PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation was founded in 2009 to honour a culture and community established in Vancouver more than a century ago. Led by Carol Lee , daughter of celebrated developer and philanthropist Bob Lee , the CEO of Linacare Cosmetherapy has been a force fighting out-of-character development in the storied neighbourhood. Single-handedly pouring money into the once bustling area, Lee has opened Chinatown barbecue, and Chinatown Vintage, and will soon reopen Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant, a Chinatown fixture during its heydays.
The UBC and Harvard business grad is also championing 58 West Hastings, a purpose built social housing project offering 250 units of affordable housing and the Chinatown Storytelling Centre to illustrate the Chinese Canadian journey. To support her efforts, Lee, along with her sister Leslie , and power brokers Carole Taylor and Sam Feldman fronted the foundation’s third annual Chinatown Autumn Gala, a party quickly becoming a must-attend event on the Vanhattan social calendar.
Seven hundred do-gooders as well as event sponsors RBC, Concord Pacific, Deloitte, HSBC and Rogers made their way to the Hotel Vancouver for the prestigious dinner and auction, lending support to the foundation’s revitalization efforts. Following a royal repast, yours truly called the auction of one-of-a-kind experiences, including a future dinner for 20 at the Storytelling Centre. Fetching $21,000, the pricey dinner party along with the call-out for cash would contribute to an impressive $1.1 million night.
Among the heavyweights lending their support: philanthropist Leslie Diamond and Bob Golden , singer Sarah McLachlan , ICBC’s Joy McPhail , London Drugs’ Brandt Louie , Peterson Group’s Ben and Jane Young , Rogers’ Phil Lind , HSBC’s Sandra Stuart , BMO’s Kevin Lynch , Deloitte’s Frank Vetesse , and VanEdge Capital’s Paul Lee .
Dan’s Legacy Chef’s Charity Dinner
DAN’S LEGACY: Dan’s Legacy’s 5th annual Chef’s Charity Dinner raised nearly $50,000 to go toward the non-profit’s counselling and life skills program for youth affected by trauma-based mental health and addiction challenges. Founded in memory of 19-year old Dan Snook, who overdosed in 2006 after trying to suppress psychological pain from sexual abuse, the organization welcomed some 120 guests who convened at the Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen for the yearly dinner and auction, sponsored by CN.
Featuring the culinary talents of Beach Grove Executive Chef Froilan Alejo , Shay Kelly and Vanessa Trotte (The Caterer), and TJ Conwi and Bruce Nollert (Ono Vancouver), this year’s culinary showcase drew notable names like Delta mayor George Harvie , Delta councillors Dan Copeland and Dylan Kruger , Delta Police Chief Constable Neil Dubord , and former B.C. Lions kicker Paul McCallum .
CBC Radio host Angela Sterritt handled hosting duties. She, along with Dan’s Legacy board member Sierra Van Straaten , a recovering drug addict, also talked about their own personal experiences with trauma-based mental health and addiction challenges, crediting Dan’s Legacy program director, counsellor Tom Littlewood for their second chance at life and success.
“I’d like to thank Angela and Sierra for telling us their deeply moving and powerful stories,” says Barbara Coates, Dan’s Legacy’s executive director. “It took an exceptional amount of courage to do that, and it sends a message that with counselling support, young people can find the insight and empowerment to rise above their experienced trauma and live their best lives.”
Eastside Culture Crawl Take Flight Fundraiser
ART PARTY: The Eastside Culture Crawl began in 1997 with 45 visual artists showcasing their wares in three Strathcona area buildings in Vancouver. The inaugural event attracted a few hundred people. Today, the festival has grown to include some 500 artists, craftspeople and designers attracting an audience of more than 35,000 studio visits. The organization has evolved to represent the heart of the East Van creative community, the largest ratio of artists per capita of any city in the country.
In advance of the popular four-day festival — its 22nd staging which concludes today — the Eastside Culture Crawl Society hosted its second annual Take Flight fundraiser to support its ongoing efforts and artists striving to make a living in an increasingly expensive city where affordable housing is scarce, and studio space even more scarce. Steered by executive director Esther Rausenberg , board chair Mira Malatestinic and fundraising chair Ksenia Kovarsky , the benefit drew a capacity crowd to the Arts Factory in Vancouver.
Yours truly emceed the arty party, which saw attendees snap up 30 original works donated by participating ECC artists. A successful record-setting night by all accounts, the fun-filled evening was marred with news one of the founding buildings, The Glass Onion on Union Street — a mainstay of the festival since its inception, housing 14 artists — was going to participate in its final Crawl.
Artists are facing either evictions or the doubling and or tripling of their rent, says Rausenberg. Our artists are not immune to what is happening in the rest of the city with its lack of affordable housing and studio space. The society is actively pursuing, preserving, promoting and advocating for safe, affordable and tenured space, she adds.
