Looking back over the dozens of events your faithful social scribe had the pleasure attending and covering this past year reinforced my belief that I have the best job there is. What a pleasure to give ink to all the outstanding individuals and corporations that make our city the fantastic place it is in which to live. Calgarians can always be counted upon to support myriad causes-all the while having great fun. This past year saw centennial celebrations for the Fairmont Palliser, Calgary Downtown Rotary Club and Wood’s Homes, to name but a few. The media landscape was reimagined like never before with the launch of the ‘new’ Calgary Herald Nov 25. We welcomed the first Nordstrom outside of the U.S. with great enthusiasm and other new restaurants, shops, galleries and nightclubs sprang up like spring daisies. In spite of the precipitous decline in the price of oil, you continue to dig deep and support those in need. There can be no question Calgary is the best place in the country-perhaps the world- in which to live.
So enjoy this look back at just some of the memorable events I had the pleasure of attending and covering in 2014. And my heartfelt wishes for a new year filled with joy, prosperity and good health. I’ll be out and about-camera in tow- and look forward to seeing you all.
Broadway Billy event chair Larry Clausen and longtime supporter Renee Hopfner of Safeway, the event’s lead sponsor, join Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit founder at the 16th annual event held in January at the Hotel Arts. The 17th annual-themed Rock A Billy takes place Friday, Jan 30 again at Hotel Arts.
Having a wonderful time at Wood’s Homes 100th Anniversary Children’s Benefit Gala are, from left, Wood’s Homes CEO Dr. Jane Matheson, Canadian Oil Sands’ Trudy Curran and Gary DeLeeuw.
Pictured with reason to smile at the 27th Annual SAM Awards Gala held Mar 29 are Jayman Group of Companies’ Jay Westman and his wife Karen. Jayman took the Grand SAM Award in the Mulit-Family Builder of the Year category.
All smiles from left, at the Fairmont Palliser’s 100th anniversary celebration held Apr 3 are Jon Mathews, director of operations, Jacqueline Tyler, communications manager, Brett Connor, controller and Dan McGowan, general manager.
The Calgary Pro-Am Alzheimer’s Hockey Tournament was a phenomenal success and raised serious coin for the fight against Alzheimer’s. Pictured at the kick-off luncheon held Apr 4 at the Westin are special guest Gordie Howe, event chair Allan Klassen and Yvan Cournoyer.
Sherri Logel (left) and Shelly Norris have reason to smile. The dynamic duo co-chaired the hugely successful Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter Turning Points 2014 fundraising gala held Apr 23 at the Hyatt.
Pictured, from left, at the Rotary Club of Calgary Centennial Gala held May 3 at the Hyatt are Stan Carscallen, Q.C. and his wife Eva Friesen, Rotary Club of Calgary president with Jetta Burton and her husband Ron Burton, International president of Rotary Clubs worldwide.
Pictured at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area 9th Annual All-Star Gala held May 10 at the Sheraton Suites are president and CEO Trish Bronsch and guest of honour and keynote speaker, famed Pittsburgh Steelers’ Lynn Swann.
The Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre’s (AARC) Gala Benefit Dinner held May 22 was a resounding success and netted more than $1 million. Pictured, from left, are Cecile Calliou, AARC board chair Ann McCaig and George Calliou, executive director of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary.
Calgary Stampede president and board chair Bob Thompson has a glass of bubbly poured by acrobat Cary Lam at the VIP opening of the Agrium Western Event Centre June 20 at Stampede Park.
The inaugural Breakfast on the Bridge, held June 21 in support of the Military Family Resource Centre was a great success. That none other than General Rick Hillier attended to provide the keynote address ensured a memorable morning for the hundreds of guests who attended.
Looking their glam finest at the Banff Centre Midsummer Ball are, from left, Sheryl and Jeff Hotchkiss, Rebecca Hotchkiss and her daughter, Banff Centre board chair Brenda Mackie.
Host with the most, entrepreneur and philanthropist W. Brett Wilson has reason to smile. His 2014 Garden Party, held on the grounds of his Mt. Royal estate, raised more than $350,000 for organizations that support mental health.
The Priddis Greens Charity Classic held Aug 13 and 14 with an Aug 12 registration and gala event raised more than $415,000 for Calgary’s Prostate Cancer Centre. Pictured with reason to smile are tournament chairman Bas Wheeler and auction chair Winnie Bezemer.
Pictured with 320,000 reasons to smile at the 7th Annual Remington Charity Golf Classic in support of the Prostate Cancer Centre are tournament committee members, from left, Darwin Flathers, David Routledge, Randy Magnussen, honorary chairman Randy Remington, Carl Cheverie, Cody Clayton and Alex Wong.
The second annual Calgary Diner en Blanc was an enormous success and was attended by more than 2500 people. Pictured, from left, are producers and owners of the event Jordan Kallman and Tyson Villeneuve with Calgary co-hosts Jason Gogo and Cory Edwards.
Pictured, from left, at the Shaw Charity Classic opening night festivities held at Flames Central Aug 26 are Shaw chief marketing officer Jim Little, legendary golfer Stephen Ames, Lusome’s Lara Smith and Jim Riddell. The Classic, which took place Aug 29-31 at Canyon Meadows, was the biggest tournament to hit our fair city -since last year’s inaugural Shaw Charity Classic.
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta founder Alvin Libin pictured with his grand daughters Eda Libin (left) and Nora Libin at The Beat Goes On- the 10th anniversary celebration and fundraiser for the world-class institute. The glam gala netted more than $750,000.
Pictured, from left, at the Nordstrom Gala Sept 17 are Nordstrom family members Erik, Jamie, Blake and Pete Nordstrom. The first international opening of a Nordstrom store outside the US was met with great fanfare. The gala raised $180,000 for United Way of Calgary and Area and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation(ACHF).
Host with the most David Foster and his wife Yolanda have reason to smile. A Miracle Gala held Sept 27 raised $8.2 million for the David Foster Foundation. The foundation offers financial and emotional to support to the families of children in Canada who are awaiting life-saving organ transplants.
Pictured, from left, at the National Music Centre (NMC) inaugural gala Out Loud held Sept 20 are Brad Hawker, Joanna Barstad, Ingrid Mosker and her husband Andrew Mosker, president and CEO of the NMC.
Premier Jim Prentice and his daughter Cassia Prentice, a lawyer with Bennett Jones attended the Court of Appeal of Alberta Centennial Gala Banquet held at the Westin Oct 22. Mr. Prentice brought greetings on behalf of the Province.