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More than 500 guests raise an impressive $545,000 net at the West Island Palliative Care Residence’s 19th Annual Valentine’s Ball

Political, sports, media and entertainment figures among those showing their support at the West Island’s premier social event of the season

KIRKLAND, , February 13, 2018 – An impressive $545,000 net was raised Friday evening, February 9th, at the West Island’s premier social event of the season – the West Island Palliative Care Residence‘s 19th annual black-tie Valentine’s Ball , held at the Pavilion-sur-le-lac of the Château Vaudreuil.

With more than 500 in attendance, the Ball once again welcomed an array of guests who provide valuable ongoing support to the Residence, many of whom were political, sports, media and entertainment figures. Special guests included Jean-Marc Vallée, well-known award-winning Quebec film director, most recently honoured with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies; Anthony Calvillo, Alouettes quarterback legend, inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame; and Otis Grant, former WBO Champion of the World.

Joining local federal, provincial and municipal politicians was Quebec Health Minister Dr. Gaétan Barrette, whose ministry provides approximately one-third of the Residence’s funding, the balance coming from the community and fundraising events such as the Valentine’s Ball. Also present were four Quebec ministers: Martin Coiteux, Geoffrey Kelley, Carlos Leitão and Kathleen Weil, along with local federal MPs Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard) and Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis) and the mayors of Kirkland, Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Senneville and the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds/Roxboro.

“Once again, our community has come through in amazing fashion with fantastic support for the West Island Palliative Care Residence and the work we do for our patients and their families,” said Teresa Dellar, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Residence. “Every year I think it will be hard for the community to be more supportive, but I continue to be pleasantly surprised by their generosity and compassion. Our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters.”

Honorary Co-Presidents of this year’s Ball were Dr. Jean-Pierre Chartrand and Me Marisa Esposito as well as Glenn Washer, President, Charles River Montreal and Dr. Tinaz Chinoy, Clinical Psychologist.

Returning to host the event this year was Jamie Orchard, senior anchor of Global Montreal’s Evening News, who was joined by Stephanie Côté-Marcoux, President of Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Major sponsors of the event included: Charles River, TASK, Pfizer , Merck Canada and Pharmacies Frayne. Other sponsors included Eurostyle Fashion, Novartis Oncology, Otis Grant & Friends Foundation and the City of Pointe-Claire. The Air Canada Foundation and the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel generously donated prizes that helped raise funds during the evening.

“We owe tremendous gratitude to all our sponsors and supporters, as well as the many dedicated volunteers who do so much to ensure the evening is special, fun and successful,” said Kerri Elkas, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Pfizer Canada Inc., co-chair with Victoria D’Elia, Chief Financial Officer of Eurostyle Fashion, of the team of dedicated volunteers on the Ball organizing committee. “It takes many contributions, large and small, to make an event like the Valentine’s Ball such a success.”

About the West Island Palliative Care Residence The West Island Palliative Care Residence is an independent, community-operated facility that is now the largest free-standing palliative care residence in Canada. All services are provided free of charge to terminally ill patients and their families. The Quebec government pays about one-third of the operating budget with the balance, about over $3.5 million per year, raised in the community from events such as the Valentine’s Ball and individual and corporate donations. Recognized across Quebec and Canada for its excellence in palliative care, the facility has welcomed more than 3,800 patients in the final stages of ALS, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as more than 15,000 family members. To learn more, visit PalliativeCareResidence.com.

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For more information: Joanne Myers Director of Development Cell: 514-978-0793 [email protected] @PalliativeRes Facebook/West Island Palliative Care Residence