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A view from inside the Colosseum in Italy. Photo courtesy of Gloria Hoeppner.
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Italy often makes it onto a travelling enthusiast’s wish list. From the Colosseum to the beautiful rolling landscape of the countryside and a cuisine loved the world over, it’s no wonder why.  

The first trip of its kind 

Residents of the Pembina Valley have an opportunity to take a trip to this legendary travel destination through the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce.  

“We're so excited to be offering something that we've never offered before, what we call a 'chamber trip,'” says Tanya Chateauneuf, the executive director of the Winker & District Chamber of Commerce. “It's open not only to our members but to anyone in the community who is interested in travelling to Italy.” 

Chateauneuf says that while the trip is unique to Winkler, it is something that is quite common in the world of the chambers of commerce.  


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“Many chambers across Canada and the US partake in chamber trips, and the key to planning these trips is just building community,” she says. “It actually is a bit of a revenue generator for [Winkler] Chamber, so you would be supporting your local chamber by going on this trip.” 

A well-thought-out journey through Italy 

Signing up for Winkler Chamber’s tour of Italy has the added benefit of access to a well-crafted tour that includes a translator along the way.  

“This trip entails a full itinerary, no planning necessary. [Just] show up to the airport,” says Chateauneuf. “Your hotel accommodations are taken care of, [as well as] all of your land transportation between all of the different communities, [and] all of the different attractions.” 

The trip package will also include a few meals.  

For those who have bucket list items or slightly different interests than the group, Chateauneuf says that there will also be the option to purchase excursions beyond the group’s itinerary.  

“Some of the key places that we will be going are Rome and Florence,” she says. “You'll get to see some really incredible things, and many of the amazing attractions that people talk about in Italy, you will get to experience.” 

a picture of the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum. Photo courtesy of Gloria Hoeppner. 

The group will set out for Italy on April 4th, 2025.  

“If you sign up now, that gives you lots of time to do payment options or pay upfront,” says Chateauneuf. “It's a nine-day tour and I think it's going to be really incredible.”  

There is plenty of time to sign up for Winkler Chamber’s Italy trip. Chateauneuf says that registration will be open until a week before departure, so long as spots are available. For more information or to discuss the trip with the coordinator, see Winkler Chamber’s events page. 

With files from Connie Bailey 

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