 Joy's Journal
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Joy Metcalfe isn't really everywhere, it just seems that way. Openings, premieres, interviews, news conferences, celebrity sightings...it's fast-paced, energetic, and effusive, like Joy herself.
"My main job in life? Get it first." - Joy Metcalfe
Joy's Journal - Tuesday, February 02nd
Wasn't that a party!!
In actual fact, there has been four major soirees over the past week, beginning with the 40th anniversary of Venue West, the most successful conference organizing company in Canada. It was founded and operated by the late great Betty Fata who passed away from breast cancer about five years ago.
Her close colleague, Sue Daulglish and husband Nelles bought it and have done a fabulous job continuing Betty's legacy.
Their office on Beatty was jammed to the rafters with such popular folk as Klondike Kate aka Gillian Campbell, and her horse-racing husband Edward Thompson, Rocky Mountaineer's Peter Armstrong, Pan Pacific G.M. Tim Tindle who has that amazing native  canoe in his lobby, golf pro Ginny Golding, Rick Honey's widow Gale Honey, Marg Van Wiellingan, Jack Blanchard, Muriel and Dal Richards, "Mr Fireworks" Ray Greenwood in his glittering Lady GaGa glasses and the Rev. Ian Powell, who also happens to be the General Manager of the glamorous Laurel Point Inn in Victoria.
They also had a talented cartoonist who drew our profiles, a huge Viking in horned helmut who crashed in singing Venue West's praises to the tune of the Habenera from Carmen and a giant 40th anniversary cake...
But Ray Greenwood and I couldn't stay too long since we had to get to the Hyatt Regency where the annual JCC Sports Dinner was taking place, honouring auto tycoon Maury Keith as Sportsman of the Year.
Hundreds of guests including Glenn Ringdahl, media magnate Dennis Skulsky, Peter Toigo, Liberal minister Rich Coleman, Sen. Larry Campbell, the Sun's Kevin Bent, Concord Pacific's Terry Hui, Trevor Linden and Hyatt GM Steve McNally - gave the special guest a standing ovation...
Monday night at Umberto's venerable Il Giardino was the site for the launch of the gorgeous new cookbook called Four Chefs One Garden. Author Evaleen Jaager Roy and four of Vancouver's leading chefs - Michel Jacob of Le Crocodile, Hidekazu Tojo of Tojo's, Vickram Vij of Vij's and our host, Umberto Menghi - have put together a love poem to Vancouver, sumptuously illustrated with garden ideas and inspirations with the renowned chefs' favourite recipes. This is an exceptional culinary gem and the guest list reflected that. Big Gary Bannerman was the official emcee while his wife Patricia added her photographic talents to the project as did John Sherlock. Tourism Vancouver boss Rick Antonson was on hand along with Global TV's Clive Jackson, YWCA's Janet Austin, garden gurus Brian Minter and Steve Whysall, Canada AM's Lis Travers and Tina Daenzer, Anson Realty's Grace Kwok, Kerry and Amber Waghorn, Shaw's Fanny Kiefer and her daughter Molly, former GM at the BeachHouse at Dundarave Pier and who has just joined The Wine Umbrella, CanadaWide's Karen Foss, Terry Pask, CityFood's Rhonda May, wordsmith Duncan Holmes, CityTV's Dawn Chubai, Georgia Straight's Judith Lane, PR Judy Ahola and the irrepressible Nathan Fong, who is not only hosting the Premier's luncheon for the international media next week, he's also going to be a guest on NBC's Today show...
Kudos to all those involved in last weekend's annual Variety Club's Show of Hearts telethon, especially to those hundreds of tireless volunteers. Special guest at the do was Miss World, Kaiane Aldorino and Julia Morley, President of Variety International and co-chair of the Miss World Pageant, who flew in for the fund-raiser. They've been on a whirlwind tour, stopping in Japan, Korea and Brunai. They bedded down at the Vancouver Renaissance Hotel...
Tremendous turnout for the annual fundraising winemaker's dinner at the Blue Water Cafe in Yaletown benefitting the Nature Trust of B.C. Some of those on hand enjoying Chef Frank Pabst's fabulous repast were Patrick Oswald, former BC Lion Al Wilson and his wife Robin, Doug and Eva Christopher, Lesley Stowe, Geoffrey Scott, Margaret and David Rolfe and PR Linda Annis.
Frank's culinary awards are numerous including Chef of the Year, Vancouver Olympics Gold Plates Champion and silver medalist at the Canadian Culinary Championship. His menu of Qualicum Bay Scallops, Polderside Duck and Miso Marinated Sablefish with wines to match, was a treat for the eye as well as the palette...Saturday night we spotted the curvacious actress Shannon Tweed dining with friends at Blue Water...
Big mystery this week is the sudden disappearance of the woman who made the Westin Whistler Resort and Spa the success it is today. You may not recall the GM's name or who the Executive Chef is but you always remember the name of their dynamic Public Relations Director, Monica Hayes.
Monica opened that posh property many years ago and is one of the most popular and driving personalities in Whistler.
Rumors are that she has been let go, which seems very odd on the eve of the Olympics. No one has been able to talk to her and all we can hope is that she's on a sunny, warm beach somewhere, soaking up some rays...
Pictured above are Tojo with his Celebration Roll creation and Dal Richards and Rev. Ian Powell.
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