Hundreds of thousands of snowbirds expected to flock south after spending last winter hibernating
CBC
Snowbird Fred Welsh hopes to be one of the first in line to cross the U.S. land border when it reopens on Nov. 8 to fully vaccinated Canadian travellers.
"If the border opens one minute after 12 a.m., we'll be in that line," said Welsh, 59, of Gillams, N.L. "I have a great passion for sunny weather."
After the United States closed its land border to non-essential travel in March 2020 and COVID-19 cases surged last fall, the majority of snowbirds turned up the thermostat and stayed put.
For Welsh, it was his first winter in Canada in eight years, and he had to buy a winter coat, boots and a snow blower. But now that he's fully vaccinated, Welsh is ready to return to Florida — even though the pandemic isn't over.
"The world can't stop," he said. "If you practise what you've been taught, washing your hands and keeping your facial coverings on, I don't anticipate any problems."
The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) estimates that about 30 per cent of Canada's more than one million snowbirds went south last winter. But this year, the CSA predicts about 90 per cent of them will travel south now that they're fully vaccinated and can drive across the border.
Snowbirds have been able to fly to the U.S. during the pandemic, but the CSA said most traditionally drive.
"A lot of them were uncomfortable with the idea of travelling by plane," spokesperson Evan Rachkovsky said. "Now that we have the land border opening up, they're determined to make the trip down south."
It's not just the sun that's luring snowbirds south.
Several, including Welsh, told CBC News that they plan to get a COVID-19 booster shot while in the U.S. Most provinces currently offer additional doses only to certain vulnerable groups. But the U.S. now offers boosters to all seniors to protect against waning immunity.
"If they're giving them away, we're taking them," Welsh said.
He plans to travel to Florida with seven friends in a caravan of three RVs. The group will take an eight-hour ferry ride to Nova Scotia and enter the U.S. via the border crossing in St. Stephen, N.B.
"I'm just excited," said fellow traveller Wade Kean, 59, of Culls Harbour, N.L. "I just can't wait to get on the road."
Welsh predicts long lineups at the border on Nov. 8, but he's determined to cross that day anyway.
