Tom Lavin & The Legendary Powder Blues

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For over four decades, the Juno-award winning Powder Blues has been Canada’s leading blues band. Their unique mix of swing, blues, jazz, rock & roll and R&B has an appeal so wide that people from seven to seventy swing side by side at their concerts.

The band has toured non-stop through Canada, the United States and overseas, spreading feel-good music that makes folks dance and shout. Their greatest hits include Doin’ It Right (‘On the Wrong Side of Town’), What’ve I Been Drinkin’, and Thirsty Ears.

Band highlights include headlining the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, winning the Blues Foundation Award in Memphis, Tennessee and touring the US and Europe with legends like Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, James Brown, Albert Collins, James Cotton and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Josephine Lee

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Josephine Lee began playing the harp at the age of five and continued with private lessons until she began her studies at the University of Victoria for Performance Harp. She has been a professional Harpist, Wedding Harpist, and harp teacher for over sixteen years.

She performed as the resident Harpist for the Fairmont Hotel in Victoria and in beautiful venues around the Lower Mainland, such as The Chapel at Stanley Park, Minoru Chapel and The Celebration Pavilion at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Hosts

Coleen Christie

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Coleen has been an award-winning, television news anchor for more than 25-years.

Currently, you can see her Monday through Friday on Global News at Noon and on BC1.

Before joining Global BC in 2017, Coleen anchored for CTV Vancouver and for the CTV network.​

Coleen is passionate about the roll journalism plays in maintaining democracy.  She has spoken on that and on avoiding bias in the media numerous times.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and raised in Victoria, BC, Coleen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History. ​ When she’s not working or spending time with family and friends – you’ll find her indulging her other passion – cooking and baking.

Brother Jake Edwards

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Born on April Fool’s Day, the Universe seemed to be setting the stage for Jake Edwards’ award winning career in broadcasting. He made his way across Canada from coast to coast as Brother Jake, sharing his unique style of humour and entertaining millions of listeners along the way.

He has always said, “There are two important dates in your life: the day you were born and the day you understand why you are here.” For him it was on his 11th birthday when his parents gifted him an RCA transistor radio. He was hooked.

In 2019, Brother Jake was honoured by his broadcasting peers and was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.

After enduring a great amount of pain for years, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis four years ago. Through the help of his rheumatologist, he has been given his life back. Thanks to Arthritis Research Canada and its life-changing research he is once again enjoying his greatest passion: golf.

Auctioneer

Howard A. Blank

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Howard Blank is a proud member of the entertainment and NPO sector.

He currently serves as CEO of Point-Blank Entertainment Ltd. Over the past 25 years Howard has helped to raise over 1 billion dollars for organizations across North America.

He has received many accolades and awards and is recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the British Columbia Community Achievement Medal and the Order of Canada Sovereign’s medal for volunteerism.

In 2021 Howard was featured in Business in Vancouver’s BIV 500 as one of the top executives in British Columbia.

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