Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi, Elton John and Frank Siantara are just some of the performers that will highlight the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Foundation Gala-at least, sorta.
In reality those acts, and plenty more, will be impersonated by renowned impressionist Andre Philippe Gagnon on Feb. 6 at the LACGH Westdale Complex.
Tickets, which go on sale Nov. 1, are $125 per person and includes dinner. They will be available at the hospital’s foundation office, located at 8 Richmond Park Dr. All money raised will go towards the hospital foundation.
“It’s mostly celebrating 25 years we’ve been supporting the hospital and all the equipment they look after,” said Mike Airhart, LACGH Foundation board member who returns to chair the gala once again. He notes that 2020 will mark 25 years for the foundation.
Airhart says the format of the gala has been a huge success, which means including as much local flair as possible. They’ll follow that same recipe, including using The Catering Company to provide the meal, complete with local ingredients, wine and beer.
Airhart says the entertainment will be on par with the acts they’ve welcomed the previous five years, though with a bit of a twist.
Based out of Quebec, Gagnon got his big break on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, performing his version of We Are The World, complete with impressions of all the artists who performed that legendary track for famine relief. Since then he’s gone on to perform around the globe, mixing comedy with the singing styles of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Guns n’ Roses, Phil Collins, Enrique Eglesias and the Black Eyed Peas, among others.
“He sounds like everyone, when he does Mick Jagger he does all the facial expressions and he’ll bounce around on stage like he does,” said Airhart. “It’s pretty cool.”
Sponsorship opportunities for local businesses looking to support the gala are now available by calling 613-354-3301 ext. 400. Tickets are expected to go quickly as they’ve sold out every year.
In the five previous years the galas have raised a combined $246,000 for the hospital.