Tourism

The entrance to the Civic Centre, where the new Tourism Prince George office is now located is shown. A tinted weather shelter with red highlights extends from the glass double doors, , crossing the street, into the Canada Games Plaza where a small artificial skating rink (not pictured) is now located. Photo Credit - Tourism Prince George

Tourism Prince George reopens downtown to attract visitors on foot, not in cars

January 10, 2025 by Ian Gregg

After weighing options for some time, the Tourism Prince George office has moved from Arterial Highway to a central downtown location within the Civic Centre. CEO Colin Carson says that successful tourism offices in the province have pivoted to focusing on foot traffic over road traffic. He says that even the center’s temporary digs in shipping container at the Canada Games plaza this summer received more visitors than their previous highway-bound location. CFUR radio spoke Carson at the brand new location days before the grand opening.

A cruise ship named Insignia is docked at the side of a wharf on a pleasant sunny day.

Record breaking cruise season for Port of Sydney

November 7, 2024 by Bill MacCuish

This year has been the busiest cruise season in the Port of Sydney’s 22 year history, which welcomed 117 ships and 210 thousand passengers. Traffic has been steadily increasing since the industry slowed down in 2020 because of COVID-19.

The port’s manager Nicole MacAulay says they didn’t expect the numbers to exceed beyond the pre-pandemic average so soon of 100 ships with 154 thousand passengers per year. She credits a new marketing campaign that partners Sydney with other ports in Atlantic Canada and New England.

Downtown shops located near the port at times needed more staff because of an increase in customers.
The season started in April and ended Saturday with the departure of the season’s smallest vessel, Insignia, accommodating 824 passengers at 180 meters in length. The Queen Mary 2 at 345 meters carrying 2, 700 passengers was the largest.

CKOA Radio spoke to MacAulay about the record breaking season.

The colourful shipping containers of the Area 506 Container Village, with people gathered around the various vendors, under overcast skies, late in the cruise ship season.

Area 506 Container Village experiences another successful cruise ship season in the Port of Saint John

November 5, 2024 by Iona Coe

The last cruise ship of the year left the port of Saint John in the evening of November 4th and the Area 506 Container Village closed its gates for another season. Since its opening in 2022, the vendor village and event venue has grown and developed, transforming its section of the Saint John waterfront into a bustling focal point that draws in visitors and locals alike.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Area 506’s founder, Ray Gracewood at the dockside marketplace, beside the Oceania cruise ship, the Insignia. Gracewood spoke about the origins of the idea, the original music festival, and how he was able to bring his vision to fruition. He went on to talk about how the venue has evolved over its three-year existence, and how it has been embraced by the local population.

Area 506 will be open on Friday December 6th as a part of the city’s Uptown Sparkles event.

A rocky shore on a large lake. There are trees along the shore and the waves are gentle.

Is tourism in the County down or just changing?

October 15, 2024 by Brenda Little

Prince Edward County is a major tourist destination in Ontario and that industry drives the economy in the County. Featuring pristine beaches, wineries, restaurants and much more, everything plays a role in the success of a tourist season.

COVID created a roller coaster effect with thousands of people day tripping to the County however, post pandemic statistics show tourism is down yet some feel it is just different.

One shop owner in Bloomfield admits the foot traffic was down but welcomes it and hopes that tourism is returning to pre pandemic times where people visited to enjoy the laid back, casual, rural atmosphere.

A representative of the PEC Wine Growers Association said their industry entertained the same number of people but they bought less and STA owners saw a shift to last minute bookings and for less time.

PEC chamber of Commerce and others did not respond to a request for comments.

A woman in a white blazer and black pants stands in front of a railing at the back of an empty movie theatre.

The County explores the “Art of Adaptation” in its first ever film festival

September 20, 2024 by Brenda Little

Have you ever watched a movie and thought, the book was better or that the movie was better than the book? That’s what adaptation is, and it’s a theme being explored at the County Adaption Film Festival (CAFF), taking place in Prince Edward County Sept. 27-29.

An adaptation is where screenwriter takes an idea from somewhere such a poem, painting, book or symphony and turns it into a film. The unique part of this festival is the opportunity for the screenwriters and creators, of the original material, to discuss the adaptation process.

Six films will be screened at the Regent Theatre in Picton with other related events being featured throughout the County.

Nestled between Toronto’s TIFF and Kingston’s Canadian film festival, CAFF is a curated festival setting the County apart and is a new addition to the film festival circuit.

A panel mounted on a post in an outdoor location with the headline 'Experience Potton' and instructions on how people can use their phones to get more information about the town.

New interactive ‘tourist circuit’ gives people a new way to explore Potton

August 27, 2024 by Taylor McClure

The Municipality of the Township of Potton has a launched a new interactive tourist circuit for visitors and locals to explore what the municipality has to offer.

The first circuit in the project was launched in Mansonville and it includes five panels installed throughout the village.

Known as “Experience Potton,” the idea for the interactive tourist circuit was developed by the Promotion and Territory Development Committee.

Explaining how the circuit works, Committee member Valérie Thérien said that people have to use their phones to scan the QR code visual or the NFC chip on the panels, which allows them to access online content that is relevant to the panel.

Thérien noted that there are plans to add two more circuits by next summer.

