HOUSE OF LOVE: Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of golfers who participated in the 25th Women’s Media Golf Classic chaired by founder Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia. More than 144 players hit the links at the Musqueam Golf Course in support of the soon-to-open $28 million Pacific Autism Family Centre. The long-time dream of Lisogar-Cochchia and her husband Sergio, the centre of excellence in Richmond will be a central hub for autism services in B.C. The golf gala featuring Olympian Silken Laumann, parent of a child with autism, raised a record $1.25 million.
PARTY DRESSES: Designer Jacqueline Firkins found inspiration in the unlikeliest of places — cancer. The UBC costume design professor created a collection of 10 exquisite gowns inspired by colourful microscopic images of cancer cells. The gorgeous gowns were auctioned off at a fashion fete staged at the Porsche showroom. Sponsored by Scotiabank, Great Canadian Gaming Corp, AllWest Insurance Peroni and Fortune Cellars, the gala netted $40,000 for Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Program at UBC.
POWER PLAY: Power To Be provides adventure-based programs designed for youth and families in need of support. Founded in 1998 by Tim Cormode, the non-profit welcomed 35 teams of four to its annual corporate challenge held at Stanley Park. Presented by Goldcorp, the charitable adventure race generated $218,000 to support nature-based programs for vulnerable youth and families in Greater Vancouver.
GOOD RELATIONS: The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) hosted its 12th Vancouver Gala celebrating businesses, including Scotiabank, TD and Suncor, who have achieved excellence in Aboriginal Relations. More than 300 attendees filed into the Pan Pacific Hotel for the annual awards ceremony, presented by Sodexo Canada. For her efforts building bridges between Aboriginal people and Canada’s business community, Canadian diplomat Mary Simon was cited with the association’s highest honour.
SWEET DUMPLINGS: Yours truly, along with Sophie Lui, hosted AIDS Vancouver’s seventh Celebrity Dim Sum. More than a dozen local personalities, including Mayor Gregor Robertson and Amazing Race Canada finalist Ryan Steele, dished out dim sum in support of education and support programs to people living with HIV/AIDS. Guests were treated to sweet dumplings and the hugely popular Chicken Feet Eating Contest, won by Green Party candidate Pete Fry.
