Deserving Aeroplan members win trip of a lifetime thanks to LCBO's & Aeroplan’s Taste and Travel contest

LCBO’s partnership with Aeroplan provides more than just the opportunity to earn points with every purchase and access to exclusive offers, it can also have a real impact on our customers’ lives. Meet Bill and Janet Stewart who were recipients of Aeroplan’s 2023 Taste and Travel contest and agreed to share their story with us.

Bill and Janet Stewart had always dreamed of travelling to Europe, but day-to-day responsibilities and recent health battles put that dream on hold after Janet was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive form of brain cancer.

Bill promptly quit his job and became dedicated to supporting Janet through her journey with cancer. “Bill is one in a million,” Janet said with tears in her eyes. “We’ve been married for 40 years and without hesitation he took time off work to be with me. I saw so many people who had no one – I don’t know how they did it.”

Following stem cell treatment, Janet finally got the news her and her family were waiting for: "Janet, you’re cancer free!” After years of uncertainty and doubt, Janet never could have imagined what happened next.

Bill, an Aeroplan member and avid collector of Brunello, visited his local LCBO when he saw some wine with a bonus points offer and couldn’t resist the urge to try something new. Having never won anything, he scanned his Aeroplan card and went on with his day.

Weeks later, he was in for a surprise when he received an email from Aeroplan congratulating him for winning a pair of round-trip tickets anywhere Air Canada flies and 100,000 points from Hotel Savers. “I couldn’t believe it – I still can’t believe it. After everything Janet had been through and continues to go through, I can never explain how much this meant to us. It’s a miracle.”

Amid being in and out of the hospital for check-ups, Janet had the surprise of a lifetime. “He came to visit me in the hospital on Mother’s Day and gave me a card with the cutest dog on it. All it said inside was “Where in the world do you want to go? Because we’re going!” Janet said chuckling. “I said, ‘Are you crazy? We haven’t worked in two years!’” Through a tearful smile Bill said, “Where in the world do you want to go because we can go anywhere Air Canada flies.”

“I always used to say why are you always going to the LCBO?” Janet said through laughter. “I am so very, very thankful to Aeroplan and the LCBO. It’s always been a dream to go to Europe and I didn’t think it would be a reality for us.”

Thanks to LCBO’s partnership with Aeroplan, Janet and Bill are planning a trip of a lifetime in October 2025 to Italy where they will visit wine regions, immerse themselves in the culture, attend cooking classes and, of course, make some new friends along the way.