We are pleased to announce that our Annual General Meeting was successful.  Rollie Lapointe, Past President [2010-2011] convened the nominations for the elections at the AGM finally, your club now has a full executive committee!  A very special Long Time Service Award was presented to Elaine Gibbons for her many years as past Registrar, with special commendations to her husband, Ron Gibbons as well.  They also continually volunteer in many capacities, for the club. 

Additionally, a very appreciative mention was made to Ken Campbell for seven years of dedication and commitment as Treasurer to the Club by Rollie Lapointe, who presented the Executive Committee’s Certificate of Appreciation.   And finally, the Club membership gave the outgoing President, the most wonderful gift of a massage at the Safety Harbor Therapeutic Massage Centre.  Connie conveyed her deepest appreciation and thanks, to you, the Canadian Club membership for your special gift at the AGM.

The Annual Club Picnic was held on Saturday, March 18^th originally planned for the Pavilion but we moved it indoors with SCA to the Belleair Room, West Activity Centre due to the predicted major thunderstorms, to protect everyone!  Thanks to Coordinator, Joanne Fenn for putting together the picnic for 60 participants, with many family members visiting OTOW residents over their spring break periods.   We enjoyed a lovely, delicious lunch including a chicken breast or leg and thigh, potato salad, coleslaw, dinner rolls and cookies from Sprouts!  Joanne enlisted: Theresa Gates, Susan Cober, Mary Smith and Debby Bonell to help serve our lunch!  Thanks so much, ladies!   Gary Seymour and guest visitor, Ken Bonell picked up the lunch order!!  Thanks so much gents!

Participants enjoyed another multiple choice ‘Canadiana’ quiz for “bragging rights” and our American members partnered with Canadians, to brainstorm the answers.

The winners were everyone and it was a fun way for all of us to learn a little more about Canada, while finally rejuvenating friendships and making some new acquaintances and having some good laughs at ourselves!  Thanks so much to everyone who helped set-up and tear down, the facility!  It was another great Canadian Club event and that chicken from Sprouts was sooooo wonderful!!

The annual Spring Fling was held on March 15^th with a "Luau" theme!  88 people came out in grass skirts, coconuts and lovely tropical and Hawaiian attire and everyone were donned with a lei at the doors upon entry.  Aloha!!   A very special notation and thank-you goes to the Director, Theatre Workshop for their preceding show, Oceans Away and lending us their cruise ship backdrop on stage and the Hawaiian banners.  Also, special thanks to the OTOW Lawn Bowling Club for lending us an Aloha banner along with their Luau leis'.   We so love it when OTOW Clubs partner together!!  

We wished and everyone sang, Happy Birthday to Bruce Mills and said "Beware the Ides of March"!!   We were especially treated by Jesse Tiamson when he serenaded us with his versions of: Blue Hawaii, Tiny Bubbles and Pearly Shells.  If you’ve never heard Jesse sing, you have to come to one of our Happy Hours next season!   Again, many people signed up for and enjoyed the photo booth with Hawaiian props and Rowland Hetrick taking the photos!   Banquet Masters were the caterer and we immensely enjoyed: Salmon with Almond Sauce or Roast Pork with Rosemary Shallot Sauce, Rice Pilaf, Vegetable Medley, Garden Salad Bar, Rolls with Butter, coffee and beautifully decorated Aloha Costco cakes for dessert!  Grant Hemond and Associates were contracted to provide the DJ music with Jody Bower at the helm whose gotten very well acquainted with our crowd and provides an excellent selection of music to keep the floor hopping all night long!   We had 10 "Share the Wealth" cash prize winners and also 10 Door Prizes were drawn; some of which are in the photographs herein!   I extend a personal  "Thanks" and shout-out to Vice President, Mary Smith for her professionalism and decor talents with the balloon arch!   Thanks to member, Rowland Hetrick for his wonderful photographic coverage.  Rollie Lapointe, Past President graced us with a beautiful blessing and some notable Luau history; Gary Seymour thanked our wonderful caterer.   Past President, Laurie Fischer joined me in holding the Limbo pole for a limbo dance contest, which was great fun and very entertaining!!   It was a great night and many have commented to me personally, the best party ever!!  I am so pleased everyone had such a great time! Connie Stanley, 2020-2023 President!

The first event for in the month of March was the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the 4^th in which we walked and marched along with fur babies Vinnie Haskell and Bailey McIntyre.  A huge thank-you to Barb Novak for driving this President in her beautiful, red convertible and special thanks to all the members who came out!  Photos by Rowland Hetrick

The final February event was the Golf Fun Day on Sunday, February 19, 2023 coordinated by Harry Morrison and his great crew!  Forty-four golfers joined in on the fun at 7:15 am and the day was filled with camaraderie, fun, companionship, and a lot of laughs.   The champion first place team was Captained by Mike Tomaselli and comprised: Jan Petit, Mary Bates Smith and Chuck McAllister pictured here with Harry Morrison, and the Canadian Club Championship team trophy.

Lovely chicken lunches were served up with side salads from Sprouts which were filling, very tasty and enjoyed by all.

Our next February Club event was a Happy Hour-Karaoke on Friday, February 17 in the Belleair Room, West Activity Centre featuring “Les N More” from 4:30 – 7 pm.  We had a great turn-out; the buffet snacks were enjoyed by all and some “Share the Wealth” cash prizes were won!  There were a lot of volunteer singers and much dancing and fun enjoyed by everyone!

The annual Friendship Dinner-Dance was held on Wednesday, February 15 commemorating our Canada – US relationship and camaraderie!   For our American cousins, this day is known in Canada as “Flag Day” & is observed annually on February 15 to commemorate the inauguration of the flag of Canada in 1965. The day is marked by flying the flag, occasional public ceremonies and educational programs in schools.

Seventy-three guests and members entered the auditorium through a wonderful red, white and blue balloon arch honouring both countrys’ flag colours.  The evening’s dinner was catered by Felice’s Deli with a lovely Roast Beef and Chicken Piccata entrée menu.  Again, Jody from Grant Hemond and Associates had the dance floor hopping all night long.  From the feedback received, it was a great night enjoyed by everyone!   We included a full-on photo booth with US and Canadian props and photography was courtesy of member, Rowland Hetrick whose great shots were sent out to each, individually via email. 

Under a bright, red canopy on a warm sunny day, President, Connie Stanley, Registrar, Sue Cober, Sales Coordinator, Lydia Cote and Dot Graham registered 90 people.  Forty-five of whom were returnees and forty-five were new members.