It's the hardest ticket in town to get to arguably the most anticipated annual community event in Bonnyville.
“We always sell out early, but this year was the quickest yet with more than 600 tickets sold out in six weeks,” said Bonnyville Health Centre executive director Alex Smyl. “There's a long list of people who still want to purchase tickets, but unfortunately we sold out so early this year.”
The Bonnyville Health Foundation has once again planned a spectacular evening of good food, good wine, entertainment — complete with live auction, silent auction and live band — as part of its 14th Annual Gala Evening.
The theme for the 2011 Gala is “An Evening in the Orient.”
This year's event will see more than 620 guests visit the field house at the Centennial Centre the evening of Saturday, Feb. 19.
Tickets have always been $50 apiece, which ensures people from all walks of life can attend, said Bonnyville Health Foundation fundraising committee chair Ray Prevost.
“The goal was always to allow everyone to participate and not just people with money,” he said. “At $50 a ticket for a meal, wine and great entertainment, this is an event where all citizens of Bonnyville can participate and have a wonderful time.”
More than $1.3 million has been raised by the event in the past 13 years and funds raised have helped purchase numerous pieces of crucial medical equipment, Prevost said.
“Last year was an exceptional event as Cenovus agreed to pick up the entire cost of the dinner, which was more than $15,000, and then agreed to match all donations up to $50,000,” he said. “We had an amazing success last year reaching over $200,000 so we're very confident we can attain our $100,000 fundraising goal for this year's Gala.”
As has been the case since the first Gala back in 1998, all proceeds from the Bonnyville Health Foundation Gala will go to purchase equipment for the local hospital.
The money raised from the 2011 event will be used to purchase upgraded equipment for the operating room and an otogram machine for an ear clinic at the health centre.
Prevost, the former mayor of Bonnvyille and a longtime town councillor, said he's proud to have come up with the idea to host an annual fundraising dinner to raise funds to purchase much-needed equipment for the local hospital.
But he insists he's just a small player as the amount of community, business and individual support for the event has been overwhelming from the beginning.
“This foundation and event isn't about me, but about the people of Bonnyville who have been so supportive since we started this 14 years ago,” he said. “The people and businesses who donate so much each and every year to help such a wonderful cause never ceases to amaze me.”
Prevost, who came up with the idea for a gala evening while working as manager of support services for the local hospital back in the late 1990's, said the gala has become one of the most highly-anticipated events and evenings in Bonnyville.
“I'd say it's the biggest gala event of the year,” he said. “We have a wonderful rodeo gala event and chuckwagon race party, but for community leaders and the business community, this is a big deal and high-profile event everyone wants to be part of.”
This is an evening about having a good time and raising big dollars for a great cause, said Prevost.
“There are no political speeches allowed,” he said.
Hospital board chair Roy Doonanco will make a speech, then local individuals and business owners who want to make donations are invited up on stage.
This year's “Evening in the Orient” theme should be a lot of fun as organizers have come up with some great ideas to ensure an evening to remember, he said.
“We come up with our theme a few weeks after each event so we can plan a few surprises for each Gala,” he said. “We've had a lot of fun with other themes such as our Under the Sea theme last year and African theme the year before that … It's all part of the fun in ensuring a night to remember.”
Being a lifelong resident and former mayor, Prevost said he's proud of his many contributions to the community, but admits being a founder of the Gala evening “ranks right at the top” of his list of accomplishments.
Vic Sadlowski will return for the eighth consecutive year at Master of Ceremonies.
The Gala evening has become a truly important event in this community, said Sadlowski.
“I'm continually amazed by the generosity of so many people and businesses towards one great cause,” he said.
Considering the inaugural event raised $30,000 and had a couple of hundred people in attendance, the Gala has come a long way in a short period of time, he said.
“It's definitely the hardest ticket in town to get,” he said.
Smyl said the Gala is looked on as one of the most unique fundraising events in northern Alberta by his peers.
“I've been in this industry a long time and I can tell you this event is the envy of almost every small town hospital board in the province,” he said. “The amount of community support is truly remarkable.”
If there was a venue in town that could hold more than the 630 expected on Feb. 19, Smyl has no doubt the Gala would become an even bigger event.
“We need a bigger venue,” he said smiling.