LADY LUCK: River Rock Casino Resort marked its 10th birthday with a Diamond Anniversary celebration commemorating the opening of the one-of-kind entertainment destination in Richmond. Great Canadian Gaming Corp.’s VP of stakeholder relations Chuck Keeling, owner and operator of River Rock, fronted the house party. Several hundred guests gathered for the royal reception and Justin Hayward concert. Local charities were the big winner as Keeling gave gifts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Among the beneficiaries at the royal romp: Richmond Family Place, Richmond Chinese Community Society, and Richmond Hospital Foundation. The casino complex, 396-room hotel and convention centre employs 1300 employees and generates more than $17 million annually for the city of Richmond.
HIGH NOTE: The Sarah McLachlan School of Music is a free music program in Vancouver aimed at underserved youth who would not otherwise have access a music education. Founded by the singer/songwriter in 2002, the independent school at East 7th and Main currently offers classes in piano, guitar, percussion, voice, choir, songwriting, music lab and student bands to 369 students age 9-18. Sadly, the number of students wishing to participate is much greater. (It costs roughly $2,800 to support one-student per year.) On the heels of a North American tour, the music star presided over a special concert for the school’s major supporters. Among them was Jen Schaeffer, executive director of the CKNW Orphans’ Fund, who presented McLachlan and the school with a $25,000 cheque to help children realize their potential.
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT: The sun broke through for the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) fourth annual Garden Party. Dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs become successful, founder Christina Anthony and general manager Lisa Niemetscheck welcomed more than 300 entrepreneurs and community leaders to the elbow rubber at the Roundhouse. The community centre was transformed into a lush green garden, courtesy of Greenscape Design’s Corrine Kessel. A graduate of FWE’s signature E-Series, a four-day intensive educational entrepreneurship course for women, Kessel and fellow grads Gloria Chang, Rhonda Dent, Nicole Succar, Kate Garthwaite and Theresa Pederson fronted the wildly successful shindig, featuring Rocky Mountaineer owner Peter Armstrong.
