Still life: Art lovers, artists and educators gathered for the ninth annual Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation benefit. CBC’s Gloria Macarenko emceed the Sunday brunch and auction of fine works held at the Capilano Golf and Country Club. Paintings by Jack Darcus, Graham Gilmore, Attila Richard Lukacs, Bobbie Burgers, Ross Penhall and 93-year-old Smith went on the auction block. Efforts of auctioneer Barry Scott and matching funds by the Macquarie Group helped raise $200,000 for the foundation’s Artists For Kids programs and Gordon Smith Gallery scheduled to open this fall.

Pay dirt: For six years, the SMUT Soiree has been a must-attend event in Toronto for Hollywood gossip and amusing banter. Gossip girl Elaine “Lainey” Lui hosted her first West Coast edition for diehard smuthounds. A sell-out, the cocktail party at Vancouver’s Urban Winery was packed with gossipmongers craving the latest Hollywood gossip.

Top cops: Vancouver’s Odd Squad Productions Society, a volunteer-unit of police officers that produce movies for kids about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and other criminal behaviour, celebrated its 15th anniversary at the Convention Centre. Co-founders Al Arsenault, Toby Hinton and Mark Steinkampf were feted for their ongoing efforts to curb gang activity and drug and alcohol use among youth.

Hear Fred Mondays 8:20 a.m. on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; email: yvrflee@hotmail.com; Twitter: @FredAboutTown or fredabouttown.blogspot.com.

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Hear Fred Mondays 8:20 a.m. on CBC Radio's The Early Edition; email yvrflee@hotmail.com; Twitter: @FredAboutTown or fredabouttown.blogspot.com.