Canine companions help heighten the spirit of curiosity

Preparing to travel, I opened my luggage and swivelled for pyjamas. Turning back, the suitcase was packed — with Pirate, our Jack Russell Terrier. When taking out the luggage, Pirate stormed the door, the gate and, at the vehicle, just couldn’t resist repeatedly bouncing up off the ground — boing-de-boing-de-boing.

Whether they’re born travellers or just stalking food-providers, eager mutts like Pirate exhilarate road trips. I offer some tales and tips.

As a frenzied life force, Pirate increasingly insisted he serve as our co-pilot. Attentively perched on the vehicle’s console, he nonetheless proved unreliable. Turn-signal clicks, changes to speed and road surface or roadside dogs and cats deranged him and he filled the car with himself. White hairs fused to our clothes so folks across the street could see we were dog people. Ensure those handy lint rollers are in handy places.

We learned that Pirate’s quiet stares meant quick stops. And we learned to put poo bags in cup holders, purses, pouches and pockets. Likewise, any empty bags.

Border Insecurity: Canadian musicians face volatile tour life under Trump

TORONTO - Canadian country singer Robert Adam recorded their new album in Nashville, but under the political tumult of U.S. President Donald Trump, the musician doesn’t plan to travel stateside to promote it.

The Calgary-based non-binary artist says they contemplated their decision for several months, weighing past negative experiences as a queer person visiting the United States against the importance of the U.S. market for emerging musicians.

But after hearing about the obstacles faced by some transgender musicians in obtaining U.S. working visas, Adam said they are confident they've made the right decision to skip the country on their upcoming tour.

“(I’m) pretty non-binary presenting, pretty femme ... it's hard not to see that I kind of stick out,” they said in a phone interview.

‘To honour him’: Canadian Bishops, Métis leader attending funeral for Pope Francis

Donald Bolen, the archbishop of Regina, is travelling to Vatican City for Saturday’s funeral of Pope Francis – a journey, he says, is to honour a pontiff who mirrored his vision and his compassion.

"When (Francis) put out a book called 'The Name of God is Mercy,' I smiled. Because my episcopal motto is 'mercy within mercy within mercy' — very much that same understanding,” Bolen said in an interview.

"I had enormous respect for Pope Francis through his pontificate.”

Bolen said the pope's devotion to dialogue and international collaboration was inspiring, as was his commitment to justice.

Hockey fans conflicted over travelling to U.S. to see their teams in NHL playoffs

Jack Gurevitch is a Montreal Canadiens superfan and a proud Canadian who's upset by United States President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to annex Canada, but he says he won't let the political situation influence whether he travels to U.S. cities to support his team in the playoffs.

Not everyone in his family agrees.

"In anticipation of this call, I shared with my sister my opinion, and she went, 'Absolutely not. Do not go. Do not go into the United States during this time. It's not being patriotic. It's not being a good Canadian,'" Gurevitch said in a phone interview.

"I just kind of disagree with her."

Eby urges Canadians to ‘keep the pressure up’ despite California’s charm campaign

Canadians need to "keep the pressure up" on the United States by buying local and avoiding travel there, despite a recent push from California to draw visitors from Canada, British Columbia's premier says. 

David Eby says he had a "really good conversation" with California Governor Gavin Newsom this week as the state launched a campaign to re-engage Canadian tourists, but it's not enough to change current pressure tactics.

"It's difficult for me because here's a guy — and a state, a major economic partner of ours in British Columbia — onside on the tariffs, fighting the Trump administration," Eby said at a media briefing on Thursday. 

"But I know for myself and for British Columbians and for Canadians, I'm not ready to go to the States."

California governor urges Canadians to ignore Trump, come back for sand, sun and wine

Canadians’ boycott of travel to the U.S. is hitting hard on California’s sandy shores, prompting the state’s governor to make a social media pitch-plea to come back.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a video this week, is urging the two million Canadians who visited last year to look past U.S. President Donald Trump and return to enjoy the Golden State’s wine, sun and surf.

Newsom, without calling out Trump by name, says Canadians should not let a dust-up with Washington stop them from renewing their love affair with his coastal paradise.

“Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans," Newsom says in the video, which is part of a US$5.2-million advertising effort to lure Canucks back over the border.

Canadian university teachers warned against travelling to the United States

HALIFAX - The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice on Tuesday due to the "political landscape" created by President Donald Trump's administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border.

