Wednesday Night #600

True to Wednesday Night form, the 600^th anniversary organized by committee on Wednesday September 1,1993, bore no resemblance to a camel. The (faxed) invitation announced accurately that “The 600^th Wednesday Night Celebrations Committee has conjured up an evening of fun and fancy. The missing ingredient is you.”

The black tie affair for over 100 guests (with many, many more charming notes of regret – what would we have done if they had all come?) was superbly orchestrated – and music was a feature of the evening by a group that included “Westmount Mayor and poet” Peter Trent, and was officiated by Master of Ceremonies Guy Lalonde of CJMS. We gathered in the living room, spilling over into the dining room and halls. The performers either stood on the window seat or gathered in front of the big window. First up to bat was Richard Conrad, financial writer and former Gazette business editor, who read his Ode to David and Diana. He was followed by Peter Trent’s delicious “Wednesday Night Blacklist”, sung by Stephen Kinsman, who, in a nod to David’s Air Force career, raced down the front stairs and burst into the living room, dressed as Billy Bishop, trailing a long white silk scarf behind him. Stephen was accompanied on the piano by Sandra Wilson and a chorus of luminaries including Minister of Trade, John Ciaccia [from a Press Communiqué issued by Eliane Lebendz].

While we had an enormous amount of fun throughout the memorable evening, the committee members informed us that the rehearsals had been even more entertaining.

More to come