The organizers behind the annual 12-hour Relay for Life cancer charity fundraiser are acting like they need to do more to bring the message to the people. Now, they're getting ready to do just that in a dinner theatre setting.
Event chair Charlene Bouvier is encouraging all mature members of the public to buy their tickets to a fun, new and interactive evening event called Love and Marriage. Local actors will be playing the parts of a wedding party gone awry, all in the name of adult amusement.
This murder mystery theatre event is centred on a fictional couple renewing their vows, "and then somebody dies," Bouvier tantalized, adding that she has organized several of these things in the past and knows how enjoyable they are. "They're so much fun!"
Yours truly will be playing a sleazy tabloid reporter in this wholly improvised acting experience.
Love and Marriage takes place on Saturday, Feb. 11 with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m., supper at 6:15 p.m. and the performance concluding at 10 p.m. It's at Morinville's Community Cultural Centre, located at 9502 100 Ave., next to the Morinville Community High School. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Farlie Travel, Riverside Honda or by contacting Amanda Race at 780-437-8419 or email [email protected]. All proceeds go to support the Canadian Cancer Society.
The third annual Relay for Life takes place in St. Albert from Saturday, June 9 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, June 10 at 7 a.m. at the Fowler Athletic Track.
Visit cancer.ca for more information or to sign up.
Kettles didn't runneth over
The Salvation Army Church had a lofty but achievable goal when it launched its annual Christmas Kettle campaign at the end of last year. Soon after the launch the Army discovered that there just weren't enough volunteers to hold the fort at each of the several stations across the city for all of the operating hours.
A number of volunteers stepped forward after the situation was made public and Peter Kim, senior pastor at the church, said in the end the kettles brought in $271,551 which was only a shade shy of the $275,000 mark that he had his sights on.
Undiscouraged, he is pleased with the total and thanked the community for its support including all of the volunteers and donors, plus the church staff members as well.
"This was a very good and successful year," he exclaimed. "We're very happy with how generous the community was. It was a great kettle campaign."
The money will be used to support the church's numerous outreach programs. Kim added that the shortfall doesn't mean that cuts will be made, but rather the opposite.
"We're hoping to expand on the different services we're offering. I don't think that's going to change. We're right on target for what we need to do."
The church is located at 165 Liberton Drive. Call 780-458-1937 or visit www.stalbertsalvationarmy.ca for more information.
Legion says thanks for poppy sales
Things are pretty rosy for the staff and members of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 271, especially after the final results of last fall's poppy campaign were announced.
Debby Burr, administrator at the centre located on Taché Street, said approximately $54,000 was brought in, besting the nearly $52,000 that was donated in 2010.
"They had a very successful campaign last year. There is so much generosity in St. Albert when it comes to supporting the poppy fund. We're very appreciative of that."
She thanked all of the supporters in the community, including the businesses that so graciously allowed poppy trays to be set up.
The legion has been a fixture in the community for more than half a century. It functions as not only a social gathering place but its members collectively act as a service club whose mandate is to serve veterans. The poppy money is used to assist veterans and their dependents if they're in some kind of need. Often, the legion makes donations to hospitals and their foundations, as well as other care facilities and cadet training programs, even funding bursaries for veterans' dependents. This year, some money will be sent to Slave Lake to help its local residents recover from last year's devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the town.
Call the legion at 780-458-3330 for more details.
