First Flight Ever to Nassau, Bahamas For BST Vacations Headlines 2027 Lineup of Travel Destinations

Including a first-ever flight to Nassau, Bahamas in the lineup, BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd.) has released its 2027 Peterborough Charter Collection of flights from Peterborough Airport.

File Photo.

“This is an exciting next step for our Peterborough program,” said Scott Stewart, BST Vacations president. “For years, our clients have embraced the convenience of starting their vacation right here at home. We listen closely to where they want to travel, and we continue to look for opportunities to broaden our charter program with spectacular international destinations. Nassau brings an entirely new Caribbean experience to the program, while destinations like St. Pierre & Miquelon allow us to offer something truly unique that travellers might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.”

The following is the 2027 travel schedule:

• Nassau, Bahamas | April 21 to 25, 2027

• St. Pierre & Miquelon | June 17 to 20, 2027

• Charlottetown, P.E.I. | June 25 to 28, 2027

• St. John’s, Newfoundland | July 29 to Aug. 1, 2027

• The Majesty of the St. Lawrence aboard Holland America Line’s Volendam | Sept. 1–11, 2027

• Nashville, Tennessee | Sept. 16 to 19, 2027

“At the same time, we want to keep introducing destinations that surprise and inspire our travellers,” said Steart. The 2027 collection gives them everything from the Caribbean to a little piece of France, all beginning at Peterborough Airport.”

Locally sourced food and drink are included on all outbound flights. A continental breakfast is prepared fresh the morning of departure. Spirits and beer are sourced from local distilleries and craft brewers.

On return flights, adult beverages are available for a $5 donation, with all proceeds supporting local causes. Over the past three years, this initiative has raised funds for Hospice Peterborough.

All trips include:

• Round-trip charter flights from Peterborough Airport

• Included parking at the airport

• Fast, hassle-free check-in

• In-flight meals and beverages

• Hotel accommodations and airport transfers in destination

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BST Vacations Announces Its 2026 Lineup of Travel Destinations

BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd.) has released its 2026 Peterborough Charter Collection, in its 12th year of offering flights from Peterborough Airport.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The following is the 2026 travel schedule:

• Holland America Volendam Cruise – Canada & New England Circle (May 30 – June 9)

• Charlottetown, PEI (June 4 – 7)

• St. John’s, Newfoundland (June 18 – 21)

• Calgary during the Stampede (July 2 – 5)

• St. Pierre & Miquelon (Sept. 18 – 21)— Sold out, accepting names for a waitlist

• Scottsdale, Arizona (Oct. 15 – 18)

“Every year, our Peterborough program continues to grow in popularity,” says Scott Stewart, BST Vacations president. “We know how much our clients value skipping the long drives and busy airports. These departures make travel easier and more enjoyable—and our 2026 lineup is one of the most exciting yet.”

Locally sourced food and drink are included on all outbound flights. A continental breakfast is prepared fresh the morning of departure. Spirits and beer are sourced from local distilleries and craft brewers.

On return flights, adult beverages are available for a $5 donation, with all proceeds supporting local causes. Over the past two years, this initiative has raised funds for Hospice Peterborough.

All trips include:

• Round-trip charter flights from Peterborough Airport

• Included parking at the airport

• Fast, hassle-free check-in

• In-flight meals and beverages

• Hotel accommodations and airport transfers in destination

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Trent-Severn Waterway Listed In New York Times's '52 Places to Go in 2025'

Peterborough and the Kawarthas have garnered attention from the New York Times as the Trent-Severn Waterway was listed as one of their ‘52 Places to Go in 2025.’

Photo courtesy of Justen Soule and the Canadian Canoe Museum.

The article highlights the 240-mile Trent-Severn Waterway, where its rivers, lakes and canals go from one end of Ontario to the other, connecting Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay.

A few organizations and companies have been featured in the article.

Author AnneLise Sorensen gives her main highlight to the Canadian Canoe Museum with its new 65,000-square-foot lakefront. The museum is known to have the most extensive collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft worldwide.

“The museum exhibits styles from across Canada — showcasing them in a curved building inspired by, yes, the canoe — and honours the vessel’s Indigenous legacy,” said Sorensen. “The waterway is also undergoing a multiyear revitalization project, which includes retrofitting its monumental hydraulic lift locks, among the highest in the world.”

Boat rental company Le Boat, 100 Acre Brewing Co. and BeaverTails also had honourable mentions in the article.

