Vancouver, British Columbia (October 13, 2006) – Vancouver celebrities were out in full force for the third annual charity gala, FMA Vancouver, on September 30th 2006 at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. The event that celebrates live fashion runway with live music and art performance all one stage overwhelmed the record attendees with its breadth of artistic and technical flair.

MC’s Amanda Tapping and Richard Dean Anderson walked the red carpet entrance followed by a procession of local actors: Catherine Urquhart, Michael Ecklund (Blood Ties, Intelligence) Sonya Saloma (The Collector), Warren Christie, Ryan Robbins (Battlestar Galatica), Viv Leacock (Psych), Adrian Holmes (White Noise 2) and Paul Christie, to name a few. 

Tapping was ravishing in a shimmering gold sequined dress by New York designer Reem Acra. Acra’s AW06 and SS07 collections graced the runway in the finale alongside singers Jonas and Jeanette in a Frank Sinatra tribute of ‘New York, New York’. Tapping’s co-host, Richard Dean Anderson regaled the audience with his support of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and together Tapping and Anderson exuded great chemistry.

With the help of SPCA’s Eileen Drever, Squire Barnes’ MC of the BC SPCA fashion show segment was another roaring success. With his keen wit, Barnes described the dogs and their clothing from Donald J Pliner and Barking Babies, as they paraded down the runway accompanied by Emanuel Sandhu, Canadian Figure Skating Champion, Ian Hanomansing of CBC, Fanny Kiefer of Studio 4, Catherine Pope, Steve Darling, Jay Janower, Randene Neill, Tara Nelson and Claire Newell of Global TV, Fiona Forbes and Michael Eckford of Urban Rush, and Drew Savage from Z 95.3.

Highlights included The Source Dancer Company, with over thirty dancers rushing on stage for the opening act, a trapeze artist enclosed in a floating bubble above the stage, Melanie Talkington’s Lace Embrace corsets, Parasuco and Seafolly, and Heidi Mundel’s operatic serenade of Jolie Chan’s couture collection. Pamela Masik’s live art performance, former Cirque de Soleil performers, and local musicians, Bobby James, The Sessions and Rebecca Ramone also wowed the crowd. To view photos from FMA 2006 click here.

"We would like to extend our warm gratitude to everyone who participated in FMA Vancouver 2006. Your enthusiasm and talent greatly helped towards making our gala event such a resounding success." Creator/Producer, Andy Chu.

FMA Vancouver is a production of Arc 2 Intertainment and The Kirk Group, and is the 2006 finale of the charity concert series that now spans across Canada. This year’s net proceeds went to the Medallion Housing Society, BC SPCA and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

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Andy Chu
Creator/Producer
Tel: 604.688.3826
Email: andy@arc2intertainment.com