Joy Metcalfe
(click images to enlarge)

A SAD FAREWELL

How tragic that the driving force behind the vitally important CHILD Foundation, which continues to seek a cure for Canadian children suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Intestinal and Liver Disorders, detailed in my column last month, has just lost its most dedicated and determined supporter.

**Mary Parsons and the lions gate bridge lights often referred to as “Gracie’s Pearls”.**

Grace McCarthy's daughter, Mary McCarthy Parsons, took up the job of president and CEO of the hard working foundation after her mother passed away. Mary had always been determined to continue to emulate her mother's zeal, dedication and determination, to continue forging ahead. Because of that, no one outside of the immediate family knew that she was very ill and being treated in Lions Gate Hospital.

Sadly, she passed away on Friday, April 17, three days before the vitally important Canadian Children's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network Summit 2026.

My very deepest sympathy to her daughter, Shannon Ernst, her children and her entire family. So sad!...

THE WORK CONTINUES …

Despite Mary's passing, the summit continued three days later with IBD medical researchers from around the world conferring at the Wall Centre Hotel on Burrard.

It was so good to meet many of the young patients' parents at a reception at the Wall Centre following the close of the very well attended conference, parents like Debby and her dentist husband, Alan Jeroff, who have two daughters who have benefitted from the CHILD Foundation. Alan wore a unique top with fun dental equipment embroidered all over the front of his shirt, which helps allay some of the fears of the young ones going to the dentist for the first time.

The Jeroff's have two daughters, 37 and 30, who have benefited a great deal from the help and support of the CHILD Foundation, and the caring physicians like Dr. Anne Griffiths from Toronto, who made the rounds of the ballroom to help and assist any concerned parents.

And it was gratifying too to learn that several team members working in the CHILD Foundation IBD Research Laboratories, located at BC Children's Hospital Campus, were recently recognized for their outstanding research by Triangle Canada.

**From left: Brian Forward, Dr. Anne Griffiths, Debby & Alan Jeroff at the summit.**

Kudos to Professor Genelle Lunken, PhD, RD; Dr. Qiaochu Liang PhD; Dr. Yaqi Zhangh, PhD and James Sousa, MSc.

As CHILD'S executive director Tim Murphy said, the foundation has been vital in enabling these advancements and they remain committed to improving health outcomes for Canadian children living with IBD...And AMEN to that!

ANOTHER PASSING

I would also like to pass along my deep sympathy to the Barnett family as David Barnett, son of Peter Barnett, recently passed away.

Twins Peter and Jeffrey Barnett were two of the original B.C. Variety Club stalwarts, which is now called Variety The Children's Charity. It was the twins who helped keep the charity alive and afloat and before the public. My deepest condolences to David's wife, Sara Ferguson and their three children...

**Tanya** **Matthews takes the helm at the bayshore.**

NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE BAYSHORE

Scoop! Scoop! It's finally happened! One of the major and exclusive hotels in downtown Vancouver, away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown core, is the unique and beautiful Westin Bayshore. The big news at The Bayshore is that they have a new person on board and eureka, it is the hotel's new female General Manager!

It's been some months that staff have been managing without that important personage. But they are all so professional down there that it really wasn't that necessary.

The name of the new GM and boss is Tanya Matthews. Tanya is a Vancouverite who lives in the city and who was working at Fairmont's Pacific Rim Hotel before her new appointment. Hope to be able to chat with her and get an idea for her plans for the future of the popular hotel and get a photo before my next column so stay tuned...

A DANCING DYNAMO

Marianne Schmid is a dancing dynamo who just can't slow down, even to chat!

It was her 79th birthday on April 1 and she wanted to celebrate - which meant music, bands and dancing. So she approached the people at the Admiral Hotel in Burnaby and managed to get the downstairs ballroom, which is a terrific space for dining and dancing.

**Marianne Schmid … can’t stop dancing!**

The staff there are really great troopers, making their way around the multitude of happy hoofers. And even if you weren't dancing, the atmosphere with the various top bands and musicians, the best of Vancouver, was so joyful and upbeat.

The casual taste treats were appetizing, the musical entertainment by some 39 bands was top notch and it was fun just to sit back, hum along, tap your toes and take it all in.

Apparently Mz. Marianne can't stop dancing, so she is already planning her 80th birthday next April Fool's Day with more action than ever. Wait for it...

A MAJOR TUTS MILESTONE

Speaking of music, and it's hard to believe, this will be the 86th year that the popular Theatre Under the Stars company has produced wonderfully musical shows in our treasurable Stanley Park.

On the Malkin Bowl stage this summer will be Sister Act and Disney's The Little Mermaid.

And what was on that same stage in Stanley Park 86 years ago? It was a very dramatic presentation of The Geisha, followed by a huge standing ovation for this new venue and presentation, along with a selection of music from Grand Opera. That was followed by A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Belle of New York and The Mikado, all with total sellouts...

PARTY TIME!

Still with music, it's Happy Birthday time for Maestro David Suzuki who will celebrate his 90th birthday on May 22, marking that special occasion with a benefit concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre...

Quite the birthday party for another former top Vancouver hotelier, now retired, general manager of note, Denis Forristal.

Denis was feted by a number of his contemporaries like Murray Atherton, Steven Peters, Ronald Mon Kao, Herb Kwong, Angus Wilkinson, Michael Kaile, Gordon Chatray, and Luis Moran.

It was held at Mario's Restaurant in West Vancouver and organized by Murray who "knew" that Denis was turning 90. When that so-called fact reached Denis' ears, he immediately reacted.

"What are you saying? I'm not 90! I just celebrated my 87th birthday in January!" OOPS!...

Gregarious Murray also recalled that before he retired, he and Jerry Bardeliuk were down in Seattle on a sales trip and checked into the Mayflower Park Hotel. The female clerk behind the desk couldn't have cared less, but she finally came over to ask their names.

"Oh yes," she replied, "the two queens".

Surprised, Murray immediately said, "We travel a lot together but that hardly describes us."

Seems the clerk meant two queen beds!...

MAY FLOWERS TO COME ….

I hope that May brings us beautiful blooms and great items!

Thanks for reading!