Blogs | August 31, 2021

A Reopening Weekend to Remember Across Canada

Canadians took advantage of easing restrictions on the Canada Day weekend through gatherings, recreation and the much-anticipated post-lockdown haircut. From amusement park fun to the return of travel plans, Canadian shoppers and business owners both had something to celebrate during this reopening weekend.

Canada Day reopening by the numbers.

It was a weekend to remember across the country as vaccination rates helped us ease restrictions as we moved into the warmer summer months.

Cocktails and lake cruises in British Columbia.

Celebrations were underway for British Columbia as bars across the province saw an overall increase of 24% in consumer spending week-over-week. The highest increase of 49% was Kelowna, a popular tourist destination.

Making up for lost time was also a popular trend over the weekend at popular tourist attractions. British Columbia saw a 55% increase in consumer spending in attractions such as zoos, whale watching tours, and lake cruises.

Pampering and plane tickets in Ontario.

Ontarians caught up on a few things they missed this past year over the long weekend. Salons and barbers saw an astounding 970% increase in volume as people rushed to lose their COVID hairdos.

They also started making plans for a future of travelling as restrictions ease and vaccinations rise. Ontario saw a 186% increase in airline ticket purchases as they started making plans over the weekend.

Rollercoasters and rodeos in Alberta.

Albertans were ready to reopen with a bang with the return of the Calgary Stampede. This helped to give them a 26% increase in consumer spending at hotels week-over-week across the province as people made the trek in for the festivities.

The fun didn’t stop there as amusements parks opened their doors again, resulting in a 71% volume increase as Alberta got themselves reacquainted with roller coasters and funnel cake.

That was the Canada Day weekend by the numbers! From busy restaurants and bars to the return of our beloved hairdressers and barbers, we’re all feeling a bit more like ourselves after this long weekend.

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Moneris spending reports measure spending in Canada across a range of categories by analyzing credit and debit card transaction data. The figures and percentages cited are derived from aggregated transaction volumes being processed by Moneris in the applicable categories, as compared to transaction volume from the prior year unless otherwise stated

The information in this article is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be legal, business or other professional advice or an endorsement of any of the websites or services listed.