Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association announced the very sad news that Len DaSilva has passed away. DaSilva was the Senior VicePresident and COO of West Coast Duty Free store for nearly two decades. “Len sat on the FDFA Board of Directors for several years and contributed greatly to Canada’s duty free industry. “Len was part […]
FDFA
FDFA advocates to protect U.S./Canada border from future closures
Travel Markets Insider had an opportunity to speak with FDFA President Tania Lee and FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett about their efforts to promote the cause of the border duty free stores with Canada’s elected officials in Ottawa, and what they are hoping for going forward. “May 10th was the FDFA’s Day on the Hill […]
Canada/U.S. Border to open fully May 11
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has announced that tomorrow, May 11, 2023, marks the day non-essential travelers will be accepted into the United States without proof of a COVID-19 vaccine and will end unnecessary conditions at the border and return the Canada/USA border to a normal pre-pandemic state. The FDFA, representing the small independently-owned, […]
Ontario Duty Free tackles supply issue through local craft spirits
Duty free stores across Ontario in Canada are now targeting local craft spirits like they never have before as a way to offset some global supply chain issues. Chris Foster, owner of Queenston Lewiston Duty Free in Niagara Falls, Canada says the local Ontario craft spirits fill multiple needs for the land border duty free […]
Frontier Duty Free Association names new Board of Directors
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) elected a new Board of Directors at its recent Annual General Meeting held virtually on November 10, 2021. The terms of office will run from January 2022 – May 2023. The three members of the Board who were re-elected (see below), were joined by two new members, Alexandra Bachand […]
Frontier Duty Free Association cheers pledge of support for “hardest hit” industries from Canada’s Liberal party
The Liberal Party in Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, last week pledged to provide a bridge program to sustain Canada’s hardest hit businesses, which includes the operators of Canada’s land border stores. The pledge will help the tourism, hospitality, conventions and festival sectors survive the enduring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the […]
Canada opens border to vaccinated Americans
From grandparents waiting to hold new babies for the first time to holiday travelers desperate to enjoy a summer vacation, Americans lined up in their cars at 26 border crossings between the U.S. and Canada on Monday, as Canada finally opened to fully vaccinated American tourists for non-essential travel for the first time since March […]
Canada eases border restrictions for vaccinated travelers, starting with Americans on Aug. 9; U.S. extends closure
Canada’s federal government announced Monday, July 19, that fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents who currently reside in the U.S. can travel to Canada for non-essential purposes without quarantining as of Aug. 9. Additionally, Canada announced that it will open its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from any country for non-essential purposes, with proof […]
FDFA petitions Canadian government for C$6.6 million in critical aid as land border duty free business remains shuttered
With Canada’s land borders with the United States shut down for all but essential traffic for more than 16 months and business in the country’s duty free stores down more than 95%, Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association is desperately petitioning the federal government for some relief to the crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]
Frontier Duty Free Association applauds Canadian Government support for the Hardest Hit sectors
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has applauded the Canadian Federal Government’s long-awaited Fall Economic Statement released this week which centers around support for Canada’s hardest hit businesses. The FDFA joined together with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses earlier this year in an effort to obtain much-needed relief for its land border members, whose […]
Canadian land border situation “dire,” says FDFA
FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett, speaking at the Duty Free World Council webinar the day of the CHHB announcement, says the situation for the land border stores is “dire” and is now about survival. “We are now at six months of the U.S./ Canadian border being closed with no indication from our sources that it […]
FDFA: Canadian government extends wage benefits for Hardest Hit Businesses after coalition appeal
A group of Canada’s businesses most impacted by COVID-19, which joined forces to help save two million Canadian jobs, received a positive response from the government. Last week the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB)—of which the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) is a member — launched a campaign calling on the federal government to extend the […]
Status of Canadian border stores after closing of border with U.S.
The U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to close their shared border to non-essential traffic on Wednesday, March 18. While some stores that serve commercial trucks carrying essential goods have remained open, most others have closed. Barbara Barrett, Executive Director of Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association confirmed to TMI that CBSA (the Canada Border Services Agency) […]
Frontier Duty Free Association unveils 2019 Gold Standard winners
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) held the 2019 Gold Standard Awards at the Imperial Gala on November 13, in Toronto, during the annual FDFA Convention. For over two decades, the FDFA has selected winners for the 14 unique Gold Standards awards, to showcase the best in Canadian Duty Free. The awards honor products, suppliers, […]
Frontier Duty Free Association prepares to work with new Canadian government as 2019 Convention convenes
Convention highlights Reporting that attendance at the 2019 FDFA Convention was up, with more than 230 people in attendance, Frontier Duty Free Association Executive Director Barbara Barrett told TMI that the goal is for everyone to have “meaningful connections.” “Suppliers, buyers and owners are all busy in meetings, doing business,” she said about the annual […]
