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How will you change the world for girls?

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Malala Yousafzai is working to change the world for girls. She was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 and survived. She was targeted because she was advocating for girls’ education. Just this month, at the age of 17, she became the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon described her as a “brave and gentle advocate of peace who through the simple act of going to school became a global teacher.”

When we hear Malala’s story, it’s difficult to believe that in 2014, there are still places in the world where girls are not permitted to go to school. I firmly believe in the power of education for girls. Because I had the opportunity to go school and take on part-time jobs, I could send money home to my family and my younger brothers and sisters were also empowered. Many studies have shown that increased education for girls and women has clear impacts on their health and economic future, which in turn improves prospects for an entire community. But even in a city like Calgary, there is more we can do. Because even in a city like Calgary, 1 in 4 girls do not graduate from high school on time.

In the past few weeks, I participated in a number of events which demonstrate that women in Calgary are really seeing girls’ education as an issue that they can provide leadership around. Gianna Manes, President and CEO of Enmax and co-chair of our campaign this year, hosted a recent breakfast for about 24 women. Rachel Moore, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Savanna Energy and Chair of United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, talked to the group about All In for Girls.

Led by our Women’s Leadership Council (WLC), All In for Girls is a sub-strategy of All In for Youth, a city-wide initiative that focuses on reducing the high school dropout rate in Calgary by 50% by 2017. It provides girls the supports they need that will help them succeed in school, develop confidence and connections, and set them up for future success. Moore emphasized that research shows girls must often overcome unique barriers to completing high school and reaching their potential due to their gender, age and a variety of societal factors.

For example, research shows that adolescent girls are a particularly vulnerable group, where feelings of low self-esteem, negative body image, helplessness and stress are all too common. In grade six, 36 percent of girls report being self-confident, but by grade ten this number has dropped to fourteen percent (Boyce, King, & Roche 2008).

The women in the group identified ways that all of us can make a difference: by helping girls around us see their strengths and personal power, by helping connect them to a network so that they have a support system, by being role models and mentors, by helping to bring young men along as part of this conversation and by providing opportunities to engage girls in the community.

There was another opportunity to discuss girls on October 8th, at the WLC’s Annual Luncheon and panel discussion. The theme was, “Building Confident Girls:  Strong Role Models, Healthy Relationships and Positive Body Images”.  The panelists shared powerful insights on the topic. Alison Springer, a professional speaker and founder of Young Women of Power, called on women to take up speaking positions and go public with themselves and their skills. Gianna Manes, President & CEO of Enmax highlighted how one positive adult in the life of a child can really matter, and emphasized the importance of teaching boys how to respect and value women. Dr. Martha Hart, founder of The Owen Hart Foundation reminded us that confidence comes from accomplishments, saying that it’s what you are and what you do that matters most in life, not looks. And Pam Krause, President & CEO of the Calgary Sexual Heath Centre reinforced this by saying that life is a collective journey and together with those around us we can do powerful things in the world.

The United Nations marks October 11th as ‘International Day of the Girl Child’. The day promotes girls’ human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.

October seems like the perfect month to identify what each of us can do to support the success of girls in our sphere of influence. How will you change the world for girls? Let me know your thoughts @LucyMillerYYC.


Comedian Dane Cook talks about fame, comedy and the wonders of technology

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Comedian Dane Cook has always had a soft spot for new technology.

Call it his inner-geek, but his take on how our brave new world of social media has affected comedy seems to veer from the standard, old-school script. For many, the idea that every new joke, routine, misstep or worse — remember Michael Richards? — can be immediately recorded and downloaded to YouTube for all to see has taken a lot of the spontaneity and experimentation out of the craft.

But Cook has a more sympathetic view, particularly in how it relates to his own career.

“I would have to say that I am one of the people that (really benefited) from tech and from growing up in an era where people started to become more interested in communicating through social media,” says Cook, in an phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. “I built a fan base through sites like MySpace and using AOL Instant Messenger and different forums that people would communicate in and hang out in. I was always a tech-geek growing up too. I was always taking apart my computers and transistor radios and trying to figure out what made them tick, or in this time click. So, yeah, I looked at it as an incredible opportunity to use this modern-day stuff to build a fan base.”

So it’s hardly surprising that when Cook comes to Calgary’s Southern Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday for two shows in support of the Owen Hart Foundation, his new material will focus on how social media has complicated those day-to-day concerns — romance, sex, family, the difference between men and women,— that have been the staples of standup routines for generations.

“I really became fascinated the last couple of years the way we interact with technology and the way people are falling in love and falling out of love and how a lot of it has to do with those apps that are in our hands all day long,” Cook says. “For example, there’s a case going on here in the states where a couple got into a major argument and said some threatening things to each other. The husband finally sent her an emoji gun and he’s on trial now. Even though it’s a little adorable, cute little doodle, if you send someone a picture of an emoji gun it’s a threat. You are threatening someone’s life. It’s just kind of a fascinating time.”

It’s telling that Cook doesn’t attempt to turn the latter observation into a joke while on the phone with a journalist. The 42-year-old is unfailingly nice, engaged and eloquent. But, as with many successful comedians, he doesn’t even attempt to be funny when discussing the serious business of comedy.

In fact, he often comes across as studious and analytical, suggesting that he spent a lot of his youth in Arlington, Mass. dissecting comedy with the same curiosity he brought to those transistor radios. If there is a downside to the YouTube generation of comics, he says, it’s that too many of them will post early routines in hopes it will be a route to overnight success rather than taking the time to do the required homework and legwork.

