by Joy Metcalfe
(click on images to enlarge)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN REYNOLDS!

It’s always a nice surprise when you receive an invitation to a party, especially when the invite comes via a phone call from Mexico. The invitation came from longtime B.C. and Federal Conservative power broker, the Honourable John Reynolds.

John is a longtime friend and he was calling to invite me to his 82nd birthday party on Wednesday, January 17 at the tony Vancouver Club. That Wednesday night, you might recall, was the night of the “snow”.

Proving just how popular and irresistible he is, out of the 100-plus guests invited, only half a dozen couldn’t get there.

At six-foot-three, John is tall, silver-haired and handsome, a natural born charmer with an innate appeal and still very much involved with federal politics.

The video showed clips of his good friends like Stockwell Day, Sen. Gerry St Germaine, Peter McKay, B.C United boss Kevin Falcon, and former prime minister Steven Harper, all praising John’s long service to the Canadian populace.

It was Darrel Fox, Terry Fox’s brother, who gave much credit for Terry’s fund-raising cross-Canada run to John, who was broadcasting on CJOR and gave the day-to-day details every day of the gruelling challenge on the radio.

“I want to try the impossible,” Terry had said at the beginning of his Marathon of Hope run. His heroic efforts have now brought in more than $850 million dollars for cancer research.

**Wendy and Mel Zajac and daughter Carmen.**

There was also sustained applause for John’s wife, Yvonne, his bride of 40 years. Yvonne looked truly spectacular in a slim black sheath with a matching velvet cape. She loved it so much that she gave me the name of the shop where she bought it. It’s Simpli in Burnaby – just in case you need a new gown for the upcoming gala gala dos.

Along with all the Reynolds’ children and grandchildren, I also spotted top restaurateurs David and Neil Aisenstat at the party along with Mel and Wendy Zajac and Carmen Zajac with her husband, John; the popular, now retired, Conservative MLA Gary Lunn arrived from snowy Sydney on Vancouver Island; Suvina Mah and the man who gave us the fabulous and now world famous Rocky Mountaineer rail train, Peter Armstrong, along with his tall son, Tristen.

Pulling all the strings behind the scene to make John’s 82nd birthday memorable was Colin Metcalfe (no relation). And I think he did it.

As John remarked as the celebration wound up, “after 40 years of marriage, we have the greatest life together. My life is fantastic!”...

He’s a really good guy and I’m happy for him …

SCOOP!

Speaking of Peter Armstrong and the Rocky Mountaineer, the Lazy Gourmet, Western Canada’s premier catering company, has just signed a new contract with B.C. Events Management to become the exclusive caterer for the Rocky Mountaineer’s Vancouver Station …

A LIFE TO CELEBRATE

Some time ago we learned of the passing in early November of that beloved restaurateur, Antonio Corsi, who was born in Maenza, Italy in 1950. He began his culinary career in some of the most prestigious restaurants and resorts in Europe before he and wife, Edith, arrived in Canada.

He immediately became involved in Vancouver’s thriving restaurant scene at the Park Royal Hotel, Corsi Trattoria, Café Roma, Quattro on Fourth, Quattro in Whistler, Gusto Di Quattro and Casa Corsi, now the Corsi headquarters in North Vancouver.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Edith, children Patrick and Ida and granddaughters Sophia, Amaya and Lola, along Uncle Mario Corsi of the Red Lion restaurant and his family.

Antonio’s Celebration of Life last week at North Van’s Pinnacle Hotel had the spacious ballroom overpacked, with more than 650 admirers gathering to salute this gallant gentleman. It was all overseen and coordinated by his son Patrick …

Wonderful to see so many familiar faces from the past like that durable twosome Richard Carras and Darryl Weinbren of the former Authentic Wine Agency; notable food and wine journalist Jamie Maw and his partner Yvonne Drinovz (it was Jamie’s late brother who ran the quaint Harrison Hot Springs Hotel for years); former chef Dino Raenarts and his wife Nessa van Bergen who, together, own the popular and very successful Bon Vivant Catering; wine proprietor Frank Gigliotti of California Cult Classics; North Shore News’ former editor Tim Renfrew and his wife; Ingo Grady, the fellow who helped Anthony von Mandl’s Mission Hill Winery get started eons ago, who is now with Hermit Wine; the White Spot’s Cathy Tostenson and hubby, Ian Tostenson, the head of the Restaurant and Food Services in B.C; Joy Jennissen of the Jennissen Group; Omega’s Travels’ David Griffiths; B.C. Lions owner Amar Doman, and the big man himself, Umberto, who was in great form and looked better than ever!

Also paying his respects was the Whitecaps all-time pin-up boy, Bobby Lenarduzzi. With the franchise celebrating its 50th year throughout 2024 with various promotional dates, Bob will be right in the centre of things. Among the highlights of his career, the pride of Vancouver’s East End says he will cherish the memory of representing Canada at the 1986 World Cup under Head Coach Tony Waiters.

He also maintains that the future of soccer in Canada has never been brighter following Canada’s appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Physically, Bob hasn’t changed one whit. He’s lean and alive and enthusiastic as ever with that gleaming toothbrush ad smile and slim build. I’m so happy that he is still there, making soccer the game to watch ...

OCEANS 999 JAZZ NITES

And what a delightful evening it was at Gary Collinge’s Pan Pacific Hotel last Saturday night.

Oceans 999 general manager Gary Collinge.

It had been some time since I’d been there, but I had heard that Oceans 999 — the hotel’s restaurant — was doing great business in that spacious area where the three course cuisine is so appetizing and plentiful and served in such a unique manner that adds to the evening’s appeal, including the most fantastic array of luscious desserts.

The icing on the cake is that, on Saturday nights, they’ve updated their musical entertainment from Opera Night to Jazz Nites, offering a talented live jazz trio led by singer Nikita Afonso and accompanied by guitarist Adrian Emond and pianist Mitch Osterreicher. With her choice of pop music and enthusiastic dance moves, pretty Nikita is a treat to enjoy …

Cheers!...

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Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca