Pink ducks, big bucks: Expedia Cruises Ottawa raises $67K+ for Breast Cancer Canada

Expedia Cruises in Ottawa hit a fundraising hole-in-one this month, raising an impressive $67,784.25 for Breast Cancer Canada at its fifth annual charity 9 & Dine golf tournament.

Held Sept. 3 at Pine View Golf in Ottawa, the sunny-day event brought together more than 25 travel advisors and volunteers, 17 supplier partners and sponsors, and other supporters for an afternoon of golf, games and giving.

And this year's fundraising total was a major leap forward.

The $67,784.25 raised more than doubled the $27,777 generated by last year's tournament, underscoring how the homegrown event has continued to gain momentum.

"What started as a local fundraising event has grown into a powerful example of what our travel agents can accomplish when we come together for a cause that touches so many lives,” said Expedia’s Nicole Vasquez, director of operations, and Mauricio Vasquez, director of marketing, in a joint statement.

“Breast cancer has impacted our Expedia Cruises Ottawa family directly, including Christiane and Dan Lemay, our franchise owners but also our advisors, staff, and their loved ones.”

“This tournament is about more than golf, it's about hope, support, and making a meaningful difference for families affected by breast cancer in our community.”

“We are incredibly grateful to our supplier partners, volunteers, and sponsors who continue to rally behind this cause and help us raise critical funds for Breast Cancer Canada.”

Ducks, drives & prizes

The day's action included a nine-hole best-ball scramble, games and contests, prizes for winners and a silent auction.

But Expedia Cruises Ottawa has also developed its own quirky tournament tradition: pink ducks.

As part of its signature Pink Duck Contest, organizers hide pink ducks around the green for golfers to discover and bring back for a chance to win prizes.

The silent auction has also become an increasingly popular part of the event, with spirited bidding on a range of local experiences.

New this year was the Donate to Win raffle, which came with some particularly enticing prizes for cruise fans.

Royal Caribbean, Azamara, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises each donated a cruise for two, creating five cruise giveaways for five lucky winners.

All five cruise lines also supported the event as sponsors, joining more than 20 sponsors overall.

A cause close to home

Behind the golf, games and prizes is a cause with deeply personal significance for the Expedia Cruises Ottawa team.

Vasquez shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago and underwent 45 chemotherapy sessions.

“Many of our agents and their families have been affected by this terrible disease,” she wrote in an email. “We understand the need to move the needle and make a difference with this cause, and at the national level, we align with Expedia Cruises, which also does a big drive to support Breast Cancer Canada every year in November.”

More than doubling last year’s total, Expedia Cruises Ottawa showed what can happen when the travel industry rallies around a great cause.

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