It may be hard to believe, but the eternally youthful Cook has been working at his craft for a quarter-of-a-century now.

“I think there is something to be said for really building a routine, building a voice and trying to stay off the grid a little bit,” he says. “Stay in the clubs and be less about Youtubing and those type of things until you have a character, a strong stance up on stage. Whenever I talk about how stand-ups tend to land on this earth, it’s interesting. If we were to fall to the planet, it’s almost like we hit, we get on stage and where we’ve landed at that microphone tends to be the furthest place from where we really want to be, and what we want to be saying and who we truly are. The journey, normally as a standup, is to start off with a crappy little pile of ideas and to then trudge for years to towards the true self.”

Cook’s discovery of this true self eventually made him wildly popular. He tended to eschew topical concerns and punchlines in favour of long-form stories that he infuses with a healthy dose of what he calls “L.P.M.s” or laughs-per-minute. His five comedy albums, including a 2010 “greatest hits” package, have sold millions and he has been able to fill stadiums around the world. Like many comedians, he was able to parlay his success into film and television roles. Unlike many comedians, Cook says becoming an actor was always part of the game plan. This may be why he has challenged himself with the odd non-comedic role, including a darkly chilling turn as a devious peeping tom in the 2007 Kevin Costner film Mr. Brooks.

But in real life, at least on the surface, he doesn’t seem to possess those inner-demons that fuelled his heroes such as Richard Pryor or Sam Kinison. If he stirs up any controversy at all, it’s usually when fellow comedians accuse him of being unoriginal or, even worse, unfunny.

But Cook says his Everyman stance is no act, and it’s what allows him to be so relatable on stage no matter how big the venue.

“I don’t live an opulent lifestyle,” he says. “I got myself a nice house and other than that I’m still the kid from Arlington, Mass. I’m a jean and T-shirt kind of guy and I dust off the suit when I got to an event. When I’m away from comedy, away from that mindset, I still just feel like a kid who wants to excel at performance. I really have that same element to me. I’m still interested. As long as I’m reading and corresponding and asking questions, I think there’s always going to be the opportunity have an opinion on relationships and love and all the things that we can all nod our head to.”

evolmers@calgaryherald.com

Dane Cook will appear at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday for two shows, at 6:30 and 10 p.m. It is a benefit for the Owen Hart Foundation. For tickets visit ticketmaster.ca

 

Documentary about Owen Hart Foundation wins big at Monaco International Film Festival

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No matter how uplifting it may become, the story of former professional wrestler Owen Hart’s legacy will always have a sad beginning.

So telling it requires revisiting some painful days for Martha Hart, Owen’s widow and the founder of the Owen Hart Foundation.

Her husband fell to his death in 1999, after a stunt went wrong during a pay-per-view event in Kansas for the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment). It’s a heart-wrenching incident and the starting point for Martha Hart’s new documentary, The Owen Hart Foundation: A Look Back.

“It was an emotional journey to create the documentary,” says Hart, in a phone interview from her home in Calgary. “It’s sort of like shrapnel in your body that you can’t remove. You can live with it most days but it’s always there and it can still hurt you. But I definitely have come a long ways since the early days and recovered and been successful in my life and moved in a very positive direction.”

Hart founded the Owen Hart Foundation in 2000 to honour her late husband. It has raised more than $3-million over 15 years through various programs designed to help those with “limited resources and unlimited potential.”

The triumph-from-tragedy angle is at the heart of the foundation — which will hold fundraising shows featuring comedian Dane Cook on Saturday — and the focus of Hart’s 18-minute documentary.

Initially envisioned as a four to five-minute video to promote the foundation’s 15th anniversary, Hart took the helm and decided to tell the origin stories of the foundation. Last week, the film opened the Monaco International Film Festival, which focuses on non-violent movies. The film ended up taking four awards home, including best short documentary film, best short documentary director for Hart, best film editing in short documentary for first-time, 18-year-old editor Wes Beiko and the Humanitarian Angel Film Award.

Martha Hart, widow of professional wrestler Owen Hart, directed a documentary about the charity foundation her husband inspired. It won numerous prizes at the Monaco International Film Festival. Courtesy, The Owen Hart Foundation.

Martha Hart, widow of professional wrestler Owen Hart, directed a documentary about the charity foundation her husband inspired. It won numerous prizes at the Monaco International Film Festival.
Courtesy, The Owen Hart Foundation.

The documentary will be screened on Saturday prior to Dane Cook’s 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows at the Jubilee Auditorium.

“We’ve had this great win and we plan on entering into other film festivals as well,” Hart says. “We met quite a few different producers and directors from all over the world when we were at the international film festival in Monaco. We had two producers and one screenwriter approach me and said they thought it could be a feature film. We want to explore that possibility. It’s really taken on a life of its own.”

The film covers the tragic accident, but the main focus is the formation of the foundation. Well-known Calgarians, including Mayor Naheed Nenshi and W. Brett Wilson, are interviewed about the impact of the charity, as are Martha and Owen’s children, Oje and Athena.

Owen Hart had a successful career as a professional wrestler, mostly in the WWE, and was the youngest of the 12 children of legendary trainer and promoter Stu Hart. Bret Hart, a world champion wrestler, was his older brother.

While his in-ring character was often villainous, his fellow wrestlers have painted him as a kind and considerate family man in real life.

