The Canadian Progress Club is taking the Tuesday out of Mardi Gras as it puts on a gala unlike any other this side of New Orleans.
Mardi Gras North takes place next Saturday and it looks to be like a night you won't want to miss. Sure, it misses the bona fide timeline of the true carnival in Louisiana but how many other places around town can you have this kind of fun?
It's more than a dinner, dance and auction. Attendees can take in fun and games and they're all encouraged to dress up in festive costumes. The food is straight out of the bayou. And all of this takes place to the background music of a Dixieland Jazz quintet called the Fat Tuesday Survivors. The after dinner party music comes from the 11-piece Alberta all-star party band called The Retrofitz.
CPC member John Rennie said it's all in good fun but what really matters are the causes. All proceeds go to support Uncles and Aunts at Large, St. Albert Parents' Place, the St. Albert Food Bank, the Northern Alberta International Children's Festival, Stop Abuse in Families, Camp Warwa and other children's charities.
He called it the best party for the best reason.
"It's a great fundraiser and it's doing great things for the community of St. Albert and the kids of St. Albert."
The CPC works to improve the lives of underprivileged and ailing individuals with financial support and other resources. They put particular focus on equal opportunity issues for young people.
The event takes place on Feb. 27 with doors open at 6 p.m. The Italian Cultural Centre is located just off of St. Albert Trail at 14230 133 Ave. Tickets are $90 each. Call Rennie at 780-221-1179 to buy yours. Visit www.cpcstalbert.ca for more information.
Art auction a very successful date
Hole's Greenhouse was effectively transformed into Wonderland two weeks ago for the annual art auction in support of Profiles Gallery. Arts and Heritage Foundation executive director Paul Moulton proclaimed it a great success. The event saw over 300 attendees and raised approximately $15,000, up $5,000 from last year's total.
"We're very happy with the event because we're building toward the move to the Enjoy Centre next year. We realize that it's a very important fundraiser. There's no doubt. It's also about much more: exposing artists' work, getting their work out there and promoting what they do. In terms of our core mandate of developing Alberta artists, it does a really good job of that as well."
