Photography by Mat Simpson
Approximately 450 people gathered at St. Albert’s Enjoy Centre for a common cause – to find a cure for diabetes.
The Hummingbird Gala featured a catered dinner, raffle draw for prizes from WestJet and Jedco Ltd. Jewellery, a visit from a restored 1968 Mustang convertible and entertainment from Juno-award-winning country star George Canyon.
The April 28 event aimed to raise over $512,000 for diabetes research, supporting both the Alberta Diabetes Foundation and Diabetes Canada.
“A lot of the money is local and it supports our researchers right here,” said committee chair Angelina Bakshi. “The foundation started 28 years ago, and we developed cutting-edge technologies and treatment options right here in Alberta. So it’s really exciting to have this event to continue to support very innovative, very risky research focus areas, because that’s where we think the cure is going to come from.”
Canyon, who performed at the gala, is a Type 1 diabetic. He told the crowd that, when he was a teen, he was an air cadet and dreamed of piloting jets. When he found out he had diabetes, he was then told he’d never fly a plane.
Canyon said he’s been a pilot for more than a decade now, proof that the disease can be managed.
