Alright, that’s a lie, but judging from the crowd, if you weren’t prepped beforehand, you’d certainly wonder what the heck the commotion was.

On Monday, November 23rd, hundreds packed the third floor of the Hyatt to honour Mr. Brown of Canaccord Capital with the T. Patrick Boyle Founder’s Award.

Attendees included Frank Giustra, Police Chief Jim Chu, Premier Gordon Campbell and even Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

The T. Patrick Boyle Founder’s Award is the Fraser Institute’s highest award. It is given to individuals who exemplify the institute’s libertarian values. Mr. Brown is now among a rare few who have received the award; Mr. Harley Hotchkiss, former Canadian Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, Hong Kong’s former deputy leader Anson Chan, Alberta’s former Premier Ralph Klein and Conrad Black (citation needed) are the ones whom we’ve previously seen associated with the award.

From a former Fraser Institute invite:

This award, named for the Fraser Institute’s founder, is presented annually to celebrate the establishment of The Fraser Institute in 1974. T. Patrick Boyle is currently Vice Chairman of the Fraser Institute. Each year, this prestigious award is presented to a person who best exemplifies the mission and philosophy of the Fraser Institute.

To find out more about the Fraser Institute, check out their website, HERE.

On September 10th, the Fraser Institute hosted a debate on the HST and BC’s deficit between Moe Sihota, Erin Chutter and Harvey Enchin at Gotham Steakhouse.

Erin, President of the mining company Puget Ventures and columnist on citycaucus.com is heard alongside Moe Sihota (former NDP MLA, business owner, activist) and Rafe Mair (not present for the event) Monday mornings on CBC radio.

Harvey Enchin is a prolific columnist and editorial board member of the Vancouver Sun and has been in the business  for over 30 years.

Incidentally, Moe, for being such a good sport, got a round of applause from his colleagues, organizers and the crowd.

To find out what was said, watch the exclusive videos from the event and read the original release, after the jump. (more…)

Senator Mike Duffy, former host of CTV’s “Mike Duffy Life,” tends to think so, and better to comment on this other than a man who has both spent decades commenting on the political life of Canada and the man appointed to the Senate by the Conservative Government’s Stephen Harper in December, 2008?

On Wednesday, June 24th, an interested group of attendees filled the chic new restaurant in the Loden Hotel, Voya, to hear the Senator speak. The ‘Duff’ entertained the room with a number of topics from how normal and hardworking our current Prime Minister is, to the back room skullduggery currently occurring within the Liberal Party and Bob Wray’s aspirations to lead the Liberals.

Here’s some video with Senator Duffy speaking on that exact point.

To find out more about the host of the evening’s event, check out the Fraser Institute online, HERE.

On Tuesday, March 31st, the former publisher of The Western Standard, Ezra Levant, made an appearance at Metro Restaurant to speak about how our government is undermining democracy in the name of human rights.

In 2007, Levant came under fire for publishing the infamous Danish cartoons of Mohammed in his now defunct magazine. After doing so, Levant was targeted by various groups through the Canadian human rights complaints process – a commission that Levant refers to as a farce. Check out the original release, after the jump. (more…)

On Tuesday evening, Honourable Chief Justice, Donald Brenner, spoke at Metro Restaurant as part of the Fraser Institute Behind the Spin Series of events. Check out the original release and find out more about other Fraser Institute events, after the jump. (more…)

On Thursday mornings, Raj Taneja appears on TALK 1410AM’s Jenn and Joe show to fill the listening audience in on what’s hot and happening in Vancouver.

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In this episode Raj Taneja talks about previous events, Sorel Etrog’s appearance at Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Mike Relm at the Commodore, the FMAs at the Centre for Performing Arts, the Insight Studios Red Carpet at Edgewater Casino, Zbignew Brzezinski at the Four Seasons with the Fraser Institute and upcoming events, Talelight Films Talelight Night at the OPUS Hotel, Gibson’s Iron Bar, and an Open House at the Terminal City Club.

Check out TALK 1410AM, The Buzz of Vancouver online, HERE and don’t forget to tune in Thursday mornings at 9:15 am.

On Thursday mornings, Raj Taneja appears on TALK 1410AM’s Jenn and Joe show to fill the listening audience in on what’s hot and happening in Vancouver.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Click on the above player to listen to the episode.

In this episode Raj Taneja talks about previous events, Wet Paint at TRUNK gallery, DJ Diamond at OPUS Hotel, Oktoberfest at Alpen Hall, Grey Goose’s Arbiter of Cool Competition, and upcoming events, Carrie Wheeler and Sistar Films Red Carpet at Red Squared, Mike Relm at the Commodore, FMA – Sky360 at the Centre and Zbignew Brzezinski with the Fraser Institute at the Four Seasons.

Check out TALK 1410AM, The Buzz of Vancouver online, HERE and don’t forget to tune in Thursday mornings at 9:15 am.

On Tuesday the 23rd, Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Music Director of the VSO, and former National Post Columnist Elizabeth Nickson took the stage to debate the role of Government Funding in Arts & Culture as part of the Fraser Institute’s Behind the Spin Series at OPUS Hotel.

The event, which is the second installment in the Behind the Spin series in Vancouver for Fall 2007, attracted both government and corporate funders to hear what both parties had to say.

Check out the original release and find out about the next event, titled Truly SiCKO, after the jump. (more…)