BST Vacations Announce Destination Lineup For 2025

BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd) has released its lineup of destinations for its 2025 Peterborough Departures program.

File Photo.

All trips will depart from the Peterborough Airport. Travellers will ride on the 737-800 large plane that can hold 189 passengers.

• St. John’s, Nfld.

• Nashville, Tenn.

• Choose your adventure: Six-night Vancouver City Stay or one-night pre-cruise in Vancouver, followed by a 5-night Alaska Sampler Cruise with Princess Cruises

• Choose your adventure: Six-night New Orleans City Stay or 1-night pre-cruise in New Orleans, followed by a 5-night Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Valor

For their Elevated Escapes smaller group departures, using their private SAAB 340 plane (33 passengers), they will be flying to:

• The Magdalen Islands (two dates)

• Halifax, N.S.

• Charlottetown, P.E.I. - (sold out, waitlist only)

“We put a lot of thought into choosing the destinations for 2025,” said Scott Stewart, BST Vacations president. “We considered feedback from our past passengers and made decisions based on that feedback. We hope our passengers are as excited about these destinations as we are, and we look forward to an amazing season of travel and exploration in 2025.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Flying Colours Corp. to Paint and Perform Select Maintenance on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Fleet

Flying Colours Corp. has been awarded a contract by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Air Services Branch, which requires the corporation to provide exterior aircraft paintwork and refinishing services.

Rendering of the paintwork to be applied to the RCMP Pilatus PC-12. photo courtesy of flying colours corp.

The services will be offered on an as-required basis for an initial period of two years, with the potential to cover a period of up to eight years. Flying Colours has worked with the RCMP previously and were once again successful in winning the public bid for the work. 

The first aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12 turboprop, was inducted at the Flying Colours Peterborough facility at the end of March, with work expected to be completed and the aircraft re-delivered in early May. A second aircraft, another PC-12, is already confirmed to arrive in October 2023. The RCMP aircraft will be painted aviation gray with a three-stripe scheme in navy blue, federal yellow and toreador red, with the organization’s insignia bisecting the red and yellow stripes. The iconic logo, which features a uniformed officer mounted on a horse, will be painted on the tail in navy blue.

“This is a really unique project, and as a family-run Canadian company with its roots in aviation painting, we are proud to support the RCMP as they upgrade their aircraft exteriors. I know our team is looking forward to honouring the force with the highest quality work and are excited to be applying the emblematic logo onto the aircraft,” says Eric Gillespie, executive VP at Flying Colours.  

The RCMP operates a fleet of 25 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft from 19 air service locations in 11 provinces and territories across Canada. Airbus H145, H125 & H120 helicopters, Cessna 206 & 208 turboprops, De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otters, Quest Kodiak and Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft comprise the fleet.

The mixed aircraft will be painted in Flying Colours' state-of-the-art paint hangar by the highly experienced paint team, which has worked in the facility since opening two years ago. The state-of-the-art facility is fully computerized and climate controlled. It features a pressurized cross-draft paint booth equipped with 168 energy-efficient lights that simulate natural daylight to optimize paint colour matches and visibility for technicians. The sanding, paint, purge, and cure application sequence reduces environmental impact through intelligently designed air recirculation and exhaust systems, decreasing the heat needed to operate while reducing paint emissions released into the air.

Flying Colours will be exhibiting at the Canadian Business Aviation Association meeting in Calgary 11- 13 July 2023 on booth 508.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Photos: Peterborough Cadet Units Celebrate Annual Ceremonial Review at the Peterborough Airport

The local Peterborough Cadet Units (534 Raider, 2672 Hasty P's, 112 Howe) held their Annual Ceremonial Review this past Sunday, June 4 at the Peterborough Airport.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

The parade was attended by this year's reviewing officer, Brigadier-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Formation Commander of the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Largest Passenger Aircraft to Depart the Peterborough Airport Leaves For New York City

BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd) has started their 2023 Peterborough Departures program, with their first charter of the season leaving the Peterborough Airport for a long weekend in New York City Thursday morning.

photo by felicia massey.

Passengers departed on a Boeing 737-800 – the largest aircraft in Nolinor’s fleet – which left for the Big Apple at 10 a.m.

This aircraft is also the largest passenger aircraft to land or take off from the Peterborough Airport, with a carrying capacity of 189 passengers.

“We are thrilled to be working with Nolinor Airlines’, says Scott Stewart, President of BST Vacations. “Having access to an aircraft of this size will allow us to grow our Peterborough Departures program, and allow us to move more people to more destinations in the future.”

All photos by Felicia Massey.

BST Vacations is travelling to their three best selling destinations of all time in 2023, including St. John’s, Newfoundland, New York City and Nashville, TN, as well as adding Austin, TX as a new destination to the list. While St. John’s and Nashville are sold out, there is limited space available on the departure to Austin, Texas from May 4 to 7.

They say passengers can expect a truly enjoyable, hassle free travel experience without the headache of battling traffic, and without the additional expense that comes along with flying from a large airport (food, parking, baggage fees, stopover hotel, etc.).

“I am over the moon, our entire team is over the moon,” continued Stewart. “We’ve been building towards this day for seven years.”

