Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Jackie Hussey Pearson (left) and her husband Gene Pearson clowning around with Lousie Valle at the Canadian National Day reception, held at the High Commissioner's residence, Seymour Avenue, on Friday, July 1. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
DEARS, JULY is the month for international celebrations and independence, and things kicked off with Canadian Day on July 1, July 4 being the American Independence Day; and July 14 being the day the French celebrate Bastille Day.
Luvs, these are three very popular calendar events as the ties to our North American neighbours are heartfelt and binding and many Jamaicans call the United States and/or Canada a second home, and those who do not, have many relatives residing in these two countries.
Our relationship with the French, however, is a kind of vicarious one steeped in our admiration of their sense of élan, couture and their embodiment as the task masters of haute style and the good life. We nonetheless celebrate with the French, the Canadian and the Americans, on the occasion of their anniversaries.
QUIET PRIDE AND RESOLVE
Last Friday was Canadian Independence Day, and Canadians the world over celebrated their National Day with the quiet pride and resolve that is the hallmark of Canadian social and cultural identity. To mark the occasion Canada's first family in Jamaica, High Commissioner His Excellency Claudio Valle, and his fabulous wife, Louise Valle, threw a cocktail reception at the commission's official residence, that was a social blow-out. And dears it rained cats and dogs and then some, but pumpkins, the rains kept no one away. And so it was one almightily jam-packed affair with the fabulous in attendance, thus making for one swanky do!
Luvs, HE Claudio and Louise Valle, are a very charming couple, whose love for Jamaica is not only known across the length and breadth of the island, it is celebrated in the region. The couple's love affair with Jamaica started with Louise Valle's first visit to the island following the passage of Hurricane Gilbert, when she came to Jamaica as a part of a Canadian assistance team, who was visiting the island as a part of the effort to assist with the rebuilding effort.
So impressed was Mrs. Valle after her first visit that she and her husband decided on continuing that relationship, by being posted here. The rest, as they say, is history. But in fact it was the Valles who created history with an enviable record of serving in three different capacities, culminating with Claudio Valle being appointed his country's Hugh Commissioner.
SHY AND RETIRING
Now, as high commissioners and/or ambassadors go, HE Claudio Valle is somewhat of an almost shy and retiring personality, preferring smaller intimate gatherings and occasions. His wife, on the other hand, is somewhat more gregarious. Theirs, however, has been the happy medium, mixing intimate dinners and soirees with their obligatory official duties and social functions.
Now, dears, without the benefit of official statistics, based on attendance at Canadian National Day celebrations over the years, one could be forgiven in thinking that Canada has the single largest ex patriate population here in Jamaica. And each year, this group of invitees descends on Kingston in droves, from every corner of the island, for their National Day celebrations, exuding such warmth and camaraderie, coupled with the charm and hospitality of the hosts to make these celebrations truly memorable.
This year's July 1 celebrations were no less so. Themed in the national colours of Canada (red and white), the party was one fabulous affair and then some!
Luvs, Seymour Avenue and its environs were a traffic nightmare from as early as half past six, as guests began pouring into the Golden Triangle for one of the diplomatic community's most anticipated receptions.
Well my dears, if ever there was any question surrounding the pre-eminent social role of Canada Day celebrations, those were put to rest as the crème de la crème of Jamaica's social elite were all out, and dears, the rains made it that much more intimate an occasion.
Sweet things, with rains a pouring and drenching guests, the hosts were forced to retreat from the spread of fabulousness and display that they had created for the reception on the grounds and rolling lawns into the smaller pool-bar and patio area, where with space being a premium it was wall-to-wall people in every nook and cranny, with some guests draped over armchairs and sofas of the living room.
Dears, we are talking elbow room only here, the crush only made acceptable by the teams of waiters and waitresses who navigated their way, with trays laden with libations and thus making the crush seem less so. And dears, when the hostess, looking flawlessly coifed and as elegant as ever, went to her kitchen and returned with trays of nibbles and bob-bons, despite it being her birthday, some guests burst into a spontaneous rendition of the 'happy birthday chorus', much to the surprise and slight embarrassment of the hostess, busy trying to attend to her guests.
With the official toasts lost in the din, the Maurice Gordon musical aggregation trying to get a musical groove going, some guests danced through the raindrops, while others caught up with the latest appenigs.
Among the notables spotted were: Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke; the lovely Edith Jarbeau; David and Maria Coore; Hon. Burchell and Joline Whiteman; Senator Anthony Johnson; Senator Dorothy Lightbourne; Chief of Staff JDF Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin and wife Capt. Tessa Lewin; Mayor Desmond McKenzie and wife Marcia McKenzie; MP Babsy Grange; Lady Patricia Golding; Albert and Su Nakash; their son Chris Nakash and his lovely wife Zein Issa-Nakash, her twin sister the fabulous Muna Issa, also out; Roy and Sylvia Collister; Earl and Beverly Levy; Joe Matalon and Bernadette McKinley-Morin; Robert MacMillan and the lovely Rachel Gore; Yvon Desulme; Jennifer Lim; Capt. Mike and Thalia Lyn; Herman McLarty and his daughter Rachel McLarty; Dr. Cezley Sampson; Mike and Peggy Fennell; Dr. Oswald Harding; Noel and Jacqueline DaCosta; Ambassador Dr. Matthew Beaubrun; Hon. Barbara Gloudon; Tourism Director Paul Pennicoke.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner HE Dennis Francis; Deputy British High Commissioner and acting Head of Mission Phil Sinkinson; Acting Head of Mission US Embassy Cliff and Luisa Tighe; Canadian Embassy First Secretary Cyril Joseph and wife Felicia Joseph; Joe English; Carol MacMillan; Dr. Charles and Corina Meeks; Drs. Dhiru and Laura Tanna; Hugh Levy; Derek and Maureen Jones; Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare; Vivian Crawford; Kay Osborne; Stuart and Yvonne Fisher; Dr. Barbara Carby; Helene-Marie Gosselin of the UN; Bertrand Bainvel of UNICEF; NCB's Patrick Hylton; JPS Co's Charles Matthews and wife Brunetta; PetroJams's Winston Watson; Digicel's David Hall and his companion Liz Sheehan; Flour Mills Jim Gill and wife Marina; Guardsman's Claude Clements; Camile Hines who was celebrating her birthday; Peter Schroter; Gene and Jacquelyne Pearson; Brian St. Juste; Alison Peart; Peter and Lawayne Kolbusch; Hugh and Ouida Dumphy; Paul Shoucair; Louise Finnegan; Tom and Tracey McArdle; Nadine Gagraj; Enid Harrow; John Rapley; William Lampert and wife Anna Kaiser; Stafford and Marilyn Burrowes, their son and daughter-in-law Gregory and Kristin Burrowes; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Edwards; plus several scores more.
