Sports, cars and fashion – it was all a part of the recent Dueck GM / Cadillac launch party. VIP guests were greeted with black tie service as all the sales staff were dressed to the nines and looking good! Then the big event – partnering with Vancouver Fashion Week, the new Cadillac models were unveiled as real life models walked the catwalk. Highlights also included speeches by noted BC Lions and Canucks celebrities.
The Athletics for Kids (A4K) annual boxing gala was held last week at West Vancouver’s Hollyburn Country Club. Helping raise money for kids who cannot always afford to play sports, the association’s annual event is a glamorous affair complete with Las Vegas theme, sit-down dinner, auction items and live sanctioned boxing bouts. Famous sports names, glamorous showgirls and some knock ’em sock ’em action are all part of the fun. Congrats to all involved who are putting up a fight for kids that want to get in the game, no matter what the cost.
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01 – Glamorous Vegas style showgirls welcome guests to the black-tie dinner and live boxing event.
02 – Past president Chris Obst teams up with Eventful Innovations PR gal Pamela Buck.
03 – Making the predictions for the Kentucky Derby winner during dinner are horse racing expert Tommy Wolski, left, and John Teti of Shark Club and Ginson Hospitality fame.
04 – B.C. Lions centre Angus Reid may have announced his retirement earlier this year, but here he’s ready to ring the bell as event MC.
05 – A4K director Craig Knapton and wife Becky entertain VIPs at their dinner table.
06 – Checking in guests are glam girls Rachelle Perkins, from left, Alexis Dutnall, Naima Abbondanza and Sharon Abbondanza.
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By Catherine Barr – May 2, 2014
Also as seen in the Vancouver Sun Newspaper
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By Catherine Barr
www.CatherineBarr.com | www.WestVancouver.com | www.NorthVancouver.com
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Get out your datebooks and calendars, it’s time to plan your social schedule for the New Year. And while 2011 proved to be extra exciting, with red carpet galas and glamorous restaurant / wine events everywhere, here are a a few suggestions to pencil in for what promises to be a fabulous 2012. See you there!
01 – Who could forget our own BC Lions bringing home the Grey Cup last November. Well, mark your calendars for November 25th and book your flight to Toronto because BC Lions CEO Dennis Skulsky, left, quarterback Travis Lulay and coach/GM Wally Buono are hoping to make a return trip in 2012 to the historic 100th Grey Cup celebration.
02 – I remember being there for the very first one, and this year, on March 30th, Hollyburn Country Club will play host to the 10th anniversary A4K Boxing Gala which attracts notables like Canucks “O Canada” man Mark Donnelly, left, and Canucks hockey hero Dave Babych.
03 – Keep the first week of August open for the return of the Odlum Brown Van Open 2012 tennis tournament up at Hollyburn Country Club in West Vancouver. Sponsor / Odlum Brown’s Floyd Hill, who was also last year’s tournament chair, teamed up with PR Gals Sasha Evans, left, and Che Winters to make it all happen.
04 – Wine lovers will want to book time off between February 28 – March 4 for the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. Whether its tickets to the tasting room or a private winemaker’s dinner, there’s lots to choose from. Last year, North Vancouver’s Jill Killeen and world-famous chef Jean George Vongerichten were part of the action at the Shangri-La hotel.
05 – It’s Vancouver’s Oscar night out, and walking the red carpet at the Leo Awards is always a thrill, especially with celebrities and stars like the amazing Amanda Tapping, who lives in West Vancouver, and her dynamic Sanctuary co-star Ryan Robbins. Keep your eyes open for a late May / early June final date.
06 – The Turning Point Recovery Society’s “Making Recovery a Reality” Gala will be back May 3. Last year’s event featured Married with Children actress / singer Katey Sagal, right, seen here with Turning Point Recovery Society’s executive director Brenda Plant.
07 – Last year, The BC Sports Hall of Fame Banquet of Champions inducted famous athletes like Roberto Luongo, Trevor Linden, Tom Larscheid and Maelle Ricker. If you want to attend in 2012, make sure you have September 20th free on your schedule.
