His burden was eased through the support he found through donor-funded scholarships and other financial assistance available at Georgian.  

“I’ve been the beneficiary of several of your gracious awards and I can say they’ve helped me immeasurably,” said Dyck. “They’ve put safety boots on my feet, safety glasses on my face and helped pay for the medical training I need to get on ship and pursue my dream.” 

Dyck, who is set to graduate in 2024, expressed his immense gratitude for the support he received in a video he made aboard a ship on the Panama Canal during a work experience for school. The video was shown at Georgian’s Ignite the Night: An Unrivaled Gala Experience presented by BMO.  

The event, held at Casino Rama Resort on Nov. 3, brought together 300 members of the Georgian community, including sponsors, donors and friends, to raise funds to help students like Dyck.  

The volunteer gala committee was co-chaired by two Georgian graduates: Ali Khonsari (class of 1997), who is a past chair of Georgian’s Board of Governors, and Addison Wallwin (classes of 2015 and 2019).  

A total of $410,000 was raised and will go toward scholarships, awards and bursaries, as well as the Georgian Food Locker, which provides emergency groceries to students in need. The goal of raising $25,000 for the student food bank was matched, dollar for dollar, by gala sponsor belairdirect and was exceeded quickly that evening thanks to generous donors. 

“Awards, scholarships and bursaries open doors, create access and help make dreams come true. Every day, I see the difference that donor support has on our students and the Georgian experience,” said Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College. “I want to thank all of our guests, sponsors, donors and volunteers for their generous support of Georgian and helping us deliver truly unrivaled experiences.” 

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Presented by TD Bank, the gala offers an unforgettable evening of music and philanthropy, live entertainment, inspiring and impactful stories, an exciting silent auction, and a gourmet dining experience by Feast Catering & Events that will tantalize your taste buds, all in name of advancing vitally important mental health and addictions research.

Known for her powerful and emotive vocals, Susan Aglukark has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with her soul-stirring melodies and poignant lyrics. Her music, deeply rooted in her Inuk heritage, has not only garnered critical acclaim but also served as a source of healing and resilience for countless individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges.

“Susan Aglukark’s music transcends boundaries and her stories speak of empowerment and the importance of self-respect and respecting others, and how this can lead to a much healthier and happier life,” says Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, Waypoint President and CEO. “The Shine the Light Gala is an opportunity to unite as a community, celebrate the power of music, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. By coming together, we can create a bright future where mental health and addictions are understood, treated, and ultimately conquered.”

Waypoint and the Waypoint Research Institute are igniting a revolution in mental health and addictions care, bringing new research onto hospital floors and into the community. This innovative approach is already making an impact on the lives of people across the province – youth, frontline workers, survivors of domestic violence, shift workers, and more. Your contributions to this year’s event will be a direct lifeline to this groundbreaking research, improving lives today and into the future. Join us in reshaping the future of mental health and addictions care.

Tickets are available now at www.givewaypoint.com/events and offer various sponsorship levels for organizations and individuals seeking to make a substantial impact. This unique opportunity for philanthropists, businesses and community leaders to join hands and support the crucial work being done at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

Event Details:

• Event Name: Shine the Light Gala
• Date: December 8, 2023
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Venue: Midland Cultural Centre
• Tickets: Available at www.givewaypoint.com/events
• Dress Code: Semi-formal

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Shelly Price at sprice@waypointcentre.ca.

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Cirque Under the Stars presented by Casino Rama Resort brings guests an unforgettable evening of magic and whimsy. Prepare to be thrilled by daring acrobatics, dazzling aerial performances, and circus style entertainment.

The evening will also feature a prestigious culinary experience, live and silent auctions, raffle and an extraordinary night in support of healthcare excellence for this community.

The move to the Entertainment Centre will allow for more guests at this year’s event and the possibility of making a bigger impact on the Hospital’s greatest needs.

“This year’s gala will accommodate more guests than ever before,” said Kaitlyn St. Pierre, Senior Annual Giving Officer at the OSMH Foundation. “It will, as always, be a night of spectacular entertainment but the real magic will be giving our healthcare providers at Soldiers’ better resources to provide enhanced care for our community.”

This will be the first gala for OSMH Foundation’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, Perry Esler.

“I’m looking forward to meeting our sponsors and community members and thanking them for choosing to support our Hospital,” said Esler. “I’ve seen the passion and support they have for the community and I’m positive we’ll be celebrating another exciting night in fundraising.”

Over the past 21 years, the Soldiers’ Annual Gala has raised over $1.5 million and supported the purchase of surgical equipment, bedside monitors, the MRI and life-saving paediatric equipment among others.

Sponsorship opportunities and early bird tickets for the Soldiers’ 22^nd Annual Gala are now available. Early bird tickets end on August 31, 2023. Please visit hospitalgala.ca.