The New York City trip is $1,889 per person (tax included) and includes three nights at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, with breakfast and other amenities included.

Food and beverage are all locally sourced and included on the flight. This is part of BST’s community first initiative, where rather than outsourcing the food and beverage to the airline, they bring it on themselves and support local businesses.

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, and in 2022 BST Vacations served the Publican House Pet Pilsner onboard and were able to collect $1,500 in donations for the Humane Society’s Pet Project.

For full details on the 2023 departures, visit the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Airport 2023 Lineup of Destinations Announced

Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd. (BST Vacations) announces 2023 lineup of destinations through their Peterborough Departures program at the Peterborough Airport.

File photo.

BST Vacations will be travelling to their top four best selling destinations of all time and adding one new destination to the lineup this year. This includes flights to New York City, St. John's, Newfoundland, Boston, Massachusetts, Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas.

“2022 was a very exciting and successful return to the program after not being able to run for 2 years during the pandemic. That success would not have been possible without the support of our past passengers,” says Scott Stewart, president of BST Vacations. “At the end of the 2022 season, we asked (passengers) for destination suggestions for 2023. Overwhelmingly our passengers asked us to return to cities that we visited previously over the past 9 years of the program.”

BST Vacations says passengers can expect the same, hassle free flights the service has always offered, minus the traffic that comes from travelling to Toronto for a flight.

Food and beverage is included with your flight, and is all locally sourced. BST’s “community first initiative” aims to support Peterborough local businesses rather than outsourcing the food and beverage to the airline. Continental breakfast and in-flight meals are hand picked and made to order the morning of the flight by the catering department at Sobeys on Lansdowne Street.

Spirits and beer on board are from local distilleries and craft brewers. BST Vacations served the Publican House Pet Pilsner onboard in 2022, and were able to collect $1,500 in donations for the Humane Society’s Pet Project.

They are also welcoming a new Airline Partner for the 2023 season, Nolinor Airlines. Founded in 1992, Nolinor Aviation is the largest airline carrier offering specialized commercial charter flights in Canada.

The Boeing 737-800 is the largest aircraft in their fleet, and can carry 189 passengers. This aircraft type is part of the Boeing 737 Next Generation series and is the aircraft that will be used for the 2023 season flights. BST says this is the largest passenger aircraft to ever land/take off from the Peterborough Airport.

“We have given the people what they want, added Austin as a new destination, and are able to accommodate more passengers with the larger aircraft. We look forward to an amazing season of travel and exploring,” says Stewart.

For more information like departures dates and times from the Peterborough Airport, visit the BST website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

City Seeking Peterborough Airport Restaurant Operator

The City of Peterborough is seeking an established Food Service operator at the Peterborough Airport through a Request for Proposals process announced on Wednesday.

File Photo.

The restaurant was constructed as part of the Air Terminal building in 2011. The building has three wings made up of a City-owned restaurant facility with a capacity for 50 patrons, an airport lobby and administrative offices for Airport management and operations.

The City of Peterborough is seeking to establish a long-term operating agreement to provide food services at the airport.

Anyone interested in submitting proposals to provide food services at the airport can find information regarding RFP-32-22 online at Bids and Tenders - City Of Peterborough.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Truck Pull Fundraiser For World Alzheimer's Day Brings Community Together At Peterborough Airport

The sixth annual ‘Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull’ tested teamwork and strength while raising money for World Alzheimer’s Day at the Peterborough Airport on Wednesday.

Minds and Motion team celebrating their successful truck pull at the sixth annual event. Photo by Felicia Massey.

The event challenged teams to beat each other’s times by pulling the 44,000-pound firetruck the fastest while community and family members watched on and supported the cause.

AON, Trent Varsity and Minds in Motion were among the teams competing at this year’s event which took place on World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept. 21.

“We’re hoping to raise awareness in the community about Alzheimer’s and Dementia and helping our clients live normal, everyday lives,” said Jennifer Watson who pulled with Minds in Motion. “They can do everything just as much as everyone else.”

All proceeds from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull support the programs and services of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.

The truck pull hasn’t been held since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. That event was deemed a success after raising $40,000.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

“I am supporting all of the wonderful people that my husband and I have met through Minds in Motion before he passed away a year ago,” said truck-puller Diane Knight. “We made wonderful friends and did lots of socializing, it was just nice to all be together. I think it’s the best thing to ever happen.”

“I did it three years ago with my husband and I wanted to come back today and be a part of it,” she said.

Honorary chair of the event Reverend Ken Fast ensured the teams of 10-12 (10 for men, 12 for women and mixed) were ready to pull before they began.

Rev. Fast holds several Guinness World Records and was dubbed the “world’s strongest priest.” He has pulled several fire trucks, a house and a 188.83-tonne Globemaster III plane.

The Trent Varsity rugby and rowing girls getting ready to prove there strength. Photo by Felicia Massey.

“We just wanted to come together and help out, do what we can to raise some money,” said Mobi Tarride, Trent Varsity team member. “Show off our muscles and support the people we can, of course.”

The Trent Varsity rowing and rugby girls finished with a pulling time of 21.17 seconds while the Minds in Motion team finished in 21.53.

The Alzheimer’s Society has raised just under $8,000 of their $30,000 goal through the fundraiser thus far.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.