More than 1,200 guests donned their finest April 14 to attend what is known as the Academy Awards of the Calgary area residential construction industry. The BILD (Building Industry and Land Development) Calgary Region Awards — formerly known as the SAM (Sales and Marketing) Awards saluted the best with 58 awards in 11 categories. The awards, now in its 31st year, brings together industry players as varied as land developers and new home and multi-family home builders to renovators and suppliers. A total of 700 entries were submitted by members with 20 judges narrowing the submissions down to the aforementioned 58 awards.

Entertainment from standup comedian John Heffron, musician Johnny Summer and ILL FX added nicely to the lengthy awards evening and hats off to CTV news anchor Jocelyn Laidlaw on her emceeing acumen.

Who would win the coveted Grand Awards, presented in five categories, would not be announced until the end of the evening. Taking top honours this night were: Partner of the Year was presented to 3HD Building Systems Ltd.; Builder of Merit was awarded to Riverview Custom Homes; Renovator of the Year went to Kon-Strux Developments Inc.; Multi-Family Builder of the Year to Shane Homes Ltd.; and the grand-daddy of all the awards, Builder of the Year going to Calbridge Homes Ltd. Shane would pick up an additional three awards as would Kong-Strux, while Calbridge snagged another two.

Myriad awards in other categories were won by Jayman BUILT, Brookfield Residential, Genesis Builders Group, a division of Genesis Land Development Corp., Landmark Homes and Logel Homes, to name but a few.

Who was not in attendance would make a much shorter list as seemingly everyone in the homes industry attended, as well as a plethora of politicians — both local and provincial. BILD Calgary Region CEO Guy Huntingford opened the evening with welcoming remarks and congratulations to all those who ensure the industry is vibrant.

Others in attendance this night included: MLA Richard Gotfried; Councillors Jeromy Farkas and Joe Magliocca; UCP Calgary-Buffalo nominee Tom Olsen with Karin Finley, former BILD board chair; current BILD board chair Darryl Conroy; Calgary Construction Association president and CEO Fabio Filice with colleague Terrence Patrick, director, business development; Shane Homes president Shane Wenzel, sales and marketing general manager Rob Maleschuk and colleague Kevin Taylor, general manager, multi-family with his wife Patti Weldon; Logel Homes president and CEO Tim Logel with his wife Sherri Logel, co-chair of the upcoming Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter Turning Points gala taking place April 26; Charron Ungar, president, Homes by Avi’s Avi Urban; Kon-Strux Developments president Shannon Lenstra and her husband Bearstone EX’s Brent Leinweber; Allan Klassen. senior vice-president, housing, Brookfield Residential and his wife Christine; Calbridge Homes co-owner Joe Ferraro and his wife Sharon; Morrison Homes chairman Al Morrison, his mom Irene and his wife Donna Morrison; Morrison Homes president and CEO Dave Gladney with his partner Dee Claire; Crystal Creek Homes’ Rylia Fielding and Jillian Cunningham; Jayman BUILT chairman and CEO Jay Westman and his wife Karen Westman; Bev Jarvis, BILD director of policy, projects and government relations; Evans Hunt’s Hannah Stilwell; Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Saifa Koonar; and Calgary Herald Homes editor Claire Young with colleague, Postmedia’s Melanie Gowans.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. You do our city proud indeed.

Looking fabulous at the BILD Calgary Region Awards are Jayman BUILT’s Jay Westman and his wife Karen. Jayman was nominated for 14 awards.

Ward 11 Counc. Jeromy Farkas was among the scores of politicians in attendance.

Calbridge Homes Ltd.’s Joe Ferraro and his wife Sharon. Calbridge picked up the coveted Builder of the Year Award.

From left: Morrison Homes’ Dave Gladney, Dee Claire, Donna Morrison, Al Morrison and his mom Irene Morrison. Morrison Homes was nominated for awards in 11 categories.

Crystal Creek Homes’ Rylia Fielding, Morrison Homes’ Anna Crossly and Crystal Creek Homes’ Jillian Cunningham. 

From left: Logel Homes president and CEO Tim Logel and his wife Sherri Logel with Christine Klassen and her husband, Brookfield Residential’s Allan Klassen.

Former board chair of BILD Calgary Region Karin Finley with BILD CEO Guy Huntingford at the BILD Calgary Region Awards.

From left: Calgary Herald Homes editor Claire Young; Kon-Strux Developments’ Shannon Lenstra and her husband Bearstone EX’s Brent Leinweber; and Postmedia’s Melanie Gowans. Kon-Stux took home the coveted Renovator of the Year Award.

BILD CEO Guy Huntingford with Calgary Construction Association president and CEO Fabio Filice and BILD board chair Darryl Conroy.

Homes by Avi’s Charron Ungar, left, and Shane Homes’ Shane Wenzel. Shane Homes was the big winner this night, taking home the coveted Multi-Family Builder of the Year Award. Homes by Avi, nominated in 11 categories, won in the Best Townhome — $330,000 to $409,999 category for its Jackson at Walden property.

Former board chair of BILD Calgary Region Karin Finley is with Calgary-Buffalo UCP candidate Tom Olsen.

CTV News Calgary anchor Jocelyn Laidlaw did a great job as emcee.

From left: Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Saifa Koonar, Evans Hunt’s Hannah Stilwell and Bev Jarvis, BILD Calgary Region director of policy, projects and government relations.

Keeping the doors open for 50 years is no small feat. Especially for a theatre company. Yet Theatre Calgary has done just that, much to the delight of audiences, artists and the greater community. Sure, it’s been challenging at times, but name an arts organization that has not faced difficulties.

The merging of two of our city’s prominent amateur theatre groups in 1966 (Workshop 14 and The Musicians’ and Actors’ Club) into MAC 14 would set the stage for the birth of Calgary’s first fully professional theatre company — Theatre Calgary, on July 1,1968. Under the stewardship of Tom McCabe from 1997 to 2014, Theatre Calgary became a model of strong fiscal management in the Canadian arts sector, which continues to this day. And if its recent production of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical The Secret Garden is any indication, Theatre Calgary is set to enjoy another incredible 50 years.

More than 450 guests donned their masquerade formal finest to attend The Garden Unlocked, Theatre Calgary’s 50th-anniversary gala on April 7 in The Hudson. That more than $415,000 was raised this night is evidence of the enormous support Theatre Calgary so richly and deservedly enjoys. Highlights of the gala were numerous including: live auction packages the likes of a private performance of BOOM by emcee Rick Miller in your own home, and a curated Broadway trip by Theatre Calgary artistic director Stafford Arima; raffles for trips anywhere Air Canada and United Airlines fly; and more than 100 superb silent auction items. But the once-in-a-lifetime cabaret performance by the cast of  The Secret Garden —including Ma-Anne Dionisio and Calgary’s rising stars Greer Hunt and Lucian-River Chauhan, along with visiting artists from Broadway, Melinda Doolittle and Lauren Elder — made for an unforgettable evening.

Kudos to all involved on the stunning success of the gala, including sponsors ATB Financial, McCarthy Tetrault, Longview Systems, and Entero Corporation to name a few. Guests having a marvellous time included: gala co-chairs and Theatre Calgary board members Michele Beitel and Trecia Wright; Theatre Calgary board chair Margo Randles; Mawer Investment Management vice-chair and Theatre Calgary board vice-chair Craig Senyk and his wife Cara; Rene Transport’s Kyle Grzech with Telus’s Dan Barham; Air Canada’s Caroline Johnson and Denise Fleming; Innova Global’s Elizabeth Chi with Linda Lee; Floral Architects’ Lori Fietz and Kim Miller; 51st Parallel’s Sonny Mottahed and his wife Katrina Olsen Mottahed; McCarthy Tetrault’s Greg Turnbull and his wife Shirley; Theatre Calgary’s Lauren Gilley and Sarah Hughes with her husband Shayne McClellan; Scotia Wealth Management’s Robert Bietz with Jaguar Land Rover Calgary’s Jill Timmins; Holt Renfrew’s Debra Kerr; artistic director Stafford Arima; and others pictured on this two-page spread.

From your friends and fans at the Calgary Herald, happy 50th Theatre Calgary and here’s to another 50. And make sure to take in The Secret Garden which runs through May 19. It’s fabulous.