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Jeanne Beker is one of Canada’s most recognized celebrities, as a founding member of MuchMusic and the iconic host of Fashion Television. Her personal breast cancer journey, which began in 2022, has provided her with a rich, eye-opening experience and a new purpose and platform for sharing wisdom and inspiration. Jeanne also speaks about the passion and resiliency it takes to be a trailblazing, successful entrepreneur — and the balance necessary to survive and thrive.

“It is exciting to have Jeanne Beker join us for this year’s Power of Giving Gala,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “She has a powerful personal story to share, and her experience highlights how important an MRI is for fast, accurate diagnosis. We are thankful for her bravery and candour in sharing her journey, and are honoured to have her inspire us on September 16.”

In addition to hearing from Jeanne Beker, guests attending in person will enjoy an outdoor experience including welcome cocktail, delicious hors d’oeuvres from Feast Catering, and live musical entertainment from award-winning performance group, BLuSoul and talented violinist Alireza Firoozi. Through ticket sales, live and online auction, fundraising and sales of Georgian Bay (Gbay) Bags, the event plans to raise $305,000 to help bring an MRI to GBGH.

“Investing in MRI technology will mean that people in our community – our neighbours, friends, and family members – can get the answers they need closer to home,” says Kraftscik. “Together, our community must raise $4-million to fund the purchase and installation of the MRI at GBGH, and focusing on this priority at the Gala is going to help bring awareness to this critical project.”

Tickets to attend the Power of Giving Gala in person are $150 each, while virtual tickets are free. The in-person event begins at 5pm, following by the live stream at 7pm.

For more information, to purchase tickets or to register, visit www.GIVE2GBGH.ca or contact the Foundation office (foundation@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-4483).

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Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 3^rd, when The Lighthouse will host its annual fundraising gala at Hawk Ridge Golf Club.   The Lighthouse is celebrating 30 years of community service this year. We are excited to celebrate with friends and supporters, and it promises to be a beautiful evening of fine dining, live music and dancing all while raising funds for ongoing Lighthouse operations.

This year, The Lighthouse is stepping back into time – to the swing era of the 1930’s.  Sophisticated décor and big band music will combine to bring that era to life – in style!  The Orillia Big Band, led by well-known musician/conductor Randy Hoover will provide music that’s guaranteed to entertain everyone.  If you like to dance – this is the party for you! Don’t let the dancing scare you off; feel free to just listen and enjoy the music. Dress as you feel comfortable for a classy evening out on the town, and if you truly want to capture the spirit of the swing era, come dressed in a thirties-themed outfit – there will be a prize for the best-dressed.  Coincidently, pearls, which were very fashionable throughout the 30’s, are the designated jewel stones for 30^th anniversaries.

Ticket prices are $160 per person – with an $80 tax receipt reflecting your direct contribution to The Lighthouse.   We are limited to 200 guests – so please, round up some friends and book soon as tickets will go quickly.  Go to orillialighthouse.ca/events to purchase your tickets for our ‘party of the year’.

The evening will get underway, with reception and cocktails starting at 5:00 p.m.  Shortly after 6:00 p.m. a delicious meal, planned and prepared by Hawk Ridge’s well-known chef, Josh Lockrey will be served and the music starts up around 7:30 p.m.

There will be lots of excitement, including some vintage cars (very ‘thirties’), an on-site photographer and a 50:50 draw. A silent and live auction are planned – featuring something for everyone, from a wonderful ‘glamping experience’, to passes for golf, for skiing, art pieces, overnight getaways, a myriad of gift cards and more, including some of the best maple syrup in Ontario!

Auctions are always fun and you are sure to find something there you will like.  Our thanks to all of the donors for this year’s auction items – their contributions not only make this a fun evening, they also translate directly into support for The Lighthouse – as do the contributions of our sponsors.

This year we are proud to welcome Orillia KIA as our Lead Sponsor. General Manager Dustin Stein and his team have been very generous with their time and support for The Lighthouse, and we are deeply appreciative of their continuing dedication.

There are still opportunities to show your support by sponsoring, donating to the auctions or purchasing tickets.  Your support is invaluable to the work of The Lighthouse and we can not thank everyone enough.  Your contributions matter and make an important difference in our ability to support the most vulnerable in our community.   The annual gala is one of a few occasions to celebrate the great work and support The Lighthouse receives.  It is an opportunity to simultaneously raise funds and ‘the roof’ – metaphorically speaking.   So, grab your best gal or guy, get ready to jive and join us June 3^rd, to celebrate The Lighthouse’s 30 years in Orillia.

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Join Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care for an inspiring evening of good music, good food, and good company at the Shine the Light Gala on November 4 in support of youth mental health.

The pandemic has had a significant psychological impact on young people. The Youth Resiliency program is working together to help kids and young adults maintain their mental wellbeing, build resiliency skills, and find the help they need before a crisis occurs.

