3535 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

I hope it ends up being that way, for the sake of the businesses downtown.

[Hotel Mike]

By "banner", I mean there will be solid, strong demand for businesses that work in tourism. That includes downtown restaurants, whale watching, Harbour Ferry, tour buses, hotels etc. I have met quite a few Americans here so far this year, but even if they end up down in numbers, I believe there will be more Canadians and Europeans to make up for it. 

[Mike K.]

Calgary targets Americans, and gets American visitors.

The rest of us just gave up, I guess.

"We take a 'Team Alberta' approach … between Tourism Calgary and Travel Alberta," she said. "We've made a concerted effort through all this noise to target U.S. travelers to reinforce our city and our province as destinations of choice for both business and leisure."

- https://www.cbc.ca/n...banff-1.7568793

[Bambam]

Calgary targets Americans, and gets American visitors.

The rest of us just gave up, I guess.



- https://www.cbc.ca/n...banff-1.7568793

 

Not surprising many Albertans - not all by any means, but a significant proportion - have warm fuzzy dreams about "Murrica' generally, becoming Murrican's or potentially joining Murrica in some form of political union. Groups like the Alberta Black Hat movement practically drool over the latter prospect.

 

More to the point however Tourism Alberta advertises heavily in the US and particularly in 'high value' traveler markets like New York, California and, to absolutely no one's surprise, Texas. Ergo lots of US tourists heed the call which is not hard to understand given the allure of the Canadian Rockies etc.

 

I spent a lot of time for work in Alberta specifically in Calgary and Airdrie between 2011-15, and was party to many very frank and open conversations with corporate clients and others in the CattleBaron's steakhouse and the Ranchman's Club re Canada - "Commie Liberals" - BC - "tree hugging dope fiends" - and the US - "where we should be!". Which is not to say the majority of Alberta residents harbour those sentiments, but a significant percentage of the population leans in one or more of those directions, so it should be no surprise Alberta actively caters to US tourists, who they typically view as far more culturally alike than the 'Eastern Canadian elites' or 'Left Coast eco-justice warriors.....'

[LJ]

I must say, I align politically and economically much more with Alberta than I do with BC or the eastern dickheads. If it wasn't for the climate and my wifes objections I would probably be living in Calgary right now.

[Mike K.]

"Commie Liberals" - BC - "tree hugging dope fiends" - and the US - "where we should be!"

They turned out to be pretty spot on, minus the commie bit, but I suppose that was in jest, and more about how even Conservatives are more left than the Democrats outside of some of the more fringe ones?

[Victoria Watcher]

Start of Victoria (Vancouver Island?) section -

 

YouTube VIDEO:

 

https://youtu.be/a6d...pvF1mS1KY&t=120

 

Little West Coast now Open at Little Canada - Toronto

 

 

 

It's not anatomically correct, but like how they have Deuce races up and down Belleville/Wharf/Government St.  Fisherman's Wharf, then a giant tied up on a beach?

 

Don't know what this is:

 

 

Or this, but the breakwater is in the background:

 

 

Maybe it's FolkFest or something.

 

Then I think we have Market Square leading to the breakwater.   The Parliament Buildings both day and night.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 July 2025 - 04:22 AM.

[Mike K.]

What the...

 

Is Toronto high?

[lanforod]

Is that first picture supposed to be Lund maybe?

[aastra]

Gotta love that Bedford Regenecy Hotel. Did actual human beings have much of a role in producing this?

[Victoria Watcher]

Gotta love that Bedford Regenecy Hotel. Did actual human beings have much of a role in producing this?

 

It's a real exhibit at a bricks and mortar place in Toronto.   $24M.  I think humans were involved.

 

 

At least 100 model enthusiasts were hired; from 2014 to 2019, they collectively worked about 100,000 hours in a Mississauga warehouse to create the scale-model components.

 

Little West Coast was the seventh destination in Little Canada, and was unveiled in October 2024.   Amongst its features are the cities of Vancouver, Victoria, and Tofino, the Okanagan Valley, and rainforests. I ts unveiling introduced new animation to Little Canada, including rolling fog at the Rogers Pass feature. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 July 2025 - 11:55 AM.

[aastra]

Oh, boy. Now I've offended you. Seriously though, doesn't their "little west coast" section seem to be way too "paint by numbers" as compared not only to older attractions like Victoria's Miniature World or the really big miniature* world in Hamburg, but even as compared to the older sections of "Little Canada" itself?

 

I'm sure people had to plan the layout and put it all together. I'm just saying the buildings in "little west coast" suggest more in the way of hasty scan/print/assemble rather than true modelling craft and creative touch.

And (don't hate me) those cheap little non-sequitur elements and other "dollar store" figures all over the place -- kangaroos, dinosaurs, Gulliver, and a lot of the little people generally -- strike me as a weak attempt to inject some verve.

 

*oxymoron

[aastra]

Summary: like so many things today, it suggests a slightly dressed-up "off the shelf" approach rather than the real deal.

[aastra]

 

*oxymoron

 

Sorry, I shouldn't have called you that. I lost my temper there.

[aastra]

FYI: I'd still be able to enjoy a few hours in there, regardless.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria has once again earned international acclaim, being named the best Small City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year.

Victoria topped the list ahead of destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (2); Florence, Italy (3); Lucerne, Switzerland (4); and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (5).

No other Canadian city made the list.


https://www.vicnews....ht-year-8293577




“This achievement reflects the quality and dedication of our members and their teams, whose passion for service and hospitality sets Greater Victoria apart on the global stage,” said Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria.





lol. Most businesses are not DV members. Victoria does well despite the efforts of our bloated tourism entity.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2025 - 12:46 PM.