By Joy Metcalfe

Barbara Stewart and daughter-in-law Linda Stewart

Linda Annis and Chief Adam Palmer

Sergio Cocchia and Wendy Lisogar Cocchia

ANGELS IN OUR MIDST …

And a very Happy New Year to everyone!...

There are angels in our midst, two of whom I mentioned last month. Wendy Lisogar Cocchia was born into a family known throughout Vancouver for their thoughtful generosity. Her dad, Roy Lisogar, was a hard-working contractor whose buildings, apartments and hotels still stand today, including the Century Plaza Hotel on Burrard. Visitors to town, no matter where they bed down, still rush to enjoy hearty breakfasts at that establishment. So when daughter Wendy expressed her desire to help those less fortunate, Roy was all for it and the famous Ladies Media Golf Tournament was born in the mid-90’s and, for the next 20 years, benefitted the Downs Syndrome organization with thousands upon thousands of dollars.

Wendy was the best and most organized task master ever, herding a flock of chatty females into a tight and efficient group of do-gooders. And now the focus in her fund-raising efforts is on the worthy Pacific Autism Family Network. The PAFN is a unique organization which tries to address the needs of families throughout the province affected by autism. The third annual fund-raising Launch luncheon was a great success with three new Gamec-hanger awards being presented to Illumina Canada, Townline Homes’ Rick Ilich and the Milan and Maureen Ilich Foundation and Jordan and Jason Oliver of Prince George...

Nice to have B.C. Lt. Gov. Janet Austin on hand for the well-attended luncheon, along with such notables as the Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, Adam Palmer, Surrey city councillor Linda Annis, Global TV’s Jill Krop, the Variety Club’s Barbara Stewart and daughter-in-law Linda Stewart, Wendy’s mother Lori Lisogar and the nicest and most with-it photographer around, Jay Shaw.

And a big tip of the hat to those volunteers who worked tirelessly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Launch Day to make it all happen...

Silvia Abello Meesineo, Katerina Tokmak, Carnelian Cusano, Gloria Bartel, Rosemarie Bueno.

Christine Gauthier, Donna Ferro, and Paul Moore.

Lucy DeVita, Shelley Harmanty, Devina Zalesky, and guests.

Christine Gauthier and Donna Ferro with Paul Moore., Portage Wine

Bianca Zanatta with Dexter Dolores.

REACHING FOR OUTER SPACE …

The other magnanimous angel is a tiny, dark-haired dynamo who has been raising funds for years for the Boys and Girl’s Club and last week hosted the 19th annual Ladies Charity Holiday Luncheon at La Terrazza Restaurant.

Even the restaurant owner Guilio Miceli added to Bianca’s fund-raising efforts for her Christmas parties for needy children by including three dinners for six guests each, including wine. Some of those happily bidding on the various items included Devina Zelesky, Lori Rowe, Carmen DeGuzman, Shelley Harmanty, Donna Trasolini, Lori Teti, Sarah Ho and Lucy DeVita. Portage Wines’ Paul Moore supplied the exclusive vino.

As always, Bianca Fusco Zanatta was a whirlwind of activity as she organized the affair to benefit the Reach for Outer Space Children’s Christmas Party. Each December she and her family and friends create a magical Christmas experience with more than 2,200 children enjoying their efforts over the past two decades. The monies raised go to the Downtown Eastside YWCA Crabtree Corner community and to the mothers and children living in transitional housing and emergency shelters.

This year, thanks to generous donations, she was able to host five incredible Reach For Outer Space Christmas parties. You have to see to believe the looks on the little kids’ faces. This is what really makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Not content with that aspect of fundraising, she is also very involved with the Kids Help Phone, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Bianca is a member of the national board of directors. Throughout the past ten years she has chaired the Home for the Holidays annual fund-raising event that offers self-guided tours of the city’s well-appointed homes, dressed in their Christmas finery. The seven beautifully decorated homes this year gave viewers a chance to see what can be done with creative touches and ideas.

And again, thanks to those more than 250 volunteers who worked through the entire weekend to help raise those needed funds – and to Meinhardt’s Fine Food who supplied their lunches.