Theatre Calgary associate director of development Sarah Hughes and her husband Shayne McClellan.

Lauren Elder was one of the special guests in attendance at Theatre Calgary’s 50th-anniversary gala. Elder performed Sidewalks from Theatre Calgary’s new musical, Mary and Max, which premieres next season. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

From left: Innova Global’s Elizabeth Chi, Linda Lee and Air Canada’s Caroline Johnson and Denise Fleming.

Greer Hunt, 13, who plays the lead role of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden, performed The Girl I Mean to Be fat Theatre Calgary’s gala. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

Gala co-chairs and Theatre Calgary board members Michele Beitel (left) and Trecia Wright. Theatre Calgary’s must-see The Secret Garden runs through May 19.

Ma-Anne Dionisio, who performs the role of Martha in Theatre Calgary’s The Secret Garden, sang Hang On at the gala. Ma-Anne is known for her role of Kim in the Canadian premiere production of Miss Saigon. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

Rene Transport’s Kyle Grzech (left) and Telus’s Dan Barham.

From left: Jaguar Land Rover Calgary’s Jill Timmins, Scotia Wealth Management director Robert Bietz and Holt Renfrew’s Debra Kerr.

American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle brought the house down at Theatre Calgary’s 50th anniversary gala with her performances of I Got Rhythm from Crazy For You and Home from The Wiz. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

From left: Floral Architects’ Lori Fietz and Kim Miller.

From left: McCarthy Tetrault’s Greg Turnbull and his wife Shirley, with Katrina Olsen Mottahed and her husband 51st Parallel’s Sonny Mottahed.

Theatre Calgary emerging artist Shannon Murphy.

 BOOM X star Rick Miller did a great job as the emcee at Theatre Calgary’s 50th-anniversary gala. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

 Theatre Calgary emerging artists Nina Solberg and Justin Lanouette.

Theatre Calgary emerging artist Bryson Wiese.

 From left: Lauren Gilley, Theatre Calgary artistic director Stafford Arima and Sarah Hughes.

Zasha Rabie and Stephen Hair.

Local musical favourite Tory Doctor, who plays the role of Major Holmes in Theatre Calgary’s The Secret Garden, sang Wilkommen! from Cabaret. Courtesy, Jeff Yee

The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter’s 24th annual Turning Points Gala on April 26 was the most successful to date. The Take A Stand Against Family Violence and Abuse themed event was attended by 670 guests and raised an impressive $676,000. It celebrated the courageous individuals and families in our community striving to live free from family violence and abuse, as well as commemorate the important work of the agency.

“It took months of planning, hard work and the generosity of many to make this event a success,” said Kim Ruse, executive director, Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter (CWES). “Co-chairs Sherri Logel and Shelly Norris, honorary patron Bill Borger, and the Turning Points committee have all worked with passion and commitment. We thank them for their tireless dedication, and all our incredible sponsors and donors for their generous support in helping us take a stand against family violence and abuse.”

Highlights of the event at the Telus Convention Centre were numerous including powerful remarks from Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin; Dave Kelly’s masterful role as emcee; brief, yet effective remarks from co-chairs Sherri Logel and Shelly Norris and honorary patron Bill Borger, Borger Group of Companies president and CEO; fabulous silent and live auction items; a raffle of a seven-night stay at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas II Resort in Palm Desert, including $1,000 towards airfare; and a riveting ‘play’ which reminded all in attendance the challenges faced by so many due to family violence and abuse. And if there is one take-away message, it is: Recognize. Respond. Refer.

The enormous success of the 24th annual would not have been possible were it not for the support of platinum sponsors Cardel Lifestyles, Logel Homes, Norris Family Foundation, Royal LePage and gold sponsors Borger Group of Companies, Homes by Avi and Qualico, as well as myriad event partners.

Who was not in attendance would make a much shorter list as seemingly every community leader was there, including: Logel Homes president and CEO and spouse of co-chair Sherri Logel, Tim Logel; Brookfield Residential president and CEO Alan Norris who is also RESOLVE campaign chair and spouse of co-chair Shelly Norris; Postmedia colleagues Dean Jager and Melanie Gowans; McLeod Law’s Brian Rogers and his wife Gayla Rogers, professor emerita, U of C; Homes by Avi’s Alice Mateyko; Jaime Rasmussen, partner of honorary patron Bill Borger; CWES board members Cam Hughes, Lori Berg, Marc Weil, Linda Matkaluk and Rob Imbeau, to name a few; Zeidler Architecture’s Sean Crawford and his wife Megan Crawford; New Interiors president Wade Schultz and his wife Cortney Schultz; Norm Bogner, ATCO president, new ventures and communications; RGO’s John Sobotka; CWES’ Ann O’Donnell; EY partner Gord Graham and his wife Shelley Weiss; community leader Sheldon Kennedy; and event producer, Brooks and Dodd Consulting’s Tom Dodd with colleague Selena Fisher.

Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter Turning Points 2018 event co-chair and shelter board president Shelly Norris with her husband, Brookfield Residential’s Alan Norris.

Postmedia’s Dean Jager and Melanie Gowans.

McLeod Law’s Brian Rogers and his wife, U of C professor emerita Gayla Rogers.

Pictured from left: Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter board members Cam Hughes; executive director Kim Ruse; Lori Berg; Marc Weil; and treasurer Linda Matkaluk.

Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter’s Ann O’Donnell with board member Rob Imbeau.

Co-chairs Shelly Norris and Sherri Logel with Homes by Avi’s Alice Mateyko.

The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter Turning Points 2018 gala was the most successful to date, thanks in large part to honorary patron Bill Borger, president and CEO of Borger Group of Companies. He is with Jaime Rasmussen.

From left: event producer Brooks and Dodd Consulting’s Tom Dodd with colleague Selena Fisher and Sheldon Kennedy.

Cortney Schultz (left) and Megan Crawford. 

Shelley Weiss and her husband, EY partner Gord Graham.

From left: Zeidler Architecture’s Sean Crawford; RGO’s John Sobotka and Wade Schultz; with ATCO’s Norm Bogner.

Super heroes was an apt theme for the Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis 14th Annual Gala held April 27 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary. Brainchild of Nicki Perkins, founder of the foundation and gala chair, Perkins is a CF survivor of more than 45 years.

“Having CF is like being born into a boat on the ocean with a lot of holes. A simple way to get a feel of what it is like to have CF — take that straw out of your drink, put it in your mouth, plug your nose and breathe for one minute,” says Perkins, an heroic and dynamic lady if there ever was one. That she is a CrossFit athlete, coach and gym owner is a shining example of how one can make the most out of being dealt a rotten deck of cards.

More than 300 guests donned their super hero (and super villain) finest to attend the gala and succeeded in raising more than $70,000 for  cystic fibrosis research being done at the U of C’s Cumming School of Medicine, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Since inception, the gala has raised nearly $2.5 million for local lung disease research at the U of C.

Highlights this evening were numerous, including: singer Amy Bishop and her band the Hopeless Sinners; EJ Gallo wines; the hugely popular Safeway Sobeys candy buffer; the Lenny and Phyllis Shapiro-sponsored photo booth; auctioneer Frank Hall who was able to garner top dollars for the live auction items; and emcee, Global Calgary’s Leslie Horton.

Guests joining Perkins at the super gala included: Tourmaline Oil’s Claus Sitzler with Tracy Sitzler, Rebecca Sitzler, Austin Schmidt and Trudy King; Karen Spielman dressed as Poison Ivy; Super Girl Teri Lang; Dr. Harvey Rabin and his wife Rayna Rabin; Euro Productions’ Kathryn Kozody and Jay Arimas; Delcor Constuction’s Louie Delcorno with his sons, Marco and Mario Delcorno; Chinook CrossFit general manager Oleksiy Dakhno; Willbros Canada’s Steve Beaudry and his wife Kieley and their adorable six-year-old daughter Nina who is battling CF; SNC Lavalin’s Neil MacArthur and his wife, Claire MacArthur of South by South West Wine; Safeway Sobeys Renee Hopfner and her husband Cory Hopfner of Korite International; Summit Foundation board member Dr. Nancy Brager; and Blakes’ Dan McLeod with his wife, Patricia McLeod, Calgary Co-op board chair.

