‘Tis the season of snowbirds, including those who fly south from Canada.
To welcome back its Canadian visitors, the Queen Creek Olive Mill will host its 12th annual Canada Week featuring a Canadian-inspired menu, live music daily and specialty beverages.
“We love celebrating the special connection between Arizona and Canada. Canada Week is all about bringing people together over good food, good music and a shared love of the Olive Mill,” stated John Rea, president of the Queen Creek Olive Mill, in an email.
Showing love to Canada is especially vital this year as geopolitics have strained the United States’ relationship with the great white north.
The Canada-Arizona Business Council has estimated a 20% to 30% decline in the number of Canadians visiting Arizona in 2025.
Canadian snowbirds spend about $1.5 billion in Arizona each year, a number that does not include those who own houses in the Valley, according to Glenn Williamson, founder and CEO of the council.
But for the Rea family, Canada Week is about family. The celebration grew out of co-founder Brenda Rea’s ties to Canada.
Guests can enjoy Canada Week food specials throughout the event, including a Canadian BLT, split pea soup, poutine & cheese curds, and a Canadian-inspired pizza. The mill will offer Molson beer, rotating food specials, and it will relaunch its limited-edition Maple Balsamic Vinegar and olive oil.
On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Queen Creek Olive Mill will hold a sangria social from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with flavors that include blueberry vanilla, strawberry mint and citrus herb with lemon, lime, orange and Rosemary.
Canada Week runs 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Queen Creek Olive Mill, 25062 S Meridian Road. Admission to the event is free and no reservations are required.
Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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