Michele Sponagle

Potato chips and other salty snacks continue to be the go-to nibbles for Canadians, but will supply issues and rising costs ruin the fun?
Given the choice between salty or sweet snacks, salty ones continue to rule. According to Statista data, they are the most popular type of snack food in Canada, with annual sales hitting more than $2.53 billion, based on the 52-week period ending July 2021. When Loblaws and Frito-Lay went to war over pricing and stock in the grocer’s snack aisles dwindled i...

When you want to take the plunge with an underwater adventure, Canada has plenty of diving experiences to offer, from encounters with aquatic wildlife in the north to clear lakes dotted with historic shipwrecks.
Around Baffin Island, scuba divers and snorkellers are transported into an underwater world where they can join seals, whales and narwhals in clear, cold waters and explore the sculptural contours of ancient icebergs.
It’s a magical place that is often under the radar, but not for Gra...

Canada's love affair with cheese shows no sign of waning. Over a 10-year period (2010 to 2020), consumption increased by 15% with the average Canadian enjoying 12.5 kilograms per year—with gains in the last couple of years, according to Statista. Its data shows Canada sits in the fifth spot among cheese-nibbling nations. In 2022, unprocessed cheese sales in Canada are expected to hit US $3,38 million, and processed cheese sales will earn another US $801 million, with several factors driving m...

Canada is home to an estimated 80,000 species of animals, from jellyfish to caribou, and there’s no shortage of ways to experience wildlife spotting – whether you’re hiking through Jasper National Park or heading out by boat to view Newfoundland’s population of cute-as-a-button puffins.
Most people are familiar with the concept of going on safari, but it’s typically associated with destinations in Africa where travellers seek the Big Five (black rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and African buff...

Reports of a “retail apocalypse” don’t tell the whole story about what’s happening in Canadian shopping malls. The truth is more complex, with wins and losses leading to a revolution in retail.
Malls were already feeling the pressure before the pandemic. Foot traffic among Canada’s top shopping complexes was down 22 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018, according to Deloitte’s report, The Future of the Mall. Developers and owners were already aware that changes were necessary as more Canadians b...

The charcuterie trend—particularly, the artfully arranged boards featuring a mixed variety of high-quality snackable meats and cheeses—has been growing since 2017, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed that growth into the stratosphere, as working from home turned many consumers into grazers. Peaking at an 80% volume increase in the second quarter of 2020, pre-packed charcuterie is now up 40% over 2019 in the United States, according to IRI POS Syndicated Data.

“Several trends in food culture are ...

Whether it’s traditional or plant-based, Canadians have a growing appetite for yogurt
It’s a happy time for yogurt sales. Consumers are pushing sales into record territory. A report from Innova Market Insights estimates the global market for yogurt (both dairy and non-dairy) would exceed the US$100 billion mark in 2021, for the first time.
According to the latest stats provided by NielsenIQ, sales of yogurt in Canada have reached almost $1.7 billion, representing a 4% increase between Decembe...

Looking for adventures just outside the Forest City? These great Ontario destinations offer a full slate of things to see, do and taste.
Photo: Tourism Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Global Culinary Adventures
Less than a 90-minute drive from London, Ontario, “The Hammer” has become a go-to spot for lovers of good food. (You can thank Toronto’s soaring rents for encouraging some truly talented restaurateurs to relocate here.) From Peruvian fare at Culantro to Hui Lan Shan, specializing in Asian m...

Whether it’s just for one treatment at an urban retreat or an extended stay at a lavish resort, there’s a wealth of luxurious spas across the country. Some are newcomers to the scene, while others have a long track record of pampering.
Immersive retreats
In a perfect world, unplugging from the busyness of everyday life at a destination spa for a weekend, a week, or a month would be the ideal scenario. For 45 years, Spa Eastman, which spreads over 192 hectares in the Eastern Townships of Quebe...

From tracking polar bears to snowmobiling under the stars, reward yourself this winter with an adrenalin rush and memories to last a lifetime. Whether you like high-octane thrills or something a bit tamer, consider these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
If you feel like you’ve done your share of travelling in other parts of Canada, look to the untamed north for something new. Churchill Wild features packages that bring visitors to northern Manitoba, the polar bear capital of Canada, to study, ...

Reap the benefits of the off-season and take a road trip to one of Canada’s top wine regions. Travellers can visit them at a more leisurely pace, free from crowds. From the country’s most renowned wineries of Okanagan and Niagara to lesser-known gems of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley region, there is plenty to discover in quieter months. Whether you’re keen to explore the vineyards with a private helicopter tour or taste the latest vintages at a chef’s table, incredible experiences await.
Oka...

No matter which direction you head out of "The Hammer," you’ll find plenty of fascinating places worth exploring.
Photo: Destination Ontario
St Jacobs, Ontario
Where worlds collide
Enjoy a mix of traditional and modern in this easy day trip from Hamilton. On one hand, St. Jacobs is a quaint village with a timeless feel, and you might even share the road with members of the Mennonite community driving a horse and buggy. Visit the Mennonite Story Interpretative Centre to learn more, then swing ...

Drawing visitors every winter, these adorable animals have plenty to teach about climate change
To see the very photogenic harp seal pups in their natural habitat, you need to travel to Quebec’s Magdalene Islands and take a helicopter to the ice floes in the Atlantic, the birthing ground for thousands of harp seals.
REI OHARA
Each winter, tens of thousands of harp seals gather on the pack ice around Quebec’s Magdalen Islands, an archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. What makes this natur...

Canadians have a soft spot for snowmobiling. Perhaps it’s because the snowmobile was invented by Joseph Armand Bombardier, a 15-year-old from Quebec, in 1922, using parts from an old Ford Model T.
Since then, the sport has taken off in Canada, with more than 1.6 million riders exploring 121,000 kilometres of trails across the country, according to the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations.
Executive director Dennis Burns, a life-long snowmobiler based in Thunder Bay, Ont., says that, d...

Known as Authentic Québec, it’s an intriguing microcosm of all the things the province is known for – stunning landscapes, outdoor adventures and gourmet delights at every turn. The region is an ideal destination for fall road trips. It’s easy to get to and ticks all the boxes for a fun getaway, from its culinary offerings to expanses of untouched nature and history reflecting New France.
It has deep roots in culinary excellence well worth exploring, whether you’re adding on another leg to a ...