Evening of glitz & wander
Jet-setters were out in force f or the second annual Wanderluxe Gala, presented by Air Canada in collaboration with TD Bank Group.
In keeping with the travelthemed evening, well- heeled guests arrived to a moving conveyor belt with Georgian Bay Gin Smash signature cocktails on offer. For those looking for something a little less smashing, bar carts circulated amongst the over 350 revelers.
After a spirited start to the evening, guests were invited into the main event where they sat for a gastronomic feast prepared by Chef David Hawksworth, who made the special trip from Vancouver.
McNabb Roi c k Event s really helped the night takeoff with massive oversized white balloons that hung overhead, mimicking clouds and long rectangular tables that stretched hundreds of feet from one end of the room to the other marking the “runway.”
Touted as the biggest travel auction in the world, partygoers could let their best intentions fly as they bid for over 20
online resort travel offerings, as well as the live auction which was handled brilliantly by auctioneer Brett Sherlock.
Luxury packages up f or grabs included nine nights in Thailand with Four Seasons Hotels, an Argentinian adventure with the Faena and an exotic get- away with One & Only Resorts in Dubai and the Maldives. One of the showstoppers was a surprise performance by Cirque du Soleil Joya, which gave new meaning to the word juggling.
Volunteer extraordinaire Laurel Sussman chaired along with myself, and Benjamin Smith.
“On behalf of Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation, I thank everyone who took time to attend Wanderluxe, our sponsors, and those who helped organize such a successful evening,” said Smith, president, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “It is amazing how people respond generously and what we can do together when given an opportunity to do good things, especially for vulnerable children.”
With the help of sponsors AIMIA, Cargojet, Scotiabank, American Express, Mantella Corporation, media partner National Post, culinary design partner David Hawksworth, food partner Gategourmet, and entertainment partner Cirque du Soleil JOYA, over $1 million was raised to benefit the Sick Kids Foundation and the Air Canada Foundation.
The money raised goes to benefit the Air Canada Foundation and the Herbie Fund at SickKids, which enables children to be flown to Toronto from all over the world for lifesaving surgeries that are not available to them in their home country.