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By Catherine Barr – Jan 3, 2012
Also as seen in print in the North Shore Outlook Newspaper on Jan 5, 2012
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It was time to show your spirit and your team colours this past weekend as the 99th Grey Cup came to town. Orange and black were the popular choice as hometown fans cheered their own BC Lions all the way to victory in the finals against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. But the big game was just a part of the weekend-long Grey Cup celebration that took place primarily at the Vancouver Convention Centre. With each CFL Team setting up their own “house” and live bands and street parties taking place nearby, the city was alive with electricity everywhere you looked. One of the biggest galas of the event was the Scotiabank Show Your Colours gala where, despite the $350 ticket price, everyone dressed in their team jerseys in anticipation of Sunday’s big game. VIP guests included Premier Christy Clark, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other dignitaries who were all treated to a five-star meal, marching bands, cheerleaders, live music and comedy impersonators.
01 – North Vancouver’s Brett and Brenda Manlove chat with GlobalBC TV news reporter and gala MC Jill Krop.
02 – CTV news anchor Coleen Christie, seen here with media columnist Steve Burgess, get ready to cheer for the home team.
03 – North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton and Vancouver mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton both wear their Grey Cup jerseys for good luck.
04 – Premier Christy Clark adds easy elegance to her Grey Cup jersey with a simple strand of pearls while BC Lions President and CEO Dennis Skulsky prefers a dinner jacket overtop.
05 – Following in the footsteps of his late father Bob Ackles, BC Lions GM Scott Ackles and wife Theresa are proud to be back wearing the orange and black colours.
06 – Band leader Dal Richards, left, and famous comedian Ron James are two legendary entertainers who don’t agree on everything. Dal is cheering for the BC Lions while Ron claims to be a Winnipeg fan.
07 – A bruiser on the ice, but a pussycat in real life, former Vancouver Canucks enforcer Gino Odjick knows which side to cheer for.
08 – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defence, left, and David Poole, Scotiabank senior vice-president BC & Yukon region, are among the VIPs enjoying a night of spectacular food, fun and entertainment.
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By Catherine Barr – Nov 26, 2011
Also as seen in print in the North Shore Outlook Newspaper on Dec 1, 2011
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Eating right, giving back and starting anew doesn’t seem like it could be that much fun – but last week, it was! Three great events full of charity and giving helped start Spring off on the right note. First up, it was the BC Chefs’ Association’s Healthy Chef Competition at the Hyatt. Next, it was a Spring fashion show at Leones hosted by United Way’s Women United in Philanthropy. And finally, it was Persian New Year at the Marriot where the Canadian Iranian Foundation held a glamorous celebration.
01 – Faizzal Fatehali, of the United Way, poses with West Vancouver’s Pamela Martin (CTV news anchor and Women United in Philanthropy member) at Leones.
02 – Women United in Philanthropy member Christie King and husband James welcome guests to the Leone fashion show fundraiser.
03 – This West Vancouver trio knows all about fashion. From left: Wear Else president/owner Zahra Mamdani, Leone president and owner Alberto Leone, and guest Carey Smith.
04 – Eating right at the Healthy Chefs Competition are North Vancouver’s Amanda Tanner, left, and BC Produce Marketing Association’s Margie Schurko.
05 – Von Albrecht and Associates Leo Savino, left, and BC Chefs Association director and host Marcus Von Albrecht help put on a wonderful gala evening in support of great healthy food.
06 – BC Lions’ famous footballer Geroy Simon, left, teams up with North Vancouver celeb/comedian and CTV weatherman Marke Driesschen.
07 – Canadian Iranian Foundation committee members Nassreen Filsoof, left, and Massoume Price deserve praise for helping arrange such a glamorous Norouz night.
08 – Posing by the beautiful, traditional Haft Seen table at Norouz are foundation board directors Babak Shahbazi, left, Abbas Esmailie, Ali Hashemi and Bahram Saadatmandi.
09 – Looking beautiful in blue for the new year Norouz gala are Mahshid Seifi, left, and Maryam Hashemi.
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By Catherine Barr – March 17, 18 and 21, 2010
Published in print by the North Shore Outlook newspaper on March 25, 2010