An evening in Paris – c’était magnifique!

Cates Hill Chapel was transformed into a Parisian Cafe for the IPS fundraiser 'An Evening in Paris.'

Submitted

To the Editor:

On Saturday, January 28, you may have found yourself sitting on the terrace of a Parisian Café, under a “starry sky”, sipping French wine, tasting delicious food, surrounded by ivy and red geraniums, and being entertained by ten talented performers singing mostly in French. For one night, Cates Hill Chapel was transformed for “An Evening in Paris”.

Although this event was technically a fundraiser for the grade 9 IPS student trip to Québec, it was not, in its intention or outcome, a grand moneymaker. More significantly, it was an opportunity to bring the island community together across generations and talents, a chance to share an evening together in the middle of winter, and an occasion for the students, parents and staff of Island Pacific School to give back to the community it calls home. Thank you to everyone who made the evening so memorable.

Kristen Warkentin, new teacher to IPS and Bowen Island, opened the evening with Josephine Baker’s song, J’ai Deux Amours; Matt Maxwell played and sang his own song, Notre Seul Foyer; Pierre Beaudry, Shael Wrinch, and Teun Schut sang two Québecois tunes; Rob Bailey and Teun Schut offered up a smooth jazz duet; the grade 9 students took the stage to ‘sing for their supper’; Ruta Yawney entranced us all with her bandura; the sweet voices of IPS alumni students Lauren Spear and Emily Allan showed us what following your passions can lead to; and to cap off the evening, Pauline LeBel, accompanied by Marc Gawthrop, lit up the room with her French classics by Edith Piaf. Each of these performers offered up the gifts of their talents to make this a very memorable event.

I am reminded of a scene in David Mamet’s film State and Main: When a jaded Hollywood writer has to go on location to a small town, he runs into a local and asks, “What do you do for entertainment around here?” and she says, “We make our own.” I’d say Bowen Island is a cut above when it comes to making our own entertainment. Kudos to all in the community who participate in our local events as organizers, artists, and guests. Together we make this one rockin’ rock.

April Bosshard