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Son of a Critch fans should know VOCM is a real radio station in St. John's

I can imagine an American watching Son of a Critch on the CW Network seeing VOCM as the radio station where Mark Critch's dad works. Their inner dialogue being like "they created a really fake radio station for a TV show."

Except VOCM is a real radio station in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

U.S. station call letters start with W east of the Mississippi River and K west of the Mississippi River (with some grand exceptions). Canadian station call letters start with C. So why are there stations in Newfoundland that start with the letter V?

Newfoundland wasn't a part of Canada until 1949. When the province joined Canada, stations such as VOCM, VOAR, and VOWR that broadcast before becoming part of the country were allowed to keep their call letters.

VOCM is at 590 AM in St. John's with a news/talk/classic hits format. There is a VOCM-FM at 97.5 FM in St. John's that plays classic rock with a rebroadcaster in Clarenville at 100.7 FM.

VOCM has rebroadcasters in Corner Brook (570 AM), Gander (650 AM), Stephenville (870 AM), Grand Falls-Windsor (620 AM), Clarenville (710 AM), and Marystown (88.3 FM).

The VOAR signal belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Newfoundland & Labrador with a bunch of rebroadcasters throughout the province. The primary VOAR-FM is licensed to Mount Pearl.

VOWR is at 800 AM in St. John's with a Christian radio format.

There is a rebroadcaster called VF2095 at 100.9 FM in Natuashish that rebroadcasts CFGB-FM, the CBC Radio One station in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can listen to these stations via the Internet and various apps if you want to hear a station's call letters starting with V.

The vast majority of Newfoundland and Labrador radio stations start with C. The only 2 TV stations in the province also start with C and are licensed to St. John's: CBNT (Channel 8) is the CBC station and CJON (Channel 21) is the NTV (Newfoundland TV) station, carrying mostly Global programming.

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I took this picture in 2015 when I was in St. John's. I knew VOCM was a thing yet when this was literally in front of me, I couldn't resist the desire to get a photo.

They likely report on moose-related traffic accidents. You see road signs for moose crossings. Fortunately, the only moose I saw in Newfoundland was on my plate at a restaurant in Petty Harbour.

Son of a Critch continues into the fall on the CW Network in the United States. Seasons 1-2 are available in Canada via CBC Gem and Season 3 will run this winter on the CBC.

photo credits: Son of a Critch/CBC Comedy; me
video credit: Son of a Critch/CBC Comedy

Canadian film review: The River of My Dreams

We have had the sense of Gordon Pinsent as an actor, one who shined much later in his career. The River of My Dreams shows us that Pinsent was also a strong writer, painter, and storyteller.

The storytelling element is best described when he talks about emigrating from Newfoundland to the mainland in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. This was before Newfoundland became a part of Canada, which didn't happen until 1949.

The Brigitte Berman documentary shows how Pinsent ended up in Toronto and then Winnipeg. Pinsent's big break was as the lead of Quentin Durgens MP, one of the first hour-long dramas in Canadian television. The show was about a member of Parliament from the riding of Moose Falls, Ontario. Quentin Durgens MP ran from 1965-1969 on CBC.

He also worked in theatre in Stratford where he formed a friendship with Christopher Plummer. Pinsent spent some time in Hollywood where he formed a friendship with Wally Cox and met Marlon Brando.

We learn personal details, like having 2 children with his first wife, whose name we never learn. His second marriage to actor Charmion King lasted 45 years. King died in 2007. Leah, his daughter with King, is a well-known Canadian actor.

Canadian film review: The Rowdyman

Pinsent's decision to come back to Canada also meant being more involved, such as writing and starring in The Rowdyman (1972). Being in Canada was important to Pinsent.

The film shows him painting as part of the background for Pinsent being in the 2016 documentary. We don't know if he had professional success with the art or more of a hobby.

Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent passes away at the age of 92

The film utilized motion capture technology to tell Pinsent's childhood. The fact that Pinsent himself was responsible for making that work is remarkable. The technology does feel a bit creepy. Even if you dislike the technology, the technology only applies to the recreation of his childhood.

