Not Ottawa

We have been hearing about industrial action by Air Canada cabin staff for several days now, but our flight today from Calgary to Ottawa remained resolutely on schedule. Until yesterday afternoon when it changed status to cancelled and I received an email from AC saying how terribly sorry they were, and how industrial relations with their own staff were totally beyond their control. 

Part of the dispute centres around the fact that the cabin staff are only paid between take-off and landing. As if they could rock up to work one minute before departure and are first off the plane on landing. Refusing to pay their staff for work that they are required to do strikes me as very much within Air Canada's control, but I guess they don't care to admit this

Our tour company, who are taking us as far as Ottawa, have said leave it with them and we are awaiting an update. So as I write this we have failed to board our airport transfer as we don't want to be marooned at the airport. I read that an agreement has been reached to settle the dispute, but it will take days to resume operations and clear the backlog. We don't know where we are staying tonight or when we might be moving, but there are worse places to be stranded. 

Our plan is to move ourselves to Calgary so as to be well placed for any flights to either Ottawa or Toronto that become available

Kevin, our rep for My Canada Travel who have organised this leg of the holiday, calls and agrees this is probably the best option. He advises against staying at the airport as downtown Calgary is much more interesting

So we take a bus to Calgary where we have booked ourselves into the rather opulent looking Fairmont Palliser hotel.

Appearances can be deceptive, our room has a rail for hanging clothes, but no drawers to speak of

In our room we search different flight options to various airports in Ontario, as the only option for Toronto is a very expensive $2,000 flight with Westjet. I spot an option to fly to Sudbury, which involves a first leg to Toronto with Air Canada. Trying to get onto this flight directly just gives a rather incomprehensible error message

So I book onto the Westjet flight in two days time, which has increased to $2,600 but I can cancel for a full refund before 08:00 tomorrow if a better option arises later

We head for Stephen Avenue, which very unusually for N America is a fully pedestrianised street

This rather splendid sculpture is tucked against the wall of a building. Maybe it only gets a more prominent place for the duration of the Calgary Stampede 

Stephen Avenue has a great atmosphere, very friendly and relaxed with outdoor eating and drinking options. We share chicken wings and a side order of poutine, Canada's national dish.

When we eventually get back to our room there are loads of flights to Toronto tomorrow with Air Canada. I cancel the Westjet flight, book the 11:55 to Toronto, and set the alarm for an early start tomorrow 

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