The evening at the sold-out Memory Ball on Saturday, March 23, 2013 started off with a wine reception and Feature Foods’ herring and vodka pairing with ambience created by the Toronto Clarinet Choir. There was a great selection of silent auction items to peruse as lots of delicious and hot hors d’oeurves were provided by Toben Foods by Design. The evening continued with hand massages by Aveda spa, colorful cupcakes, a photobooth by Infinity Photobooth and full open bar. Local Toronto DJ’s Marly Marl of Enforcas and DJ Pat Trivedi who was sponsored by Memory Mats. Memory Ball was a great charity gala with a fun-focused vibe filled with over 430 party-going philanthropists and Andrew Richard Designs is a dynamic open-concept loft-style venue to host any upscale event. In only their 2nd annual Memory Ball, Friends for a Benefit (FFAB), was started by a group of young friends who were united for a cause after 2 of their mothers were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, currently under the care of their daughters. It was shocking to learn that early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can be diagnosed in individuals as early as 19 years old. FFAB hopes that through it’s year-long activities and communication pieces it is able to improve the understanding of the disease, especially in it’s early-onset form. Scroll down below for their video included below “Every 4 Seconds”. Great to hear that plans are already underway for Memory Ball 2014! UPDATE: Memory Ball raised $35,000 this year for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto! To date, Friends for a Benefit and Memory Ball have raised over $55,000 in just two years!. Congratulations! Every 4 seconds someone around the globe is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As it stands today, more than 500,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and approximately 71,000 of them are under the age of 65. (50,000 are under the age of 50). Video by Memory Ball. About Friends for a Benefit and Memory Ball In 2011, Friends for a Benefit (FFAB) was established to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s disease among a young demographic. Each member of FFAB has been personally touched by Alzheimer’s disease. The group is passionate about increasing awareness for Alzheimer’s disease as both Ms. Poirier’s and Ms. Fudurich’s mothers were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. In its inaugural year, Memory Ball hosted 350 guests and raised $21,203 for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and aims to exceed that amount in 2013. To learn more about the organization and sponsorship opportunities, please visit memoryball.org. About the Alzheimer Society of Toronto The Alzheimer Society of Toronto is the leading health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Society offers support, information and education to people with dementia, their families and their caregivers, while increasing public awareness of dementia related illness. The Alzheimer Society of Toronto promotes research and advocates for services that respect the dignity of the individual. For more information, please visit alzheimertoronto.org. Check out our photos below. To see them on Facebook, click here.
The ‘One Of A Kind Spring Show’ is in town right now from March 27-31 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. At the centre of the massive exhibit hall is a feature display boasting fresh, bold designs using products that are all made in Canada. This year’s special feature includes the “One of a Kind Bunny Rabbit Competition”, where exhibitors create a piece along this theme using their own medium. Best of all, guests can vote for their favourite bunny at the People’s Choice Award! Now everyone LOVES Etsy (ca.etsy.com) where you can buy and sell all things handmade or vintage online – and this year’s show featured an entire section dedicated to talented Etsy sellers including CandiWare, Love at First Blush, Organic Quilt Company, Sugar Soul Studio and many, many more artisans. To read more about the One of a Kind Show, click here www.oneofakindshow.com 2013 ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW AND SALE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013 Weekdays & Saturday 10am–9pm Open Good Friday 10am–9pm Open Easter Sunday 10am–6pm Check out some of the finds in the gallery below:
I was lucky to be invited along with celebrities, fashion industry insiders, media and fashion bloggers to attend the private unveiling of the Baileys glass dress and the high-end couture Lucian Matis fashion show. While some shows were happening on the last day of fashion week at David Pecaut Square, it was a special treat to be part of an alternative closing to Toronto’s fashion week. The evening at One King West started with a reception featuring 3 types of unique Bailey’s cocktails and rich desserts passed around. It was a nice touch to be greeted with Lucian Matis-branded swag bags on each seat. So the reception ended and show started with the one-of-a-kind dress as the first onto the runway with no introduction needed. It was just there and the glass was shimmering beautifully. It is composed primarily of pieces of glass from the new Bailey’s Irish Cream bottles as well as other flat glass and multi-faceted beads. Since the shards of glass are flat, we were assured that no models were injured by the dress (thanks, Chris!). It took over 125 hours and a team of three skilled workers to create. The work-of-art takes inspiration from the new silhouette of the Bailey’s Irish Cream bottle and the iconic ‘Double B’ logo was prevalent for the top half of the dress. Similarly, the redesigned Bailey’s bottle is taller with lifted shoulders and gives the logo greater prominence. “This season I wanted to focus on the simplicity of the silhouette rather than the details,” explains Matis. “Working with a monochromatic theme, I could emphasis the shape of the garments from an architectural methodology with boxy geometric shapes.” Those in attendance included David Sutcliffe from CBC’s Gilmore Girls, Erin Karpluk from CBC’s Being Erica, Gabrielle Miller, Natalie Brown (Being Human / Cracked) and Rosey Edeh (Global News). Here are our own photos from the reception: Check out photos from the fashion show entitled a “Monochromatic Fantasy” consisting of black, white and ivory using fur, felts, wool and silk. Also check out our photos from the MATIS by Lucian Matis collection for Fall / Winter 2013 earlier during fashion week. A shuttle was provided for those who wanted to return to David Pecaut Square to get back in time for the next fashion shows there. Watch the behind the scenes video on the making of the glass dress. Here is some video footage from the exclusive fashion show Baileys® Canada Fashion Week | Lucian Matis from Baileys Canada on Vimeo. Baileys® Canada: Lucian Matis | Behind the Scenes from Baileys Canada on Vimeo. ABOUT LUCIAN MATIS Romanian-born, Toronto-based fashion designer Lucian Matis began designing at a very early age. Prior to moving to Canada in 1999, Matis studied art at the Sibiu Art Institute in Transylvania. Matis graduated in 2003 from Ryerson University’s esteemed Fashion Design Program where he received multiple awards. His first professional collection was presented at L’Oreal Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2007. Matis gained national attention and a vast fan base through his participation on the first season of Slice Network’s Project Runway Canada. He has since been featured in several in-depth profiles on Fashion Television, eTalk, ET Canada, Breakfast Television, CityLine, Marilyn Dennis, Global News, CBC, and more. His work has graced the pages and covers of numerous national and international publications, including FASHION, FLARE, ELLE Canada, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, and Women’s Wear Daily. His designs have been worn by numerous internationally renowned celebrities, including Nelly Furtado, Sarah Gadon, Andrea Martin, Mia Martina, Coco Rocha, Petra Nemkova, just to name a few. Lucian Matis is available through custom orders through www.lucianmatis.com. About BAILEYS® Irish Cream BAILEYS Irish Cream launched in Ireland in 1974. It is now available in 180 markets worldwide and is the number one selling liqueur in the world. BAILEYS Irish Cream is currently ranked 7th among all distilled spirits sold worldwide and enjoys 70 percent share of the total Irish Cream Liqueur Market around the world. Owned by Diageo plc, BAILEYS Irish Cream contents are a blend of Irish whiskey, fresh double cream and other fine ingredients. For more information on BAILEYS Irish Cream, please visit us at www.BAILEYS.com.