Pinsent was a Canadian pioneer because there weren't too many TV and film options in Canada when he first started. His Hollywood career helped establish what he brought when returning back to Canada. This inspired thousands of Canadian actors about succeeding in the United States as well as in Canada.

The River of My Dreams is a delightful presentation of a long and wonderful life with an inspiring career that lasted decades.

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The River of My Dreams: A Portrait of Gordon Pinsent is available on the Documentary Channel in Canada. 

Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent passes away at the age of 92

We literally knew that Gordon Pinsent wouldn't live forever. Does feel like he was around for a very long time.

The Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent passed away over the weekend at the age of 92.

Away From Her. The voice of Babar. The Rowdyman. Republic of Doyle. The Red Green Show. Due South. The Grand Seduction. Saint Ralph. This Hour Has 22 Minutes from his role as the Codfather to reading Justin Bieber's memoir. Even Big News at Grand Rock.

Pinsent was an actor long before there was a consistent film scene in Canada growing up in a part of Canada (Newfoundland) that wasn't Canada until he was 19 years old.

A check of his IMDb page shows an extensive list. Too many credits to list but Americans might be surprised than an episode of Hogan's Heroes is on that list.

Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, @markcritch, @allanhawco, Sean McGinley, and Gordon Pinsent.

Farewell, B'y.

🎥 22 Minutes pic.twitter.com/Hq6KPRgUUW

— Evan Streifel (@Evan_Streifel) February 26, 2023

A lot of what Pinsent is known for came in the second half of his life. He wrote and starred in The Rowdyman in 1972, when he was over 40.

Pinsent knew when he could poke fun, such as the Codfather sketch on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. No one else could have been the Codfather.

"Gordon passionately loved this country and its people, purpose, and culture to his last breath." — statement from the Pinsent family from his son-in-law, actor Peter Keleghan. Leah Pinsent, a great actor, is married to Keleghan.

Canadian film review: The Rowdyman

If you've never seen Pinsent act without white hair, check out the classic Canadian film The Rowdyman.

Gordon Pinsent was our North Star. A true renaissance man. Actor, writer, director, painter and one time dance instructor. Gordon beat the path and made it possible for all that followed. The epitome of class & one hell of a funny guy. The Rowdy Man is gone but never forgotten. pic.twitter.com/TRpCCvK9mQ

— Rick Mercer (@rickmercer) February 26, 2023

 

Three Legendary Gords 🍁🎶🎥
~ Photo of Gord Downie, Gordon Lightfoot & Gordon Pinsent taken six years ago, February 2nd, 2017. #RestInPeace #GordonPinsent ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p7V8Q7lRWA

— I AM Canadian (@honouringgord) February 26, 2023

Pinsent was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1979. He was promoted to Companion in 1998.

Pinsent was married for 45 years to actor Charmion King, who died in 2007.

Gordon had an enormous capacity for joy in absolutely everything he did. It was infectious and educational. There wasn’t a moment without a twinkle of mischief and a determination to enjoy the moment. pic.twitter.com/xEATSy4kZd

— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@realsarahpolley) February 26, 2023

Polley pointed out in a later tweet that the young boy with Pinsent is her brother Mark. Pinsent was an ideal choice as Julie Christie's husband in Polley's directorial debut Away From Her.

Pinsent had 6 Genie Award nominations, winning 3 awards for Klondike Fever, John and the Missus, and Away From Her. He also directed John and the Missus.

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The River of My Dreams is a 2016 documentary currently running on the Documentary Channel in Canada. Hope to see that really soon and then have a review. Would be a good watch if you are in Canada.

photo credit: The Rowdyman
Twitter captures: @Evan_Streifel; @rickmercer; @honouringgord; @realsarahpolley

Canadian film review: The Rowdyman

Gordon Pinsent is an absolute Canadian legend on the big and small screen. Pinsent is also a rather successful writer. Discovered all of this when watching The Rowdyman, a film where he wrote the screenplay and stars in the film.

