The most exclusive party in Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics may have been the one at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver before the Feb. 12 opening ceremony. The bill for the bash was $32,161.50.
It cost $14,000 to rent and set-up the Pacific Ballroom, $8,500 for food, $2,500 for the host bar and wines, $100 for a children's buffet, $1,750 for "reception food - placed - media," $900 for coffee break refreshments, plus service charges and applicable taxes.
The event was an opportunity for Canadian politicians to grip and grin with people more famous than them. A photographer paid $25,000 was at the ready to snap shots like the one above, which features lil' Gary Lunn, Canada's Minister of State for Sport and action movie star and former steroid-using bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican governor of California. Of course, it was all about international diplomacy and strengthening trade ties.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was among the guests. Guests put down their wine glasses and cheese plates briefly for a moment of silence for Nodar Kumaritashvili, the 21-year-old luger who died earlier on the opening day of the 21st Winter Olympics while training at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
So, while we wait for Lunn, Canadian Heritage minister James Moore or even Treasury Board president Stockwell Day to tell us exactly how much Ottawa spent on the Olympics, do enjoy reading the menu, agenda and guest list for the Governor General and Prime Minister's shindig.
Canadian Reception
Pacific Ballroom
Feb. 12, 2010
Passed Canapes:
Cold
Hot smoked wild Fraser River salmon on bannock bread
Salt Spring Island goat cheese en croute
Beet cured Queen Charlotte Halibut, organic Barnston Island micro green
Phillo basquet with roasted organic vegetables
Hot
Petit Quebec tourtière
Howe Sound dungeness crab cake
Nova Scotia lobster tartelette
Chinatown crispy wonton prawn, sweet chili dipping sauce
Food Stations (very small offering)
Wild mushroom risotto (vegetarian) with Chiliwack (sic) free range pheasant
Gulf Island lamb 'lollipop' with a mustard and honey crust
Albeta beef tenderloin on a brioche
Digby scallop, citrus beurre blanc
Cheeses Station
Selection of Canadian cheeses
La "Corbeille du Boulanger"
Sweet station
Mini Nanaimo bars
Petit four
Assorted macaroons
Chocolate dipped strawberries
RECEPTION FOR VISITING HEADS OF STATE/GOVERNMENT
PRIOR TO OPENING CEREMONY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010
PACIFIC BALLROOM, FAIRMONT HOTEL VANCOUVER
15:15 ARRIVAL of Canadian dignitaries.
15:35 ARRIVAL of Official Party (Governor General and Prime Minister).
15:45 ARRIVAL of international dignitaries.
16:05 INTRODUCTION of the media by the Master of Ceremonies.
16:10 FORMAL REMARKS by the Master of Ceremonies.
16:11 INTRODCUTION of the official party to the stage by the Master of Ceremonies.
16:12 INTRODUCTION of the Prime Minister by the Master of Ceremonies.
16:13 REMARKS made by the Prime Minister.
16:16 THANKING of the first speaker and introduction of the Governor General by the Master of Ceremonies.
16:17 REMARKS made by the Governor General.
16:20 CONCLUSION of formal portion of reception by the Master of Ceremonies.
17:15 ANNOUNCEMENT by the Master of Ceremonies regarding departures for B.C Place for the Opening Ceremony.
Reception on the occasion of the Opening of the XXI Olympic Games
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada
February 12, 2009
GUEST LIST
HOSTS :
Leurs Excellences la très honorable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Gouverneure générale du Canada
et monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
and Mrs. Laureen Harper
HEADS OF STATE / GOVERNMENT
CZECH REPUBLIC
His Excellency Jan Fischer
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
and Mrs. Daniela Fischerová
ESTONIA
His Excellency Toomas Hendrik Ilves
President of the Republic of Estonia
and Mrs. Evelin Ilves
GEORGIA
His Excellency Mikheil Saakashvili
President of Georgia
and Mr. Levan Vashalomidze
LATVIA
His Excellency Valdis Zatlers
President of the Republic of Latvia
and Mrs. Lilita Zatlere
MONACO
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II
Principality of Monaco
and Ms. Charlene Wittstock
NETHERLANDS
Mr. Jan Peter Balkenende
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
and Mr. Henk M. Brons
RUSSIA
His Excellency Alexander Zhukov
Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation
and Ms. Ekaterina Zhukova
SWITZERLAND
Her Excellency Doris Leuthard
President of the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
and Madame Sandra Läuchli
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Honourable Joe Biden
Vice President of the United States of America
and Dr. Jill Biden
OTHER DIGNITARIES
His Royal Highness
Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat
(HRH Crown Prince Frederik)
and HRH Crown Princess Mary
His Royal Highness
Prince of the Netherlands, Prince of Oranje
(HRH Prince Willem-Alexander)
and HRH Princess Máxima
His Royal Highnesses
The Crown Prince of Norway
(HRH Crown Prince Haakon)
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
The Honourable William McKeeva Bush
Premier of the Cayman Islands
and Ms. Kerry Bush
Monsieur Pascal Couchepin
Grand Témoin de la Francophonie
et Monsieur Alexandre Fasel
Son Excellence monsieur Abdou Diouf
Secrétaire général de la Francophonie
et Son Excellence Ousmane Pave
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of the State of California
and Ms. Maria Shriver
(+ Christopher Schwarzenegger will be in an adjoining room with other children)
The Honorable Chris Gregoire
Governor of the State of Washington
and Mr. Mike Gregoire
International Olympic Committee - IOC
Comte Jacques Rogge
Président du COI - IOC President
et Madame Anne Rogge
Mr. Richard W. Pound, O.C., O.Q.
