2007 (Issue 1 of 2) - The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the ...

EVENTS
Christmas Entertainment
& Christmas Charity
On December 2, 2006, the Prague
Marriott Hotel was the venue of the
Chamber’s Christmas party. Several
special guests accepted the President’s
invitation to this traditional gathering. In
addition to the Canadian Ambassador,
H.E. Michael Calcott, the Chamber also
welcomed H. E. Ambassador Richard
Graber of the United States with Mrs.
Alexandria Graber, H. E. Ambassador
Hideaki Kumazawa of Japan and H. E.
Ambassador Peter Raeder of Norway.
Mr. Petr Jan Kalaš, then Minister of the
Environment, also attended.
The Marriott did a truly superb job
during that evening. All those present
unanimously praised the welcoming
atmosphere, outstanding service and,
most of all, the international buffet menu
presenting the finest blend of European
and Asian cuisines. Mr. Igor Maťašovský
and TCF offered an assortment of
delicious Chilean wines to go with the
great food. There was dancing to the music
performed by J.J. Jazzmen and singer
Barbora Řeháčková and a demonstration
of Japanese calligraphy by artist Etsuko
Kojima. Some of the guests took home
a piece of her art, created personally for
them during the evening.
Among the numerous pleasures, the
participants did not forget to think
of those who find themselves in less
fortunate circumstances. The Chamber’s
Christmas benefit auction raised a total
of 76 650 Kč – an amount with which we
are able to help several Czech charities:
Rváček, in the north Bohemian town of
Lomnice nad Popelkou, offers housing,
a day-care centre, a school and special
workshops for children and youth with
combined handicaps (www.rvacek.cz).
– Many guests of the party bought the
beautiful hand-woven rugs and pottery
made by its young clients.
Servo, a charity associated with the
Dominican Order, runs a youth centre
in Barrandov, Prague 5, which offers
children and young people a multifaceted
programme of activities, thus keeping
them off drugs and other undesirable
forms of entertainment (www.servo.cz).
The Barrandov facility was burgled
Pub Nights
In between the more formal events we
also held the informal gatherings that
work so well as business mixers. Venues
of different character were chosen for
each of these occasions. On November
6, 2006 we were treated by Jean-Paul
Manzac to delicious French meals and
wines at Brasserie M. The pub night
on December 14, 2006 was a repeat of
recently and our Chamber’s donation
will help to replace some of the lost
equipment.
Czech Blind United (www.sons.cz) receives
a contribution for the operation of a
navigation system assisting blind people.
The Foundation for Mentally
Handicapped Persons of Tloskov,
central Bohemia, (www.tloskov.cz) will
use our donation for the purchase of
equipment needed for the application of
rehabilitation techniques.
Civic Association DAR of Prague 6
(www.braillnet.cz/dar) provides care
and rehabilitation to handicapped
children for several hours a day in its
day-care centre, offers babysitting on
weekends and organizes week-long stays
in the country. In addition to treating the
children, the programme is also meant to
give their families some time to rest and
get new strength for the demanding task
of taking care of a handicapped child.
the successful spring get-together at the
Slovak Restaurant at the Fireplace and
Bob Demare, one of our Board members,
hosted the first pub night of 2007 at the
Techtle Mechtle Bar on January 15. More
great nights out will follow.
Photo by John-David Bridges
The Chamber expresses its sincere
gratitude to the sponsors of the event:
Our special thanks go to Mr. Igor
Maťašovský and for the generous
donation of wine.
By the same token, we are thankful to
the donors of benefit auction items:
Zátiší Catering Group, Jean-Paul and
Marie Manzac, Royal Crafts, Vinotéka
u Vavrysů, ASIANA, BioPol GN, Ltd.
(Barny’s), Cadimex International,
JOKA Klatovy, Etsuko Kojima, Jozef
Burza, Norbert Heller and John-David
Bridges.
Photos by Aneta Hořínková
September 2006 – January 2007 GoCanada 1/2007 7