Kids Stuff

Dennis Campbell uses his tour bus company to help make dreams come true

Written by: Staff
Published in: Optimyz Magazine – Oct/Nov 2008

Dennis Campbell loves big vehicles, buses in particular. As founder and president of tour bus operator Ambassatours Gray Line, he has the ideal job. Not only does he run a successful Halifax-based company that covers the Atlantic region, put he gets to drive a bus when he feels like it.

A few years ago, Campbell started participating in fundraisers for the Children's Wish Foundation, the organization that helps critically ill children to have big adventures. Most of the children and their families take a cab to the airport to start the trip, so Dennis started offering a bus to pick up families at home for a special ride to the airport. The Foundation was quick to accept the offer. The result is "Big Buses for Little Kids,” a company initiative that means almost as much to the drivers as it does to the children and their families.

Dave Thomas, the first driver to participate, was so moved by the experience that he offered to donate his wages for the trip to the Foundation. After that, every single Ambassatours Gray Line bus driver signed up to help with the 60 or so families who need a ride to the airport every year - and they all wanted to donate their wages. “It's emotionally changing but rewarding for each driver," says Campbell.

On one drive Campbell made, he really connected with Baden Mercer, the young son of Dwayne and Beverly Mercer. "We picked him up at 3:30 on cold February morning with the lights all lit up on the bus, and he said, "Wow this is awesome!" recalls Campbell. “He felt like a rock star. It made me feel so good. After the trip to Disney World, we picked him up at the airport, which we don't usually do, but he gets more excited about buses than even I do." The company went on to name a red trolley bus after Baden.

"We can't thank Dennis and Ambassatours enough," said his mother. "We cherish the moments we have with Baden, and this gave him another great moment."

Since its launch, the program has expanded by word of mouth to other tour companies. "We have a vision of it going global," says Campbell. "It's helping thousands of kids around the world to feel good.”

-Staff