CSE Expo attendees, show sponsors and other event professionals attended the annual Canadian Special Events Expo’s sold-out opening night party. Doing what event professionals do best, the all-out party was held at both floors of the large UpCountry store on King East. The party was organized by Deb Lewis and her CityEvents team. Guests could download the App Labb made for the night for a chance to win various prizes through their social media contests. There were many booths to enjoy including the following: Presidential Gourmet Bucket & Whisk Neptuno Oysters Parts & Labour Catering Photostar The Griffin Gastropub Rome n’ Chariot Cheesewerks Pop-up Coffee Shop It was all about the Neptuno Oysters team for their incredible selection of seafood delights including oysters and unique toppings. Parts and Labour had impressive selection of cold cuts and fine cheeses among other goodies. Of course the libations provided by The Griffin Gastropub kept the party going all night. It was interesting having the Rome n’ Chariot truck parked outside with food truck Italian delights being brought in by a waiter. Entertainment included Sarah Violin, Becky Hoops, and Jordan Clark from So You Think You Can Dance, Canada. What an incredible night! No one throws better events than event professionals! Some notable tweets from the evening: Did you get the chance to have a slider from @PartsnLabour at #UnExpected13? Yumm! Check out their awesome spread. – http://t.co/rVNPXgUdIO — Deb Lewis (@CityEvents) March 29, 2013 @BucketandWhisk #unexpected13 Gummy Bear carving station pic.twitter.com/5WNOE9GvRe — Tipicular Fixin's (@tipicularfixin) March 21, 2013 You did a great job! RT @theapplabb team having a great time at the #Unexpected13 @CSEexpo13 http://t.co/XYfKr2uLh0 — Pamela Smith (@TSEGuide) March 23, 2013 I am one lucky girl!! I won a cheese fondue set from the social media contest at #unexpected13 event! Tks @CHEESEWERKS and @CityEvents!! — Stephanie Leblond (@stefleblond) March 26, 2013 ABOUT CANADIANSPECIALEVENTS.COM canadianspecialevents.com is Canada’s # 1 resource for planners and suppliers of special events and meetings. We keep Canada’s event and meeting industry connected through online, in print and face to face marketing and networking. canadianspecialevents.com reports from around the world on event industry news, current trends, the people and of course the events in this dynamic industry and covers what Canadian event professionals want to know now; from award winning events to venue reviews, entertainment updates, supplier features, product reviews and more, you’ll find it all on canadianspecialevents.com. For more information visit canadianspecialevents.com
I’ve already broadcast this on Facebook and Twitter but in case you haven’t heard, I just wanted to share exciting news that we won the 2013 Canadian Special Events Reader’s Choice Award for Favourite Event Industry Blog. Thanks again to everyone who voted for us It was an unexpected win but very encouraging! It was thrilling to see it all come together at last week’s CSE Star Awards gala where our event professional friends were rewarded for events we were lucky to cover: 100th Grey Cup gala, Diner en Blanc, Steampunk, Book Lover’s Ball, and more. Thanks for the iPhone photo of the award, Rena Cugelman. Here’s our new logo you may have already seen in the watermark of our photos. Great job, Flora Tran! Looking forward to getting better and better! -Nick
In it’s 6th year, The Artist Project is an annual independent art fair that boasts 4 days of over 200 artists. Art lovers gathered to enjoy a huge collection of art from the independent artists in attendance at each of their booths. I went for the first time last year so I was looking forward to revisiting this large scale art fair unlike any other in Toronto. The opening party had a DJ at the Art Lounge, a variety of bites and cocktails to sample. It was great to spot friendly faces including our amazing musically-talented Clara Venice with Claire Taylor, The Artist Project’s show director, and Suresh Doss, creator of SpotlightToronto.com. Check out the 2013 winners of The Artist Project here Check out this great video by artist, Sam Shuter, getting ready for The Artist Project. About The Artist Project For 6 years, The Artist Project features 250 carefully juried, independent contemporary artists. From seasoned collectors and first time art buyers, to gallerists and interior designers, visitors will find this art fair a rare opportunity to meet and purchase work directly from Canadian and International artists. For more information and for complete highlights of the show visit theartistproject.com
It’s no coincidence that the 3rd annual Kitchen Sisters event was held on International Women’s Day in support of Sistering, an organization that supports poor, homeless, marginalized and low-income women in Toronto. They do this by providing hot meals, emotional support and more. The program is in such high demand (currently at 400 meals a day) that the kitchen needs to be renovated to accommodate the demand. So Kitchen Sisters is a fundraising event that pays for these much-needed renovations. So on March 8th, 2013 there was an intimate 100-person gathering at the cozy Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village for an exquisite dining experience with a 4-course feast as follows: Hors d’oeuvres: Christine Bib of Christine Bib Catering, along with Sistering’s Maureen Watson and Carol Grayhttp://www.christinebib.com/company.html Amuse-bouche: Suzanne Baby of Gallery Grill at University of Toronto, along with Sistering’s Trish Beard.http://harthouse.ca/suzanne-baby/ First and Second Courses: ~Donna Dooher of Mildred’s Temple Kitchenhttp://www.templekitchen.com/our-story/ Desert: Anne Yarymowich of FRANK at the AGOhttp://www.ago.net/the-frank-culinary-team Bread: Andrea Damon Gibson of Fred’s Bread will provide a wonderful selection of breads.http://www.fredsbread.ca/about_us.html Wine was donated by Colio Estate Wines, Ponte, Stem Wine Group and Philippe Dandurand Wines. Congratulations to Sistering for raising the $400,000 needed to renovate the Sistering Kitchen! Next year’s Kitchen Sisters event will be at the new kitchen! Here is our video with Chefs Lynn Crawford (Food Network television chef and Ruby Watch co. restaurant), Anne Yarymowich (Frank at the AGO), Donna Dooher (Mildred’s Temple Kitchen) speaking about Sistering and International Women’s Day. Some notable tweets from the evening at Kitchen Sisters @CHEF_LYNN, our host, and her clipboard. Thank you Lynn! pic.twitter.com/XA8bHFntQR — Sistering (@SisteringTO) March 9, 2013 One last thank you to our entertainment last night @qwynalexis @hayleysongbird @sariteha Well done! pic.twitter.com/VyyRfv0SSl — Sistering (@SisteringTO) March 9, 2013 Donna Dooher, owner of @mildredstemple, thank you for hosting our final year of #kitchensisters13. Let dinner begin! pic.twitter.com/aO3CLbMvZG — Sistering (@SisteringTO) March 9, 2013 @mildredstemple Top T.O. women chefs cooked fab feast last night to help homeless women. Next year it's in @SisteringTO's new kitchen! — Marion Kane (@mkanefoodsleuth) March 9, 2013 Chef Donna Dooher & Chef Lynn Crawford sing "These Boots are Made For Walking" to mark #IWD 🙂 #kitchensisters13 pic.twitter.com/PaavLabmvX — shedoesthecity (@shedoesthecity) March 9, 2013 We did it! Over the years Kitchen Sisters has raised over 400,000 for a new kitchen! We are grateful. — Sistering (@SisteringTO) March 9, 2013 ABOUT SISTERING Sistering has been providing hot meals and other practical and emotional support to poor, homeless, marginalized and low-income women in Toronto since 1981. “Food Sleuth” Marion Kane (writer, broadcaster), a supporter of the organization, collaborated with Toronto’s finest women chefs to create Kitchen Sisters.Ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances: Sistering has been supporting homeless, under-housed and low-income women in Toronto since 1981. Core services offered are basic needs for daily living, housing assistance, counseling, advocacy and employment programs. For more information, please visit www.sistering.org.
