Manitoba-style social set for Saturday

Whether or not you’re from Manitoba, you can come out Saturday night for the fourth annual Winnipeg Social at the Kelowna Curling Club to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of B.C. in Kelowna.

Socials are a tradition in Manitoba, said West Kelowna’s Julie Masi, a former member of the Parachute Club, whose single Rise Up won the 1984 Juno for Single of the Year and who is producing the event.

Friends come together in a big hall, dance to live music, eat, drink and have a chance to win donated door prizes to raise money.

Growing up in Winnipeg, Masi went to many socials, raising money for the church, the community hall

or a family in need. Even young couples getting married would have a social to raise money for the wedding, she said.

The cause near and dear to Masi’s heart as her husband Agostino passed away from prostate cancer in 2010.

When the pair ran a fine dining restaurant on Bernard Avenue, they met many people who had moved to the Okanagan from Winnipeg, so he always wanted to do a Winnipeg get-together.

While Agostino was undergoing cancer treatments, they did prostate cancer fundraising events at their restaurant at Shannon Lake Golf Course.

“In honour of him, I wanted to carry on and do a Winnipeg Social and raise money for prostate cancer,” said Masi. “The money is going to a prostate cancer supportive group right here in our community.”

All the fundraisers have raised about $30,000 for prostate cancer support.

This year’s event will have a wine wall with a selection of 130 bottles of wine from Volcanic Hills, the View, Indigenous World, Peller Estates and House of Rose. For $20 people can pick a numbered cork and get the matching numbered bottle, which could be a $40 bottle of wine or even icewine.

There will be a rafÁe for a Winnipeg Jets jersey and a chance to win a stay worth $1,000 at a West Kelowna retreat.

All of the money raised from rafÁes and other fundraising go to prostate cancer along with $5 from each ticket.

Tickets cost $35 in advance and are available at brownpapertickets.com. Masi warned the event is getting close to full, so it is unlikely tickets will be for sale at the door.