VANCOUVER — It wasn’t all business at UNIGLOBE Travel’s (Western Canada) annual Owner’s Retreat last month. In addition to networking and discussing best business practices, members also fit in time to give back to the community.

Taking place at Secrets Playa Mujeres, the three-day retreat welcomed 40 agency owners and industry representatives from Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, WestJet Vacations, Manulife and Transat who devoted a day to the ‘One School at a Time’ project, which helps to refurbish the facilities at the Jose Maria Luis Mora Primaria Escuela primary school.

The team rolled up their sleeves and helped with tasks that included building a wheelchair ramp for access to the school’s bathrooms, sanding and painting student chairs and tables, assembling new tables and portable soccer nets, and painting interior and exterior walls.

The school, one of many in Mexico that receives very little funding, has approximately 700 students.

“This is our second year doing this type of give-back event and it’s a great feeling,” said Hank Oostveen, VP, Industry Relations, UNIGLOBE Travel (Western Canada). “Funding for this event comes from our annual UNIGLOBE Spring Conference so we clearly see the dollars raised are put to good use.  Working with our UNIGLOBE Owner Group and Preferred Partners on a project like this deepens our relationship through this common cause.”

Jamie Milton, Co-Owner of UNIGLOBE Carefree Travel in Saskatoon, added: “I look forward to this event each year where we enjoy meeting new friends and working hard to make a difference to the communities we visit. In addition to the work we completed on the desks we also brought down a lot of school supplies and sports equipment for the children.”