2009 CAS Canada Gala
Friday October 9, 2010 Sheraton Hotel
BC Premier Campbell and Washington
Governor Gregoire Help Celebrate 10th Annual Canada Gala
SEATTLE (October 30, 2009) – British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire were the honored guests at the 10th Annual Canada-America Society of Washington Gala held Friday, Oct. 9 at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel.
The Governor and Premier shared with the guests their plans to add another train running from
Portland to Vancouver, B.C., by the time of the 2010 Olympics. Additional efforts were underway
to make travel easier for citizens going north and south across the border.
The Gala is held each year during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend to strengthen trade
relationships between Canada and America and foster a sense of kinship between the two nations,
noted Michael Herbst, President of the Canada-America Society. Developed to drive cross-border
business in the Northwest, the Canada-America Society hosts the Gala as a time of celebration and camaraderie between the two nations. Herbst said that more than 250 guests attended the celebration.
After the opening and speeches, a bagpiper led everyone into the Sheraton’s ball room, beautiful decorated and candle lit. Everyone feasted on the delicious five-course meal. The energy was high
with everyone in good spirits as stories and business enterprises were shared. The formal portion of
the evening ensued with the singing of the Canadian and U.S. national anthems. An excellent speech highlighting the upcoming Olympics was given by the Honorable Gary Lunn, Canadian Federal Minister
of State (Sport) in Premier Stephen Harper’s cabinet and member of Parliament representing Saanich
Gulf Islands, BC.
Peter Lloyd, consul general of Canada in Seattle; and Roger Simmons, former Canadian consul general
in Seattle were also in attendance.
The annual Gala auction began with Robert Richardson, Vice President of the Canada-America Society
of Washington explaining to potential bidders that all money raised would be used to fund schoolarships
for American students to study in British Columbia. Richardson’s presentation was followed with guests bidding on hotel packages and vacations to exotic lands. Those bids and a raise the paddle ask resulted
in several thousand dollars being raised for the scholarship fund.
The night concluded with everyone looking forward to additional social and business events in 2010.
The Canada-America Society of Washington (www.canada-americasociety.org) and the Canada-America Society of Washington Scholarship Fund organized the Canada Gala in cooperation with the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle.
The Canada-America Society™ is the premier U.S.-Canada business and social networking organization
in Washington. Our mission is proudly to encourage business relationships between Canadians and Americans, to promote greater understanding between the peoples of Canada and the United States and
to contribute to the goodwill and respective cultures of the two countries.
