Latest news with #YorkBeach
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘We love you, come on down,': Business owner's message to Canadians boycotting U.S. travel
FILE - American and Canadian flags fly near the Palace Playland amusement park, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, a summer seaside resort town popular with French-Canadian tourists. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File( As the summer tourism season heats up and some Canadians choose to boycott U.S. travel, New England states and business owners want to draw Canadian tourists back. Maine's rugged coastline and sandy beaches have helped to earn it the license plate slogan 'Vacationland.' But this year, fewer Canadians are showing up. David Rowland, co-owner of York Beach Beer Company, has noticed fewer Canadian license plates and fewer Canadian surfers in York Beach. 'Down here at Long Sands Beach, it's usually lined with Quebecois or New Brunswick (tourists), and they're not here. Some are. But not like normal,' he said. 'We still have great beer and we're still nice people. And we have great waves and great mountains,' Rowland said. 'I would say, don't be afraid of us. We're not afraid of you. We're sorry.' From February to May, land crossings into Maine were down 27 per cent compared to last year. Other northeast states feel the drop of Canadian travellers too. At a summit in between northeast U.S. governors and Eastern Canadian premiers in Boston earlier this week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey told reporters her state expects to see a 20 per cent decline in bookings. 'Vermont reports that hotel reservations by Canadians are down 45 per cent. Credit card spending by Canadians down 36 per cent. In New York City, bookings by Canadians are down 45 per cent,' said Governor Healey. Democratic governors blame U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric, after he repeatedly said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state. Trump also imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, including steel and aluminum. Maine's Governor Janet Mills said she's spoken with a bed and breakfast owner whose business has welcomed Canadians for generations but is now dealing with cancellations. 'It's not the tariffs that are affecting them so much as the hurt pride and Canadian citizenry,' said Mills. Maine has set up signs to welcome Canadians at border crossings and tourism visitor centres throughout the state. Its governor will travel to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia next week to meet with premiers, but also to promote her state as a destination. A Leger poll from May found that while Canadians' summer travel intentions are 'strong,' interest U.S.-bound travel this summer is 'collapsing' as only 10 per cent plan to travel to the U.S. this summer, down from 23 per cent last year. The poll also said 75 per cent of those polled who were planning a trip to the U.S. say tariffs announcement influenced their plans. More than half who had planned to visit the U.S. now plan to travel elsewhere. Other factors such as safety concerns, poor exchange rates, not feeling welcome and concerns about border delays also influenced their decisions. How the drop in Canadian tourism is impacting businesses varies depending on who you ask. At The Nevada Hotel in York Beach, Maine, its manager Valerie Fedorchak said they welcome guests from all over the world. Their Canadian guests are still coming. 'I'm really grateful to be able to say that we haven't noticed a substantial impact,' said Fedorchak. Typically, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Canadians account for up to 40 per cent of tourists each year. When announcing how Canada would respond to Trump's tariffs In March, former prime minister Justin Trudeau singled out Old Orchard Beach and Florida as places Canadians would choose to avoid. Family-run businesses like the Sandpiper Beachfront Motel welcome regulars from Canada every year, especially from Quebec. For some families, it's a 40-year tradition. 'For us personally we've only had a maybe a handful of people cancel if that,' said manager Michael Rioux, noting their longtime repeat clientele are still coming except one family that gave up seven rooms at the end of July. Rioux said the guest didn't want to cancel but her family did. 'Given the political situation, they wanted to boycott the U.S.,' he said. Rioux said his brother's business has also been dealing with more Canadian cancellations. He thinks the exchange rate, coupled with political turmoil will impact tourism in Old Orchard Beach. 'It's sad, because Canadians lose out on one of their places to go and then the mom and pop places like us lose as well,' Rioux said. Suzanne Ellis, the owner of Johnny Shucks Maine Lobster said the season started off slow, but she's noticed more Canadians showing up recently, especially this week. Ellis said she's very happy to have them here. The operator had been worried because a lot of her friends in Canada said they wouldn't be coming. Ellis estimates about 60 per cent of her customers are Canadians. 'We want to see you, we love you, come on down,' she said. Rioux message for Canadians is to do what you've been doing every year and enjoy your summer vacation. 'I think a lot of the political stuff is keeps us divided. I think we should stay together and help each other out and not fuel into a lot of the political theater and division that they perpetrate in the media,' said Rioux.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
