Oyster
Extravaganza
The Brain Injury Association of Canada’s fifth annual Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey brought a little warmth to the beginning of February.
The BIAC works towards raising awareness, educating, and supporting those with acquired brain injuries - and what better way to raise awareness (and money) than by hosting a party with great food and funky leis? Obviously I had to go.
The fundraising event was held at Chega, a restaurant so hip it doesn’t need a sign. Eek! My worst nightmare has come true, wondering the streets of Toronto with a self-drawn map looking for the restaurant where all the “cool” people go.
When I found the restaurant I was initially mistaken for one of the serving staff (twice) and told to go to the back; admittedly I was a bit early, but once I got my name tag I was ready to shuck some oysters!
The event was a hit. The oyster bar, stocked by Rodney’s Oyster House, had a constant line up and the restaurant was packed with sponsors, politicians, survivors and guests.
The highlight of the night was definitely the record breaking $150,000 donation (Howard Brown,a member of the BIAC board of directors, is pictured right). Of course, the inspirational speakers who shared their success stories reminded us all why we were truly there - in the words of Pinky, one of the charismatic guest speakers, and a survivor of a brain injury caused by a car accident, “We’re all here to celebrate a little thing called life.”
Please visit the BIAC’s website to learn more.
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