Around Town
Representatives of 10 Caribbean destinations, one Caribbean airline and one company representing a number of Caribbean hotels, gathered together recently.
Seen here, from front left to back, are: Racquel Queensborough, Jamaica; Raymond Mathias, Cayman Islands; Liliana Mancini, Aruba; Nancy Drolet, Anguilla & St. Martin; Brita Greaves, Barbados; and Tameka Wharton, Antigua.
From front right to back are: Nazie Mohammed, Caribbean Airlines; Sekou Stroude, Grenada; Brent Carnegie, Canlink Travel; Joy-Anne Crichlow, Barbados; Darrio Prescod, Barbados; Shelley John, St. Vincent & the Grenadines; and Jerry Grymek, Dominica.
Air Canada Making Dreams Take Flight
Air Canada was once again making dreams come true as its first Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight from Atlantic Canada since 2019 took off this week from Halifax International Airport with 144 children to Orlando to experience the trip-of-a-lifetime.
Thanks to the numerous Air Canada employee volunteers, support of the Air Canada Foundation and the work by the Dreams Take Flight organization, eight flights operate annually, providing over 1000 children each year with an unforgettable day at a theme park in Florida or California.
The flight from Halifax left in the early hours of the morning (April 26) and transported 144 kids to Orlando, accompanied by a crew of current and retired Air Canada employee volunteers focused on creating the most magical experience possible.
By generously donating their time, pilots, flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes offer children facing mental, physical, or social adversity the chance to take a break from their everyday to make memories and see new possibilities.
Allison Sinnott, President of Dreams Take Flight Halifax, said: “Dreams Take Flight Halifax takes children from all of the Atlantic provinces, which is something that makes our chapter very unique. It’s difficult to describe what this trip means for them and what it’s like to witness their joy as they make unforgettable memories with new friends. None of this would be possible without our national and local sponsors, so we cannot thank them enough.”
Valerie Durand, spokesperson for the Air Canada Foundation, said that: “Partnering with Dreams Take Flight has been a wonderful way for Air Canada, our employees, and the Air Canada Foundation to come together and make the dreams of children facing adversity come true. A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who worked so hard to bring together this group of deserving children from across the Atlantic provinces to make magical memories that will last a lifetime.”
Six more flights from across Canada will depart from Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa throughout 2023.
Dreams Take Flight is a non-profit primarily made up of current and retired Air Canada employees who volunteer to make these flights a reality. Over the past 30 years, Air Canada, as exclusive carrier and now through the Air Canada Foundation, has flown more than forty thousand children on Dreams Take Flight trips.
Go to www.dreamstakeflight.ca to donate or volunteer.
Go to www.aircanada.com/citizensoftheworld.
A Big Welcome For tripcentral.ca In Kissimmee
Experience Kissimmee recently hosted tripcentral.ca’s top performers for a fun-filled week in the sunny destination. The trip was led by Denise Graham, Account Manager at Experience Kissimmee represented in Canada by VoX International.
The group stayed at the Margaritaville Resort Orlando, right in the heart of Kissimmee in two, 8-bedroom cottages.
The group flew down on Sunwing Airlines, operating out of the new terminal at Orlando International Airport. While in Kissimmee, participants enjoyed a number of activities, including a fun-filled VIP Experience at Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure, a visit to SeaWorld Orlando including an informative back stage tour of their rescue center, a Wild Florida Airboat ride & Drive-Thru Safari tour, zip lining & tree trekking high above the trees at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park, a scenic bike tour of Celebration, kayaking on Shingle Creek, and testing out the waterslides at both the Island H2O Water Park and Aquatica Orlando as only “agents who have been there” do.
Other trip highlights were an evening at Old Town Kissimmee, where everyone was able to ride along in a number of classic cars as part of their weekly, popular classic car cruise night parade down Main Street, followed by dinner & entertainment at Estefan Kitchen, owned by award-winning musician Gloria Estefan & her husband Emilio.
The group also enjoyed fun nights in the cottages, including executive chef dinners, fantastic live local entertainment, BBQ’s, a Margarita contest, a battle of the sexes game of Pictionary, plus free time to waste the day away at Margaritaville (if you can believe it!), & most importantly, loads of laughs in the big, bold heart of Florida.
Carnival Jubilee Celebrates Sea And Shores
Carnival Jubilee will debut fun, unique and immersive ocean-themed experiences in two new zones: Currents and The Shores, along with guest favorites and, of course, the fleet’s third roller coaster at sea when she debuts later this year. Currents, encompassing Deck 6 and Deck 7, is an awe-inspiring, immersive and transformative space that takes guests below the waves with a playful vibe featuring innovative technology, new and exciting bar and dining venues and live music.
On Deck 8, The Shores is the place where the ocean meets land, a zone that’s inspired by the ways people enjoy the seaside including piers, boardwalks and beaches. An impressive three-deck-high fish school art installation rises from Deck 6 all the way to Deck 8 to bring guests up from the Currents below to the surface.
The other four zones of Carnival Jubilee will be home to spectacular activities and venues that guests have gotten to love on both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