“That’s the beauty of the Owen Hart Foundation,” says Hart. “It truly does reflect the spirit of Owen and his kind and giving nature. That for me was the main goal and drive behind establishing the Owen Hart foundation. I wanted people to know that a really great person was lost but from true adversity and tragedy something positive could come out of it as well.”

Dane Cook will appear at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday for two shows, at 6:30 and 10 p.m. It is a benefit for the Owen Hart Foundation. For tickets visit ticketmaster.ca. The Owen Hart Foundation: A Look Back will screen before both performances.

evolmers@calgaryherald.com

 

 

 

5 things to do this weekend in Calgary

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Freeze Fest at Nite Owl (Friday, Dec. 12)

We’re actually looking at a Friday that’s going to be above freezing (7 high, low of 1), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out this solid list of Albertan talent: The Wet Secrets, Napalmpom, Sydney York and the LBJs. Tickets are $10 if you snag them online and $13 at the door.

You can hear “Sunshine” by the Wet Secrets below.

Handel’s Messiah at Jack Singer Concert Hall, Epcor Centre (Friday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 13)
It took Handel 24 days to write the music for Messiah. Fans of Dumb and Dumber will recognize the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” which contains 56 “Hallelujah”s (more numbers are covered in Swerve’s By The Numbers). But the ticket prices are really the important numbers for those looking to hear the holiday tradition: $20 to $30 if you want to sing-along on Sunday and $25 to $90 for the other two shows.

Christmas in Kensington (Saturday, Dec. 13)
This is the third of four weekends where Kensington gets festive to encourage you to do your Christmas shopping in the riverfront business district. The attractions are late night shopping (stores are open until 7 p.m.), an appearance by Santa, carolers and the brief return of Container Bar taking advantage of a mild winter weekend.

Dane Cook at the Jubilee Auditorium (Saturday, Dec. 13)
If you’re surprised by the elevated ticket prices ($97.65 to $118.40 on Ticketmaster) for Dane Cook’s two shows this weekend at the Jube, it’s because it’s part of a fundraiser for the Owen Hart Foundation. Those who arrive early will get a chance to see the 18-minute, award-winning documentary about the foundation and Owen produced by his wife, Martha Hart.


A Fool There Was at the Lougheed House (Sunday, Dec. 14)

The Lougheed House is screening a series of First World War-era films to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war, including A Fool There Was, a 1914 silent film that made Theda Bara a star, one of Hollywood’s biggest names and the first to be marketed based on her sex appeal. Your ticket price of $40 (over at Eventbrite) includes the screening accompanied by live music, a photo booth and themed performances.


Bonus YouTube video of dogs failing at fetching things for the weekend

These dogs need to step up their game (though to be fair that last one was really put in a no-win scenario by a tennis trainer).

Dane Cook headlines Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser

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The Owen Hart Foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary with a presentation of legendary comedian Dane Cook who performed two SRO shows at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Readers may recall the foundation has, over the years,  brought legendary entertainers the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Bob Newhart to Robin Williams and  Howie Mandel. The Owen Hart Foundation has raised more than $3 million since its inception all the while supporting education for  individuals with limited resources but unlimited potential. Cook brought the house down- to be sure, but for many in attendance, the highlight of the evening was a private screening of the award-winning short documentary The Owen Hart Foundation: A Look Back which recently won four awards at the prestigious Monaco International Film Festival. A delighted Martha Hart and her team picked up trophies for Best Short Documentary, Best Short Documentary Director, Best Film Editing Short Documentary and The Angel Humanitarian Film Award.

Kudos to all involved on the success of the 15th annual event and take a bow sentiments go out to headline sponsor Trago Tequila Company and respresentatives  Dave Lavoie and Chris Tahn.

Others in attendance at either of the two performances included: Dr. Martha Hart, founder  of The Owen Hart Foundation and her wonderful children, son Oje Hart and daughter Athena Hart; event producer Dave Howard, The Event Group founder and his wife Jacquelyn Howard; Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary with her husband Dean Mullin, Stantec Oil & Gas vice-president;  Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society; Brookfield Residential COO Trent Edwards with his wife Victoria with colleague Gisele Danis and her husband Royce Chwin, Tourism Alberta CEO; Prairie Merchant Corporation chairman and legendary philanthropist W. Brett Wilson; journalist Tammi Christopher; Periscope Productions TV director Ron E. Murphy; Shoe Muse’s Dani Izzo; High Tails Pet Resort’s Debbie Zelez; Owen Hart Foundation volunteer Virginia Xavier; Canadian Para-Olympian Patrick Jarvis and his wife, Air Canada’s Lisa Jarvis; ConocoPhillips Canada’s Barb Simic with pals Cathy and Rob Skalicky, and Christina Mason.

Cal 0124 Owen 8 Pictured, from left, at the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook are Virginia Xavier,  Owen Hart Foundation volunteer, Canadian Para-Olympian Patrick Jarvis and his wife Lisa Jarvis of Air Canada.

Pictured, from left, at the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook are Virginia Xavier, Owen Hart Foundation volunteer, Canadian Para-Olympian Patrick Jarvis and his wife Lisa Jarvis of Air Canada.

Cal 0124 Owen 7 Posing for the lens  at  the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook are Dani Izzo of Shoe Muse with Debbie Zelez of High Tails Pet Resort.

Posing for the lens at the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook are Dani Izzo of Shoe Muse with Debbie Zelez of High Tails Pet Resort.

