Canon Canada opens new office in Vancouver

I’m always positively impressed with PR companies who pitch me stories that are very specifically targeted to what I write about on my site, and when I am invited to events where elements that are key to what my stories are related to are displayed. This was the case with the recent opening of Canon Canada’s Vancouver office. Before I received Reena’s email, I wasn’t sure I was the right fit for this kind of event. After all, while I have reviewed printers before (Epson and Hewlett Packard), I always associate Canon with cameras. And, as you know, I don’t actually have right now a digital camera that is functional. But the key element that interweaves with my own blog is that I was invited to participate in a gala where Canon Canada presented Mayor Robertson $60,000 for his Community Urban Agriculture Fund (formally the City of Vancouver’s Community Garden Project).

Now, something that is relevant to improving the environment (as high or as little as it may be) is worthy of mention on my blog. Plus, let’s face it, it’s hard to say no when you are invited to a gala where the main appeal is to listen to Maelle Ricker’s wonderful Olympic story and to Sarah McLachlan’s angelic voice. Sarah McLachlan has been my favorite singer for over a decade, and I wasn’t about to say no, and I’m glad I didn’t because I had finally a chance to hang out with my good friend Linda Solomon, founder of The Vancouver Observer, and saw Catherine Barr from a distance, as well as other folks from My Vancouver and Linda’s right hand Kei.

The event itself was very well put together, and while I thought for a minute that I was going to be exhausted (it was marked from 11am to 2:30pm, and I figured it was a bit too long before I was actually there), it was actually quite well organized. Sarah McLachlan sang for about a solid hour, we had a fantastic three-course menu (props to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for providing free wifi at the main event), and we had an opportunity to listen to an inspirational speech by Maelle Ricker. I even had an opportunity to hold a gold Olympic medal!

Quite expectedly, after the speeches were over and Sarah’s performance was completed, we all ran to get our photo taken with her. I will fully admit to being a Sarah McLachlan die-hard fan. I’ve bought each and every one of her albums, and I have had my heart broken to the tune of Elsewhere and Hold On. I always thought of Sweet Surrender as my anthem song. So, when given a chance, I’m always going to go for it. The photo doesn’t do justice as it shows my triple chin (heh) but I loved the opportunity and Sarah was really gracious. Also, the swag bag was fantastic – a bottle of ice wine and Sarah’s Best of Sarah McLachlan’s newest CD

Side note — (I hear she’s launching a new one on June 15th). Kudos to Canon Canada for their environmental initiatives, and hopefully I’ll have a chance to review some of their products (particularly their cameras, heh!). Linda’s post is already up so here it is another recount of the event. Linda actually took a MUCH better photo of me and Sarah which I’ll ask her to send me.

Thanks to Canon Canada for the invite, in addition to a great luncheon and inspirational talk by Maelle, I had a wonderful time listening to our very own Sarah McLachlan. I feel like such a starstruck fanboy!

Be Sociable, Share!