Guests at the Calgary Branch annual dinner
Guests at the Calgary Branch annual dinner

Popular Calgary Branch Event Turns 25 Years Old

One of the oldest and most popular Calgary Branch alumni events is turning 25 this year.

澳门六合彩开奖现场 100 alumni are expected to attend the 25th Annual Dinner on June 18, which takes place at the home of alumna Kim Sturgess, Sc鈥77.There are many reasons why the event has become so popular.

For the host, it is a chance to give back to her university and get to know people in the Queen鈥檚 alumni community.鈥淚 enjoy giving back to Queen鈥檚,鈥 says Kim. 鈥淲hen the Calgary Alumni Association was rebuilding in the 80鈥檚, hosting the Annual Dinner was something I could do to contribute that was not available to others. Now the Dinner has become a tradition which I look forward to every year. It is something uniquely Calgary that I can do for Queen鈥檚.鈥

Former Annual Dinner organizer Win Fraser, Si鈥73, enjoys the event because it attracts a broad variety of people from many ages, faculties and interests.

鈥淭he Annual Dinner is special because it brings together the broadest demographic of Queen鈥檚 alumni of any event we host in Calgary. Current students and recent grads join alumni from up to 60 years (or more) ago, all with a common interest in each other and the University,鈥 says Win. 鈥淭he dinner always has great food and drink (catered by Devour Catering) and an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie.鈥

For Kiki Williamson, Artsci鈥86, and her husband Andy, Sc鈥85, the Annual Dinner not long after their graduation was the first Calgary Branch event they attended. One year Andy met the late Peter Lougheed, the former Alberta Premier and Queen鈥檚 Chancellor, and they chatted about the oil industry like they were old friends. 

鈥淲e met such a range of really friendly alumni that we decided this group of people had to be part of our life,鈥 says Kiki. 鈥淵ears later we were able to bring our daughters as students and fellow alumni so we love attending as two generations of Queen鈥檚 fans.鈥

Online registration for this year鈥檚 Annual Dinner closes on June 11.