The Great Big Dig for the IWK

November 16, 2024
Halifax Convention Centre

The Event

On behalf of The Kent Great Big Dig for the IWK, we are excited to welcome you back!

The region’s most anticipated and exciting fundraising event is November 16, 2024. The Great Big Dig event brings you an unforgettable evening of food, entertainment, amazing auction items, prizes, and great company.

The continued generosity of the community and our sponsors have allowed The Great Big Dig to substantially impact the lives of children, youth, women, and families in our region! Thank you for your continued support.

The Purpose

This year, the Kent Great Big Dig for the IWK is digging deep to support the purchase of priority equipment for one of the IWK Foundation’s largest funding priorities – the redevelopment of the IWK Emergency Department (ED).

IWK Health is home to the only ED in the Maritimes that specializes in the care of infants, children and youth and the only accredited Level 1 pediatric trauma centre east of Quebec. Now nearly 40 years old, the ED has substantially outgrown its space and infrastructure. Construction is underway to build a new, state-of-the-art department that will best meet the needs of patients, families and staff alike.

Funds raised through the 2024 Great Big Dig will help purchase critical care monitors and stretchers for the redeveloped IWK ED. These essential pieces of equipment will ensure excellence in emergency care. Learn more below.

Entertainment

Dave Gunning

With fourteen albums to his credit, there’s no denying Dave Gunning’s impressive body of work. The Nova Scotian folk musician has shared the stage with legends like Ron Hynes, Rita MacNeil, Stuart McLean, and Stompin’ Tom Connors, and has been recognized in his own right as a master of his craft, both as an award-winning singer-songwriter and a captivating performer.

Known for his abilities as a gracious storyteller, Gunning’s knack for connecting with audiences precedes the skills and experience he’s earned on the road—It is, for him, very much a way of life.

Despite delivering some very important messages in his songs, audiences should also be prepared to laugh at a Dave Gunning show. His banter is perfectly timed, self-effacing, and very, very funny. It’s this finely-tuned balance of sincerity and impeccable performance that makes him one of the country’s most engaging entertainers.

Rachel and Darren McMullen

With more than a decade of making records and touring around the world behind them—as members of the award-winning group Còig—Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen now have their sights set on something new—Home.

Recorded with award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer Dave Gunning, Home is Rachel and Darren’s long-imagined, and much-anticipated album highlighting the pair’s outstanding musicianship and vocals.

Rachel and Darren are well-established and respected instrumentalists in the traditional music world and their playing on this album certainly lives up to that reputation. But over the years, each has also gained recognition for their vocal abilities, most notably with Rachel receiving a 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award in the Traditional Singer of the Year category for Còig’s fifth album, Ashlar.

Maximum Overdrive

Maximum Overdrive are the east coast’s hottest new party band — playing a diverse selection of 80s gems from artists like INXS, Duran Duran, The Pixies, Cindy Lauper, The Cure, Madonna, Billy Idol, New Order, DEVO, Tears for Fears, and many more. You’ve seen them all on stages across Canada and beyond with a host of awesome bands—but you’ve never seen them like this.

Join the party. Live the 80s. Go to Maximum Overdrive.

Evening Schedule

6:30PM	Reception & Silent Auction
7:30PM	Dinner & Main Stage Entertainment
10:30PM	After Party With Maximum Overdrive

The Sutton Place is pleased is pleased to offer Kent Great Big Dig attendees a special room rate of $195 based on availability. Call 1-866-378-8866 and quote Web Group Code: 2411GBDIG or click here for more information and booking (same code applies).