MISSISSAUGA — TICO has laid charges against several individuals for operating as a travel agent without being registered.

Shawna Thibodeau, operating as Be Free by Shawna Thibodeau, allegedly sold travel services without TICO registration, specializing in international wellness retreats. She will appear in court on May 22, 2025, in Welland, Ontario.

TICO has also charged 13697703 Canada Inc., operating as Maqam Services, Abdirahman Hussein and Siad Abdulle with one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered.

Hussein and Abdulle have also been charged with one count each of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence.

Maqam Services specialized in Islamic holy pilgrimages, including Hajj, to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hussein and Abdulle are schedules to appear in court on July 10, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Individuals convicted in court of offences relating to the Travel Industry Act, 2002 are subject to fines of up to $50,000 and/or prison terms of up to two years. Corporations are subject to fines of up to $250,000.

APPROVED FUND CLAIMS

In other TICO news, three claims against the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund have been approved on March 26, 2026.

The claims, totalling $3,831, were approved to assist five consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. They are as follows:

• Canada Jetlines: One claim to assist three consumers, totalling $1,194. The filing period for any Compensation Fund claims related to Canada Jetlines concluded on March 12, 2025.
• Trip Support Inc.: Two claims to assist two consumers, totalling $2,637, were partially approved, as a portion of the payments made to Trip Support Inc. represented miscellaneous fees, which are not deemed to be travel services. Consumers affected by the closure of Trip Support Inc. can submit Compensation Fund claims to TICO until May 5, 2025. More details can be found here.