Spring breakers head for airport and warmer temperatures
Calgary airport was busy Friday as thousands of travellers on spring break made a dash for some sun.
“It’s better to leave this weather than stay in it,” said Tannis Crawford, one of many airport patrons heading to Mexico.
Crawford’s son was one of more than 130,000 Calgary public school system students trading in books for the beach. The pair were among many taking spring break as a chance to get away.
“Of course we are excited to get away,” Crawford said. “He’s turning 13 while we are gone, so it’s his birthday trip. We left dad at home. I work at his school, so it’s nice to get a break and some one-on-one time.”
At the Travel Lady Agency, it was all hands on deck to keep their customers’ trips on track. Owner Lesley Keyter said most people booked long in advance and are looking to head somewhere without winter weather.
“It’s pretty much (all) to warmer destinations, I’d say,” she said. “We do a lot of cruises. We have some families that are heading out on cruises, getting away for a little while. We also have teachers that can only be away at that time as well.”
Keyter said this spring break is especially busy, as travel continues to see a post-pandemic boom for WestJet, the airline that says it’s experiencing a three per cent jump in spring break travel from last year.
DAY CAMPS
But not everyone can get away.
For those families staying home, day camps can be vital.
“Idle minds, you know,” said Kyle Corner, vice-president of experience at Telus Spark. “Get into all sorts of mischief, so we like that mischief to be here and that curiosity directed towards science, so experiment, play, keep those young minds busy.”
While Telus Spark is hosting activities all week long, it says its day camps filled almost immediately.
For Calgary public school students staying in town during spring break, day camps offered by the City of Calgary are filling up fast
It’s a similar story with the City of Calgary. Its range of day camps are also almost at full capacity.
“Demand for the day camps is very high this year,” said Lynette Birth, complex co-ordinator at the City of Calgary. “We have a handful of spots open, so hopefully, folks can get in and get on the waitlist at Calgary.ca/daycamps.”
Whether its day camps or travel, students are keeping busy – although escaping the cold does seem like an extra bonus.
“It’s freezing out here,” said Elle Isfeld, who was heading to Japan.”So I’m good to leave this place.”
“It’s going to be great,” said Lisa Lindsay, heading for Mexico. “I just want to lay on the beach with a margarita.”
As far as airport turbulence in the form of delays and cancelled flights, there wasn’t much to report Friday. Because of the weather, planes do have to de-ice and that caused some minor delays, but most flights were leaving on time.
The increase in volume can also create human bottlenecks, so Calgary Airport staff are advising travellers to arrive a little earlier than usual and pack their patience just in case.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.
Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship
Britney Spears has reached a settlement with her estranged father more than two years after the court-ordered termination of a conservatorship that had given him control of her life, their attorneys said.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
From pop to politics, what to know as Sweden prepares for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest
Taking place in May in Malmo, Sweden, the 68th annual competition will see acts from 37 countries vie for the continent’s pop crown in a feelgood extravaganza that strives — not always successfully – to banish international strife and division. And you don’t have to be in Europe to watch, or to help pick the winner.