By Joy Metcalfe

(click on photos to enlarge)

Mr. & Mrs. Claus bringing Christmas cheer wherever they go!

ALL SINGING, ALL DANCING!

There is one amazingly outgoing, sprightly and gorgeous woman about town who, like the Energizer Bunny, never stops.

She sings, she dances, she poses and models and entertains throughout the province, all to raise funds for worthy causes - and she’s been doing it for the past 45 years! Her name is Mrs. Edward Thompson, otherwise known as Gillian Campbell, who also goes by Klondike Kate and Mrs. Santa Claus. And she and hubby Edward were very busy this past Christmas.

Their Santa gigs began in early November when she and Ed flew to Fort Rouge in Winnipeg to take part in the Crankie Music festival, produced and musically directed by Grant Simpson, where there were musical performances and comedy acts from all over North America.

Back home, Santa and Mrs. Claus were the stars of the St. Paul’s Hospital fundraiser on November 14, in a tent across Burrard Street from the hospital where people posed for photos with them for a donation to the hospital. Then it was a quick dash up to G.F. Strong to bring Christmas cheer to the patients there.

Just one of Gillian’s gorgeous gowns by Ray Buchanan, for her personae as Klondike Kate.

Three days later it was a special appearance at Garden Works, complete with elves and musicians raising funds for PADS, the animal help and rescue organization. Owners brought all sorts of cuddly cats and dogs and geckos to have their photos taken with Santa and the Mrs. They even had pet rats on their laps or shoulders!

Next up was the annual Surrey Tree Lighting where they performed on a huge stage, followed by the Van Dusen Garden’s Christmas Show where they entertained from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for 12 nights.

They were also a very big hit at the annual Tourism Vancouver Holiday luncheon at the Hotel Vancouver, along with extra shows at the Pan Pacific and the Vancouver Club.

In between engagements, they also managed a team of 33 other Santas and ten Mrs. Clauses. Gillian and Ed went on giving joy and happiness right up to Christmas Day, while welcoming and posing for dinner guests at The Hotel Van.

They won’t have too much time to rest on their laurels. On February 18, Gillian will change her darling little kitchen cap and apron for some of the sleekest, most spectacular and sexiest gowns, courtesy of talented designer Ray Buchanan, as they leave for Whitehorse for the famed Sourdough Rendezvous where Gillian has performed as Klondike Kate for almost 50 years! That’s where she met her beloved Edward. She was the leading lady in the Gaslight Follies in the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson and he was the bank manager. It was love at first sight.

Tarun Nayer emceed the sold-out Symphony Ball.

AT THE SYMPHONY BALL

With all the wind and rain and snow and freezing temperatures, tickets to the 30th annual Vancouver Symphony Ball (formerly The Lovers’ Ball) were a hot item as the focus was on the “Sounds of Spain”. Emceeing the sold-out musical extravaganza on February 6 will be Delhi 2 Dublin’s Tarun Nayer, with symphony dinner co-chairs Alexandra Mauler-Steinmann and Barbara Klebanoff welcoming the 550 dressy guests. Also on hand will be VSO and VSO School of Music’s newly appointed director Angela Elster. The rapturous Spanish melodies will be conducted by Maestro Otto Tausk while mezzo-soprano soloist Rihab Chaieb performs the “Carmen Suite No. 1” along with traditional Spanish songs by Manuel de Falla. Ole!

I’ve been following all the gala gala do’s in town for more than 40 years, whether it was the Diamond Ball, the Crystal Ball, the Red and Black Ball or the SnowBall. My favourite was always The Lovers’ Ball, now the Vancouver Symphony Ball.

Just to stand in the vast ballroom and be swept away into another world, a world of romance and gaiety, by our so very talented musicians. They’re magical! Bravo!.

TOASTING THE HAGGIS

It was pretty magical too as Peter Scott, one of the city’s best-known personalities and former owner of Regency Caterers, gave a great performance to an appreciative audience as he performed a tribute to the famed Scottish poet, Robbie Burns. Peter’s Toast to the Haggis, in his deep baritone voice, was most impressive.