As of writing, Er Shun and Da Mao are currently on their 15 hour flight to Toronto. Flying from Chengdu, China, stopping over in Vancouver to refuel and finally in Toronto where they will be transported to the Toronto Zoo. While they arrive on this Monday, March 25th they need a month to be quarantined and will finally be ready for public viewing starting in May 2013. Fed Ex has also committed to shipping bamboo for the giant pandas 3 times a week from their Memphis hub to the Toronto Zoo. The last time pandas were in the Toronto Zoo was for a 100-day visit back in 1985. During that time it was a huge draw to the Toronto Zoo. “To have the rarest, most loved animal in the world on exhibit in your place for a while, it’s like the art gallery having the Mona Lisa, it’s a marvelous feeling,” said the chairman of The Toronto Zoo at the time, Ron Barbaro, to CBC’s The Journal on July 16, 1985, just hours after the pandas arrived. Read more about it on CBC.ca here The Toronto Zoo will have the giant pandas for 5 years before they ship out to the Calgary Zoo for another 5 years. Check out our coverage of the Manulife Black and White gala at the Shangri-La hotel to fundraiser for the Toronto Zoo with honourary chair, Laureen Harper, wife of prime minister Stephen Harper. Also in attendance were the CEOs from the Toronto Zoo and Calgary Zoo and Fed Ex Canada president, Lisa Lisson. Also check out the Fed Ex video about Panda Express. The panda’s names Er Shun and Da Mao translate to “double smooth” and “successful Achievement”, respectively, in Mandarin Chinese. I’m loving the tweets from this unofficial twitter account @TorontoPandas. Keep up the great work, guys! RT if you're ready for us to arrive in #Toronto. Trying to get a @FedEx tracking number for you. — Toronto's Pandas (@TorontoPandas) March 24, 2013 “@BestOfTorontoTV: The pandas are on the plane right now! @FedEx @TorontoPandas #TorontoZoo #PandaExpress http://t.co/4vKXoMAbSi Free #WiFi! — Toronto's Pandas (@TorontoPandas) March 24, 2013 There's a lot of pressure on us 1) we must make big $ for #TorontoZoo and 2) They expect us to have a baby? TOO MUCH! http://t.co/Hx9DygoxsU — Toronto's Pandas (@TorontoPandas) March 23, 2013 Da Mao enjoying the in-flight catering. He and Er Shun are just under 6 hours away from landing in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/sqrPEIZa6T — FedEx Canada (@FedExCanada) March 25, 2013 To keep up with the latest news on the Pandas, you can follow FedEx’s Panda Express blog here: http://blog.van.fedex.com/panda-express
Canadian designer Lucian Matis presented the Fall/Winter 2013 collection MATIS by Lucian Matis, targeted towards the career woman with just a splash of trend. It’s considered an affordable brand ranging in price from $95 to $750. Sizing is available in XS to XL for dresses, casual and dressy tops, suiting, and knitwear to suit all body, age and fashion types. “I was inspired by the clash of the wild and civilized world. I wanted to bring together the untouched and untamed beauty of the jungles with the stark order of the world of humanity,” explains Matis of his inspiration for Fall/Winter 2013, “I brought together the bright colors of the plants and animals of the Amazon, mixed with the wild patterns and prints; like leopards, feathers, and shimmering forest pools. In contrast, I took civilized and defined patterns like plaid and cable wool to bring a sense of control and power. This collection showcases the fierce and wild Venus whilst simultaneously exhibiting the strength and control of the female virtues.” Fierce. Strong. Female empowerment themes just like the David Dixon show. Scroll down below for the full gallery for MATIS by Lucian Matis. Also, watch for the unveiling of the Baileys Irish Cream collaboration with Lucian Matis during World Mastercard Fashion Week on Friday, March 22th, 2013 at One King West. The dress is made from the glass of Baileys Irish Cream bottles. Can’t wait to see it! Watch the behind the scenes video on the making of the glass dress. Baileys® Canada: Lucian Matis | Behind the Scenes from Baileys Canada on Vimeo. ABOUT LUCIAN MATIS Romanian-born, Toronto-based fashion designer Lucian Matis began designing at a very early age. Prior to moving to Canada in 1999, Matis studied art at the Sibiu Art Institute in Transylvania. Matis graduated in 2003 from Ryerson University’s esteemed Fashion Design Program where he received multiple awards. His first professional collection was presented at L’Oreal Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2007. Matis gained national attention and a vast fan base through his participation on the first season of Slice Network’s Project Runway Canada. He has since been featured in several in-depth profiles on Fashion Television, eTalk, ET Canada, Breakfast Television, CityLine, Marilyn Dennis, Global News, CBC, and more. His work has graced the pages and covers of numerous national and international publications, including FASHION, FLARE, ELLE Canada, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, and Women’s Wear Daily. His designs have been worn by numerous internationally renowned celebrities, including Nelly Furtado, Sarah Gadon, Andrea Martin, Mia Martina, Coco Rocha, Petra Nemkova, just to name a few. Lucian Matis is available through custom orders through www.lucianmatis.com. For more information visit including where to buy across 70 stores in North America www.matisbylucianmatis.com Some notable tweets from the show: Exaggerated tweed pleated skirt from #MATIS @lucianMatis I'm in love. pic.twitter.com/NCNsDvZRfu — Julio Reyes (@Fashionights) March 20, 2013 Plaid finale gown at MATIS by @lucianmatis #wmcfw @ World MasterCard Fashion Week http://t.co/6Vm3pLgt7k — Alexander Liang (@KENTONmagazine) March 20, 2013 Prints Please! Matis by @lucianmatis dazzles on the #wmcfw runway pic.twitter.com/o7BXLUD6m4 — WMCFW (@WMCFashionWeek) March 20, 2013
Beloved Toronto fashion designer, David Dixon, drew a full house for his Signature Collection for Fall 2013 at World Mastercard Fashion Week on March 19, 2013 at David Pecaut Square. Starting off with a hilarious BBC that told us that women should be aware of the dangers of “over-education”, the video ended with the words “Bullshit!” So the theme of the David Dixon fashion show was about the power of women, carried through with songs in the fashion show like Beyonce’s “Run the World”. Notable tweets from the David Dixon fashion show: Expressing his feminist side with that intro. Thank you @daviddixoninc #WMCFW — Magnet Creative Mgmt (@MagnetCreative) March 19, 2013 Black, white and metallic. We love @daviddixoninc. Cc: @WMCFashionWeek #WMCFW pic.twitter.com/lYThoJIZu4 — MasterCard Canada (@MasterCardCA) March 19, 2013 Fresh off a trip from Asia, @daviddixoninc returns to the runway with polished new line. pic.twitter.com/PlgvmvWgUZ — FLARE Magazine (@FLAREfashion) March 19, 2013 Actors @CarrieLynndor & @ljchoro at @WMCFashionWeek checking out the @daviddixoninc show! #wmcfw pic.twitter.com/eGvR8X6gzu — Pennant Media Group (@PennantMedia) March 20, 2013 Patterned chic at @daviddixoninc @WMCFashionWeek #WMCFW #fashion pic.twitter.com/xzMkbLl9ZP — FAJO Magazine (@FajoMagazine) March 19, 2013 A very pretty and polished collection by @daviddixoninc for #fall13 Wearable & beautifully executed. — Lisa Tant (@LisaTant) March 19, 2013 High gloves for #fw13 @daviddixoninc pic.twitter.com/LL6Ldfj5Br — MyETVmedia (@myetvmedia) March 19, 2013 For more information, please visit daviddixon.ca Here’s the BBC Comedy video they played at the beginning of the fashion show.