Cal 0124 Owen 6 Pictured, from left, at  the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook are philanthropist and community leader W. Brett Wilson with journalist Tammi Christopher and Ron E. Murphy, TV director, Periscope Productions.

Pictured, from left, at the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook are philanthropist and community leader W. Brett Wilson with journalist Tammi Christopher and Ron E. Murphy, TV director, Periscope Productions.

Cal 0124 Owen 5 Among the hundreds of guests who attended  the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook were, from left, Trent Edwards COO of Brookfield Residential with his wife Victoria, and Gisele Danis of Brookfield Residential with her husband Royce Chwin,  CEO of Tourism Alberta

Among the hundreds of guests who attended the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook were, from left, Trent Edwards COO of Brookfield Residential with his wife Victoria, and Gisele Danis of Brookfield Residential with her husband Royce Chwin, CEO of Tourism Alberta

Cal 0124 Owen 4 Pictured from left at the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook are Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary with husband Dean Mullin,  vice-president of Stantec Oil & Gas, and Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society.

Pictured from left at the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook are Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary with husband Dean Mullin, vice-president of Stantec Oil & Gas, and Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society.

Cal 0124 Owen 3 Pictured at the 15th anniversary of the Owen Hart Foundation featuring headliner Dane Cook are event producer Dave Howard, founder of The Event Group and his  wife Jacquelyn Howard.

Pictured at the 15th anniversary of the Owen Hart Foundation featuring headliner Dane Cook are event producer Dave Howard, founder of The Event Group and his wife Jacquelyn Howard.

Cal 0124 Owen 2 Pictured, from left, at the15th anniversary of the Owen Hart Foundation featuring headliner Dane Cook are Chris Tahn and Dave Lavoie of The Trago Tequila Company, with Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care, and Renee Chernecki of LAR Business Concepts.

Pictured, from left, at the15th anniversary of the Owen Hart Foundation featuring headliner Dane Cook are Chris Tahn and Dave Lavoie of The Trago Tequila Company, with Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care, and Renee Chernecki of LAR Business Concepts.

Cal 0124 Owen 9 All smiles, from left, at  the Owen Hart Foundation's evening with  Dane Cook are Cathy Skalicky, Christina Mason, Rob Skalicky, Christina Skalicky and ConocoPhillips'  Barb Simic.

All smiles, from left, at the Owen Hart Foundation’s evening with Dane Cook are Cathy Skalicky, Christina Mason, Rob Skalicky, Christina Skalicky and ConocoPhillips’ Barb Simic.

 

Hart Foundation features Seth Meyers

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The annual Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser has seen comic greats the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Howie Mandel, Bob Newhart,  Robin Williams, David Steinberg, Steve Martin and Martin Short, to name but a few, take to the stage much to the delight of audiences for the past 15 years. And this year, the foundation’s 16th anniversary, featured comedian and late night host Seth Meyers.

The foundation’s 16-years of compassionate charitable service and commitment to helping those with limited resources but unlimited potential has been nothing short of astounding.
The mandate of the Owen Hart Foundation is education and as such has provided invaluable funds for a variety of social programs-specifically scholarship and housing programs which assist low-income individuals. Foundation founder, Dr. Martha Hart should be proud indeed.

More than 2,000 guests jammed the Jube for An Evening with Seth Meyers. And in a stunning display of paying it forward, more than 400 tickets to the event were donated to the Canadian Legacy Project which supports veterans with programming and financial assistance. It’s not surprising then that there is a feature film documentary being made by Lemonade pictures based on Owen Hart and the Owen Hart Foundation.

Guests in attendance this night included: Oje and Athena Hart; Miss Canada Petite Norella King;  Jacqueline Howard, volunteer director, Canadian Legacy Project; Sundance Energy’s Jeff Standen and his wife Colleen Standen, Owen Hart Foundation; Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary and her husband Dean Mullin, Stantec vice- president; Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society; ConocoPhillips’ Barb Simic; Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care; Tammi Christopher; LAR Business Concepts’ Linna Morgan; event producers Dave Howard and Kaitlin Knoll; Lemonade Pictures Canada’s Chandra Schatz and Geoff Plewes;  and Virginia Xavier of the Owen Hart Foundation.

Cal 1024 Seth 1 Pictured at An Evening With Seth Meyers in support of the Owen Hart Foundation are Novella King, Miss Canada Globe Petite and Canadian Legacy Project's Jacqueline Howard. More than 2000 guests packed the Jube and held to raise more than $150,000 for the foundation.

Pictured at An Evening With Seth Meyers in support of the Owen Hart Foundation are Novella King, Miss Canada Globe Petite and Canadian Legacy Project’s Jacqueline Howard. More than 2000 guests packed the Jube and held to raise more than $150,000 for the foundation.

Cal 1024 Seth 2 The recent An Evening With Seth Meyers in support of the Owen Hart Foundation raised more than $150,000 for the foundation thanks to the more than 2,000 guests who packed the Jube and invaluable sponsor MEG Energy. Pictured, from left are MEG's Michael Tobin, Kindra Howard and Cary Schatz.

The recent An Evening With Seth Meyers in support of the Owen Hart Foundation raised more than $150,000 for the foundation thanks to the more than 2,000 guests who packed the Jube and invaluable sponsor MEG Energy. Pictured, from left are MEG’s Michael Tobin, Kindra Howard and Cary Schatz.

