Non-stop international air service to Toronto will soon be available twice a week all year for travelers flying out of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, a development that marks the first time the airport could offer service to Canada any month of the year. Air Canada on Tuesday announced new Sarasota flights, starting in May, as part of a long-term expansion strategy for the airline.

Flights between SRQ Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will kick off May 2, when the airline will begin twice-weekly non-stop flights, on Thursdays and Saturdays. Right now, non-stop service to Canada is only available seasonally. 

“Sarasota Bradenton is a popular destination for Canadians, so we look forward to welcoming our northern neighbors the entire year,” said Fredrick Piccolo, SRQ Airport president. “Local residents can now also enjoy non-stop service to beautiful Toronto during the summer or connect conveniently in Toronto and visit other worldwide destinations using Air Canada’s extensive network.” Rouge is a subsidiary of Air Canada that conducts regional flights.

Air Canada made its announcement about SRQ service as part of a major strategic initiative to boost its North American flight network. The Montreal-based airline also announced year-round service between Toronto and Austin, Texas, as well as seasonal travel between Fort Lauderdale and Ottawa and between Mexico City and Montreal. “The expansion of Air Canada Rouge inNorth America including on key domestic markets with high leisure demand... remains a fundamental element of our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth,” said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada president for Passenger Airlines.

According to Sandrina McCloud, marketing and air service director for SRQ Airport, this is the first time non-stop flights to Canada have been available outside tourist season. Travelers have always been able to get to Canada via connecting flights through other airlines, but Air Canada is the only airline offering direct flights from Southwest Florida to Canada. Since 2006, Air Canada has offered seasonal flights between November and April.

From Dec. 14 through April 30, Air Canada is offering daily service to Toronto, with YYZ-SRQ flights each morning 8:40am to 11:47am and SRQ-YYZ flights each afternoon 12:30pm to 3:25pm.

Starting May 2, the twice weekly flights will happen each Thursday and Saturday, YYZ-SRQ each afternoon 2:55pm to 5:52pm and SRQ-YYZ 6:35pm to 9:23pm.

Passengers on Air Canada will fly on Embraer-190 aircraft. These aircraft are configured with nine business class, 24 preferred and 64 economy seats. 

John Minor runs Angers Garden Deli as an offshoot of Harvest Tabernacle Church where his father is pastor. Harvest Tabernacle has a reputation in Sarasota for a proliferation of good deeds, truly embodying the principles of community outreach and charitable acts. Between establishing and running drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and housing for underprivileged families to building and supporting an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, the church runs a full-time restaurant operation. When church leaders decided to take over Angers Garden Deli on Lime Street in downtown Sarasota, they decided to use the restaurant as another way to fulfil their mission of helping the poor and disenfranchised. Graduates of the rehabilitation programs make the sandwiches and the profits pay for salaries and fund mission trips and pay for the upkeep of the aforementioned orphanage. The sandwiches are pure deli heaven with fresh local produce and meats served on preservative free bread delivered daily from Clearwater. The next time you’re craving a hot pastrami on rye or a tuna salad on pumpernickel, remember Angers Garden Deli and help yourself to the kind of food that nourishes your belly and your soul.  

Angers Garden Deli, 243 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, 941-365-2696

Michael’s On East has been recognized in Florida Trend’s December 2014 issue and on FloridaTrend.com as a member of the Golden Spoon Hall of Fame, chosen amongst thousands of restaurants in Florida. Florida Trend’s Golden Spoons are the oldest dining awards in the state. The magazine started the awards 40 years ago as a guide to executives traveling around the state.  

MIchael's On East

InStride announced Jody Jorgensen, volunteer and staff member, has begun her full-time position as InStride’s executive director. Chosen from a field of 40-plus applicants and a search process lasting five months, Jorgensen comes to InStride with the Board’s unanimous support to build on InStride’s service to special riders. 

InStride Therapy

Superintendent Lori White named longtime principal Laura Kingsley as the next executive director of elementary schools for the Sarasota County School District. Kingsley, 56, has led Fruitville Elementary School since 2001. She is scheduled to begin her new job Feb. 2, pending approval by the School Board of Sarasota County. She will succeed John Zoretich, who has served as executive director of elementary schools since 1998. Zoretich is retiring from the district at the end of January. 

Sarasota County School District