24th Annual UNICEF Celebrity Pumpkin Carving Contest

Even a serious collection of election coverage hangovers couldn't keep Calgary's fearless media teams away from UNICEF's 24th Annual Celebrity Pumpkin Carving Contest this week.
Pitting teams from Global News Hour Final, CTV Calgary, Citytv, FFWD Weekly, Where Calgary Magazine, Calgary's Child Magazine, Jack FM, Lite 96, X92.9, Shine FM, Q107 and the Virgin Morning Show against the likes of Calgary Transit, the Calgary Fire Department, Animal & Bylaw Services, EMS, the Calgary Roughnecks, the Stampeder Outriders and the Hyatt Regency, it was another gooey battle of artistic greatness.
Lite 96 took the illustrious Judges Choice award this year for its Venus Pumpkin Fly Trap, with honourable mentions going to Global News Hour Final and Calgary Fire.
Oct. 31 is National UNICEF Day, and funds raised through this year's Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign will go toward providing the basic needs of water, food, shelter and vaccinations for needy children around the world. Don't forget to gather up your loose change and have it ready for the orange boxes when they come around next week, and for more info on the work of UNICEF Canada, head to UNICEF.ca.
2010 Calgary Business Hall of Fame Gala
Without a doubt, one of the most prestigious awards one can be honoured with in these parts is an induction into the Calgary Business Hall of Fame.
The organization's annual Gala Dinner and Induction Ceremony took place this week at the Hyatt Regency, where 2010 Hall of Fame Laureates were joined by Peter Mansbridge - CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National, who played handsome host of the evening affair.
This year's trifecta of tremendously accomplished laureates included John Forzani -- founder and chairman of the board of The Forzani Group and chairman of the Calgary Stampeders, Alvin Libin -- founder of Extendicare, president and CEO of Balmon Investments and a director and owner of the Calgary Flames, as well as family representatives of 2010's posthumous selection, Theodore Rozsa -- oil industry innovator and founder of Frontier Geophysical, Basset Oil and Rozsa Petroleum.
Established in 2004 by Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta, the Calgary Business Hall of Fame honours the lifetime achievements of southern Alberta's most distinguished citizens past and present, who have helped shape the future of our province. The gala dinner and induction, meanwhile, bring together more than 800 of Calgary's most prominent and influential people in business, government and the local community for an evening of celebration.
Proceeds from the gala enable Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta to provide free business and leadership classes to students throughout southern Alberta, with 2010 marking the organization's 50th anniversary.
Artful Bench and Bar Fundraiser for CLERC
Proof that legal professionals can occasionally kick up their heels and have a good time lay in Wednesday night's Artful Bench and Bar event at Hotel Arts.
The annual fundraising bash for the Children's Legal and Education Resource Centre was literally overflowing with lawyers and judges keen to donate their time and dollars to the charitable organization that's committed to providing legal advice, information and representation to local children and youth who have nowhere else to turn for legal support.
The Artful Bench and Bar saw hundreds of sport coat and cocktail gown-clad partygoers bidding on original pieces of art created and donated by members of Calgary's legal community. And bid high they did, with more than $20,000 raised through the evening's live auction.
Hats off to Calgary firms Campbell O'Hara, Felesky Flynn LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Foster Richmond LLP and Twyman Jamieson LLP for sponsoring the event. For more info on the work of CLERC, visit www.youthlaw.ca.
kdoody@calgaryherald.com