Photo: Martin C. Barry
All you can eat lobster was the main item on the menu
at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s annual Lobsterfest.

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s annual Lobsterfest, which took place at the Château Royal last Wednesday, raised $35,253 for educational projects and materials to be used in the coming year at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board schools and learning centres. About 530 people turned up for the popular $150-a-ticket evening, which is one of two major events the foundation holds each year as its principal means of fundraising.

Foundation aids education
Created in 2004, the non-profit Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation solicits funds from the public and from businesses in order to promote and sustain educational, cultural, recreational, artistic and athletic programs within the school board. While helping fund the acquisition of teaching aids and technological equipment, the foundation also supports publications, projects and programs that encourage students to continue their studies.
During last week’s Lobsterfest, Olivia Landry, a Secondary Five student at Rosemere High School, delivered an inspiring testimonial on how she and others have benefitted from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s donations. Over the years, the foundation has footed the bill for a range of educational tools like computers for the students, as well as security measures to foil potential intruders in the schools.

This year’s projects
Projects the foundation is funding in 2010 include a $24,000 grant to the SWLSB’s Arundel Nature Center, a social skills program to improve behavior and social integration of problem students, a program to help students learn the basic skills necessary to operate a small business, a pedagogical program for special needs adults, a peace program to deal with growing relational aggression among girls in the elementary school setting, an Artists in Residence program, and a student-centered science program.
While the main item on the menu at the Lobsterfest was hot and cold lobster on the half-shell, there was also roast beef and a variety of desserts afterwards. Guests were invited to purchase raffle tickets for prizes. Several high-priced items, including a 47-inch Vizio HDTV screen, were taken home by lucky winners. When the meal was over, the evening had just begun. Day Tripper, a Beatles tribute band, performed two sets of music. The crowd just went wild on the dance floor.

Ghali steps aside
In a speech SWLSB chairman Steve Bletas made to the crowd, he said he had mixed emotions addressing everyone who came to show their support. After five years of serving as the foundation’s president, François Ghali was stepping down. “I can still remember the first board of directors meeting François attended,” said Bletas. “It took only one get-together for us to convince him to stay and help us in our endeavor.”
According to Bletas, Ghali’s insight was instrumental in getting the foundation to where it is today. Over the past five years, the foundation has donated more than $350,000 to the schools and centres of the SWLSB. “François, on behalf of the Sir Wilfrid School Board, I would like to thank you on such a remarkable (achievement) and for your enthusiasm, commitment and determination,” added Bletas. “I hope that your time at the foundation has been as memorable and as uplifting as it was for the members of the board.”

To remain involved
Harold Ashenmil noted that Ghali’s relinquishing of the chairmanship “is not goodbye,” since Ghali has said he will continue to work with the foundation. Taking to the podium, Ghali said he was overwhelmed by all the speeches praising him, especially in the presence of an audience of such distinguished educators and business people from the community.