Fences for Families

A fence is more than just a few pieces of wood and some nails. A fence is a support-system that embraces daily interactions and events inside of it’s quiet space.

Today a fence was the first part of a new life for two families in Guelph, Ontario. One of these two families is a single mother of three children, two of whom were adopted from her addicted sister (one child which now has fetal-alcohol syndrome). The other family is that of four children and one grand-child who desperately want a place of their own to play. If these stories weren’t enough to motivate the staff of the Delta Guelph to assist in our Habitat for Humanity build, then the promise of a delicious Barbequed lunch mid-day sure was!

Habitat for Humanity mural!

After an educational start to the day (No shorts on the work-site!) we were split into two teams. The first team was to spend the morning in the humid yard of the Guelph ReStore site, cutting, nailing and constructing fences for the upcoming Bagot Street build. The remaining volunteers had the pleasure of painting a beautiful mural on the Habitat ReStore’s main wall. This seemed a better option to Carys and I for awhile, as it was once again swelteringly humid outside. However, we did make our way outside long enough to pose for some pictures, haha! We did actually swing a few hammers and pound a few nails before the lunch-bell rung!

See we do work!

So those who had not long ago been working away with saws and hammers were now handing out food-plates and carrying signs in order to entice those passing by to the Delta Guelphs sponsored BBQ. While we didn’t have a huge turn-out, all donations help Habitat to do what they do best! The afternoon saw the teams return to their tasks at hand and complete them in record time.

Hungry Builders

Carys and I had an absolute blast working with this incredible team. We sincerely enjoyed their genuine enthusiasm and impressive work-ethic, even though it made us look bad!

What a team!

I also thought, as many people back home have been asking, that this would be a great time to debut my fantastic pink work-boots! I finally got to break them in! They look much better with a little hard-work dirt on their soles!

Pink Boots! Yes, I'm girlie...

Suzanne

In The Big Smoke… minus the Smoke!

Toronto, known as “The Big Smoke” wasn’t so smoky on July 9th as it rained for most of the morning. This put only a slight damper on our BBQ in downtown Toronto, which was in support of Habitat for Humanity. The eager volunteers from Delta Toronto East, Delta Chelsea and Delta Corporate worked diligently in the pouring rain, sporting raincoats, ponchos and umbrellas to help create a BBQ haven for Toronto passers- by.

Just singing in the rain...

Leading up to the event, our time had been spent trying to stay cool and out of the blistering hot sun and record setting temperatures. We could have used the rain then, but of course, it had to rain on the only day of the week which was our event day. Prior to the event Suzanne and I relaxed and enjoyed our most fantastic stay at the Delta Toronto East, where Suz couldn’t be happier to receive from the hotel, a fluffy white polar bear from the Toronto Zoo. As she reminds me every time that she sees it, it reminds her of her little pup back home, Rilo Kiley.

Our Friends at the Delta Toronto East

After a full nights rest, we were off to the heart of the city. Initially, our team was concerned about the rain but I felt that it allowed me to put my sales skills to practice, as I would eventually like to move into that field. Fortunately, shortly after 12pm the weather was on our side and the people of Toronto stepped out of their offices looking for a scrumptious place to eat lunch. For a minimum of a $5 donation, customers would receive a burger or a sausage, an ice cold bottle of water and a bag of Miss Vicki’s Original potato chips.

Yummmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!

Volunteers held signs, waved pedestrians down and motivated the crowd towards the BBQ. If that wasn’t enough, Chef Rene and his crew of grillers filled the air with deliciousness, enticing locals to join the crowd.

Our outdoor ‘home away from home’ atmosphere proved to be just the right spot for hungry citizens, as we raised just over a thousand dollars in support of Habitat for Humanity!

Keepin' the people fed!

It was a great turn out and thank you again to the wonderful Delta staff of Toronto and GTA.
Carys

The Sweetest Stuff in the Bus

One of the biggest, most fantastic aspects of this tour, aside from the amazing staff and the phenomenal events, has been the eating! I have eaten across almost 7,000 km of this land and have loved every single minute of it!! Today was different in only that it was a day of both eating, as well as feeding!

