A couple of singles find a tour group is a great place to meet somebody
Lucille Wiebe, from Saskatchewan, and Keith Elhart, from Alberta, met on the WestWorld Tours Victoria Solo tour and just a few months later, they announced their engagement while on a Maritimes Coach tour. Here is their story: After the tragic passing of their respective spouses to cancer, Wiebe and Elhart were on their own for the first time in many years.
Wiebe was apprehensive about travelling alone, but took the leap and in the spring of 2016, went on a motorcoach tour to Victoria.
Meanwhile, Elhart was originally scheduled to travel elsewhere, but fate intervened: An unexpected change in his plans led him to book the same Victoria tour.
There was an immediate attraction and tour director, Debbie MacRae, saw sparks fly right away.
As they journeyed from destination to destination, the couple got to know each other. The passengers on the motorcoach were moved around daily to different seats so they could mingle while enjoying the many views.
By the end of their vacation, the couple had exchanged contact information and planned to keep in touch.
Over the summer, the friendship turned into love; and, toward the end of the season Wiebe and Elhart talked about marriage and shopped for rings. In September 2016, they went on a Maritimes motorcoach tour. Wiebe and Elhart stayed in separate rooms. They arrived in Ottawa on Sept. 11 and that evening after supper, Elhart presented Wiebe with the ring. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Of course, the answer was yes! The engagement tour to the Maritimes was truly unforgettable.
So many sights were enjoyed while travelling through Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. “We loved seeing the old buildings and the cobblestone streets in Quebec City,” commented Wiebe. “Quebec City, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Peggy’s Cove were our favourite destinations.”
Their visit to Pier 21 in Halifax was another memorable moment. Pier 21 was an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971, and is the last surviving seaport immigration facility in Canada. Visitors can search the ship arrival database to find their relatives.
Wiebe found the record of her mother’s arrival to Canada in 1928. Her mother was just eight years old when she travelled from Poland to Canada with her mother, father, and siblings.
Wiebe received a copy of the record and a photo of the ship.
She felt that the tour directors, Pat Larocque and Debbie MacRae, went above and beyond by surprising her and Elhart with a congratulatory bottle of champagne.
Larocque announced on the motorcoach that the couple were engaged and the group gave them a round of applause.
They have since tied the knot and are still basking in the glow of their newfound love and happiness.