Last week, I had the honour of returning from Europe aboard the same flight as our Canadian Paralympians fresh from their London 2012 experience. Little did I know that later that same week I would have the chance to dine with them and their Olympic compatriots at the first annual KidSport Dinner in the Park gala fundraiser. Gold, silver and bronze medals were everywhere as guests got a chance to get up close and personal with our country’s athletes as they shared their stories with everyone. With the belief that “no kid should be left on the sidellines”, this KidSport charitable event also included an elegant and delicious four-course meal prepared by the Sequoia Company of Restaurants’ expert chefs. A silent auction, live auction and live entertainment helped round out an inspiring night of giving that will go a long way to ensuring “All Kids Can Play”. www.kidsportcanada.ca
01 – Pretty PR gals Axelle D’Anglemont, left, and Nessa van Bergen ensure all the athletes are properly introduced to guests as they arrive. Fun job!
02 – Dripping in medals from both Beijing and London, gold medal wheelchair sprinter and former Paralympic basketball champ Michelle Stilwell is the only female Paralympic athlete to have ever won gold in two separate summer sport events.
03 – Born to be wild! BC Lions 2011 Grey Cup champ Paul McCallum sits atop his custom painted team motorcycle which he hopes will net a grand sum when he puts it up for auction later this year for KidSport.
04 – Olympic wrestler Carol Huynh netted Canada our first gold medal in Beijing in 2008. This year, it was an equally dazzling bronze medal in London2012 which she proudly shows off with KidSport’s dynamic leading duo – brothers Brent and David Nichols.
05 – It was a super silver on what the press dubbed “Super Saturday” at London 2012 when swimmer Ryan Cochrane touched the wall to win in the gruelling 1,500m freestyle.
06 – Rebecca Khoury, left, president of Karate Canada joins West Vancouver’s favourite Olympian Charmaine Crooks to support this great organization.
07 – Providing the yummiest part of the night, Sequoia Company of Restaurant chefs dished up the goods. From left: Seasons in the Park’s Dennis Peckham, Teahouse’s Annabelle Leslie, Carderos’ Jason Kleinfeld and Sandbar’s William Tse.
By Catherine Barr – Sep 12, 2012
Also as seen in print in the North Shore Outlook Newspaper on Sep 20, 2012