Cal 1024 Seth 3 Herald social scribe Bill Brooks is a big fan of Owen Hart Foundation founder Dr. Martha Hart. The besties are pictured at An Evening With Seth Meyers held Oct 2 at the Jube. More than $150,000 was raised for the foundation.

Herald social scribe Bill Brooks is a big fan of Owen Hart Foundation founder Dr. Martha Hart. The besties are pictured at An Evening With Seth Meyers held Oct 2 at the Jube. More than $150,000 was raised for the foundation.

Cal 1024 Seth 5 Pictured at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser featuring Seth Meyers are Jeff Standen of Sundance Energy Corporation, with wife Colleen Standen, volunteer at the Owen Hart Foundation.

Pictured at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser featuring Seth Meyers are Jeff Standen of Sundance Energy Corporation, with wife Colleen Standen, volunteer at the Owen Hart Foundation.

Cal 1024 Seth 6 Pictured, from left, at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser which featured Seth Meyers are, from left, Stantec vice-president Dean Mullin and his wife Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary and Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society

Pictured, from left, at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser which featured Seth Meyers are, from left, Stantec vice-president Dean Mullin and his wife Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary and Kavita and Ashid Bahl of For the Love of Children Society.

Cal 1024 Seth 7 Pictured, from left, at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser which featured Seth Meyers are, from left, Barb Simic of ConocoPhillips, Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care, Tammi Christopher and Linna Morgan of LAR Business Concepts

Pictured, from left, at the 16th anniversary Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser which featured Seth Meyers are, from left, Barb Simic of ConocoPhillips, Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care, Tammi Christopher and Linna Morgan of LAR Business Concepts

Cal 1024 Seth 8 The Owen Hart Foundation An Evening With Seth Meyers was a great success and raised more than $150,000 for the foundation. Pictured are event producers Dave Howard and Kaitlin Knoll of The Event Group.

The Owen Hart Foundation An Evening With Seth Meyers was a great success and raised more than $150,000 for the foundation. Pictured are event producers Dave Howard and Kaitlin Knoll of The Event Group.

Cal 1024 Seth 9 Pictured, from left, at The Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Seth Meyers held Oct 2 at the Jube are Chandra Schatz and Geoff Plewes of Lemonade Pictures Canada with Virginia Xavier of the Owen Hart Foundation.

Pictured, from left, at The Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Seth Meyers held Oct 2 at the Jube are Chandra Schatz and Geoff Plewes of Lemonade Pictures Canada with Virginia Xavier of the Owen Hart Foundation.

 

Owen Hart Foundation bringing Elvis Costello to Calgary for December concert

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You can add iconic British popsmith Elvis Costello to the list of big names that the Owen Hart Foundation has tapped for its fundraising efforts.

The organization has just announced that it will present An Evening with Elvis Costello Dec. 10 at the Jubilee Auditorium.

Tickets for the concert range from $70 to $150 and go on sale to the general public beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 16 from Ticketmaster.

The concert will be the 17th annual event that the foundation has held in the city to raise funds for “education, affordable housing, and foreign aid to vulnerable individuals.” 

“The Owen Hart Foundation prides itself on hosting incredibly exclusive entertainment for our annual event, and this year we have proudly upheld this unique tradition by bringing Elvis Costello to the stage at the Jubilee,” said Dr. Martha Hart, founder and director of The Owen Hart Foundation, in a statement.

Other stars that the foundation has hosted over the years for concerts or special events include Seth Meyers, Dane Cook, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Robin Williams with David Steinberg, Russell Brand, Jerry Seinfeld and Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band.

The organization has also added an online auction to its fundraising efforts this year. There are five special packages that people can bid on as well as other items such as “a trip anywhere Westjet travels, Denver Broncos Football Tickets, VIP tickets and meet and greet opportunity for the Elvis Costello show, exclusive art and memorabilia, and much more.”

“Our goal is to be able to raise an additional $30,000 through this charity auction and I encourage all Calgarians to get bidding,” Martha Hart said in the statement.

Items and packages can be bid on at hartauction.com with the closing date of Dec. 1.

Bill Brooks: Elvis rocks the house for the Owen Hart Foundation

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The annual Owen Hart Foundation fundraiser has seen comedic greats the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Howie Mandel, Bob Newhart,  Robin Williams, David Steinberg, Steve Martin, Dane Cook and Martin Short, to name but a few, take to the stage much to the delight of audiences for the past 16 years. And this year, the foundation’s 17th anniversary, featured English musician, song writer and producer Elvis Costello perform to an SRO audience at the Jube.

Since 2000, the foundation’s compassionate charitable service and commitment to helping those with limited resources but unlimited potential has been nothing short of astounding.
The mandate of the Owen Hart Foundation is education and as such has provided invaluable funds-more than $3 million- for a variety of social programs-specifically scholarship and housing programs which assist low-income individuals. Take a well-deserved bow, foundation founder, Dr. Martha Hart.

Mindful of the challenging economic times facing many these days, organizers introduced a new way to increase funds raised for the foundation-a Celebrity Online Auction. The auction featured five unique packages including a sports package, art package, VIP package, tech package and a travel package. A WestJet trip anywhere the airline flies and Denver Broncos football tickets garnered top dollars.

