CHESTERMERE – The Chestermere High School council hosted its first ever comedy night on Feb. 11, and organizers are saying it was a success.
Around 200 people turned out to participate in the silent auction, enjoy a cash bar, and have a few laughs, which were provided by Kaboom Hooray! Comedy of Calgary. CHS vice principal Jordan Fenton emceed the event, and said that he was really impressed by the turnout.
“It’s great to see so that so many people are willing to help support the school,” he said.
School council vice-chair Denica Kapty said that she and the rest of the committee were happy with the turnout and the support they received.
“We were excited to get as many people as we did,” she said. “With any function that you plan, you’re stressed because you try to get tickets sold and get the word out, but you really don’t know how many people are actually going to come.
“We are very happy with how it went.”
Kapty said that they were also pleased with the amount of donations that came in for the silent auction, as they had almost 80 in total. The items varied from gift certificates to household items to handcrafted woodwork from Chestermere High students.
The silent auction alone around raised $4,300, and Kapty said that they are still waiting on the totals from ticket and drink sales.
“We didn’t really set a goal, we were just hoping to make as much as we could because the school is in need,” she said.
Members of the committee have said that they heard nothing but good reviews about the comedy as people made their way out the door at the end of the evening.
“We think everyone had a good time,” she said. “We’re very thankful for everyone on the committee who put time and effort into organizing and setting it up.
“It was awesome and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help.”
All of the funds raised at the event will go towards improving high school programs and projects, which will give students an advantage as they move into post-secondary education, and possibly spike the interest of students who may not have considered continuing in post-secondary education.
Some of the projects include putting together an industrial arts digital design studio, a fashion design studio, and expansion to the current culinary arts program, drafting programs, and an auto and body shop.
The high school is also looking to expand their fine arts program, and purchase heart monitors for their physical education department.
