by Dave Thomas
Published in June 2017
For Neil Aitchison, the 30th Annual Mayors’ Dinner was a very different experience. The well-known personality has hosted 24 of the 29 previous dinners, but this time he was the community member being fêted.
A capacity crowd of more than 950 people were on hand to celebrate Neil, whose many community contributions over many decades include worthy causes such as Sleeping Children Around The World, United Way of KW and Area, Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association, Western Ontario Athletic Association, KW Oktoberfest, Cambridge Chamber Business Awards, Rotary, Probus, as well as his beloved Drayton Entertainment.
There were tributes from family (his daughter Tammy, his son Todd and two of his four grandchildren, Rebecca and Patrick), Drayton Entertainment colleagues Alex Mustakas and Steven Karcher, former premier Bob Rae, and video greetings from NHL hockey star/former MP Ken Dryden and CTV anchor Lloyd Robertson.
Todd performed a fitting tribute to his father by singing New York, New York while the grandchildren Rebecca and Patrick spoofed their grandfather by dressing up as Mounties.
Lloyd Robertson recounted meeting Neil: “I pretty well knew, right from the outset, that behind that larger-than-life character with the hearty laugh and the beaming smile, was someone absolutely and sincerely dedicated to helping his community,” he said. “And time and again you have proven that while you want to highlight the Region’s successes, you also understand its needs.”
Neil and this year’s MC Michael Higgins had an on-stage conversation relating some of the highlights of Neil’s personal, professional and community life, including his years in broadcasting and media sales, his long-standing association with Drayton Entertainment, his work with construction firm Melloul Blamey, his relationship with comedian and mentor Dave Broadfoot, and Neil’s Mountie alter-ego character, Constable Archibald F. Inkster.
The Million Dollar Quartet, preparing to open at Dunfield Theatre later that week, performed a set from their show in honour of Neil’s long-term connection to Drayton Entertainment. It was a rousing closing act!
Neil didn’t totally escape hosting duties, though. He led the live auction segment as only he can, knowing his audience and using humour to great effect.
The event, hosted by Mayors Berry Vrbanovic, Dave Jaworsky and Doug Craig, raised over $80,000 to support The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen.
What a great way to celebrate 30 years of this community celebration.
