Sep
5
The 6th annual Victoria Masquerade Ball is being held on Saturday, October 2nd at 7pm at the Fairmont Empress. The ball is the brainchild of James Bay resident John Vickers who for the second year is donating all proceeds to the Victoria Youth Clinic, a program of the James Bay Community Project. The Clinic offers primary health care and counselling services to Victoria youth between the ages of 12 and 24, many of whom are high-risk, homeless and without medical coverage.
Vickers, who is also the board chair for the Project, says this year's Masquerade will have a number of new touches including a "Walk the Red Carpet" event for guests arriving via Government Street and an additional performance by Ballet Victoria.
Since its inception, the Victoria Masquerade Ball has grown to attract people from far away places like Los Angeles and Toronto. "It's the real deal in terms of being an evening of regal elegance, particularly when you have such a beautiful location like the Fairmont Empress", says Vickers.
Some participants present costumes from Venice, Italy while others spend months designing their outfits themselves. Vickers notes, however, that about one third of the attendees prefer the tuxedo and ball gown route, with faces hidden in mysteriousness behind exotic masks.
The Masquerade Ball features the Brooke Maxwell Band, hand-served appetizers, and intermission fundraising with British Columbia's Bruce Williams as the evening emcee.
The non-profit Victoria Youth Clinic plans to use event proceeds to provide medications, counselling and enhanced outreach services. The Clinic's website is .
This year's guest speaker is 14 year old Hannah Taylor of Winnipeg. Hannah has raised over two million dollars speaking across the country in support of those who are homeless.
Tickets to this year's event are available online at or at Surroundings in the Cook Street Village. Call 250-380-0324.