Guests enjoying themselves immensely this night included: Stantec vice-president, oil and gas, Dr. Dean Mullin;  Dr. Nicole Letourneau, ACHF chair in parent-infant mental health; 403 Selects Volleyball Club president Shauna Denney; Global News anchor Linda Olsen; Bennett Jones’ Will Osler and his daughter Billy Osler; Denver Broncos’ John Bowlen and his wife Kerry Bowlen; journalist Tammi Christopher; LAR Business Concepts’ Mary Ann Steen and Linna Morgan; Shoe Muse’s Dani Izzo; foundation member Virginia Xavier; ConocoPhillips’ Barbara Simic; Air Canada’s Lisa Jarvis; Brookfield Residential’s Gisele Danis; WestJet’s Pino Mancuso and Jereme Kincaid; Martha Hart’s terrific children Athena and Oje; and event producer, The Event Group’s Dave Howard with colleagues Jacqueline Joyce and Kaitlin Knoll.

 

 

Cal 0121 Elvis 1 Pictured at the Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are event producers The Event Group with president Dave Howard and colleagues Jacqueline Joyce (left) and Kaitlin Knoll. The SRO concert raised funds for the Owen Hart Foundation.

 Pictured at the Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are event producers The Event Group with president Dave Howard and colleagues Jacqueline Joyce (left) and Kaitlin Knoll. The SRO concert raised funds for the Owen Hart Foundation.

Cal 0121 Elvis 2 Among those in attendance at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube were Dr. Nicole Letourneau, ACHF chair in parent-infant mental health and Dr. Dean Mullin, vice-president, oil and gas, Stance.

 Among those in attendance at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube were Dr. Nicole Letourneau, ACHF chair in parent-infant mental health and Dr. Dean Mullin, vice-president, oil and gas, Stantec.

Cal 0121 Elvis 3 Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are LAR Business Concepts' Mary Ann Steen and Linna Morgan with Shoe Muse's Dani Izzo. Both LAR and Shoe Muse were among the invaluable corporate sponsors of the fab fundraiser in support of the Owen Hart Foundation.

 Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are LAR Business Concepts’ Mary Ann Steen and Linna Morgan with Shoe Muse’s Dani Izzo. Both LAR and Shoe Muse were among the invaluable corporate sponsors of the fab fundraiser in support of the Owen Hart Foundation.

Cal 0121 Elvis 5 Global New anchor Linda Olsen (right) and 403 Selects Volleyball Club president Shauna Denney (left) strike a glamorous pose at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube. a

Global New anchor Linda Olsen (right) and 403 Selects Volleyball Club president Shauna Denney (left) strike a glamorous pose at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube.

Cal 0121 Elvis 6 Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are avid foundation supporters Billy Osler, Denver Broncos' John and Kerry Bowlen, journalist Tammi Christopher and Bennett Jones' Will Osler.

Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are avid foundation supporters Billy Osler, Denver Broncos’ John and Kerry Bowlen, journalist Tammi Christopher and Bennett Jones’ Will Osler.

Cal 0121 Elvis 7 Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are foundation member Virginia Xavier, ConocoPhillips' Barbara Simic, Air Canada's Lisa Jarvis and Brookfield's Gisele Danis.

Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are foundation member Virginia Xavier, ConocoPhillips’ Barbara Simic, Air Canada’s Lisa Jarvis and Brookfield’s Gisele Danis.

Cal 0121 Elvis 8 Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation's An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are WestJet's Pino Mancuso (left) and Jereme Kincaid (right) with foundation member Virginia Xavier.

Pictured, from left, at the SRO Owen Hart Foundation’s An Evening With Elvis Costello Detour Solo at the Jube are WestJet’s Pino Mancuso (left) and Jereme Kincaid (right) with foundation member Virginia Xavier.

 

 


Brooks: Owen Hart Foundation's Intimate Evening with Sarah McLachlan

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An Intimate Evening with Sarah McLachlan was the perfect way to spend a chilly winter’s eve at the Jube — all the while raising funds for the Owen Hart Foundation. The Grammy and Juno Award-winning Canadian icon headlined the 18th annual foundation fundraiser — much to the delight of the hundreds of guests in attendance. No surprise that the concert was sold out weeks’ prior. 

The captivated audience had a chance to reminisce with McLachlan as she perfectly executed some of her most emotional ballads that served well to display her fine-tuned mezzo-soprano vocal range. There is no doubt that Sarah’s hits have had a tremendous impact on many of our lives, including her rendition of the tune When She Loved Me. McLachlan dedicated the song to artist Oje Hart and his sister Athena — the son and daughter of the late Owen Hart and his wife Martha Hart — founder of the Owen Hart Foundation. Oje had sketched a special pastel drawing of the Toy Story 2 character Jesse, whom the melody was written for, and presented it to McLachlan in appreciation for a song that had been so important to him growing up.

McLachlan joins the impressive list of performers who have been featured at past Owen Hart Foundation events including Robin Williams, Elvis Costello, Jerry Seinfeld, Ringo Starr and Steve Martin to name but a few. 

