travel product featured in travel trade brochures

2010-08-10T10:04:00.007-06:00

Canada & Alaska specialist German tour operator Kanada Reise Laden's reality is is not unlike that many international tours operators specializing in Canada. His traditional client base in Europe is lured by emerging destinations in other parts of the world. There is however an increased interest for Western Canada among his clients. Like other tour operators, the company publishes a very nice brochure featuring Saskatchewan, so that it will be ready when international demand warrants more departures.

I find especially telling that both Saskatchewan and Alberta are bundled into one itinerary in this instance.

Moving from "stop-along-the-way" status to "destination" status

2010-08-10T09:50:00.007-06:00

Our client/partner René Kempf of Canada & Alaska specialist German tour operator Kanada Reise Laden stopped by this summer just in time for the for the Spain-Germany World Cup match.

Revised Map of Canada as of Monday November 30, 2009

2009-11-27T10:07:00.002-06:00

Saskatchewan Roughrider fans on their way to Calgary...

2009-11-27T09:55:00.003-06:00

Watching over Haida Gwaii: First Nations ‘Watchmen’ guard precious sites, culture in misty, mysterious far-north BC.

2009-09-18T13:12:00.004-06:00

Haida Gwaii Watchmen act as hosts and educators. Look for the original figures in tall hats, perched atop totem poles.

by Margo Pfeiff

Weathered faces of ravens, eagles and bears stare from toppling totem poles in the mossy, misty rainforest. The vibe is mysterious on tiny Tanu Island in Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) of British Columbia. And it becomes even more so with the stories of spirits and ancestors told by our guide, Cody Wilson. A Haida Gwaii Watchman, she is one of five posted at the most frequently visited First Nations village and cultural sites in the islands’ south from May to September.

After a rainy tour, Wilson invites us into her warm and cozy cabin near the shore to dry out. She brews hot tea, feeds us cookies and cheerfully answers questions—anything we want to know about Haida culture, past and present. It’s a rare chance to learn from locals about the goings-on in one of British Columbia’s most intriguing corners.

Artifacts began disappearing in the early 1900s from village sites—abandoned after the Haida population was devastated by disease in the late 19th century. In the 1970s, locals began volunteering their summers to camp out at the sites to protect them. They still do, at sites such as Hotspring Island and Ninstints, a UNESCO World Heritage Site within Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, established in 1988.

These days visiting zodiacs, kayaks and cruise boats must radio in to the Watchmen for permission to come ashore. Watchmen might be elders or young folks, but they all act as hosts and educators.

When you visit, keep an eye open for three fellows in tall hats perched atop totem poles—these figures are the original Haida Gwaii Watchmen. Today’s watchmen are protectors, regulating the flow of visitors—strictly limited to 12 per site at a time to minimize damage and maximize the experience of this spiritual place.

Courtesy of the Canadian Toursim Commission

Canada’s top five car-free islands—well, mostly

2009-09-17T10:29:00.003-06:00

Even though this is outside of our normal range of topics, I thought this piece by Canadian Tourism Commission Staff would be of interest to our landlocked readers ;-)

Here goes....

"When it comes to creating physical—and psychological—distance from your worries, it’s hard to beat an island and a ferry. We’d argue that it’s even better when you leave your car on the mainland. After all, the best way to appreciate island life is on foot or bicycle. Here, a few of Canada’s tranquil gems:

1. Gambier Island, British Columbia: Surrounded by the Coast Mountain Range, Gambier feels like another world, but it’s easy to get to from Vancouver. Walk on the ferry bound for Langdale in Horseshoe Bay, then transfer to the water taxi. Make it a weekend at the Sea Cottage or Gabriels on Gambier.

2. Île-au-Canot, Quebec: In the fall, Québécois sportsmen catch the Croisières Lachance zodiac to this 52.5-ha (130-ac) island in the St. Lawrence River, for traditional goose and wild-turkey hunting. Make it a weekend in the Main Chalet.

3. Toronto Islands, Ontario: Catch a ferry from Bay Street to this, the largest urban car-free community in North America [10]. Rent a canoe or bike and explore the kilometres of paved trails and sandy beaches. Make it a weekend by booking into one of the several B&Bs on the islands.

4. Lasqueti Island, British Columbia: Leave your vehicle at French Creek just north of Parksville on Vancouver Island, and hop the 60-passenger Lasqueti Ferry to a quiet, rural community that retains an authentic counterculture vibe. Make it a weekend at the eco-friendly Squitty Bay Oceanfront B&B or off-grid Lambert Lake Inn.

5. McNabs Island, Nova Scotia: This almost-uninhabited 395-ha (976-ac) island played a strategic role during the defense of Halifax in World War II, and is today part of a rugged and wild provincial park. Several private companies run water taxis from the mainland. Make it a weekend by reserving one of a limited number of wilderness campsites."

Heritage workshop for francophones in Edmonton

2009-04-14T12:04:00.004-06:00

Great Excursions’ Claude-Jean Harel will deliver a heritage workshop in Edmonton on Saturday April 18, 2009.

The session titled “Miser Sur Son Patrimoine” (tapping into one’s heritage) is intended for Alberta cultural tourism and heritage stakeholders seeking to develop stewardship initiatives that have the potential to contribute to the cultural industries, including tourism.

The all-day session in French will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Egge’s Barn, Fort Edmonton Park (Fox Drive & Whitemud Drive) in Edmonton).

Participants may register online.

Some financial assistance is available for distant participants.

For more information, call:

ACFA
Isabelle Laurin, directrice des communications
Phone. : (780) 466-1680, extension 222
Cell. : (780) 904-5700

Pow wows are on the rise as native people rediscover their roots, and Winnipeg, MB’s Manito Ahbee—A Festival for All Nations—is at the centre of it

2009-02-20T14:13:00.003-06:00

Pow wows are on the rise as native people rediscover their roots, and Winnipeg, MB’s Manito Ahbee—A Festival for All Nations—is at the centre of it all.

This gathering is one of the biggest, drawing over 800 dancers around the continent. Anyone can join in—just note a few dos and don’ts.

It is Manito Ahbee—“where the Creator Sits,” a sacred, secret site in southern Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park. It’s also the name of the annual continental event of Turtle Island, the Aboriginal name of North America, a 10-day meeting of native minds and hearts held in late October in Winnipeg, MB, that culminates in an explosion of wildly colourful regalia, whirling dance and pounding drums—the International Competition Pow Wow.

Pow wows are sweeping North America as native people have, in recent decades, rediscovered their history and culture. And this is one of the biggest, drawing some 800 dancers from around the continent. Manito Ahbee’s even pulling in mainstream, non-Aboriginal visitors, fascinated by the dancers’ skills and energy.

The Pow Wow’s the butter on the bannock of Métis celebration, conferences, traditional crafts marketplace, and Métis and native music at venues around downtown Winnipeg, as well as at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.

These aren’t your grandfather’s soulful chants, though; First Nations music has evolved into an audio kaleidoscope of genres from the hip hop of KrayKree to Ed Peekeekoot’s country styling.

Even so, the Pow Wow is totally traditional, and there are rules. You don’t, as I did, lie on the floor to get a good photo angle (I was admonished gently). You don’t call dancers’ clothing “costumes”—costumes mean Halloween, and these outfits are imbued with serious symbolism.

You do get swept away by the passion of the competition dances that last well into the evening. And when they call out “intertribal dance,” you get to join in—even if you’re like me, a white gal, wearing a decidedly non-festive sweatshirt and sneakers.

Source: Canadian Tourism Commission

Tourisme Montréal takes a chance with bloggers

2009-02-11T09:24:00.004-06:00

Roberto Rocha writes in The Gazette that Marketing Magazine reported that Tourisme Montréal wants to hire a "small army of bloggers, videocasters and networkers to promote tourism in the city."

Specifically, they're looking for five people who will use social media to play up Montreal's main attractions for visitors: food, shopping, nightlife, culture, and the gay scene, according to Rocha.

Each "brand ambassador" will be asked to go out regularly in their field and make regular videos and blog posts. They will also be asked to interact with visitors on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Yahoo Answers.

The most startling job requirement, Rocha goes on, "is carrying a cell phone to take calls from potential tourists.

This will be a a 10-month part-time job from March to December. Rocha says they are looking for people who are "curious, outgoing, have large network in their assigned area, the ability to talk in front of a camera, and can work on deadlines."

"They're saying little else about the campaign until it launches officially. But you can tell already this is a pretty gutsy move from the tourism body, which is trying to save money in anticipation of a soft tourism season," Rocha concludes.

WestJet, Air France and KLM Announce Signing of Memorandum of Understanding

2009-02-04T16:53:00.004-06:00

Some very good news for travellers today. WestJet, Air France and KLM today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new commercial relationship between the three airlines.

"This memorandum of understanding allows the airlines to begin working on building a code-sharing agreement in late 2009 or early 2010. Prior to this, the carriers will contemplate additional opportunities including an interline agreement, namely acceptance of each other's e-tickets, and through check-in of baggage and passengers, technology permitting. Possibilities for future frequent flyer program cooperation will be explored as well.

A code-sharing agreement would involve the Canadian gateways of Calgary, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver where guests of the three airlines would connect with each other's networks.

This memorandum of understanding is another step in WestJet's strategy to increase connectivity, bringing additional travellers to its network as well as offering more access for its guests to new destinations."

