Tee time
MUSIC IN THE PARK Theatre Under the Stars musical society, affectionately known as TUTS, opened its 71st season with a pair of musical classics — Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story.
Naveen Kapahi, the TUTS board president, welcomed guests to the iconic summertime tradition at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park showcasing the amateur and professional talents of 200-plus individuals on and off the stage.
Before the curtain was raised on the opening-night performance of Disney’s tale as old as time, Kapahi paid tribute to general manager James Pollard, a long-standing member of the TUTS family who passed away this May following a courageous cancer battle. Credited with rejuvenating the financially strapped company, Pollard led the non-profit to its most successful season last year.
TUTS was assured of at least one sold-out performance during its six-week run when the Beedie Development Group bought out the 1,000-seat venue for one of this summer’s most exclusive events. Real estate scion Ryan Beedie and his wife Cindy fronted Rock’N The Park, a musical extravaganza they created to thank their staff, clients, suppliers and friends. Modelled after the Coachella Music Festival in Palm Springs, the all-day appreciation featured Honeymoon Suite, Magic, Metric, Sam Roberts Band and headliner Huey Lewis and the News.
Also a party with a purpose, the event collected 1,500 pounds of peanuts and more than $25,000 from attendees — which the Beedie firm matched — to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. “The response far exceeded our expectations,” reported Greater Vancouver Food Bank CEO Aart
Schuurman Hess. This is wonderful as the food bank typically faces a shortage of donations this time of year, he added.
The hoi polloi drew 3,000 invitees. Among those making the scene: Neil Patrick Harris’s husband, author and chef David Burtka, and their two kids Gideon Scott and Harper Grace.
Honesty, integrity and respect — these are the core values the YMCA’s First Tee Program aims to instil in young golfers.
Created in the United States in 1997, there are now more than 200 chapters. The First Tee of Greater Vancouver is the only chapter in Canada. Founded in 2010, in partnership with the Vancouver Parks Board, the unique program has introduced the fundamental game of golf and its inherent values to 5,000 underserved kids. Qualified coaches help kids build character, and develop life-enhancing values, while enjoying the game. Every child is provided the necessary equipment, and no one is ever turned away because of an inability to pay.
Board chair Jeff Shewfelt, along with the program’s executive director Christophe Collins, fronted the charity’s 6th annual First Tee Million Dollar Challenge, an amateur and professional golf tournament, presented by G&F Financial Group. A full card of 144 golfers hit the fairways at the Richmond Golf and Country Club in support of the non-profit and the opportunity to swing for a million dollars.
With a gallery of players and dinner guests cheering them on from the clubhouse, eight players earned the opportunity for a huge payout: Johnny Cantiveros, Brady Jepsen, Liam Kightley-Kauser, Nancy McMillan, Renate Mueller, Jeff Sheldon, Kyle Williams and Kris Yardley.
While no one was successful sinking the hole-in-one — 15-year old Kightley-Kauser was the only player to find the green — attendees did score $40,000 for the organization. Due to the popularity of the youth development program, Collins announced the YMCA initiative will expand next year to Surrey.