It’s estimated about half a million Canadians own timeshares, although most of these properties are outside of Canada, including many in Mexico and the Caribbean.
But there are some timeshare properties here, including one in Collingwood, Ont.
Gerlynn Galingan, of Toronto, said she saw an ad on Facebook for a three-day, two-night stay at Vitality Vacations in the Simcoe County town. It was a promotional offer with a discounted price and she had to agree to sit through a sales presentation.
“So we attended the presentation and they offered us a timeshare,” said Galingan, who in the end signed a contract to pay almost $22,000 for a vacation package.
She says she put down a deposit on her credit card for $2,155 and agreed to pay another $19,396.
The payments were $205 per month for the first two years at a rate of 4.9 per cent interest.
After two years, they’d increase to $309 at 16.9 per cent interest for 96 months.
Customer says she was unaware of annual fees
Galingan said she was unaware on top of that there were also annual fees.
“Like if I would have to known that I would be paying $1,200 to $1,600 a year (in fees) even if you don’t use the resort, I would never have signed it,” she said.
Further, Galingan said when she tried to book time at the resort, she was unable to.
She signed the contract Oct. 13, 2024, and decided on Nov. 2, 2024, to cancel it.
Company refused to cancel contract
The Toronto woman says she told by then it was too late to cancel as the 10-day cooling off period in Ontario had expired.
“There is no way out. It’s very unfair for consumers that it’s only ten days,” said Galingan.
“I just want to get out of it.”
A spokesperson from Vitality Vacations told CTV News that in March 2025 Galingan reached out again citing financial hardship.
“Our team reiterated that the membership agreement and loan were binding and advised her to contact her lender directly, while also offering assistance with usage options,” the company said.
“As recently as July–August 2025, our Member Services team engaged with Ms. Galingan to explore payment plan adjustments, but she did not proceed with finalizing these arrangements.”
Vitality Vacations went on to “emphasize” that they operate “in full compliance with Ontario consumer protection laws, including the Ministry’s rescission policies.”
“Once the legal cancellation period expires, and financing has been funded, the membership payments thereafter are owed directly to the loan provider,” it said.
“Our staff made multiple efforts to work with Ms. Galingan, including enhancing her membership benefits, providing alternative booking options closer to her home, and offering payment accommodations.”
Vitality Vacations added that while it empathizes with Galingan’s situation, “the facts remain that the membership agreement is binding after the statutory rescission period and once the loan is executed.”
‘An obligation to stay for the term’
CTV News also reached out to the Canadian Resort and Travel Association (CRTA), which tries to educate consumers on timeshares.
Gaetan Babin, CRTA’s president, said Galingan signed a binding contract.
“You are obligated under a contract, there is a loan that’s involved there, there is financing that’s involved, and there is an obligation to stay for the term,” he said, adding while there are half a million Canadians that have timeshares, 90 per cent of them are outside of the country.
“Last year in Mexico alone Canadians invested 900 million dollars in timeshares,” he noted.
Babin said consumers must educate themselves and research timeshares carefully before buying one as getting out of a timeshare contract is difficult.
He added that while there are companies that advertise, they can help you get out of timeshare contracts for a fee, adding consumers should be very careful before entering into agreements to do that.
“That is absolutely not real and it’s a situation where they take advantage of poor consumers trying to find an exit (for their timeshare contract) and they are giving them money and getting no results out of it,” said Babin.
Galingan, meanwhile, remains hopeful she can get out of her contract and wanted to tell others to be careful before signing timeshare contracts.
“I want to warn others to be very careful getting into timeshares,” she said.
While there is a 10-day cooling off period for timeshares, gym memberships, and door-to-door sales, there is no cooling-off period when buying a home or a car.