The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel.

Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or "whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration."

B.C. civil liberties group joins Supreme Court challenge of N.L. COVID restrictions

ST. JOHN'S - The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association is intervening in a Supreme Court of Canada case this week examining the constitutionality of Newfoundland and Labrador's COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.

In a news release today, the association says it will argue the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects permanent residents' right to move between and within provinces, just as it does for citizens.

It will also argue that individual communities, particularly those run by Indigenous governments, should have control over who can and cannot access their land.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is leading the case, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Industry groups warn that foreign student cuts will hurt P.E.I. tourism sector

CHARLOTTETOWN - Representatives of Prince Edward Island's tourism industry say Ottawa's decision to cap international student permits will lead to labour shortages in the sector.

Holland College announced last week that due to the cap — and a drop in enrolment — it would end eight programs, including three that train students in the hospitality sector. In addition, 35 employees of the college will be laid off.

Corryn Clemence, the CEO of the Tourism Association of P.E.I., said in an interview Monday that operators of hotels, restaurants and festivals have relied on the programs as a pipeline of employees.

Clemence said "in the next couple of years ... we know this will have a huge impact on us," as the flow of students in marketing and advertising management; tourism, travel and event management; and hotel and restaurant operations management, comes to an end.

Embrace some homegrown strangeness for your next domestic trek

With many Canadians shying away from travelling south of the border to their usual American vacation spots, there is an increased interest in exploring the True North this year.

Some schools in Canada are putting U.S. field trips on hold amid trade war

There are disappointed students, anxious parents and cautious school officials in at least two Canadian school districts that have suspended or cancelled trips over political uncertainty in the United States. 

British Columbia's largest school district in Surrey has put all its field trips down south on hold to prevent any "negative experiences at the border," while New Brunswick's largest French school district abruptly cancelled a high school band trip as a "precautionary decision." 

Mark Pearmain, Surrey's district superintendent, said the city is "diverse" with many students from different backgrounds, including some who may not be Canadian citizens. 

"Some of them might be here because their parents are temporary foreign workers, and it's a recognition that we just always want to make sure that our staff and our students are always safe," he said. 

Manitoba traffic down at Emerson-Pembina border, U.S. tourism officials nervous

Tourism leaders in North Dakota have a close eye on the Canada-U.S. border, as they brace for the likelihood of fewer Manitoba visitors this year.

‘Nowhere more powerless than at a border’: What immigration lawyers are telling U.S.-bound travellers about cellphones

TORONTO - The Canadian government has warned would-be travellers they may face more scrutiny at the United States border — including the search of electronic devices.

Though immigration lawyers say there's no change in the law for Canadians travelling to the U.S., existing rules may be applied more strictly, as indicated by the updated advisory Global Affairs Canada issued Friday.

That advisory warns that Canadians denied entry to the U.S. may face detention while they wait to be deported.

Here's some of what you need to know about crossing the border into the U.S.

‘Special to the world’: Supporters hope to save beloved Drumheller dinosaur

DRUMHELLER - A plan to send Tyra the tyrannosaurus, the popular tourist attraction that towers over the skyline in Drumheller, Alta., into proverbial extinction has sparked demands that she be spared.

The town of 8,400 northeast of Calgary bills itself as the Dinosaur Capital of the World. Home to the famed Royal Tyrrell Museum, the community also has statues of dinosaurs that look like they've crawled out of "The Flintstones" cartoon greeting people on the streets.

There's an extinct reptile riding a motorcycle. A triceratops in a frilly dress sits on a bus bench. Another dinosaur wearing a fireman's hat and holding a hose is poised outside a fire station.

The biggest is Tyra, standing across from the intersection of Gorgosaurus Street and Tyrannosaurus Drive near a visitor information centre. A nearby ice cream stand offers fossils, T-shirts and dino toys.

Canada updates travel guidance for U.S., warning of heightened scrutiny at the border

Canada has updated its advice to those travelling to the United States, warning travellers they may face "scrutiny" from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry.

An updated advisory issued Friday by Global Affairs Canada urges Canadians crossing the U.S. border to be forthcoming with officials in that country and to expect scrutiny that could extend to searches of electronic devices.

The updated advisory notes that if denied entry to the U.S., citizens could be detained while awaiting deportation if they fail to meet entry exit requirements.

"Individual border agents often have significant discretion in making those determinations," the advisory said. "Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices. Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities."