Eco-friendly meets worldly here in Squamish with local environmental watchdog group Squamish CAN hosting a Spanish themed fundraiser party. Anyone interested in Spanish culture is invited to take part in the festivities on June 20 at the Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG).
Squamish CAN president Ana Santos moved here from Spain five years ago, and she will be hosting the fundraiser event in her family's honour when they arrive for a visit from Spain.
"It will be the perfect opportunity to learn a bit about another culture while supporting our local culture as well," said Santos.
There will be real Spanish paella (a traditional rice dish that originated in Valencia, Spain) cooked by real Spanish hands in a giant paella pan.
Santos said that in the five years she's been living in Squamish, several people have asked her to host some sort of Spanish event because they all want to practise speaking Spanish.
"It's always be in the back of my mind so I thought this would be a great opportunity for the people who always ask me to come and speak Spanish," said Santos.
Local businesses will also be participating by providing all the ingredients other than the rice and saffron.
Diamond Head Fish Market will provide seafood for the paella and other tasty fish treats, Nesters will provide the extras and Golden Crust Specialties will provide the bread.
The Santos family is also going to make Spanish omelets thanks to the Village Garden Centre and Rojo Pez ranch and The Cup, Paradise Produce and In The Raw Organics will also provide tasty appetizers and salads. For dessert, ice cream from Gelato Carina and maple syrup lollies from Maples Sugar Shack will fix the sweetest of sweet tooths.
There will be Spanish cuisine and drinks, paella recipe sharing, Spanish hosts to practice those language skills with, some Spanish guitar and maybe even some flamenco dancing.
José Gimenez from the band Sangra Morena will be playing Spanish guitar long into the evening and between sets, three short movies featuring Spanish regional highlights in Bilbao, Castilla and Valencia will be shown during the event.
One film describes how the industrial city of Bilbao has been transformed by the construction and presence of the Guggenheim Museum, one describes the castillian pig farms and another explains how to cook and grow the theme food of the night, paella.
Santos said she hopes to host Spanish events on a regular basis, depending on this event's success.
"We did get the paella pan to do this and I promised to use it again so there will have to be something," she said. "I would be more than happy to do it."
The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and proceeds will fund Squamsih CAN projects in the community. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children under 10 years old. Tickets are available at the Brackendale Art Gallery.