Orcas, Totems and Grizzly Bears cruise -- August 15 to August 21

2008-11-18T08:56:00.003-06:00

This is will be the first departure of the season for this trip. So far we have 4 booked + 4 more are expected to book in the next few days. We need a minimum number of 9 passengers to guarantee the departure. We expect fully this trip to go ahead because this is our most popular trip and it is a great time of the year to go. So if you have been thinking about it: August 15 to August 21, 2009!

Yukon dog sledding filling up nicely, but still availabilities

2008-11-17T06:58:00.004-06:00

The month of January is one of the best times to view northern lights in the Yukon. In the bottom left ... one of the wall tent camps we use for the longer trips.

Our trips in the Yukon are attracting guests of all ages. February and the first half of March are fully booked.

There is still room in November, December and January. January is an excellent time to go because of the northern lights.

Here are some trip options:

Great Excursions now offers RV rental services across Canada

2008-11-16T15:51:00.006-06:00

Discover Canada at your own pace! RVing is gaining in popularity as a mode of travel. Families and friends looking for the ultimate in autonomy while on vacation are looking increasingly to renting a campervan or a motorhome. The freedom to venture off the conventional roadways, the beauty of waking up every morning in a different scenic spot is a hard to resist temptation. Have a look at some of the units we offer through our Canada-wide partnerships. To find out more, call 1-866-975-8687 or email us at info@greatexcursions.travel, and start planning your next holiday now!

CanoeSki's Cliff Speer to give talk Wed. Nov. 12 at 7:00 pm at the J.S. Wood Library in Saskatoon

2008-11-07T09:03:00.003-06:00

Our friend Cliff Speer sent this note around... A not to miss evening!

"In some ways, Saskatchewan is still a frontier province with many places practically undiscovered. Exploring those places can be a fascinating pursuit. Done in a sustainable, responsible way, such exploration is the essence of ecotourism.

On Wed. Nov. 12 at 7:00 pm at the J.S. Wood Library in Saskatoon, I will be giving a talk and slide show on ecotourism entitled: Eco-explorations in Saskatchewan’s Backcountry. My presentation will, of course, highlight canoeing and cross-country skiing, but will touch on other self-propelled modes of exploring the backcountry. You may be surprised to discover that backcountry in Saskatchewan can be both remote & almost on your doorstep!

The Nov. 12 event is one in a regular monthly series of public presentations on environmentally-related topics co-sponsored by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the J.S. Wood Library. It is free and everyone is welcome to attend. Coffee accompanies the discussion session. I look forward to seeing a whole bunch of eco-oriented explorers come out next Wed. evening!

Winter is hovering in the wings somewhere, but I’m a bit reluctant to bring up the topic of skiing as I’m still trying to catch up from a busy summer of canoeing! When we do get skiable conditions, check out the CanoeSki site for cross-country instruction and tour programs. I’ll be once again teaching all the adult ski courses for the Nordic Ski Club, so there should be plenty of options for everyone interested in learning to ski or improving their technique.

Private lessons have become popular over the last few years as a final option for those with tight schedules or simply wanting personalized attention. Give me a call to discuss any skiing questions. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the fall and dream of a protracted winter of deep snows!

Cliff Speer
CanoeSki Discovery Company
Wilderness Canoeing & Skiing EcoExplorations
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Tel/fax: 306-653-5693
http://www.canoeski.com
cliff@canoeski.com"

Northern Saskatchewan Canoe Country

2008-10-24T07:26:00.003-06:00

A quick note to let you know about a slideshow by Robin and Arlene Karpan, and Ric Driediger of Churchill River Canoe Outfitters at the University of Regina's Education Building Saturday October 25 at 7:00 pm.

The event is put on by the Historic Trails Canoe Club.

I'm attaching a pdf file about the event.

C-Jnorthern%20Sask%20canoe.pdf

What's happening in Canada this winter?

2008-10-22T22:34:00.008-06:00

by Lori McNulty
Courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission

From BC hot springs crawls to all-acoustic jams in Nova Scotia.

Manitoba

In a kitchen the size of Yankee Stadium, I still couldn’t fit in all the friends who whoop it up during the annual, 10-day Festival du Voyageur in Saint-Boniface, MB. Because during “The World’s Largest Kitchen Party,” everyone’s family. Take in the fiddle and jigging, feasting, fireworks and musical performances—all capturing the joie de vivre of the French-Canadian voyageur and fur-trading era. (Video)
www.travelmanitoba.com

Yukon Territory

Cue the music and huddle close when the Northern Lights electrify the Yukon sky in February. The Frostbite Music Festival is Canada’s coolest musical buzz. International performers hit the stage for hot sets of blues, gospel, funk, reggae, Cajun, Celtic and First Nations music. When the dancing stops, hit the Takhini Hot Springs for a soothing soak.
www.travelyukon.com

Nova Scotia

No doubt about it. Halifax is the soul of down-east sound. The jamming is all-acoustic during the In the Dead of Winter Music Festival in January, when Atlantic, Canadian and US musicians perform up close and unplugged just for you.
www.novascotia.com

British Columbia

International crowds flock to Brackendale north of Squamish, BC, to catch some rare but ruffled celebrity headliners. From mid November to mid February, the community hosts the largest gathering of bald eagles in North America. Catch them as they feast on spawned salmon during the 23rd annual Brackendale Winter Eagle Festival & Count in January. (Video)
www.hellobc.com

Call it the Kootenay Rockies Hot Springs Crawl, grab your friends and go. BC’s Kootenay Rockies is home to seven unique hot springs. Soak in mineral-rich comfort amid deep canyons, old-growth forests, flowing rivers, craggy mountain peaks and caves. Smile included.
www.tourismbc.com

Quebec

Canadians don’t all live in them, but igloos (also iglu) are still pretty cool. Head to Parc national du Bic in Quebec’s St. Lawrence River Estuary and you’ll see. The park’s NUNA BIC Package sets you up with an overnight igloo stay, snowshoe rental, winter sleeping bag and fleece blanket, ground mattress and more.
www.bonjourquebec.com

Winter sea kayaking is a becoming a hot sport in Quebec. Guided kayaking trips take you through the stunning Mingan Archipelago and Lower North Shore region where you’ll paddle among sea birds and ice floes, then sample home-cooked salmon. In late February and early March, join an excursion to visit thousands of white harp seals on the ice near Îles de la Madeleine.
www.bonjourquebec.com

We Are Many Festival

2008-08-21T22:02:00.005-06:00

This just in from Regina EcoLiving

"Saskatoon will be the site of the transformative project, We Are Many: A Festival, which presents a model of sustainability for mid-sized cities throughout North America. We Are Many (WAM) will use the energy and community spirit of the arts — music, theatre, dance, literature, and visual art — in taking a dramatic step toward a more environmentally friendly community. The festival will feature arts exhibits and performances as well as hands-on workshops and symposia on the whats, hows, and whys of sustainability.

For more information, visit www.wearemanyfestival.com or call 306.343.1757"

Earls keeps on serving honest value: Review

2008-08-17T20:29:00.006-06:00

This is the latest review that I wrote about about Earls restaurant which just got published on Tripadvisor. I don't know why there such a vacuum when in comes to encouraging citizens and visitors to blog and write about the tourism establishments they frequent in Regina, when most marketers would agree that this is the single most effective way to raise awareness about destinations and what they have to offer. Nothing short of total transparence and honesty will do, if we want to raise awareness about the city and the authentic experiences it offers.

The fact that the last review prior to this one dated back to January is of real concern!!!

Mortlach's tourism efforts are starting to pay off

2008-08-16T11:56:00.005-06:00

I don't know if any of you have had a chance to stop in Mortlach, located on Trans-Canada Highway west of Moose Jaw, but it seems their tourism efforts are paying off. Mortlach Mayor Ron Locke just shared the following with me.
|
"We are still working to make Mortlach a tourist destination. Our Mortlach Saskatoon Berry Festival on 5 Jul 08 was a huge success with over 2500 people in attendance. Check out our website www.mortlach.ca to see how things are progressing."

I wrote an article abou their efforts that was published in this publication a few years back.

And I went back to the area to lead an archaeological survey with the Regina Archaeological Society later on.

Kudos to the community!

Saskatoon leader has huge impact on river stewardship

2008-08-16T08:38:00.005-06:00

I was happy to see that Meewasin Valley Authority' Susan Lamb is profiled in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix this morning. Susan's good work over the years has certainly helped guide resource stewardship in the South Saskatchewan River Valley.

Until I read Ned Powers' article, there is a lot about her background I didn't know:

"Lamb attended the University of Saskatchewan, where she earned a bachelor of science in 1974 and an education degree in 1978.

She joined The StarPhoenix as a writer in 1977 and became the Newspaper-In-Education co-ordinator. As a founding member, she coined the title, READ Saskatoon, an organization which has become a powerhouse in literacy activities.

After her first turn with the MVA, she joined Tourism Saskatoon in 1991, and admits to facing a real challenge.

"We were near bankruptcy. We developed some marketing ideas, formed some partnerships and it became a time of significant growth within the industry. In 1997, we were named the fastest-growing tourism destination in Canada."

