The camaraderie, unity and philanthropy that distinguish lakeside’s international community shined as brightly as the midday sun on Wednesday, July 1 as a crowd of 75 expats of different nationalities came together for a relaxed Canada Day celebration organized by the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Guests gathered at the Nuevo Chapala subdivision Club House to enjoy four hours of laid-back social interaction, a sumptuous picnic fare buffet catered by Marco Bouleau of the popular El Rey Taco restaurant and canned music for dancing.
Canadian and American volunteers involved in the reconstruction project to revive Jocotepec’s Casa Corazon, a shelter for homeless and underprivileged senior citizens, were on hand to collect donations and recruit new hands-on supporters.
The home’s kitchen, dining room and great room are in the process of being rebuilt with papercrete, an innovative material made of recycled paper, water, cement and lime plaster. Helpers are needed to assist in making a supply of the environment-friendly bricks.
Organizers pledged half of the Canada birthday party proceeds from a 50-50 cash raffle to the cause. The event’s DJ jumped on the band-wagon to auction off the services of his son Omar Jimenez, an experienced and fully bilingual construction worker.
Guest dignitary Mike Obrist, Vice Consul and Trade Commissioner from Guadalajara, relished the opportunity to rub elbows with compatriots and also had the good fortune of picking the winning raffle number. He generously chipped his prize money into the Casa Corazon kitty.
At the end of the day the Canada Day fete generated enough resources to keep the project on track, with Jimenez hired for a key spot on work crew for a full 25 days.
Many of those attending the bash celebrating Canada’s 148th anniversary as an independent nation dressed up in eye-catching red-and-white attire.