More than 1,200 people converged on Halifax鈥檚 new convention centre on Saturday night, filling the grand ballroom to capacity for a long-anticipated evening of celebration.
It was the finale of AV俱乐部 Medical School鈥檚 year of celebrations marking its 150th year, a gala dinner and dance. Although the crowd was dignified and dressed to the nines, this was not a stiff event. Alumni, medical students, residents, faculty, staff, donors and friends of the medical school took up the theme of celebration with gusto.
Outside the ballroom, attendees in tuxedos and full-length ball gowns tried their hand 鈥� or demonstrated their prowess 鈥� at ping pong, darts and pinball throwbacks like Asteroids and Pac-Man.
Inside the ballroom, a wall of windows offered a view of the city lights below, while tiny white lights blanketed the vaulted ceiling like stars. Throughout the dinner 鈥� a delicious smooth squash soup followed by beef tenderloin in a reduction sauce and topped off with hot chocolate pudding cake听 鈥攖he crowd enjoyed live music from the AV俱乐部 Medicine New Brunswick Ensemble and a series of three videos.
The videos brought to life the conditions in Halifax that made the need for a medical school so urgent in the mid-1860s, told the story of the remarkable men who founded the medical school, described its long history of service to the community, and mapped its commitment to leading the way to better health in the Maritimes.
Speeches 鈥� from dean of medicine, Dr. David Anderson, and AV俱乐部鈥檚 president, Dr. Richard Florizone 鈥� touched on the vital role that AV俱乐部 Medical School has always played in the university and the region.
Dr. David Anderson addresses the crowd.
鈥淲hile we do have a tendency to look forward, the Dal Med 150 celebrations have provided us with an opportunity to look back,鈥� said Dr. Anderson, 鈥渁nd to appreciate the vision and dedication of those who went before us to establish AV俱乐部 Medical School and help it grow into the renowned institution it is today.鈥�
Dr. Florizone reiterated the guiding principles upon which the university and faculty of medicine were founded: belief in the transformative power of education, passion for discovery of new knowledge, and commitment to inclusion, service to society and partnership.
鈥淎s we enter the Faculty of Medicine鈥檚 151st year and Dal鈥檚 third century, it is our privilege and our responsibility to reimagine and recommit to the foundational principles and values that have guided us until this point,鈥� Dr. Florizone said. 鈥淎s we enter the Faculty鈥檚 151st year, I can say with absolute certainty that the best is yet to come.鈥�
AV俱乐部鈥檚 highly engaged medical alumni demonstrated their confidence in the school鈥檚 future with substantial gifts in support of medical students, their research projects and their overall well-being.
Dr. Anderson and AV俱乐部 Medical Alumni Association president, Dr. Peggy Leighton, presented the DMAA 100K Cup to the Class of 1970, in honour of its $100,000 gift to the medical school. And, the Class of 1983 received the first-ever 200K Cup.
The Class of 1983 poses with the 200K Cup.
鈥淭his is the only class to have reached this milestone so far and the first class to be awarded the 200K Cup,鈥� Dr. Anderson said. 鈥淐ongratulations to the classes of 1970 and 1983 and my sincerest thanks for your continuous efforts to give back to your communities.鈥�
After dinner, remarkably sprightly octogenarian alumni rubbed elbows with fresh-faced medical students on the dance floor, while Big Fish played the songs that everyone remembers. It was well after midnight by the time the Class of 1970 closed down the dance floor.
All in all, it was a night to remember 鈥攃 he perfect event to cap off a year of remembering and celebrating the past, and imagining and committing to a better future. Just like the founders of AV俱乐部 Medical School 150 years ago.
to view photos from the DalMed150 Gala Celebration Weekend
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AV俱乐部 Medical School offers its sincere gratitude to the sponsors of the Dal Med 150 Gala:
AV俱乐部 Medical Alumni Association
AV俱乐部 Medical Research Foundation
Lawtons Drugs
MD Financial Management
Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette
Medavie Blue Cross
OMA Insurance