She was a founding director of the Saskatoon Airport Authority and founder of the Women's CEO Group. She's been a director with Tourism Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Foundation, Persephone Theatre, Winterfest and Big Sisters, among others.

She won the YWCA's Women of Distinction award in 1995 for leadership in business and community work.

She and Ron have been married for 39 years and her husband was a longtime educator in the Moose Jaw and Saskatoon public schools systems."

Whale watch operators set the record straight

2008-08-15T19:43:00.008-06:00

I came across this story by the Canadian Press today... Dan Kukat is a first rate operator that we work with. It is good to see him and his group step forward to provide a bit of context and to educate consumers about how the industry operates:

B.C. man who barreled through pod of killer whales fined $3,500

VANCOUVER — A British Columbia man who mowed over a pod of killer whales at full speed in his boat, either hitting or just missing one of the endangered animals, has been fined $3,500.

Xi Change Gao, of Sidney, B.C., was convicted in April after video showed the man's eight-metre crab-fishing vessel, the Vien Duong, tearing through the pod near South Pender Island.

"The video indicated that the Vien Duong appeared to collide, or very nearly collide, with a killer whale while continuing to manoeuvre around other members of the pod at full speed and in close proximity," said a Department of Fisheries news release.

The video was captured in an area where the southern resident killer whales are often spotted. There are only 87 animals left in that whale population, and they are listed as an endangered species by the federal government.

Xi was fined $3,000 in a provincial court for disturbing marine mammals and another $500 for a crab-fishing licence violation.

When fisheries officers looked through his logbook shortly after the August 2007 incident, they found he failed to keep it up to date.

Xi's actions are completely contrary to whale protection laws and whale-watching etiquette.

Dan Kukat, president of Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest, said that type of incident is unusual.

"I'm sure it was unintentional," he said of Xi's actions.

"I don't want to sound apologetic, but you know it could happen to anybody. However, once you find yourself amongst killer whales, the law clearly requires us to take evasive action where possible."

Most whale-watching groups in B.C. and Washington State have signed an agreement that limits boats from getting closer than about 400 metres to whales.

If boat operators finds themselves close to whales, they must immediately slow down to seven knots and turn off their engines if the whales get closer.

Kukat, who runs Springtide Victoria Whale Tours, said whales are extremely adept at getting out of the way of boats and are a lot smarter than many people believe.

"They spend as much time watching the whale watchers as whale watchers are watching whales," he said with a chuckle. "They are highly intelligent creatures. Some people think maybe even more intelligent than human beings."

David Roberts, sales and operations manager at the Victoria-based Prince of Whales whale-watching company, said most people are respectful of wildlife, but the few who aren't seem to stand out.

"You have people who do all sorts of strange things around, not just whales, but all wildlife," said Roberts.

"I've seen people try to get their kids up close to a rutting elk to get a nice picture. People who will feed wildlife on the corner of a road, people who drive through a pod of killer whales. Some people just don't have the understanding."

Lisa Spaven, marine mammal incident co-ordinator with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said the recovery strategy for southern resident killers whales identifies boating activity as an issue.

"It's an issue in that these animals rely on their aquatic environment to perform their normal life process."

Spaven said the southern resident population has lost a few whales this year, but has also gained a few, including a new calf just spotted a two days ago.

Kukat said the protection of killer whales along the coasts of B.C. and Washington State has come a long way.

Decades ago, people would shoot at them to keep them away from fish nets and fishing lines - or worse.

"Go back to the war: they were used for bombing practice, as stories have it," said Kukat.

How safe do you feel in Victoria Park?

2008-08-14T17:28:00.002-06:00

The Regina Downtown BID is circulating a City Police questionnaire about your use of Victoria Park:

"Regina Police Service in partnership with the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District is currently examining Victoria Park and is interested in receiving your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to fill out this questionnaire which can be faxed to Regina Downtown at 359-9060, or emailed to info@reginadowntown.ca."

Here is your chance to help guide the folks tasked with making Regina a better place.
Victoria%20Park%20CPTED%20survey.pdf

Drop in US travellers coming through Saskatchewan comes as no surprise

2008-08-12T08:48:00.006-06:00

The Buffalo Days are always a hit
Photo: Claude-Jean Harel

Earlier this month, Memory McLeod reported in the Leader-Post that there are fewer American travellers coming through the province:

""We are about to see an influx of American travellers who come through this time every year on their way back from Alaska. Other than those, no we have not seen a lot," said Peggy Henderson, visitor services manager at Tourism Regina.

The amount of American travellers to the province was down in July by 30 per cent compared to last year. June saw a 26 per cent decrease and a 4 per cent decrease in May."

That was really to be expected given the fuel prices, the current challenges in getting tourism stakeholders working together to harmonize our tourism offering around Saskatchewan's distinctive character in a way that makes our products attractive to international markets, and given current uncertainties around passports requirements.

I received phone calls from clients in the US requesting clarifications. One would be traveller from Michigan called us after visiting websites both in Canada and the US, and being left confused.

There is no doubt that Saskatchewan, its cities and rural communities have the potential to grow tourism revenues from sources other than the domestic market... but the entire Canadian tourism industry is struggling with the US market at the moment. It is indeed a time for innovation an renewed emphasis on collaborative strategies and tourism partnerships.

Britain's first new steam engine for 50 years puffs out of locomotive works

2008-08-01T12:22:00.003-06:00

Photo: Michael Binyon

This is a great little story from The Times of London

"The first new steam engine built in Britain for almost 50 years steamed slowly out of Darlington Locomotive Works today to loud applause, a blizzard of camera flashes and a guaranteed future of full-speed mainline running, the length of Britain's rail network. Tornado, a replica of the A1 Peppercorn Pacific class, has taken 18 years to build and cost almost £3 million. With sponsorship from some of Britain's leading engineering companies, funds have come from steam enthusiasts across the country through deeds of covenant and a bonds issue.

About 250 people, including four BBC camera crews, made the journey to the shed where it was built to see the engine, belching thick smoke and blowing its whistle, move for the first time under its own steam."

Looking for examples of cultural tourism best practices for a new course aimed at tourism practitioners

2008-07-30T20:12:00.004-06:00

A crew of local iceberg enthusiasts head out to take
a closer look at Dunfield (Newfoundland and Labrador) earlier this month
Photo: Claude-Jean Harel

I am currently developing a cultural tourism course for the recently created Bonavista Institute of Cultural Tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador. The course will take place this fall on the Bonavista Peninsula. The course’s emphasis will be on the development of tourism partnerships that lead to increased revenue generation through the enhancement of the tourism value chain to which tourism operations with a focus on heritage, culture and the arts belong.

As part of the curriculum development process, I am looking for examples of partnership best practices in the cultural tourism field from around the world that we can use to illustrate some of the processes involved in generating partnership solutions that build on the authentic character of cultural tourism experiences, and that help bring out the sense of place of the destinations where they take place.

I would welcome any suggestions of such partnerships that we could feature in the course, especially those that facilitate market-readiness and which take into account principles of environmental, social and economic responsibility.

A Dragon Boat Festival approved for Banff National Park

2008-06-11T09:48:00.005-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The first-ever Dragon Boat Festival for Banff National Park has been approved to glide the mystical waters of Lake Minnewanka on August 23 & 24, 2008. The non-motorized long-boat canoe race and festival activities are set to showcase National Park environmental stewardship through educational opportunities and an enhanced visitor experience.

A centuries-old race features four boats with teams of up to 20 paddlers in race heats of 200, 500 and 1000 metre stints. According to Andrea Thiessen, Director of Events and Special Projects, "group participants bring their competitive spirits to the lake and are required to build unity in an outdoor environment in order to successfully cross the finish line". Specialty cup races will include Breast Cancer Survivors and Emergency Medical Services. Cultural festival activities and interpretation will add excitement to the downtown core of Banff, while a "Towards Zero Waste" strategy continues to demonstrate our leadership in low-impact special events.

"Hosting cultural events in Banff National Park provides a non-traditional way of engaging Canadians and educating them about the special and unique place that is located in their backyard" says Julie Canning, President and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. "We look forward to working collaboratively with Parks Canada, the Town of Banff, and the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation on an integrated approach to running this exciting new event".

www.banfflakelouise.com/dragonboat

A Heritage Moment
Lake Minnewanka, originally called Devil's Lake, was renamed in 1888 because it was believed the name was too ominous for visitors. Its new name is translated from the Stoney word 'Minnee-wah-kah', which means the "Lake of the Water Spirit". In the late 1800's, the lake was home to Minnewanka Landing, a popular resort community. When the lake was dammed, the reservoir submerged Minnewanka Landing and it has now become a popular location for cold water diving.

Author: Annik LaRoche
Organization: Banff Lake Louise Tourism
E-mail: Annik@banfflakelouise.com

American workers are vacation deprived

2008-06-11T09:46:00.003-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

For the eighth consecutive year, Americans were found to receive and use the smallest amount of vacation time among their counterparts in other countries.

Expedia recently commissioned its eighth annual Vacation Deprivation(TM) survey; despite reporting an average of 14 paid vacation days again this year (the same as 2007 and two more than in 2005), an estimated 47.5 million Americans (31 % of employed US adults) will not use all of their vacation days. Again this year, employed US adults will leave an average of three vacation days on the table, giving back more than 460 million vacation days in 2008.