Food, Food, Food!!!

Carys and I joined the fantastic staff at the Delta Toronto Airport West to kick-off the “Stuff the Bus” food-drive in Mississauga. Along with some kind-hearted volunteers from the hotel and our impressive driver Mohammed, we visited seven corporations in the local area, which collected food from their employees in order to participate in this worthy event. Our bus was filling just about as quickly as the mercury was rising in the humid air.

After dropping our volunteers off at the hotel, we moved onto the Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Center, where we were greeted with an outstanding welcome from the hot and yet happy employees!! After many pictures were taken and our bellies were filled, we were off with our new crew of volunteers. After visiting eight more companies and collecting their kind-hearted donations, we made our way to our final destination, the Mississauga Food Bank.

Delta Toronto Airport West and Delta Meadowvale Team!

Now this is my third visit to a food-bank, on the tour. I have learned something at every one of these stops and am sincerely moved by the work that these people do. The Mississauga food-bank serves as a warehouse and service center for all seven of Mississauga’s individual food-banks. They feed 12,000 mouths a month, with a shocking 47% of them being children.

Another interesting fact that I learned about the Mississauga food-bank is how environmentally conscious they are within their everyday dealings. This is something extremely close to my heart, so I was ecstatic to learn that they pack-down and recycle all of their non-reusable card-board boxes, they compost all unused foods and boast energy-friendly light-bulbs through-out the entire warehouse. So not only are they creating friendly futures for their clients, but for the Earth as well!

Earth Savers!

Today the “Stuff the Bus” initiative provided 3120 lbs of new food to assist in filling the bellies of the local community. While the unfortunate job of feeding the hungry is never finished, the Delta Toronto Airport West, Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Center and their caring clients made a huge difference in the lives of several hundred food-bank visitors. Way to go team! I know that the sweetest stuff in that bus was not the food, but your giant hearts!

One Stuffed Bus!!

Making A Mark in the Ham

Words can’t describe how great it felt to be doused in ice cold water today. Suzanne and I participated in the Delta Markham Charity Car Wash in support of Habitat of Humanity, with Delta volunteers, using our soapy hands as an excuse to get the hose on us in the 36 degree weather. The heat didn’t stop our crew from scrubbing suds on commuters vehicles (including a fellow Prius driver YESSSSS) and let me tell you- they definately clean up well!!

Lots of suds!

Suz and I were assigned the task of blowing up balloons, tying string to the balloons, and finally grouping balloons together to tie them to the weights before the event started. I am actually well versed in ‘balloonology’ so this was a walk in the park for me, but Suzanne was a different story. I managed the helium-balloon relationship while Suzanne tended to the string tying. Once the balloons were out of my hands and in Suzanne’s care, they popped like movie theatre popcorn at an Eclipse screening. I’m sure Suzanne would like to blame the string or the balloons but I think she should keep her day job! We got through the balloons and went outside for the car wash.

Suzanne's trouble-makers

The actual trouble-maker

This was no ordinary car wash. Delta Markham provided cold beverages, barbequed hot dogs and burgers, ice cream, and most importantly, delicious and diverse home baked goods to drivers while they waited for their cars to be cleaned. ‘Service with a smile’ and then some!!

Yummy treats made by Delta Markham staff

We couldn’t have done this without the amazing help of the super pumped, very energetic volunteers enticing drivers with signs to come check-out the event. These volunteers deserve extra praise for their help, as they didn’t get the privilege of hopping under the hose for relief from the hot hot heat.

Great team-work Delta Markham and thanks for keeping Suzanne and I cool on a smokin’ hot day!!

