Adam Beach headlines star-studded Hamilton gala

Adam Beach and Emmanuel Lewis walked the red carpet at the Hamilton Convention Centre Thursday evening for the eighth annual Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation Awards gala and benefit.

The actors were there to boost the Six Nations-based charitable organization, which has granted more than $12 million to Aboriginal youth programs since 2004.

Beach, who stars on CBC's Arctic Air, was accompanied by girlfriend and Arctic Air co-star Leah Gibson. It's important that the foundation grows each year, he said.

"It's just a start right now, but we're adjusting it and making it a premiere event," Beach said.

The foundation shows that "all you need to do is find your passion in a field, submit it to Dreamcatcher and let it … catch your dream for you."

Other guests included Kardinal Offishall and hockey player Doug Gilmour. Lewis, most famous for his role in the 1980s sitcom Webster, chairs Dreamcatcher's board.

"We believe in the issues of native Indians here, so whatever we can do to lend our voice, our ideas, that's what we do," Lewis said.

Dreamcatcher grants are awarded in four sectors: sports, health, education, and arts and culture. The group sees a lot of sports applications, which include things like hockey gear and registration costs, executive director Sara Awdish said.

Education grants usually fund tuition and books, while health usually pertains to helping elders or things like orthodontist costs, Awdish said.

The group is also giving out a variety of awards: for human rights, sports, arts and entertainment, community culture, business, and two lifetime achievement awards.

The evening included a gala red carpet, a dinner and a fashion show.

Lewis said before the event that he visits Hamilton at least once a year, and not just for the gala.

"Hamilton is nice. It's really cool," he said. "I love the fabric district and I'm always hanging out there whenever I can."