SMOOTH SAILING: More than 21 crews took to the waters off Jericho for the National Bank Easter Seals Regatta in support of Vancouver Easter Seals House. Matt Saunders and Sunanda Kerr fronted the 24th edition of the West Coast’s largest charity race, once again hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. The sun shone, spinnakers flew and more than $150,000 was raised for Easter Seals House, a home-away-from-home for out-of-town families to stay while their children undergo medical treatment in the city. Last year, the 49-unit house provided more than 30,000 beds to families requiring short and long-term accommodation. Among the spectators was three-time Olympian Nikola Girke, who will team up with fellow Canadian Luke Ramsay for the new mixed crew catamaran competition at the Rio Summer Games in 2016.
OFF TO THE RACES: The Vancouver Firefighters’ Charitable Society (VFCS) is an organization operated by our everyday heroes, on their personal time, in support of local causes. Sale of their annual Hall of Flame Calendar has been a major source of revenue for the organization’s philanthropic efforts. To continue its charitable ways, the VFCS held its first Firefighters’ RunDown @ SunDown fundraiser at Hastings Racecourse. A dozen corporate teams, including a foursome from the Vancouver Courier, fundraised to compete in a relay race around the track for bragging rights and a coveted first place trophy. The inaugural RunDown generated a reported $26,000, which will be disbursed among local charities helping families, seniors and kids.
TABLE FOR 300: Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant has been winning over diners for years with its exceptional farm-to-table cuisine and seasonally focused menus. Led by executive chef James Walt and restaurant director Neil Henderson, the restaurant has been a permanent fixture on Canada’s culinary scene. One of Araxi’s signature offerings in the summer is its Longtable Dinner, a spectacular al fresco dinner staged at North Arm Farm in Pemberton and Lost Lake in Whistler. It was only a matter of time that it would make its Vancouver debut. It was 18 months before Walt and Henderson set up at Christopher Gaze’s Bard on the Beach site at Vanier Park for the inaugural $175 four-course, family-style dinner. The impressive table was set for 300 guests making it the largest dinner to date.
