Last night Ryan and I were blessed to accompany Frank and Jeanne to the St. Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation 2005 International Award Gala Dinner. Their generousity through the years has given us the opportunity to meet some amazing, and inspiring individuals - and yesterday evening was no exception.
The evening began as we were chauffered from the Winnipeg Convention Center by van/limousine to Government House located at the Legislative Buildings. We were greeted by doormen, and escorted to what I think was the largest hall closet I've ever seen! I want a closet like that. Upon entering the home, our names were taken, and called out by a Sentry to the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Mr. Harvard. We then greeted him and his wife, both of whom were very personable. We enjoyed a lovely reception there, with drinks, and some of the best crackers and spread I've ever had! Aunt Dawn and I kept making other people go and get us more so that we didn't look like gluttons. They also had some amazing hors d'ouerves, and some mini spinach quiche that were delicious.
From there we were chauffered back to the Convention Center, where we were greeted by a small group of picketers. Dinner began at 7:00 - with an African theme. We started with a fabulous bread basket, followed by an amazing Butter Squash Soup. The entree was a lovely plate of yams, veggies and beef medallions in two different sauces. Yum! Dessert was tropical fruit cheesecake - that had this really cool sugary design on it.
Why this big gala dinner? The 2005 International Award was presented to three men who have been outstanding in the field of HIV/AIDS research and care in Africa. I was completely inspired. Hearing the stories of these men, and their work, I was in awe. Never mind actually getting to meet them, and the many important people that came to honour them! They have helped to save the lives of literally thousands of men, women and children all over Africa, but primarily working in Kenya and Uganda. It was one of those evenings that make you wish you could do more, but on the other hand, I wanted to say "thank you" to these men. I wanted to say, "Thank you for doing for the world what many of us cannot do, but would wish to do". I was able to meet many intriguing people last night. Some of these were the honoured Award winners, Dr. Frank Plummer, Dr. Allan Ronald, and Mr. Stephen Lewis. I was almost brought to tears by Mr. Lewis' speech. As an Amabassador for the UN, and a UN appointed Envoy for HIV/AIDS Research, he has an amazing way with words, and was so brilliant. Among many others that I was able to meet last night were Mayor Sam Katz of Winnipeg, an Ambassador for the Queen, Mr. Tim Sale, and an Ambassador for the Prime Minister. What a night!
The evening began as we were chauffered from the Winnipeg Convention Center by van/limousine to Government House located at the Legislative Buildings. We were greeted by doormen, and escorted to what I think was the largest hall closet I've ever seen! I want a closet like that. Upon entering the home, our names were taken, and called out by a Sentry to the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Mr. Harvard. We then greeted him and his wife, both of whom were very personable. We enjoyed a lovely reception there, with drinks, and some of the best crackers and spread I've ever had! Aunt Dawn and I kept making other people go and get us more so that we didn't look like gluttons. They also had some amazing hors d'ouerves, and some mini spinach quiche that were delicious.
From there we were chauffered back to the Convention Center, where we were greeted by a small group of picketers. Dinner began at 7:00 - with an African theme. We started with a fabulous bread basket, followed by an amazing Butter Squash Soup. The entree was a lovely plate of yams, veggies and beef medallions in two different sauces. Yum! Dessert was tropical fruit cheesecake - that had this really cool sugary design on it.
Why this big gala dinner? The 2005 International Award was presented to three men who have been outstanding in the field of HIV/AIDS research and care in Africa. I was completely inspired. Hearing the stories of these men, and their work, I was in awe. Never mind actually getting to meet them, and the many important people that came to honour them! They have helped to save the lives of literally thousands of men, women and children all over Africa, but primarily working in Kenya and Uganda. It was one of those evenings that make you wish you could do more, but on the other hand, I wanted to say "thank you" to these men. I wanted to say, "Thank you for doing for the world what many of us cannot do, but would wish to do". I was able to meet many intriguing people last night. Some of these were the honoured Award winners, Dr. Frank Plummer, Dr. Allan Ronald, and Mr. Stephen Lewis. I was almost brought to tears by Mr. Lewis' speech. As an Amabassador for the UN, and a UN appointed Envoy for HIV/AIDS Research, he has an amazing way with words, and was so brilliant. Among many others that I was able to meet last night were Mayor Sam Katz of Winnipeg, an Ambassador for the Queen, Mr. Tim Sale, and an Ambassador for the Prime Minister. What a night!
Wow, what an amazing opportunity. You can imagine how tuned in I have been to World AIDS Day this year. There is some great work being done out there.
It sounds like the men you met are at the forefront of that work. How exciting to have an evening in their company!
Erin, I absolutely thought of you while at the banquet last night. How interesting that we've never met, and yet can have a connection that makes me think of you! I thought you would be interested in hearing these men speak, as you were probably just in some of the areas that they spoke about.
That sounds amazing Heather-you privledged woman you.
So true, Heather... The crazy world we live in where we share in the lives of people we have never met face to face. I'm glad you thought of me!
It is such a small, interconnected world of NGO work in east Africa, I bet that I was very close to some of their projects.
That sounds like a great time! It's sad that there has to be such pain in the world to warrant an event like this, but at least there's people doing something about it!
Part of my sister Ang's work in Ethiopia is education in regards to AIDS. Sounds like an amazing opportunity to hear from Africans themselves in regards to the tragic situation there!