Latest news with #EasternTownships
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado chance arises as eastern Ontario, Quebec sees severe weather threat
Thursday will be a day to watch closely in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, as the recent high heat and humidity are providing ample storm energy across the province. MUST SEE: The Laurentians and areas near the Quebec-New Brunswick border will have notable, atmospheric conditions for tornado development on Thursday, while eastern Ontario and the Eastern Townships are at risk of flooding. You'll want to stay updated on the weather alerts in your area as conditions can change quickly when severe weather hits. Thursday: Ample thunderstorm energy leads to strong storms, tornado risk Forecasters are keeping a close eye on Thursday, with a low-pressure system and strong cold front expected to bring more severe weather to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. The system will track over the Great Lakes Thursday morning and continue eastward through the day. Ample thunderstorm energy, fuelled by several days of 30°C heat and high humidity, could lead to strong thunderstorms with torrential downpours. Between 50-100 mm of heavy rainfall is possible under storms, increasing the risk of localized flooding. DON'T MISS: Non-severe thunderstorms are expected to move through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) before peak afternoon energy develops. Thunderstorm energy will be abundant by the afternoon hours, with ample moisture, and signs of notable shear will result in strong and severe storm clusters over the Ottawa Valley and southern Quebec. Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms are likely for Quebec City. -4 p.m. will be the highest risk for severe weather in Ottawa with the cold front. 6 p.m. for Montreal. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Quebec City. The Ottawa and St. Lawrence valleys will be concerned with flooding potential, while tornado ingredients may be present over the Laurentians and areas near the Quebec-New Brunswick border, although confidence is still low and conditions are being closely monitored by forecasters. The active weather will be followed by a welcome cooldown, offering relief from the heat. WATCH: How storm chasers in Canada got into the action-packed job Click here to view the video Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario and Quebec.
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
This viral travel ad for Canada is trying to woo American tourists
To help American visitors feel more welcome in Canada at time when relations are strained, one local tourism office is playing Canada nice. In a 30-second spot, a tourist shown checking in at a hotel front desk tells the receptionist he doesn't speak French and sheepishly admits, 'I'm American.' For a split second, a close-up shot of the receptionist clicking a red button underneath the desk might make viewers wonder if she's calling security, given the state of U.S.-Canada relations. But no, she's simply opening the front desk countertop so she can go and give the man a friendly embrace. 'Come hug it out in Eastern Townships' is the ad's closing tagline. Tourism Eastern Townships is a tourism office for a region in Quebec that's an hour's drive from Montreal, and the region is especially reliant on U.S. visitors since it borders Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports and calls for making Canada a state, though, haven't been good for business. Travel from the U.S. to Canada by automobile is down by 10.4%, according to data from Statistics Canada, the Canadian government's statistical office, meaning the supply of U.S. visitors to the region that it once could count on for reliable day or weekend trips is drying up. 'Americans were actually, literally calling our hotels and attractions asking, 'Am I still welcome? Are people going to be nice to us if we come? Are we going to be served in English?'' Tourism Eastern Townships director of visitor services Catherine Carignan-Lavasseur told the Canadian news network CTV News. Those calls from Americans 'sparked a red flag,' according to Carignan-Lavasseur, since U.S. tourists represent 6% of visitors to the region. The ad was meant to welcome them back. 'The ad is a warm, humorous 30-second ad, but it's also truly an invitation,' she said. Trump's antagonistic stance toward Canada has inspired a defensive 'elbows up' response that's shown up in Canadian consumer brand marketing and political messaging, but it goes against the stereotype of Canadians being unusually nice. While defensiveness and defiance might work well in politics, trade wars, and dealing with Trump, it's bad for tourism, so Tourism Eastern Townships is trying an opposite approach. For Americans considering a trip to Eastern Townships, the tourism office's hugging ad arrives like a generous helping of warm Canadian maple syrup or a surprise Justin Bieber album at the end of a long week. While politics and borders divide us, a hug is universal. And by using an embrace to tell American tourists that they're invited, the spot makes sure the message needs no translation. Visitors are welcome.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Canada sends hugs, not tariffs, as viral Quebec ad counters Trump's trade war
