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CTAL: Travelling Canada Post Pandemic

with Travel Writer Paul Knowles

COVID created a reason for Canadians to re-focus our travel on destinations within our own borders. Join us for the why, when, where, how, and who’s of discovering our own country

Canadians are travellers. Canada ranks high among the countries with the highest percentage of passport holders, just behind countries like the U.K. and Sweden, and more than doubling the U.S. figures. So Canadians are very accustomed to travelling outside our borders.

But COVID changed that. By and large, we stayed home, within our national borders. And it can be argued that this change was for the better. Further, as we consider travelling across oceans and land borders again, we would be wise to continue to include our own country on our travelling bucket list.

Because travelling in Canada involves much more than nice scenery – although it’s hard to beat the view of the Bridal Falls in Algoma, the harbourfront in Victoria, or the whales and icebergs you can spot off the point in St. Anthony. When we travel in Canada, we immerse ourselves, not only in geography but also in the environments that have inspired so much of our Canadian culture, art, music, literature and cuisine. In visiting other parts of Canada we learn who we are, and who our fellow citizens are.

In this session, we will look at travel trends, the new reasons for exploring our own country, and the state of the travel industry in Canada. And we will meet a few of the people you just might encounter as you take up your carry-on, and hit the road.

Cost: $8.85 + HST

About the Speaker

Paul Knowles is President-Elect of the Travel Media Association of Canada. He writes a weekly travel feature for three southern Ontario newspapers, and has been recently published in the Toronto Star, Dreamscapes, and vacay.ca. He is founder and editor of the annual magazine, “Our Heritage/ Our Home”.

Paul is the author of more than 16 books. His most recent books include The Magic Garden, and The Dun Also Rises, his second murder mystery. He is also a lyricist and composer, involved in projects that have been featured on CBC Radio, and performed at music festivals and by London Pro Musica Choir. He is a frequent speaker to community groups, travel conferences, and garden clubs.

Paul has received the Governor General’s Medal, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, for his community service.

Paul holds a B. Th., Emmanuel College, a B.A. (History) from the University of Waterloo, and an M.A. (Religion and Culture) from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Paul’s hobbies include gardening, pickleball, cooking, reading, golf, music, wine tasting, and avoiding power tools.