Will Cole (Pinsent) is always getting into trouble. The schtick is fun and even charming. Lately, his friends want him to finally grow up. Andrew Scott (American actor Frank Converse) is Cole's best friend who is about to get married. Ruth Lowe (Linda Goranson) wants to get married, maybe even to Cole but he isn't interested in making things permanent.

Cole mocks those who go to church on Sunday. He runs a lot, sometimes into trouble and often out of trouble.

Eventually, Cole discovers the consequences of not following his friends' advice.

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Pinsent's dialogue is rapid fire and true to the Newfoundland spirit. The dialogue is at times spoken without seeing the characters like wind in the background. Peter Carter as the director gives us an intimacy of those in a small town who know each other all too well.

The balance of Cole is a break from the conventional norms where Ruth's parents can't believe she evens talks to Will. He is a hero of sorts in that he does like conventions and that can be good. The drawback is that Cole doesn't have a path to anything. A tragedy throws him for a loop.

Will Cole is a flawed hero and also a jerk. Pinsent gives him energy and empathy.

We get to see life on the Rock (Newfoundland) in the 1972 film that doesn't even exist today. We see Cole take a train from Corner Brook to St. John's, a trip that hasn't existed since 1969.

Corner Brook is in western Newfoundland about 700 km (420 miles) due west of Gander.

Doug McGrath and American actor Will Geer have small parts. You might remember McGrath from Goin' Down the Road (1970).

Canadian film review: Goin' Down the Road

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The Rowdyman shows off Newfoundland in a more naive time. Figure that Newfoundland had only been a province in Canada for 23 years when the film came out. The province's name officially became Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.

For those who know little about Newfoundland or even Canada, The Rowdyman is an entertaining and thoughtful film for its time. The film is about flawed people in a small town, similar to other independent films of that era.

If you are a Gordon Pinsent fan, you must see this film.

Gordon Pinsent won the Canadian Film Award for Best Leading Actor for The Rowdyman. You can watch The Rowdyman on YouTube.

photo credit: The Rowdyman film

Canadian film review: Black Conflux

A teenager trying to find her way. An incel young man back in a time where the incel term wasn't being used. Do their stories have parallels? Nicole Dorsey looks at these 2 stories in her debut film Black Conflux set in Newfoundland in 1987.

Jackie (Ella Ballentine) seems like a good kid. Does her homework, tries out for the choir. Amber (Olivia Scriven), Jackie's best friend, tempts Jackie with opportunities to party. The more we learn about Jackie, the more we realize she doesn't need too much temptation to party.

Dennis (Ryan McDonald) has a lot of trouble relating to women. His imagination produces eager and willing women who aren't real. Dennis lives with his sister, who denies his issues.

We learn that Jackie's mother is in prison. She lives with her aunt, who offers little more than housing and food.

The film takes us down separate paths, learning more about Jackie and Dennis. They ultimately met, but no spoilers as to what happened.

The choice of 1987 is an intriguing choice for Dorsey. We see Dennis getting change from the convenience store in bills. The loonie was introduced in 1987 while dollar bills were phased out in 1989. Hitchhiking was a lot more common in Newfoundland back then. Cellphones would make things easier for Jackie in communicating with her aunt. Mostly, the time period in Newfoundland speaks to the seeming difficulty in escaping the Rock. Codco didn't start until 1988.

Unlike in Café de Flore from the late Jean-Marc Vallée, don't get caught up in the symbolism in the parallel stories. Black Conflux is a finely crafted character study. You might see parallels or none at all.

The film creates compelling, very flawed characters and guides you to want to know more. 

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TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2019

Nicole Dorsey interview with Q (CBC Radio One)

Black Conflux made the TIFF Top 10 Canadian films of 2019. Your humble narrator has now seen all 10 films from the 2019 list. Given the pandemic, we won't see a full complete list such as the one from 2019 for awhile.

Black Conflux is available on demand in the United States.

video credit: YouTube/TIFF Trailers
photo credit: Black Conflux film

Andrew Furey, Liberals get slim majority government in Newfoundland and Labrador

Andrew Furey and the Liberals now have a slim majority government winning 22 of the 40 seats up for grabs in the long-running 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador provincial election.

