Port Dover mom revisits story of going into labour on Grand River Dinner Cruise in Caledonia 41 years later

With Grand River Dinner Cruises returning to full service, a Port Dover woman and her family were recently able to celebrate her son's 41st birthday and also reminisce about the unique connection the Caledonia tourism destination has to the event.

On June 18, 1981, Jeanette Matheson was on a dinner cruise with her Bible club while pregnant with her second child.

A couple of hours into the cruise, Matheson knew she needed to get off the boat and to a hospital immediately. There were no cellphones at the time, which meant Captain Al Robinson and the crew had to work quickly to help Matheson.

Robinson radioed headquarters to inform them of the emergency and skilfully docked the boat near Middleport.

Matheson's late husband, Charlie, carried her across a wobbly dock and through a corn field to a house. The lady who lived there readily drove the couple to Grand River Dinner Cruises' main office, where an ambulance was waiting. A few hours later, Caleb Matheson was born at McMaster Hospital.

After that day, Robinson added the unique experience to the narration he delivers during cruises. His story expanded when Caleb returned to Grand River Dinner Cruises on his fifth birthday and presented Robinson with a Best Captain" trophy.

On June 18, the Matheson family returned again to celebrate Caleb's 41st birthday.

Joanne Dorr is a freelance writer.