GOOD WISHES: Fronted by gala chair Lana Bradshaw and foundation director Jennifer Petersen, and hosted by seven-year-old wish kid Avery Carpenter, along with Global TV’s Sonia Beeksma, the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada’s second annual WISH Gala went “Old Hollywood Glam.” Presented by Pacific Blue Cross and held at Vancouver’s historic Vogue Theatre, the party welcomed 180 guests who enjoyed an incredible dinner on the Vogue stage prepared by Edible Canada with canapés from Fable and a sweet finish by Farm 2 Fork. Following the royal repast, Vancouverites helped raised $165,000 to support the work of the foundation providing more than $20,000 grants to inspire and instill hope for wish kids and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
ALL IN: Nearly 200 delegates attended the third B.C. Workplace Inclusion Conference, hosted by the Open Door Group and staged at the Coal Harbour Marriott Hotel. Yours truly served as the master of ceremonies for the awards program, recognizing businesses from across the province who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering diverse working environments including persons with disabilities, aboriginal job-seekers, youth, women, older workers and recent immigrants. Recipients honoured were Vancity’s Kristin Bower (Diversity and Inclusion Champion, Individual), the City of Vancouver’s Darcy Wilson, (Diversity and Inclusion Champion, Manager), Shell Gas Station’s Sweetpal Singh (Small B.C. Business Champion), Atira Women’s Resource Society (Non-Profit) and BMO (Large Business).
GLOWBAL DOMINATION: Emad Yacoub’s empire continues to grow. With Coast, Black + Blue, Italian Kitchen, Society, the Fish Shack and two Trattoria’s already flying the Glowbal Restaurant Group’s flag, the restaurateur recently opened his tenth property, a third Trattoria in Metrotown. The casual Italian eatery, which first launched in Kitsilano, will anchor the new Westin Hotel and Sovereign Tower residences in Burnaby. Part of the luxury 45-storey development by Bosa Properties, Trattoria is a 200-seat eatery across 6,000 square feet of dining space on two levels. Not to rest on his laurels, the always-energetic Yacoub, and his business partner, Jack Lamont, are busily working on their next project, a series of dining facilities at Telus Gardens to open later this year. The downtown residential and business complex will be home to a flagship restaurant, bookended by a 150-seat patio and cocktail lounge.
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