The Liberals had 19 seats when the assembly dissolved; 21 seats is the minimum for a majority and one of those seats will go to the assembly speaker.

The leaders of the other major parties lost their seats to the Liberals: Ches Crosbie (Progressive Conservatives) in Windsor Lake and Alison Coffin (New Democratic Party) in St. John's East — Quidi Vidi. The PCs fell from 15 seats to 13 seats. The NDP retains seats in Labrador West and St. John's Centre.

There are now 3 independent MHAs in the assembly.

Despite the individual losses, most ridings were status quo. All the cabinet members who ran won re-election.

Crosbie gave a pre-taped speech, the first time we've seen that in our history of covering provincial and federal elections in Canada. Given Crosbie's 2019 speech, a pre-taped speech might have been a smart move. Crosbie's 2019 speech was so angry that even Jason Kenney would have been like "tone it down." Crosbie did predict correctly that Dwight Ball would leave as premier and party leader within a year (but for different reasons) but the rest of the speech was filled with bizarre theories and an overall odd speech.

Newfoundland and Labrador election reaches deadline day for mail-in ballots

Newfoundland and Labrador election delayed for about half the province

2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

The turnout was an all-time low in the province at 48%. The 2019 election had a 60% turnout. We have covered a number of issues involved with the mail-in options. Coffin's loss was relatively close.

The Torngat Mountains riding, where language is an issue, had an appalling 22% turnout.

Canadian elections generally have larger turnouts than American elections. The hope is that the turnout will be bounce back in a more traditional election. Election ballots need to run in Indigenous languages. The CBC News coverage noted an Alberta election that had a 40% turnout.

The CBC News coverage talked about a 12% drop; the actual math is 12 percentage points so the drop was 20%.

In what feels like a long time ago, 33,523 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians cast a ballot in the advance poll, a 50% increase over the 2019 election with 21,289 early voters. 

The release of the Green Report, designed to help the province with solving financial woes, was delayed until after the election, so that will be a post-election focus.

Newfoundland and Labrador was required to have an election before August 19 since Furey was elevated to premier without an election.

What did we learn from pandemic elections in Canada?

2021 Canadian politics preview

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The number of female MHAs remains at 9. The Liberals now have an additional female MHA that counters the loss of Coffin with the NDP. The number of women in the assembly is just under 25%.

With the loss of Coffin, there are now 4 women running a provincial party with seats in a legislature: Andrea Horwath (Ontario) and Rachel Notley (Alberta) are opposition leaders; Sonia Furstenau (Green Party in British Columbia) and Manon Massé (Québec solidaire).

Annamie Paul is the federal leader of the Green Party.

photos credit: CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador election reaches deadline day for mail-in ballots

The soap opera that is the 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election has reached the mail-in deadline for the ballots. Voters have until 4 pm Newfoundland time (2:30 pm Eastern time) today for their ballots to be received.

As you might recall in our last installment, Bruce Chaulk, chief electoral officer of Elections NL, switched all voting to the mail after the discovery of the B117 variant in the province.

The COVID-19 issues had been mostly limited to the Avalon Peninsula (southeastern Newfoundland, think St. John's and surrounding area). The plan had been for those outside this area to vote on February 13, the original election date.

Elections NL will release the results at noon Newfoundland time (10:30 am Eastern time) on Saturday.

There have been a number of problems with the mail-only option. Newfoundland and Labrador only has voting materials in English. This significantly affects French speakers as well as Indigenous languages — Inuktitut, Innu-aimun, and Mi’kmaw — especially in Labrador. Mail-only voting also affects populations such as homeless voters and people with disabilities.

The deadline for getting your vote in for the election has changed again!
Ballots must now be received by 4pm on March 25. Originally had to be postmarked by March 12.
Elections NL says this extension is because of weather and transportation concerns #nlpoli

— Peter Cowan (@PeterCBC) March 9, 2021

CBC News has reported that the election is on track for a record-low turnout of 51%, assuming all mailed ballots are returned by today's deadline. About 70,000 people voted in special and advance polls. Elections NL has received about 110,000 requests for mail-in ballots.