The Safeway Sobeys candy bar at the 14th Annual Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Super Gala held April 27 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary was a popular spot for the hundreds of guests. Courtesy, Neil Zeller Photography

More than half of the 300 guests in attendance at the Cystic Fibrosis Super Gala dressed up as their favourite superhero or super villain. Courtesy, Neil Zeller Photography

Frank Hall did an admirable job as the auctioneer. More than $17,000 was raised through the live auction. Courtesy, Neil Zeller Photography

Batman and the Bat Mobile caused quite a stir outside the Hyatt as the Caped Crusader arrived to support the the 14th Annual Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Super Gala. Pictured with the superhero are Karen Spielman (Poison Ivy) and Teri Lang (Super Girl). Courtesy, Neil Zeller Photography

The 14th Annual Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Super Gala raised more than $70,000 for cystic fibrosis research being done at the Cumming School of Medicine, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. More than 300 guests attended. Courtesy, Neil Zeller Photography

From left: Austin Schmidt, Rebecca Sitzler, Trudy King, Tracy Sitzler and Tourmaline Oil’s Claus Sitzler. Bill Brooks photo

From left: Rayna Rabin, Dr. Harvey Rabin and event chair Nicki Perkins. Bill Brooks photo

 Summit 8 Euro Productions’ Kathryn Kozody and Jay Arimas. Bill Brooks photo

 Summit 10 Chinook CrossFit general manager Oleksiy Dakhno.

From left: Willbros Canada’s Steve Beaudry, Nina Beaudry, 6, and Kieley Beaudry. Bill Brooks photo

SNC Lavalin’s Neil MacArthur and South by South West Wine’s Claire MacArthur.

Blakes’ Dan McLeod and his wife Patricia McLeod, Calgary Co-op board chair. Bill Brooks photo

Batman with Hyatt Regency’s Han Luong. Bill Brooks photo

Korite International’s Cory Hopfner and his wife, Safeway Sobeys Renee Hopfner. Bill Brooks photo

Economic challenges didn’t dampen the attendance, enthusiasm, or dollars raised at the 9th Annual Up & Away Gala held May 3 at BMO Centre, Stampede Park. The Unlocking Potential Foundation (UP) is the fundraising arm of Catholic Family Service (CFS). This invaluable organization has, for more than 60 years, offered affordable counselling to families who are at a critical crossroads in their lives. This year’s gala — with the theme Building Strong Families — raised an impressive $282,00 in support of programs and services offered through CFS, especially the Families and Schools Together (FAST) Program. This program is delivered by agencies worldwide and Catholic Family Service was the first to deliver it in Canada.

The gala was sold out weeks prior and was attended by 525 guests, including: Alberta Minister of Infrastructure Sandra Jansen; Anne McGrath, principal secretary to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley; Patricia Jones, CEO Catholic Family Service and her husband, Suncor’s Kim Jones; Larry Long, vice-president Shaw Communications and incoming vice-chair UP Foundation, and his wife Susan; Tony Ciarla, KLS Earthworks and UP Foundation board chair, and his wife Hailey; Mike Theroux, partner at Bennett Jones and CFS board chair; Warren Stow, president GrainsConnect and incoming UP board chair, with his wife Laura; Kevin Neveu, president and CEO of presenting sponsor Precision Drilling. with his wife, CFS board member Trish; Fairfield Watson founding partner Tony Fairfield and his wife Deanne; CFS board members Kimberley Lepard and Annie Murphy; Lafarge Canada’s Bob Spence with Shell Canada’s Cara Richardson; Kinsmen Club’s Dave Pool and Sean Libin; Up Foundation’s Jim Campbell; CFS’ Holly Charles; Postmedia’s Laura Linnell; Global’s Linda Olsen, who was the emcee; and FAST volunteers Kelly Suppes, Zeljka Dugonjic, Amanda Jerrett and Rae Rankin.

From left: Kevin Neveu, president and CEO of Precision Drilling and his wife Trish Neveu, a Catholic Family Service board member; CFS board chair Michael Theroux; and Tony Ciarla, UP Foundation board chair.

From left: Anne McGrath; Catholic Family Service’s Holly Charles; and Alberta Minister of Infrastructure Sandra Jansen.

From left: Families and Schools Together (FAST) volunteers Kelly Suppes; Zeljka Dugonjic; Amanda Jerrett; and Rae Rankin.

From left: Kinsmen Club’s Dave Pool; UP Foundation’s Jim Campbell; and Kinsmen’s Sean Libin.

Shell Canada’s Cara Richardson and Lafarge Canada’s Bob Spence.

From left: Laura Krancevic; Catholic Family Service’s Annie Murphy; and Postmedia’s Laura Linnell.

The 6th annual Splash of Red Masquerade hosted by HIV Community Link on May 5 proved the perfect venue to raise awareness and provide funds to HIV Community Link’s prevention, education and support programs in Calgary and southeastern Alberta. 

At one time, an HIV diagnosis was considered a death sentence. In 1996, the life expectancy for a 20-year-old with HIV was 39. In 2011, the life expectancy bumped up to about 70. Such dramatic and positive outcomes should not foster complacency, however. There are roughly 7,000 known HIV diagnoses in the province. The success of the Splash of Red ensures HIV Community Link’s mission of wellness for individuals and communities affected by HIV and hepatitis C will continue for many years. This past December, HIV Community Link’s program dedicated to people in the sex industry, Shift, received the Bentley Award, a national award for leadership and innovation in sexual health.

More than 250 guests gathered at the Fairmont Palliser recently, raising $69,124, making this one of the more successful events in its six-year history. The gala featured terrific silent and live auction items, masterful emceeing by Global News anchor Scott Fee and Shauna Starr, Rondel Roberts and Rovers Band and the crowd favourite drag performances. 

Those in attendance included: Brandy Payne, Associate Minister of Health; local MLAs Deborah Drever, Brian Malkinson and Michael Connolly; Deputy Mayor Evan Woolley; HIV Community Link executive director Leslie Hill with colleagues Ana Glavan, communications co-ordinator, and board chair Alexandra De Feritas; Beltline Association president Peter Oliver; Performer Electric’s Calvin Has with Melissa Lam; Business for the Arts’ Allison Moore; Empress Devious Harte-Tron; Sister Visa DeKline; Krystal Starr; Indrani Roy; and representing silver sponsor TD, Al Ramsay and Grant Minish, regional manager, LGBTA Business Development.

From left: TD Bank Group’s Al Ramsay, Shauna Starr and TD Bank Group’s Grant Minish.

Performer Electric’s Calvin Ha and Melissa Lam.

Indrani Roy strikes a pose at the HIV Community Link Splash of Red Masquerade held May 5 at the Fairmont Palliser.

Krystal Starr (left) and Empress Devious Harte-Tron added lots of fun and glamour to the HIV Community Link Splash of Red Masquerade.

Sister Visa DeKline cut quite the swath at the HIV Community Link Splash of Red Masquerade held May 5 at the Fairmont Palliser.

Business for the Arts’ Allison Moore (left) and Alexandra De Feritas, HIV Community Link board chair.

From left: HIV Community Link executive director Leslie Hill, communications co-ordinator Ana Glavan and Brandy Payne, Alberta Associate Minister of Health.

Much as I am a royal fan, getting up at 4:30 in the morning on May 19 to watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not going to happen. A more civilized, exclusive event — The Royal Wedding Watch Party starting at 9:30 at Royale on 17th Avenue — proved the perfect way to take in all the highlights of the ceremony for the newly christened Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Hosted by Britster, the fab fete was attended by a select group of guests dressed in their finest garden party attire. The event featured a red carpet experience, BBC coverage streamed on large screens, a showcase of world-class British brands, raffle items and live commentary by Katrina Olson-Mottahed, royal fashion correspondent and emcee Jimmy-Lee Vennard, butler at Azuridge Estate Hotel.

Caroline Saunders, British Consul General for Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, was at the party wearing a custom fascinator made by Kensington Florists. Saunders awarded best-dressed winners with Buckingham Palace souvenirs, which included wine openers and commemorative Royal Wedding souvenirs. Herald food writer and author Julie Van Rosendaal showed off her culinary cleverness by sporting a fascinator featuring a large scone. Others having a marvellous time this morning included: Neals Yard Remedies CEO Lisa Shelley; EdgeMark Capital’s Bruce Edgelow; Alberta Ballet’s Debbie Nordstrom; Pomp and Circumstance architect Robert Pashuk; Hotel Arts’ Brad McCarty; Heather Campbell; Judi Kendall; Citrus Capital’s Ken McKinnon; Felicia Bortolussi; Nancy Jarjour Szabo, president, Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; and Award executive director Ashley Tedham.

