Community News

SASKATCHEWANDERER – the best summer job ever!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:12:03 -0600

It’s that time of year again… time to think about Wandering. We have an exciting opportunity for a post-secondary summer student – in fact, it’s the best summer job ever. The JOB: We want you to travel around our beautiful province, checking out everything that makes Saskatchewan great — and then tell the world. Andrew Konoff did it last year – YOU could do it this year

Statistics: No Change in employment levels but unemployment edges up in January

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:28:32 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada, 3 Feb. 2012) OTTAWA -- Employment was virtually unchanged in January, and the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 7.6% as more people searched for work. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment rose by 129,000 (+0.7%), with most of the growth occurring in the first six months of this period. Employment Chart description: Employment Both full-time and part-time employment were essentially unchanged in January

Study: Canada tops the 10 most educated countries in the world

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:43:28 -0600

( Exerpt from Yahoo News article by Charles B. Stockdale and Michael B. Sauter, 24/7 Wall St , 1 Feb. 2012 ) NEW YORK, U.S.A. and PARIS, France -- In the past 50 years, college graduation rates in developed countries have increased nearly 200%, according to Education at a Glance 2011, a recently published report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Statistics Canada's Chief Economic Analyst Quits

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:33:08 -0600

Statistics Canada’s chief economic analyst has quit, citing concerns that internal debate at the agency is being stymied. Philip Cross made his name as a straight-shooting analyst who scrutinized Canada’s economic cycles through recessions and recoveries and put them into historical context

Statistics: Canadian heritage institutions 2010 operating results

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:26:05 -0600

(Excerpt from Highlights of Heritige Insititutions Survey 2010, Statistics Canada, 2 Feb. 2012) OTTAWA -- Canada’s heritage institutions, excluding nature parks and archives, generated operating revenues of $1.3 billion in 2010, up 3.4% from the previous year. Heritage institutions’ operating revenues come from government and private contributions, admission receipts, membership dues and sales, and other sources

Exclusive study of global opinion leaders reveals that travel breaks down cultural barriers and promotes soft diplomacy

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:03:14 -0600

(Excerpt from article in PR Newswire via COMTEX/, 25 Jan. 2012) DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland -- In a global study released today at the World Economic Forum, it was revealed that international travel is considered even more important than the Internet, TV/movies, or political diplomacy at stimulating the economy and breaking down cultural barriers

Agritourism draws international travellers

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:52:19 -0600

Wearing hairnets and blue latex gloves, Holly Liddiard and her husband, Gary, amble into a field to pick vegetables. All for the fun of it. Two notecards carry their assignments: Return with kale and a head of lettuce. Several dozen others in their group, brought here in a bus and similarly clad, head off with cards requesting green onions, cabbage, broccoli and more

Professional Development Opportunity for Retail Sales Associates

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:15:33 -0600

Are you interested in helping update a certification program for retail sales associates? Are you interested in networking with retail sales associates from across the country? The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) is updating the emerit® certification program for retail sales associates. We are looking for professionals like you to sit in a focus group and provide your expertise on the knowledge and abilities required of retail sales associates

Educational tours to boost tourism industry

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:55:55 -0600

(From University of Queensland News, February 1, 2012) New research suggests that major growth in the travel, leisure and tourism industry in the coming century may be possible as more people begin to define recreation as a learning and educational opportunity. The collaborative study by The University of Queensland (UQ) and Oregon State University found a major shift as people viewed their holidays as ways to explore new ideas and cultures, art, science and history

Statistics: Availability of traveller accommodation services price index for Q4 2011

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:28:06 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada 31 Jan 2012) OTTAWA -- The traveller accommodation services price index is now available for the fourth quarter. Separate index aggregations are available for Canada, the provinces and the territories by major client group. Data released are final and are not seasonally adjusted. Starting with the next release, foreign and government price indexes will no longer be available

Joint Release of National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:21:53 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 31 Jan 2012) OTTAWA -- The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 is being jointly released today by Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). This classification replaces Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification - Statistics (NOC-S) 2006 and HRSDC's National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2006, eliminating the differences that have existed between these classifications

Statistics: Gains in sales in November for the food services and drinking places industry

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:10:10 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada, 31 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA -- Sales for the food services and drinking places industry were up 0.6% from October to $4.3 billion in November. During the same period, the price of food purchased in restaurants increased 0.2% as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Of the four industry sectors, two posted higher sales than in October. The strongest growth in sales was in the limited-service restaurant sector (+1.1%)

Statistics: Real gross domestic product edged down in November despite gains in accommodation and food services and transportion tourism industries