As the United States and Canada brace for another round of tariff tensions, a surprising message has emerged from Quebec's Eastern Townships : a hug. The Eastern Townships Tourism Association in Quebec has launched a new ad campaign titled 'A Hug from Canada,' aimed at American tourists amid rising trade frictions between the two countries. The campaign, which has quickly gone viral, features a simple yet powerful scene, an American traveler checks into a hotel and nervously reveals he is from the United States. Instead of a cold reception, he receives a warm, genuine hug. Link to the video: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Klik Di Sini Undo Tourism is a vital sector for Canada, with US travelers accounting for nearly 79 percent of all foreign visits. In Q3 of 2024 alone, American tourists spent US$6.6 billion in the country. A recent dip of 12 percent in bookings from the US prompted urgency among tourism authorities, leading to the creation of this emotionally driven campaign. The ad comes at a time when the Trump administration is preparing to impose 35 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian exports starting August 1, including steel, aluminum, lumber, cars, and maple syrup. Live Events The move has already rattled markets. According to the San Francisco Federal Reserve, the tariffs are expected to result in a 0.2 percent drop in US employment and a 0.4 percent decline in real household income. Canada has announced retaliatory measures, including counter-tariffs and procurement restrictions targeting American companies. Canadian innkeepers and hoteliers say they have received numerous calls from American travelers asking whether they are still welcome in Canada. Concerned about the political climate, some US tourists have expressed hesitation about visiting. The 'A Hug from Canada' campaign has reached millions online. With over 4.2 million views across platforms in just five days, it has struck a chord with audiences on both sides of the border. The ad's simplicity is part of its success. There are no sweeping drone shots or dramatic music, just a quiet moment of kindness that challenges the prevailing political tone. While governments debate tariffs, hugs are crossing the border, no paperwork required.
Time Out
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A Quebec tourism ad is making Americans emotional but not for the reason you think
Know anyone in the U.S. who needs a hug? An ad from the Eastern Townships tourism board offering hugs to Americans visiting Quebec has gone viral, even scoring a celebrity endorsement from an Academy Award winner. The Eastern Townships, just north of Vermont and a short drive from Boston and New York City, is one of our favourite getaways. The 'Come Hug It Out' ad campaign, which shows an American tourist approaching the front desk at a hotel. 'Sorry, I don't speak French. I'm just visiting,' he says, before leaning in and adding in a whisper: 'I'm American.' Without missing a beat, the clerk reaches under the desk and presses a red button — which swings open the counter, allowing her to step out and give him a warm hug. The lighthearted ad hints at the considerable political tension between Canada and the U.S., and arrives on the heels of a new US travel requirement in addition to the updated U.S. travel rules and safety advisories—plus a travel warning sharing risks and recommended precautions for U.S. citizens travelling to Canada. The post on Instagram shared the following message: 'What if this summer, we opened our arms wide to warmth, smiles, and genuine moments? In the Eastern Townships, hospitality isn't something we say — it's something you feel. Come hug it out in the Eastern Townships — Close to you. Far from ordinaire.' Online, viewers shared comments like: 'This American in Texas would like a Canadian hug, please.' Even actress Sharon Stone chimed in, leaving the message: "Thanks we need a hug." In a press release, Isabelle Charlebois, General Director of Tourism Eastern Townships, wrote: 'Our American guests are more than tourists, they're part of our story. This ad campaign is our way of saying: we appreciate you and we can't wait to welcome you again.'
CNN
11-07-2025
- CNN
Canadian kindness breaks the internet
A viral ad campaign from the Eastern Townships Tourism Association has a message for American travelers hoping to come to Canada.
