Features

 News Desk
 News Briefs
 News Summaries
 Columnists
 Sports
 Editorial
 Arctic arts
 Readers comment
 Find a job
 Tenders
 Classifieds
 Subscriptions
 Market reports
 Northern mining
 Oil & Gas
 Handy Links
 Construction (PDF)
 Opportunities North
 Best of Bush
 Tourism guides
 Obituaries
 Feature Issues
 Advertising
 Contacts
 Archives
 Today's weather
 Leave a message


NNSL Photo/Graphic

NNSL Logo .
Home page text size buttonsbigger textsmall text Text size Email this articleE-mail this page

NNSL Photo/Graphic

From left, Heather Clarke, David Malcolm, Amanda Drozda, Linda Noseworthy and Sandra Malcolm of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities are getting ready for the annual celebrity auction on Nov. 14. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

'Celebrities' wanted for auction block

Jason Emiry
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 19, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Blind magician Brian Glow will be back at this year's celebrity auction for the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities Nov. 14 at the Explorer Hotel.

"He was here last year and is back by popular demand," said Sandra Malcolm. executive director of the council. "The Celebrity Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The theme this year is 'All that Glitters is Magic.'"

The evening will include live music, a fishpond, a photo booth and refreshments.

Celebrity auction co-ordinator David Malcolm is looking for people and groups willing to be auctioned off for the charity.

The NWT Pipe Band was auctioned off last year. Brad Heath, the pipe major, said they will take part again this year.

"We auction ourselves every year," said Heath. "This year we played a wedding. The groom didn't know we were coming and was completely surprised. Anthony Whitford bought us one year and we still owe him."

Other, inanimate items will also be up for bids.

"I'm getting sponsors from outside of Yellowknife this year," said David Malcolm. "There is a company from Calgary called TRAK kayaks. They have donated a portable kayak that will fold down into a bag and weighs 60 pounds. That is up for grabs in the auction."

He said in recent years the auction has raised an average of about $60,000 per year.

"This year I am going to give it a target of $100,000," he said.

The council promotes awareness, opportunities and participation in all aspects of life for people with disabilities in the NWT.

While the money raised from fundraisers is important, Sandra Malcolm said volunteers are just as valuable.

"We had 1,599 volunteer hours last year," said Sandra Malcolm.

"There are a lot of friends of the council, a lot of people working to try and help people with disabilities."