What an epic night for Toronto sports fans at the Players’ Gala where the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto FC came together and gave fans the opportunity to mingle with their favourite athletes in support MLSE Team Up Foundation. The only team missing that evening was the Toronto Marlies, but they played a video on the Real Sports giant screen expressing their regret that they couldn’t make it. But besides that, wow, what an incredible turnout of Toronto athletes including the relatively new Toronto Raptor, Rudy Gay. Guests who were lucky enough to get tickets for this sold-out Players Gala were treated to a variety of fine food stations and drinks on both floors of the Real Sports Bar there was also a silent auction and hard hats available for purchase that were being signed by the players in attendance. Notable tweets Molson girls are ready to take on the crowds! #playersgala http://t.co/07ZXkhmzXX — MLSE Foundation (@MLSEFoundation) March 18, 2013 So pumped for tonight's @TeamUpFdn's #PlayersGala @RealSports Always a great time when players, fans, & the entire #MLSE fam gets together! — Ashley Hoy (@AshleyConstance) March 18, 2013 All lined up and ready to go! #playersgala http://t.co/fkHY5pKvGN — Raptors Dance Pak (@RaptorsDancePak) March 18, 2013 Excited to join forces with the @TorontoMarlies Dance Crew and @MapleLeafs Blue Crew for #PlayersGala this evening @RealSports Bar & Grill — Raptors Dance Pak (@RaptorsDancePak) March 18, 2013 All kids should have a safe and accessible place to play. #PlayersGala — MLSE Foundation (@MLSEFoundation) March 19, 2013 .@bozie42 poses for a shot with our amazing fan Mark! #playersgala http://t.co/cCVV26iWZB — MLSE Foundation (@MLSEFoundation) March 19, 2013 DeMar just made this fan's night!! #Raptors #PlayersGala 🙂 pic.twitter.com/aI9VNptJy5 — RealSports (@RealSports) March 19, 2013 Just spent the last 2hrs at Real Sports bartending next to Demar Derozan & Rudy Gay nbd….#TFC — Emery Welshman (@Esawelsh) March 19, 2013 Ton of fun tonight at the Gala @realsports @teamupfdn Thanks to all for coming out and supporting a great cause! — Michael Kostka (@Kostka85) March 19, 2013 Just another night at work @TeamUpFdn #PlayersGala w/@carolinewrght @MrGelfand #personalbartenders http://t.co/GAr7mK70BS — Marin Hickox (@marinhickox) March 19, 2013 Another #PlayersGala in the books with the best @TeamUpFdn team. So proud to be a part of your magic! pic.twitter.com/tzsLaDpPcP — Jill Svensson (@jillsven) March 19, 2013 RT @clickflickca: @torontofc represent. #PlayersGala pic.twitter.com/rHqbrXRpXg — Toronto FC (@torontofc) March 19, 2013 Captain Phaneuf is ready to take your order @MapleLeafs #PlayersGala @TeamUpFdn pic.twitter.com/vlUsNc7OOD — Jill Svensson (@jillsven) March 19, 2013 Also, be sure to check out our coverage of the recent Raptors Red Party Remix, also in support of the MLSE Team Up Foundation. ABOUT MLSE TEAM UP FOUNDATION The MLSE Team Up Foundation believes all kids should have access to sport and the opportunity to develop lasting dreams on the playing field. With the support of all four MLSE teams – the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Marlies – the Foundation funds the refurbishment of local athletic facilities, and funds charities that support kids through sports and recreational programs. Since launching in December 2009, the MLSE Team Up Foundation has invested more than $6.5 million into our community. Last season, we impacted the lives of more than 110,000 kids. For more information visit mlseteamupfoundation.org
Boasting Canada’s largest St. Patrick’s Day party right here in Toronto, the 3rd annual St. Party’s Day was held this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday with estimates ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 people at Ontario Place. The cold weather was no match for the massive numbers of party-goers inside the heated tent, a bunch of DJ sets, authentic Irish music, Irish dancers and the official Budweiser Big Rig. It was quite the scene and delivered what I expected based on last year’s experience, to a bigger scale. It will be interesting to see what happens at next year’s St. Party’s Day! Here’s some notable tweets Day #2. Party on WAYNE! #stpartysday @StPartysDay @DuetPR @rockstarenergy @budcanada @PepsiCanada @HealyCameron pic.twitter.com/3yw6Tx5iBY — Oxford Beach (@OxfordBeach) March 17, 2013 The #stpartysday band in the tent busting some Irish flavored Tragically Hip! pic.twitter.com/v0MgqTLqf5 — Dan Levy (@TheDanLevy) March 17, 2013 Just saw FOUR girls come out of one porta-potty at #stpartysday…how is that even possible? Is this real life? — Dan Levy (@TheDanLevy) March 17, 2013 Totally diggin' the fiddle playing at #StPartysDay. — Caiti McLelland (@ROKR_CHIK) March 17, 2013 Just hyped up 15,000 onstage at #stpartysday @ Ontario Place http://t.co/ONJpThiyaT — Rachel David (@RachelRDavid) March 17, 2013 Day 2 of #stpartysday Toronto. To say it's been wild may be an understatement pic.twitter.com/6akYhnSjZx — St. Party's Day (@StPartysDay) March 17, 2013
Last February, we had the opportunity to participate in the Distillery Events industry open house featuring their event coordination team with their preferred vendors for an incredible evening. There were many stations to enjoy including raw oysters, wine, Mill St. beer, Glenfiddich, a coffee and dessert bar, Contemporary Furniture Rentals, Photostar photo booth, and much more. It was great to see familiar faces including Grenville Pinto’s entertaining violin acts, beats by DJ Danny Floh Back, A2D2 aerial performances and 5th Element Events. Everything was top notch as you would expect from a premier team of event professionals in this historic area of Toronto with it’s own unique character. Distillery Events features a range of venues such as Archeo, Arta Gallery, Boiler House as well as the Fermenting Cellar. For more information visit www.distilleryevents.com or call 416-203-2363.
