Smooth Sailing for a Good Cause

Toronto boat cruise raises funds on behalf of elevator and escalator safety in Canada.

by Jessie Doucette

Perfect weather, spectacular views of the Toronto Harbour and waterways, music, drinks and food — and, of course, great networking — distinguished a cruise aboard the Showboat on August 22. A team of Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) members — AVT Beckett Elevators, Dupar Controls, EHC Global, Elator Inc., GAL Canada, The Insurance Market, K-Elevator Cab Ltd., MAD Elevator Inc., The Peelle Co., Renown Electric Motors & Repair Inc. and Wurtec Canada — jointly hosted the event. In attendance were representatives of Toronto-area vertical-transportation (VT) industry suppliers, consultants, maintenance companies and OEMs.

Boarding commenced at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and the cruise from 7-10 p.m. Many attendees arrived early for preboarding drinks and appetizers at restaurants along the harbor. Alfresco dining was certainly an option, with temperatures in the low 70s under sunny skies. Once boarding the Showboat, attendees found an upper deck with tables and seating, an open bar and music.

Boasting large windows ideal for sightseeing, the lower deck served as the vessel’s dining room. A buffet included such items as pasta salad, baked potatoes, chicken wings, breads and desserts. After dinner, many guests moved to the upper deck for music, drinks and dancing, with many dancing until disembarkation at 10:30 p.m.

CECA collected donations to go toward elevator and escalator safety in Canada, and future donations are encouraged. Besides promoting VT safety, the cruise was a chance for industry peers to reconnect with old colleagues and friends and meet new ones.

“Elevator and escalator safety can never be taken lightly, and we encourage everyone in our industry to do their part to increase awareness to the general public,” said Wurtec Canada General Manager Hugh Hunter, who remarked on the perfect weather lending itself to “a wonderful evening spent with many longtime industry colleagues and some new faces, too.”

Jeno Eppel, president and CEO of EHC Global, added the cruise provided a “wonderful opportunity to see and experience firsthand the camaraderie and friendly spirit that sets the VT industry apart from many others.”

In addition to fellowship, the cruise presented new business opportunities, Mike Alcott, founder and president of Elator, and Terry Lynsdale, account manager at K-Elevator, observed.

Describing the event as extremely well-organized, Lynsdale said his team started new discussions to explore business opportunities: “The team at K-Elevator looks forward to the next cruise in 2020.”