FANCY HATS AND FROCKS RULE AT PARTY
At Racing for Resources fundraiser, women wore fascinator alternatives
YOU BET: Hastings Racecourse regulars are accustomed to the Deighton Cup party (July 16 this year) bringing snappy chappies and snugly dressed young women out for a sunny afternoon with the gee-gees. That it’s attracted others was evident recently when the Resource Works Society held a look-alike, if smaller, event called Racing For Resources. With former Sun deputy managing editor Stewart Muir as executive director and two-term Surrey councillor Barinder Rasode as social-responsibility director, the society advocates for the development of resource-based industries and the jobs they offer.
Broadcaster-actress-writer Meena Mann, who emceed, wore a wide-brimmed felt hat rather than one of the “fascinators” that still rule at such events. Fellow broadcaster Arran Henn sported just such a skimmer.
Given Resource Works’ political context, it was unsurprising that longtime Liberal strategist-turned-communications firm principal Mark Marissen attended with bride Maryam Atigh. The ever-wry Marissen — second syllable emphasized in the Dutch manner — said the theme for attendees at his approaching 50th birthday party will be Good or Evil. Mann could literally cover both by wearing her same net-petticoated summer frock. Its Delft blue motifs of bucolic cottages, picnic spreads, orchard fruits and suchlike were interspersed with grimacing skulls. Fascinating, indeed.
ANOTHER CEILING: Arriving from Sri Lanka in April, consul general Asako Okai possibly reflected on the 43 Japanese men who’d preceded her since the office’s 1889 establishment. A former African-affairs director in Tokyo and at the UN, as well as her country’s first female head of mission, Okai is responsible for 35,000 Japanese nationals residing in B.C. and Yukon. At a reception in the Shaughnessy consular residence recently, she said she’ll seek corporate investment opportunities here and hopes to provide “attractive features of traditional and contemporary Japan.”
FOR PEAT’S SAKE: Creating 18 showrooms for 15 automobile makes in 16 years might impress many. But not Open Road Auto Group founder Christian Chia. He whistled over his newest property, a 113,000-square-foot, $18-million Audi outlet at German car ground zero Lougheed-and-Boundary. It reportedly settled one metre while being built. Blame it on peat, the compressible plant humus that underlies the Still Creek area. Unsurprisingly, Chia offered unpeated Bruichladdich whisky (and Remy Martin cognac) at an opening reception. Former Soul Decision singer Trevor Guthrie, who’ll release the single Wanted July 20, could have addressed the peat phenomenon with his 1998 hit, Ooh It’s Kinda Crazy. Meanwhile, he’s recovering from a hand injury sustained during home renovations, possibly while humming his 2000 song, Let’s Do It Right. Chia certainly did so that year.
ON TIME: While readying to undertake timing duties at the Rio Olympics, the Omega concern held a Brazil-themed reception in its Hotel Vancouver showroom. Olympics swimmer Ryan Cochrane, triathlete Simon Whitfield and soccer midfielder Kaylyn Kyle attended. Trading her Metro-league goalie strip for sequins, athlete-singer-actress Jina Anika accompanied fellow Ache Brasil dance-troupe member Fernanda Smith to provide sambadrome glitter. York House grad Anika could have entertained attendees by belting out her repertoire with the Modern Day Poets rock band, but only the muted ticking of Omega timepieces was heard.
PRIME TIME: Attending the Omega event with wife Jill, CTV News anchor Mike Killeen was delighted to have learned that he and other crew members had overcome all North American contenders to take the Radio Television Digital News Association’s Edward R. Murrow award for overall excellence in largemarket television.
HOLD ’EM: When independent moviemakers enjoyed their monthly screenings at the ANZA Club recently, a washroom plumbing mishap resulted in bar service being sensibly curtailed. The situation echoed one at a Burnaby plant some years ago when, with overflowing toilets deepening a pool on the floor, a poker devotee dryly cracked: “A full house always takes a flush.”
THE MOST HAPPY FELLA: That 1956 Broadway musical’s title applies to Art Club Theatre artistic managing director Bill Millerd. The outfit he’s led since 1972 swept 10 of 11 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards for large theatre with its production of the musical Onegin. Winning awards is one thing, filling seats another. Millerd is as adept at that as his family was with stuffing salmon into cans at what is now the West Vancouver police department’s waterfront laboratory.
FROM THE HALLS: Canadian Terry Salman’s craggy mug wasn’t scratched when he led a U.S. Marine Corp. mortar squad in Vietnam. Not so recently when a carelessly driven car sent the Vancouver Public Library Foundation chair emeritus over his bicycle’s handlebars. His Cirrus SR20G3 aircraft has its own parachute. Salman figuratively hit the silk himself this week by leaving the Salman Partners investment firm he founded. Keeping its advisory business, he’ll identify “opportunities in the funds area for CEOs, boards of directors, institutions and governments.”
DOWN PARRYSCOPE: An article about Sexual Sugar perfume in The Sun on June 28 didn’t hint at how some wearers get to take their lumps.