Proceeds from the event supported the not-for-profit Duke of Edinburgh Awards — a world leading, youth leadership and self-development program.

The Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories division has become one of the fasted growing in the country and has expanded to include more than 300 communities across Alberta.

From left: Pomp and Circumstance architect Robert Pashuk, event producer Lisa Shelley and Hotel Arts’ Brad McCarty.

EdgeMark Capital’s Bruce Edgelow and Alberta Ballet’s Debbie Nordstrom.

From left: Judi Kendall, Citrus Capital’s Ken McKinnon and Felicia Bortolussi.

Ashley Tedham (left), executive director, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, with Award president Nancy Jarjour Szabo.

Heather Campbell

Herald food columnist and author Julie Van Rosendaal (left) and British Consul General in Calgary, Caroline Saunders.

Pictured from left at the Royal Wedding Watch Party are fashion commentator Katrina Olson-Mottahed and emcee Jimmy-Lee Vennard, butler at Azuridge Estate Hotel.

Surely the best “guys night’ one can hope to attend is the annual Calgary Italian Sportmen’s Dinner, now in its 56th year. The dinner is not only a ton of fun, but philanthropic as well. Since inception, the event has raised more than $1.89 million for organizations as varied as the Calgary Italian Cultural Centre and Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, to Calgary Firefighters and SAIT Bill Powers Memorial Scholarship Award, to name but a few. Further, the dinner honours high school students of Italian descent who excel in both athletics and academics by awarding $5,000 scholarships and bursaries between $500 and $1,000.

The annual dinner’s list of guest speakers reads like a who’s-who in sports. Greats the likes of Joe Montana, George Chuvalo, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, to name but a few, have taken to the podium to share their insights and humorous anecdotes over the years. And this year, the 56th annual on May 10 at Notre Dame High School, featured PGA golf great Rocco Mediate and NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris.

Frank Mafrica and Tony Spoletini were back again this year as masters of ceremonies and did a fantastic job keeping the crowd rolling in the aisles with their politically incorrect humour. Fantastic food and libation galore ensured all in attendance had a wonderful time.

Among the hundreds of guests in attendance were: dinner president and Scott Venturo Rudakoff partner Domenic Venturo; Monterey Dental Clinic’s Wayne Young; Haywood Securities’ Tony Migliarese and Paul DiPasquale; Petrus Resources’ Lucas Tiberio; Endo Perio Calgary’s Stephen Torriero; Fit Capital Solutions’ Mac Sarro; City of Calgary’s Frank Sarro; Jim O’Brien, sports columnist and author of The Heartbeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Calgary Dinos coach Dan Van Horne; Gary Cioni, dinner board member and retired Provincial Court judge; Plava Ventures’ Carlo Plava; Fiera Capital’s John Adams and Claudio Gagliardi; dinner board member Stante Realty’s Sano Stante; dinner board member FluroTech’s Danny Dalla-Longa; and scholarship/bursary recipients Carlos Bagni (Bishop Carrol), Justin Gotta (William Aberhart), Hudson Maggipinto and Nicolas Auvigne (St. Francis), and Aidan Miele (Notre Dame).

From left: Franco Harris, Monterey Dental Clinic’s Wayne Young, Rocco Mediate and Haywood Securities’ Tony Migliarese and Paul DiPasquale.

From left: PGA player Rocco Mediate, Franco Harris and retired Provincial Court judge Gary Cioni.

Co-emcee Tony Spoletini (right) hams it up with co-emcee Frank Mafrica.

From left: Carlo Plava, John Q. Adams and Claudio Gagliardi.

From left: Stephen Torriero, Frank Sarro, Mac Sarro and Lucas Tiberio.

From left: Rocco Mediate; dinner chairman Domenic Venturo of Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP; and Franco Harris.

From left: Rocco Mediate, Stante Realty’s Sano Stante and Franco Harris.

Scholarship recipients from left: Carlos Bagni (Bishop Carrol), Justin Gotta (William Aberhart), Hudson Maggipinto (St. Francis), Aidan Miele (Notre Dame) and Nicolas Auvigne (St. Francis).

The benefits of gardening should come as no surprise. It not only makes you feel good, it’s helpful to the environment, it can be economical if you grow your own veggies, it’s a great stress reliever and good exercise. One thing it is not — nor is it supposed to be — is stressful.

And yet one would be forgiven if cursing became part of your vocabulary this season. Gardening in Calgary can be daunting for even the most seasoned gardeners. Last summer was one of the driest in more than 80 years. This past winter was an odd one in that, prior to mid-December, we had little moisture. To add insult to injury, we went from glacial temperatures to very warm in a matter of days. And the poor trees and plants weren’t sure what was up and had to do their thing in record time. Coniferous pollen (that yellowish ‘dust’), poplar tree fluff, cherry tree blossoms and lilac blooms all happened at once. Mother Nature seemingly was having a touch of the vapours.

What a difference weather in Calgary can be year over year. This picture was taken May 3, 2014.

Such wacky weather has manifested in a plethora of pests and diseases. Cotoneasters are suffering from oyster shell scale, which can decimate a hedge in one season. The pest reproduces once a year and the eggs, once hatched, contain ‘bugs’ that feed on the bushes’ fluids and will permanently attach to the branch. Further, these suckers develop a shell that protects them from predators and remedial treatments. If you have only a small section affected, insecticidal soap could work if caught in time. But the best thing is to cut out the affected area and destroy those branches. The good news is that cotoneaster grows quickly and with luck, the shrub or hedge will look good as new by the end of summer.

Another ‘pest’ best controlled by removing affected branches is black knot — a fungus that spreads rapidly and is most commonly found on Shubert cherry trees. And the dreaded lily beetle is back with a vengeance decimating lilies, especially the Asian variety. Picking off the beetles and destroying them is the best treatment. But you must be vigilant and inspect daily.

This container has a simple, yet effective look using only two types of annuals: Coleus and creeping Jenny.

By now, most of you will have finished planting containers. If you are still perusing garden centres, choose a thriller, filler and a spiller. Thriller is the focal point. Dracaena is the most common plant used, but consider a palm and canna or even something exotic like elephant ear or bird of paradise. Filler can be anything from marigold and portulaca to pansies and even Boston fern. And a spiller is anything that trails. Creeping Jenny and nasturtium are always good choices. Water and fertilize regularly (but don’t overdo it). And make sure to be aware of plant material’s needs in terms of sun, shade, partial sun or partial shade.

So enjoy the season we wait so long for and don’t be frustrated by the challenges Mother Nature has gifted this year. She is, after all, the boss and we mere mortals must never forget it.

This large pot uses white daisy as the focal point. Deadheading annuals (removing spent blooms) ensures pots and containers will flower all summer long.

Tips and Tricks

We all know the beer trick to get rid of slugs, but egg shells scattered around the base of slug-loving perennials  — hosta, for example, keeps them at bay. Best to drink the beer while scattering the shells.

Birch trees are best pruned in late summer or early fall after the sap has stopped running.

Do not prune elm trees from April 1 through Oct. 1 to prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease. Alberta is one of the last geographic areas in North America to be free of it.

Proper watering is paramount. Lawns should be watered early in the morning, ideally on a still day. Trees will benefit greatly from a slow watering at the drip line for several hours.

Do not work wet soil. When it dries, it will be hard as concrete.

Deadhead spent blooms on annuals to encourage successive blooming. Some perennials — delphinium for example — will produce another flush although not as prolific the second time around.

Consider purchasing a Calgary Horticultural Society membership and save up to 15 per cent on purchases at selected garden centres.

“The number of people being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease is expected to double by 2031,” said John Petryshen, Parkinson Association of Alberta CEO. “We are offering help right now and that is positive, but the people affected by Parkinson’s Disease today and the ones who will be affected in the years ahead need a better future. We need better treatments, better medications, a cause and ultimately a cure. We need a better future, and the way to achieve that is through research.”