Nathan Fong and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham at the 2019 Boston Seafood Expo.

FONG ON FOOD

Someone else who is pretty impressive is chef, author, food stylist, food and travel journalist and founder of the fundraising event Passions, Nathan Fong, who has just launched his radio show Fong on Food on COOP Radio 100.5 FM with permanent guest host Anya Leveykh on Tuesdays at noon. It’s an hour of informative culinary conversation with some of the best in the industry, both local and international. Nathan is off next month to represent the B.C. government at the Boston Seafood Expo in March and at the Brussels Seafood Expo in April.

At the moment, he’s packing his suitcase for a trip to Ottawa in a couple of days for the annual Canadian Chefs Competition. No wonder he looks so youthful. Like Gillian, he doesn’t have time to age.

Cate Simpson and the newest member of The Order of Canada, Diane Clement.

REMEMBERING THE OLYMPIC GAMES

And it’s time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of our city’s biggest productions, the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games.

There’ll be the Canadian Club’s Vancouver Olympic’s Breakfast at the Convention Centre on February 12 with guest speaker TTG’s Andrea Shaw, followed by the Olympics Revisited Ball with special guest, John Furlong, former boss of the big O, at the Vancouver Convention Centre on February 22. Somewhere along the way, I hope they’ll take time to recognize the newest recipient of the Order of Canada, the very deserving Diane Clement who was awarded the medal for her contributions to sport and recreation and as an advocate for a healthy lifestyle for Canadians. Diane is also a wife, mother, popular chef and cookbook author as well as a former restaurant owner, and so giving of her time and talents. Congratulations!

A NIGHT OUT WITH OSCAR

It will be quite the gala gala do on February 9 as Hollywood North celebrates the Oscars. Organized by City Passports’ Randy Vanatter, the mandatory red carpet and chilled champagne will start the reception as black-tie guests mix and mingle in the Vistas Ballroom on the 20th floor of the Pinnacle Hotel. Along with the delectable three-course dinner by executive chef Edmond Lee, there’ll be auctions, contests and prizes. Best of all, this is also a fundraiser for local chaplain, Jon Pelan who ministers to migrant workers from Latin America, making a difference in the lives of hundreds of poor and needy families. This Vancouver Academy Awards evening is bound to be a winner!

Retired Jockeys (from left) Chad Hoverson, Tom Wolski, and Chris Loseth. (Greg Douglas Photo)

A RACING LEGEND PASSES

Speaking of winners, Vancouver has just lost one of the nicest fellows around and the racing community is in shock. The always smiling Tommy Wolski was just a darling gentleman, a former jockey, sports journalist, radio and TV host and member of the Horse Racing’s Hall of Fame, who passed away shortly after arriving in Florida to visit family and friends. Tommy had a legion of friends, with Ron and John Teti , Dee and Greg Douglas, Wally Opal, Jim Robson, Beverly Schultz and Jim Byrnes among them. He loved the track, horses, movies, music and pasta. Among his favourite spots to unwind were Gastown’s Spaghetti Factory, Francisco’s on Burrard, CinCin’s on Robson and the Blue Martini. A celebration of life will be held in the spring once the racing season begins. It’ll be a crush crowd.

FAREWELL TO THE FOUR SEASONS

How nostalgically sad to remember all the exciting events that the Four Seasons Hotel hosted in its heyday, especially under the leadership of vice president and general manager, the late and lovely Ruy Paes Braga and the dynamic founder of the Vancouver Crystal Ball, Isabelle Diamond. From the fabulous fund-raising Crystal Ball, which sold out every year since it began 30 years ago, to the Forest of Trees competition, the Night of 1001 Dinners, to pumpkin carving contests, millions upon millions of dollars were raised for BC Children’s Hospital. Now the Four Season has gone and so has Ruy. I miss them both terribly.