Canadian IOC Member
and Ms. Julie Keith
Ms. Rebecca Scott (TBC)
Canadian IOC Member
and Mr. Justin Wadsworth (TBC)
Canadian Olympic Committee
Mr. Michael Chambers
Canadian Olympic Committee President
and Ms. Joan Chambers
Monsieur Marcel Aubut
Président du Comité olympique canadien / Canadian Olympic Committee President
VANOC
Mr. John Furlong
and Mrs. Darlene Poole
Mr. Ruston E.T. (Rusty) Goepel
and Ms. Lindy Goepel
Monsieur Jacques Gauthier
et madame Manon Girardin
OTHER CANADIAN DIGNITARIES
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P.
and Ms. Deb Strahl
The Honourable Stockwell Day, P.C., M.P.
and Mrs. Valorie Day
The Honourable James Moore, P.C., M.P.
and Dr. James Moore
The Honourable Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Peter G. MacKay, P.C., M.P.
and Ms. Jana Juginovic (fiancée)
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.
and Ms. Colleen Chapchuk (mother)
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, P.C., M.P.
and Ms. Cheryl Carson
The Honourable Jim Prentice, P.C., M.P.
and Mrs. Karen Prentice
Mr. Michael Ignatieff
Leader of the Official Opposition
and Ms. Zsuzsanna Zsohar
Ms. Alice Wong, M.P. (M.P. for Richmond)
Mr. John Weston, M.P. (MP West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country)
and Mrs. Donna Weston
His Honour the Honourable Steven L. Point, O.B.C.
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
and Her Honour Mrs. Gwendolyn Point
L'honorable Jean Charest
Premier ministre du Québec
et madame Michèle Dionne
The Honourable Darrell Dexter
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Honourable Gordon Campbell, M.L.A.
Premier of British Columbia
and Mrs. Nancy Campbell
The Honourable Robert Ghiz
Premier of Prince Edward Island
and Dr. Kate Ellis Ghiz
The Honourable Ed Stelmach
Premier of Alberta
and Mrs. Marie Stelmach
The Honourable Floyd Roland
Premier of the Northwest Territories
The Honourable Dennis Fentie
Premier of the Yukon
The Honourable Eva Aariak
Premier of Nunavut
His Worship Gregor Robertson
Mayor of Vancouver
and Mrs. Amy Robertson
(+ Tara, Satchel and Jinagh Robertson - will be in an adjoining room with other children)
His Worship Ken Melamed
Mayor of Whistler
and Ms. Uschi Scherer
His Worship Malcolm Brodie
Mayor of Richmond
and Mrs. Christine A. Brodie
Chief Leonard Andrew (TBC)
Chief of Lil'wat Nation
and Mrs. Florence Andrew
Chief Ernest Campell (TBC)
Chief of the Musqueam Nation
and guest
Chief Bill Williams
Chief of the Squamish Nation
and Ms. Julie Baker
Chief Justin George
Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
and Mrs. Heidi George
Chief Shawn Atleo
National Chief of the Assembly of the First Nations
and Mrs. Nancy Atleo
National Chief Betty Ann Lavallée, C.D., Q.J. (Ret'd)
National Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
and Ms. Jessica Bolduc
Ms. Mary Simon
National Inuit Leader and President of ITK and Mr. Whit Fraser
Mr. Clément Chartier
Métis National Council President
Ms. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell
President, Native Women's Association of Canada and Ms. Merle Greene
The Honourable Nancy Greene Raine, Senator
Canada's Olympic Ambassador for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games
and Mr. Alan E. Raine
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