If an event has been running annually for four decades and the appetite for it each year still remains insatiable, then you know you’re doing something right as an event organizer. For this year’s iteration of the annual Seycove Auction, excitement is more palpable than all its prior years, says the event’s co-chair Kim Tattrie.
“The 40th Seycove Auction is lining up to be our biggest and most successful event ever,” said Tattrie, describing the event as "a wonderful celebration of community spirit, education and four decades of supporting Seycove students.”
Guests are particularly excited for this year’s theme, with the celebrations set to pay homage to the event’s 1984 inception via an ’80s-themed dance party, said Tattrie. ‘Everybody Cut Loose’ is the theme – think big hair, vibrant neon colours and lashings of leather.
The longest running and largest attended school fundraiser on the North Shore, the Seycove Auction has raised more than $450,000 for local schools since its beginnings 40 years ago.
The proceeds from the auction are split between the Seycove family of schools, with funds going toward scholarships and bursaries for Seycove, Dorothy Lynas, Sherwood Park and Cove Cliff.
The money raised also helps materialize the wish lists of the schools, often comprising school necessities like computer hardware and software, library books, sports and athletics equipment, as well as music and drama programs. Funds also go towards playground upgrades, outdoor gardens, guest speakers, extracurricular programming, transportation to field trips and curation of special events.
Tattrie said she would like to see this year’s event raise as much as $100,000, but would consider it just as much of an achievement if the total raised simply surpassed last year’s collections. Last year’s total in the money pot landed at $70,000, so $75,000 is hoped for 2024, she said.
Fellow co-chair Tree Cleland said this year’s event is aimed at welcoming the entire community, regardless of whether guests are directly part of the Seycove family of schools.
“Since its inception in 1984, the Seycove Auction has been a cornerstone of community engagement, raising funds to support various educational programs and initiatives at Seycove Secondary School,” she said.
“Over the past 40 years, the auction has evolved into a highly anticipated annual event that brings together all community members including parents, neighbours, teachers and local business owners. “
The event provides a great opportunity for Deep Cove to come together as a community for "a night to remember,” she said.
Tickets are currently sold out, visit the auctions official webpage to join the waitlist.
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
