Sheraton Cavalier doorman retires after 50-year career

Dan Cardinal was 18 when he started what would turn into a decades-long career at Saskatoon’s Sheraton Cavalier hotel in 1969.

On Monday, he retired.

“At 2:30 p.m. I got’er done,” Cardinal told 650 CKOM’s Brent Loucks with a laugh. “I’ll say 95 per cent (of the career) was good.”

Over the years Cardinal has served as a bellhop, greeter and doorman.

“I really enjoyed talking with people and meeting different people from different walks of life and hearing their stories,” Cardinal explained.

He described meeting entertainers and athletes staying at the hotel as one of the highlights of his career.

In 2016 Cardinal was named the Canadian Tourism National Employee of the Year for his work.

That’s when he decided to retire at an even 50 years of service.

Now that he doesn’t have a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call, Cardinal said he plans to go on his first vacation in seven years. From there, he said the plan is to spend more time volunteering.

“I’m a volunteer at Army Navy & Air Force Veterans,” Cardinal said. “I’ll put quite a bit of time and effort into that.”