SWEET MAGIC AT McCORD GALAS

Every spring, one of our most venerable cultural institutions, the McCord Museum, takes over the party scape with back-to-back galas that not only raise formidable funds for the museum’s mission to “protect and diffuse Montreal’s cultural heritage” (this year’s combined events generated an impressive millionplus), but leave attending Social Gals and Gents so gratified, they can’t help but start planning for the following year. Here’s why: McCord Museum Annual Ball

2017: Inspired by the new McCord exhibition Illusions: The Art of Magic, this year’s ball at Arsenal was aptly titled Abracadabra, and caused artistic director Dick Walsh to cast an unforgettable celebratory spell on guests, entrancing them with his oasis of illusion and fun. It was an optimal backdrop for the Champagne and oyster reception; extravaganza dinner by Mannica Utapat (with impeccable service by Sébastien Forand and wines graciously offered by the SAQ); and singular music and visual animation courtesy of DJ Geneviève Borne and VJ Video Girl.

As for the guest list, the power brokers were out in rare form, topped by the glittering likes of the four honorary co-presidents: Hélène Fortin, Loto-Québec board chair (attending with husband Denis Larose); chair of the boards of directors of the National Bank and Gaz Métro Jean Houde (with wife Jeanne Leclerc); Monique F. Leroux, chair of the board of directors of Investissement Québec and president of International Cooperative Alliance (with daughter Anne-Sophie Forget-Leroux); and Robert Tessier, board chair of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (with wife Denyse). Guests also included Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre; renowned magician Luc Langevin; spectacular Emmanuelle Gattuso; McCord Museum board chair Monique Jérôme-Forget with husband Claude; McCord foundation board chair Daniel Fournier with wife Caroline Drouin; and the unstoppable 2017 ball committee, made up of Bita Cattelan (with husband Paolo), Bente Christensen (with husband Gerry Shadeed), Emmanuelle Demers, Nathalie Deshaies (with husband Pierre Campeau), Jean-Michel Lavoie (with husband Scott Yetman), Olivier Legault (with love Anik Matern) and Roberto Reino.

McCord Sugar Ball 2017: In case you’re wondering, the McCord magic continued the very next night with the young-professionals arm of the museum’s annual hot-ticket benefit event, the Sugar Ball, held this year in Windsor Station’s iconic Salle des pas perdus.

Marrying the beloved annual sugar theme to an apropos celebration of Montreal’s 375th birthday, the decked-out event attracted 1,600-plus young influencers (who couldn’t help but surrender to the many sweet lures), including Cadillac Fairview’s Danielle Lavoie and Eric Fortier; Norton Rose’s Karen and Pierre Bienvenu; Groupe Park Avenue’s Norman Hébert Jr. with wife Jaclyn; the Caisse’s Kim Thomassin and Christian Dubé; Fidelity’s Gary Chateram; Frank & Oak’s Ethan Song; and Cominar president Sylvain Cossette.

Among the most memorable lures were the legendary candy displays; networking cocktail by Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg; the Groupe Park Avenue sugar-mobile; tunes by DJ Thomas H featuring DJ Evangelos Pavlis; and mouth-watering munchies courtesy of Ferreira, Flyjin, Kampai, Lucille’s Catering, Mercuri Restaurant, Estiatorio Milos, Soubois, Léché Desserts, Yes Please Cookies, Les Délices Lafrenaie, Bar à Beurre, Le Marché Richmond, Heavenly Taste Biscotti, Sachère Desserts, Dolce & Gâteau, Méchant Boeuf, Campo, Bevo Pizza, Traiteur Brera and Mr. Pretzel.

Cheers to the young super organizers who make it happen: 2017 committee power-chairs Sandra Ferreira (Groupe Ferreira) and Gerald Kounadis (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro), and fellow dream teamers, logistics maestro Brahm Mauer, Amanda Lalli, Jacob Lithgow, Camille Dionne, Konstantinos Psycharis, Costadina Mavros, Bianca Lia Farinacci, Eric Cordon, Audrey Sirois, Catherine Du Pont, Ghislain Messier, Virginie Séguin-Dalpé, Florence Bienvenu, Adamo Mariani, Jean-François Gervais, Jaclyn Hoffman Hébert, Georgia Argiriou, Charlotte Routhier, Christina Sauro, Christine Lenis, Michelle Rossy and Melissa Tehran.

ADONIS NOAILE McCORD MAGIC: Artistic director Dick Walsh creates an oasis of fun and illusion at the McCord Museum annual ball, titled Abracadabra.

PIXEL VISUALS SWEETEST TEAM: Committee members assemble for a photo op at the McCord Sugar Ball.

HOUSE OF STILLS SOCIAL GAL STAR POWER: Event co-chair Sandra Ferreira and glam guests Sophie Boyer, Camille DG and Jean-François Gervais lend stylish support to the Sugar Ball.

NOAILE ADONIS GLAM GALS GLITTER: Committee members Bente Christensen, Bita Cattelan, Emmanuelle Demers and Nathalie Deshaies dial up the style at the annual ball.

ADONIS NOAILE MAGICIANS MEET THE MAYOR: Mini-magicians with revered magician Luc Langevin and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre at the annual ball.

ADONIS NOAILE HIGH STYLE, BIG SMILES: VIP guests Louise Boyer, Pierre Laporte, Daniel Fournier, Caroline Drouin, honorary co-chair Robert Tessier and wife Denyse at the annual ball.

STUDIO BARON PHOTO THAT KIND OF PARTY: More than 1,600 young professionals unite for the Sugar Ball.

SABRING LORIER TRICKS AREN’T JUST FOR KIDS: Museum board chair Monique Jérôme-Forget and husband Claude Forget enjoy magic tricks at the annual ball.

SABRINA LORIER POWER OF THREE: Honorary copresident Hélène Fortin, HydroQuébec chair Michael D. Penner and wife Michaela Sheaf-Penner wear big smiles to the annual ball.

PIXEL VISUALS GLOBAL MEETS NATIONAL: Global Montreal gals Laura Casella and Kim Sullivan hang with National PR’s Geneviève Benoit at the Sugar Ball.

STUDIO BARON PHOTO PLEASING PALATES: Chef Joe Mercuri brings his A game to the Sugar Ball.

PHOTO STUDIO BARON DAVIES’ DARLINGS: Andrew April and fiancée Davies’ Christina Sauro at the Sugar Ball.