WOW!!! So many folks helped to support our Harvest Banquet I don't even know where to begin with my sincere thanks.

We served 184 this year at the Florence Filberg Centre. Dawn of Custom Gourmet Catering did a fantastic job creating a fabulous menu featuring fine local foods, including Tinkerbell II Prawns, and Mac's Oyster cakes - yum!!! Natural pastures cheeses and Island Bison pepperoni, all delicious appys with local wines and beers.

Also local beef from Guenters, Salmon from Marine Harvest, fresh vegetable Ratatouie (oh well - can't spell) with squash from Patersons, eggplants (from MARS no less) Final Cut onions, Leeks and chard. Finlay Creek garlic, Tomatoes from Gemini Farms and Freedom farms and Hazelmere contributed too. Ironwood gave us greens, with Berry Best and Eatmore sprouts thrown in.

Desserts included Pies from Greenwoods and Deroda Farm crumble, cheesecakes from Michaels off Main and mini's from Poppers, mousse cake from Little Orca and Heavenly Goodies lemon loaves. Breads from Grains, Twigs, Coleman Road Store, and Becky's Bakery.

Todd Butler emceed and performed special tunes for the MARS-ians, after a thoughtful intro of "A Second Chance" video by Simone Metelli - our 2008 intern from Italy.

David Stevens added his own brand of humour to the live auction and brought a good price for the incredible Killer whale carving by Clarence Nelson of Quatsino.

Three awards were made to recognize long time contributors to this fundraising event to help wildlife - Seifferts Farm, Marine Harvest and the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association.

Flowers by the Horticultural club graced the halls - and thanks to all who came, who gave of their time and energy to help wildlife recover.