I can attest to the fact that last year’s sold-out St. Party’s Day was hugely popular at St. Lawrence Market. This year continues the tradition of being the biggest St. Patrick’s Day party and it will be hard to dispute that with Budweiser on board and over 15,000 expected party goers in attendance over two full days of St. Party’s Day. It’s so big they’ve moved it to Ontario Place this year. There will be large heated tents, a bunch of DJ sets, authentic Irish music, Irish dancers and the official Budweiser Big Rig. Here are the full details in this Facebook event. www.facebook.com/events/347876935326005/ Here’s the official trailer for Budweiser St. Party’s Day 2013. For more information and tickets visit stpartysday.com. Hope to see you there!
As Toronto’s first luxury hotel established in 1903, the King Edward Hotel has been around for 110 years and today the historic venue stands apart as a unique classically-styled choice for hosting a wedding or special event in Toronto. The King Edward Hotel held their first ever wedding open house in late February of this year with the theme of “Something Blue”, featuring Vera Wang bridal gowns, GotStyle menswear, Rhonda Diamonds, and airbrush makeup specialist Nicole Richards to present 2013 wedding trends. Other exhibits included a Vera Wang consultant, Bobbette & Belle desserts with decorated wedding cakes and colourful macarons, LOL Candy with a wide assortment of take-home candies, Krista Fox Photography, Presentation Services Audio Visual, Ice Culture and more. To request information email reservations@thekingedwardhotel.com or call 1-855-265-9100. About The King Edward Hotel Built in 1903 by Toronto’s then-richest man, George Gooderham, today’s The King Edward Hotel offers 298 guest rooms, 21,000 sq. ft. of refined meeting space and the Royal Club Lounge for premium services with select guest rooms. The hotel’s guest register reads like a who’s who of politics, royalty, music, writing, business and sport, ranging from one-time resident Ernest Hemingway and headline couples like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, to the Beatles, Britney Spears and David Beckham. Signature King Edward Hotel experiences include one of Toronto’s most lavish Sunday brunches, afternoon tea service and getaway package partnerships with many of the city’s leading cultural destinations. For information and reservations visit www.thekingedwardhotel.com
Dear Readers, I’m very humbled and thrilled that BestofToronto.net is nominated for the 2013 Canadian Special Events “FAVOURITE EVENT INDUSTRY BLOG”! Please vote for us at this link. THANK YOU each and everyone! http://canadianspecialevents.com/cseme_toronto/readers-choice-finalists-vote-now/ Great support from our fans so far, let’s keep it going! Much thanks! -Nick
After a deal 2 decades in the making between Canada and China, a pair of giant pandas are coming to The Toronto Zoo this spring 2013 from Chengdu, China. They will be on loan to the Toronto Zoo for 5 years followed by another 5 years at the Calgary Zoo. Er Shun and Da Mao will be flown in special containers for a 19,000 km trip via FedEx. FedEx has also committed to shipping 600 to 900 kilograms of bamboo to the zoo 3 times a week which is conveniently grown at FedEx’s shipping hub city in Memphis. What a huge commitment! Since one is female and the other is male, the obvious question is whether they will breed while in Toronto, but as the Toronto Zoo’s CEO explains in the video below, it depends on a lot of factors and there is a small window of opportunity for them to do so. So it all depends on luck. On February 28th, there was an intimately small 250 person fundraising gala in support of the Toronto Zoo’s at the Shangri-La Hotel with honourary chair, Laureen Harper, wife to the Prime Minister of Canada’s, Stephen Harper. The evening started with a reception with an impressively tall, gigantic ice sculpture branded with the Toronto Zoo logo. There was a live auction conducted by Stephen Ranger followed by Sean Jones and his band performed to round out the night. The night prior he was performing at the 1st industry night of the Canadian Screen Awards. It’s great to see lots of cooperation among the zoos to make these giant pandas accessible to Canadians for 10 years. Here is the Telus video that premiered at the Black and White gala at Shangri-La featuring Telus’ first use of digitally-rendered animals. Notable tweets At the celebration of Toronto Zoo's Panda Arrival @laureen_harper_ pic.twitter.com/XppsUeNIX5 — Kirstine Stewart (@kirstinestewart) March 1, 2013 So pleased to be surrounded by so many supporters of the #Pandas. We look forward to greeting them this spring! http://t.co/H7jraFVIUv — Laureen Harper (@LaureenHarper) March 1, 2013 For more information, check out the video interview on CTV’s Canada AM on the morning of the fundraising gala. FedEx’s video about their “Panda Express”.