Parkinson Association of Alberta held a Champions of Hope Donor Appreciation event at the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen recently to recognize and thank the companies and individuals who, through their contributions, have made an impact on research in Alberta over the past year.

Attendees had an opportunity to learn more about the Champions of Hope Program from campaign chairman Bob Fisher, and Brian Hein of Hein Financial. Dr. Keith Sharkey of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute gave a presentation on the importance of Parkinson’s Disease research and a significant donor announcement was made: Hein Financial Group gave $50,000 to the program.

Supporting and promoting research has always been a pillar of Parkinson Association of Alberta. To fulfil this commitment, the Champions of Hope Program was established; and, in 2017, contributed $200,000 to research by post-doctoral fellows and graduate students in Alberta. Champions of Hope aims to further medical research and innovation by contributing $5 million over the next four years.

Petryshen closed out the event by thanking those who had made contributions thus far. “Parkinson Association of Alberta, through the Champions of Hope program, is committed to ensuring that Parkinson disease research is a fundamental priority both today and tomorrow.”

Guests in attendance at the appreciation event are pictured below.

With files from Parkinson Association of Alberta

Brian Hein, Champions of Hope committee member (left), and Bob Fisher, chairman of the Champions of Hope committee. Courtesy, Greg Bosley

Gisele and Al Schreiner. Courtesy, Greg Bosley

Walter and Kathy Litvinchuk. Courtesy, Greg Bosley

Since 1992, the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) has forever changed the lives of 602 youth and families. The invaluable services offered by AARC not only save lives, but help clients realize freedom and hope from the devastating spiral of adolescent addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. From darkness to light, many graduates describe the outcomes as magical.

And magical is the theme of AARC’s signature fundraising gala. This year, the 26th, was attended by more than 700 guests and succeeding in raising more than $825,000. Proceeds will help subsidize the cost for families to access treatment. The average cost per family is roughly $85,000. But thanks to the phenomenal success of the gala, all families are able to receive treatment with a sliding scale based on financial need.

There are many individuals and corporations responsible for the success of the AARC model, but surely one name bears recognition among all others. And that would be community leader and outstanding philanthropist Ann McCaig. McCaig announced her retirement from the AARC board of directors at the gala, after serving 23 years tirelessly advancing the AARC cause. Not surprising McCaig received a thunderous and lengthy standing ovation. AARC’s clinical director Natalie Imbach gave an impassioned speech thanking McCaig for her contributions and noted some of the organizational milestones achieved including: the successful $9.6-million capital campaign for facility expansion which was launched in 2004; AARC’s selection for the Mayor’s Excellence Award in 2008; and AARC’s selection for the Calgary Chief of Police Award in 2017. Other highlights included: a tribute/thank-you video produced by a select group of AARC graduates; AARC graduate 101, Donny, who shared his message of hope and 20 years of recovery; Danny Hooper’s 15 consecutive years of masterful auctioneering skills; emcee Leslie Horton of Globel TV; and wonderful auction items the likes of an in-home dinner party for eight donated by Rouge Restaurant, and Calgary Flames season tickets with a signed Dougie Hamilton jersey donated by Allan Markin and the Calgary Flames.

Guests in attendance included: Remington Development Corp.’s Randy and Donna Remington (and here, I must salute Remington on being the title sponsor of the gala again this year); AARC executive director Dean Vause and his wife Joanne; Canadian National Hockey team head coach Willie Desjardins with his wife Rhonda and daughter Sheehan; Jim Kinnear; Dave Werklund and his wife Susan Norman; philanthropist W. Brett Wilson and his son Russell Wilson; Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Sat Parhar; Rob, Ruth and Brennan Peters; Bobby Libin and his daughter Eda; Jim Dewald, Dean of the U of C’s Haskayne School of Business; Marshall and Sherie Toner; AARC development officer Darryl Power.

From left Members of Tanya Eklund Group: Brianna Coghlan, Tanya Eklund, Amy Regamble, and AARC graduate Sam Relja. Photos courtesy, Darren Blair

Retiring AARC board chair Ann McCaig with AARC development officer Darryl Power.

Marshall and Sherie Toner

Joanne Vause (left) and Donna Remington.

AARC 8 Bobby Libin and his daughter Ida Libin.

From left: AARC graduate Lexi Hahn with her sister Calista Hahn and parents Wendy Hahn and Brian Hahn.

Christine Armstrong and her husband Irfhan Rawji.

From left: Rob Peters, Brennan Peters, AARC board member Ruth Peters, Russell Wilson, and W. Brett Wilson. Photo credit Darren Blair.

Const. Andrew Morton (left) and Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Sat Parhar.

From left: Willie Desjardins, Rhonda Desjardins, Joanne Vause, and AARC executive director Dean Vause.

More than 60 AARC graduates took to the stage at the 2018 AARC Miracle Gala. Since 1992, 602 youth and families have benefited from the AARC program. 

It’s a guy thing. But unfortunately, it’s not a cool guy thing. The unvarnished truth is that we suck when it comes to taking care of our health. Men die, on average, seven years earlier than women. The suicide rate among men is four times that of women. We are more prone than women to heart disease. And yet we are 25 per cent less likely to have visited a health-care provider in the past year. There is an old joke about a man who goes to the doctor complaining of seeing spots. The nurse asks “Have you ever seen a doctor?” And he replies, “No, just the spots.”

So the message is abundantly clear. We have to be more proactive when it comes to taking care of our health.

Thanks to the newly opened Men’s Health Clinic at the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre, we now have a place that will oversee PSA testing, blood glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference and mental health concerns. The concept of the clinic was a result of information gathered through the MAN Van, which has seen more than 40,000 patients. More than 60 per cent of these patients faced a variety of health risks preventable with regular visits to the doctor. The clinic — the only one of its kind in the country, sees male patients who have been referred by a doctor for reproductive or prostate-related issues. The clinic would not have become a reality were it not for support from Dr. Shelley Spaner, a radiologist and partner in Mayfair Diagnostics and a Prostate Cancer Centre board member, along with the Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit and an anonymous donor.

Dozens of guests gathered at the Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) June 6 for the official ribbon cutting of the new 3,000-square-foot facility. Highlights of the evening included congratulatory remarks from PCC board chair, Jon Truswell of Bennett Jones, and PCC executive director Pam Heard, a passionate address from keynote speaker Doug Driediger, and cocktails and fabulous catering provided by Hotel Arts.

Guests included Spaner’s sister Donna Spaner; PCC board members Rick Lancaster, Maryse St. Laurent, Nipa Chakravarti, Dr. Bryan Donnelly, Dr. John Dushinski, Dr. Eric Hyndman and Andrew Abbott, to name but a few; philanthropist Dorothy Woolstencroft; Heritage Park’s Alida Visbach; Postmedia’s Laura Linnell; Advance Your Cause’s Samantha Morahan and Tom Dodd; MAN VAN program’s Ken Rabb; Alberta Health Service’s project manager Courtney Funk and project co-ordinator Neville Fleming; Hotel Arts’ Brian Brownlee; PCC staff Roby Brar, Lori Styner, Eva Moreau, Linda MacNaughton, Dave Bateman, Anthony Prymack, Shannon De Vall and Sheldon Semmler; and scores of invaluable volunteers.

From left: Prostate Cancer Centre board members Rick Lancaster, Maryse St. Laurent and Nipa Chakravarti.

From left: Hotel Arts’ Brian Brownlee, Heritage Park’s Alida Visbach and philanthropist Dorothy Woolstencroft.

From left: Prostate Cancer Centre’s Roby Brar, Alberta Health Services project manager Courtney Funk and AHS project co-ordinator Neville Fleming.

Prostate Cancer Centre clinical director Dave Bateman and nurse clinician Anthony Prymack.

All smiles at the opening of the new men’s health clinic at the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre are, from left, philanthropist and Prostate Cancer Centre board member Dr. Shelley Spaner, renowned urologist Dr. Bryan Donnelly, and Crown prosecutor and proud sister of Shelley, Donna Spaner. The clinic became a reality thanks to invaluable support from the Spaner family, an anonymous donor and the Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit.

Man Van Program’s Ken Rabb and Prostate Cancer Centre fund development specialist Shannon De Vall.

From left: Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) board chair Jon Truswell, PCC executive director Pam Heard and urologist Dr. Bryan Donnelly.

Doug Driediger and his wife Gayle Driediger.