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:05:37 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada, 31 Jan 2012) OTTAWA -- Real gross domestic product edged down 0.1% in November, following no growth in October and monthly increases from June to September. Most of the November decline was accounted for by lower output in the energy sector. Decreases were also recorded in wholesale trade, finance and insurance, and construction

Airline advertising: fewer suprises in store (eventually)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:47:08 -0600

(Excerpt from article by Liam Lahey, Yahoo News, 31 Jan, 2012) TORONTO, Ont. -- Call it a win for the overcharged Canadian air traveller. Starting this week, if you're flying south to the U.S., airlines are now required by law to tell consumers exactly what they'll pay for airfares including taxes, administration and baggage fees when promoting their prices . Implemented by the U.S

Statistics: STR Global Releases World Hotel Performance Results 2011

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:46:41 -0600

(Excerpt from article in Travel Impact Newswire, 25 Jan, 2012) LONDON -- Hotels in Venice, Abu Dhabi, Santiago and Asian cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore were among the big winners of 2011, according to hotel occupancy and revenue data compiled by STR Global and released on January 24. The performance of Bangkok was a surprise inclusion. Cities worldwide showed the impact of both natural disasters and political crises

Study: Seniors returning to Canada

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:37:04 -0600

(Except from article by Kristyn Frank and Feng Hou in "Perspectives on Labour and Income" Statistics Canada, Jan 30, 2012) This study uses census data to examine the characteristics of Canadian residents who lived in another country 5 years previously. Such ‘returnees’ include the Canadian-born, as well as immigrants who moved on to other countries before returning to Canada

US Airways flight attendants reach agreement for merged contract

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:37:27 -0600

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Association of Flight Attendants, CWA – AFL-CIO (AFA) union negotiators representing Flight Attendants working for the merged US Airways and former America West Airlines announced agreement on a single, combined contract late last night.

Statistics: No Change in Average Weekly Earnings in November

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:35:52 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 27 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- In November, average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $883.96, virtually unchanged from the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, earnings rose 2.2%. The 2.2% increase in average weekly earnings during the 12 months to November reflects a number of factors, such as wage growth and changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience.

Manitoba leaking nominee workers

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:42:34 -0600

OTTAWA -- Manitoba still gets the lion's share of provincial nominee immigrants, but arrivals in the province earn significantly less and are more likely to move away than nominees in the other western provinces, a new report shows. An analysis of the provincial nominee programs in nine provinces and two territories was released Thursday by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

Imm. Minister says immigrant language proficiency must be a requirement

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:37:39 -0600

CALGARY — Canada's immigration minister is calling for minimum language proficiency standards, which could help minimize immigration fraud cases emerging mainly out of the eastern provinces

Ottawa moves to tighten provincial immigration program

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:41:09 -0600

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is setting out more stringent standards for the way provinces pick immigrants, even as he lauds the strategy as a success and economic boon. The Provincial Nominee Program, which allows provinces to select their own quota of immigrants based on local economic needs, has received plaudits for turning Prairie provinces into migrant magnets

Study: Web-based career tools can help graduates achieve a better match between their skills and employment

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:15:16 -0600

(Excerpt from News Release by SRDC, 23 January, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario – The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) released today a study showing that web-based job search and career planning tools can be effective in improving career choices of young post-secondary graduates. Some 500 recent graduates residing in British Columbia participated in the CareerMotion demonstration project with half of them receiving access to a custom-designed career development services Web site and the other half serving as a control group.

More Canadian restaurants tack on an automatic 20 per cent tip to bill

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:16 -0600

(Exceprt from story by Steve Mertl, Daily Brew, 24 Jan, 2012) TORONTO, Ontario --Y ou don't have to live in Toronto to pay attention to the city's flap over restaurant tipping. These trends tend to migrate. The Big Smoke is currently wrestling with a controversy over the practice by some restaurants of prompting an automatic 20 per cent gratuity to the bill, whether you were happy with the service or not

ILO: Western Economic Crisis has cost 27 million jobs, and it's not over yet

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:55:04 -0600

DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland -- The global economic crisis increased the number of total unemployed by 27 million, raising to 1.1 billion people the number of people out of work, most of them young people, women and those already poor, according to a blistering report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations agency. Mincing no words, the report blames policies in the so-called “advanced countries” for the four-year crisis and warns that a more “dangerous third-stage” is likely, which could lead to more social unrest.

