PULL OVER FOR THE CITY’S 2017 AUTO, TRUCK SHOW
Vehicles and Violins charity gala provides fun and a sneak peek on showroom floor
Technology is rapidly changing the automobile world.
That’s progress, and for those interested in the evolution of wheeled products there’s no better time or place to witness this transformation than at the Calgary International Auto and Truck Show.
Next week the 37th annual event rolls in to fill all 250,000 square feet of the BMO Centre.
“It’s going to be one of the bestever shows,” says Jim Gillespie of the 2017 event. “All of the manufacturers are bringing in fantastic displays with their latest and greatest cars and trucks.”
Gillespie is the executive manager of the Calgary Motor Dealers Association. Since 1981, the CMDA has hosted the annual car and truck show at the same location, Stampede Park.
From Wednesday, March 15 to Sunday, March 19 the doors are open to the public. There’s something of a best-kept secret about the show, however. It’s called Vehicles and Violins, a charity gala event that first took place in 2000 that has since raised more than $3.7 million for deserving local initiatives. On the Tuesday evening before the show ofcially opens, cars are the stars during the exclusive Vehicles and Violins sneak preview.
Patrons of the gala enjoy live music performed by musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, taste fine international cuisine and sip from a selection of fine wines and spirits, all while getting up close and personal with the newest generation of automotive products.
This year, two Calgary charities will share in the funds raised by Vehicles and Violins: The Mustard Seed and the Prostate Cancer Centre.
For more than 30 years and with a great deal of volunteer and community support, The Mustard Seed has helped people in need across Alberta.
“Our vision is for all adults experiencing poverty and homelessness to have their basic needs met, so that they are growing hope and are supported toward sustainable life change and integration into the broader community,” reads The Mustard Seed literature.
The charity got its start in 1984 in Calgary, and expanded to Edmonton in 1988. In 2016, The Mustard Seed in Red Deer opened.
The Prostate Cancer Centre says that in Alberta each year approximately 2,400 new cases of the disease are diagnosed, making it the most frequently detected cancer in men.
A brochure for the Prostate Cancer Centre says that 18 years ago, men didn’t have a place to turn to when faced with prostate cancer.
“Calgary’s not-for-profit Prostate Cancer Centre was created so no man would face the disease alone. Today, we provide an innovative approach to awareness, assessment, diagnosis, education and access to a variety of treatment options.”
In 2006, the centre launched the Man Van mobile PSA blood-testing clinic, which is an example of how the Vehicles and Violins fundraising has had an impact on the community; initial fun ding for the purchase of the Man Van was raised during a 2006 partnership with the Prostate Cancer Centre and the automotive charity gala.
Since its introduction, the Man Van has provided baseline PSA tests to more than 30,000 men, “helping save lives through early detection.”
The Man Van will be on site at the auto show throughout the week, from March 15 to 17, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and on March 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It won’t be staffed on the evening of Vehicles and Violins.
Part of the Vehicles and Violins experience is the opportunity to bid on numerous silent and live auction items, plus a wine and a spirit rafe, each worth $4,000.
Tickets for the evening are $150 each. Call 403-974-0707 to purchase.