Premier Redford Schools Founder of World’s Largest Auction Company
I was looking for an interesting way to kick off this year’s Edmonton Festival of Trees, held last night at the Shaw Conference Centre, and decided to try something different… a ‘Centrepiece Auction.’
I asked for a volunteer at each of the 90 guest tables to stand and act as a guest auctioneer. They had two minutes to sell their table centrepiece, a 30″ tall reindeer made of twigs. The winner would receive a pair of gold earrings donated by Kline Fine Jewellers.
When the two-minute time limit was up, I asked those who had raised at least $1,000 to remain standing. To my surprise, there were several.
“How about $1,500?” I asked. Most sat down.
“Did anybody sell their centrepiece for $2,000?”
At this point, only two people remained standing… Alberta’s provincial premier, Alison Redford, and the founder of the world’s largest auction company, Dave Ritchie of Ritchie Bros. Auctions.
I had them both come onstage to declare their results. When Ritchie sheepishly announced that he had sold his centrepiece for $2,200, the premier let out a holler.
“I sold mine for $4,350, but I can’t accept the earrings. So auction them off and I’ll buy the successful bidder lunch!”
What happened next is beyond belief.
When the price soared to a whopping $20,000, I asked the premier if she would donate a second lunch if the second-high bidder would match the $20,000.
Thankfully she agreed; the Festival of Trees walked away with an extra $40,000, and the two bidders each walked away with a great lunch date… and a single gold earring!