People. . . You know

They're all business by day, but the team at Scotiabank in London knows how to loosen the ties and kick up the heels. Extending thanks to friends and colleagues, they held their annual Scotiabank St. Patrick's Day Celebration in support of the London Food Bank on Mar. 17 at Labatt Brewery's Amber Lounge.

BY MEREDITH CLARKE

Following a warm welcome from host Tom Jesty, food bank co-director Jane Roy spoke of all the small ways we can each make a huge difference in the lives of those who use the food bank. There with her husband, MP Glen Pearson, and their three children, Jane shared a challenge the family has accepted -- living off a food budget comparable to those who use the bank.

Every industry was well represented at the soiree, including Steve Hull (Hull Bus Lines), Jim Cassidy and Dave Renwick (KPMG), John Sliskovic (Ernst & Young), Roy Cramp (Comcare), John Musgreave (PriceWaterhouseCoopers), Bill Cummings and Stephanie Lentz (Deloitte), Geoff Pulford and Karen McKay (Harrison Pensa), Rob Kelland and Natalie Leitch (Scotia McLeod), Kadie Ward (London Chamber of Commerce), Pat Klein (Trudell), Rick Stranges (VanBoxmeer & Stranges), Ken Andrews (Huron University College) and Bob Jones (Canusa Automotive).

The group raised almost $3,500 for the food bank while enjoying Labatt brews and a St. Patty's buffet. Also on hand were Holden Rhodes and Don Bryant (McKenzie Lake) Lesley Cornelius (LEDC), Chirag Shah (PriceWaterhouseCoopers), Tony Savo (Lambton Metals) and Kristina Shaw (Miller Thomson). Also there were Warren Granger (Ernst & Young), Mike St. Amant (City of London), Sam Theocharis (Valente Theocharis), Ron Martindale and Michael Koenig (Davis Martindale), Paula Kaye (Ek3), Shaun Elliott (YMCA) and Bill Bouwmeester (Medbuy).

Among Scotiabank employees were district vice-president Larry Jones; client relationship managers Patrick Noonan, Steve Martin and D'Arcy Aikman, office manager Joanne Glasgow, officer Michelle Baldock, senior manager Rick Manager, small business manager Kevin Proctor and Tom Tripp of the Scotia private group.

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In London, 99 King Street, which has gone through many names and changes, may finally be making a change for the long term. Now the Red Goat, the place is getting a facelift from the inside out as it morphs into the Cello Supper Club. Last Saturday night (Mar. 15) launched the Cello tapas menu, full of fresh items meant for sharing amidst the elegantly cozy atmosphere, candlelit and full of smooth, ambient tunes spun by DJ G Boogie.

Owners Dani Cardoso and Michael Correia decided King Street didn't need another fine dining establishment, but could use a locale fit for a mature, trendy crowd -- a place for a cocktail, or to enjoy dinner and an entire evening as the atmosphere slightly changes with the hour.

Head chef Dani Gruden and sous chef Stephen Burns pleased a nearly full house with an introductory menu that matched the decor -- stylish, simple and chic. Spotted enjoying the new tasting menu were Diann Vergeer (The Athletic Club), Amanda Law (Bertoldi's Trattoria) and Dr. Pamela Wigle (Oxford Dental), as well as frequent supporters of the Red Goat-come-Cello, Dan Hasson, owner of Dan Hasson Clothiers, as well as Manicures and Martini's Martin Younan, who likes to drop in for a cosmo or two.