by Joy Metcalfe

A SALUTE TO FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

If all was right with the world at this time, there would have been several B.C. families flying home recently from the United States, following what should have been a very sad/happy occasion. This was the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Salute held in Colorado Springs, a touching tribute to those firefighters who perished from fires or from lung cancer, heart problems and other occupational diseases.

Instead, because of COVID-19, the families and friends of the fallen were treated to an impressive hour-long virtual ceremony at the memorial which showed a firefighter descending a ladder with an infant tenderly cradled in his arms while two others stood guard.

The virtual ceremony began with the official welcome, followed by the national anthems, “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”, with IAFF Chaplain Father Thomas Mulcrone saying prayers for the deceased. While photos of the fallen were displayed, the trio called The Tenors, with Vancouver’s Clifton Murray and Ottawa’s Victor Micallef, performed “Shelter Me”, “Let Me In” and the emotional “You Raise Me Up”. Talented piper Hunter Shappaugh did a great job on “Amazing Grace” while “The Last Alarm” was narrated.

The two farewells at the end of this special occasion, the U.S.’s “Taps” and Canada’s “Last Post” along with the choir singing “America The Beautiful” had everyone reaching for their Kleenex.

It was a well-done event, even virtually. Our sincere condolences to the families of firefighter Ron Renville, BC Fire Chief Kelly Mullen, Fire Chief Allen McLeod, Battalion Chief Art Wick and Battalion Chief Stan Brooks. My sincere thanks to retired firefighter Tony Naratini who does an outstanding job for retirees. The old guys couldn’t do without you, Tony …

A NEW CONSUL GENERAL IN TOWN

Speaking of our friendly neighbors to the south, a very warm Vancouver welcome to our town’s newest and very important import. His name is Brent Hardt and he is our newest United States Consul General in Vancouver. Hardt is 58 years old and has had wide experience as a senior foreign service officer. He has served as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guyana and the Caribbean community and was most recently Charge d’ Affaires in Paris in 2017.

Prior to his Paris assignment, he had served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Central Command as well as service in Berlin, The Hague, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. He is well-spoken, has published several articles on U.S. Foreign Policy and has been honoured with numerous awards and citations.

He and his wife Saskia have three sons, and he speaks Italian, Dutch, German and French. I’m told that he is quite the charmer …

ARTS UMBRELLA SPLASHES ON!

Halleluiah! So great to know that Arts Umbrella, that longtime and very successful charity, is going ahead with a new idea for their annual Splash Art Auction and Gala. And it’s all happening on Saturday, October 24th.

Arts Umbrella was launched in 1979 as a grassroots project for young people and the Splash Gala was the money raiser, anchored by acclaimed live and silent auctions of artworks donated by the Canadian artistic community. Over the years Splash has raised more than $7.2 million, allowing young people to access Arts Umbrella’s programs and workshops through bursaries and workshops.

Because of the COVID-19 situation, for the first time the affair will be hosted in various locations ranging from restaurants to private venues. Co-chairs Christie Garofalo and Bruce Munro Wright will be kept busy that evening. The auction will employ a state of the art platform that will connect guests at every location via large digital screens with more than 100 artworks on the auction block, including works by Douglas Coupland, Angela Grossman, Marie Khouri and Stephen Waddell among others.

The other good news is that Arts Umbrella is hosting an exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery at Howe and West Georgia to preview the Splash Art Collection, offering private tours up to October 16. Art lovers unable to attend Splash can take this additional opportunity to bid on the incredible works of art.

Should be a fantastic event and so welcome at this time!...

Karen Kain helped launch Ronald McDonald House in 1983.

HOST A DINNER FOR RONALD McDONALD HOUSE

Not in the same glitz class as Splash but every bit as important are two other vitally necessary charities. The first is Ronald McDonald House which tries to keep out of town families together while a youngster is being treated for a life-threatening illness. It was back in the summer of 1983 when McDonald’s President and CEO Ron Marcoux officially launched the House That Love Built with the help of a truly stellar star.

It was Canada’s Prima Ballerina, the lovely and graceful Karen Kain who happened to be in town with the National Ballet of Canada and she was thrilled to be part of this heartwarming event and helped Ron to cut the official red ribbon. It was just last year that Karen finally retired both as a dancer and as the artistic director of the national ballet company after more than 50 years.

This year the folks at Ronald McDonald House are asking that you host a dinner for your family and or friends at home or at a restaurant and ask them to donate to the worthy cause …

Enjoy a meal prepared by 2019 Iron Chef Champion Alex Cheng at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar while showing your support for the Dr. Peter Centre. Win, win!

DR. PETER CENTRE THANKS ITS RESTAURANT SUPPORTERS

Again, because of the pandemic, the hard-working folk at the Dr. Peter Centre have had to cancel their premier fund-raising event, Passions, which is a huge disappointment for so many. Instead, they are going to host a Gratitude Campaign to give back to the restaurant community that has played such an essential role in the success of the Passions gala since 2004, raising more than $1.5 million over the past 16 years, including the West End’s restaurants CinCin, Forage, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, and Joe Fortes.

October 1st is the date that the Dr. Peter Centre is encouraging donors and past gala attendees to take an active role in supporting the local culinary community by dining in, dining out, or purchasing gift cards at one or more of these restaurants. The restaurant industry has experienced significant disruptions to their business, and this is a good way to show your support for them, and help the Dr. Peter Centre thank them for their support.

Perhaps it’s just as well that the actual feast has been cancelled since we’d still be missing that bright spark that started the whole idea, the late Nathan Fong, who’s up in God’s kitchen telling the angels how to chill the wine …

A FOND FAREWELL

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the CHILD Foundation’s president and chief Executive officer Mary McCarthy Parsons and her family on the death of her husband, Barry. Barry, who was 71, also leaves his beloved children, The Rev. Canon Christopher Parsons, Dr. Matthew Parsons and daughter Shannon Ernst who was the inspiration for CHILD, along with four granddaughters and one new little grandson.

Besides the foundation and the children, Barry had been the mainstay of Mary’s life for more than the past 50 years, solid and supporting, always there helping and advising, especially after the sad passing of her mother, the irreplaceable Grace McCarthy.

In his working life, Barry was a much-admired teacher and Vice Principal in a number of North Vancouver schools, his passion for math and science inspired, encouraged and motivated students in his various classes.

After stoically living with cancer for many years, Barry passed away peacefully in his home in West Vancouver on August 12. A private family gathering was held on September 1st in the garden of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in West Van. Rest in peace, Barry. Our prayers are with you, Mary…

ALSO IN THE NEWS

I think my next item is the perfect follow-up. The ever-effervescent Gale Honey, the widow of the late, great Rick Honey of CKNW fame, has recently moved to Morgan Creek and there’s a new person in her life. Her name is Nia Kelly Wilds and she’s just seven months old. She is Gale’s first great-grandchild!

Talk about a proud great grandmother! And she’s so pretty, just like Gale …

And former PR for the Mel Zajac Foundation and Variety volunteer, Caren Reynolds, has recently moved with her significant other to an oceanside estate on Vancouver Island…

Send or email get well wishes to one-time sports columnist, broadcaster and PR man, Jack Lee, who recently took a bad spill and ended up in Lions Gate Hospital with a broken hip. He’s finally home and learning how to maneuver the walker. Send him a card and wife Joanie a bottle of Pinot Gris …