Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

Have you wondered why this time of year there is always so much traffic? Why the valley is so over populated? 

That would be because your Canadian friends have returned. In Canada, during our warm spring months, it is absolutely freezing. There are so many blizzards, so much rain, and it’s difficult to get places because of the backlog of traffic, so a lot of Canadians use those months to travel. The estimated number of Canadian snowbirds that come to visit California annually is 1,600,000 (Canada to the USA). 

I took a larger look and discovered many Canadians don’t just visit Palm Springs but they invest in it too and are among the top foreign buyers of property in our area. These snowbirds own 7% of homes in the Coachella Valley (Canada to USA). According to the LA Times, 303,600 Canadians visited the Palm Springs area, in 2017, spending roughly $236 million dollars! 

“California has always been one of the prime winter-living locations for many Canadians. [They are] attracted by the reliable weather, the vibrant economy, and the engaging culture within the Coachella Valley. It’s a small pocket of paradise!” said Paul Antle, a long-time resident in both the Coachella Valley and Canada. He is also a board member of the school and my father.