Despite these statistics, Americans do see the value in vacations, with more than one-third (39 %) reporting they feel more productive and better about their job upon returning from vacation and 52 % claiming to feel rested, rejuvenated and reconnected to their personal life. Work responsibilities are one of the biggest deterrents to taking vacation, with 18 % of US adults responding that they've cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work and 29 % admitting they have trouble coping with stress from work at some point in the vacation cycle. Additionally, nearly one quarter (24 %) report that they check work e-mail or voicemail while vacationing. That figure is up from only 16 % in 2005.

Expedia analyzed the vacation habits of employed workers in the US, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy (and for the first time, the Netherlands and Austria). Canadians receive an average of 17 annual days, two less than 2007 but still three more than Americans. Among the European countries studied in the past, all workers receive more vacation days in 2008 than 2007. Great Britain has a two day increase over 2007, with 26 days, and Germany, Spain and France all saw increases of one day, receiving 27 days, 31 days and 37 days respectively. Employed workers in the Netherlands and Austria are awarded an average of 28 days in 2008.

When it comes to making vacation a priority, Expedia research saw a shift in attitudes toward taking time off among women and men. In 2007, men were more likely to feel guilty about taking time off from work (39 % versus 30 % of women). However, in 2008, women are more likely than men to feel guilty about taking time off from work (38 % women versus 28 % men), and men are more likely than women (16 % versus 11 %) to take a two-week vacation.

Biggest-ever tourism campaign entices western Canadians to stay in Alberta

2008-06-11T09:42:00.006-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Travel Alberta has launched its biggest ever regional tourism marketing campaign. The $5.6 million multi-media program encourages Albertans and visitors from western Canada to "stay a little bit longer" in Alberta.

"This exciting and creative campaign showcases the many unique travel experiences Alberta has to offer around our province," said Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Cindy Ady. "This program, made possible by the Tourism Levy, supports an important pillar of our economy that employs more than 111,000 people in every community in Alberta."

The multi-media program kicks off with a television campaign, supported by radio, seven travel and events guides distributed widely throughout the year and innovative billboards in Calgary and Edmonton. "Our goal is to increase the length of stay and subsequent expenditures of travellers from our largest markets," said Derek Coke-Kerr, Managing Director of Travel Alberta. "This is strategic marketing at its best as tourism in Alberta and Canada now faces increasing challenges of a higher Canadian dollar, higher gas prices and more competition from other destinations trying to attract Albertans to visit," he said.

Funding for tourism comes from the four per cent Tourism Levy. The levy, which replaced the five per cent Hotel Room Tax in 2005, provides Travel Alberta with a reliable, predictable and sustainable source of funding for marketing activities. Budget 2008 includes $67.2 million for tourism marketing and development, which represents an increase of almost $10 million over the previous year.

Albertans are responsible for about half of the approximately $5 billion in tourism expenditures generated annually in the province. Travel Alberta is the industry-led, market driven and research-based tourism destination marketing organization for Alberta. Travel Alberta's mandate is to implement the Strategic Tourism Marketing Plan which sets the goal to increase annual tourism expenditures in the province to $6.5 billion by 2011.

Author: Don Boynton
Organization: Travel Alberta
E-mail: don.boynton@travelalberta.com

Wanuskewin: governing for authenticity

2008-06-06T16:19:00.001-06:00

Photo: Claude-Jean Harel

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Wanuskewin Heritage Park, on the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River five kilometres north of Saskatoon, includes seven hundred and sixty acres, with nineteen sites that represent the Northern Plains Peoples: summer and winter camp sites, bison kill sites, tipi rings and a boulder alignment known as a medicine wheel, all found within one kilometre of each other.

Almost 20 years ago, an award‑winning and elaborate interpretive centre was designed and built to reflect the character of the site as a historical gathering and meeting place over 8000 years of First Nations history. Wanuskewin still fulfills that meeting place role, providing a rich variety of programming for tours, which can be customized to fit into workshops, retreats, and companion events for conventions.

Wanuskewin's mission is to operate – under the leadership and guidance of First Nations people – a heritage site that contributes to increasing public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the cultural legacy of the Northern Plains First Nations people. Wanuskewin's governance structure is unique, with a wide range of partnerships and founded on the idea of a cooperative relationship between Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal peoples. There are two governing boards:

Wanuskewin Indian Heritage Incorporated (WIHI) has thirteen members who are representatives of First Nations bands, districts, or cultural nations of Saskatchewan. WIHI was established to review planning for development of the Park, including cultural programming, traditional land use, and ceremonial and spiritual matters. WIHI ensures that the needs of First Nations people are met and an authentic and unique experience is provided for all visitors to the Park.

The operating board – Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority (WHPA) – has twelve directors composed of both Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal peoples and is the umbrella group for the partnerships that form Wanuskewin. The board members include representatives from WIHI, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, the City of Saskatoon, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan, the Meewasin Valley Authority and the Friends of Wanuskewin.

Canada's Significant 29 Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Experiences

2008-06-06T16:15:00.002-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

provided by Aboriginal Tourism Canada in partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission

Atlantic (Nfld/Labrador/PEI)
Miawpukek Annual Pow wow

Nunavut
Bathurst Inlet Lodge

Nova Scotia
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada

New Brunswick
Metepenagiag Heritage Park

Québec
Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations
Aventure Mikuan II – Innu
Croisières Essipit
Bercé par l’Harricana
Cruise North Expeditions (Kuujuaq, Nunavik)
Nunavik Arctic Survival Training Centre (NASTC)

Ontario
Aboriginal Experiences – Turtle Island
Great Spirit Circle Trail
Canadian Cultural Tours
Temagami Anishnabai Tipi Camp
Cree Village Ecolodge

Manitoba
Manito Ahbee - Festival for all Nations and Bannock Point

Saskatchewan
Wanuskewin Heritage Park Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Batoche National Historic Site of Canada

Alberta
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Nakoda Lodge and Conference Centre

British Columbia
Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Linagaay
NK’MIP Resort
Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre
Aboriginal Journeys
St.-Eugene Golf-Resort-Casino and the Ktunaxa Nation Interpretative Centre
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Yukon
Great River Journey Inc.

Northwest Territories
Aurora Village

Michel Fournier's Super Jump is postponed

2008-06-02T11:19:00.003-06:00

D-Day for Michel Fournier's Super Jump?

2008-05-26T07:27:00.005-06:00

By now people on site at North Battleford should be able to see helium-filled probes in the sky on the tarmac that are tethered to the ground. These will give a good indication of the wind speed. Look for a vertical line between the probe and the point at which it is tethered. That is a sure sign that a launch attempt will be made.

Michel is being weighed on an industrial scale to help establish the right amount of ballast required on the balloon.

Much of this is a wait and see game. Michel is seen here resting outside in 2003 before undergoing the denitrogenization process.

Some information details about the balloon used in 2002 and 2003 for Michel Fournier's Super Jump attempts

2008-05-25T09:36:00.004-06:00

The balloon used for Michel's 2002 and 2003 attempts was actually a prototype built by Cameron Balloons in Bristol, UK.

Cameron hadn't built helium balloons until then. Michel's launch team have commented that it was built more like a hot air balloon than a helium balloon and that it had an open bottom.

A remote controlled valve was installed at the top of the balloon. This was so that once Michel had reached the desired altitude and jumped -- and once the capsuled had been detached from the gondola set off by a timed explosive device triggered by Michel before he jumps -- the valve would open, releasing all the helium and allowing the balloon to gently fall down to the ground.

Inflating the balloon proved tricky in 2002. The sleeve that you see extending left from the balloon was poorly attached to the balloon. The compressed helium contained in the truck to the right is propelled into the balloon by means of high pressure hoses which are connected to the fragile sleeves.

In 2002 the pressure proved too much for the sleeve which detached from the balloon early during the inflation process. Fortunately the quantity of helium lost was minimal. The sleeve was reattached by the launch team in a more solid manner. But the unforeseen delay eventually forced the cancellation of the attempt because of subsequent inappropriate weather conditions.

As you see the sleeve is actually held tightly around the business end the hose.

You can in the picture above that the two sleeves are fully extended away from the balloon as a result of the helium having been injected. Inflation is almost complete at this stage. Look at the spool which prevents the balloon from being released. You will notice that only the top portion of the balloon is inflated. Most of the length of the balloon lies safely on tarps on the North Battleford Airport tarmac. You can see a portion of it extending to the right of the spool above.

The 2003 attempts proved the right one in terms of weather conditions, but it also proved the inappropriateness of the balloon. In this picture, the sleeves are hanging loosely after the inflation is completed.

Launch conditions are optimal. The spool flips open and the balloon starts rising...

As the balloon starts ascending, the helium rises inside the balloon and starts pushing through the top as the sutures rip open. It is a devastating blow.

The balloon falls softly back to the ground. Michel is in tears in his capsule as he realizes that his balloon has now been rendered useless. It will later go to the dump.

Launch director Ricardo Valera comes to take a closer look at this mess.

It becomes obvious to him that the balloon sutures were a weak point.

We all count our blessings that Michel is safe and sound. If the balloon had ripped open after the gondola had started to rise in the sky, things could have gone dreadfully wrong for Michel Fournier.

