Art auction turns refugee Affair into a $13k party

Readers of The Bulletin and local churchgoers have joined forces to raise another $13,000 for refugees thanks to a successful art auction.

The Affordable Art Affair on Oct. 22 at the St. James Cathedral parish hall was a gala auction off of dozens of valuable works given by the community.

“It was a ton of work”, says Carol Kysela of the Cathedral Community Refugee Response, “but everyone was so helpful, especially all the young volunteers, it made it like one big party. We had a ball!”

The refugee team now has funds for two more families and is waiting for Ottawa approvals. Dean Andrew Asbil says with all the newcomers in the neighbourhood the cathedral is fast becoming a home for all kinds of social initiatives. “When we join together like this, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”

—Bob Neighbour