Delta Markham Staff posing with Cruiser

Carys

Ontario Regional Ambassador

The Beauty in the BBQ

It’s difficult to evoke the essence of Blues music, with it’s tormented and heart-wrenching sounds, when surrounded by some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery in this fantastic country. So was the task of the boys of Laganza Tobin Spring and Jamie Bestwick, as they belted out fantastic blues covers for the eager ears of those attending the much-anticipated Blues, Brews and BBQ’s fundraising event hosted by the Muskoka Delta Hotels and Resorts.

Bluesy Tunes from Laganza

One-hundred Muskoka Lake residents graciously handed over $50 per ticket to mingle munch and meander through the sunny gardens behind the Delta Sherwood Inn. Carys and I were given the extremely difficult task of sampling the food prepared by the Executive Chefs of the Delta Sherwood Inn, Delta Grandview Resort and the Delta Rocky Crest Resort. It was a daunting job, but we held our own, generously feasting at the various stations they had established around the gardens.Having experienced the Blues and the Barbeque, Carys and I sought out the Brews. Three fantastic local breweries served samples to hot patrons, who quickly subdued their thirst with the tasty local hops.

Yummy!

In between all of the eating and drinking, Carys and I managed to sell nearly $600 in draw tickets for various donated prizes; including local artwork, first edition books and restaurant gift certificates at each of the hotels. Once the draw prizes were awarded and the speeches were made, the event came to a melancholy end, as patrons reluctantly left the beauty of the sunny gardens for their air-conditioned cars. Thanks to the generosity of these fine folks and the Muskoka Delta Hotels and Resorts, a total of $4000 was raised for the Muskoka Lakes Habitat for Humanity chapter.

While the event was a complete success financially, which is extremely important in achieving our ultimate goal, I have to reflect somewhat on the atmosphere of the venue. I have not had the privilege of visiting the Muskokas before, so my eyes have been opened in a way most unexpected to me. Between all of the eating and drinking, I took some private moments to truly experience the nature that has inspired many of my favorite writers. I am in awe of a landscape so simple, yet so magnificent in it’s abundance. It moved me so far as to declare to my boyfriend that we must marry there, which perplexed him considering we are neither engaged, nor have any relations in Ontario. Oh well. It seemed ideal at the time.

Beauty!

Carys and I would like to share a very special thank you to the fantastic people at our host hotels of the Delta Grandview Resort and the Delta Rocky Crest. We cannot express enough gratitude for welcoming us into your beautiful family!

Muskoka Fun!

Off to Markham we go!

Drive-thru in the Soo

I HAD A BLAST for my very first event in the Soo! Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront hosted a ‘Drive-thru Breakfast’ on June 29th offering commuters delicious coffee and muffins in exchange for donations.

The Delta Sault Staff

Upon arrival, Suzanne and I were greeted by Kevin and his welcoming staff in the lobby of the hotel, making me feel like an A-list celebrity. After driving for half a day, coming from the White River Motel, the staff’s immediate excitement certainly pumped us up and made me realize what Delta as a brand is all about. Suz and I got settled, and went down to the View, the Delta’s restaurant for dinner. If you are ever in the area I strongly recommend the Filet but be sure to save room for the Bailey’s Chocolate milkshake, or the Banana Pudding cake at the end! Needless to say, Suzanne and I had a solid night’s rest after being stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey.

The 29th turned out to be an extremely windy, chilly day and Kevin (General Manager) announced at the end of the day, we had lost several staff to Mother Nature unfortunately…good one Kev! The wind didn’t damper the spirits of the staff at all as they waved people in and jumped up and down with signs attracting commuters to our event. Several volunteers ventured out into the city and redirected traffic towards the hotel, encountering friendly, courteous Sault Saint Marie-ers and the occasional ‘mooner’. Their efforts certainly paid off, raising $873 in 3 hours.

The Drive-Thru

The staff at the Delta Sault Ste. Marie are absolutely amazing and made the event super fun, regardless of the mini-Katrina enveloping us. Thank you so much for making my stay and the event a fantastic time, you have set the bar for the rest of Ontario!

Carys

Carys being Carys

Ontario Regional Ambarassdor