BRIGHT LIGHTS: Shining a spotlight on heroes in the B.C. HIV/AIDS movement, Positive Living B.C. Society held its biannual AccolAIDS Gala at the Conventon Centre. Yours truly, along with Global TV’s Sophie Lui, emceed the awards dinner honouring individuals, organizations and businesses responding to the epidemic in B.C. Among this year’s award winners: Youth Co’s Jesse Brown (Youth), BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Dr. Kate Shannon (Political), and Dr. Brian Conway (Research). Dotty Kanke, an advocate of the downtown eastside, received the Philanthropy award. More than $115,000 was raised from the Courier-sponsored affair to support 5,500 HIV-positive members of the society.
CHINATOWN DRAWL: Since opening last fall, Mamie Taylor’s has built a reputation among locals of providing comfort food in a thriving lounge. Part of Chinatown’s renaissance, the modern American restaurant on East Georgia — adorned with stuffed and antlered animals on its walls — introduced its new weekend brunch menu. Chef Tobias Grignon fronted a preview of regional specialties from the America’s southern states – creative interpretations of chicken fried steak, eggs and grits, and biscuit benny – before its official April 26th launch.
PRIZED ART: Fred Herzog was honoured with the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts, one of B.C.’s most prestigious arts honours. The acclaimed photographer, along with Skeena Reece and Mina Totino, recipients of the VIVA Award granted by the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation, were feted at an arts celebration in the B.C Law Courts Great Hall presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery. Herzog received $30,000, of which the artist reportedly donated a third to North Vancouver’s presentation gallery.
