Yellowknife (Sep 03/04) - Now you don't need to leave Yellowknife to taste food from the four corners of the globe.

The world comes to Yellowknife, Sept. 11, at the Stanton Hospital Foundation's annual multicultural dinner.

Mabel Wong slices a giant focaccia at last year's Stanton Hospital Foundation's multicultural dinner and silent auction. - NNSL file photo

"This year's theme is travelling around the world," said Linda Bussey, executive director of the foundation.

"Come meet your neighbours."

The food is always the centre of attention at the multicultural dinner. This year 14 nations will be represented. Dishes, which range from appetizers to dessert, will include New Zealand lamb stew, Vietnamese spring rolls, and Indian samosas.

The entertainment will also be multicultural. Be prepared for Arabian belly dancing and Scottish highland dancing.

The dinner takes place in conjunction with a silent auction. Items up for auction this year include antiques and even a few pieces of furniture.

Every year, Yellowknife firefighters take their equipment outside so revellers can whoop it up in the Fire Hall, and the foundation is grateful to the fire department for the unusual venue.

"They're great," said Bussey. "They even help set up and tear down afterwards."

The ever-popular Tony Whitford will again act as emcee.

The evening will also feature the presentation of the Star award to an outstanding volunteer.

Bussey expects the dinner and silent auction to be the final fundraiser for the hospital's Operation Looking Glass project to buy five new endoscopic scopes for the hospital.

Once the multicultural dinner wraps up, the Stanton Foundation will turn its focus to a new fundraising aim, for which the Festival of Trees will be the kickoff.

Bussey hinted the annual tree auction promises to be bigger and better than ever, with the additional allure of a performance by a Canadian celebrity.