Ticketholders for a surprise movie pre-release screening put on by K-W Counselling were left in the dark last Thursday, both figuratively, and literally. Once the lights finally came up after the screening however, the audience acknowledged that the dark was well worth it.
Organized by the local community outreach agency, supporters were offered the opportunity to partake in a night consisting of awareness of the service, as well as a special advanced screening of a yet-to-be-released movie selected specifically associated with the spirit of what K-W Counselling services brings to the area.
โWhat was touching about this event was the calibre of community leadership that happened in response to what K-W Counselling is all about,โ said Leslie Josling, executive director of the service. โThe community leadership really touched me and itโs because they get what K-W Counselling stands for.โ
The night began with a reception at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) campus, where ticket holders were treated to hors dโoeuvres and a cash bar hosted by the Childrenโs Aid Foundation (CAF).
Speaking to the crowd during the reception, Josling revealed the generous $47,500 donation by the Foundation to K-W Counselling as well, to go along with the some 180 tickets sold for the nightโs festivities, at $125 a ticket.
What made the evening stand out from a typical fundraising event was the fact that attendees were completely unaware of the details of the film they had purchased tickets to see.
โWe wanted to create something that was annual and could be sustainable and we knew there would always be a fresh film coming off of the circuit,โ Josling explained.
โWe were clearly looking at Waterloo region and what might intrigue people in Waterloo region.โ
That is how the partnership with Princess Cinemasโ John Tutt was established, and used to aid the decision for choosing what โspecial movieโ to screen.
According to Josling, he went through approximately 33 films before landing on the one that was eventually shown: Canadian writer/director Sarah Polleyโs latest outing, Stories We Tell.
Once the reception had concluded with a live auction, patrons moved across Uptown to the independent theatre where owner Tutt gave a short introduction to the film. Having attended a number of festivals for research, Tutt revealed that โfilms do rise to the top when you see that many.โ
It was clear why Polleyโs film was chosen for the event. A โdocumentaryโ with recreated story elements, the focus is on the directorโs own family and her revelation at 18 years old that another man may actually be her father.
The film was an appropriate selection as it depicted the services that K-W Counselling stands for, but the real intrigue lay in the mystery of the overall event.
โI canโt participate like you, but itโs going to be a hard film not to love,โ Tutt added beforehand.
As the credits rolled to conclude the evening, the audience seemed to agree.
Diane McGregor, director of family and community solutions for K-W Counselling attended the evening and couldnโt help but praise the effort put forth by the service to bring light to what they offer the community.
โWhen we talk about the calibre of people who brought this event together, it really matches the calibre of work that is done at KW Counselling.โ McGregor said.
โItโs all about generating positive change in peopleโs lives, and you come to a night like this and it seems so positive and upbeat, itโs really an optimistic, fun kind of a thing.โ
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