16 - Sunday, May 27, 1990 - North Shore News the-rafters party last Friday as broadcaster, columnist and author, Gary Bannerman, of- ficially opened his new Bannerline business offices in Westview in North Vancouver. Celebrating with him were wife Patricia and Judy Vineyard, and wineman Bob Lindeman and his L was just a jam-packed-to- Joy Metcalfe telis all ... Sapere Distributors Inc. The news is that the office was opened by none other than B.C. Premier Bil} Vander Zalm, who launched the smallest facility ever opened by a Canadian premier with a poem that he’d written especially for the occasion in which he gave some wise gardening ad- vice to Gary on his office’s newest acquisition, a large Ficus Ben- Jamina, or Fig tree. The premier and Lillian Vander Zalm were piped into the pro- ceedings by the Seaforth Highlanders’ Capt. Allan McLeod with accordianist, Bob McQuillan, adding to the fun affair. Vancouver’s kilted Chief Con- stable Bob Stewart and wife, Bar- bara Stewart, were on hand along with B.C. Transit’s Stu Hodgson, CBC’s Ann Pollock and her hus- band, Jim, CKNW’s Shirley Stocker and taxman David Ingram and his wife, Josie. Peter Erwin, the former owner of the Gastown Wax Museum, is now happily working with Burrard SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY - THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER north shore FRIDAY COCKTAILS¢ Nissan and he was spouting the virtues of his product to former Vancouver City policeman, Pat Westfall, who is now an insurance investigator, and Magic 3 creator Bob Labelle. These three guys were former members of Gary’s ‘“‘FAG” club, that is, the Friday Afternoon Group... The B.C. Club's jovial Louis and Jeannie Stervinou were there, along with their daughter, Nicole and her husband Chris Chilcott and P&O's Dean of PR, Dean Milter; new Socred strategist, Jess Ketchum and his wife, Ramona; the Verdicchio clan from Peppi’s; Ambleside Inn’s Marta and Willie Brueckel; Australia’s Con.Gen. Bill Meehan and his attractive wife, Caroline; former broadcaster CAPT. Allan fiicLeod of the Seaforth Highlanders. Big Al Davidson and his diminutive wife, Pat; even bigger White Spot chain owner, Peter Toigo; Diane and Peter Clough of Imperial Parking; Fi-Com’s Joan and Dale Parker and Vancouver City Hall’s Muriel Honey. North Shore News — proudly serving North and West Vancouver for 20 years. A strong past A strong presence GARY Bannerman gets a little musical help from Premier Biil and Mrs. Lillian Vander Zalm and accordionist Bob McQuillan during the open- 2 CAVIAR NEWS photo Cindy Goodman ing bash of Bannerman’s new business office at Westview in North Van. Patricia Bannerman was kept very busy being the official hostess aad photographer, while sister Chris McBeath ably assisted. Chris, who had been in hotel PR, was recently appointed the new facility director at the Robson Conference Centre... The party really got going as the premier and Lillian launched into a rousing version of ‘‘Enjoy Yourself!’’ And we did!... wae The sad news this week is that former West Vanner, Rai Purdy, one of Canada’s television pio- neers, passed away in Shaughnessy Hospital last Friday after suffering a heart attack in his home on the Sunshine Coast. Rai Purdy was a_ broadcaster and well-known telethon producer, the creative genius who produced Canada’s most successful telethons, right here in Vancouver. Prior to his telethon career, Rai had worked with Wayne and Shuster and the country’s top tal- ent on the Canadian Army Show, 7 and produced national radio broadcasts out of Toronto with Mart Kenny and his orchestra on CFRN in Toronto. He met his wife, Verity, in New York, where she was a Rockette with the Radio City Music Hall. He was working at CBS, launching one of the first television stations in the world, and working with Edward R. Murrow! It was 1951. After that, he became program director at Toronto’s first TV sta- tion, CFTO, then started Roy Thompson’s television network in Glasgow and supervised the ex- pansion of the TV empire throughout Scotland and the U.K. He ‘came west to Verity’s hometown to produce another first, a 26-week television variety show at BCTV, called West Coast, featuring the late Lorraine McAllister, with musical backing by her husband, Dal Richards, and his band. The show was emceed by Barrie Clark, who’s now in Kelowna, while the celebrity inter- views were done by CKNW’s Jack Cullen. It was the first big hit for locally produced television, and brought Rai to the attention of the Variety Club officials who wanted him to try his hand at producing their telethon. That was almost 25 years ago! Over the years, Rai was the suc- cessful string-puller for both the Variety Club Telethons and Tim- my’s Christmas Telethons and though he was never seen on stage, through his unstinting efforts backstage, he raised millions and millions of dollars for handicapped children. He also produced the long-lived serial, Magistrate’s Court, where the veteran broadcaster, Roy Jac- ques, acted as the judge, and or- ganized the Miss PNE Contests. Just before he died, Rai was working to raise funds to have a theatre built in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. A generous, hard-working and highly respected television profes- sional and warm human being, Rai Purdy will be truly missed. My deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, Verity and to their children, Brian, Heather and Roger. A memorial service was held Tuesday morning at the Unitarian Church at 49th and Oak where his longtime friend, the B.C. Cancer Foundation’s David Catton gave the eulogy. One of the highlights of the ser- vice was legendary orchestra leader Mart Kenny playing ‘‘Stardust,’’ Rai’s favorite melody, on his clar- inet, and then following it with Mart’s own signature piece, ‘‘The West, A Nest and You, Dear.”’ It was very moving... tke There was a very pleasant, but packed, reception on board the visiting British destroyer, HMS Bristol, on Tuesday night. The Bristol and the frigate COMMUNITY RELATIONS R E P R E §S EN T ATIVE Lydia Chow on Marcoux, Executive Vice-President of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lydia Chow as Community Relations Representative serving the North Vancouver and East Vancouver neighbourhoods. Lydia joins an enthusiastic community marketing team who work in partnership with schools, community centres, sports groups and other local organizations on the develop- ment of community programs and activities. A Vancouver resident for more than 20 years, Lydia graduated from U.B.C. in 1987 and brings both volunteer and career experi- ence in organizing special events and community projects to her new position. To discuss community programs or events in the North Vancouver or East Vancouver area, call or fax Lydia at 873-9987. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited 4400 Still Creek Drive Burnaby, B.C.