With the title Fortune and Glory, this year’s Indiana Jones-themed TRU Foundation Gala was destined to be another box office hit.
The 320 tickets were sold out by the middle of December—well in advance of the Feb. 17, 2018 event at the Campus Activity Centre. Gala is a fundraiser for student awards, bursaries and scholarships and the amount raised is expected to near $70,000.
The warning at the entrance to the Grand Hall.
The crew in charge of decorating, staging and conveying the theme put on an Oscar performance. They created light-projected hieroglyphics, a giant-sized replica of an ancient god in the Grand Hall and re-imagined the space as a vast cave like the one seen in the first Jones movie. Chests of jewels and replica gold coins were also scattered throughout the venue.
In keeping up with the theme, the five-course meal referenced the movie trilogy, with appetizers named X Marks the Spot, Indy’s Boulder Escape and Monkey Brains. The main was called Doc Jones and the River of Snakes while the dessert was Ark of the Covenant.
As fun as the night was with its opportunity to network and catch up, participate in silent and live auctions and take in performances by Crossbow, Drum Afreaka and The Dave Coalmine Band, the overarching theme of student assistance was not lost.
In memory of their son and former VP of Advancement Christopher Seguin, Deb and Joe Seguin took to the stage and announced the creation of a bursary in his honour.
After their words, the next moments were filled with tears and a standing ovation for someone who truly believed one of the best treasures in life was someone unlocking their potential. And education is one of the best ways to do that.
Click on an image to enlarge
-
- The ice sculpture is among the attractions each year.
-
- Guests are illuminated by light-projected hieroglyphics in the rotunda of the Campus Activity Centre.
-
- A warning at the entrance to the Grand Hall.
-
- A decorative treasure chest and its riches.
-
- TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shaver addresses the audience.
-
- Joe and Deb Seguin announce a bursary in memory of their son Christopher Seguin.
-
- Drum Afreaka provides pre-meal entertainment.
-
- Going over meal and table details
-
- This appetizer is called X Marks the Spot and features marinated beets, oranges, candied pecans and baked parmesan cheese.
-
- Servers make their way from the plating area in The Den to the Grand Hall.
-
- Plating the appetizer Monkey Brains, which features mango sorbet with watermelon puree.
-
- Server Myra Mapuvire carries the the dessert Ark of the Covenant from the plating area.
-
- The main course called Doc Jones & the River of Snakes features a roasted pork tenderloin with crispy-fried onions representing snakes.
-
- The energetic Dave Coalmine of the Dave Coalmine Band had guests dancing from start to finish with a mix of cover songs spanning decades and genres.
A sample of Drum Africa’s performance