From left: Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre director of research Lori Styner, director of fund development Eva Moreau and director of community Linda MacNaughton.

The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary celebrates the life of the great wartime British prime minister and nurtures public speaking skills in students. Each year, the society sponsors high school debates centred around an issue Churchill was involved with during his life. The winners attend a black-tie dinner to receive their trophies, with the top two sponsored by the Calgary Herald since 1973.

The annual dinner has featured keynote speakers ranging from Lord Hailsham and Lord Shawcross to Countess Mountbatten of Burma and Randolph Churchill III. This year’s banquet, the 52nd annual held June 9 at the Ranchmen’s Club, featured keynote speaker Lord Watson of Richmond. Lord Watson is an award-winning BBC broadcaster, a partner in CTN Group and a Fellow of the Royal Television Society. Further, he was elected as High Steward of Cambridge University for Life in 2010, and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1985 to list but a few of his accomplishments. An apt choice indeed to be this year’s keynote speaker and guest of honour.

Other highlights at the banquet included the awarding of Mount Royal University (MRU) Moot Court Scholarships to the winners of the fall 2017 and spring 2018 sessions: Tess Bickley; Brittany Kremer; Kaitlyn McStravick; and Spencer Millis. Other incredibly bright minds were honoured this night for their stellar debating skills, demonstrated Nov. 25 at the annual Sir Winston Churchill Debate Tournament sponsored by the society. So take a well-deserved bow: top speaker Chelli Shapiro (Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School); Sunint Bindra, Hanbo Yu, Daniel Yang, Ali Wassem and Theo Lun (Sir Winston Churchill High School); Bishop Carrol High School’s Benjamin Beaudry and Sophia Spiropoulos; Western Canada High School’s Abigail Conrad, Riley Joffe, Arsham Moradi and Zeel Patel; and Strathcona’s Brock Jekill.

Others in attendance included: Society president Mark Milke and executive secretary David Holmes; Postmedia’s Lorne Motley; high school liaison Elisa Frank; Highwood Distillers’ Gerry Berkhold and his wife Bev; David Tavender; Marlene Mason; historian David Finch; MRU’s Lori Williams; Calgary Highlanders’ Capt. Andrew Pittet, Capt. Jason Leek and Master Warrant Officer Gerald Downey; Sir Winston Churchill High School debate coach Darren Kiziak; Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School debate coach Scott McKay; Chris and Gloria Simpkins; Justice Bruce McDonald and his wife Pat Forigo; and Bill Bewick.

Justice Bruce McDonald and his wife Pat Forigo.

Chris and Gloria Simpkins.

From left: The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary executive secretary David Holmes; Bill Bewick; and Postmedia’s Lorne Motley.

From left: High school debate liaison Elisa Frank with debate tournament top speaker, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School’s Chelli Shapiro with gold medal winners Sunint Bindra and Hanbo Yu from Sir Winston Churchill High School.

From left: Sir Winston Churchill High School debate coach Darren Kiziak; society president Mark Milke; and Scott McKay, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School debate coach.

From left: David Tavender, Marlene Mason, Bev Berkhold and her husband, Highwood Distillers’ Gerry Berkhold.

From left: Mount Royal University Moot Court scholarship winners for the fall 2017 and spring 2018 sessions: Brittany Kremer; Tess Bickley; Spencer Millis; and Kaitlyn McStravick.

From left: Calgary Highlanders Capt. Andrew Pittet, Capt. Jason Leek and Master Warrant Officer Gerald Downey.

Historian David Finch and Mount Royal University’s Lori Williams.

“My father’s love of nature inspired us to garden” says Jerry Cvach. And inspire it did as is evident from Jerry and his wife Judy’s amazing landscape in Queensland. Both Jerry and Judy were born in Brno, Moravia, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Cvach’s family would spend summers at the cabin, 60 kilometres from Brno, which took several hours and multiple train transfers to get to.

Often, villages in the area would own a clay pit for the benefit of the villagers. As houses were made of brick, residents would make their own bricks from the clay. None of this drywall and pre-fab heresy. “My father bought the clay pit as the site for our cabin. As you can well imagine, not an ideal site for a garden, so rockery and terracing on clay soil was what we built. I was raised on clay and rockery.”

The Cvachs left Brno as refugees following the Russian invasion and arrived in Calgary Oct. 10, 1968. As they were both graduates of construction studies (Calgary was, in those days, one of the fastest-growing cities in North America), employment was a cinch. Jerry enjoyed a 23-year-long career with Jager Homes and his wife Judy was a colleague for many of those years.

The backyard of the Cvach garden is a sea of hostas. Courtesy Jerry Cvach

No surprise then, in 1975, a Jager home in the then relatively new community of Queensland would become their first and only house. Landscaping was not deemed all that important for builders at that time and a house on a bare lot was pretty much it. “We used to joke that you could see Saskatchewan from our neighbourhood as there were no trees and the lots were very flat.”

And flat was not compatible with rockery nor terracing, so the new homeowners had many truckloads of loam brought in to create a slope or berm on the east-facing front yard. Rock gardens don’t work unless there is an undulation to the landscape. The Cvachs hand-picked the extensive variety of rocks  — three or four at a time — after many hikes in the mountains. The backyard, which is Judy’s domain, encompasses several levels of terracing. “Hers looks different than mine. She is very orderly whereas my front yard is more free-form,” says Jerry.

Perennials, specifically hens and chicks and more than 80 hostas, are the predominant features of the garden. Clipped mugo pines and spruce trees for vertical interest as well as pockets of Siberian iris, primula and flox add to the harmony and balance. If a plant does not thrive where it is initially planted, the gardeners will simply move it to another spot and see if that works. Sometimes even moving it less than a metre to another location can make all the difference. And you’ll not find an annual in sight other than geraniums as a nod to the couple’s European roots. They winter their geraniums and will propagate more plants in Jerry’s studio in the backyard.

Hens and chicks thrive in the east-facing front yard of the Cvach garden. Many of the varieties came from garden centres across the country. Courtesy Jerry Cvach

Contrary to some who insist that mulching and fertilizing is key, the Cvachs simply add a compost mixture into the freshly dug hole before a new plant goes in and that is pretty much it. The hens and chicks keep the weeds down and therefore mulch, other than in selected areas, is not needed.

Watering is paramount, however, as a metre or so beneath the soil is all gravel. Good drainage is not a problem, to put it mildly. Surprisingly, the Cvachs know little about plant names, garden theory and the like even though their gorgeous garden belies this fact. But surely, they have made at least one mistake, as we all do in our quest to emulate Monet’s glorious Giverny.

“Biggest mistake ever was at the very beginning. We bought snow on the mountain. I waged a three-year battle to get rid of it.”

HIT? OR MYTH?

Peonies will not bloom without ants. Myth. Although the two do seem to go hand in hand, ants simply love the sweet ‘sap’ secreted from peony buds. Peonies will bloom just fine with or without ants.

You can turn pink hydrangeas blue by adding a handful of rusty nails to the soil. Hit. A chelated iron-rich fertilizer will also turn a blue spruce even more blue.

Fertilizing nasturtiums will produce more leaves and less flowers. Myth. Rage Plus is an ideal fertilizer for nasturtiums and will ensure a profusion of blooms.

Adding coffee grounds to the soil will increase acidity. Hit. The slight acidity reduces the pH in the soil. A pH below 6.5 is considered acidic.

Epsom salts are a great magnesium boost to the soil. Hit. Wet summers will cause iron and magnesium to leach out of the soil. Diluting 220g of Epsom salts in 10 litres of water will fix the problem.

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) Calgary held its annual Negev event May 31 honouring the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Punch Line entertainers from Tel Aviv headlined the celebratory event and their youthful energy ensured all in attendance had a memorable evening. Local singer Stephanie Feldman took to the stage as well and brought down the house with her operatic stylings.

The milestone celebration would not have been the success it was were it not for the dedicated team of co-chairs Cheryl Gurevitch and Debbie Krygier, honorary chairs Harriet and Phil Libin and Sandra Fayerman, executive director of Jewish National Fund of Calgary.

