400 guests travel through time at the Civilization Costume Ball - National campaign raises more than half a million dollarsGatineau, Quebec, September 20, 2006 Some of the biggest names in Canadian history were on the guest list tonight as the Canadian Museum of Civilization hosted a unique fundraising ball. In attendance, among many historic celebrities, were Sir John A. Macdonald, Eric the Red, Samuel de Champlain, Cairine Wilson, Alexander Graham Bell, Jacques Cartier, Sir Guy Carleton, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Nellie McLung. They mingled with whalers, voyageurs, lumberjacks, pioneers, aristocrats, flappers, bush pilots and prospectors.
Some 400 museum supporters, and community and corporate leaders donned period costumes to attend the Civilization Costume Ball A Journey Through Time, a fundraising gala to benefit the Museum's National Collection Fund. The Fund was launched this year to support the acquisition of important artifacts that might otherwise be lost to our heritage.
The Honorary Chair of the 150th National Collection Fund, former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, wore a dress from her personal collection, while Ottawa Citizen publisher Jim Orban and Gatineau City councillor Louise Poirier performed their Masters of Ceremony duties dressed as a Victorian Gentleman and a lady from New France.
Other notable guests included Gail Asper, Managing Director of The Asper Foundation and President of the CanWest Global Foundation; the Honourable Jim Watson, MPP Ottawa West-Nepean and Minister of Health Promotion; Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau; and Members of Parliament Gary Schellenberger and Ed Fast, as well as other parliamentarians and ambassadors.
"I'm thrilled that the Ball organization is such a success," said Louise Poirer, Co-Chair of the 150th Anniversary Committee. Co-Chair Jim Orban noted, "This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our country's past, offer a toast to its future, and get the 150th Anniversary National Collection Fund off to a great start."
Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, appeared as Sir Guy Carleton, the Governor who later became Lord Dorchester. Dr. Rabinovitch expressed warm gratitude "to all the sponsors, partners and their guests who attended the Civilization Costume Ball tonight, because they will help us safeguard our national treasures for generations to come."
Guests arrived for cocktails in the lobby and were greeted by Sir John A. Macdonald. They then split into groups representing different eras of Canadian history: Each time period was sponsored by a different group: Forest Products Association of Canada From Time Immemorial; Casino du Lac-Leamy The New World; Ville de Gatineau New France; Borden Ladner Gervais LLP the Ottawa Valley; Accenture Military and Political Life in Pre- & Post-Confederation; RBC Financial Group Victorian Ontario; Bell Social Progress; Asper Endowment of the Winnipeg Foundation Settling the Golden Prairies; Black & McDonald The Booming '40s and '50s; Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada Vancouver Airport. CTV/Globe & Mail Wildcat Cafι in Yellowknife; Chicken Farmers of Canada Canada's Artistic Imagination on Stamps; Telus Fast-Forward in Time, Canada's future.
Guests met again in the Museum's Grand Hall, where Queen Victoria knighted William E. Logan, founder of the Museum in 1856. Everyone sat down to a dinner inspired entirely by Canadian history and antique recipes. Guests were treated to music, dance and theatre by performers they had met during their Journey Through Time.
Period costumes for the event were supplied by CBC/Radio-Canada, which maintains a collection for its film and television productions. Another major sponsor, SAQ, supplied the spirits for dinner, inviting guests to enjoy a selection of fine wines. The Ottawa Citizen and Le Droit spread the news about the unprecedented evening, the 150th Anniversary, and the importance of the National Collection Fund.
As of this date, the 150th Anniversary Campaign National Collection Fund has raised $530K.
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7169
Fax: 819 776-7187
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