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It was blue skies again for CharterAbility’s September cruise out of Oakville harbour. With 215 guests on board, the Wayward Princess headed west into the sunset.
For some reason we were “light” on wheelchair passengers this time around, with only ten rolling aboard. Maybe next time guys? Community Living Oakville really enjoy the cruises and came out in force as usual to prove the point. We just know they’ll be along for the next one! Our friends from Scotiabank were also a “telling” force – all fifteen of them. We can always bank on them! There were some newcomers too, including doctors and staff from the Oakville Health Centre and representatives from the Canadian Spinal Research Organization. There were also many of our “regulars” on board some of them for the seventh time – you gotta love those guys!
And then there were our sponsors, the local business owners who support us year after year and make the Cruise for a Cause a success. Every year we ask, and every year they willingly contribute. Their continuing support ensures that the cruises are always something special – from the “treats” on the pier and on the boat to the raffle and silent auction gifts. A huge vote of thanks to them all – yet again!
Last year we had problems in handling the sale of tickets on the pier and promised that it wouldn’t happen again. We’re pleased to report that it didn’t – thanks to a revised ticket procedure and the ability to handle credit cards both of which enabled us to process payments ahead of time instead of on cruise night. The result was an evening on plain sailing!
Not that we didn’t experience a few ripples along the way. Just when you think you have everything covered something new crops up and you add it to the list of things to watch out for next time. But, as someone pointed out, “You know what things didn’t go according to plan, but you guests don’t.” The one thing we do know from all our cruises is that our guests take things in their stride. They are out to enjoy themselves and they do – no matter what. In fact the only “complaint” that we’ve ever had is that we don’t charge enough for the tickets. That’s one complaint that we are happy to accept.
If enjoyment can be measured by the number of smiling faces, the din of people chatting and cavorting on the dance floor then everyone had rare old time. And, when people ask us when the next cruise is taking place we know we’re on the right track. So, we will be doing it all again in 2007 on the last Thursday in May out of Port Credit and the first Thursday in September out of Oakville.
We look forward to seeing you all again.
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