Michel Fournier's team members are early risers

2008-05-24T22:12:00.004-06:00

It seems that for all potential launches in the past, morning proved the most promising time. I am not an expert at this, but there is always this moment when the winds die down at the end of the night, a time which lends itself to launching these giant balloons. Pictured above is the original launch crane. You see how it is holding Michel's pressurized gondola. We will talk about the actual launch process later on.

Meanwhile, in the original hangar, team members prepare for the launch.

In order for Michel's world records to be officialized, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) had sent Michel Jara and Therese Tercier (right) to act as judges in 2002. They are seen here inspecting the measurement instruments. Therese is back in Saskatchewan again this year. She told me two days ago that she hopes this is the right attempt for Michel.

As the launch appears imminent, the huge wooden crate containing the balloon is pulled out of the hangar.

André Turcat has an early morning conversation with Michel.

The mood remains jovial even as it appears the wind is rising to levels which might prevent the anticipated launch attempt.

At Michel's request I had made arrangements for area emergency personnel to be on standby.

Finding a helicopter to get to Michel quickly after the jump proved a little more challenging. Fortunately, the ever resourceful Thierry Reverchon managed to track one down at the last minute.

Michel and I posing for the occasion.

It looks like this morning will not be the one. If you look closely in the background above the truck pulling the balloon, you will see that the small tethered balloons are pulling away because of the wind.

Here we see Dr. Paul Vanuxen (left) looking on alonside Michel. he played an important part in developing the scientific contributions of Michel's project.

It looks like the gondola is heading back to the hangar this time.

Le Grand Saut team members enjoy themselves at Saskatoon's Calories restaurant in 2002

2008-05-24T21:53:00.003-06:00

These photos were taken the night I met Michel in the spring of 2002 at Calories. I heard a group of boisterous French folks behind us at a nother table. Michel charmed us with his enthusiasm. Pretty soon, I had been recruited as a Grand Saut volunteer team member.

Pictured here beside Michel is Christian Crye (left), head of Capucine Films, the company which owns the broadcast rights to Michel Fournier's Le grand Saut and has supported Michel's efforts since he undertook to bring the Super Jump to Canada.

Some background on Michel Fournier's 2002 balloon launch attempt

2008-05-24T07:49:00.004-06:00

The capsule discretely awaits launch bearing its human payload in a hangar a the original launch site near Saskatoon.

Michel is seen here with with French photographer Rémi Benali (left) who was mandated by Gamma agency to document Michel's Super Jump.

Everyone knows by now that this has been a difficult and costly long journey for Michel Fournier. Michel's 2002 launch attempt was his first Saskatchewan-based venture. Having found a qualified stratospheric balloon launch team in the Saskatoon area, and a launch location that could be used, the Super Jump team was filled with optimism as the project sponsors arrive from France.

Project godfather Jean-François Clervoy (right) is a French astronaut who has flown three times on the Space Shuttle.

André Turcat (left) was the first/test pilot of the famous Concorde

Time for photo ops!

A smoke making machine makes for some pretty pictures.

....as does the legendary Saskatchewan sunset with a round bale in the background to the left.

Why is it so difficult to give a precise helium balloon launch date for Michel Fournier?

2008-05-24T07:28:00.003-06:00

Ricardo Valera Correa is the former chief of launches for the Brasillian space agency. He is Michel's launch director. It is his job to determine when the best opportunity for a safe launch is. Ricardo uses smaller helium balloons like this one to gauge wind speed of at ground level. The balloon is then let go and is tethered to the ground and rises to a few hundred feet. How much deviation from the vertical there is, gives a good indication of the wind speed over a range of altitudes, therefore providing valuable information to the team.

People often ask why it is so difficult to give a exact time for the launch? Some say that it is easy for Michel to communicate to the public that the launch is delayed because of the weather, but in reality the weather is a huge factor. The launch windows in spring and fall are very real. The challenge is very often simply that winds on the ground prevent safe deployment of the balloon. Launch team members always monitor weather conditions. They will determine when the best time to launch is through a variety of means.

A Guide to Watching Michel Fournier's Big Leap/Jump

2008-05-23T19:39:00.007-06:00

Michel Fournier's team stays at the Gold Eagle Lodge while in North Battleford. The team will eat all its meals (except breakfasts which are self-served at the lodge) at the Gold Eagle Eagle Casino restaurant. These are two great spots to meet Michel and fellow team members over the next few days.

You have been hearing a lot lately about Michel Fournier's Big Jump, Great Leap, Super Jump, otherwise know in French as Le Grand Saut. I have had the privilege of being involved with the project since 2002, when I met Michel and his original team at Saskatoon's Calories restaurant and became a partner on the spot.

I have acted a the Canadian Manager of the project for a number of years until recently, because I believe Michel can do this. I have been instrumental in looking after some of the key logistical challenges faced by Le Grand Saut at Michel's request and that of other project insiders. Information about the project is closely guarded, as many have already commented on Michel Fournier's blog, although Michel promises to be more open about developments over the next few days.

A press conference was held earlier today in North Battleford, which has already yielded some interesting articles in The New York Times, The Edmonton Journal, The Daily Telegraph, and Le Figaro.

I endeavour to present to you in the next little while through this publication a few tips on how to follow the evolution of Michel Fournier's 2008 attempt, as in unfolds in the next few days. This will be an insider's perspective, with a view to recognizing the value of the project as a way to feature Saskatchewan on the world stage, as a place that is somewhat richer than the deserted Canadian plains that it is often being portrayed as being in the international press covering the event at the moment.

Mayor of North Battleford Julian Sadlowski is pictured here just outside the airport compound where the Super Jump will take place. Through the window (over his right arm), you can see the truck which came all the way from the US containing the helium that will be used to inflated the giant balloon. To the right of the truck is the new hangar which houses the balloon, gondola and mission control centre.

I ran into Mayor Sadlowski shortly before the press conference this morning. We had a good chat about the project and our respective University of Saskatchewan years (where coincidently we both majored in anthropology and took classes from the legendary Zenon Pohorecky). He makes no bones about supporting Michel's Big Jump because of the visibility it will bring North Battleford. This is an hospitable town with welcoming people who all want Michel to succeed. Many residents will be volunteers on the project. The city is lending Michel all kinds of resources. This is already a win/win situation for all the parties involved.

French parachutist Michel Fournier is back in Saskatchewan to carry out his Big Jump

2008-05-14T09:36:00.009-06:00

It is with great emotion that we welcomed back Michel Fournier and his wife Kim on Monday at Saskatoon Airport on a beautiful sunny evening. Michel's Big Jump (Le Grand Saut) is scheduled to take place during the weather window starting on May 25th in the North Battleford area.

Upon his arrival, Michel expressed to the local press which came out to greet him how pleased he was to return to Saskatchewan, a Canadian province which has become in many ways his adoptive land.

Already local, national, and international media outlets are preparing to cover this event which will surely bring much attention to Saskatchewan in the coming days.

You will find here in English an article about our association as a partner with Michel Fournier's stratospheric ballon jump project.

You will also find here an article published in the Wall Street Journal some time ago, along with a few photographs I took over the years.

Read about Emilio's Journey to Saskatchewan to realize his life-long dream of seeing live wolves which we organized at Michel's request.

North Americans just have to travel

2008-05-14T08:19:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Despite the many flight cancellations in April, the slowing economy, rising gas prices and the weak dollar, Americans appear to be sticking to their summer vacation plans and business travellers are still being sent around the globe, write Susan Stellin in The New York Times. The only change from last summer is the new emphasis on finding ways to cut costs.

"Leisure travel is kind of like food and rent -- it's considered an essential cost within a relevant range," said Bjorn Hanson, who follows the hospitality industry for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

By many measures, the number of people traveling set records in 2007, and those figures are holding steady so far this year. Travel agents and industry analysts report robust bookings for US domestic, international and business travel, but Hanson says companies have cut back so much since 2000 that there is not much fat left to trim.

"If you decide two days before a travel date and can't find a reservation, travel just doesn't happen," Hanson said.

It turns out that demand for travel is less influenced by the overall economy and airport struggles than all kinds of factors not easily measured -- like how much snow is on the ground, where grandpa and grandma live, and even whether a favorite football team is doing well.

Although the airlines are struggling with skyrocketing fuel prices, aging planes and calls for tighter regulation, one bright spot for the industry is that passengers are still filling up seats and booking flights.

"We're concerned about a recession, but probably more in the second half of the year," said John Heimlich, chief economist for the Air Transport Association, pointing out that airlines have not announced widespread fare sales.

"That to me is always a sign of an effort to stimulate traffic -- and we haven't seen a lot of that," he said. Nor have hotels been doing much discounting.

These efforts include encouraging employees to book tickets earlier for lower fares, requiring them to choose flights based on price rather than departure time or reining in spending on meals.

But most corporate travel managers pointed out that in a global economy, companies cannot afford to keep employees at home, even when air travel is frustrating.

It is also possible that certain inconveniences are overstated, like the effect of gas prices on summer driving trips. Despite not knowing where the price of oil is going to go or the roller coaster stock market, I think people are very committed to family time, vacation time and multigenerational travel," said Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel, an agency based in New York City. "They're still going to go."

Experts say demand for green business travel is growing

2008-05-14T08:17:00.004-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Demand for green services in business travel is growing, an expert panel told 225 travel managers and suppliers at a recent National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Canada conference.

