About 58 members enjoyed a fun afternoon at the Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training camp/field in Dunedin, FL against the Baltimore Orioles.   The Orioles outscored the Jays by 1 final score: 4-3 but it was an exciting game!!   Great weather, canopy overhead was wonderful ~ huge thanks to Tom McKee for coordinating this outing again and to Don Jones for the photography!!

The Spring Fling was held in the East Activity Center Auditorium on Friday, 15 March, 2019 [beware the Ides of March]!!    The coordinator and mini committee chose Spring Tulips as a theme for the décor of the dinner - dance.  As well, the person at each table whose birthday was closest to the first day of Spring [21st March] were able to take home a beautiful centerpiece bouquet of tulips.   

A new presentation was introduced by President, Laurie Fischer entitled the President Appreciation Certificate [PAC]  which can be presented annually at the President's discretion for volunteers who go above and beyond.   This year's first recipients were: Gil and Jackie Small and Vicky and Tom Portsmouth for all their dedication and commitment with Happy Hours, Cabarets and Karaoke's.    Thanks so much!!   Additionally special thanks to the Door Greeters, Ticket Takers and STW ticket sellers:  Dolly Newcome & Jim Kemp; Brenda & Rick McLauchlan; Cathy & Bruce Mills; and Claudette & Rollie Lapointe.

126 members and guests attended the event which was catered by Steve Hicks of Catering Specialties in St. Petersburg, FL.   Our friendly and professional DJ, Ward Hemond provided the dance and musical entertainment.    Three great door prizes were awarded along with  6 X $60.  STW prizes.    A fun evening welcoming spring, was had by all.    Have a great summer everyone and we'll see y'all on November 22nd at Registration Night!!

 We had a beautiful morning and a successful parade and we want to thank all volunteers for being a part of the Canadian Club portion.   Special thanks to family members external to the Club, Sarah {Laurie Fischer] Stephanie and Ashley [Ian Hunter] and Claire [Don Jones]. 

 A huge thanks goes to Jackie Cornett-Small for coordinating our Club entry with the Irish Club!!   Congrats to Mike Cooper for another fabulous parade!! 

 The Final Happy Hour Cabaret of the 2018/2019 season, was held in the OTOW Sunrise Room at the West Activity Center [WAC].  There were approximately 89 attendees who by all accounts enjoyed themselves to the extreme.  The various snacks more than sufficient for all to partake to their desire.   Gill Small MC'd the evening and provided great entertainment and camaraderie alongside Tom and Vicky Portsmouth. 

There were 186 attendees of which 163 were members and 23 were guests!!   Club President, Laurie Fischer started off the evening by presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Past President, Charles St. Maurice for his dedication and commitment [2017-2018].   Laurie asked our American cousins to stand in appreciation and recognition for all they’ve afforded to our Club!!    Shortly thereafter, we enjoyed a debut by some of the Theater Workshop performers for their upcoming Broadway Part 2 show in March!!    An awesome and bountiful Italian feast and desserts provided by Felices, was thoroughly enjoyed by all.   Our friendly and ever popular DJ Ward Hemond’s selective musical entertainment kept the dance floor hoping all night!!   Four door prizes were awarded; one for two tickets to the upcoming Theater Workshop; one for two tickets to our next Dinner / Dance the Spring Fling; and two surprise prizes.   For the Share-the-Wealth draws resulted in 6 X $75. prizes.   It was a great evening enjoyed by all!!   Happy Canada Day in the USA at OTOW, 2019!!  Great job by everyone who helped. 

The Canadian Club Triples is a tournament open to all members of the Canadian Club who are also members of the OTOW Lawn Bowling Club. Thirty members participated this year on an absolutely beautiful day. After three 10 end games the results were as follows:

1st: Cathy Mills, Kelly Moore and Gabriel Taillefer

2nd: Dave Murray, Nicole Pelletier and Doreen Paine

3rd: Norm Chandler, Mike Lenzie and Chris Paine

4th: Sandy Wall, Jacques Breton and Rod Jones [photo unavailable]

As with any tournament, things run smoothly with the help of many volunteers. I would like to thank Dot Graham for all her assistance in running the tournament, Gabe Taillefer for the wonderful photos and the morning captains who brush the rinks before each game and help set out the equipment. I would encourage more members of the Canadian Club to come and try out lawn bowling! We are never too old to try something new! 

Respectfully submitted, Cathy Mills

Gil Small, Tom and Vicky Portsmouth put together and hosted a wonderful Karaoke night for us at the Feb 1st cabaret!!    There were so many songs and singers, we don't think we got through all of them!!    We were also so very pleased to hear from 8 year old Nelly.

She so beautifully sang "Do not forget me" (Remember me) from the movie Coco, in French.  What a treat for everyone, tears and standing ovation!!   Bravo Nelly!!   

We may need to schedule more Karaoke's next season!!   A great evening, wonderful snacks, a lot of fun and laughs and 4 X $50.00 Share-the-Wealth prizes were drawn!!   Great job and special thanks to Tom, Vicky and Gil!!    We also had a nice surprise 1st Anniversary celebration for Jacky [Cornett] and Gil Small's 1st Anniversary.   Hard to believe that it is one year to this night, they were married at Canada Day in the U.S.A. at the EAC!!

On January 18th 2019, 40 Canadian Club members attended our annual Day at the Races at Tampa Bay Downs. After a wonderful buffet including turkey and roast beef, we sat as a group in the clubhouse setting to enjoy the Races. There were winners and there were losers but an exciting time was shared by all. Thanks to John Henry for organizing this annual Canadian Club event.

We were treated to some wonderful entertainment at the Happy Hour by Gil Small, Tom and Vickie Portsmouth, Rick McLauchlan, Shirley Hunter and a new friend, the very talented, performer Dominic.    We shared some awesome munchies and had a wonderful evening together also marking Joy Jones' 89th birthday over the Holiday Season!!   Very special thanks to Ron and Elaine Gibbons for selling the Share-the-Wealth tickets resulting in 3 winning prize draws being awarded!!  Thanks to all!

Don Jones, Registrar and his team of volunteers started at 6:00 pm and by 6:55 pm, they had a total of 207 registrations completed!!    Great work done by an awesome team; Don also asked many of  our Past Presidents to greet folks as they entered the East Activity Center and guide them as well.  Great job folks!!

Shirley Hunter and her team did a great job setting up and decorating the West Activity Center - Sunrise Room for the Holiday Happy Hour!!   Special thanks to Shirley and her team along with many contributors, singers [duets and soloists] and musicians!!   A great festive night had by all!!    Sure got us in the Christmas spirit!!

Christmas Dinner / Dance

11 December, 2018

There were 165 in attendance; a beautiful, festive buffet dinner with all the fixings was catered by Steve Hicks of Catering Specialties and we danced the night away to great tunes provided by our favourite DJ, Ward Hemond of Grant Hemond Associates!!  Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2019!!