Statistics: U.S. hiring in the tourism industry is on the rise

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:38:04 -0600

(Excerpt from The New York Times, 23 Jan, 2012 article by Harriet Edleson) NEW YORK, New York -- As the economy has begun to improve from its darkest days in late 2008 and 2009, hiring in the travel and tourism industry has become one of the bright spots. Sharae Martin, with visitors at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, was hired as a guest services employee

Statistics: New job vacancy figures show tourism industries close to average for all sectors

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:22:08 -0600

Three-month average ending in September 2011 Canadian businesses had, on average, 248,000 job vacancies in the three month period ending in September. For all sectors combined, the ratio of unemployment to job vacancies was 3.3. In other words, there were 3.3 unemployed people in Canada for every job vacancy

Statistics: November retail sales rose for fourth consecutive month

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:13:38 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada, 24 Jan, 2012) Retail sales in November rose for a fourth consecutive month, increasing 0.3% to $38.7 billion. Gains were reported in 7 of 11 subsectors, representing 65% of total retail sales. In volume terms, sales were also up for a fourth month in a row, increasing 0.5%

OTEC Launches Navigating Employment Pathways - Assisting Aboriginal People Prepare for a Career in Tourism & Hospitality

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:34:05 -0600

Victoria Behune, President and CEO of OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation) is pleased to announce a renewed partnership with the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in the new Navigating Employment Pathways program. Funded by the Government of Canada, this 10 week in-class training program will assist aboriginal people prepare for a career in tourism and hospitality. The in-class training will be followed by an 8 week paid work placement

Professional Development Opportunity for Bartenders

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:15:45 -0600

Are you interested in helping update a national certification program for bartenders? Are you interested in networking with bartenders from across the country? The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) is updating the emerit Certification Program for Bartenders. We have recently written 60 new questions to be used in the bartender certification exam. We have two activities coming up for which we need your expertise. The details for each activity are listed below

Professional Development Opportunity for Food and Beverage Servers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:10:41 -0600

Are you interested in helping update a national certification program for food and beverage servers? Are you interested in networking with servers from across the country? The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC)is updating the emerit Certification Program for Food and Beverage Servers. We have recently written 60 new questions to be used in the Food and Beverage Server certification exam. We have two activities coming up for which we need your expertise

Forum: Most global experts fear looming geopolitical disruption

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:29:32 -0600

(Excerpt from media relaease at World Economic Forum, 23 Jan, 2012) DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland -- Fear among international experts of a major geopolitical disruption over the next 12 months has risen significantly to 54%, just as confidence in the state of global cooperation has dropped, according to the World Economic Forum’s third Global Confidence Index

Statistics: Continued increase in Canadian composite leading economic index shows suggests sustained economic growth

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:43:44 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, 23 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- The composite leading index increased 0.8% in December, following a 0.9% gain the previous month. The increase was broad-based with 8 of the 10 components rising

New Brunswick considers offering different minimum wage for tip earners

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:23:27 -0600

By Kevin Bissett, The Canadian Press FREDERICTON - A debate over two-tiered minimum wage in New Brunswick has pitted the interests of the food service industry against those of social advocacy groups. For months, the provincial government has been studying the idea of paying workers who earn tips a different minimum wage. Late last year it posted a survey online in an effort to seek public opinion on the matter. Larry Haiven, a business professor at St

Chinese Travel to Canada Growing in Wake of Approved Destination Status Agreement

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:46:28 -0600

Ottawa, January 20, 2012 -- A growing number of Chinese travellers are choosing Canada as their destination, making it Canada's fastest growing inbound travel market. New Statistics Canada data reveals that China has surpassed Australia as Canada's fifth largest inbound tourism market, behind the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

The Forks awarded Canada’s Great Public Space for 2011

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:54:43 -0600

Winnipeg’s most popular tourist destination has been recognized as one of the top tourism spots in Canada. The Forks was designated as Canada’s Great Public Space for 2011 by the Canadian Institute of planners today. The award is part of a nationwide competition where residents can go online to vote in different categories for the “The best places in Canada”. Winnipeg’s popular tourist attraction rose to the top of the list beating out more than 6000 nominees

U.S. announces first for U.S. national strategy on travel and tourism

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:53:26 -0600

WASHINGTON, DC – In a first for the U.S., President Barack Obama today announced a national strategy on travel and tourism to boost travel in the United States. The U.S. travel industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, representing 1.8 trillion in economic output and supporting 14 million American jobs.

Survey reveals industry could do more for responsible and sustainable travel

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:29:24 -0600

As the travel and tourism industry continues to grow, there is an increased emphasis on responsible travel. During WTM 2011 Technology and Online Travel exhibitor SustainIt, the leading software and data consultancy that specializes in sustainability performance, surveyed more than 200 WTM participants. This was to understand the industry’s experiences of sustainability and responsible tourism and work out whether the industry really is engaging in the principles of sustainability

Trends: Travel by Canadian residents abroad increased in November while travel to Canada decreased

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:10:32 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 19 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- Travel by Canadian residents abroad increased 0.8% from October to 5.0 million trips in November. Canadian residents made 782,000 trips to overseas countries in November, up 1.6%, while travel to the United States rose 0.6% to 4.2 million trips. Overnight travel to the United States rose 2.1% to 1.8 million trips in November. This was the first increase since July 2011. The main factor was a 3

