CNIS logo from letterheadCNIS logo from letterheadCNIS logo from letterheadCNIS logo from letterhead
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About CNIS
    • Board
    • Organizational Members
    • Staff
    • Contributors
    • CNIS Volunteer Team
    • Volunteer of the Year
    • Honorary Life Members
  • What We Do
    • Bethune Round Table
    • MADE-I Project
    • CNIS Courses
    • CNIS MOST
  • How to Help
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer With Us
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Donor Recognition Program
  • Contact
0
CNIS first surgical skills course in Haiti
May 17, 2011
Office visit from Uganda
May 24, 2011

A Magical Night for West Africa

May 20, 2011
Performers at A Night in Magical Timbuktu

Performers at A Night in Magical Timbuktu: Jacky Essombe, Hassanatou Camara and Alpha Yaya Diallo

Mali Ambassador

Mali Ambassador, Mamadou Bandiougou Diawara made a French address during the evening. CNIS volunteer Rachelle Czerwinski, a Madagascar native, provided the instant translation.

Dancers

Cameroon dancer Jacky Essombe performing with Brycken Olive and Sierra Wolfe

Food Prep

The Timbuktu fest was provided by Truffles Fine Food and Sweet Obsession

CNIS Student Volunteers

CNIS student volunteers from David Thompson Secondary School from Invermere, BC with performers Jacky Essombe and Alpha Diallo

CNIS’s annual fundraiser A Night in Magical Timbuktu was held in Vancouver on May 6th to raise funds to establish West Africa’s first Injury Control Centre.

One hundred guests, 50 volunteers, countless local sponsors and a dozen performers helped make the night truly magical.

CNIS was honoured to have the Mali ambassador, his Excellency Mamadou Bandiougou Diawara, as our guest and we were grateful for his thoughtful address about his country. Phil Hassen, CNIS President, thanked him on behalf of CNIS and Dr. Jan Christilaw, President of the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, gave a speech on maternal mortality. Global TV’s Lynn Colliar and Bev McEwan were Masters of Ceremonies for the lively evening.

Some of Canada’s best African musicians and dancers had agreed to perform for us. Three-time Juno award winner Alpha Yaya Diallo from Guinea with his group Bafing got the crowd dancing, and even some of the CNIS board members were seen on the dance floor! Cameroon dancer Jacky Essombe had everyone singing African songs, and did a superb dance performance with her group.

Supported by the local film industry and other businesses, the venue was decorated like a Malian village.

CNIS volunteers had hand-painted Timbuktu-inspired runners and miniature Dogon huts for the tables, and an African-inspired feast was provided by local movie caterer, Truffles Fine Foods.

The event raised almost $18,000 in one night, nearly 1/5 of the funds needed to establish the centre. The silent action featuring a.o. artwork by Robert Bateman and Yared Nigussu, raised over $6,000, which is nearly enough to equip a teaching lab. Since the event, another $5300 has been donated, and we will not stop trying until we have reached our goal: to establish an Injury Control Centre in Bamako, Mali, teaching first aid, traffic safety, trauma training and other injury prevention courses.

CNIS would like to thank our volunteers, donors, sponsors and all who helped us make this night possible.

Share

Related posts

February 26, 2020

A CNIS Headquarters Update


Read more
February 18, 2020

CNIS Celebrates 25 Years of Sharing Skill and Saving Lives


Read more
July 20, 2012

Renown Kenyan singer will perform at CNIS African Market Aug 25


Read more

Who We Are

  • About us
  • Board
  • Organizational Members
  • Staff
  • Contributors
  • CNIS Volunteer Team
  • Volunteer of the Year
  • Honorary Life Members

What We Do

  • CNIS Courses
  • CNIS MOST

How To Help

  • Volunteer With Us
  • Become a Member

Donate

  • Donate Now
  • Donor Recognition Program

Contact Us

  • Contact
© 2020 CNIS | Canadian Network for International Surgeons. All Rights Reserved.
0