WIPCR celebrates its fifth anniversary

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental .ca

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, September kicked off a busy month for the West Island Palliative Care Residence (WIPCR).

“It’s hard to believe it’s already our fifth year,” said WIPCR executive director Teresa Dellar. “I think it’s been an exceptional journey with our patients, our families, and the community.”

Since opening its doors at 265 André Brunet St. in Kirkland in 2002, the WIPCR has cared for 750 patients with terminal illnesses and their families during the last stage of life.

On Friday, the WIPCR family celebrated the last five years of growth in the com-munity during a special event held at the residence.

“I think we’ve really been able to find our place in the community,” Dellar said. “We definitely plan to keep partnering with the community and local businesses in the future.”

With an operating budget of $1.6 million annually, the WIPCR relies on community support and the help of volunteers to keep running.

Sept. 26 will see the return of one of the WIPCR’s most popular fundraising events: the annual fashion show. This year, it will be held at the Chateau Vaudreuil Pavillion, with doors opening at 7 p.m.

In addition to a fashion show featuring WIPCR members, volunteers, and friends, guests will be able to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine and cheese, and make their bids in the silent and Chinese auctions.

For an extra-special night out, people can buy VIP tickets, which include preferred seating for the fashion show, and a personal “butler” who will be at your service all night.

“And the guys that we have doing it, they’re not hard to look at either,” WIPCR event co-ordinator Andrea Gordon said with a laugh.

Each fashion show guest will also receive a gift bag at the end of the night. Last year, everyone got a set of pearls. “I’m sure it’ll be something fabulous again,” Gordon said.

With all of the fashion show’s different aspects, Gordon assures it will be a great night out for everyone who attends.

“We have models of all different ages and sizes, which gives it a very down-to-earth feel,” Gordon said. “It’s a fun and exciting evening people can attend and at the same time help out a local charity organization. We rely a lot on community support.”

Tickets for the fashion show are $50 each for regular, first-come-first-served sea-

ting, and $100 each for VIP seating. For more information, call Andrea Gordon at 514-693-1718, ext. 227.