ICYMI, we took to the streets of Toronto in May to hand out $10,000 in cash, and gave Torontonians a chance to see just how far their loonie would take them with our giant loonie game board.
And three lucky winners discovered their loonies will take them farther than they could have imagined!
Congratulations to:
Kayla, the winner of our seven-night European Adventure
Muriel, the winner of our five-night Caribbean getaway, and
Laurel, the winner of our three-night Urban Escape
We can’t wait to hear all about your travels! In the meantime, let’s get to know our winning travellers better with a little Q&A…
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
Kayla: I am from Ottawa. I am a health sciences student at the University of Ottawa, graduating in 2016. When I’m not at school, I’m usually working. I’m planning on being in school for a few years, but I’m eager to have the chance to travel the world when the time comes. I hope to get the chance to see the world from two views with humanitarian work.
Muriel: I’m 25 years old…living in Cityplace Toronto – the best place to live in the city! I work with an integrated marketing and communications company as a social media coordinator. I love meeting new people and experiencing new cultures!
Laurel: I live in Simcoe, Ontario. I’m 33 years old and I won this excellent contest with Cheapflights.ca! I’m taking my sister as my guest down to Key Largo in the Florida Keys. It’s her first time flying and we’re both very excited to have this opportunity to take a trip together.
Q: So, how did you react when you heard you won a trip?!
K: At first I didn’t believe it. I had to double check that my boyfriend didn’t receive the email, too! But once I figured out I had actually won, I freaked out. I’ve always dreamed of going to Paris, and had actually started planning a trip for when I graduated. It couldn’t have been better timing for me.
M: I honestly didn’t believe it at first. I couldn’t believe I won such an amazing prize. But once it sank in, I felt so happy and so excited!
L: Honestly, I thought it was fake at first. I never win anything and this is such an amazing prize, but luckily it turned out to be legit. 😉
Q: So, Kayla is going to Paris, Laurel is going to Key Largo, Florida. Do you know where you’re going, Muriel?
M: Yes – Barbados!
Q: Why did you pick those destinations?
M: It just looks like such a fabulous place. White sand, clear water, sunshine…the list is endless!
K: I’ve just always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. I also love the architecture and can’t wait to walk around and see everything.
Q: OK, so what are you most excited to do in all these awesome places?
L: There are many animal sanctuaries in the Florida Keys so my sister and I are hoping to swim with some dolphins at the reserve (as long as the conditions are good for the dolphins – no animal cruelty for these girls).
K: I can’t wait to try out some of the bakeries and take a bike ride around the city. And to see the Eiffel Tower, of course!
M: I am excited to go exploring… and obviously sunbathing!
Q: What did you think when you saw our giant loonie game board in downtown Toronto?
M: I am SUPER curious and when I saw the huge game board I thought, “I HAVE TO PLAY THAT!” It looked like so much fun.
K: It caught my eye. I thought, ‘why not try it for fun?’ Never thought I would actually win!
L: I never win stuff, but you never know if you don’t try.
Q: Very true! Let’s bring it back to your home country. What is your favourite place in Canada and why?
M: My favourite place is Niagara Falls. I love the scenery, the people, and the atmosphere
K: So far, I’ve only been to Toronto, Niagara Falls and Quebec. It’s a tie between downtown Toronto and experiencing the wine tours in Niagara-on-the-Lake for me!
L: I’ve seen many beautiful places, but I do love Long Point, Ontario. I hope to travel more of Canada because it is a very beautiful country.
Q: What do you think is the best thing about living in Canada?
K: I just love how peaceful and egalitarian it is in comparison to other countries.
M: I think the people are the best thing about living here. They’re so friendly and helpful.
L: There are many things, including the beauty of this country and the wonderful people…I do often think of how lucky I am to have been born in this country.
Q: What’s your fav thing about travelling?
M: It’s tough to pinpoint one thing. I think learning about new cultures while you travel gives you a new appreciation of [other places]. It opens your mind, which is amazing!
L: Experiencing new places, seeing new wildlife, activities like zip lining or Snuba – [I like to] have an adventure!
K: I love being part of another culture and definitely trying the food and wine!
Q: Anything else you want to add?
L: Thank you so much for the prize. My sister has never travelled and I haven’t travelled as much as I would like to either, largely due to lack of funds, so we are beyond excited.
M: I CANNOT WAIT TO GO TO BARBADOS – WOOHOOOO! (Yes, all caps was necessary!)
Happy travels to all of you!