The inaugural Canadian Screen Awards rolled out their red carpet for a live night of glamour and talent, celebrating the best in Canadian film, television, and digital media productions on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Hosted by Canada’s favourite comedian, Martin Short, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television awarded Rebelle with a total of ten trophies including wins for best film, best director, best screenplay, editing, art direction/production design, and cinematography. Flashpoint won best dramatic series, James Cromwell for best actor, Rachel Mwanza for best actress, and George Stroumboulopoulos for best host. Winners, nominees, fans, the media, and many celebrities joined together to celebrate the new annual awards show which aired on CBC Television for the world to see. About the ACCT Established in 1979, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a national, non-profit, professional association dedicated to the promotion, recognition and celebration of exceptional achievements in Canadian film, television and digital media. Unifying industry professionals across Canada, the Academy is a vital force representing all screen-based industries. Our mandate is to: Honour outstanding achievements in Canadian film and television; Heighten public awareness and increase audience attendance, viewership, and appreciation of Canadian film and television productions through its national Award program. Preserve and promote Canada’s film and television heritage; Provide wide range of industry-related professional development programs For more information visit academy.ca
To kick things off for the Terroir Symposium on April 8, 2013, a bunch of local chefs got together to create Toronto’s “Biggest Hero” sandwich, which consisted of an 8 foot long sub bun baked by the O&B bakery crew, cold cuts from Seed to Sausage, preserves from Stasis Preserves, hot sauce by Supicucu and pickles and chips from McClure’s Pickles. The sandwich was indeed very large, even when cut into pieces but it was very delicious and definitely a crowd pleaser. Having Muskoka Brewery IPA beer helped, too! Catch the all-day action of the upcoming hospitality industry Terroir Symposium on Monday, April 8, 2013 at Arcadian Court. Chefs, food writers, wine and food critics will be there educating, networking, sharing resources to strengthen the hospitality industry. Tickets are $175 and available at terroirsymposium.com Participating Chefs Scott Vivian, Beast Restaurant Jeremy Charles, Raymonds, Nfld Mathew Matheson, Parts & Labour Mathew Jennings, Farmstead Inc, Rhode Island Derek Damman, Maison Publique, Mtl Bertrand Alépée, The Tempered Chef, Toronto, Ontario Amanda Ray, Biff’s Bistro, Toronto, Ontario Craig Deihl, Cypress, Charleston, South Carolina Matt DeMille, Pomodoro, Wellington, Ontario Erin DeMille, Royal Sugar, Wellington, Ontario Andrea Mut, Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery, Toronto, Ontario Curated by Ivy Knight, Swallow
UPDATE: check out some of the best photos from Bud Light Sensation here: http://www.bestoftoronto.net/2013/06/bud-light-sensation-photos-from-around-the-twitterverse/ Those of you that missed the majorness that was the “#OneLastTour” of Swedish House Mafia last week or those who are just hungry for more EDM maybe you can look forward to Sensation, an EDM ocean of white on June 1st, 2013 at the Rogers Centre. Tickets for the highly anticipated Sensation will start at $125 (for a Regular ticket), and they start to go on sale on March 8 at 10am at ticketmaster.ca. You can also buy at sensation.com or 1-855-985-5000. Beyond the Regular ticket there’s also the option to buy the The Deluxe ticket at $250 “grants access to the main area, main dancefloor. On top of that deluxe ticket holders have the privilege of a separate entrance, free coatcheck, and access to the deluxe deck on the floor.” Check out the Sensation Canada video for Toronto! Here’s the Facebook event! For more information visit www.sensation.com/canada Mr. White, 2000 and one, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Fedde le Grand, Eric Prydz, Otto Knows will perform at Sensation Canada:… — Sensation (@sensation) April 23, 2013 Check out the #budlightsensation dj line up here and spread the word! See you all June 1 at Toronto's Rogers Centre: http://t.co/DrY7HcgvsN — Sensation (@sensation) April 22, 2013 LINE UP 06:00 pm | Doors open 08:00 pm | MR. WHITE 09:00 pm | 2000 AND ONE 10:00 pm | SUNNERY JAMES & RYAN MARCIANO 11:05 pm | THE MIX 11:15 pm | FEDDE LE GRAND 00:30 am | ERIC PRYDZ 01:45 am | OTTO KNOWS Hosted by MC Gee Mr. White As the opening act for every Sensation event around the world, Mr.White knows how to set the mood and keep the party moving. His message is simple “Let’s just dance” which plays out in his pumping and rhythmic sounds going back to the roots of house music. 2000 and One On the forefront of electronic dance music since the late 80s, 2000 and One (aka Dylan Hermelijn) is credited for championing the sounds of Amsterdam’s new school DJ and Producer generation and helping propel the scene’s visibility onto the international stage. One of the most versatile, in-demand international artists, he continues to break new sound barriers in the world of EDM. Learn more about Amsterdam-based 2000 and One at www.facebook.com/dj2000andone. Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano Another Holland success story, this DJ duo is known around the globe for performances that inspire and awaken the soul. Known for monster anthems like “Tribeca” and their remake of Tiesto’s “Lethal Industry,” Sunnery and Ryan have become must-haves on the superstar tour circuit as they help to preach the gospel of house music wherever they go. Check out http://sj-rm.com/ to learn more. Fedde le Grand Famed Dutch artist Fedde le Grand is one of Holland’s most successful DJs who jumped into fame with his international success Put Your Hands Up For Detroit (2006). His energetic performances have become the stuff of legend and helped earn him a top 20 ranking (14th) in 2011’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Chart. Check out www.feddelegrand.com for more info about what le Grand is up to next. Eric Prydz Best known for his 2004 chart topping smash hit “Call on Me”, Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz was recently in good company as a Grammy nominee for Best Remixed Recording for “Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)”. Between his work running multiple record labels and rocking stages at music festivals year-round, he still managed to release his highly acclaimed album Eric Prydz Presents Pryda in 2012, delighting both mainstream and underground fans alike. For the latest on Prydz, visit www.ericprydz.com. Otto Knows Otto Jettmann, better known as Otto Knows, climbed to fame in 2010 with a remix of Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”. Part of the explosion of Swedish house DJs, he launched his solo career last year with the single “A million voices” which dominated clubs across Europe and on the pop charts in Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Go to www.facebook.com/OttoKnows to get the latest on Otto Knows.
To kick off the celebration of the Reel Artists Film Festival’s 10 year anniversary, the opening night screening featured internationally acclaimed director, Megumi Sasaki, and her excerpted version of HERB & DOROTHY 50X50 which is a documentary of an elderly couple that amassed so much works of modern art at their home that they decided to donate 50 pieces of their collected art to each of the 50 US states. This is one of the largest philanthropic initiatives in US art history. Sadly, Herbert Vogel passed away this past July. Dorothy Vogel and Megumi Sasaki were in attendance at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to present the excerpted version and ineract with the guests. Check out the trailer from the original movie! About Reel Artists Film Festival Established in 2004, the Reel Artists Film Festival (RAFF) is North America’s only film festival dedicated to documentaries on visual art and artists. A bold and tightly curated selection of illuminating documentaries on Canadian and international visual artists, RAFF seeks to demystify visual art by allowing audiences to consider the key personalities and thinking behind contemporary art. Many of the filmmakers are present to introduce their films and take part in special post-screening conversations. RAFF appeals to a wide cross-section of audiences including artists, documentary film fans, students, educators, and the art-interested public alike. canadianart.ca/raff
Fuse Marketing Group celebrated their 10th anniversary with a big bash at 99 Sudbury last week. Joining them in the festivities were clients, friends and Fuse MG alumni. The evening had a vodka bar ice luge, hors d’oeurves, candy bar, cake, DJ, dancing, and good times. It was also a nice surprise to see friends from Snapz Photo Booth there. It sounds like the party went on late and I wish I could have stayed longer! Congrats on your 10 years, Fuse MG! For more pictures, check out the Fuse Marketing Group’s photo album on Facebook. ABOUT FUSE MARKETING GROUP FUSE Marketing Group (www.fusemg.com) is a creative brand activation agency. Passionate about delivering strategic, innovative and effective marketing solutions, FUSE is a marketing services company with a proven track record as a valued partner to a roster of leading Canadian clients. Working in a climate of true collaboration and creativity, these partnerships drive sales, build brands and grow businesses. To learn more about FUSE Marketing Group, visit www.fusemg.com or www.facebook.com/FUSEmg and find us on Twitter @fusemg.
