Expatriates in Toronto gather to help library
From Winnipeg Free Press, Monday, February 25, 2001 A1
TORONTO – The food table is loaded up with quail eggs and caviar, but the guests are lunging for the little Kelekis hotdogs and slices of Jeanne’s cakes.
“It’s like heaven!” gushes Toronto advertising honcho Ron Telpner as h e bites into one of Mary Kelekis’s famous Winnipeg wieners.
It’s the sweet taste of cherished memories for Telpner, former head of McKim Advertising, and about 100 other expatriate Winnipeggers brought together over the weekend in Hogtown to help raise money for the $25-million Winnipeg Millennium Library expansion.
‘Expensive hotdog’
“This could be the most expensive hotdog I’ve ever had,” Telpner says with a laugh as a server carrying a tray of Winnipeg goldeye navigates her way through the crowded reception area of the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre in the heart of the city.
“It’s the first time I’ve had this little hotdog,” muses Roy Perlman, a Toronto retailer who does a lot of business in Winnipeg. “It’s wonderful,” he declares.
If the hotdogs weren’t enough to get the nostalgia bubbling to the surface, the guests were invited before the party to Saturday’s final showing of Larry’s Party, the musical adaptation of Carol Shields’ novel about a Winnipegger struggling to find himself.
By invitations only; donations encouraged
Library boosters were in out in full force over the weekend in Toronto, trying to shake up some cash commitments for Winnipeg’s plans to upgrade Centennial Library.
THE POSSE:
Glen Murray – Winnipeg’s mayor since 1998. Murray was first elected to council in 1989.
Charlie Coffey – The Royal Bank’s executive vice-president of government and community affairs, formerly worked in Winnipeg as senior vice-president and general manager for this region. Coffey has long been a champion of aboriginal economic development issues.
Senator Mira Spivak – A former chairwoman of the Winnipeg School Division board of trustees. Spivak was appointed to the Senate in 1986. Her husband Sidney was leader of the provincial Tories in the 1970s.
Senator Lois Wilson – Wilson, who was born in Winnipeg and attended Kelvin High School, was appointed to the Senate in 1998. She became the first woman moderator of the United Church of Canada in 1980.
Ed Schreyer – Premier of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977, Schreyer was appointed to the position of Governor General by Pierre Trudeau in 1979.
Arni Thorsteinson – President of the Winnipeg-based development company, Shelter Corp., Thorsteinson received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba.
Others included Winnipeg businessman and community activist Joe Bova, Western Glove Work’s Bob Silver, local arts patron Kathleen Richardson and Dee and Harold Buchweld.
THE TARGETS:
Tom Axworthy – Principal secretary to former prime minister Pierre Trudeau from 1981 to 1984.
Ian Delaney – Chairman of Toronto-based mining company Sherritt International Corp. The company is noted for its investments in Cuban oil production, nickel mining, power generation, cell phones, tourism and agriculture.
Sarah Everett – President and CEO of the Bowring gift store chain. Winnipeg-based Domo Gasoline Corp., is owned by the Everett family. At one time, Sarah served as its president.
Douglas Gibson – President and publisher of book publishing giant McClelland & Stewart Inc. since 1988.
Lorina Sacilotto – Executive vice-president of retail marketing with Harlequin Enterprises. The world’s largest publisher of romance novels began in Winnipeg in 1949.
Other targets included:
Jim Allen – Thomas, Allen & Son Ltd.
Penny Burk – Burk and Associates
Alex Burstein – CEO Group
Harold Fenn – H.B. Fenn and Co.
Matthew Fraser – Rebecca Gottlieb
Bob Laine – Chum Group
Jeff Lowenstein – Kenneth Cole Fashions
Claude Primo – HarperCollins Canada
Arthur Gale – S & B Books
Donald MacDonald – Goodman Private Wealth Management
Jack Stoddard – General Publishing
Ron Telpner – Brainstorm Group
Julia Mettus – St. Andrews Financial
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