As part of their travel agreement selection process, organizations ask hotel chains what they are doing to mitigate their carbon footprint, according to Michelle White, Director of Environmental Affairs for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Meeting planners are also going "green", she added. "They are all looking at how to minimize the impacts of those meetings, and the expectation is that you will have these strategies in place because it is a key component of any venue selection."

Helen Brough, Director of Advisory Services for American Express, said the majority of American Express business travel clients ask similar questions. The problem, she said, is that the answers are vague. "They say 'we are very committed to this. We are putting procedures in place," she said, "But, there's no hard-core detail."

Not good enough, says White. Clients want concrete, measurable programs. Fairmont recently signed a contract to have the World Wildlife Fund assess the company's carbon footprint and recommend a strategy for change.

The new program will add to what Fairmount already does to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the line. "We largely focus on minimizing the environmental impacts of our hotels, looking at, for example, waste management strategies, energy and water conservation." White explained.

These fact-based assessements are vital, says panelist Charles Johnson, Director of Sales for Agresso Travel Industry Solutions. Once, he said, CEOs might have announced their intent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% with little or no idea of what that meant. The new trend is to be more rigorous, creating carbon statements that would be similar to financial statements.

Although green demand is growing, the higher costs for environmentally friendly products or services can still be a barrier for travel buyers, says Brough. "If a hybrid-car rental is more expensive, that is still an issue." On a more positive note, she also said some companies are turning green action into new business. She cited a survey in which 20% of American Express business travel clients said they had won business because of their environmental programs.

White, Brough, and Johnson were part of NBTA Canada's 4th Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase, held in Toronto.

Canada plans a bit of 'ambush marketing' of its own in May

2008-05-14T08:17:00.003-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

China Daily reports that Canada, a future Olympic host, will showcase its top assets with an exhibition from May 1 to September 18 at the British Columbia-Canada Pavilion in Beijing.

With Vancouver set to host the Winter Games in 2010, the country will display its culture, business, tourism and industry in the Chinese capital in an attempt to lure Olympic visitors this summer.

"Through an industry-driven business program, over 400 Canadian companies will be given the chance to promote themselves and build relationships in the growing Asian economies during this exhibition," said Annette Antoniak, president and CEO of the British Colombia Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat, according to China Daily.

The Pavilion was designed and planned in Canada and has been shipped to Beijing to cover 21,000 square feet in the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.

On the first floor, the Pavilion will build on the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth to create an immersive experience where visitors will feel as though they have crossed the ocean and landed in Canada. The second floor will be a meeting place for businesses keen to learn more about the trade and investment opportunities in BC, Canada and China. "In Beijing, we will be highlighting our natural advantages and showcasing the enterprise and imagination at work in every corner of the province," said BC's Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen.

"In addition to our trade and investment program based in Shanghai, the BC-Canada Pavilion will further demonstrate our commitment to establishing a long-term presence in the Chinese market."

The plan to build the Pavilion was unveiled in 2006 by BC Premier Gordon Campbell.

Sustainable Tourism Toolkit to help operators make a difference

2008-05-14T08:16:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The "Sustainable Tourism Toolkit project came out of recognition that the SMEs and operators needed a kind of "one size fits all one-stop shop" for practical, sensible advice on how to deal with issues like climate change, and aspects like water and energy uses, notes TIAC VP of public affairs Chris Jones.

He believes the soon to be unveiled Toolkit, which is currently being developed for TIAC by Marr Consulting (with the help of Parks Canada and the Canadian Tourism Commission) will provide loads of practical solutions for operators.

TIAC had produced a sustainable tourism Code of Ethics in 1992 with Parks Canada and the CTC, which provided general guidance on environmental stewardship. But Jones explains "we felt that in order to get action on the ground, we needed something that targeted more the operators, which would mean something to them in their day-to-day operations. This toolkit has been written with that in mind."

The Toolkit is designed to be an adaptive, interactive resource in electronic format which facilitates business decisions. The initial intent is to distribute the toolkit in a CD version. "In Phase II, we will look to create a Wiki-style website for on-line viewing and use where there will be an accent on information sharing and posted updates. We don't want it to be a thick document that sits on people's shelves and gathers dust. Yes, we will have paper version of it, but our intention is to send it out in a more interactive format."

The Toolkit will be easy to use by tourism operators and their staff. It will have different functionalities, while expressing Canadian perspectives around the challenges and opportunities unique to tourism in Canada. A business case will be made for sustainable tourism practices. It will highlight the monetary value of these practices for tourism business owners and employees. The toolkit will focus on policy, budgetary and overall strategic vision aspects, and it will have a general applicability to DMO/PMOs as well.

"It won't be a serial piece, where you have to start at the top and work through it all. Operators will be able to approach sustainable tourism from different perspectives. For instance, you may find advice on the 10 things most visible to the customer that you could undertake; or the 10 quickest-to-implement practices: what would give you the most significant reductions? The toolkit will provide a whole series of solutions to adopt."

Jones says the Toolkit is a collective effort. "We're going to translate it at TIAC and the CTC will lay it out and put it in some kind of print format. Our hope is that something like this will be picked up -- and almost syndicated -- across the country, so other jurisdictions won't feel the need to reinvent the wheel. We tried to write it with the diversity of Canada in mind, and with the understanding there are different geographic and climatic aspects and realities to Canada. Everybody has a role to play around climate change; this is our contribution at the moment."

The Toolkit is due to be released in May.

Latest CTC-Germany non-traditional partnership focuses on water

2008-05-14T08:15:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

After the success of its whale-themed non-traditional partnership, which ended in November 2007, CTC-Germany was looking for a novel way to tap into Canada's evocative power as a destination. According to the CTC's Jens Rosenthal, "sustainability is important for German consumers. It soon became apparent that one of the most suitable connections to sustainability was the whole issue of water."

This was a natural fit for Canada. "Almost everything we offer as travel product involves water-based activities; and the provinces and territories have many connections to water experiences. We decided to develop this concept."

"Kanadaria" is the Iroquois word for "shining water", Rosenthal explains, and is the name chosen for this new non-traditional partnership which started on March 3 with the launch web portal www.kanadaria.de.

"This is the communication centre for this project. It aims to attract a maximum of reporters specializing on the theme of water from Germany, Canada and the world, who actively write about their experiences with water. The objective is to create the largest water portal on the web; every tourism product related to water could be promoted -- everything that one can do with, under, above and with water could be advertised."

Until March 3, institutional water reporters could register on the site to write about their water projects. On March 3, the portal was opened to consumers who can write about their special experiences with water. A special section for kids and teens teaches the younger target audiences about water.

The promotion kicked off with the launch of a water photo competition sponsored by Ontario Tourism, German tour operator Canusa Touristik, Fotocommunity (a photo portal with more than 600,000 registered members), Globetrotter Ausrüstung (Europe's largest outfitter for outdoor clothing and equipment), British Airways and the CTC.

Three water packages offered by Canusa Touristik are promoted (FlyDrive, RV and lodge packages with focus on water destinations in Ontario). An association that cares for water will be honoured with donations collected throughout the co-operation.

The competition just launched is multifaceted: "Water photo runs from April to June; Water video, from July to September; Water stories and poems, from October to December; and Water music, from January to March. The competitions will result in other promotional products being sold, like Water calendars, Water DVDs, Water stories/poems books and Water CDs."

In August, a media and celebrity FAM to Ontario will take place, and in October the first two trips to Ontario for contest winners will follow. Rosenthal hopes the promotion will reach 2.5 million consumers per year and an average of 15,000 unique website users per month in 2008 and 2009, resulting in 5,000 new email addresses for database use with a growth rate of 10% every year, with sales to Canada growing accordingly.

"We also have ambassadors as we call them - people and celebrities who are well known for their work. Some might be explorers; swimmers; some might have written books about water. They will travel together with German media to Ontario and experience water destinations in Canada."

Stay tuned to find out how this latest non-traditional partnership from Germany unfolds.

Travel companies zero in on 'zoomers'

2008-05-14T07:32:00.002-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Zoomers - boomers with zip -- are hanging up their Bermuda shorts and opting for more colourful adventures, says the Calgary Herald.

No longer content to bask their golden years away on the beach, they want to explore exotic getaways, immerse themselves in foreign cultures and discover something new about their destinations and themselves.

"They're really after interesting experiences," says David Cravit, executive vice-president of the 50plus group, a multi-faceted media company that owns CARP magazine and 50plus.com. "And I think we're just beginning to see the travel industry see those kinds of experiences for this market."

Cravit says that 50-plus group account for 54 per cent of all trips by Canadians and 55 per cent of foreign trips. Individual companies in the travel industry stand to make a lot of money if they can appeal to this growing sector.

To attract this demographic, the travel industry has refocused its packaged trips and altered its travel loyalty programs.

Moses Znaimer, the boomer-centric media mogul (who coined the term "zoomer" to describe the new-style 50-plus traveler), recently purchased the 50plus group.

Canada's West Marketplace comes of age

2008-04-06T13:12:00.008-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The 20th Annual Canada’s West Marketplace (CWM) trade show took place in Whistler, BC, in late November. Each year, this marketplace brings together in one location British Columbia and Alberta tourism suppliers with tourism buyers from across the world. The event is the product of a unique collaboration between Alberta and British Columbia tourism industry stakeholders. TOURISM met with two key people who make it all happen to look at the journey thus far; Christine Jones is manager of marketplaces and special events at Tourism British Columbia and Cassandra Graves is director of marketing services at Travel Alberta:

Tourism BC's Christine Jones notes the special partnership CWM has allowed BC and Alberta to develop over the years: “Sometimes Cassandra and I have worked more closely together than we have with people in our own respective offices!” she quips. “The relationship, and the benefits that stem from it, extend to both BC and Alberta, and they are reflected in our in‑market initiatives also.”

“Our representatives work together in Japan, Korea, Germany and the UK,” Jones notes. “They work with tour operators to get them to come to Canada’s West Marketplace, and this year we have 36 new buyers who have never attended before. That is a huge opportunity for the industry to build those relationships and build tourism, knowing these new buyers may not be aware of the products here.”

When asked what advantages she sees in staging a marketplace that focuses exclusively on Alberta and BC products, Jones answers she believes there is added value for the tourism suppliers “because the buyers are there to meet with Alberta and British Columbia suppliers. It is very focused; we try to have the personal touch as much as possible, and we listen to what our delegates say – the changes they would like to see – and as a result we have been evolving every year.”

Jones is particularly pleased that the Canadian Tourism Commission makes a point of participating at CWM: “The CTC delegates, as well as Air Canada, Tourism BC and Travel Alberta staff, get to meet with both buyers and sellers. They find out what new products have emerged, and the sellers can look at developing itineraries for FAM tours with our DMO representatives.”

For her part, Travel Alberta’s Cassandra Graves points out how CWM provides an opportunity, especially for smaller operators who can’t make it overseas on an annual basis, to meet and conduct sales calls with these operators in a cost‑effective way. “It is really a one‑stop shop for them. We have over 150 buyers attending this year, so it is a fantastic opportunity for them to meet one‑on‑one with those buyers and get some business done.”

“There is a real intimacy to the show,” she goes on, “because the two provinces have sellers who have been attending the show during all its years of existence. They know the buyers very well. Christine and I have only been working on the show for the past seven years, but prior to 1999, the show actually alternated between Alberta and British Columbia. Buyers spent two days in one province, then they travelled to the next province and spent two days there. In 1999, in Victoria, we decided to begin to host it at one location and to alternate between Alberta and BC, and in 2003 we changed to a buyer‑seated format.”

Graves says her team reads every comment in the evaluation participants fill out “and we have a 99% satisfaction level, which is wonderful. When we implemented all the technology that we did in 2004, it was in response to delegate wishes. We were leading‑edge at that time, and I think in many areas we still are, from a technology aspect. People are very curious about the services we include; it means we are doing our job and that we are successful in maintaining the quality of the show.”

Needless to say Graves looks forward to CWM coming to Calgary in 2008. “We haven’t been there for some time, and we are very excited about hosting the show,” she concludes.

The CTC can help with media FAMs

2008-04-06T13:10:00.002-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The Canadian Tourism Commission, traditionally active in bringing international media to Canada, is now extending this role to Canadian media as well, says CTC travel media relations manager Carol Horne.

“It was always a source of frustration for the provinces that they could easily request CTC support to bring American journalists to Canada to cover Canadian stories, but there wasn’t a comparable program of support in Canada for domestic media. Fortunately, this has changed since. Last year, we supported nearly 200 Canadian members of the media to travel across the country.”

On top of that, Horne says, the US program continues with 410 media representatives having been supported under that program in the last year, and the international program is also on‑going. If private sector operators wish to take advantage of this kind of opportunity, Horne advises that they approach their local tourism marketing organization.

“That is the level at which we prefer to work. This is a good way for us to find out how much the provincial department of tourism is in support of that journalist coming to the region. There is added benefit in approaching a provincial or territorial travel media counterpart, because an operator might find there some additional support in the form of a car rental or hotel cost contribution.”

Horne says the provincial travel media contact may also help an operator guide the story idea development and assess its validity. “Operators should make sure that, if they have a journalist in mind, they are qualified and can publish or produce the intended story, and that they have a good publishing record.”

Horne believes destinations should give some thought to what their stories are. “Are they really intriguing? Is it something newsworthy? Is it something that the media hasn’t heard about before? Is it consistent with some of the trends that are popular right now? Is it about SPAs, outdoor adventure? Or something which taps into concepts like voluntourism? Destinations and attractions must think in terms of what is already being talked about out there in the media. They should assess how they fit into this.”

Of course, it is not guaranteed exposure; even with the best of journalists, editors change their mind. Publications change, magazines fail. All kinds of things can happen.” But when things go well, the impact can be phenomenal. “Articles, especially in long versions, in magazines for instance, can provide much greater detail. You can tell so much more than in a short ad or a 30‑second TV commercial. It really allows the destination to shine and provides the in‑depth first‑hand experience.”

The real value of this kind of media exposure goes much beyond the advertizing value equivalency. It is really about the power of influence. “If somebody sees a story in the New York Times, they might also say: ‘here is a valid concept that I should follow up on.’”. Given today’s world where bloggers and social media outlets pick up so readily on traditional media content, the influence wielded could be greater than ever. And, concludes Horne, “exposure anywhere often leads to more exposure.”

Aurora tourism operators expand markets

2008-04-06T13:06:00.005-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Northern News Services’ Jennifer Obleman reports that Northern lights could be dancing above more Korean faces this spring as aurora tourism operators expand their markets.

Aurora World has signed a contract with a Korean tour operator in December, said board chair Darryl Bohnet: “We're doing this on a trial basis this year to see how it goes. We hope to expand from the Japanese market to Korea,” he said. “The tour operator has already launched a significant ad campaign, so we're waiting to see how it pays off.”

The Korean contract was partly prompted by the decline in Japanese visitors, which Bohnet attributes in part to Alaskan competition: “I think we bottomed out last year due to the Alaskan government underwriting charters for tour operators in Alaska,” he said.

According to data from the NWT department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, there were just over 7,000 aurora visitors in the NWT in 2006‑07, down from approximately 10,200 in 2004‑05 and 13,000 in 2000‑01, and close to the 6,500 visitors in 2001‑02 – a year when tourism dropped dramatically following significant world events such as the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the war in Iraq.

NWT operators are hoping to recapture a portion of the Japanese market this year. According to Bohnet, November numbers and indications from Japanese tour operators are pointing to a 15% to 20% increase over last year.

Aurora World is also planning to diversify its clientele to include other Asian markets. The company sent a representative on the GNWT's trip to China in 2007, and has made preliminary contacts there, said Bohnet. He said Aurora World plans to focus more on the Chinese market in about three to five years, following the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Bohnet said the company's board is “cautiously optimistic” about the future of Aurora tourism in the NWT.

He said the introduction of Air Canada's direct flights from Vancouver to Yellowknife in December was a positive development for the industry. “We want to be able to eventually fill those planes and encourage the use of bigger planes,” he said.

Aurora Village manager Hideo Nagatani said the company does have clients coming into Yellowknife on the direct flights. The Yellowknife tourism operator is also looking at Asian markets such as Korea, Taiwan and China as well as other markets, but Aurora Village will maintain its focus on Japan, said Hideo.

“Developing other markets, it's so small compared to what the Japanese market has been and will be for years to come,” he said. Japanese tourists make up about 75% of Aurora Village's clientele. According to Nagatani, last year was the first year the company did not see growth in the Japanese market.

How to stage FAM trips that resonate with participants

2008-04-06T13:04:00.003-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The use of FAM – or familiarization – trips is a key tactic destination marketing organizations and tourism operations rely upon to educate tour operators about products and destinations. They represent a substantial investment of time and money for both buyers and sellers. So how can FAM stagers and participants make the best of these opportunities to make an impression? Inbound operator Great Excursions took part in Canada’s West Marketplace Pre and Post FAM trips hosted by Banff Lake Louise Tourism and Tourism Vancouver Island. Great Excursions' owner Claude-Jean Harel, associate editor at TOURISM, had the following observations:

One of the first considerations would be to coin a theme with the potential to lure participants to the destination: something seasonal, perhaps, which exudes authenticity and a definite sense of place. You then illustrate the theme with tourism products which make it more vivid through the right choice of partners, accommodations, dining, attractions and entertainment – all the while never forgetting the importance of a well‑focused experience to make the whole FAM as compelling as possible.

“Celebrate Life. Discovering Banff” might not have resonated so engagingly with participants if they had not been treated to a series of site visits which left them a chance to interpret the destination and titillate their curiosity about what makes the place tick. These included subtle program elements, like attending an evening blues concert in the intimate setting of The Banff Centre.

FAMs are about more than sites; they are about context. This is something the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has understood for quite some time, as evidenced by the availability of an in‑house heritage interpreter who will take guests on guided hikes. The ability to break away from the hotel facility to gain greater understanding of how it is associated with the landscape (and the Lake Louise centrepiece) adds both meaning and memorability to the experience.

Heidi Wesling looks after travel trade relations at Tourism Vancouver Island. She knows these program elements well and believes that planning the FAMs down to the finest details is the best way to prepare for the unplanned: “In the case of the Canada’s West Post FAM, the program had to be prepared prior to the event itself, so you don’t know who is going to be signing up, their interests or background. I tried to choose a wide range of properties to give each person who signs up for the FAM something they could take away from the experience. We also chose activities that are relevant to the featured area of Vancouver Island, the cultural experience behind it and activities that clients of our FAM participants might enjoy when they come to the region.”