Newfoundland and Labrador election delayed for about half the province

2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

What did we learn from pandemic elections in Canada?

Campaigning has been difficult beyond the original February 13 election. Media is very limited in the province. St. John's has the only 2 TV signals in all of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Liberals (Andrew Furey) and Progressive Conservatives (Ches Crosbie) ran candidates in all 40 ridings. The NDP (Alison Coffin) have candidates in 33 ridings. Independents had 3 seats before the assembly was dissolved. There are 8 independents running.

NL Alliance has candidates in 6 ridings. The right-wing party had 0 MLAs. The party leader Graydon Pelley had to withdraw from the election due to a medical condition.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey (Liberals) might have easily won the election if the COVID-19 numbers had been better in that final week. Maybe not. PC Leader Ches Crosbie and NDP Leader Allison Coffin have expressed a number of concerns about the timing and process of the whole affair. The potential lack of turnout is a non-partisan concern.

2021 Canadian politics preview

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We've gone beyond a month between the original election date and the mail-in ballot deadline. We only have to wait until Saturday to know the winner.

CBC TV and CBC Radio One will start the coverage at 11:30 am NT. You can watch the results online.

photo credit: CBC News
Twitter capture: @PeterCBC

Newfoundland and Labrador election delayed for about half the province

Update 2/13: In-person voting has been suspended for Saturday's election with mail-in voting continuing. The B117 variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus has been spotted in the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador had February 13 on the calendar for an election that needed to be called before August 19. The writ was dropped; the campaign was going reasonably smooth. Then the COVID-19 cases started climbing this week.

Monday had 11 new cases, significant but not huge. Tuesday brought 30 cases; Wednesday had 53 cases; Thursday reached 100 cases. Each of these numbers are unique for their days.

There were issues of people being in quarantine who were then unable to vote. A high school in Mount Pearl that saw a rise in cases. There were mass staffing shortages at Elections NL.

The affected districts are all in the Avalon Peninsula (southeastern Newfoundland, including St. John's). Those districts are: Cape St. Francis; Carbonear – Trinity – Bay de Verde; Conception Bay East – Bell Island; Conception Bay South; Ferryland; Harbour Grace – Port de Grave; Harbour Main; Mount Pearl North; Mount Pearl – Southlands; Mount Scio; Placentia – St. Mary's; St. John's Centre; St. John's East – Quidi Vidi; St. John's West; Topsail - Paradise; Virginia Waters – Pleasantville; Waterford Valley; and Windsor Lake.

The election will go as planned on Saturday for the other 22 districts. The results won't be known until everyone else votes.

Special ballot deadlines are now extended so more people can vote by mail. If approved, voters have to mail the ballots and have them arrive by February 25.

2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

Liberals to form minority government in Newfoundland and Labrador

What did we learn from pandemic elections in Canada?

2019 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

2021 Canadian politics preview

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New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan pulled off pandemic elections in 2020 but none of those provinces had a significant outbreak during the election process. The numbers may seem small compared to Ontario, Quebec, and multiple U.S. states. Figure that the 195 cases in the previous 5 days is half of 390, the province total number of cases in all of 2020. Outside of St. John's, the province is rather rural and remote.

Having an election postponed is a significant and highly rare decision. Politicians in Canada, such as Premier Andrew Furey, always point out that decisions are up to the elections board, in this case Elections NL.

Bruce Chaulk, chief electoral officer of Elections NL, said in-person voting would be rescheduled in 2 weeks if public health conditions improve. We don't know when there will be a specific date; presumably that election date will be on a Saturday. The voting was set up for a Saturday to not interfere with schools since some voting happens at schools. You might recall that Saskatchewan closed schools on their election date for the same reason.

St. John's got hit with a huge snowstorm, even by Newfoundland standards, about a year ago. That would have disrupted an election.

We will be ready to report the results of the election. When a date is announced, we will update this story.

photo credit: CBC News

2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

Here’s the scene as Andrew Furey leaves Government House. #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/F2rzGTZH3T

— Terry Roberts (@TRobertst) January 15, 2021

We knew Newfoundland and Labrador had to go to the polls before August 19. Premier Andrew Furey won the leadership of the Liberal Party but has not been elected.

