Could tourism could save us, is Canada's small business backbone bending or getting stronger? Welcome back to Amplify Canada, Season 3.We first met these entrepreneurs mid-pandemic, reinventing on the fly, holding their doors open by sheer will. Years later, we are going back. What we found wasn't a recovery story. It was something tougher, and more interesting: businesses that never stopped adapting, in an economy that never stopped moving the end zone. In this episode, host Linda Freeman travels from a rural British Columbia pub at the foot of the Rockies, to a century-old hotel in Chilliwack now run by a family who fell in love with the building's history, to a paddling shop in Deep Cove that found how to make staff feel like family and its customers into ambassadors. Along the way, economist Marwa Abdou of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Data Lab breaks down what's really happening beneath the headlines. The rising costs, a stubborn labour crunch, and an industry economists say isn't recovering so much as reinventing itself entirely. Tourism supports 1.8 million jobs across Canada and is on track for a record $140.9 billion in visitor spending. But behind every one of those numbers is an owner doing the math at 11pm, wondering if this is the year they raise the menu prices, hire the extra hand, or finally build those cabins they've been dreaming about. In this episode: Ed Abbey on surviving the pandemic - only to discover the after was harder Christine Lai on inheriting a 1908 hotel, and the community that showed up on day one Erian Baxter on why "the great pivot of 2020" never really ended Economist Marwa Abdou on the multiplier effect, the new metrics of success, and why she's cautiously optimistic" About Your Host Linda Freeman brings decades of broadcast experience to every conversation, having hosted morning shows across both radio and television throughout her career. Known for her warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity, she has a gift for putting guests at ease and drawing out the stories of the people shaping this country. Always well-researched and professional, Linda's interviews feel less like Q&As and more like real conversations. The Guests Marwa Abdou is Senior Research Director at the Business Data Lab, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the Research Centre of Excellence on trade, business conditions, and inclusive growth. With over 15 years of global experience, she has led projects across the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific with institutions including the World Bank, APEC, OECD, and the Asian Development Bank, and previously advised Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation on private sector engagement. She is co-author of Borders Without Barriers, an ADB publication on regional trade integration, and holds a Master's from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. The Businesses Bull River InnRichca Heritage HotelDeep Cove Kayak & Coast OutdoorsThe Team Hosted, Produced and Written by Linda Freeman (Rourke)Showrunner: Kat CullenSound Engineer/Producer: John MasecarExecutive Producer: Jennifer SmithProduction Support - Eric ChampmanVideo Producer - Jordan Wong References Travel and Tourism Statistics The Canadian Tourism CollectiveDestination CanadaThe Impact on Covid-19 on the Tourism SectorTourism - Our World In DataWorld Travel and Tourism #TourismCanada #DestinationCanada #CanadaStrong #travelCanada #localTravel #CanadaTourism
