The Calgary Awards

One of my Presidential duties at the Writers’ Guild of Alberta includes attending very fun events to represent our organization. Last night, the Calgary Awards was a perfect example of this. The WGA partners with the city to present the W.O. Mitchell Book Prize, so we always make an appearance at the event to help congratulate the winner, etc.

Last night, I was lucky enough to go with one of our wonderful employees, Ellen. We both sat happily in our folding chairs, clapping when told to (it was being broadcast live on television) and alternating expressions of admiration as we watched Calgary’s most impressive citizens receive recognition for their achievements.

Eugene Stickland, local playwright and debut novelist won with his book The Piano Teacher, and it should be mentioned that another perk to winning this award is the $5000 cheque that accompanies it! Although I don’t have the pictures to prove it, we had a lovely chat with Stickland about his book following the ceremony, so of course I’ve put this on my to read list.

The highlight of the evening? Aside from the dedicated and heartwarming speeches of Calgary’s finest citizens? The food at the reception of course! Anyone who has attended an event like this with me (and I’ve been to a few) knows that I beeline right for the food as soon as I possibly can. I suppose I could say it’s my event planning background that makes me so interested in the catering, but that would be a lie, I’m just hungry all the time, and more than happy to eat food I don’t have to prepare myself. So, I’ve taken a few photos here to document the most important part of the evening-the dessert offerings. And, because I eat LIKE A BOSS, I went back for seconds at the dessert table, and came away with a few chocolate-topped strawberries to cap off my meal. Big thanks go to Nana for babysitting so I could go out on a Wednesday night!!!