Lois Farley | The Great Canadian Travel Co.

STAFF PICKS

March 14, 2023 | Pearl McCallum

We want to paint a picture for you.   Imagine you’re at a gathering with friends and acquaintances. It’s a fairly large group, let’s say around 15-20 people. Just as you begin to get hungry, someone brings out a large, layered cake. It’s smothered in rich, chocolate buttercream frosting – …

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June 29, 2022 | Lois Farley

Way back in 2017 I wrote a blog in recognition of Canada Day; 50 Great Things Canada Contributed to the World. Since I wrote that blog I’ve been studying about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land we now call Canada for millennia – the First Nations and …

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March 17, 2022 | Lois Farley

Saint Patrick’s Day brings Ireland and all things Irish to a lot of people’s minds. And, those of us lucky enough to be Irish or are of Irish descent, particularly so! My ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to Canada from Ireland back in the mid to late …

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March 1, 2022 | Allison Silvaggio

There are so many things that we miss when it comes to travel, such as exploring new places, trying new things and meeting new people.  What I miss the most, are those extremely peaceful moments where you can just take it all in.  Whether you are enjoying a beautiful hike, …

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Indigenous Inventions

June 29, 2022 | Lois Farley

Way back in 2017 I wrote a blog in recognition of Canada Day; 50 Great Things Canada Contributed to the World. Since I wrote that blog I’ve been studying about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land we now call Canada for millennia – the First Nations and Inuit, and more recently the Métis – trying to learn and understand more about their histories and cultures.

As part of my studies I thought it would be cool to research their contributions to the world. And, there are some great ones!

So, in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day here we go with my entirely unofficial, un-scientific and unvetted list of some Indigenous Inventions. Read More >

Newsletters – 2022

June 29, 2022 | Lois Farley

If you want to keep up to date on product news, promotions and specials we send out a newsletter by e-mail every week or two. To be kept in the loop just sign up from our website, at the bottom of each page in the red “footer” or email us to be added to the list to receive updates from us. You can always unsubscribe at any time if you change your mind later on!

Read previous newsletters by clicking on the links below:

29 June, 2022 – Up2Date – Canada Day & 4th of July

10 June, 2022 – Up2Date – Solo & Women-Only Travel

29 April, 2022 – Up2Date – Wildlife Viewing
11 April, 2022 – Up2Date – Spring Storm Alert! (Winnipeg and MB only)
08 April, 2022 – Up2Date – Wellness & Self-Care Travel
01 April, 2022 – Up2Date – Indigeno Travel Launch
17 March, 2022 – Up2Date – Happy St. Patrick’s Day and World Travel Awards Voting now open
27 February, 2022 – Up2Date – International Polar Bear Day
18 February, 2022 – Up2Date – Trips of a Lifetime
04 February, 2022 – Up2Date – Culture and History
20 January, 2022 – Up2Date – Sky Watch Northern Lights
06 January, 2022 – Up2Date – Happy New Year

Saint Patrick’s Ireland

March 17, 2022 | Lois Farley

Saint Patrick’s Day brings Ireland and all things Irish to a lot of people’s minds. And, those of us lucky enough to be Irish or are of Irish descent, particularly so!

My ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to Canada from Ireland back in the mid to late 1800s. My maternal Grandmother’s family home in County Antrim is a special place to me from a genealogical standpoint, nestled as it is at the foot of nearby Mt. Slemish. It’s where my Grandma Hannah was born and raised, and is the land she left behind when she left for Canada. But, I discovered, it was also a very significant place for Saint Patrick. Read More >

Happy Groundhog Day

February 02, 2022 | Lois Farley

Canada’s three most well-known groundhog weather predictors and their cousin south of the American border are at loggerheads this Groundhog Day.

Nova Scotia’s celebrity groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, and Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte both predicted a long, cold winter ahead, while Ontario’s Wiarton Willie claimed an early spring is on the way. The United States’ Punxsutawney Phil agreed with Sam and Fred, heralding six more weeks of winter.

Our modern Groundhog Day may have links to ancient beliefs of the dividing day between winter and spring, with February 2nd landing midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

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Top Spots for Northern Lights

January 19, 2022 | Lois Farley

When you think of Northern Lights something mysterious and wondrous comes to mind.

Have you ever wondered how those bright dancing lights are created? They are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. In the northern hemisphere, they are called Aurora Borealis; in the southern hemisphere, Aurora Australis.

The colours can appear as green or pink, but have also appeared as shades of red, yellow, green, blue and violet. They can look like patches in the sky, scattered clouds, light streamers, arcs and rippling curtains. But, I’m sure we can all agree, no matter what colour they are or what shape they take, they will always be a magical sight!

 

We feature several Northern Lights tours on our website for you to choose from, or we can customize a tour for you if you don’t see one that suits you.