It was a sold out session at the TIFF Bell Lightbox as the audience eagerly awaited the results to be revealed of Ipsos Reid’s 2nd annual “Most Influential Brands” study as part of the ICA’s FFWD Marketing and Advertising Week. The study reveals the most influential brands in Canada with this year’s study having 5,000 Canadians participating in an online survey, 5 times larger than last year’s study. Steve Levy, President of Ipsos Reid, presented the most notable movers and shakers including Bank of Montreal jumping from 94th to 44th and also Samsung jumping from 47th to 18th. Levy then counted down and summarized each of the top 10 brands as follows: CBC Air Miles Tim Horton’s You Tube Visa Walmart Facebook Apple Microsoft Google Google overtook Microsoft this year and it’s interesting to note that Tim Horton’s made the the biggest jump on the top 10 list climbing up 7 spots to claim the 8th spot this year. A key idea that any business can take away is that to be effectively influential at any size, whether big or small, require strengths in one or more of the 5 key influential pillars. Other key ideas Steve Levy mentioned include: Ad spend alone won’t buy influence and that influence is earned. Repetition creates influence National pride plays a role Creating influence is not easy How brand influence is measured According to Ipsos-Reid, brand influence is measured by 5 key dimensions that define and drive brand influence: trustworthiness, engagement, leading edge, presence, and good corporate citizenship. The study showed that all 10 top ten brands have the highest marks in building influence and driving preference in an increasingly competitive marketplace. World’s Most Influential Brand Unique to this year the study went beyond the Canadian market with consumers surveyed in 8 other markets including US, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, UK, France, Germany and China to come up with another list of the “World’s Most Influential Brands”. This study also concluded that Google was at the top of this list as well. “Brands have meaning, personality, and attitude. And because people so often identify with, relate to, and define themselves by them, brands have influence,” said Steve Levy, president, Ipsos Reid. “For a brand to succeed, it has to reach its audience, connect with them, and get them to buy into the brand’s promise. But for a brand to have real influence it needs to win on the crucial dimensions we identified — trustworthiness, engagement, leading edge, presence, and corporate citizenship. Google is this year’s leading example — not only in Canada but on the world stage.” About Ipsos Reid Ipsos Reid is Canada’s market intelligence leader, the country’s leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid’s marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca. About the ICA The Institute of Communication Agencies or the ICA (www.icacanada.ca) is the professional business association which represents Canada’s communication and advertising agencies. The ICA’s mission is to champion commercial creativity, amplify the industry’s economic impact, and to embrace and drive change. As such, the ICA promotes thought leadership, higher standards and best practices. It serves as the largest source of information, advice, education and training for Canada’s communication and advertising industry. ICA’s member agencies and subsidiaries account for over 75 per cent of all national advertising in Canada, with an economic impact worth more than $19 billion annually. More information about the ICA and its initiatives can be found at www.icacanada.ca or follow on Twitter @adweekcdn or @icacanada.
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is created by young movie lovers for young movie lovers. For the 2nd annual TIFF Next Wave held from Feb 15-17, Battle of the Scores kicked off the opening night festivities featuring 6 high school bands across the city curated by the Next Wave committee at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Each of the bands performed their own unique scores to an original short film created this year by young, emerging filmmaker Ben Roberts. The winner was determined by a panel of professional judges from Toronto’s music and film community including film composer Adrian Ellis and director, actor, choreographer Corey Bowles. There was also an additional prize based on the audience’s votes via texting short codes. The evening was hosted by Sam Sutherland, author of Perfect Youth: The Birth of Canadian Punk and segment producer at MTV News. Each band did a great job being given only 3 weeks, each showcasing their own interesting style and each accompanied by a unique segment of the original short film. It was entertaining night and it’s great to see TIFF place an importance on being accessible to the next generation of young movie lovers. Congrats to the winning band, Post! The rest of the festival showcased 10 international films, a John Hughes marathon, a 24-hour film challenge for aspiring high school film teams, and a Talent Lab for youth aged 14-18. For more information visit tiff.net/nextwave
It was an incredible night with all the stops pulled out for the 24th annual Dragon Ball in support of the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care with 1,200 patrons. Highlights include photo opportunities with snakes, the HSBC ice sculpture serving martinis, a raw oyster and clam bar by Raw, a sushi bar, delicious treats by Tundra Restaurant (pleasant surprise seeing you again, Eraj!). There was so much food during the reception that it could have been dinner itself but there was also a 3-course dinner as well. It was great to see the legendary Hazel McCallion, mayor of Mississauga, a regular supporter of Yee Hong. Frank Scarpitti, the mayor of the City of Markham, singing songs in Cantonese. The raffle featured big prizes such as a Lexus CT 200h hybrid and a Caribbean cruise for 7 nights. There was also a large room dedicated to a casino and many items up for bidding in the silent auction. There was a live auction before dinner, too. The evening was hosted by Francis D’Souza and Sangita Patel of City (recently rebranded from “Citytv”, by the way). I think Lesly Tayles, Vice-President of National Bank, explained Yee Hong’s importance best when she told her story of an English-speaking nurse who said to a Chinese-speaking elder that she couldn’t help if the patient couldn’t speak English. This summarizes the need for providing care with the right cultural and linguistic care and that’s what Yee Hong does with it’s 15,000 seniors. Kudos to the organizers, sponsors and many volunteers of Yee Hong, as you can tell a lot of effort goes into putting together a gala of this calibre. Some notable tweets from the evening With my buddy @cityfrancis without the snake! pic.twitter.com/aDUosLv5 — Sangita Patel (@sangita_patel) February 10, 2013 Caping the night off with Chinese milk tea. What an amazing event tonight at the Dragon Ball pic.twitter.com/wTk4DJyV — Francis D'Souza (@cityfrancis) February 10, 2013 Ringing in the #ChineseNewYear of the #snake with a new friend here at Yee Hong's annual Dragon Ball pic.twitter.com/uoAlWpwn — Rathika Sitsabaiesan (@RathikaS) February 9, 2013 On the eve of the Chinese New year, goddesses from the Chinese Dance Workshop at the Dragon Ball. http://t.co/laA8tM4l — Olivia Chow (@oliviachow) February 10, 2013 Our stunning snake ice luge sculpture at the Grand Reception, thanks to our sponsor HSBC Bank Canada! #dragonball13 pic.twitter.com/SOdqGuTN — Yee Hong Dragon Ball (@yhdragonball) February 9, 2013 Everyone wants a photo with Markham Mayor @frankscarpitti after his wonderful performance tonight! #cny #dragonball13 pic.twitter.com/TuVKtx2K — Yee Hong Dragon Ball (@yhdragonball) February 10, 2013 @ELockwood yup, how insane is that?! I'm stunned. Like totally speechless. http://t.co/Mx4RrEIk — Kristin Kobayashi (@kiki47) February 10, 2013 About Yee Hong Yee Hong is a caring community where seniors enjoy a continuum of culturally and linguistically appropriate care. With a client-centered and personalized approach, Yee Hong is currently serving 15,000 seniors and their families across the GTA through its 4 nursing homes, social services and community based programs, as well as medical and rehab services. With strong roots in the Chinese Canadian community and our respect for seniors, we enable seniors of different backgrounds and needs to live their lives to the fullest – in the healthiest, most independent and dignified way. For more information, please visit www.yeehong.com Yee Hong Facts Four Yee Hong Centres in Scarborough, Markham and Mississauga, serving 15,000 seniors and their families each year. 805 long-term care beds with 4,000 on the current waiting list, the longest in all of Ontario Offers culturally appropriate long-term care services to seniors of different backgrounds, including Chinese, South Asian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Italian, Filipino and Portuguese 150 social housing units 308 life lease units