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Peterborough Airport May See Increased Flight Services Following New Air Traffic Plans

Peterborough Regional Airport’s aviation activity and growth potential has been recognized through NAV CANADA’s Level of Service Study for Peterborough’s airport, with recommendations for NAV CANADA-staffed traffic management to support airplane movements.

File Photo.

The Level of Service Study with its recommendations was posted earlier this week on the NAV CANADA website for a 60-day public review before the recommendations are forwarded to Transport Canada for concurrence.

If Transport Canada supports NAV CANADA’s recommendations, NAV CANADA would implement a new Flight Service Station at the Peterborough Regional Airport according to the City.

“NAV CANADA’s recommendation supports increased activity while monitoring airport movements and enhancing safety,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This direction further supports the long-term strategic growth and will establish the airport as a regional centre of economic growth and prosperity.”

NAV CANADA’s specific recommendations include:

• Implement Airport Advisory Service, Vehicle Control Service and Ground Advisory Service, 15 hours per day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Install an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

• Establish a means of surveillance to approximately 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) within the 5 nautical miles at the Peterborough Airport and to 1,000 feet AGL within 10 nautical miles of the airport

The public review for NAV CANADA’s air traffic service requirements proposal closes on Feb. 18.

Implementing air traffic services at the Peterborough Regional Airport reflects progress under City Council’s Strategic Plan for a future-ready City with the airport identified in the strategic pillar Growth and Economic Development as a vibrant regional aviation hub.

Peterborough Regional Airport is an aerospace employment hub for the region serving various aerospace industry sectors. The airport is home to over 20 businesses, which employ about 500 people. The airport's 7,000-foot-long runway and supporting infrastructure have been designed to accommodate up to the Boeing 737 series aircraft.

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Head to Italy With Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce After Partnership With Marlin Travel

In a partnership with Marlin Travel, the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is offering members and non-members to the take in the authentic flavours of northern Italy this fall, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber is hosting a nine-day trip to Italy from Oct. 3 to 11.

The trip provides guests with premium accommodations, a chance to try some authentic Italian cuisine and an opportunity to see northern Italy with local colleagues and friends.

The Spotlight on Northern Italy trip includes:

• Try some tiramisu in its hometown of Treviso

• Take in the romance of Romeo and Juliet in Verona

• Check out the glass-blowing foundries of Murano, a city with 1,500 years of glassmaking history

• Take a gondola cruise through Venice

• Trace the steps of Ernest Hemingway through the artist hilltop haven of Asolo

• Journey through the rolling hills of the Prosecco region and visit a local vineyard

• Take a cable car ride through the picturesque Dolomite Mountains

• Enjoy some Grappa (grape-based pomace brandy) in the quaint town of Bassano del Grappa

The trip includes transportation from Peterborough and flights to and from Italy. The vacation package offers a competitive travel protection plan for $499.

Book by March 4 to guarantee availability at the best rates according to the Chamber.

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Peterborough Police Release October Traffic Initiative Results

During October, the Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit released its Traffic Initiative results that focused on the Big Four driving offences.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The offences are as follows:

• Aggressive Driving

• Impaired Driving

• Distracted Driving

• Seatbelt Offences

Here are the results from the October initiative:

• Cellphone infractions - 35

• Follow too close - 1

• Seatbelts - 6

• Careless Driving -14

• Turn not safe - 8

During November, the Traffic Services Unit will focus on stop signs and stop light infractions.  

Peterborough Police Service reminds the public always to drive safely and according to road and weather conditions. Traffic complaints can be made online through the Online Reporting Portal.

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BST Vacations Announces Its 2024 Lineup of Nine Travel Destinations

BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd) has released its 2024 lineup of destinations for its Peterborough Departures program with nine destinations.

FIle Photo.

In 2024 BST Vacations will be travelling to:

• Charleston, S.C.

• St. John’s, Nfld

• Memphis, Tenn.

• Quebec City, Que.

• Montreal, Que.

• Niagara-on-the-Lake, Southern Ont.

• Île du Havre aux Maisons, Magdalen Islands

• Five nights in New York City OR a five-night cruise to Bermuda on NCL Joy embarking from NYC.

October of 2024 marks a decade since the first Peterborough Charter. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the departure program, BST is heading back to New York City and passengers will be able to choose their adventure and enjoy five nights in NYC or enjoy a five-night hosted cruise to Bermuda embarking from NYC on a Norwegian Cruise Lines Ship, Joy. The cruise will be hosted by Scott Stewart, President of BST Vacations and Dana Empey, Vice President of BST Vacations.

“We are pleased to be able to continue to grow the charter program and to try new things,” said Scott Stewart, President of BST Vacations. “None of this would be possible without the support from the community and our past passengers, and for that we are so grateful.

