When Mennonite Collegiate Institute was forced to alter plans for its annual spring fundraiser this year, organizers weren't sure how the new event would go over. Turns out, the online No-Gala Gala was a bigger success than they could have imagined, according to Paul Peters, Director of Student Lift at the private Christian school in Gretna.

COVID-19 restrictions turned what was supposed to be an on-stage celebration of alumni, into a recorded production titled, How Can I Keep From Singing?, showcasing former students' art and singing that was released live on YouTube.

2012 MCI graduates Nolan Kehler and Alyssa Hildebrand hosted the Oscar's-style online production.

"When we went into it our goal was to simply create an online experience for alumni and friends of MCI to celebrate former students with fundraising being a hope, but we tried to bring down our desires and goals," said Peters.

However, by the end of the evening over $50,000 was raised for the school's general fund.

After the fact, Peters says organizers realized the online event was a way for alumni, who live across Canada and the world, to be a part of the show when they otherwise wouldn't have been able to.

"We had a few alumni note that in some ways this was one of the most connected they've felt at a concert, partly because there was interaction the whole way through because you can comment on a YouTube Live event," he explained.

For officials at the school, Peters feels this success was a reminder of the commitment of the community that isn't within the four walls that make up MCI. "It's not the students or the staff, but rather the community and friends or alumni of the school that were reminded of why this mission matters to them and they were willing to fight for it," he said. "And so I think that alone was so inspiring and encouraging for us as staff, and gave us a lot of energy after a month-and-a-half of not really seeing anyone, not seeing our students."

While he says organizers learned a lot from hosting this unique event, noting the school has never done anything close to this, Peters isn't sure it will become a regular thing. However, he notes there are some pieces of the event they will hold on to and try to continue in the future when in-person gatherings can happen once again.