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December Celebrations & Why 2021 Kind of “Stink, Stank, Stuck”

December 10, 2021 | Lois Farley

Republishing this blog from 2020 with the revision to include that 2021 was similar to 2020 but was more of a “Stink, Stank, Stuck” kind of year! It seemed like a lot of the year we were spinning our wheels, stuck in a rut of continuing restrictions, lifting of restrictions, new restrictions…..

I think we can all agree, 2020, in the words of the Grinch, “Stink, Stank, Stunk”!

Even though this year we can’t get together in large groups with family and friends, as we usually would be for December festivities, there is still much to be thankful for and to celebrate.

December is truly a month-long time of celebrations, spanning many religions and beliefs. So, on this 1st day of the month, Happy December! And no matter what holiday traditions you celebrate in your household, may you stay healthy and safe.

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Newsletters – 2021

December 10, 2021 | Lois Farley

If you want to keep up to date on product news, promotions and specials we send out a newsletter by e-mail every week or two. To be kept in the loop just sign up from our website, at the bottom of each page in the red “footer” or email us to be added to the list to receive updates from us. You can always unsubscribe at any time if you change your mind later on!

Newsletter Archives:

24 December, 2021 – Up2Date – Season’s Greetings
10 December, 2021 – Up2Date – World Travel Awards & the Festive Season
25 November, 2021 – Up2DateHappy Thanksgiving & Black Friday Sales
11 November, 2021 – Up2Date – Remembrance Day
29 October, 2021 – Up2Date – World Travel Awards – Canada’s Leading Travel Agency 2021
09 October, 2021 – Up2Date – I’m Dreaming of Pt. 4 – Polar Bears & Northern Lights
14 September, 2021 – Up2Date – I’m Dreaming of Pt. 3 – Sporting Events
25 August, 2021 – Up2Date – I’m Dreaming of Pt. 2 – World Wonders
28 July, 2021 – Up2Date – I’m Dreaming of – Wildlife Tours
21 July, 2021 – Up2Date – Warm Winter Breaks, pt. 2
14 July, 2021 – Up2Date – Winter Sun Holidays
25 June, 2021 – Up2Date – Heavenly Holidays
09 June, 2021 – Up2Date – At Home Adventures
12 May, 2021 – Up2Date Booking to Travel in 2021 and Beyond
29 April, 2021 – Up2Date featuring Reopened for Travel
15 April, 2021 – Up2Date featuring the Faroe Islands
31 March, 2021 – Up2Date featuring Iceland
17 March, 2021 – Up2Date Happy St. Patrick’s Day
03 March, 2021 – Up2Date featuring Uplift Payment Options and Travel at Home 
17 February, 2021 – Up2Date featuring Polar Bear Prize Trip and International Polar Bear Day
11 February, 2021 – Up2Date featuring Valentine’s Day Wishes and Romantic Travel Locations
03 February,2021 – Up2Date featuring our 40th Birthday Prize Trip Contest, Week 4
27 January, 2021 – Up2Date featuring our 40th Birthday Prize Trip Contest, Week 3
20 January, 2021 – Up2Date featuring our 40th Birthday Prize Trip Contest, Week 2
13 January, 2021 – Up2Date featuring our 40th Birthday Prize Trip Contest, Week 1

Our Wall of Honour

November 10, 2021 | Lois Farley

This Remembrance Day we’d like to honour members of our own families and friends who have served during war time and in regular military service.

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

September 30, 2021 | Lois Farley

Today, 30 September, 2021 marks the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation here in Canada.

It’s not a “holiday”, at least it shouldn’t be seen as one, even if it is a day off work for some. It is meant to be a day of learning, a day of listening, a day of trying to understand Canada’s colonial and settler history and the many injustices done in the name of a “civilized” society. And the systematic injustices that are still happening.

For me it’s a sad day as I think of all the children who lost their lives in Indian Residential Schools and lay in unmarked graves across our country. All the children who survived residential schools but whose lives were irreparably damaged. All the parents who had their children torn away from them and their hearts broken. All the families whose beloved children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews were taken away by force. Some to return, often changed into strangers, some never to return.

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Sun, Sand and Surf Getaway Vacations

July 06, 2021 | Lois Farley

It might seem a bit odd for us to be talking to you about sun, sand and surf holidays when most of North America is suffering through extreme heatwaves. But, turn your mind back to those days in January and February, when the wind was howling, the air brisk and you were shovelling snow, not sand. Remember how much you wished you could be on a beach somewhere or on the deck of a cruise ship, sipping a cocktail and watching the world go by?

A recent survey of over 4,000 Canadian “snowbirds” showed that 91% intend to head south this winter, to the southern states in the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. 83% plan to be away at least 3 months.

Now is the time to be putting your winter holiday vacation plans into place. Travel is re-opening, slowly but surely. The resorts and hotels that are open, the cruises that are setting sail and flights that are taking off to whisk you away, are rapidly selling out for winter 2021-22. This season there will be much more demand than there is supply, especially as a number of tourism suppliers have ceased operations.

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