Food and beverages are included in the flight and are all locally sourced. Continental breakfast and in-flight meals are hand-picked and made to order the morning of the flight by Sobeys Catering department on Lansdowne Street. Spirits and beer on board are from local distilleries and craft brewers.

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Transportation Tomorrow Survey Letters To Be Mailed To Selected Peterborough Households

Peterborough households are asked to participate in the Transportation Tomorrow Survey this fall regarding the travel habits and preferences of residents in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and surrounding areas.

File photo.

Randomly-selected households will receive an invitation letter that will provide them with a secure access code and more information about the survey.

Results will help local and regional governments, as well as the province and transit agencies, make transportation planning and investment decisions.

The Transportation Tomorrow Survey is jointly undertaken by 25 funding agencies, including the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Metrolinx, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and municipalities across the study area.

Canadian-based research firm R.A. Malatest and Associates Ltd. will conduct the survey on behalf of the participating agencies including the City of Peterborough. The survey has been administered every five years since 1986. 

“The Travel Tomorrow Survey data provides City planners information about existing travel patterns and helps plan for future mobility needs for the City,” said Vinod Soman, City of Peterborough senior transportation project manager. “We encourage residents to participate in the survey.”

Survey questions will focus on trip information for each household member including origin, destination, time, reason for travel, mode of transportation and some basic demographic questions.

Residents that did not make any trips can still participate in the survey, and all survey responses will remain anonymous.

The study runs from the fall of 2022 until spring of 2023 and the results will be released in 2024.

Participation in the survey is voluntary, and households can participate by accessing the project website at TTS2022.ca or by calling the survey hotline at 1-877-216-7786.

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Blowes And Stewart Travel Group Celebrates Their Second Peterborough Departure

Blowes and Stewart Travel Group embarked on their second departure of 2022 from Peterborough to Nashville, last week.

When guests arrived to the Peterborough Airport on Thursday morning their bags were taken straight from their car, passports were checked and security precautions taken quickly. Travelers were able to park their vehicle on site and board the plane.

After a smooth takeoff passengers were served complimentary drink and food from local Peterborough businesses.

Beer came from The Publican house, spirits from Blacks Distillery and a light lunch from Sobeys.

Upon arrival to Nashville, travelers boarded a bus that took them directly to their hotel.

BST offered travelers the option to partake in exclusive group tours during their trip. Options included day trips to The Grand Ole Opry, The Jack Daniels Distillery and The Hermitage. Those that decided not to take advantage of these excursions explored the city at their own pace, with BST representatives at the hotel to answer any questions.

After four days in Music City, a bus picked travelers up at their hotel and took them directly to their gate at the Nashville Airport.

Blowes & Stewart Travel Group will return to Nashville from Peterborough Sept. 15 - 18.

Their next open Peterborough Departure is to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, followed by trips to Las Vegas and Georgia.

For more details, prices and dates visit bstvacations.ca/2022-departures/.

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BST Vacations Roll the Dice and Add Las Vegas to Their 2022 Peterborough Departures Lineup

Blowes and Stewart Travel Group Ltd (BST Vacations) has announced that travelers can hit the strip in Las Vegas as part of their 2022 Peterborough Departures lineup.

In October 2022 BST Vacations will be heading to Las Vegas, flying from the Peterborough Airport.

“Vegas has been a destination that our clients have been asking us to travel to for years. We are so happy that this is finally coming to fruition and we are able to fly there as part of our Peterborough Departures program,” said Scott Stewart, President of BST Vacations. “The pandemic forced us to cancel our 2020 and 2021 departures so we are very excited to be able to have such a robust lineup for 2022.”

BST Vacations recently entered into an agreement for their Departures with Canadian North, an airline based in Northwest Territories and Nunavut. This agreement is what has made further reaching destinations possible, as BST will be using Canadian North’s 737-700 Aircraft for the charter.

The trip to Las Vegas is for 3 nights/4 days and passengers will stay at the Planet Hollywood Resort. Overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, this sprawling high-rise casino resort is in the heart of the action and offers plenty of options for dining, entertainment, and gambling.

Las Vegas is one of eight departures BST Vacations is operating out of the Peterborough Airport in 2022. Other destinations include St. John’s, Newfoundland (sold out); Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Nashville, Tennessee (2 departures – limited space); New Orleans, Louisiana (limited space); Savannah, Georgia; & Atlantic City, New Jersey.

For full details on this or any of the departures, visit the BST Vacations website here.

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