Our “Together We Can Make a Difference” fund-raising campaign for the Canadian Cancer Society runs until June 23.

In addition to the promotion you see on TV and online, there has been lots of exciting activity happening off camera — all with the aim of raising money for this very worthy cause. From an amazing bake sale (I’m still making my way through the cookies I bought!) to a first-class garage sale, to yesterday’s BBQ (despite the rain!) & silent auction we’ve had a great time for this good cause.

Here are some photos from thosefund-raising events. We’ll be announcing the amount of funds raised as part of our grand total at the end of the Together We Can Make a Difference campaign.

Some of the lovely ladies who baked for & hosted our bake sale

The sweet-seekers come out to satisfy their 3PM sugar cravings …

Grilling for a good cause, and smiling despite the rain

Employees across all departments came together to enjoy lunch and check out the silent auction

Remember, you can add a $1 (or more) donation to any phone or online order, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Our  fund-raising campaign closes with our 2nd annual Make a Difference Telethon airs at 8PM on Tuesday June 23 at 8PM ET.

On June 24th, The Shopping Channel held its first-ever Make a Difference Telethon in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The Telethon included an auction for once-in-a- lifetime experiences, one of them being a backstage studio tour and lunch with the highest bidder’s favourite TV host.

Earlier this week, Linda Arcand and her Aunt Gloria (both from Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) enjoyed this amazing experience. Linda chose to have our host Richard as her personal tour guide and Richard was honoured to oblige. Although, I learned that it was a toss up between Richard, who was Gloria’s choice and BJ, who was Linda’s choice. Since this day was a special gift to Linda’s Aunt Gloria to celebrate “Aunt’s Day”, a family tradition, Linda wanted to let Gloria have her wish. Meanwhile, we here at The Shopping Channel had a plan to surprise Linda and include BJ in the experience as well.

It started with a behind the scenes tour of our TV studio. Linda and Gloria were brought on-air where Nick Chavez gave them a little primping and a lot of heartfelt thanks for their generous contribution to help conquer a disease that has affected us all in some form. Throughout the studio and production area, our tour guests had the opportunity to meet many of the hosts, chat a bit and take pictures with them.

Then it was off to a very quaint restaurant to relax and enjoy the decadent food and their charming lunch companions. The conversation was all about vacations, music, theatre and work. Linda knows all there is to know about wines and wineries and had the rest of us fascinated with her interesting stories. Linda and Gloria have been long time viewers of The Shopping Channel so there was a lot of reminiscing about “back in the day” when the broadcast consisted entirely of still photos and when a horn would blow when the phone lines were full. Of course, Richard and BJ shared all the funny and embarrassing stories they have about working as hosts.

On the ride back from the restaurant, it was discovered that Gloria and BJ are both songbirds and they started belting out tunes. What a big voice Aunt Gloria has! And BJ is quite a singer as well. I am sure Linda and Gloria didn’t want it to end as we said our sad goodbyes. Thank you to Linda Arcand for her very generous contribution to our Canadian Cancer Society fundraising efforts. We hope you had a wonderful time!

A big thank you to everyone who shopped with us or bid in our auction during last night’s Make a Difference Telethon!

It was truly exciting programming to watch. We watched one product after the next completely sell out, with all proceeds going directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. (We’re still doing a final tally - but looks like we raised over $80K in just two hours!)

Stay tuned, the winners of our blind auction wil be announced soon. Some lucky people are going to experience meeting Joan Rivers, Ojon’s Denis Simoni and our fabulous TV Hosts in person.

 In addition to thanking you, our customers, for your participation, we’d also like to send out a very big thank you to all our vendor sponsors who made the event possible: Elizabeth Grant, Himalayan Gems, Joan Rivers, Ojon, LG, Ionic Pro, Dyson, Bos & Co, Ammolite Gems, HP, Lock & Lock, Rogers Wireless, Temp-tations, Soprano, Bose, Acer, The SAK, Roomba and Royal Doulton.

Together, we definitely did make a difference!

The buzz around here is incredible right now as we have just kicked off our first-ever Make a Difference Telethon in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Be sure to tune in or jump online now place your bid in our blind auction for an amazing, once-in-lifetime experience with Joan Rivers, Ojon’s Denis Simoni or one of our very own TV Hosts.

Great programming, great product offers and a great cause all come tonight for one sure-to-be exciting two hour event.  Don’t miss it!

The entire team at the Shopping Channel is counting down to our first-ever Make a Difference Telethon, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. If you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in our Make a Difference fundraising event, tuning in to our Telethon will give you several exciting ways to donate and help make Cancer history.

Most exciting, is the once-in-a-lifetime experiences we will be auctioning off to the highest bidder! These experiences include a lunch date with the one-and-only Ms. Joan Rivers, a day of pampering for two at the Ojon headquarters and a backstage tour & lunch with one of our very own on-air hosts.

This two-hour event has been a year the making, and we are truly thrilled to be able to work closely with the Canadian Cancer Society on an ongoing basis.

HELLOOOOOOO!!  I can’t think of a more appropriate way to begin blogging than by telling you a bit about an event I had the distinct pleasure of emcee-ing earlier this month.

The Canadian Cancer Society ‘Relay For Life’ in Georgetown, Ontario at the Gellert Community Centre was certainly a highlight for me and a personal honour to be a part of!  51 teams of between 8-10 people walked the track around a soccer field, which had been turned into a sort of tent city for the night.  And, I do mean ‘for the night’.  7pm until 7am. Cancer survivors, volunteers, caregivers, sponsors and neighbours came together to help raise $101,207.28!!! I met many wonderful people, including Organizers Sue Scarfone and Lisa Benedikt.

The Shopping Channel hopes to beat our last year’s total of raising over $57,000 during this year’s 9-day fundraising event. It ends with a telethon and auction of once-in-a lifetime experiences this Tuesday from 9-11pm ET.  Together, We Can Make a Difference!

In the future, I hope to give you a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at our hosts, guests and general craziness that happens in the studio of our live TV environment.  Maybe even some ‘dirt’!  Truly, I have the most exciting job in the world!

Be well,
Shopping is Life
Norm Murray