In addition to an already special evening, JNF presented a meaningful tribute to Donna Riback, a woman who inspired many with her joy of life, dedication to the Calgary Jewish community and her love of Israel. Riback was born and raised in Calgary and had deep roots in community engagement and Jewish philanthropy. Inspired by the charitable ways of her parents, Ted and Betty Riback, it was always important throughout Donna’s life to lead by example, as evidenced by her participation in numerous Calgary Jewish organizations, including the Jewish National Fund.

Other highlights this evening included the presentation of The Bernard M. Bloomfield Medal to Harriet and Phil Libin, past Negev honourees, in honour of their 65 years of dedication and work for the benefit of the Jewish National Fund of Canada. Others in attendance included: Sidney and Bronia Cyngizer, 2010 Negev Honourees; Harvey Cyngizer, director of the Jewish Film Festival; Alvin Libin and his son Bobby Libin; JNF Canada CEO Lance Davis; JNF Canada vice-president Beth Price; Ariella Benjamin, president, JNF Calgary; and others pictured.

Funds raised at the Negev celebration, in co-operation with the Jerusalem Foundation, will support Israeli children who are disabled, at-risk and of Ethiopian descent, by providing scholarships to Jerusalem’s Hassadna Music Conservatory. Hassadna is one of Israel’s premier institutes of music education for youth ages 3-18, offering musical instruction of the highest calibre. Students at the Conservatory have won numerous awards internationally and often continue their music education at Israel’s most prestigious universities. Hassadna’s orchestras and ensembles perform at Jerusalem-based celebrations and national events, and are a source of joy and pride to those who live there.

With files from JNF Calgary

Beth Price, JNF Canada vice-president, with Lance Davis, JNF Canada CEO. Photos courtesy, Monique de St. Croix, Unique Perspectives Photography

From left: Cheryl Gurevitch, co-chair JNF Negev Celebration; Sandra Fayerman, executive director JNF Calgary; and Debbie Krygier, co-chair JNF Negev Celebration.

Max, Stephanie and Joy Feldman. Photo credit: Monique de St. Croix, Unique Perspectives Photography

From left: Sidney and Bronia Cyngizer, 2010 Negev Honourees; and Harvey Cyngizer, director of Jewish Film Festival.

From left: Robin Murphy Shapiro with Faigel and Leonard Shapiro, 2006 Negev Honourees. Photo credit: Monique de St. Croix, Unique Perspectives Photography

From left: Ruth, Norman and Susan Dvorkin.

Only in Calgary could the RESOLVE campaign achieve such phenomenal success. In spite of economic headwinds facing our city for the past few years, the RESOLVE campaign raised $74 million which will provide 1,850 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians with a place to call home.

RESOLVE was a first-of-its-kind collaboration of nine partner agencies, working together with a common goal — to create affordable rental housing with support services for up to 3,000 vulnerable and homeless Calgarians. The nine respected and established agencies partnered with government, business and community leaders, all resolving to make Calgary a better home — for everyone. The tangible difference the campaign has made in our city will be seen for years to come, as more buildings are constructed and Calgarians move from a place of homelessness and instability to safety and security. The RESOLVE partners are Accessible Housing, Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association, Calgary Alpha House Society, Calgary Homeless Foundation, Calgary John Howard Society, Horizon Housing Society, Silvera for Seniors, The Mustard Seed, and Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta.

The campaign officially ended March 31. However, a small RESOLVE staff will remain in place for one year to assist the nine partner agencies and support the legacy of the campaign. RESOLVE cabinet members, representatives from the partner agencies and invaluable donors gathered at the Hyatt on June 14 to celebrate the outstanding success of the campaign. Were awards to be given out, there is no doubt the volunteer cabinet, as well as members of the housing industry, would garner gold medals.

Among those in attendance at the event were: Cabinet chair Alan Norris, chairman and CEO of Brookfield Residential Properties, with colleagues Trent Edwards and Allan Klassen; cabinet vice-chair Craig Hill, a partner at Dentons LLP; Rob Bedin, a director at RS Energy Group and board member of Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association, with his wife Karen Bedin; Stephanie Felesky; Bob Hamilton and his wife Julie Hamilton; Ann McCaig; Susan Mullie, board chair of Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta, and her husband Steve; Trinity Place CEO Lawrence Braul; Bill Sembo; Jayman MasterBuilt chairman Jay Westman and his wife Karen Westman; Silvera for Seniors CEO Arlene Adamson; Centron CEO Bob Harris and his wife Maria Harris; Shane Homes Group of Companies president Shane Wenzel; Homes by Avi Group of Companies CEO Charron Ungar; Jeff Boyd, regional president at RBC, Alberta and the Territories; Centron president and COO Cole Harris and colleague Allison Clark; cabinet member Simone Hughes of Field Law; RESOLVE executive director Cheryl Hamelin with colleague Mary Ann Steen, director of fund development; and cabinet member Grit McCreath.

From left: Steve and Susan Mullie; Silvera for Seniors’ Arlene Adamson; Trinity Place CEO Lawrence Braul; and Rob and Karen Bedin.

From left: Centron president and COO Cole Harris with colleague Allison Clark and Allan Klassen, Brookfield Residential senior vice-president Calgary Homes.

At the RESOLVE campaign wrap-up reception are RESOLVE executive director Cheryl Hamelin (left) and Mary Ann Steen, director of fund development. The campaign raised $74 million which will help 1,850 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians find a place to call home.

From left: Jeff Boyd, RBC president Alberta and the Territories, with Julie Hamilton and her husband, Bob Hamilton, a member of the RESOLVE campaign cabinet.

Bob and Maria Harris with Bill Sembo, a member of the RESOLVE campaign cabinet.

Field Law’s Simone Hughes (left) and RESOLVE cabinet member Grit McCreath.

More than 650 fashionably fabulous guests gathered at Holt Renfrew on June 13 to sip, sup, shop and take in an amazing fashion presentation featuring Holts Stampede style. The fifth annual Stampede Fashion Show presented by The CORE and Holt Renfrew supported Calgary Health Trust’s (CHT) Newborn Needs Campaign, an initiative to transform neonatal care in Calgary through research, education and the redevelopment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Foothills Hospital. That 10 per cent of purchases from the private shopping event were directed to the campaign ensured guests shopped heartily.

Local food and beverage pop ups on all three floors, headline entertainer country singer-songwriter Tim Hicks and supermodel Tricia Helfer taking to the runway for the first time in 18 years made for a memorable evening. Styled by Zeina Esmail, the fashion presentation showcased all the must-have items for the discernible shopper.

Among the hundreds of guests in attendance this night were: Calgary Health Trust president and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle; CHT vice-chair and co-chair of the Newborn Needs Campaign, Lesley Conway; CHT chair emeritus Ann McCaig with her daughter Jane McCaig and granddaughter Emma Waller; Advance Your Cause’s Samantha Morahan and Tom Dodd; Press + Post’s Caitie Lawrence; Fairmont Palliser’s Lindsay Gallagher; Michele Boyd and her daughter Madeline Boyd; Style in the City producer Shiva Jahanshah with Lyndee Free; Mode Models’ Kelly Streit; Cathy Whitehead; Byblos Bakery’s Christina Daklala; Environcon director Cindy Yu; Dave and Linda Rutherford; Greg and Shirley Turnbull; Pat and Cynthia Moore; Sharon Martens; Monica Stevens; Hair Boss’ Lena Reitz; Emmy Seville; models Kim Renneberg, Chris White, Kelsea Stang and Jade Davis; newlyweds Aly Velji and Jason Krell; and Holt Renfrew divisional vice-president and general manager Deb Kerr with colleague, marketing manager Tracy Logan.

Press + Post’s Caitie Lawrence (left) and Holt Renfrew’s Tracy Logan.

From left Kim Renneberg, Chris White and Jade Davis.

Newlyweds Aly Velji (left) and Jason Krell.

Hair Boss’ Lena Reitz (left) and Emmy Seville.

Ann McCaig and her granddaughter Emma Waller.

Advance Your Cause’s Samantha Morahan and Tom Dodd.

Kelsea Stang

From left: Cathy Whitehead, Christina Daklala and Cindy Yu.

Fairmont Palliser’s Lindsay Gallagher.

Michele Boyd and her daughter Madeline Boyd.

Style in the City producer Shiva Jahanshah (left) and Lyndee Free.

Super model and actor Trisha Helfer (centre), Mode Models Kelly Streit (left) and stylist Zeina Esmail.