Wesling says different trade shows will warrant different programs to fit the audience. A National Tour Association audience might look for different experiences than a Canada’s West Marketplace or Rendez‑vous Canada audience. Timing, of course, can sometimes be problematic, she says: “You try to choose activities which are accessible to as many people as possible; maybe a hiking tour that doesn’t involve very much exertion or a boat tour. It is very important to be flexible. You might not be able to host a group at the time you are making the itinerary – it is a fine line between getting what the participant wants and working with stakeholders after everybody leaves the Island. It is a juggling act in a way, and hopefully you are able to accommodate everybody’s needs.”

One of the most useful resources for FAM host organizations is the survey participants are asked to fill out following the trip. “It is a way for us to determine how we are doing and how the properties are doing (we do share survey results with the properties as reference points for them). Participants put down their thoughts on the properties and suggest ways to improve various experiences. There is extreme competition between accommodations and different attractions; if they can get feedback from people in the industry who experience many properties and many activities, that is invaluable.”

FAM tours: a buyer perspective

“For me it is about being able to know and understand what we are selling to our clients,” says Marina Voak of Made to Measure / Lakes & Mountains Holidays in the UK. “It's about the places, whether they be actual cities, towns, hotels; just knowing where they are matters. It allows us to understand important little details that you can pass along to your clients. I had never been to Vancouver Island, so to get a good understanding of how long it takes to go from place to place is useful because FIT travellers will ask how long it takes to drive from Nanaimo to Tofino. To actually experience it yourself and pass on your first‑hand knowledge is really useful.”

Siegfried Gutsch, sales manager, leisure at Air Canada in Germany, says FAMs help his people understand what is possible in the destination: “You can always sell it much better when you have experienced it, and have developed your own opinion about it. From my past experience, it is not always about seeing hotels; it is the elements of an incentives tour that matter – things you can’t buy for money. You need to leave with an impression, to create memories.”

“FAMs are a really important element of the travel industry,” says John Simos, managing director of SevenOceans Cruising in Australia. “They are almost like the tools of our trade, like a carpenter’s saw and hammer, so we are in a better position to construct packages and advise clients on the best options to suit their needs. Certainly when it comes to a familiarization tour, it is very important for the DMOs to recognize that we are there to experience the destination as well as the accommodation and the facilities. It is also absolutely vital to see the accommodation you are likely to be selling to your customers; hotels are understandably very proud of their most opulent suites (which only rock stars and the Queen and King of England can generally afford), but the reality is that we should be shown the standard accommodation that will be included in brochure product.”

Demand for Western Canada on the rise in France

2008-03-30T17:48:00.001-06:00

Recently, TOURISM caught up with Sandra Teakle at Canada’s West Marketplace in Whistler. Teakle is managing director of the Canadian Tourism Commission's office in France, and she was upbeat with growth opportunities for Western Canada in the market she oversees: “With the introduction of direct Paris‑Calgary‑Vancouver flights with Air Transat in 2008, the Zoom Airlines service in 2006 with 21 rotations and 42 in 2007, things are looking great."

"And it is all happening just before the Olympics," Teakle notes. "At the Salon Mondial du Tourisme 2007, I would say that one out of every six inquiries received was for Western Canada. In France, the region is perceived as a new part of the country that is in demand and it is doing very well.”

Teakle pointed to results from focus groups CTC France conducted this autumn to gather more intelligence about the campaigns and elements French consumers are seeking in their holiday experiences: “It is all about nature and wide open spaces; What is important for the French is communion with nature, a theme which has consistently emerged from consumer consultations. At the heart of these findings is a longing in consumers to nourish their spirit."

"Canada is the ideal destination where travellers can do this," says Teakle, "and is a place where travellers can also engage in health and well‑being types of travel activities – which are emerging as key considerations. So the ability to tie in nature and open spaces with the possibility of undergoing spa or other types of treatments in exceptional places and settings are influential motivators.”

And there is also a kind of traditional pattern in visits to Canada from French tourists, Teakle explains that the classic first trip to Canada usually involves an entry through Toronto and an exit from Montréal. Tourists go to Niagara Falls on an itinerary that includes Toronto, The Thousand Islands, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City, and they may go down the St. Lawrence all the way to Tadoussac to engage in whale watching activities.

Teakle points out that for French travellers, cultural and historical elements are very important: "Generally, French tourists to Canada tend to be highly educated and they undertake a significant amount of research before going on a trip. They seek to validate their research through their experiences while on holiday."

After Eastern Canada, Western Canada is an emerging destination for French tourists. Teakle stresses that Canada remains the dream destination for the French travellers; however, she points out there is no rush in coming to Canada because we are not a country that is changing at the same pace as places like India or China, which are undergoing rapid transformation though globalization: "Our role is to help ensure they buy Canada today, instead of waiting until tomorrow.”

When asked why there is this increased appeal for Western Canada in France, Teakle notes a number of French travellers have already visited Western United States. The influence of Hollywood cannot be understated, combined with a strong attraction for the Pacific coast: “There is a myth in France around everything California, Nevada and New York, all that glamour related to the movie, television and entertainment industry," she notes. "In 2006, there were 805,000 French travellers who visited the US despite the fact there were all kinds of passport issues with biometric identification that made that trip more difficult than before. Now that they have been to the US, why not try Western Canada which is consistent with the appeal of wide open spaces and also very different from the American West.”

Western Canada remains relatively unknown, explains Teakle. It is perceived as “unconquered territory” in a way, and less commoditized than the Western United States. “This is our advantage. It is inconceivable for a French traveller to believe they might encounter a black bear while travelling. The other day in Whistler, there were two black bears at the base of the mountain."

"Now that is out of the ordinary," Teakle says. "And talk about an experience!”

Canada's appeal: a perspective from a French tour operator

2008-03-30T17:47:00.002-06:00

Canada and Alaska product manager Dominique Albouy of Grand Nord Grand Large (GNGL) is a familiar figure on the floor of Canada’s travel marketplaces. Her Paris‑based company has cut its own trail in a highly competitive industry by focusing on active holidays, enrichment and polar themes.

“We have always proposed programs around nature, of which dog sledding is only one. This is how we started our activities in Quebec; we then turned to whale watching, hiking and canoeing. Through a process of natural evolution we have come to Western Canada seeking different activities than those featured in Eastern Canada, but along compatible lines. These attract French consumers who may have gone to Quebec before and realized there are other experiences worth enjoying elsewhere in Canada.”

While it is true that French consumers are seduced by the type of welcome they get in Quebec (enhanced by the linguistic context), Albouy notices that French is spoken more and more in all provinces, where it is no longer unusual to meet industry people who express themselves in the language French travellers understand more readily.

“Still,” says Albouy, “nature is the magic word which best sums up what will motivate a French tourist to go to Canada. Consumers are seeking to travel, yes, but they also seek to derive something more lasting than the impression left by the journey from one destination to another. Even if the history of Canada is not quite as multifaceted as the longevity of European civilization, people are still interested by all that is associated with history and culture. Not the least of these is the realm of First Nations; now that we see them re‑emerging, we wish to understand their journey.”

"Fortunately," says Albouy, “we see a much wider aboriginal product‑offering now than we used to in Canada. However, we still face some challenges in making the experience accessible because, while aboriginal products appeal to classic clients, they might not always be interested in living an aboriginal experience in a primitive context. Still, more and more consumers now wish to get a taste of this aboriginal dimension of Canada,” she notes.

There are pricing issues: the product often implies less accessible destinations and they can be more difficult to integrate into a package. But consumers will increasingly consider this type of product, Albouy feels: "It is perhaps a sign of the times. More French travellers are attuned to issues of global warming and other phenomena which prompt them to ask themselves if they shouldn’t consider more active vacations that are perhaps more simple in nature. They might seek to rejuvenate their spirit, to find new meaning beyond those encountered on a trip to the Caribbean islands, surrounded by palm trees.”

Is there an opportunity to find these new meanings to life while on an active holiday in Canada? One that is just as rich, inspired by greater authenticity? For Dominique Albouy, the answer is: "Absolutely."

2008 Regina Downtown Ice & Fire Carnival Draws Thousands This Weekend

2008-02-18T09:21:00.009-06:00

We couldn't have asked for better February weather!

It appears that 4th edition of the Regina Downtown Ice and Fire Carnival is an unparalleled success. During the whole week prior to the Saturday February 16 official events, Regina citizens and Scotties Tournament of Hearts participants strolled through Victoria Park to meet with snow sculpture artists. Even teachers took their students to take in this original example of how culture and the arts contribute to placemaking, and to creating more attractive, walkable cities for visitors and residents.

The Saturday TSN network television coverage of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts started with an opening segment shot right in the midst of our snow sculptures on the edge of the Carnival Crystal Pond. All Canada heard about our special event in Regina that day.

On behalf of the Carnival Committee, I would like to thank all our Ice & Fire Carnival volunteers, participants, artists and performers. Also, a big thank you to all our sponsors, whose generosity is the building block this distinctive Regina event depends upon.

You will find below some of the photographs of the Carnival and partners events I have snapped during the week...