Statistics: EI beneficiaries unchanged in November 2011

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:03:47 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 19 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- In November, the number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits totalled 539,000, virtually unchanged from the previous month. The number of EI beneficiaries fell in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. In British Columbia and Quebec, the number of people receiving benefits rose slightly

New Ready-to-Work Program Started

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:57:40 -0600

$0Nine Skills Link participants have embarked upon a national employability training program. Ready-to-Work is a nationally recognized skills development program designed to assist people transitioning into the workforce. Based on the emerit National Occupational Standards, these nine youth will be provided with skills, knowledge, attitudes and experience required for long term stable employment

International tourism to reach 1 billion in 2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:05:06 -0600

International tourist arrivals grew by over 4 percent in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012, at a somewhat slower rate, international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone 1 billion mark later this year. International tourist arrivals grew by 4

Trends: Statistics Canada releases the Winter 2011 print edition of Canadian Social Trends

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:21:43 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily , Statistics Canada, 17 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- The Winter 2011 print edition of Canadian Social Trends , released today, includes seven articles previously released in the online edition. "Recent evolution of immigrant-language transmission in Canada" compares the languages spoken by immigrant mothers with those of their Canadian-born children

Industry Canada releases online profile: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Tourism Industries

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:49:19 -0600

The Small Business Branch of Industry Canada recently released the following Small Business Financing Profile. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Tourism Industries — December 2011 provides a descriptive overview of SMEs in tourism industries and examines their differences compared with SMEs in non-tourism industries in terms of business and owner characteristics, access to financing, financing terms and conditions and obstacles to business growth

Tourism relies on jet-setters, but travel is destroying attractions

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:42:09 -0600

By Joe Kelly, Vancouver Sun January 14, 2012 Kitzbühel is an international ski resort in the Austrian Alps, renowned for hosting the Hah-nenkamm downhill race, one of the most famous and most treacherous ski races on the World Cup circuit. As a major tourism destination, Kitzbühel draws people from all over the world who want to experience the mountain first-hand. The valuable tourism dollars fuel a vast economic engine for the surrounding region. Sadly, the resort is dying a slow death

Turning former enemies into tourists

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:11:22 -0600

(From the Ottawa Business Journal, January 13, 2012. By Elizabeth Howell) War of 1812 bicentennial commemorations target American visitors It was hard to imagine 200 years ago that Americans would ever be welcomed in Canada - but of course they are. In fact, local officials hope the very war that pitted the border nations against each other will lure tourists from the United States

Statistics: rising prices in sales of automotive fuels drive increase in retail sales in Q3

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:04:55 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 13 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- A price-driven rise in sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives was the main contributor to the 4.0% increase in retail sales in the third quarter from the third quarter of 2010. Excluding sales of this commodity group, retail sales rose 2.0%. Sales increased in 7 of the 10 major commodity groups. The 22

B.C. Invests $1.5 million in Essential Skills Training

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:46:11 -0600

Investment in 9 projects part of B.C. Jobs Plan British Columbia is helping employees gain essential skills while increasing productivity for employers through a $1.5-million investment in essential skills training. As part of Canada Starts Here: The B.C. Jobs Plan , more than 450 British Columbians will benefit from essential skills training through nine SkillsPlus training projects throughout the province

Statistics: Commercial Rents Service Price Index increases in Q3

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:29:17 -0600

(Excerpt from The Daily, Statistics Canada, 12 Jan, 2012) OTTAWA, Ontario -- T he Commercial Rents Services Price Index increased 0.1% in the third quarter, following a 0.6% increase in the second quarter. On a year-over-year basis, the index advanced 1.6% in the third quarter compared with the same quarter in 2010

Iberia pilots strike over new budget carrier line extension

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:36:41 -0600

(Excerpt from eturbonews, Jan 11, 2012) MADRID, Spain - Iberia pilots protesting new budget carrier staged one-day strike, causing the Spanish airline to cancel over 100 flights on Wednesday. The Associated Press reports tha Iberia said it has rescheduled flights for most of the estimated 10,000 passengers on long-haul, medium-haul and domestic flights affected by the strike

Green Globe announces innovative new supply chain partnership with hotel supplier

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:30:37 -0600

(Excerpt from eturbonews, Jan 11, 2012) LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe Certification today announced a new partnership with OrganicEra based in Istanbul, Turkey. OrgenicEra is a leading supplier of hotel towels, bed linen, and other textile items manufactured with organically-certified materials. Green Globe CEO Mr. Guido Bauer said: “This is an interesting and exciting new partnership for Green Globe Certification