Canadian Credit Card Rewards Glossary: Avion, Scene+, Triangle and More Explained

Canada's rewards landscape is crowded. One card earns Aeroplan, another stacks Scene+ at the grocery store, and your Canadian Tire run quietly piles up CT Money. The currencies behave very differently, and a "point" in one program can be worth several times a "point" in another. This glossary explains each major Canadian rewards currency in plain English: how you earn it, how you redeem it, whether it can be transferred, and roughly what it is worth based on recognized valuation sources.

Values below are cited estimates, not guarantees. The two most-followed Canadian valuation sources, Prince of Travel and Milesopedia, publish cents-per-point figures that move over time. Use them as a rough yardstick, not a fixed price. For a deeper breakdown see our points valuations page, and for term definitions see the glossary.

The two families: transferable and fixed-value

Before the individual programs, one distinction matters most. Transferable currencies (Amex Membership Rewards, RBC Avion, CIBC Aventura) can be moved into airline or hotel programs, where premium-cabin flights can unlock outsized value. Fixed-value currencies (Scene+, TD Rewards, BMO Rewards, WestJet, PC Optimum, Triangle) redeem at a set rate, usually toward travel, statement credits, groceries or merchandise. Transferable points carry more upside but require more effort; fixed-value points are simpler and more predictable.

Aeroplan

Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty program and the flagship airline currency in Canada. You earn it by flying Air Canada, by carrying a co-branded Aeroplan card from TD, CIBC or American Express, and by transferring in from Amex Membership Rewards at 1:1. Redemptions are for Air Canada and Star Alliance partner flights, with dynamic pricing on Air Canada metal and distance-based pricing on partners when award seats exist, per Prince of Travel. Prince of Travel values Aeroplan around 2.0 cents per point, and Milesopedia near 2 cents on average, with both noting it can climb well higher on business class. See our best Aeroplan cards roundup.

American Express Membership Rewards

Membership Rewards (MR) is Amex Canada's flagship transferable currency. You earn it on eligible Amex cards and redeem it for travel, statement credits, gift cards, Amazon.ca purchases, or by transferring to partners. The headline partner is Aeroplan at a 1:1 instant transfer. Prince of Travel values MR at about 2.2 cents per point and Milesopedia at roughly 1.7 cents, making it one of the most valuable currencies in Canada thanks to its flexibility.

RBC Avion Rewards

Avion is RBC's flexible program. You earn it on Avion-branded RBC cards and redeem for travel (including a flexible "book any flight" option), merchandise, gift cards or transfers to select airline partners. Prince of Travel values Avion near 2.0 cents per point on premium redemptions, while Milesopedia lists roughly 1.6 cents. Avion also connects to retail partners such as Petro-Canada and Triangle Rewards.

Scene+

Scene+ is the Scotiabank-anchored program shared with Cineplex and the Empire grocery banners (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more). You earn it on Scotiabank cards, at participating grocery and entertainment partners, and redeem for groceries, travel, dining, movies and gift cards. It is a fixed-value currency: both Prince of Travel and Milesopedia value Scene+ at about 1.0 cent per point, with roughly 1,000 points equal to about $10. See our best Scene+ cards guide.

TD Rewards

TD Rewards is the in-house currency on cards like the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite. You redeem mainly through Expedia For TD for travel, plus statement credits, gift cards and merchandise. It is fixed-value and on the lower end: both valuation sources peg it around 0.5 cents per point, so the headline earn rates need to be read against that base.

BMO Rewards

BMO Rewards is BMO's in-house program, earned on BMO Rewards cards and redeemed for travel, statement credits, investments, gift cards and merchandise. Prince of Travel values it near 0.7 cents per point and Milesopedia around 0.67 cents, so it sits among the fixed-value currencies rather than the transferable ones.

CIBC Aventura

Aventura is CIBC's flexible travel currency. You earn it on Aventura cards and redeem for any travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre, or transfer to airline partners including Aeroplan and British Airways. Prince of Travel values Aventura around 1.0 cent per point and Milesopedia near 1.2 cents, with transfers offering the upside.

WestJet Rewards

WestJet dollars are earned on the WestJet RBC cards and through WestJet flights, and redeem dollar-for-dollar toward WestJet flights and vacation packages. It is a fixed-value currency: both sources value WestJet dollars at about 1.0 cent each, which is straightforward but caps the upside compared with transferable airline points.

Canadian Tire Triangle Rewards

Triangle Rewards, better known as CT Money, is dollar-denominated. According to Milesopedia, the base return is about 4% in CT Money when you scan your Triangle card at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's, Atmosphere and Party City. You can also earn by linking an eligible RBC card for 3x CT Money. Redemption is simple: $1 in CT Money equals $1 off at participating stores, with no minimum.

PC Optimum

PC Optimum is the Loblaw program covering Loblaws, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart and more, and is the default currency on PC Financial Mastercards. Points are fixed at $0.001 each, so 1,000 points equal $1 and you redeem in 10,000-point ($10) increments at the till, per The Point Calculator. There is no transfer option.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is a hotel currency available in Canada through the American Express Marriott Bonvoy cards. You earn it on the card and on hotel stays, and redeem for nights at Marriott properties or transfers to airline partners. Prince of Travel values Bonvoy around 0.8 cents per point and Milesopedia near 0.9 cents, with hotel redemptions usually the strongest use.

How to use these numbers

Treat every figure here as a cited estimate that shifts with program changes and your own redemption habits. Transferable currencies reward effort with higher ceilings; fixed-value currencies trade upside for simplicity. Match the currency to how you actually spend and travel, and revisit the points valuations page as programs update.

This guide is for general information only and is not financial advice. Confirm current earn rates, redemption terms and point values directly with each program before making decisions.