Travel digest
Published Saturday June 13th, 2009
WELLAND, Ont. - Life-size sculpture honours Leon's founder
Lebanese immigrant Ablan Leon sold clothing from a suitcase door-to-door, then used the profits in 1909 to open a general merchandise store in this southern Ontario city.
That store grew into one of Canada's largest retailers, Leon's Furniture Ltd.
This month, Leon's grandson - Terry Leon, president and CEO of the company - will unveil a life-size sculpture in Welland's Chippawa Park to honour the entrepreneur and mark the firm's 100th anniversary.
Titled The Leon's Living Room, the work by artist Timothy Schmalz depicts the founder sitting on a couch in a living-room, complete with two wing-back chairs and an oval coffee table.
"Visitors will be able to interact with the bronze statue - sit on the furniture and unwind beside one of Canada's greatest retail legends," says a news release announcing the June 23 unveiling.
Members of city council, as well as other descendants of Leon, are set to attend the ceremony. Twelve members of the Leon family are still active in the business.
"We are proud to be the birthplace of Leon's, proud that Ablan Leon believed in the community and chose to settle here," said Welland Mayor Damian Goulbourne.
Leon's Furniture operates 64 large-format "superstores" across Canada.
RCMP's sunset retreat starts on Canada Day
REGINA - The RCMP will conduct its colourful sunset-retreat ceremony once again this summer, starting on Canada Day.
The annual event, lasting about 45 minutes at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division, features military music, the lowering of the Canadian flag, a march past, and drill display by cadets wearing the scarlet tunic.
It will be held July 1 and on Tuesdays until mid-August, at 6:45 p.m.
Visitors can also meet the mounted riders and horses after the ceremony.
The Depot Division, consisting of 75 buildings on 190 hectares, has been a training centre for Mounties for more than a century. The oldest division of the RCMP, it was established in 1885.
The RCMP Heritage Centre is also offering a precinct tour several times a day during the summer.
The non-profit centre is located at 5907 Dewdney Ave. in west-end Regina on the grounds of the Depot Division.
The Depot Division is located at 5600 11th Ave.
On the web:
http://www.rcmpheritagecentre.com/
Cruise ship to serve as hotel during Olympics
VANCOUVER - The Norwegian Star cruise ship will dock in Vancouver to serve as a floating hotel during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Three- and four-night packages will include meals, city tours, airport transfers, nightly entertainment and other extras.
Package prices start at US$2,836 for two people sharing an inside stateroom and climb significantly. One four-night package in a suite with a city view costs $19,740 for two.
Guests who choose not to attend Olympics events in person can watch live satellite coverage of the Games on board.
And if they want to cut themselves off from the city entirely, that is also possible.
"Unlike other venues in Vancouver, there will be no lineups at the Norwegian Star's 13 restaurants, eight lounges, luxurious spa, indoor pool and fitness centre," said a news release.
The ship will stay in Vancouver's harbour for 20 nights during the Games, from Feb. 10 to March 2.
On the web: www.vancouver2010cruiseship.com.
Maine being marketed in Nova Scotia
PORTLAND, Maine - The company that operates the high-speed ferry that runs from Maine to Nova Scotia says it is shifting some of its marketing efforts this year to entice Canadians to travel to Maine.
In past years, Bay Ferries has focused mostly on getting Americans to use The Cat to get from Maine to Nova Scotia.
But the relatively strong Canadian dollar is causing the company to shift some of its ad dollars to the Canadian market.
The Portland Press Herald says Bay Ferries is running print ads and television commercials in Nova Scotia promoting the attractions of Portland and Bar Harbor, the two Maine ports it serves.
The Cat, a 98-metre catamaran that travels at speeds up to 40 knots, arrived in Portland June 4 for its first visit of the season.
Sources: The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
