SEATTLE (October 30, 2009) – British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire were the honored guests at the 10th Annual The Canada-America Society of Washington Gala held Friday, Oct. 9 at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel.
“The Gala is held each year during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend to strengthen trade relationships between Canada and America and foster a sense of kinship between the two nations,” noted Michael Herbst, President of the Canada-America Society. Developed to drive cross-border business in the Northwest, the Canada-America Society hosts the Gala as a time of celebration and camaraderie between the two nations. Herbst said that more than 250 guests attended the celebration.
In addition to Governor Gregoire and Premier Campbell, The Honorable Gary Lunn, Canadian Federal Minister of State (Sport) in Premier Stephen Harper’s cabinet and member of Parliament representing Saanich Gulf Islands, BC; Peter Lloyd, consul general of Canada in Seattle; and Roger Simmons, former Canadian consul general in Seattle also attended.
The Canada-America Society of Washington (www.canada-americasociety.org) and the Canada-America Society of Washington Scholarship Fund organized the Canada Gala in cooperation with the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle.
The Canada-America Society™ is the premier US-Canada business and social networking organization in Washington. Our mission is proudly to encourage business relationships between Canadians and Americans, to promote greater understanding between the peoples of Canada and the United States and to contribute to the goodwill and respective cultures of the two countries.
The Canadian Studies Center is a partner of the Canada Gala. Gala support is provided, in part, by funding from the Center’s Program Enhancement Grant, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.