Garden party sprouts cash

Globe and Mail
Patricia Best

July 3, 2008

The irrepressible Brett Wilson, chairman of FirstEnergy Capital in Calgary, hosted his annual garden party last week and as usual it was full up with the oil patch's business and community elite. Mr. Wilson is known for having one of Calgary's most beautiful gardens and he puts it to good use each year by throwing a fundraising shindig. This year's version drew 400 partiers, who had to write a cheque to the designated charity to gain admission. The amount raised was north of $100,000 - who says the oil patch has hit hard times? - and the beneficiary was Little Warriors, an Edmonton-based organization with a national focus on teaching adults how to recognize, help prevent and react to child sexual abuse. It is set to be formally launched in Calgary in the fall, and the garden party gift is financing its start. As for the fun, Mr. Wilson's guests got a special performance by country music singer Beverley Mahood, and practised a little two-steppin' in preparation for next week's Stampede.