Vancouver Courier

Published: Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Author, journalist and UBC creative writing adjunct professor Terry Glavin won this year’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. The Saanich writer and author of six books received the accolade at the B.C.

Book Prizes silver anniversary celebrations. Three hundred guests including Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and his wife Gwendolyn Point gathered at the Marriot Pinnacle Hotel for the literary luau. Among the winning books were Lee Henderson’s debut novel, The Man Game (fiction) and Gabor Mat?’s In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction (non-fiction).

Shooting Stars Foundation, the producer of special events and concerts including the wildly successful Fit for a Queen, doled out $100,000 in grants to AIDS/HIV related charities at a special shindig hosted by Piato Restaurant on West Fourth. Chair and vice chair Ryan Resch and Janine Davies and events producer Kendra Sprinkling presented cheques to 10 beneficiaries including A Loving Spoonful, Youthco AIDS Society and Heart of Richmond AIDS Society.

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan hosted and Breakfast Television’s Dawn Chubai emceed the fifth annual Burnaby Empty Bowls Project gala at the Hilton Metrotown Hotel. Two hundred and fifty noshed at the event, which was chaired by Dale Owen and Sheila Mactavish. Guests filled their handmade bowls with fab food prepped by chefs Scott Jaeger from the Pear Tree, John Garrett from Horizon’s Restaurant, Kris Kabush from the Hart House Restaurant, Tong Lim from the Hilton, and Jack Kuyer from the Valley Bakery.

The event reportedly raised $30,000 for Burnaby community kitchens and breakfast and after-school food programs. Rick Cluff, host of CBC Radio’s The Early Edition, emceed Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation’s 20th annual Partners in Caring gala held at Centennial Arena in White Rock. Co-chaired by Barinder Rasode and Jack Boyce, the event drew nearly 500 supporters to the stellar $275-a-ticket black-tie soiree to help launch the foundation’s $5.3-million campaign to build a new maternity ward. A private engagement with hockey legend Trevor Linden fetched the evening’s top auction bid of $15,000, helping contribute to the estimated $150,000 raised. Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary, your million dollar baby, announced an additional $1-million gift to the OH BABY Campaign.

Andrea and Chris Scott’s Skoah Spa in Yaletown presented its second annual Spring Fashion Show benefit co-hosted by Urban Rush’s Fiona Forbes and CBC-TV’s Karen Khunkhun. Benefitting Hopeful Hand Foundation, a non-profit assisting parents of ill and terminally ill children throughout B.C. and Alberta children’s hospitals, the runway romp showcased SKOAH-sponsored athletes modelling spring fashions by retailer One of a Few and Two of a Few.

Like mother like daughter: Kasondra Cohen, only child of Army and Navy CEO and Face the World (FTW) president Jacqui Cohen, has established her own charity. Joined by her mom and grandmother Marlene, Cohen launched Face of Today at NUBA Restaurant. Vancouver’s next generation of entrepreneurs kibitzed with established business leaders in an evening of philanthropy, inspiration and celebration. At 22 years of age, Cohen is the youngest philanthropist in North America to establish a charitable foundation. She plans to host an annual fundraiser (scheduled for November) at her Point Grey home to raise funds, create awareness and build resources for disadvantaged youth. Kasondra will be taking notes at her mom’s May 29 Face the World fete with special guests Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Him Tarzan, her Jane. Heart and Stroke Foundation honorary chairs Dr. Bruce and Janet McManus promised folks a wild time at their May 29 Heart of the Jungle gala fronted by four-time co-chairs Janice Ketcham and Jackie Bevis.

The couple kicked off the fifth annual campaign at Sam and Patti Gudewill’s posh Point Grey home. Going ape, guests listened to speeches while monitoring the Canucks prowess on a 42-inch flat screen TV.