TIME TO SHINE: Just weeks before the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Swiss watchmaker Omega, the official timekeeper for the Games, hosted a pre-games party at its flagship store in downtown Vancouver. Boutique manager Jane Dodds and brand ambassador Hazem Sbayteh fronted the countdown event attended by the city’s most noteworthy individuals. Making the scene were fashion editor Joy Pecknold, society darling Christy King and broadcaster Mike Killeen. They kibitzed and posed with the night’s special guests, Olympians Ryan Cochrane (swimming), Kaylyn Kyle (soccer), both Rio bound, and Simon Whitfield (triathlete). The trio received a rock star welcome as well as the watchmaker’s signature Olympic timepiece. Omega has served as the official timekeeper for the games since 1932.
ONEGIN RULES: New York has the Tony Awards. Vancouver has the Jessies. The city’s vibrant theatre community came together to celebrate its own at the Commodore Ballroom. The 34th staging saw the Arts Club Theatre’s production Onegin sweep almost every category. The new musical by Veda Hille and Amiel Gladstone, based on an Aleksandr Pushkin poem and the opera by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, took home 10 trophies including best production. The creators took home outstanding composition and musical direction, while its leads, the wife and husband duo of Meg Roe and Alessandro Juliani, won in the outstanding lead categories. Colleen Wheeler, who won the Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for Peter and the Starcatcher, prevented the clean sweep.
SPANISH FIESTA: Established in 1988, the Chinese Canadian Dental Society of B.C. was formed to promote and encourage its members to pay it forward and contribute to their community and society-at-large. Fronting the firm’s annual fundraiser for the past 13 years, Dr. Anthony Li and his wife Grace welcomed a record crowd to the Spanish-themed benefit, sponsored by TD Bank. This year’s beneficiary was the B.C. Cancer Agency’s B.C. Oral Cancer Prevention Program. Attendees poured over silent auction items, and feverishly bid up six live auction lots, including a luxury trip for four to Spain. The buying frenzy contributed to a record haul of more than $100,000 to support oral cancer screening clinics at UBC and the Pacific Oral Health Clinic in Surrey. Following the fundraising, guests dusted off their dancing shoes joining Orquesta Tabasko for some after dinner Latin dancing.
