Our 2008 Novices and their invited guests, were excited to attend this special party organized by Barb Baker, a 2007 Novice now on Abreast Up the Creek.

The evening was held at the beautiful Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver. The school was established in 1960 as a personal development and modelling school. Now owned by Pacifique Riche Enterprises Ltd., Blanche Macdonald Centre has grown into a post secondary career college offering diploma programmes in Make up, Esthetics/Spa Therapy, Hair Styling, Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design. A great place for women to women connection as over 90% of the students and instructors are women. Barb, herself is a fourteen-year instructor of Esthetics/Spa Therapy.

The Blanche Macdonald Centre has instructors, students, friends and family that have been touched by breast cancer.

	Photos - Patricia Tanaka

President Jean Buckley welcomed all the Novices and their guests. Dr. Don McKenzie talked about us as role models to others to come regarding life after breast cancer.

The 2008 Novices cut the Party cake and served everyone. The 2007 Novices hope that this event will start an annual tradition among the novices to pass the welcome down from year to year.

A huge AIAB thank you goes to Barb Baker and her ‘helpers’ Rebecca Chapman, Anne Ling, Brenda Easton and Wendy Barrett – all 2007 Novices – for organizing this special treat. Gifts were graciously supplied by the Blanche Macdonald Centre with donations of skincare products from BMC suppliers. There were also six door prizes drawn.

Dorothy Fenning

L-R: Janice, Mary , Susan Doyle, Brenda Easton, Esther Matsubichi