The annual Calgary Co-op Charity Golf Classic returned to Heritage Pointe Golf and Country Club on June 6 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Since its inauguration in 1993, the event has raised more than $5 million for the Co-op Community Foundation which supports deserving charities and not-for-profit organizations in the Calgary area. With at least 150 golfers attending, the event featured a buffet breakfast, 18-hole tournament with food and beverage stations, a silent auction, dinner and charity cheque presentation. This year’s charity recipients included the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and Autism Calgary.

The event was brought together by the generosity of sponsors, including title sponsor Johnson Insurance; platinum sponsors Coca-Cola, Quarry Bay Developments, Calgary Flames and Manshield Construction; gold sponsors Westrow Food Group, Saputo, PepsiCo Beverages Canada, Kellogg’s Canada and Weston Bakeries.

Golfers having a marvellous day on the links included: Calgary Co-op board chair Patricia McLeod; Calgary Co-op board members Roy Goodall and Elaine Bereziuk-Smith; Calgary Co-op chief executive Ken Keelor; Calgary Co-op chief financial officer Paul Harrison; Calgary Co-op vice presidents Jeff Ambrose, Danielle Bussières, Doug Newstead, Damon Tanzola and Bart Willmore; Federated Co-operatives Limited regional manager Barry Manovich; Johnson Insurance regional manager Colin Kuefler with colleagues JP Duvoid, Richard Pierson and Dwight Wentland; Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter’s resource development manager Paul Chambers; Autism Calgary’s executive director Lyndon Parakin; Tony Legault and Karen Legault, the owners of Paradise Hills Farms; Quarry Bay Developments’ senior vice-president Richard Lobsinger, vice-president developments Jeannette Lee, and CEO Michael Lobsinger; Manshield Construction’s senior project manager Tim Chotowetz, principal partner Kevin Juby, general manager  Peter Schwind, and Mat Sheret, field engineer; and others pictured.

From left: Calgary Co-op’s Trinh McConkey, sponsorship and events manager; Colin Donoghue, centre manager at Rocky Ridge; Sherry Giacomin, centre manager of Crowfoot; Mario Perrier, centre manager at Midtown Market; in the truck is Ken Keelor, chief executive; Karrie Fox, centre manager of Village Square; Fadi Nasr, information technology director; Greg Robertson, e-commerce and front end operations director; Al Fletcher, centre manager of Dalhousie, and Susan Walters, centre manager at Shawnessy. Photos courtesy, Calgary Co-op.

From left: Calgary Co-op board chair Patricia McLeod; Lyndon Parakin, executive director of Autism Calgary; and Ken Keelor, chief executive of Calgary Co-op.

Tony and Karen Legault, owners of Paradise Hills Farms. Courtesy, Calgary Co-op.

Quarry Bay Developments’ Richard Lobsinger, senior vice-president; Jeannette Lee, vice-president developments; and Michael Lobsigner, chief executive. Photo courtesy Calgary Co-op.

From left: Damon Tanzola, vice-president, facilities development and real estate at Calgary Co-op; Ken Gordon, president, Quarry Bay Developments Inc.; Patricia Verburgt, business development manager of Scott Builders; and Sean Hart, lead corporate project manager, Selkirk Signs. Photo courtesy Calgary Co-op.

From left: Manshield Construction’s Tim Chotowetz, senior project manager; Kevin Juby, principal partner; Peter Schwind, general manager; and Mat Sheret, field engineer. Photo courtesy Calgary Co-op.

From left: Doug Newstead, vice-president, operations and merchandising at Calgary Co-op; Peter Izzo, owner of Cappuccino King; JBS Canada’s Brian Holland, director, sales and pricing; and Rob Meijer, director, marketing and business development. Photo courtesy Calgary Co-op.

From left: Dave Owens, senior account executive, partnership sales, at Calgary Sports and Entertainment; Derek Wills, Calgary Flames Radio play-by-play announcer on Sportsnet 960 The Fan; Trish Lima, Maple Leaf Consumer Foods; Steve Edgar, game presentation manager. Photo courtesy Calgary Co-op.

From left: Johnson Insurance’s JP Duvoid, Colin Kuefler, Richard Pierson and Dwight Wentland.

Now that the long-awaited halcyon days of summer are upon us, it’s time to sit back, put your feet up and ease into relax mode in the garden, right? To a degree, yes. But now is the perfect time to review what has worked, what has not and why? The plant material that has disappointed should probably be removed and replaced with an alternate.

Perennials, the backbone of most gardens, will be either thriving now or performing rather poorly. If the latter if the case, determine the cause. Is the perennial in the right location — meaning is it in full shade when it should be in full sun and vice-versa? Have the watering requirements been met? Leaves will turn pale and take on a yellow hue if the plant has been over-watered. If it’s a flowering perennial, are the flowers robust and numerous or sickly and sparse? If it’s the latter, the plant is not receiving enough nutrients. Applications of Rage Plus should fix this problem.

Many perennials are on sale at garden centres and big box stores, so consider removing the poor performing perennials and replace them with something else. This short list of perennials work well in our Zone 4a (we have gone up a notch from Zone 3):

Anemone or windflower. This spring-flowering perennial prefers a slightly shaded spot and does best in woodland and rock gardens.

Artemisia or silvermound. Inconspicuous flowers on silver foliage. Thrives in full sun with little attention. Does not like wet soil. Can become invasive if not kept in check.

Bee Balm. As the name implies, it is a magnet for bees and hummingbirds. Adaptable from full sun to full shade, although the latter increases the likelihood of powdery mildew. Its lemon-scented leaves can be used to brew tea.

Campanula or bellflower. A work-horse and must-have perennial as it is a prolific bloomer thriving in full sun, partial shade or light shade. If you cut the bellflower back by one-third after it has flowered, with luck, you will enjoy a second late-season flush. Not to be confused with Creeping Campanula — the tall, spike-like weed with purple/blue flowers. The bane of many a gardener, Creeping bellflower produces up to 15,000 seeds per plant.

Blazing Star or Gayfeather. Tall, spiky, fuzzy flowers that will bloom until fall. Makes an ideal cut flower and prefers full sun. Does well in planters and is deer resistant. It is the safe replacement for the banned purple loosestrife — sometimes referred to as the beautiful killer.

A garden bed filled with a variety of perennials such as phlox, rudbeckia and echinacea.

Columbine. This old-fashioned perennial will self-seed, but is not considered invasive. It resents having its roots disturbed. Its ‘babies’ rarely resemble the parent plant as it cross-breeds easily.

Cranesbill or Hardy Geranium. Another work-horse that should be a staple in the border. A prolific grower and bloomer with few pests or diseases to worry about. Partial to light shade is ideal.

Delphinium. One of my personal favourites, this English garden-inspired beauty does well in full sun protected from strong winds as the stalk is actually hollow and snaps easily. Susceptible, however, to the delphinium moth caterpillar — a nasty ‘worm’ that will cause leaf deformities and small flowers. Eradicate this pest as soon as it becomes evident by either cutting the plant to its base (in the fall), applying a biological insecticide or pick off the caterpillars. The plant, as is the case with Monkshood and other members of the larkspur family, is toxic if ingested.

Foxglove or Digitalis. Another English-garden favourite, this perennial will happily re-seed if planted in the right soil and location. Ideal conditions are partial to light shade in an acidic, moist, fertile soil. Deadheading will produce a second flush. Oddly enough, even though the plant is poisonous, the heart medication digitalis is made from the plant’s extracts.

Peony. I’ve saved the best for last. There can be nothing more heavenly than a peony in full bloom. It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Planting depth is key, however, as peonies will not bloom if planted too deep  nor too shallow. The buds — or eyes on the tuber — should be 2.5 to 5 centimetres below the soil surface. It resents being moved and may sulk for years. It does not like composted manure. Makes an ideal cut flower and is beautifully scented. Ants — always prevalent on peonies it seems — can be washed off after cutting.

The above represents but a smattering of perennials that grow well in Calgary gardens. For a more diverse list, pick up the book Perennials for Alberta by Donna Dawson and Laura Peters (Lone Pine).

City Plant Sale

The City of Calgary Parks has a few annuals left over from their plantings. These plants are available for sale today (July 5)  from 9 a.m. until noon at the city yard (2140 Pumphouse Ave. S.W.) First come, first served while quantities last. Cash only.