Gala in Support of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – June 5

About The Event:

Did you know that the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is active in 26 parishes across the Archdiocese? Over 600 volunteers worked in 2024 to assist a total of 14,933 people in urgent need (including 6,177 children) in their local area. Vincentians have a sacred mission: to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.

Here in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, over 600 members quietly live out that mission each and every day, extending a hand of friendship to their neighbours in need and delivering practical assistance in the form of food hampers, grocery cards, beds, furniture and housewares, transit tickets and more. In other words, they work to provide the basics of a dignified life – things that most of us take for granted.

Vincentians also:

• pack shipping containers with food and other necessities for transport to nine Western Arctic communities that suffer from exorbitant food costs and high unemployment
• prepare food packages for students in high-needs areas to bring home on the weekend
• staff a Clothing Room where people in need can get seasonal wear for adults and children, free of charge
• run two Charity Sales a year at St. Andrew’s Centre, with proceeds going to help the poor
• operate a charming store called Vinnies Treasure Shoppe in Edmonton’s Oliver neighbourhood, with proceeds going to help the poor
• bring truckloads of beds, clothing and other goods to five First Nations communities in Northern Alberta

Requests for help, especially for food and beds, have skyrocketed over the last two years, so the SSVP Edmonton Central Council is holding its first-ever fundraising Gala on Thursday, June 5, at the Chateau Lacombe. The evening will feature Keynote Speaker Sister Fay Trombley SCIC, who received the Governor General’s Polar Medal for her service to the poor in the North, and video stories from people to whom SSVP has made a real difference. There will be a fine dinner, of course, as well as chances to win some great prizes through a live auction and raffle.

Among the prizes:

• Fly Air North for an Aurora Borealis Weekend for two at Trappers Lodge in Yellowknife
• Fly by private jet to Kelowna for golf and two nights’ accommodation for four
• Use of a new Lexus to drive to Jasper Park Lodge and two nights’ accommodation

Proceeds of this event will be split between the SSVP Edmonton Central Council and the Society’s North of 60 Project, which sends shipping containers to northern communities.

The goal of the Gala is twofold:

• To raise awareness of SSVP’s remarkable work and inspire attendees to become regular supporters.
• To raise funds to help meet the ever-increasing requests for assistance and cover the skyrocketing costs of transportation in the North.

Please consider joining us for an evening of fine dining, inspiring speakers, and a chance to win a great prize in our raffle or live auction. Tickets are $250 or $2000 for a table of 8, part of which will be returned as a tax receipt. To buy your tickets or make a donation, visit https://bit.ly/SSVP-Gala-2025.

We invite you to prayerfully consider attending the gala yourself, purchasing a table of 8. or making a donation to the Gala. Tickets are $250 each or $2000 for a Table of 8. To purchase tickets or make a donation, please visit https://bit.ly/SSVP-Gala-2025 or submit by cheque (marked Gala 2025)  to:

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
PO  Box 11532 Station Main
Edmonton, AB, T5J 3K7.

For more information contact SSVP at gala@ssvpedmonton.ca or 825-582-SSVP (7787).

Thank you for helping us help our neighbours in need!