A stand out celebration and more to come

The Social Scene

with Dra Lourdes Quijada

Canadians and friends from a score of countries joined with the CanadaPLUS Club on Saturday October 8, to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving and to welcome the Canadian Ambassador Sylvia Cesaratto.


Canadian Ambassador Sylvia Cesaratto  cuts the first slice of the Thanksgiving turkeyA Union Club ballroom was filled to overflowing as the guests enjoyed an eclectic evening of entertainment led off by the singing of O Canada, in English and French by  the Director of Opera Panama, Irena Sylya,  and New York soprano Amy Blake, now living in Niece and in Panama to appear in La Boheme at the National Theater.

Ambassador Cesaratto, who had already pleased the guests with a multi-lingual speech, proposed the Toast to Canada, and headed for the ceremonial carving of the turkey.

The feasting was accompanied by Beatles music from “The Others” trio  until, as desserts were being nibbled, a second musical treat was 

Irena Sylya and Amy Blake singing "O Canada"

 

presented.  by Amy Blake and tenor  Angelo Ferrari with a selection of Arias from La Boheme. They earned standing ovations.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Then followed the drawing of the tombola to provide seed money for the Carols by Candlelight event to be held in Casco Viejo on December 3 with the participation of five choirs, and  Opera Panama to raise money for Fundacion Calicanto. (Full details of this major community event will be published later in the week).

The tombola sponsors were Copa Airlines, Opera Panama,  Magnolia Inn, Oldies Restaurant, Jungle Land Explorers and Spanish Panama.

Copa return flight to Toronto prizewinner Marge Metini

 

The evening wound up with a packed dance floor as young and older tuned in to the  never fading rhythms of the Beatles.

Just a coincidence, but  it was the day that Sir Paul Mccartney celebrated his third wedding, … I Love You Yeah Yeah Yeah!

A full album of 69 photos of the event can be found on the CanadaPLUS facebook

 WELCOME BACK SNOWBIRDS 

For CanadaPLUS members it was another night to remember and a reminder to begin planning for the next event, a Welcome Back Snowbirds celebration at Oldies on November 21.

If you want to make this one you will have to 

 MC David Young   CanadaPLUS team member Joseph Ennis and guest

book early.  The price is right ($15 for members, $20 guests) with an open bar and non-stop finger foods as numbers will be limited, and its sure to be a sell out. Sounds like the party bargain of the year.