Michele Sponagle

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 ...

Unlike any other region in Québec, it has the largest protected area in the province, Mont-Tremblant National Park and the well-known P’tit Train du Nord, the longest linear park in Canada that offers activities all year. The Laurentians, a four-season destination, has something for everyone.
In this beautiful region, you don’t need to settle on either a relaxed or action-packed trip. For the perfect fall getaway, start by considering a hiking trip to the Laurentians. Gorgeous scenery and ple...

In a postpandemic world, the desire among commercial properties to maintain security protocols is unlikely to wane. Though COVID-19 may have accelerated the demand for contactless deliveries, some businesses are finding they make good sense.
Before the novel coronavirus even struck, a surge of deliveries, due in part to greater reliance on e-commerce, was problematic for office buildings. It put added stress on building staff and physical space, including delivery docks and mailrooms.
As the ...

Technological solutions make buying, storing, and managing Bitcoin and other types of digital assets seamless and secure.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have caught the attention of Canadians as they often make the news headlines. This has sparked a lot of interest, and their popularity continues to grow. Some people are gravitating toward cryptocurrencies as long- or short-term investments, while others like the fact that they have the ability to be in total control of their assets without th...

President Rick Rabba shares insights into how the convenience chain becomes a part of the neighbourhoods it serves and lessons learned from COVID
It seems to have been Rick Rabba’s destiny to work in the convenience/grocery retail business. Even as a youngster, cleaning cooler doors, packing groceries and working the cash register at his family’s store in downtown Toronto, he felt it would be his future. He was 100% right. Today, Rabba is president of Rabba Fine Foods with 34 (soon to be 35) ...