Ottawa Affinity Dinner

Ottawa Affinity Newfoundland and Labrador Dinner

The 2009 Ottawa Affinity Dinner was a resounding success. Read the article from 'MUN Today' for all the details on another fantastic event in Ottawa!

Ottawa has affinity for Memorial
By David Sorensen

An enthusiastic crowd blocked the ballroom at the Chateau Laurier Monday night for Memorial's ninth annual Ottawa Affinity dinner. More than 400 students, faculty, staff and friends of Memorial University and Newfoundland and Labrador mixed warm applause and sombre reflection as keynote speaker General Rick Hillier recounted his career in the military, the soldiers he came to know and his appointment as chancellor at Memorial.

Canada's chief of defence staff until his retirement last year, Gen. Hillier spoke about the men and women in Canada's armed forces, particularly those who lost their lives in the mission in Afghanistan, and about their extraordinary families.

The crowd listened intently as Gen. Hillier relayed the story of Corporal Andrew Eykelenboom, or Boomer as he was known to his friends and family, who was killed in Afghanistan. His mother, Maureen Eykelenboom, refused to let her son's death fade from memory and started Boomer's Legacy, a charitable foundation to raise money for Afghans living in the valleys and villages where Canadian troops operate.

Gen. Hillier also commented on his appointment as chancellor at a university created as a living memorial to the Newfoundland men who died during the First World War.

"I can think of no better role for a soldier and a former chief of defence staff," he said.

Gen. Hillier also took the time to talk about his role as chancellor. He urged those in attendance to continue to help make Memorial a great university by contributing financially.

Dr. Ray Gosine, vice-president (research) pro tempore, brought greetings on behalf of the university. Dr. Gosine also singled out the commitment of Tom Bursey, the driving force behind the Ottawa Affinity event, "whose enthusiasm, passion and pride in his alma mater is of an entirely different magnitude than what you would expect from a graduate of any school.

" Also in attendance were national Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Senators George Fury and William Rompkey, MP Judy Foote and Brian King of Johnson's.

Seamus O'Regan was the master of ceremonies. But with a looming three a.m. wakeup call the next day, the Canada AM host had to beat an early retreat. He was replaced by Ottawa broadcaster and native Newfoundlander Max Keeping.