Adding 'Marybelle' to our fleet

 Earlier in the year I got an email from Jane Williams-Hu, the national co-ordinator for Cycling Without Age - Canada to forward a listing to our mailing list for Ontario Chapters for a (sparingly) used AMI model trishaw that was coming up for a private sale in Ontario.

The trishaw was purchased privately by a Brantford businessman to provide rides for his mother, Marybelle, who was in a retirement home in Burlington.  Unfortunately, she passed away earlier this year and the forlorn trishaw named after her was a constant reminder of her passing.  He hoped it could bring as much joy as it brought her and so wanted to pay it forward.

As we were discussing the possibility of adding to our fleet, we thought we should put in a bid for this vehicle which was similar to the one we had already acquired directly from the manufacturer and so approached the vendor with an offer of paying $5,000 in cash and providing a tax receipt for the balance of the amount that he had requested which was quite close to the price of a new trishaw.

After some back and forth, he agreed to let us have it for half the asking price which was $9,500 and he would accept a tax refund for the donation of the balance of the trishaw pending approval from his accountant and lawyer.  As we waited for him to confirm the arrangement, he got back to us requesting more information about our operations and charitable status.  I provided him with all the details and to my surprise he came back almost immediately with the offer of donating the trishaw entirely to our chapter in exchange for a tax-receipt for the full amount.

I couldn't believe my ears but had to make sure we were doing our due diligence on this transaction and so queried the CRA rules on non-cash donations.  If we were to receive anything of value of more than $1,000 we would have to get a professional appraisal on the donation if we were not going to be getting more than 20% of the value of the donation.  In this case, we would be benefitting directly from 100% of the donation but we still asked for an appraisal from the company he purchased it from originally to take his mother out on rides.  Cycles Toussaint in Calgary is the national supplier for this model of trishaw and Mike at CT was knowledgeable on the value.  Since the cost of the trishaw today is around $11,500 and that model is being phased out, he agreed that $9,500 was an appropriate asking price for this barely used trishaw.

Ernie Porthouse is a business man from Brantford who owns an orthotics business among other interests.  A 35 year veteran with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr Porthouse continues to play with the HPO as well as major orchestras, opera, theatre, jazz and latin groups across Southern Ontario. One of the few musicians who is well respected and comfortable in all genres of music. He is the co-founder of The Canadian Percussion Ensemble, an educational outreach presentation that has played over 550 shows in schools across the GTA/GHA/Niagara/Brant, to more than 100,000 students. Ernest is Professor of percussion studies at Redeemer University in Ancaster Ontario.  He also makes a mean focaccia which initially was a fund raiser but now so successful that he supplies local restaurants (including Capra's Kitchen here in Mississauga) as well as participates in the Toronto Garlic Festival. 

He offered to bring the trishaw to Mississauga in his trailer until he found out a problem with the wiring harness affecting the indicator lights which would be essential for the highway ride from Brantford.  He had promised that as soon as he got it fixed, he hoped to deliver the trishaw to us.  However, as the weather was cooling down and Ernie's many interests were taking precedence, I offered to rent a trailer to pick up the trishaw to which he immediately agreed with relief.  So we decided to drive down in the afternoon of Saturday, October 25th with Ray offering to accompany me on this important trip. Unfortunately, on the morning of day Ray begged off as he was needed at home.  So I set off to pick up the motorcycle trailer from U-Haul on Royal Windsor and head out to Brantford following Google Maps directions off the highway which took the better part of 90 minutes.  As I had been keeping Ernie apprised of my progress, he offered to bring the trishaw down to the road so that I wouldn't have to back up the trailer off his driveway.

True to form, as I drew closer I saw Ernie chilling on the seat of the trishaw, it's unique, identifiable red hood visible from a distance.  I was so excited to meet him and get the trishaw loaded that I completely forgot to take pictures with him before and after loading the trishaw into the trailer but remembered to do so when I stopped at a local Timmy's on my way back to grab a sandwich.

Unfortunately, a few days before picking up Marybelle, we were informed that there would be power washing at The Shores of Port Credit garage where we were going to store the trishaw and so she has ended up in my garage for the winter.  Fortuitously, I can now work on getting her ready for the riding season next year.  My grandsons were thrilled to take the first ride as they were visiting when I arrived home.

Now we can concentrate our fund raising efforts on the VeloPlus Wheelchair Trishaw we hope to acquire in 2026.