25 YEARS OF CANUCK PLACE …

It’s hard to believe but next November, Canuck Place, the first free-standing hospice for children in North America, will celebrate its 25th birthday. I vividly recall that cold wet November 30 when I was broadcasting live on CKNW as the crowd waited expectantly for those big heavy doors to swing wide. It was a very auspicious moment as Arthur Griffiths and his former wife, Joanne, stepped up the stairs and threw open the doors.

The Griffiths family had always been the big push behind this new and much-needed facility and ‘NW vice president, the late John Plul, became the brainy torch bearer bringing all sorts of money-raising ideas to the boardroom table as he did for the Canucks, the Orphan’s Fund and Grace McCarthy’s CHILD Foundation.

I’m still missing that publicity-wise idea man ... and yes, that was the lovely Joanne enjoying herself at the Bright Nights in Stanley Park display last week, a popular event which raises funds for the Vancouver Fire Department’s Burn Fund...

Lisa and Joe Groves, with Marianne Macario. 

One of the winning entries.

CTV’s Jim Gordon .

DOWN GINGERBREAD LANE …

Hyatt Regency’s 29th annual Gingerbread Lane fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation attracted hundreds of visitors, parents and friends to wander through the hotel’s vast lobby where some 29 unique and very creative gingerbread structures were on display. They are part of the Hyatt’s ongoing efforts to benefit the worthy Make a Wish Foundation.

I remember being one of the Gingerbread Lane’s first judges when impresario Garth Drabinsky was flying high with all his Broadway shows like Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Phantom of The Opera and Showboat on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Mark Andrew was the Hyatt G.M. then and he persuaded many of the guest stars, like Cloris Leachman of Showboat, to come and help judge.

This year Make a Wish’s executive director Joe Groves and his wife Lisa were on hand for the reception, along with hotel general manager Lin Schatz while CTV’s natty Jim Gordon was emcee. Top prizes were handed out in the six different categories to the various participants.

Always a fun effort for another worthy cause and still time to take it in.

VANCOUVER AM CLUB REUNION …

It was a marvellous turnout for the Vancouver AM Reunion Breakfast last week at the Pinnacle Hotel . Vancouver AM was a powerhouse group of business, tourism, hotel and hospitality executives that met once a week to discuss business over breakfast. Some 90 people did turn up at 7 a.m. sharp just to reminisce and chit chat over the state of the world.

Among those who I spotted were: the Rocky Mountaineer’s Peter Armstrong; author and former Tourism Vancouver boss, Rick Antonson; former sales whiz and now the “mayor” of downtown Bowen Island, Murray Atherton; the very best Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus aka Gillian Campbell and hubby Ed Thompson; as well as Ray Greenwood, Diane Robinson, Ian and Shirley Broadfoot, and hoteliers John and Suzanne Jennings.

The good news is that the Vancouver Food Bank received $10 for every registration. And Amen to that...

Jody and Kayko welcome guests at Fairmont Christmas party.

Donna Spalding.

Owen Chui.

Rae Acton, Suzanne Girard, and Coleen Christie.

Sid Cross chats it up with the chefs.

Christine Bell and Carla Fellacella.

Kaylyn Storey.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FAIRMONT …

A cheery Christmas luncheon hosted by the Fairmont hotel executives was held at the spacious Waterfront Centre Hotel with a Christmassy winter theme – from sleds to ice skates to skiing to snowshoeing with a background of widescreen scenes of snowy Whistler.

Nice to catch up with former catering executive Carla Fellacella who is now with the high-powered TED organization; Global TV anchor Coleen Christie, whose weekend news gig with sports reporter Barry Deley and weather gal Yvonne Schalle gets better and better. Also attending were gourmand Sid Cross, happily sampling all the chefs’ rich goodies; the cruise world’s Donna Spalding who is expecting even larger numbers of cruise passengers to visit our city in 2020, as is Tourism Vancouver’s manager of meeting and convention sales Owen Chiu, who is gearing up for the hugely successful Dine Out Vancouver later this month.

SHOUT-OUT TO GEORGIE ….

And someone who won’t be home for Christmas this year is that hard-working P.R. man George Lenko of Norman Stowe’s busy Pace Group. George suddenly collapsed at his desk a couple of weeks ago and was rushed to Vancouver General. After a week’s stay and thorough check-over, with everything working well, he’s now resting comfortably and having some rehab at Holy Family Hospital. Get well soon, Georgie!! ...