Volunteer Spotlight - Oliver Bertin 
Oliver is far right, getting into the nautical spirit of the tradition of 'Sailpast'. Thanks to Ann Mitchell for this photo.
You never know what life has in store for you when you volunteer!
Thank you Oliver, for finding us and becoming such an important part of our Broad Reach family. Your willingness to help or turn your hand to anything, along with your quiet knowledge and confidence are qualities that we all gravitate towards, especially our young participants. I hope that you, and Max, continue to enjoy your voyages and experiences with Broad Reach for many years to come.
A lifetime as a writer has given Oliver the very special gift of spinning an entertaining yarn and here is one about an experience he had one sunny day last summer:
I first realized that the Broad Reach Foundation was on the right track last summer when I helped Jean-loup take a group of kids to Toronto Island. Actually, I should say Jean-loup, me and my mother's ancient dog, a smelly 16-year-old Dachshund that I inherited when my mother went into a nursing home.
Little Max is a lonely little dog who likes to follow me everywhere I go and that means he helps to paint boat bottoms and raise masts and take boats sailing, whatever the weather, rain or shine.
Max, of course, loves attention, especially when teenage girls pick him up and cuddle him and feed him their lunch. He was thoroughly enjoying himself that hot, sunny day in August when one of the girls, came over and asked in a very quiet voice: "Can I please take Max for a walk?"
"Sure," I said as I handed her the leash, warning her that Max may be cute, but he is very, very slow. "No problem", the girl said, as she gingerly took the leash from me and very slowly followed Max across the park, as he stopped at every tree and every bush for one of his lengthy investigations. She was a joy to watch, very attentive, very careful and looking very proud as she followed Max across the grass and to the dock and the trip home.
When we got to the boat, the girl came up to me again and asked me in the same quiet voice: "Can I please hold Max on my lap?" "Sure," I said, knowing full well that Max likes nothing better than a friendly girl and a warm lap, especially if there is a cuddle and a snack somewhere along the way. So I swung Max up into the air and onto her lap, where he looked thoroughly content all the way home.
As we were getting ready to go home that day, the girl came over and thanked me very nicely. "You know, I've always wanted to take a dog for a walk. But I never, ever have. Thank you."
I suddenly realized how lucky I am to have a Max under my care. I learned that day that a dog is an unattainable luxury for many youths, something they dream about but are never, ever going to have. And that's when I understood what a wonderful job Broad Reach is doing for so many kids, in so many unexpected ways.
Broad Reach opens the door to a host of new experiences, which go far beyond sailboats and Toronto Harbour. It teaches them about a world that is far away from the life they have known in the downtown core or the suburban apartment building, away from the bullies and the drugs and the poverty. And it opens their eyes to a world that is just within their reach.
As for Max, well, he's ready for another cuddle any time. Oliver Bertin.
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