York Beach's 'Love, Lois' says goodbye: 'I'm so glad that we have you as friends'
YORK, Maine — Lois Griswold has never let her cancer define her or diminish her love for life — or for York Beach, where thousands know her for her signature, 'Love, Lois.' This summer, however, Griswold, 82, has decided to remain in her home state of Ohio after receiving medical results indicating that her high-grade ureter cancer is nearing its final stages. Known for her presence on the bench near Fun-O-Rama at Short Sands Beach, Griswold said she plans to enter hospice after five years of fighting the disease. Griswold has always maintained that she does not fear cancer, finding comfort in her faith in God. In a heartfelt May 13 Facebook post in the group "Friends of York Beach Maine," she shared that she remains at peace as she enters the last stage of her life. "I ask that you shouldn't be scared for me," Griswold wrote. "I will be more alive in Heaven than I ever was here." While she turned off comments, her message received 2,300 reactions, mostly heart emojis. Previous story: How an 80-year-old woman battling cancer became a local legend at York Beach Griswold was raised in Schenectady, New York, but her family started coming to York Beach when she was 5 years old to participate in the York Beach Bible Conference on Tabernacle Road. The tradition continued year after year, and as an adult, she returned with her husband, Gary. In recent years, the couple has spent extended stays at the beach, sometimes for two months at a time. Griswold became a local celebrity in 2019 after posting on the "Friends of York Beach Maine" Facebook page, announcing that she would be crocheting blankets on the beach in honor of a late friend. She told people if they could find her, she would buy them an ice cream cone. Her post sparked curiosity among group members, inspiring many to seek her out— including the founder of the Facebook group. 'Nobody wanted me to buy them an ice cream cone,' Griswold said at the time. 'They all just wanted to meet me and take a picture.' The buzz surrounding her story eventually led to a segment on a Maine television news station, further cementing her status as a cherished figure in the York Beach community. Griswold's local fame continued to grow the following year when she captured a viral photo of a water rescue at the Nubble Lighthouse. Affection for her grew even more when she shared on Facebook her battle with cancer. Her diagnosis came unexpectedly in 2020 when a kidney stone became lodged in her ureter. During treatment, doctors discovered cancer, leading to the removal of both her kidney and ureter. Despite their efforts, the disease had already metastasized twice, spreading to her bladder and knee. Following her public announcement, Griswold was met with an outpouring of love and support from the York Facebook community and platforms like Caring Bridge. At one point, doctors believed the cancer had gone into remission, but after returning home from the 2022 season, new cancer was discovered in her lung. Griswold refused to let cancer keep her from York. She returned the following summer, and once more last year. 'When I first got sick, I said to the Lord, 'I can't handle this, but I know you can,'' Griswold said. 'I have not had one moment of fear in five years." 'Number one priority is safety': York's new lifeguard captain ready for summer Griswold has continued to share updates on her cancer journey, always signing her posts with her signature, "Love, Lois." The posts often receive at least 1,000 reactions and tally nearly 100 comments, sometimes more. Griswold said she has been moved by the outpouring of love— both online and during her visits to York Beach. "I'm so glad that we have you as friends," she wrote. Last summer, Griswold handed out custom hats embroidered with "Love Lois" as a token of her appreciation. She believes that her journey has helped her share her faith with others. 'I've been saying that cancer is the best thing that has ever happened to me,' Griswold said. 'Because, not only do I have peace, but many of those who read my daily posts have found room in their heart and life for the savior of a soul.' Griswold said her home away from home, York, has always meant so much to her. She said the love and recognition from friends and locals have been a source of comfort. One moment that stood out to her was passing by a party with her husband when the group suddenly called out, "There's our Love, Lois!" 'The people of York, the residents, are so very kind to me,' Griswold said. 'They make me feel cherished.' This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York Beach icon Lois Griswold says goodbye: 'Love, Lois'
