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Disabilities benefit auction is back Kevin Allerston Northern News Services Published Friday, October 28, 2011
Previously known as the Celebrity Auction, it is now the Benefit Auction - a free event.
Denise McKee, executive director for the council, said the original format is coming back for the auction. Scheduled for Nov. 18, it will feature a silent auction from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a live auction from 7 to 11 p.m in the main atrium of the Greenstone Building.
As in the past, there will be a variety of donated items, ranging in value from gift baskets to airline tickets.
"We have a vast variety, so there's everything from gift baskets from local vendors and businesses which can be like the $30 to $50 range kind of thing to airline tickets, jewelry with Canadian diamonds, and local and community artwork," said McKee.
"We have a signed jersey from the national sledge hockey team. There's clothing, some craftwork that's been donated. We have day trips, like fishing day trips," said McKee, who returned to the position of executive director for NWT Disabilities Council after Michelle Gillis stepped down May 31.
"The bidding live auction, we of course keep the larger items for that. There will be lots around the table," said McKee.
"It's a little bit different this year, having it at the Greenstone and there will be some casual viewing through the day. So all the downtown workers can kind of make their way over, take a look at what we have, but the live auction won't start until 7 p.m., where the entertainment will come into play," said McKee.
In addition to the auction, there will be live music from Yellowknife and community artists, desserts and "mocktails" (non-alcoholic cocktails) at a table manned by MLAs and the air cadets at the door.
As in the past, Yk CentreMLA Robert Hawkins will auction off items, but he will be going solo as fellow auctioneer Gerry LePrieur moved out of the territories since the last celebrity auction.
McKee said they would like to auction off a chef who would, when provided with ingredients, prepare food for a winning bidder, but nothing is confirmed yet.
She said a big part of the benefit is to get new members for the NWT Disabilities Council.
"We're really trying to push the membership drive that evening, so all the memberships sold that evening will be entered into a draw for a pair of tickets by Canadian North, our major sponsor." She suggested that while plans are still being arranged, the tickets will likely pay for a return trip to Edmonton.
All proceeds from the event, which is the council's biggest fundraiser, will go to help persons with disabilities throughout the Northwest Territories, McKee said.
She said as of Oct. 26, close to 70 people and groups have committed to donating auction items.
After lackluster ticket sales for the May 30 auction, set at $100 each, the event was cancelled after it was determined it wasn't feasible.
"I think that generally the public was disappointed that they didn't have the annual event in November," said McKee who added the event is, "back to our original format where it's really community- based."
Janet Pacey said she has been attending and participating in the benefit for about 15 years. She is donating a gift basket for the auction.
"I said I would donate a T-shirt, a Ptarmy, a small Ptarmy, three quilt patterns, and a dog painting I did a little while ago that never sold and I figured somebody might want it. So it's like a Janet Pacey package," said Pacey. She estimates the value of her basket at about $250.
"I used to go as a viewer/participant and I always thought 'geeze, this is such a great cause.' I don't have anybody close to me in my life who has physical disabilities, but it is something I definitely support. It's just a moral cause. How could you not support it?" said Pacey. She said she has been donating items for eight to 10 years.
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