Air Canada Vacations has reaffirmed its commitment to the island, staging its first senior executives and agents' junket since the COVID-19 pandemic, at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay.

The series of workshops and excursions, held recently, also saw the company making the first of several donations of personal hygiene items, plush toys, and mother and baby welfare supplies to the Sandals Foundation for distribution to the island's vulnerable teen mothers.

"We are so happy to be back in Jamaica and it's such a privilege to bring supplies for children and teen moms to assist in their everyday lives," said an upbeat Tracey Bellamy, director of Air Canada's sales and global account. "We are aware of the hardships facing teenage mothers and it's very meaningful for us here as a team at Air Canada."

Lauding the work of the Sandals Foundation and its partnership with Air Canada, Senior Manager Regional Sales Air Canada group, Edna Ray, said her company was proud to be teaming up with the Sandals Foundation to assist the needs in Jamaica. "There is sincerity in everything you do at the Sandals Foundation, and we just want to be a small part of that in assisting you."

Ray said the workshop "provided a wonderful opportunity to incorporate the donation and to share with the new agents and those who have never been to Jamaica the charm, honesty and kindness that resides here on the island and in Jamaicans".

Accepting the gracious donation on behalf of the Sandals Foundation, Sandals Regional Public Relations Coordinator for Montego Bay Ashley Simms thanked the Air Canada Vacations team, noting that the items would be of great assistance.

"The challenges facing teenage mothers are immense and can often be overwhelming. Every act of kindness to this vulnerable group of young women is an injection of hope that they are loved and supported in their needs. On behalf of the teen mothers across the island, I want to thank you for using this business trip to assist local charities," Simms said.

Through its Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA) programme, the Sandals Foundation provides skills training, continued education, mentorship, and tools to help teen mothers find inspiration and strength to provide for the needs of their families and to transform their lives.