BC Business
The 2017 BC Children's Hospital Foundation's A Night of Miracles Gala raises almost $480,000
The Honourable Judith Guichon, lieutenant-governor of B.C.; Teri Nicholas, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation president and CEO; Hitesh Kothary, BCCHF VP and CFO; and Andrea Hawkes, Carnarvon Elementary school teacher
More than 450 guests and business leaders from the South Asian community attended the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s ninth annual A Night of Miracles Gala at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel on October 28. Co-presented by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Rogers Communications Inc., the event raised nearly $480,000.
This year’s gala transported guests to the sun, sand and spices of India’s Goa region with an array of silent auction items and a live auction conducted by CBC’s Fred Lee. The Honourable Judith Guichon, lieutenant-governor of B.C., addressed the dinner guests, who enjoyed a meal prepared in collaboration with Vikram Vij of Vij’s Restaurant.
Funds raised at this years gala will support the implementation of a new Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Program—the first of its kind in Western Canada—within the new Ledcor Children’s Emergency Department at the Teck Acute Care Centre. Almost $4.7 million has been raised over the last nine years.
BC Children’s Hospital is the province’s only full-service acute-care pediatric hospital, treating 86,000 children annually. The money raised by the foundation supports urgent needs at the hospital, its research institute and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children.
Randy Toor, Desert Hills Estate Winery owner/founder; and Neesha Hothi, Neesh Communications principal
Lavleen Sandhu, and her husband, Tony Sandhu, Best Buy Canada SVP
Manjot S. Hallen, Warnett Hallan LLP partner; Bob Rai, Vancouver Pharmacy CEO and gala chair; and Robin Dhir, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP strategic advisor and founding gala chair
Derek Fenton, Zenterra Development, development and marketing; and Manny Chanoine
Narinder Dhir, Twin Brook Development chair; his son, Robin Dhir, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP strategic advisor; and Robin’s son Chaytin
Teri Nicholas, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation president and CEO; Lisa Hudson, board vice-chair; and Maria Faccio, BCCHF VP
John Giuliano, Destination Auto Group CFO; and his wife, Shannon Giuliano
Chris Wellstood, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority harbour master/director of marine operations and security; and Caroline De Vos, Owl Underwriting Inc. marine underwriter
Jayshree Reddy, A.S. Bubber & Associates; Rita Singh, Fruiticana; and Renita Raju, Canadian Duty Free Group president
Arran Stephens and Ratana Stephens, Nature’s Path co-founders; and Teri Nicholas, BCCHF president
Karen and Will Westeringh, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP managing partner and co-presenting sponsor, and BCCHF board of directors
Marko Dekovic, Global Container Terminals VP public affairs; and Manjot S. Hallen, Warnett Hallan LLP partner
Goa Lounge sponsors Ali Lalani, Lalani Living Real Estate realtor; and Farhan Lalani, Market One Media Group, president and CEO
Live music in the VIP lounge
Susan Wannamaker, BC Children’s and Women’s Health president and PHSA VP; and Don Lindsay, Teck Resources Ltd. president and CEO
Joshua McViety, UBC department of geography GIC assistant; James Howey, Air Canada manager business development; and Fred Lee, CBC’s man about town and gala auctioneer
Babita Kumari, real estate professional; and Jessie Tandon, Drishti Magazine
Diamond Karim, Granville Island Hotel GM; and Andrew Gay, Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP partner
Gala emcees Breakfast Televison’s Riaz Meghji and 104.9 KiSS FM’s Sonia Sidhu pose with the Samba Fusion Dance Group
The silent auction items
The Honourable Wally Opal, Thompson Rivers University chancellor; and Jonathan Gill, Odyssey International president
The Honourable Judith Guichon, lieutenant-governor of B.C.
Gala emcees Sonia Sidhu, 104.9 KiSS FM; and Riaz Meghji, Breakfast Television