Those that were there knew how lively it was at the annual Motionball gala in support of Special Olympics Canada, with this year’s theme of “Winter Wonderland”. How befitting considering the large snowstorm that had arrived that evening. But that didn’t deter the 2,000+ guests from attending this sold-out charity gala that took over the 41,000 square foot Muzik night club. The event featured tons of great live music and a silent auction. There was also an Iceberg Vodka bar and a mixology bar hosted by Weslodge. It was great to see retired Toronto Argonaut, Adriano Belli, who brought out the one and only Grey Cup. Another Argo who attended was wide receiver, Mike Bradwell, with MTV News anchor, Aliya Jasmine Sovani. The evening was hosted by CP24’s Melissa Grelo and TSN’s Cabral “Cabbie” Richards. Other notable guests included Damon Allen and Randal Edwards. The dance floor at Muzik was large, the crowd even larger and that’s where most guests congregated to dance to some great entertainers including CrashDex featuring Jerzee, performance by a 44-piece symphony orchestra, and DJs Skratch Bastid and Efsharp. Great news that the event beat it’s target and raised $300,000 for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation! Check out the video of the founder of Motionball, Paul Etherington speaking to CTV News. Also, check out our coverage of the recent Special Olympics Festival gala. ABOUT MOTIONBALL motionball is a not-for-profit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation (SOCF), targeting a “next generation” of supporters – Canada’s professional crowd who are not defined by their age but rather their mind-set. To keep up to date with Motionball, click here. Some notable tweets from the evening Wow! This is how you kick off @motionballTO! A 44-piece orchestra at @muzikclubs! http://t.co/wUxFEvMN — Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo) February 9, 2013 @motionballTO @milosraonic @therealcabbie @randal_edwards @SpecialOCanada #mballGala. I had a great 1st time, even got me on the dance floor — Hall of Famer (@damonallen9) February 11, 2013 Our fresh new logo etched on the solid ice bar at the #mballgala pic.twitter.com/5MBAg5Sw — Iceberg Vodka (@iceberg) February 9, 2013
The Book Lover’s Ball is rated as one of the top 100 events according to BizBash in 2012. It’s a book lover’s dream, being able to rub elbows with 60 Canadian authors in attendance in support of the busiest urban library system in the world. Not only do guests get to rub elbows at the reception but each author is assigned to a dinner table, so that’s getting quite intimate. For 2013’s Book Lover’s Ball, the evening featured 5 “chapters” of entertainment, each based on a different novel. Highlights included a fashion show by Lucian Matis for “River of Stars” by Guy Gavriel Kay. The 5th and final chapter was a Dianna DiNoble lingerie-based fashion show based on “S.E.C.R.E.T.” written by Dragon’s Den senior producer, Lisa Gabriele, under the pseudonym, L.M. Adeline. It’s a book inspired by 50 Shades of Grey with it’s own publishing rights already sold to 30 countries. The evening was hosted by Cityline’s Tracy Moore and Melanie Ng. Notable guests included Conrad Black (yes, the infamous media baron also happens to be an author and has an upcoming TV show), Arlene Dickinson, Jian Ghomeshi, Lloyd Robertson and Amanda Lang. Check out the 2 galleries below: Reception and Entertainment ABOUT THE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION The Toronto Public Library Foundation was established in 1997 as a registered charity. Our mission is to provide essential resources for the enhancement of the Toronto Public Library and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding. Urgent needs for the Library include: improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, upgraded technology, and revitalized community spaces to respond to the changing needs of the people of Toronto. Since its inception, Toronto Public Library Foundation has raised over $55 million in support of Toronto Public Library priority needs. The Foundation’s long-range goal is to build an endowment fund that will generate sufficient income to support enhanced library programs, collections and services in perpetuity. An investment in the Library is an investment in Toronto’s success today and for generations to come. www.bookloversball.ca Photos of the Reception Photos of the Entertainment
Canada’s National Ballet School hosted their annual fundraiser gala with this year’s theme of “Monte Carlo Meets Gatsby” pairing roaring 20’s Great Gatsby attire and Monte Carlo styled casino. I spotted Margaret Atwood and asked her why she didn’t attend the Book Lover’s Ball just the night before. She replied that she wasn’t invited this year. Was she joking? Anyway, luckily for guests of the NBS gala, this most-honoured Canadian author was kind enough to provide photo opportunities for adoring guests. Other notable guests included Canada’s own World Champion figure skater, Kurt Browning. It was great to see all the well-attired guests come out to support Canada’s National Ballet School, a crucial foundation to Canada’s art scene. “Because talent is the sole criterion for entry into NBS’ Professional Ballet Program, our annual fundraiser is crucial in generating awareness and securing support for our extraordinary students—of which almost 8 out of every 10 require funding.”, says Mavis Staines, NBS’ Artistic Director . “The annual gala performance highlights the determination and the artistry of our emerging young talent. Our patrons are part of a thrilling process–what better way to demonstrate appreciation than through the beauty of dance”. ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL For over 20 years the annual gala has helped NBS ensure that the most talented youth find a place at the School regardless of families’ financial circumstances. Established in 1959, Canada’s National Ballet School is a global leader with an international profile for producing the finest and most gifted dancers, both from home-grown talent and from youth recruited abroad. For more information visit www.nbs-enb.ca More photos by Tom Sandler
If you’re an NFL fan in Toronto, there’s probably no better way to enjoy the full experience of the Superbowl than official party hosted by the NFL itself. Featuring 100 HD screens throughout the Sound Academy, as well as NFL’s Tim Brown and Brian Westbrook and the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. During commercial breaks there were a bunch of activities happening on stage (yes, to the background of Canadian TV commercials on the big screen). It is what it is. NFL prizes were given out including the opportunity to win entry into the VIP lounge with its own bar, Pinty’s wings and exclusive meet and greets with some Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. Brian Westbrook came up for photo opportunities as well. Overall, it was a great way for Superbowl fans to experience the Superbowl in all of it’s glory. Well done! Whether you missed it or not, watch for this again next year. See below for more pictures or check them out the Facebook album here.
One of the main highlights of FFWD Advertising and Marketing Week was the Ad Ball, with this year’s theme as the roaring twenties Gatsby. It was only $110+fees, so it was a pretty good value for what you get. Those in the marketing and advertising industry came out in full force to fill the Virgin Mobile Mod Club. It was pretty interesting to see some of the same partygoers the next morning at Ad Week’s Most Influential Brands session Ipsos-Reid. Stay tuned for our coverage of that as well! To see these pictures on Facebook, click here