Palm Springs, Canada

The morning paper has this of interest for Palermo's Canadian residents: "A new trade, investment and tourism agreement will be signed today at the first Canada California Business Council Golf Tournament at Desert Dunes Golf Club. The agreement with Riverside County, state and city officials calls for the Canada California Business Council to assist with efforts to increase exports to Canada and promote the valley as a tourism destination and spot for Canadian business to thrive.Lee Fraser, a Warner Bros. executive and council president, characterized the signing as a stamp of endorsement for investing in the Coachella Valley.“We started the Canada California Business Council to try to help create investment opportunities between two countries,'' Fraser said. “This is a way to connect the dots.” Tom Freeman, foreign trade commissioner with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, said Canadians long have had an affinity for living in and investing in the valley. Airline statistics indicate the Canadians are coming here in larger numbers. Canada-based WestJet, for example, carried 25,439 passengers in and out of Palm Springs International Airport in 2011. That's up from 22,054 in 2010. That represents roughly 15 percent of the airport's overall airport travel market. With the Canadian currency on par with the dollar, Fraser said Canadians recognize this as a prime time to invest in home and commercial real estate. It has been at par only two other times in recent history, he said." Miss Penny Lane says: She ran into some Canadians at the pool and could not understand a word they were sayings she plan to sign up for some classes.