Guests in attendance having a marvellous time this evening included: auction sponsors Trapped Escape Room Experience’s Darcy Anderson and Kelly Patterson; Owen Hart Foundation’s Virginia Xavier; WestJet Airlines’ Jereme and Karli Kincaid; Cinnamon Girl Clinic’s Virgillia Chichoine with Mitch Chichoine; Evolve Sponsorship and Engagement’s Valerie Pek; Canadian Western Bank’s Dustin Jones and Jeff Bowling; Brookfield Residential’s Careen Church; Dentrix Dental Care’s Dr. Brian Killick; LAR Business Concepts’ Linna Morgan and Mary Ann Steen; Stantec Oil & Gas vice-president Dean Mullin; Postmedia columnist and Sportsnet analyst Eric Francis; University of Calgary’s Dr. Nicole Letourneau; journalist and Owen Hart Foundation committee member Tammi Christopher-Buchanan; For the Love of Children Society’s Kavita and Ashid Bahl; Century 21 Rockies Realty’s Colleen Standen; Shoe Muse’s Dani Izzo; Air Canada’s Lisa Jarvis; Sue Miller; Barb Simic of The Calgary Educational Partnership Foundation; WestJet’s Pino Mancuso and his wife Atonietta; U of C’s Dr. Paul Wellings and his wife Magdi; Romana Kraft of Collectors Gallery; and event producer David Howard of The Event Group.

Oje Hart of the Owen Hart Foundation presented Sarah McLachlan with a drawing he sketched of a character from Toy Story 2 to commemorate her rendition of the song When She Loved Me. Photos courtesy, Owen Hart Foundation.

 

From left: event sponsors Dr. Brian Killick of Dentrix Dental Care; and LAR Business Concepts’ Linna Morgan and Mary Ann Steen.

 

From left: Dean Mullin, vice-president, Stantec Oil & Gas; Postmedia columnist/Sportsnet analysist Eric Francis; and Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary.

From left: Mitch Chichoine; Cinnamon Girl Clinic’s Virgillia Chichoine; and WestJet’s Jereme and Karli Kincaid.

 

From left: journalist and Owen Hart Foundation committee member Tammi Christopher; For the Love of Children’s Society’s Kavita and Ashid Bahl; and Century 21 Rockies Realty’s Colleen Standen.

 

From left: event sponsor Shoe Muse’s Dani Izzo; Air Canada’s Lisa Jarvis; and Owen Hart Foundation supporter Sue Miller.

 

From left: Valerie Pek of Evolve Sponsorship and Engagement; with event sponsors Dustin Jones of Canadian Western Bank; Careen Chrusch of Brookfield Residential; and Jeff Bowling of Canadian Western Bank.

 

From left: Owen Hart Foundation’s Virginia Xavier; with auction sponsors Trapped Escape Room Experience’s Darcy Anderson and Kelly Patterson.

Alec Baldwin takes Jubilee audience on a funny, irreverent journey through his career

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It was only a few minutes after Alec Baldwin arrived on stage at the Jubilee Auditorium Friday that his most famous comic creation made an appearance.

It was brief, and his name was never mentioned.

But it was undeniably Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States and a goldmine for comedians everywhere. Arguably, Baldwin’s ceaseless parodying of the clueless POTUS on Saturday Night Live these past couple of years almost single-handedly revived the sagging fortunes of the long-running sketch show. So it was hardly surprising that a few minutes in, the actor suggested visiting Canada was a good way to “take a break from the noise of America” and then repeated the line in full Trumpian glory.

The Donald’s appearance received a giddy response from the packed house at the Jubilee Friday night, who were on hand to take in Baldwin’s conversation with Calgary-born comedian and actor Andrew Phung as a fundraising event for the Owen Hart Foundation. Still, while the often fiery and outspoken actor has never been shy about voicing political opinions, Friday night was a genial affair that found Baldwin mostly sticking to anecdotes from his lengthy film career and his impressive second act as a comedic force on Tina Fey’s irreverent sitcom 30 Rock.

In fact, the introduction by Martha Hart, Owen’s widow and the founder of the charity in his name, contained more political commentary than anything Baldwin said.

Still, it was a entertaining evening. Baldwin was funny, charming, self-deprecating and generous with his star-studded anecdotes. While he spent much of his time suggesting that his isn’t naturally funny — “I was scared to death,” he said at one point when asked about his early days on 30 Rock opposite Fey and Tracy Morgan — the highlights of the evening often revolved around his pitch-perfect imitations.

That included a story about how henpecked his Hunt For Red October co-star Sean Connery was by his French wife. He did a flawless impersonation of a charming Anthony Hopkins, his co-star in the Alberta-shot thriller The Edge, meeting his enamoured sister. Throughout the night he offered sly takes on Woody Allen, Salma Hayek, Russell Brand, Al Pacino and even Robert Cummings.

Baldwin also delved into his background as an industrious child growing up poor in Long Island, the eldest of six children. While he never intended on being an actor, he said he was obsessed with films growing up and would memorize entire films, a revelation that allowed him to trot out even more remarkable impersonations of Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and Marlon Brando. 

“My mother really wanted to send me to a psychiatrist,” he says.

For film buffs, there were plenty of behind-the-scenes tidbits from his classic films. He talked about boarding a nuclear submarine as part of the research for the Hunt for Red October. He talked about nearly landing the lead in Glengarry Glen Ross when co-star Pacino waffled on scheduling (As fans know. Baldwin instead took on the towering, one-scene character of the ruthless Blake, a character that Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet wrote specifically for the film) and how hard it was to be “so mean” to the character played by his acting hero Jack Lemmon. He revealed how director Tim Burton refused to let him spice up his role of bland ghost Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice, part of the director’s insistence that the ghosts be more normal than the living in the film.

“Everything I had, he shot down,” Baldwin says.

But if there was an overriding theme, it was one of gratitude, with the 60-year-old actor seemingly still in awe that he was able to break into the business at all. It was all very un-Trumpian. 

