THEATRE WORTH APPLAUDING

Louis B. Hobson’s favourite stage offerings of 2017

Imagine you’re in a room filled with hundreds and hundreds of children, all of whom are gleefully on sensory overload. If such an image inspires you to reach for the gin, then you were not one of the more than 1,500 guests in attendance at the Candy Cane Gala — Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s (ACHF) signature fundraiser. The gala, you see, is the perfect way to experience the joy and wonderment of the Christmas season through the eyes of the little ones.

The holiday spirit was alive and well at the 2017 Candy Cane Gala as the heart of Calgary shone through, raising more than $500,000 (net) in support of the kids and families who rely on care from the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The 11th annual event, hosted by the ACHF, celebrated the hospital, its research institute and the children and families who rely on their expertise.

Revellers donned their festive finest to attend the gala in the BMO Centre, which was magically transformed into the Big Apple. The New York City winter wonderland even featured an indoor skating display in front of the big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. A photo booth, myriad sweet shops, an NYC taxi track, crafts, a Secret Santa Shoppe and even the Central Park Petting Zoo were but a few of the features of the fabulous fundraiser. Buddy the Elf entertained the kids and grown-ups alike throughout the evening, leading a Santa Claus is Coming to Town singalong and starting snowball fights. Even Holly Golightly made an appearance — bejewelled with an incredible set of custom diamond earrings and necklace up for auction.

Funds raised will support the crucial area of imaging in medicine and research by helping the hospital purchase a new 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. With this equipment, specialists can see inside children’s brains and bodies noninvasively, with unprecedented clarity, and without any exposure to radiation. The 3T MRI also enables innovative imaging research to find more answers and better treatments for kids in Calgary, southern Alberta and around the world.

Guests this night included: ACHF president and CEO Saifa Koonar; board chair Karen Radford with Jason Grelowski and her mom Claudia Radford; gala co-chairs Agnes Bellegris and Jean-Ann Rooney; Calalta Figure Skating Club’s Brennah Bilous and Addison Wolsey; Petrogas Energy Corp president and CEO Stan Owerko, his wife Marge and their daughter Maryn Milazzo; Ambassador Family Mike and Stacey deBoer and their children, Theo, 7, and Ruby, 4; Brad Shaw; Margaret Fullerton; Dr. Jim Kellner; Steve and Barb Stretch and their daughter Tessa; Gordon and Marion Dixon; and others pictured.

From your faithful social scribe, here’s wishing you all a Christmas filled with love, joy and hope.

BILL BROOKS More than 1,500 guests attended this year’s Candy Cane Gala in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Pictured are Ambassador Family Mike and Stacey deBoer and their children Theo and Ruby. Funds raised at the gala will be used to purchase a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner.

GAVIN YOUNG Dallas and Ashley Crist and their children Riley and Thomas representing the Crist Family Foundation.

BILL BROOKS Dave and Shannon Burton with their children, from left, 10-year old Kate, 12-year old Dylan and Nolan, 7.

BILL BROOKS 11-year old Brennah Bilous, left, and 10-year old Addison Wolsey.

BILL BROOKS From left, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation board chair Karen Radford, Jason Grelowski, Claudia Radford, Barb Stretch, foundation vice-chair Steve Stretch and Tessa Stretch.

BILL BROOKS From left, Shaw’s Brad Shaw, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation president and CEO Saifa Koonar, Alberta Children’s Hospital senior operations officer Margaret Fullerton, and pediatric head Dr. Jim Kellner.

BILL BROOKS Octavia Laurette, in the role of Holly Golightly, with Calaway Park’s Gordon Dixon and his wife Marion.

BILL BROOKS From left: Maryn Milazzo and her parents Stan Owerko, Petrogas Energy president and CEO, and Marge Owerko. Petrogas was the platinum sponsor of the Candy Cane Gala.

BILL BROOKS Candy Cane Gala co-chairs Agnes Bellegris, left, and Jean-Ann Rooney.

BILL BROOKS Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Liz Ballendine, left, and Meghan Kociuba.