Furey has set February 13 for the required provincial election. The Saturday election is a first in the province.

The Liberals have 19 seats in the 40-seat assembly with 20 after the 2019 election. The Progressive Conservatives and leader Ches Crosbie are at 15 seats. The New Democratic Party and leader Alison Coffin stand at 3 seats.

Liberals to form minority government in Newfoundland and Labrador

2019 Newfoundland and Labrador election preview

Furey took over on August 19 from Dwight Ball as premier and leader of the Liberal Party. This will be Furey's first election as a party leader. Crosbie and Coffin were party leaders in the 2019 election.

Little has changed, other than COVID-19, in the province. The price of oil is a great concern. Muskrat Falls. 

2021 Canadian politics preview

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Calling the election earlier gives the Liberal Party an incentive to ask for a strong majority government to get through a potential second COVID-19 wave. The province has been relatively safe, even within Atlantic Canada.

Sooner also puts the other major parties at a disadvantage to come up with a full slate of candidates. Furey wants to continue the trend of having minority governments to turn majority government during this pandemic in Canada.

Twitter capture: @TRobertst
photo credit: CBC News

Canadian travel bubbles could boost tourism within Canada

The Maritime provinces as well as Newfoundland and Labrador are looking into a travel bubble. Nunavut and Northwest Territories are planning a travel bubble for themselves.

The idea behind a travel bubble is that Canadians in those areas could cross provincial and territorial borders without the need to quarantine from the pandemic.

I haven't been to a Canadian territory but I have visited the Atlantic provinces in the summertime. I have been in Newfoundland and Labrador in late July, Nova Scotia in August, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in September. So much seafood, driving without obnoxious billboards, a lot of walking, and tons of water.

A lot of Canadians out west haven't been to this area of Canada. Costs are normally prohibitive even before a pandemic: cheaper to fly to Las Vegas to London then to travel to Halifax or St. John's.

A travel bubble, combined with relatively cheaper gas, allows Canadians from that region to enjoy the splendid beauty of the region without as many tourists as normal. The Bay of Fundy, Peggy's Cove, Cape Spear, the red sand PEI beaches, Cape Breton, Hopewell Rocks, and so many more travel destinations./p>

The Atlantic provinces have been doing really well with COVID-19 with Nova Scotia being the slight outlier. This doesn't obscure the fact that people have suffered and died from the COVID-19 coronavirus. Even though the numbers have been good, provincial premiers want to be sure this is done safely.

I loved the Hockey Day in Canada coverage from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories back in February. Having seen the Iqaluit film made me more excited about seeing the Nunavut capital.   

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Like Americans, Canadians are allowed to travel freely within their own country. Provinces have stepped up during the pandemic to limit travel in their provinces. British Columbia provincial parks are closed to non-residents. There has been some animosity against cars with Alberta licence plates in B.C.

Those in the 6 other provinces could discover the travel jewels in their own province. Those in Alberta can drive the Icefield Parkway with fewer tourist cars around. British Columbians can explore the interior and Vancouver Island.

I've been to Regina and had an amazing Saskatoon berry pie. I would love to visit Saskatoon. Winnipeg is truly more fun than you might expect. Ontario and Quebec offer numerous options for those who live there.

Where to visit Canada in 2020

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We have heard that while land crossings are out for American travelers, some have been able to fly into Canada without issue. They would need to do a 14-day quarantine.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slightly loosened the U.S.-Canada border last week allowing some family members to cross into Canada, provided they have no sign they might have COVID-19 and no reason to believe they might have caught it. The 14-day quarantine still applies.

Everything we saw last week said the border closing extension will run until the end of July. That could leave August if you want to be hopeful. Don't make plans until the border opens. Even then, you want to be careful. Masks and social distancing are smart, regardless of whether rules are in place.

We had hoped 2020 would bring more Canadian travel adventures from your humble narrator. There is a lot of pain in not being able to see Canada first hand these days.

photo credit: @VisitNovaScotia