“We have so many amazing young people and families in our region and it is great to see Waypoint come alongside them to support their mental health,” said Dr. Rob Meeder, event co-host, Pediatrician and Medical Director Family, Child and Youth Mental Health. “Kids and teens need this support now more than ever, and providing it in a preventive way is so much more effective than waiting for things to get worse. This program will be a great addition to the mental health supports already in place and ensure that the next generation is healthy and ready to move through future challenges.”

The hybrid gala, which will be held in-person at the Midland Cultural Centre as well as online, is being headlined by Canadian singer-songwriter Sophia Fracassi and co-hosted by Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, President and CEO and Dr. Rob Meeder, Pediatrician and Medical Director Family, Child and Youth Mental Health.

In addition to a show-stopping performance from Sophia, premium ticket holders will enjoy a gourmet meal by Feast Catering & Events, dinner music by local musician Emma Reynolds, online auction, and inspiring and impactful stories shared by youth and mental health professionals. The meal will be delivered right to your home if you are attending virtually, or enjoyed in-person at the Midland Cultural Centre.

Free tickets are also available and will allow guests to enjoy parts of the evening virtually including Sophia’s music, testimonials and online auction.

“Tickets for the in-person event are nearly 60% sold out, with premium virtual tickets still available,” said Laurene Hilderley, Director of Communications and Fund Development. “We are so grateful for the support of our generous sponsors including TD Bank, TBLL Advocates, Honeywell, and Fiera Capital. With their support and the funds raised through ticket sales and live fundraising, we are hoping to raise $100,000 for the Youth Resiliency Fund.”

To get your premium tickets or register for free, visit https://trellis.org/a-night-to-shine-the-light-gala-2022.

Sponsorships are also available. For more information or to sponsor the event, please contact Shelly Price at sprice@waypointcentre.ca.

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One of the key priorities on the horizon for the hospital is building a comprehensive acute
mental health program. This was the inspiration for the event’s focus on mental health
awareness and advocacy. To bring that focus to life, the evening’s program included
award-winning humanitarian, bestselling author and physician Dr. Samantha Nutt. Dr.
Nutt spoke to the audience about her experience caring for patients with mental illness
in a small community.

“In those really critical moments, when what you really need is support, some therapy, a
diagnosis, maybe some medication, maybe a brief or extended hospitalization, every
layer that gets added, every distance that gets built in to the challenge of accessing
that care, puts that person’s life at risk,” shared Dr. Nutt. “Tonight is about achieving
different outcomes, about removing the barriers that so many people in our communities
face when it comes to accessing mental health care.”

Building on the theme of mental health, Power of Giving guests learned more about the
proposed acute mental health program for GBGH through a very powerful video
featuring the Foundation’s executive director, Nicole Kraftscik, who shared her own
struggle with mental illness.

“People are getting lost in this system, and people are suffering,” shared Kraftscik. “And,
whether it’s your neighbour, your grandmother, your father, or brother or sister, mental
health does not discriminate. I know what care can look like when it’s all in one building,
and I want that for my hospital…for your hospital…for GBGH.”
Collectively, through generous donations made during the event, business sponsorship,
ticket sales, online auction and sales of the Gbay Bag, more than $385,000 was raised for
the Foundation’s Impact Fund.

Anyone interested in watching the event can do so through the Foundation’s You Tube
Channel (https://youtu.be/a5ulcnjs430). To watch Nicole’s personal mental health story,
visit: https://youtu.be/C5630DhfqVc.

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“With vaccination efforts in full swing, the world is opening up slowly,” shared Mark Riczu, Executive Director, OMSH Foundation. “We hope to be able to hold in-person events in the new year, but for now, we are moving forward with an abundance of caution and holding our biggest annual event in a virtual space.”

The Soldiers’ Mask-erade Gala will take place October 29^th, 2021 and is free to anyone who wants to participate. In place of tickets, evening “add-ons” will be available for purchase to enhance the virtual gala experience in the form of VIP and Dinner Party Packages.

“We are all expanding our circles cautiously and we want the gala to be an interactive way for participants to feel like they are part of something bigger while supporting Soldiers’ from home,” said Hunter Markle, Development Officer of Annual Giving, OSMH Foundation. “We’ve created an evening centred on a special announcement that impacts our whole community and we can’t wait to share that with everyone in October.”

The evening will feature stories from Soldiers’ staff and patients as well as plenty of other exciting entertainment pieces perfect for a Mask-erade gala. An online silent auction and raffle will round out the evening’s activities.

In 2020, the OSMH Foundation’s first virtual event resulted in the most successful gala yet, raising $136,000 for ventilators at Soldiers’. Over the last 19 years, the gala has raised more than $1.13 million for the Hospital.

To find out more information about sponsorship opportunities or to donate silent auction items, please visit hospitalgala.ca. As more details become available, they will be posted there.

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