Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration

By Franca Ciambella

To no one’s surprise all of the guests at the annual Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner had a look of wonderful satisfaction on their faces after dining on 10kg turkeys with all of the traditional trimmings and accompaniments.  Hosted at the American Club, and held on the auspicious date of the tenth day of the tenth month in the year 2010, the event saw a sell out crowd of more than 200 persons.  The warm colours of yellow and maroon that adorned the room made everyone feel as though they were back in home in Canada on a beautiful autumn afternoon.

Under the watchful supervision of volunteers from the Canadian International School, about 45 children took part in the arts and crafts, face painting, and tattoos that had been organized for them both before and after the dinner.  Proceeds were raised via a lucky-draw to benefit Boys’ Town, a Singapore-based charity that helps boys from troubled families or from families who unable to keep them at home for financial reasons.  Lucky winners enjoyed prizes that included weekend getaways, wine hampers, brunches and teas, donated by the Fairmont Hotel, the American Club, Rochester Cafe and Neem Teas.

Finally, a tag placed secretly under a plate at each table helped to identify who would be the carving chef for that table. The reward for such a daunting task was not only getting to wear the chef’s hat and apron, but also bringing home the lovely table floral arrangement. His Excellency David Sevigny, Canada’s High Commissioner to Singapore, his wife, Mary Broderick as well as their daughter Laura, enjoyed the meal and agreed with everyone else in saying it felt just like a Thanksgiving in Canada.


Many thanks to the Thanksgiving organising committee and the American Club for hosting such a great event.

Annual Carpet Auction

By Janey Schueller

An enthusiastic group showed up for the Annual Carpet Auction on October 24th at the Fairmont Hotel. Amidst the beautiful colors and patterns, guests busily took note of their favourite carpets during the cocktail hour and settled in for an educational carpet talk from Edmund Rajendra of Eastern Carpets.  Edmund and fellow host Shakur answered questions from the group and then got down to business. Exquisite hand-woven carpets were auctioned off at discounted prices and with the 'surprise' gifts rewarded throughout the afternoon, no one left disappointed!  Many thanks to Eastern Carpets for their outstanding hospitality and we look forward to their next live auction at the Maple Leaf Ball in April.  If you can't wait until April, do stop by Eastern Carpets, located at Raffles City Shopping Centre, #03-31 and mention CAS!

Canada Day Singapore Style

By Sandra Johnson

This year marked my 12th Canada Day in Singapore, and Canada’s 143rd birthday. Over the years I’ve spent several Canada Days with friends from the Canadian Association of Singapore. This year, His Excellency David Sevigny and his lovely wife, Madam Mary Broderick, hosted a Canada Day BBQ for members and friends of the CAS. A great time was had by all. There was a Canada Day cake, hotdogs and hamburgers galore, fancy cupcakes, cookies, savory snacks, and Nanaimo bars aplenty. Old friends caught up over bottles of Dead Frog beer and new friendships were forged. We sang “Oh Canada” with proud voices after listening to David Sevigny’s inspiring speech. Canada Day venues and events may change, but the festivities are always enjoyable and make me feel like a true Canadian even though I am thousands of miles away from home. 

  

Happy Birthday Canada! You still look great at 143. 

   

More photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/canadiansofsingapore/CanadaDay2010#

   

Having a Ball at the Ball!

By Franca Ciambella

Photos of the Maple Leaf Ball, click here.

The legendary Maple Leaf Ball was held on Saturday April 17 and the 350 guests who arrived at the Fairmont Singapore were met with not one - but 2 red carpets in line with the "Walk the Red Carpet" theme.  The first carpet, sponsored by 3M, was truly innovative and consisted of the maple leaf pattern on an adhesive backing.  The second carpet was more traditional and led the guests to the stage and more importantly, to the dance floor.

Guests ate, drank and danced into the very wee hours of the night, but still found time to support this year's charity the Singapore Cancer Society.  Thank you to all our generous sponsors and guests for their strong support of CAS.  There are 500+ photos of the event posted on our website at: www.canadians.org.sg.  Due to popular demand, Ms. Moonlake Lee has graciously offered to forward soft copies of the photos to guests.  Please email your request to: mlee@specialistdentalgroup.com, with "MLB Photo Request/your last name" in the subject title and include the photo number(s). Please allow 7 days turnaround time.

See you next year!

Quiz Night – March 18, 2010

Text and photos by Kim Norman, CAS Member

More photos on the CAS website photo gallery:

http://www.canadians.org.sg/gallery.php

An exciting and successful CAS Quiz Night was held at Brewerkz on March 18th.  We had seven six-member teams flexing their grey matter in the competition for first prize and, more importantly, bragging rights until the next event.

It was a close match with the “PHDs” narrowly out-smarting “5 Plus 1” by a single correct answer.  The PHDs posted an impressive score of 45 correct answers out of a possible 70.  Rounding out the podium, there was a two-way tie for third between the “Canadian  Dragons” and the “Mad Expats” with scores of 42.  If you haven’t been to a CAS Quiz Night you’re missing out.  The nights are always good fun and there are usually some great lucky draw prizes to be won.  This past event included gift vouchers from Brewerkz and a hamper from the High Commission of Canada.

A big thank you to our host and quizmaster, David Barker, who kept everyone entertained and challenged with some fantastic questions.  Thanks also goes to Brewerkz and the High Commission of  Canada.  Look out for another CAS Quiz Night coming up soon in May!

