POLITICAL FORTUNES: Established in 1973 by a dedicated group of volunteers with the aim of helping newcomers overcome barriers and successfully settle into British Columbia, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has become one of the province’s largest multicultural social service agencies. Annually the not-for-profit helps some 62,000 clients annually with everything from housing to employment and skills training. To support the myriad of services, the organization hosted its annual Bridge to S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Gala at the Westin Bayshore Hotel.
Led by Timothy Hsia, Cheryl Kwok and Modi Liu , this perennial fixture on the Chinese social calendar raised a healthy $531,000, adding to the impressive $20 million raised since the event’s inception. Filled with presentations, speeches, performances and a host of fundraising activities, the marathon event began on a sombre note with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre. Emcees Lisa Wu and Clement Tang did their best to rev up party spirits.
As usual a gaggle of vote-getting politicos from all three levels of government made the banquet kibitzing and taking photos with the well-heeled crowd. Getting the most love and selfie requests was Jody Wilson-Raybould . The embattled former justice minister and her husband Tim took in the multi-course dinner concert and auction, even winning the table centrepiece draw, a BCAA emergency kit, which could come in handy if equipped with a political safety net, quipped one partygoer.
Other dignitaries making the scene included MP Harjit Sajjan , Minister of National Defence; Senators Yonah Martin and Yuen Pau Woo ; MLA Shane Simpson , Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; and Michael Wiebe , Deputy Mayor of Vancouver. One of many speakers, Sajjan paid homage to the society for its decades of service, even bestowing S.U.C.C.E.S.S. CEO Queenie Choo the title of Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy for her commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Year after year, I’m thrilled to see such great support from the community”, said Choo, attired in a naval captain’s uniform. “I want to thank all of our donors, sponsors, board and committee members and our dedicated volunteers for their contributions. Tonight’s proceeds will go toward programs supporting children and youth.”
After successfully surpassing its fundraising goal, organizers rewarded attendees with a concert by well-known Hong Kong singer Joyce Cheng . The Vancouver-born artist and actor performed her cannon of hits to the delight of the predominantly Asian audience.
Vancouver International Auto Show Distinction Awards
BEST IN SHOW: B.C. Special Olympics once again was the beneficiary of the Vancouver International Auto Show’s opening party. Titled Distinction the event drew industry leaders, manufacturers, dealers, media and friends to the Vancouver Convention Centre for the annual awards show and reception presented by the New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia.
Tradition saw the province’s top car salespeople honoured at the top of the program before an auction, showroom cocktail party and official opening of Western Canada’s largest auto show. Association president Blair Qualey and board chairman Jeff Hall presided over the red carpet awards, sponsored by The Province newspaper.
Of the thirty dealers feted this year, all but four were men. Breaking the glass ceiling were Audi’s Maggie Zou , Mini’s Katie Chan , Mazda’s Kelly Wei and Kia’s Zohreh Layeg . The recognition program also saw 10 Green Star Awards handed out to dealerships selling the highest number of clean energy vehicles and half a dozen Community Driver Awards given to dealerships making a positive impact in their communities.
Following the presentations, car auctioneer John MacDonald fronted the live auction of unique one-of-a-kind items. A Barenaked Ladies concert in Las Vegas fetched the night’s highest bid, but Qualey’s sequined jacket drew the most attention. It would find its way on the auction block adding another $900 to the B.C. Special Olympics coffers. Following the formalities and official photos, everyone descended to the showroom floor to imbibe and check out this year’s offering of 400 vehicles.
Since 1984, Special Olympics B.C. has been the industry’s charity of record. This year’s fundraising efforts reportedly collected $182,000, raising the organization’s three-decade total to more and $4.9 million for the New Car Dealers Foundation providing education grants and supporting the work of the Special Olympics B.C.
The New Car Dealers Association represents more than 390 new car dealers throughout B.C., says Qualey. They provide more than 30,000 jobs and generate $16 billion in economic activity.
“The Auto Show allows us an opportunity to celebrate and honour the best and brightest in an evening that is rightly entitled Distinction,” he adds.
Club House Comedy Benefit
COMEDY NIGHT: The Boys and Girls Club of South Coast B.C. held its first ever Comedy Club House fundraiser. Fronted by CEO Carolyn Tuckwell and director of resource development Marcie Mark , the benefit aimed to attract a younger audience to the charity’s work providing an after school place — some dozen clubhouses — for young kids to be amazing and safe. Not your typical sit down, hotel ballroom, fundraising dinner, the evening of laughs was held at Rocky Mountaineer Station.
Featuring comedians Steve Patterson and Charlie Demers , stalwarts on CBC’s The Debaters, and Katie-Ellen Humphries , the inaugural night of hilarity drew 250 young professional ready to yuk it up for charity. Before the main event, attendees feasted on food trucks, craft cocktails and beer, and poured over a silent auction tailored for the younger set. The casual night of laughs aimed to net $25,000 for the cause.
“At BCC, we are keeping kids out of gangs, off drugs, helping them finish school, and giving them the skills they need to launch into adulthood,” says Tuckwell. “Tonight’s proceeds will have a major impact.”
