Saturday June 23 saw the Fernie Library Gala fundraiser organized and presented by the Friends of the Fernie Heritage Library. The evening began at six pm on the Courthouse grounds with melodious live music playing and fresh summer drinks handed to all as they came in through the front entrance gate. Lovely ladies clad in period dress handed our colourful fans to the women guests and others pinned fresh flower boutonnieres on the gentlemen.

Titled “An Evening Interlude”, the theme of the event was in the era of the Downton Abbey television program so it was a black tie affair with men handsome in tux and bow ties, and ladies in a variety of beaded dresses, satin and lace and many adornments in hair and cascading down the neck. Guests were provided a mason jar with much information when purchasing a ticket that also had a suggestion to return the jars filled with favorite garden blooms. I was given the prestigious honor of being the judge which was rather difficult as the bouquets were truly beautiful. The final decision was on a stunning gold and orange one made up of poppies and irises but there were some in pink flowers that were difficult to resist choosing as that is my favorite colour.

Shortly after 7pm, guests proceeded to promenade up the street to the Library gardens where everyone enjoyed a reception of delicious appetizers and drinks to the strains of another live musical group. It was a wonderful way to socialize and meet new people.

By nine pm guests had settled inside the Library for the dinner sitting at linen clad tables with tall fresh flower bouquets of gorgeous white hydrangeas and white roses with greenery. Dinner was prepared by award winning Chef Barrie and her staff and it was a delicious cold soup of spring pea and mint with meyer lemon oil, gourmet English pork pie with buttermilk mashed potatoes with a pea shoot salad and Earl Grey crème brulee with lavender shortbread cookie all washed down with white wine.

After dinner the guests were pleasantly serenaded by Casey Brennan with a wonderful song rendition and then Casey and Angela Morgan presented a funny little skit.

Casey then proceeded to conduct the live auction that had many donated items such as paintings, jewelry, and wine. The silent auction also had numerous donated items including paintings from local artists that attracted lots of attention as did all of the items in both auctions.

There are truly generous people in this town that give a lot including secondary home owners that spend a great deal of time here because they love the town and the amenities it provides. The Library being one of them, Richard and Vicki Green who have a home here and have been coming for years surprised everyone by donating $5000 to the Library.

At end of the evening the group moved to the newly renovated Legion Hall for dancing till the wee hours of the morning. All proceeds will be directed to community programming at the Library.

Thank you Emma, Angela, and all valued members of the Friends of the Fernie Heritage Library for all the work in putting together this event.

Thank you to all that donated and worked to turn the Library into a venue that made the evening a truly memorable event that will do much to assist the library in what is offered to the community.