Guests socialize at last year’s Grand Night. (Russell Work file photo)
There aren’t many events in Osoyoos that allow participants to “get all dressed up in black ties and gowns”, but that all changes every January with A Grand Night.
It’s hard to believe A Grand Night will be celebrating its 10th anniversary when this year’s event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Watermark Beach Resort, said Tamara Aspell, the executive director of the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre, which founded and has organized the fundraising gala event over the past decade.
All proceeds from A Grand Night go back to Desert Sun, which then uses the money to operate important community programs such as the local Safe Home, crisis line, community kitchen and men’s counselling services, said Aspell.
The event has been a complete sellout every year since its inception nine years ago and she’s confident that will be the case once again for the 2015 event, said Aspell.
“We’ve sold more tickets at this point two weeks before the event than we ever have before, so I’m pretty confident we’ll have another sellout,” she said. “We can handle a maximum of 136 people for the event and the goal is, once again, to sell every ticket.”
The theme for this year’s A Grand Night is Diamonds are Forever and the conference centre at the Watermark will be beautifully decorated with this theme in mind, she said.
The event allows the residents of Osoyoos to not only support Desert Sun and its many community programs, but also allows them to have a great time and dress up for the occasion, she said.
“While not everyone will wear tuxedos, most of the men are wearing black ties and the woman are all decked out in their best gown,” she said. “It’s an evening to get all dressed up, have a good time and support a good cause all at the same time.”
Cascade Stucco has donated the $1,000 grand prize to one lucky ticket winner to be drawn around 10 p.m. on January 24, she said.
Several past winners have donated the $1,000 top prize back to Desert Sun, but that’s certainly not mandatory, she said.
Once again, some of the region’s finest chefs will be preparing the food, while several top local wineries will be providing the wine for A Grand Night.
Those chefs include Chris Van Hooydonk from Chef’s Table Backyard Farm – Soup and Sourdough; Natasha Schooten from Gristmill; Jenna Pillon from Terrafina at Hester Creek Winery; Rob Walker from Liquidity; Adair Scott from Watermark Beach Resort; and Annina Hoffmeister from Dolci Deli and Catering.
Wineries involved include Constellation Brand, Orofino, Hester Creek and Stellar’s Jay.
All participants will be offered a free ride home. Watermark is offering a starting rate of $79 for anyone wishing to book ahead, said Aspell.
Tickets for A Grand Night are $85 apiece and are available at Imperial Office Pro on Main Street in downtown Osoyoos, by calling 250-498-2538 or visiting the website at www.desertsuncounselling.ca.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
