Liaison Newsletter > LIAISON Vol. 2, No. 6, November 1998 - Articles

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Maurice Strong Headlines UNA Edmonton Gala
By Angus Archer, Director of Development, UNA-Canada

UNA-Edmonton, under the tenacious leadership of Randy Palivoda, has pulled off a first. The Branch initiated and carried through on the planning of a fundraising gala in Edmonton on UN Day, October 24. While some of the proceeds will go to the Branch for their own work in Northern Alberta, it was one of three national galas being organized by UNA in Canada in 1998.

The gala featured Maurice F. Strong, well known business leader (himself from Western Canada) and high-level UN consultant to both Kofi Annan and World Bank President, James Wolfensohn. On the planning committee and taking part in the programme were: Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith; Al-Nashir Jamal, UNA’s Chairman of Corporate Outreach; Scott Clements, director of the Edmonton Airports Authority; Senator (now retired) Jean Forest; and newly-appointed Senator (and past president of UNA Canada) Douglas Roche. Over 160 persons attended the gala at the Sheraton Grande Hotel.

While the original purpose of the gala was to honour Canadian peacekeepers stationed at Base Edmonton, the creation of a new organization "Edmonton Salutes" was formed last year, and UNA agreed to cooperate with their activities rather than compete for the peacekeepers’ attention. (A UNA gala was held in Calgary in 1995 to honour Canadian peacekeepers then based in Calgary).

This year’s theme - and Maurice Strong’s remarks - were focussed on UN Reform and the future of the UN (including peacekeeping) in the next century.

While corporate sponsorship was light, and therefore the net proceeds of the even were minimal, the publicity and assiduous contacting of the business community raised the profile of UNA and the work of the Branch. The Branch is seriously considering making this gala an annual event.

Two other galas are being planned for this month. On November 17 a major gala on the theme "Montréal - the heart of the international environment" will be held at Le Windsor hosted by Yves Fortier. The featured guests will include: Dr. Klaus Töpfer, the new head of the UN Environment Programme and The Honourable Christine Stewart, Minister of the Environment. On November 25 in Ottawa another gala dinner, hosted by the Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn, will focus on the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and will feature The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy and Her Excellency Mary Robinson, the UN’s new High Commissioner for Human Rights.