SHINING A LIGHT ON THE CITY

Bill Brooks: here, there, everywhere

These are three words you never want to hear: “You have cancer,” only to be followed by “Your position has been downsized.” Barb Montgomery heard these exact words just over a year and half ago.

“When I was let go, I lost my health insurance, for myself and for my son. I lost my life insurance,” the now-cancer-free 51-year-old said.

Imagine what you would do were you dealt the triple whammy of cancer, no job and minimal financial resources?

Thank goodness, then, for the invaluable Wings of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. As the name implies, the foundation assists financially strapped women and men with breast cancer.

Since its inception more than 20 years ago, more than $2 million has been raised to help those in need — whether covering day-to-day expenses, rent, groceries, medication or what have you. It’s signature fundraising annual luncheon, held Sept. 12 at the Hyatt, was an SRO success and was sold out months prior.

Montgomery’s passionate video address left many in the audience in tears — a tough act to follow for keynote speaker and renowned Herald business columnist Deborah Yedlin.

Yet Yedlin’s powerful message of hope and resiliency ensured all in attendance were uplifted and greatly inspired.

Among the hundreds of guests in attendance were: Wings of Hope board chair Alicia Quesnel; luncheon chair Rhonda Aiello; eight-year double mastectomy survivor Catherine Hudson; Wings of Hope founder Diana Kalef; Sara Brodksy with gal pal Dorothy Hanson; past luncheon chair Loretta Tetarenko; SemCAMs’ Chris Dutcher and Kalene Anderson; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s Maureen Killoran, Q.C. and Shawn Denstedt, Q.C.; PBA Land & Development CEO Patricia Phillips; Re/Max’s Margot Langdon; Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP’s Annette Lambert and Jody Wivcharuk; ARC Resources’ Jodi Wilson; RBC’s Kim Benter; Susan Desbarats; Cheryl Pynn; Jill Twa; and terrific emcee this day, former Calgary Stampeder offensive lineman Bruce Covernton and current owner and president of Big Fish Staffing.