AROUND TOWN WITH BROOKS

B’nai Brith honours former PM

The Cher lyrics “If I could turn back time” feels an appropriate theme for this column. Or the Boyz Please Come Back hit. Or the South Korean television series Please Come Back, Mister. Insert the name Harper at the end of the latter and you’ll get where I’m going.

For the first time since leaving public office, former prime minister Stephen Harper took to the stage to deliver a riveting address at the 66th Annual B’nai Brith Dinner held Mar. 16 at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue. Feel free to disagree with me (democracy is a wonderful thing), but I am of the conviction that Harper was a terrific prime minister and I would be delighted were he to return to politics. And I’m far from alone in this sentiment. Witness the lengthy standing ovation from the more than 700 guests in attendance at the 66th annual dinner. Harper’s defence of human rights on a global basis is indisputable. Among his numerous awards, in recognition of his commitment to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, Harper received the B’nai Brith International Presidential Gold Medal. Harper shares this honour with legendary leaders this likes of John F. Kennedy, Golda Meir, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, to name but a few.

Calgary B’nai Brith Lodge #816 has, in it’s 100-year history (2017 marks the lodge’s centennial anniversary) honoured many a deserving individual from Lanny McDonald and David Frum to Phil Libin and Harley Hotchkiss, to name but a few. And its support of myriad charitable organizations as varied as Akiva Academy and the Alberta Children’s Hospital to the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and Yom Hashoah is something to celebrate. The lodge has raised and donated more than $4 million over the years.

Kudos to dinner committee chair Howard Silver and his team on the success of the event. Who was not in attendance at the 66th annual would make a much shorter listing as seemingly half the city was there. Spotted this night were: Michael Mostyn, B’nai Brith Canada CEO and his proud father Alan; B’nai Brith Calgary president Dr. Robert Barsky and his wife Marcie; 2016 honouree and newly minted leader of Alberta’s PC Party, Jason Kenney whose introduction of his good friend Harper was outstanding indeed; 1991 honouree Ken King; West Canadian Industries’ George Brookman; brothers’ Kolias-Ike and Gus; Royop Development Corporation’s Harvey Thal, Melvin Foht and Brian Kowall; Oakridge Investments’ Milt Hohol; WestJet’s Brad Turner and Richard Bartrem; Hotel Arts’ Mark Wilson and Fraser Abbott; Pillar Resource Services’ Rob Milner; Dentons’ Bill DeJong and his wife Franca; Rona Ambrose, interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition and her fiance JP Veitch; Postmedia colleagues Lorne Motley and Jose Rodriguez; B’nai Brith Western Canadian Advocacy co-ordinator Ryan Bellerose and Sarah Hartwick; Wells Fargo’s Justin Carvalho and Devon Iozzo; Affluence Capital’s Prem Singh; Anstice’s Cynthia Moore; writer and heritage advocate Irena Karshenbaum; McLeod Law associate Emma Hamilton; Kids Cancer Care founder Christine McIver; Suncor’s Jose Rodriguez; Ben Docktor Award of Excellence recipient Bruce Libin; and Midnapore federal Conservative candidate — and winner in the Apr. 3 byelection, Stephanie Kusie.

PHOTOS, BILL BROOKS. Pictured, from left, at the 66th Annual B’nai Brith Dinner held Mar. 16 at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue are B’nai Brith Canada president Michael Mostyn, dinner chair Howard Silver, honouree former prime minister Stephen Harper and B’nai Brith Calgary...

All smiles at the event are, from left, Postmedia’s Lorne Motley, Suncor’s Jose Rodriguez and his cousin Jose Rodriguez, Calgary Sun/Herald editor. 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of B’nai Brith Calgary Lodge #816.

Joining newly elected Alberta PC leader Jason Kenney are writer and heritage advocate Irena Karshenbaum and Midnapore Federal Conservative candidate Stephanie Kusie, who went on to win the byelection on April 3.

More than 700 guests attended the dinner. Pictured, from left, are Royop Development Corporation vice-chairman Brian Kowall, West Canadian Industries’ George Brookman, Oakridge Investments’ Milt Hohol and Royop president and CEO Melvin Foht.

Pictured, from left, are McCarthy Tetrault’s Greg Turnbull and his wife Shirley with Gwen Yaholnitsky and her husband Dr. Bruce Yaholnitsky.

Pictured, from left, are Dentons’ Bill DeJong, Q.C, and his wife Franca with Brad Turner, WestJet director, sales strategy and distribution.

Pictured, from left, are Hotel Arts’ Fraser Abbott and Mark Wilson with WestJet’s Richard Bartrem.

Rona Ambrose, interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition and JP Veitch were among the dignitaries in attendance.

Ryan Bellerose, Western Canadian Advocacy co-ordinator for B’nai Brith and nurse Sarah Hartwick are pictured at the dinner honouring former prime minister Stephen Harper.

Wells Fargo’s Justin Carvalho and Devon Iozzo were among the more than 700 guests in attendance.

Pictured at the dinner are B’nai Brith Canada president Michael Mostyn and his dad Alan Mostyn.

The 66th Annual B’nai Brith Dinner was probably one of the most successful dinners to date — no doubt due to the fact the honouree this year was former prime minister Stephen Harper. Joining our former PM is emcee this night, Darrel Janz.

Affluence Captial’s Prem Singh, left, and Anstice’s Cynthia Moore pose for the lens at the 66th Annual B’nai Brith Dinner.

Pictured at the SRO dinner are B’nai Brith Calgary Lodge #816 president Dr. Robert Barsky and his wife Marcie.

Brothers Kolias (Gus, left and Ike) were among the more than 700 guests in attendance.