It was a feast for the eyes – and the heart. The inaugural Shine – No Stigma featured a fashion and dance extravaganza staged by hundreds of volunteers who rallied together to raise funds and awareness for mental health and addiction while addressing the stigma of mental illness. Held at the Commodore Ballroo all proceeds go to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and the Lion’s Gate Hospital, HOpe Centre.
Lions Gate Hospital Gala – It was a perfect summer evening at Capilano Golf and Country Club as guests gathered for one of the most important galas of the year. The Lions Gate Hospital Foundation’s annual gala is always a stunning affair complete with champagne reception, silent and live auction items and fabulous food. A record breaking $1,303,819 was raised which will go towards helping build BC’s first-ever Youth Concurrent Disorders Unit.
It’s been fun in the sun all summer long at North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay. Summer Fest 2010, proudly sponsored by the North Shore Outlook, has been the scene of song and dance, food and fun every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Live concerts, market displays and more have kept the crowds coming, and all in support of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. An especially popular day has been the Kids’ Friday Charity BBQ where the stage comes alive with entertainment especially for the little ones and a helping hand of hot dogs fresh off the grill to help fundraise.
01 – Little two year-old Sofia Villamil got a chance to try out her dancing legs with grandma Vilma, left, and mom Digna at the live lunchtime concert at the Quay.
02 – With songs like “Recycle with Me”, “I Love Bugs” and “The Right Track”, the musical duo of Bobs (Robyn Hardy), left, and Lolo (Lorraine Pond) deliver a decidedly positive and progressive message to the kids during their live performance.
03 – Face painting and animal balloons make Rachel McRory, of A-Star Art Parlour, one of the more popular attractions on Kids’ Friday.
04 – Ivan Contramaestre and two year-old son Miguel take a dance around the dock as the live music starts on the stage at the Lonsdale Quay Summer Fest.
05 – Charles Boltas and Danielle Sanders look after the line-up to the new Kinect XBox 360 game display booth where new technology now allows you to control your avatar without the use of a wired in controller – neat!
06 – Lonsdale Quay’s marketing assistant Sonja Zoeller, seen here at the charity BBQ with chef Doug Crewe of Austin Gourmet, has spent her summer grillin’ and chillin’ to help raise money for the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.
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By Catherine Barr – August 20, 2010
Also published in print by the North Shore Outlook newspaper – Aug 26, 2010
A new hotel, a new restaurant and a new art opening help wrap up the month of March and a busy Easter weekend filled with activities. First, it was a special private party to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new East Side Mario’s Restaurant and Lounge in the Lonsdale Quay. Food and festivities helped raise funds for the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. Next, it was an Easter visit to the new Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier at the foot of Lonsdale which features a fabulous chic ultra lounge/restaurant and some of the best view banquet space on the North Shore. And, to wrap up the month, artist Tanya Slingsby’s hosted many North Shore guests at the opening of her “Arcana” art exhibit at her east side atelier.
01 – Artist Tanya Slingsby’s “Arcana” creation are well worth a visit to her atelier.
02 – Pinnacle Hotel’s group sales manager Christie McJannet and executive chef Brian Fodor take pride in their new property and in new menus which feature fresh dungeness crab.
03 – Checking in guests with a warm welcome are Pinnacle Hotel’s Mallory Watt and guests services manager Brendan Stonestreet who both hail from the North Shore.
04 – Choosing colourful Easter flowers are just one of the many talents of Pinnacle Hotel conference services manager Norma Bogart whose banquet rooms feature views to die for.
05 – Outlook sales manager Greg Laviolette, left, is welcomed by East Side Mario’s owners Antonio Simoes and owner/GM Raj Khaira to the VIP opening party.
06 – Lions Gate Hospital Foundation’s Rebecca James, left, and Joanne McLellan express their gratitude to East Side Mario’s Jennifer Domansky for their opening night donation.
07 – In attendance at the opening of the Slingsby art preview are West Vancouver’s John and Anne Green, left, North Van artist Miriam Aroeste and guest Ian Tootill.
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By Catherine Barr – April 5, 2010
Published in print by the North Shore Outlook on April 8, 2010
It was a culinary event of Olympic proportions and the big winners were our own Olympic athletes. The Canadian Culinary Championships (CCC) were held late last month and were the culmination of the local regional Gold Medal Plates city competitions held throughout the year across Canada. The fundraisers were all designed to help put Canadian athletes on the podium come February – so no matter how you slice it, everyone came out a winner. Also, this week marks the start of Mangia E Bevi’s special month-long fundraiser entitled “B.A.C.I.O” (Because A Cure Is Obtainable). The West Vancouver restaurant is raising funds all this month with a special menu – a portion of which will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital and the Lions Gate Hospital Oncology departments. Join them until Jan 31 at www.mangiaebevi.ca.
01 – West Vancouver’s own Olympic committee sweetheart, silver medal track star Charmaine Crooks, attends the CCC wearing a diamond encrusted Inukshuk, the Olympic logo, around her neck.
02 – Westender food critic and CCC judge Andrew Morrison, who also hails from the North Shore, chats with Vancouver Gold Medal Plates representative, Chef Rob Feenie of Cactus Club.
03 – Media personality Terry David Mulligan and CTV news anchor Coleen Christie act as the evening’s MCs for CCC.
04 – The menus will change, but the goal to fight cancer remains. Magia E Bevi owners Antonio Sauro, left, and Rob Parrott are ready to serve.
05 – North Van PR gal Dana Lee Harris and Mania e Bevi’s Doug Grisdale have both donated their time to raise funds for B.A.C.I.O.
06 – Lions Gate Hospital’s Kristy Gill and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Terra Scheer came by the restaurant to see what’s in store for the B.A.C.I.O. event.
07 – Judging from the smiles from the judges, things are postively delicious at the CCC competiton. From left: David Scholefield, Mick Luckhurst and Sid Cross.
By Catherine Barr – December 2009
Published in print by North Shore Outlook newspaper (Black Press) on Jan 7, 2010