“Surprise” limo pickup and dinner to thank humanitarian taxi driver
Checker Transportation Group and Ambassador Limousine Services ‘surprised’ Iqbal and Mumtaz Alimohd with a night on the town in appreciation for their incredible volunteer work over the years. Photo: Checker Cabs
“Most ‘successful’ people don’t go looking for attention,” motivational speaker Dennis Waitley used to say. “The media just happen to catch them in the act of succeeding.”
That has certainly been true in the story of Calgary taxi driver Iqbal Alimohd and his wife Mumtaz. Since Calgary’s Checker Cabs first posted about their unusual weekend hobby (shopping for groceries and delivering them for free to Seniors), their story has been picked up not only by Road Warrior News, but also the CBC, The Epoch Times and a number of other outlets looking for a good news story.
On August 22nd, in recognition of the years of unsung volunteer work Iqbal and Mumtaz have contributed to the Calgary community (and also the terrific morale boost the story gave the taxi industry after a brutal year of COVID) the Checker Transportation Group arranged to have the Alimohds picked up by limo for a special dinner and a relaxing drive (what else?)
“We couldn’t completely keep it a surprise, because we had to make sure they were available and dressed for the occasion,” laughs Layna Segall of Checker. “But it was a great event – when the limo arrived to pick them up, the whole neighbourhood was outside clapping and cheering.”
Limo services were provided by Ambassador Limousine Services, which transported the Alimohds to Flores and Pine restaurant in Bearpaw for dinner.
“After dinner, the limo driver drove them all around Calgary so they could take in the city, all lit up at night – Calgary at night is really special, and I don’t think Iqbal had ever taken the time to experience it as a passenger, ‘just for fun’ before,” Segall says. “They really enjoyed it!”
“The Alimohd’s are true Servant Leaders, and live by the ethics of The Ismaili Canada volunteer motto – WORK NOT WORDS,” says long-time friend and mentee Alnoor Damji. “Sometimes the smallest acts can make the biggest difference in someone’s day.
“Humanitarians never think of themselves as heroes. Most of the humanitarians I’ve met consider themselves lucky to be to able help provide relief to people in need. Like Iqbal, many heroes don’t wear capes but they’re there every day making the world a little better place for those who are lucky enough to be in their lives.”
Iqbal Alimohd, his wife Mumtaz, and now their two adult sons commit every Saturday to delivering groceries to seniors. It’s a Family Affair.