Walk the Red Carpet ... 61 Glorious Years of the Maple Leaf Ball

By Janey Schueller, CAS President

The Maple Leaf Ball began 61 years ago with Singapore’s 60 Canadians in attendance - including 12 members of the Royal Air Force and 3 from the Army.  It was celebrated July 1st, 1950 at the Blue Room of the Capitol Restaurant and like any Canadian celebration - it was likely a party to remember! 

The 2nd and 3rd dinner and dances were held at the Chicken Inn, Seaview Hotel, followed by the Elizabethan Grill of the Raffles Hotel in 1953 and 6 decades later, the Canadian Association of Singapore is proud to host the 61st Annual Ball at the Fairmont Singapore on April 17, 2010.  

Your attendance is mandatory as we continue to contribute to our long and vibrant history in Singapore and the hard working Ball Committee, chaired by Franca Ciambella look forward to welcoming you - save us a dance!

For more photos of previous Balls, visit the Canadian Association of Singapore Fan Page. Click here

By Franca Ciambella, MLB 2010 Chairperson

If you have ever dreamed of walking down a red carpet in your most glamorous attire, to the flash of photographers’ bulbs, with all eyes fixed on you, then the 61st annual Maple Leaf Ball is a mustattend event! This year’s theme is “Walk the Red Carpet” and attendees are encouraged to be as creative as they would like as they imitate theirfavourite movie star, director, theme song, singer or musician.

The event will be held at the newly refurbished Ballroom at the Fairmont hotel on Saturday,17 April at 7pm. Attendees will be met by paparazzi as they enter and walk the red carpet, flanked by Genie statues resembling Royal Canadian MountedPolice. Tables will not be numbered but identified by the name of a famous Canadian celebrity-so don’tbe surprised to find you’re sitting at theDonald Sutherland  or the Pamela Anderson table.

Dinner will be a five course Canadian themed feast,including macadamia crusted Arctic cod and Alberta braised beef, all paired with sophisticated wines to go with each course.

The night includes a lucky draw and silent auction. All profits will go to the Singapore Cancer Society, who will also be issuing tax deduction receipts  for the charitable portion of the ticket.  There will be free-flow beer and wine throughout the night, and live music and a DJ will keep attendees dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

So don’t delay and risk missing out on a night toremember, buy your tickets today!


61st Annual Maple Leaf Ball
17 April, 2010
Saturday, 7.00 p.m. to 01.00 a.m.
Venue: The Fairmont Hotel, Stamford Ball Room

• Beneficiary of the profits from the Ball - Singapore Cancer Society.
• Tax receipts are available upon request for the charitable portion of the tickets
• Special rate of $170 per ticket for a table of 10 (must purchase as a Corporate table for $1,700)
• Members rate $180; Guests rate $220

For registration and payment details, click here

Click here to view list of sponsors.

SEVENTH ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR & TOY DRIVE 2009

By Text  by Franca Ciambella, CAS Member and 1st VP, CAS
Photos by Janey Schueller, CAS Member and President, CAS
More photos from this event can be found on the CAS website's photo gallery.

This year’s Teddy Bear & Toy Drive was, once again, a resounding success.  The seventh annual event raised nearly $20,000 and countless toys and teddies for the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore (SCAS).  The funds that were collected will be used to acquire some much needed early education multimedia learning programs and food vouchers for the needy families, as well as securing wheelchairs and diapers for the Association.

The fund-raising activities, which were run in conjunction with the Canadian International School (CIS), included a December 3rd cocktail reception at the official residence of the Canadian High Commission where guests were entertained by Christmas carols sung by the CIS Grade 2 choir.  Many thanks to the Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency David Sevigny and to his wife, Mrs. Mary Broderick, for opening their beautiful home and for being such gracious hosts. Many thanks also to the sponsors and donors of the Drive, Specialist Dental Group, Pratt & Whitney and the Bank of Nova Scotia, as well as numerous individual donors.

The toys and teddy bears were collected from the High Commission and the Tanjong Katong and Toh Tuck campuses of the CIS before being distributed and bringing cheer to the children at SCAS.  Many thanks to Santa Fe Relocation Services for donating their time, staff and transportation services to collect the boxes and have them delivered to the SCAS.

Finally, a special thank you to our volunteers: Katie Robinson, Megan Graff, Ben Grundy, Celeste Krochak, Tom Anderson, Andrea Mills, Calico Clark, Marta Hoyles, Doug McCreath, Rosakind DeBrass, Guy Chartier and Isabel Motyka.

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Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore (SCAS)

The Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore (SCAS) was established in 1957 to provide early intervention, special education, rehabilitation services, day activity centre programmes, vocational training and gainful employment for children and adults with cerebral palsy in Singapore.  The vision of SCAS is to be a leading regional centre for persons with cerebral palsy, helping them to realize their full potential and to lead a life with respect. 

All funds raised from the 2009 CAS Teddy Bear & Toy Drive will benefit the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC).  EIPIC was established on 1 April 2005 and provides early therapy intervention for over a hundred children aged a few months to 6 years suffering from one or more disabilities, but who have the potential of attending Special Education School or the mainstream school environment.  The Canadian community in Singapore thanks Melissa Shepherdson at SCAS and the SCAS team for their leadership and guidance with the fundraising drive this year.

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