An assortment of historic cars line a busy downtown street in a small town. People are walking on the pavement looking at the cars under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Richmond antique car show features the most cars ever in its 18 year history

August 15, 2024 by Derek Bullard

This year’s edition of the Richmond antique car show was the most successful to date, drawing over 600 classic cars and 6,000 visitors, according to organizers

The annual antique car show in Richmond took to the streets this year over the weekend of August 10 and 11, transforming the small community into a hub for automotive enthusiasts.

Claude Dubois, an organizer of the event, emphasized the show’s significance for the town and local businesses, claiming that it benefits Main Street and local shops by attracting people and increasing their visibility during the event. He talked to CJMQ news about the value of the car show to the town.

View of a main street in a western Canadian city. It is a sunny day and there are pedestrians and tents in the middle of the street, which has been closed to traffic. Mountains can be seen in the distance.

Main Street Markets aim to bring more community and vibrancy to downtown Smithers

August 12, 2024 by Dan Mesec

The first ever Main Street Market launched on Saturday August 3 and will happen again on August 17th.

The initiative builds on the reputation of Smithers’ downtown as a long standing hub for the arts, music, agriculture, politics, and tourism. Among the many mountain towns in the northwest, no community has a downtown quite like Smithers.

The city is considered to be the nerve centre of business, culture and community in the Bulkley Valley. People from across the country and from around the world flock to Smithers’ Main Street for its boutiques and coffee houses, making it one of the most vibrant communities in Northern, B.C.

Despite years of debate, Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill said the event came together with the right people, at the right time. “We just got the right mix of people being able to push this forward,” said Mayor Atrill. “They gathered folks to say, ‘yes’, and created a lovely event.”

Nine people stand in front of an orange and black banner which reads "Bouffe ton centro". The person in the centre is holding up a framed certificate.

A taste of things to come at Bouffe ton Centro festival of food and arts

July 12, 2024 by Derek Bullard

Bouffe ton Centro has unveiled its 2024 program, featuring culinary workshops, a special ambassador, and musical performances.

Raphael Favreau, the executive producer of the event, shared details: “We have over 50 exhibits and two music scenes planned.” Favreau revealed that this year’s edition would feature popular local chef, restaurant owner and ambassador, Suzy Rainville.

The singer-songwriter Priscilla Quirion, known for her participation on the television show ‘La Voix’, will be performing for the audience’s musical entertainment.

The event will include family-friendly activities, such as clowns, mascots, art installations and educational sessions.

Bouffe ton Centro and the community festivities take place in downtown Sherbrooke on Saturday, August 3rd, from 11 AM to 6 PM.

A sculptured horizontal piece of light grey stone at the head of a paved driveway. The stone reads "Huff Estates Inn and Winery".

Wine pioneer celebrates 20 years in Prince Edward County

June 26, 2024 by Brenda Little

Sunday marked the 20th anniversary of the Huff Estates Winery where a party was open to the public to celebrate with free food, drinks, kids corner and dancing.

Lanny and Catharine Huff began their journey in 2004 and were one of the first to start a winery in the County with many following in their footsteps. Lanny attributes much of their success to their loyal workers, many having been with them from the beginning. Their award winning wines are well known and the winery’s success has contributed to the growing tourist industry in Prince Edward County.

With an eye for opportunity and seeing the need for expansion, The Inn was opened on the property in 2006 followed by Oeno Gallery in 2009, a commercial gallery featuring contemporary indoor and outdoor art.

The Huffs generously contribute to the community donating to numerous charities, hospitals, sports and art organizations.

Large trucks and cars are lined up on the side of the road in Heriot Bay, Quadra Island.

New sailing hopes to improve ferry traffic this summer for Cortes Island: BC Ferries

June 17, 2024 by Louis Belcourt

This summer, the Quadra to Cortes ferry route, Route 24, will see an additional sailing to help with traffic flow.

The new schedule hopes to “minimize possible sailing delays and provide better break coverage for our crews”, according to the BC ferries service notice posted on Wednesday, June 12, that also included the new schedule.

The new schedule adds a 7:25 departure from the Whaletown ferry terminal, offering an earlier departure from Cortes from June 20 to Sept. 2.

“The hope is that it’ll make things better for people wanting to travel, that there’s an additional sailing and that it will cut down on possible sailing waits,” said Liza Yuzda, senior communications advisor with BC Ferries.

CKTZ has more on the story.

A blonde haired woman wearing a black blouse stands in front of a railing. In the background is a driveway, a green lawn and the sea in the distance.

Sunny outlook for 2024 tourism season on Nova Scotia’s South Shore

May 22, 2024 by Rick Conrad

After a disappointing 2023, tourism operators on Nova Scotia’s South Shore are looking forward to a better 2024.

The South Shore Tourism Co-operative held its annual general meeting on Tuesday at the Quarterdeck Resort on the picturesque Summerville Beach. The organization counts almost 120 members from Peggy’s Cove to Barrington, and its mandate is to extend the tourism season beyond the traditional May to October time period.

Wildfires, floods and rain contributed to a challenging 2023 for the area’s businesses. Hotel stays, or room nights sold, on the South Shore for the May to October 2023 period were down about five per cent over 2022.

Those at the AGM said early indications are that this year’s bookings are up over last year.