“I never dreamed I would be in movies,” he said. “It was preposterous. I was a fan.”

 

 

Brooks: SNL star supports Owen Hart Foundation

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Famed actor and Saturday Night Live (SNL) megastar Alec Baldwin recently wowed a packed house at the Jubilee Auditorium when he took the stage with event moderator and Canadian sitcom comedian Andrew Phung of Kim’s Convenience and The Beaverton fame.

Baldwin performed in Calgary in support of The Owen Hart Foundation, which has raised more than $4 million and is celebrating its 19th anniversary. Billed as “An evening with Alec Baldwin,” the night was just that as Baldwin took guests on a stroll down memory lane of his acting career.

Baldwin highlighted his most recent work on SNL, which has earned him worldwide acclaim and landed the actor an Emmy for his role as POTUS Donald Trump. Much to the delight of the captivated Calgary audience, Baldwin intermittently slipped in and out his Trump impersonation throughout the evening. Baldwin was also very pleasantly surprised when Martha Hart’s son, artist Oje Hart, presented the star with a drawing he had done of Alec as Trump. Martha Hart, founder and director of the foundation, also enchanted the audience with an entertaining introduction. She thanked Baldwin for donating his fee back to the foundation, meanwhile poking lighthearted fun at Baldwin’s temperamental battles of late, which had the crowd roaring with laughter. Hart also described the foundation’s long history of charitable work in providing scholarships and housing to low-income families as well as its global humanitarian work. She also announced two new causes the foundation is championing this year thanks to her children. It will focus on animal rights due to her daughter Athena’s love of animals and human rights as her son Oje is completing his final year of law school in England and plans to make human rights his primary focus.

Kudos to headline sponsor Maclin Ford and VIP reception sponsor Canadian Western Bank as well as the many other event and online auction sponsors for stepping up. Guests in attendance included: Owen Hart Foundation committee members Barb Simic, Ashid Bahl, Virginia Xavier and Tammi Christopher; online auction sponsor WestJet’s Jereme Kincaid; Shoe Muse’s Ambra Hudson; Collector’s Art Gallery’s Romana Kraft; Canadian Paralympian Patrick Jarvis with his wife Lisa from Air Canada; Trapped Escape Room Experience’s Kelly Patterson with Darcy Anderson; Pipella Law’s Tara Pipella, Kimber Pipella, Lucille Pipella and Del Manhas; event producers Dave Howard and Lisa McCann of The Event Group; the parents of Humboldt Broncos hockey team survivor Ryan Straschnitzki; Canadian veterans whom Hart honours every year with a special invite; and others pictured.

Baldwin now joins the impressive list of performers who have been featured at past Owen Hart Foundtion events including: Robin Williams; Bob Newhart; Elvis Costello; Jerry Seinfeld; Ringo Starr; Steve Martin; Martin Short; Russell Brand; Dane Cook; Howie Mandel; Paul Anka; Neil Sedaka; and Sarah McLachlan, to name but a few.

With files from OHF

From left: Jill Stewart, Rachel Binnion, Susan Howard with Canadian comedian Andrew Phung of sitcom Kim’s Convenience and The Beaverton who was the event moderator, with Tom Howard from the Canadian Legacy Project.

 

Pictured, from left: Owen Hart Foundation committee members Barb Simic from The Educational Partnership Foundation; Ashid Bahl from For the Love of Children of Alberta Society; Virginia Xavier from the University of Calgary; and freelance journalist Tammi Christopher.

 

Pictured, from left: Owen Hart Foundation sponsors Travis Rhine from Molson’s Belgium Moon Beer; Valerie Pek from Evolve Sponsorship and Engagement; Careen Chrusch from Brookfield Residential; and Brian Dehaan from Junior Foods South Street Burger and New York Fries.

 

Alec Baldwin admires the drawing artist Oje Hart (left) sketched for him of the Donald Trump character he often portrays on SNL, with his mother Martha, far right, and sister Athena looking on.

 

Pictured, from left: Owen Hart Foundation sponsors Dr. Brian Killick and his wife Sandy from Market Mall Dental Care with Jeff Bowling and Dustin Jones of Canadian Western Bank.

 

From left: foundation online auction sponsor Jereme Kincaid from WestJet with event sponsor Ambra Hudson from Shoe Muse and online auction sponsor Romana Kraft from Collector’s Art Gallery.

 

Canadian Paralympian Patrick Jarvis (left) with wife Lisa from Air Canada and online auction sponsors Kelly Patterson with Darcy Anderson from Trapped Escape Room Experience.

 

Monique Auffrey (left) from Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society with Dr. Nicole Letourneau from the University of Calgary/Alberta Children’s Hospital.

 

From left: Pipella Law’s Del Manhas, Lucille Pipella, Kimber Pipella and Tara Pipella.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld returns to celebrate another anniversary of Owen Hart Foundation

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Marking its 20th anniversary, the Owen Hart Foundation is bringing back Jerry Seinfeld for two shows in October. Read More

Brooks: Seinfeld headlines 20th anniversary of Owen Hart Foundation

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The Owen Hart Foundation (OHF) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a presentation of iconic comedian Jerry Seinfeld who performed two shows at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Oct 18. Seinfeld headlined the 10th annual fundraiser so it was a magnificent milestone for organizers and foundation supporters to welcome back the legendary comedian. Read More

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Alec Baldwin takes Jubilee audience on a funny, irreverent journey through his career

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