YOUTH CAMP: A mighty 100 guests attended the eighth annual Evening in Support of CampOUT, a summer leadership camp for queer, trans, two-spirit and allied youth. The house party, held in Heidi and Richard Coglon’s West Vancouver home, netted a record $125,000 to ensure more children from around the province and Yukon have the opportunity to attend for the five-day, four-night camp — free of charge — on Gambier Island. Now in its eight year, the program has provided an inclusive space where youth can develop leadership skills, build self-esteem and connect to resources to support their health and wellbeing. A $50,000 gift from Trinity United Church capped off the evening of high camp.
BURGER KING: Main Street between Keefer and Terminal continues to evolve as a culinary destination for new and reimagined fare. Monarch Burger is the newest concept by renowned restaurateur Robert Belcham. The owner of Campagnolo and Upstairs at Campagnolo a few doors down, Belcham has collaborated with The American to bring burgers to the cool and growingly trendy pub strip. What started as a one-off pop-up has evolved into a permanent gathering spot in Ezra Kish, Simon Fallick and Patryk Drozd’s Main Street pub for honest, made from scratch burgers (including the buns). Monarch —its name is a nod to the eatery that once occupied the Campagnolo space — opened its doors recently with a public party. Guests included Angus An (Maenam), Tret Jordan (Homer Street Café) and Ryan Bissell (La Cantina) who checked out the much-talked about burger, which comes dressed with its own secret sauce. As the newest member of The Cobalt and Boxcar family, The American is a 150-seat pub adorned with communal tables, pinball and arcade games.
AMERICAN OUTFITTER: Known for its bags and clothes, Seattle-based retailer Filson’s opened its first Canadian store in historic Gastown. Founded in 1897 by C.C. Filson to outfit prospectors for the Klondike Gold Rush, Filson’s hearty luggage and rugged apparel has been a staple for many in the Pacific Northwest for the past 120 years. Starting out as an outerwear manufacturer, the company has evolved its collection to include an expanded menswear line, womenswear and accessories. Local fashionistas, scribes and social media influencers were recently invited to a media preview of the Water Street store. A tribute to Filson’s brand heritage, the store features custom furniture built from local salvaged wood, iron beams, and wooden floors and imagery aimed squarely at an audience inspired by the great outdoors and rugged appeal of the Pacific Northwest. A second store will open later this year in Toronto’s Queen Street West neighbourhood. Among those making the scene: CFL all-star Shea Emery, Fashion Magazine editor Joy Pecknold and Alex Carleton, Filson’s creative director.
NATIVE SON: The Bill Reid Gallery is the only public gallery in Canada devoted to contemporary Indigenous art of the Northwest Coast. Nestled in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the gallery recently staged its flagship fundraiser. Now in its fourth year, Raven's Feast is an exclusive evening celebrating Northwest Coast Indigenous Art. A capacity crowd filled the recently renovated gallery in support of future exhibitions and programs that foster a greater awareness of Indigenous cultures and values. Attendees enjoy a royal repast curated by chefs Dino Renaerts and Andrew George while surrounded by the exquisite works by Reid and other artists. Following the multi-course dinner, patrons showed their love and appreciation in the live auction, which yours truly orchestrated. Ten Indigenous works were auctioned off. A solid bronze bear head door knob Reid created in the early ’80s fetched the night’s top bid of $15,500.
WELCOME BACK: Fei Wong and Wallace Chung chaired the Chinatown Foundation’s Reunion Banquet. More than 800 community and business leaders, many with roots in the historic Chinatown neighbourhood, returned to the area for a special dinner to honour its past and imagine a future with a reinvigorated Chinatown. Led by Vancouver Chinatown Foundation chair Carol Lee and a host of notable backers including Benjamin Yeung, Caleb Chan, Brandt Louie, Robert H.N. Ho and Peter Eng, the group aims to secure senior housing, shops and institutions that are helping to preserve the district’s cultural heritage. Personally invested in Chinatown’s revitalization, Lee purchased three restaurants including the iconic Foo’s Ho Ho to open later this year.
INNER CITY KIDS WEEK: Every year, the first week of May is proclaimed Inner City Kids Week by the City of Vancouver. The initiative raises awareness and funds to support children and youth living in poverty in Vancouver. Led by CLICK Foundation — Contributing to the Lives from Inner City Kids — the volunteer-based organization held its annual This Definitely Is Not A Gala Gala, a grass roots affair staged at the Creekside Community Centre. Engaging the community to raise funds to support inner city kids programs, the firm aims to raise $100,000 this year, beginning with its annual reception and auction, which generated a quarter of its goal. In 2016, more than 50 per cent of B.C.’s poor children lived in Metro Vancouver according to recent reports.
Hear Fred Mondays 8:20am on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @FredAboutTown
