2016 Summer Soiree & Auction ~ a Sold Out evening!

A happy & spirited crowd gathered Saturday August 6^th for the 6^th Annual Summer Soiree & Auction. The tennis court looked particularly festive with colourful lanterns strung overhead, planters brimming with summer flowers and succulents potted in an astonishing array of recycled containers. There were babies, families, old friends and new friends all gathering to celebrate community, our community of Thetis Island.  

Carol Sowerby took individual and group portraits this year and some are featured in this article, thank you Carol!

Natasha & Brian

The Osbergs

Chad and Stephanie

“It was a wonderful evening, and it really demonstrated the strength of the community that is Thetis Island: a lot of good people, all working together towards a common goal...”

 “Our guests had never experienced such a sense of community; we talked about it all weekend long”

Robert Spencer, looking very dapper in his tux, was our MC for the evening. Thanks to Robert for keeping us on track, informed and entertained. 

Nicole Chaisson sourced many auction items for the soiree this year; both the display and the decorations featured creatively repurposed items from the recycling depot. Most notable was the large steamer trunk carefully lined with coffee sack burlap from Nan and filled with bottles of wine donated by so many different folks. 

Ann Dickie created a sumptuous summer menu and volunteers worked for days preparing the dinner by shopping, chopping, tossing, baking and finally cooking steaks on the BBQ 

Guitar and vocals were provided by Bob Pickell who entertained us with a wide repertoire of tunes. Bob also did an amazing job as auctioneer and even performed an a cappella version of All I Have To Do Is Dream to a very surprised Keith and Ellen Rush as an introduction to the auctioning of Ann Dickie’s Dinner for 12. 

The Soiree had a new format this year; the art auction, Art for All, was held two days prior to the Soiree dinner and for the first time, was open to the entire community. The art team led by the trio of Dee Smith, Donna Stadt and Celine Valestrand, catalogued, sorted, and created a Thetis Island Art Gallery in Forbes Hall. Many of the students from Thetis Island Elementary donated a carefully coloured picture of their little red school house, their way of contributing to the community – thank you! Also new, was a ‘take me home now price’ on the pieces of art which auction goers took full advantage of.  

A wine and cheese reception was held on opening day featuring wine selected by Keith Rush which of course included wine from Domaine Jasmine.

So many people helped to make the evening a success. Special thanks to the crew from Pioneer Pacific who once again came to the hall on their day off, served dinner, cleared the tables, scraped the dishes, took the dishes back to Pioneer for washing then returned them to the hall all on the same night – phew

Thanks to the generosity of many, the 2016 Summer Soiree & Auction raised $13,500. This money is shared between the Thetis Island Community Association and the Thetis Island Community Fund benefitting all islanders. 

The following is a list of sponsors who provided items for auction, our apologies if we have left anyone off this list!

Best Western Plus Chemanius Inn

Vancouver Delta Suites

Whistler Village Delta Suites

Trenholme & Company        

Audain Museum Gallery, Whistler

BC Ferries                               

Mt. Brenton Golf Course

Phil, Ken Hunter and Rhonda Andrews

Quist Meat Market

The Nanaimo Flying Club

Ian Shaw

Dave Knowles

Sandpiper Nursery

Bill & Ann Dickie

Don Sinclair

Peggy Thompson

The Dinner for 12 Team

Domaine Jasmine

The Vault Café, Nanaimo

Dinter’s Nursery

The Sharp Family

Char Aaberg

Ruth Goodbody

Petra Accipiter

Howling Wolf Farm

The Howard Family

Barton Lehr Gallery, Nanaimo

Chemainus Theatre

Sawmill Restaurant

Helen Bird

Gloria Taylor

Jollity Farm

Black Jack Chimney Sweep

Connie Schermerhorn

Nettie Hayter

Dawn Gordon

Mary & Peter Osberg

Ellen & Keith Rush

Tracy Higgins Interior Design

Sherwin Williams Paint, Nanaimo

Dean Mattson, New Image Interiors

City Tile, Nanaimo

Dragon Rock

Telegraph Marina

Thetis Island Marina

Nancy’s Fashion and Furnishings, Ladysmith

49^th Parallel Grocery, Chemainus

Doc the Barber

Chemainus Auto

Thetis Island Property Services

Thetis Island Recycling Yard

Wreckless Potworxx Bistro & Grill, Chemainus

Etc, Chemainus

Twisted Sisters

McBrides

CRV TEK, Chemainus

Chemainus Health Food Store

The Book Nook