NAC GALA WITH DIANA KRALL RAISES $724,500 FOR EDUCATION
Hard hats were not required for Saturday’s National Arts Centre Gala but NAC Foundation chief executive Jayne Watson pulled the look off when she came out on stage wearing one, just for fun.
“Welcome to the NAC, which, in case you didn’t know, stands for Neverending Annoying Construction,” she joked of the massive renovation job that will transform Canada’s performing arts building by summer. “Next year it’s going to be New Awesome Centre.”
The gala concert featured Canadian jazz musician Diana Krall with the NAC Orchestra, led by maestro Alexander Shelley.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau continued the tradition of prime ministerial spouses serving in an honorary role. She appeared onstage in a floral-inspired beauty of a dress by Canadian fashion designer Lucian Matis, and announced the evening’s net total for the National Youth and Education Trust, in support of the NAC’s arts education programs across Canada. It ended up being $724,500 after more money was raised at the latenight live auction held during the post-concert dinner.
Grégoire Trudeau spoke about her appreciation for the performing arts, and of growing up with music, culture, theatre and film.
“Want to hear me sing? Not tonight,” she knowingly quipped. She shared a cute story about wanting to play piano as a girl. Her parents, who were in attendance, did finally buy a piano, only to realize it wouldn’t fit through the door. “So, I played the flute,” she said, upbeat.
Also to take the stage was Victor Dodig, president and chief executive of presenting sponsor CIBC. He took a moment to remember the late Jim Prentice, former politician, vice-chairman of CIBC, and supporter of the NAC Gala cause.
Seen were: Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and such colleagues as Justice Suzanne Côté and Justice Michael Moldaver, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz, Ottawa Liberal MPs Catherine McKenna and Andrew Leslie, Treasury Board President Scott Brison, and Liberal Party of Canada president Anna Gainey. Attendees also included U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and British High Commissioner Howard Drake.
Returning to chair the gala was Gary Zed.
CROWD GETS 'SIDIFIED'
While not an actual word, “Sidified” could refer to the experience of being infectiously enthused and energized by fashion guru Sid Cratzbarg, host of the Get Sidified gala held at the Sala San Marco banquet hall on Friday.
The evening raised funds for research into Crohn’s and colitis, and featured a fashion show with Manhattan West, Vernini Uomo Men’s Wear and Zarucci.
Onstage, Cratzbarg credited Dr. Robin Boushey for saving his life. The colorectal surgeon performed an emergency operation on him after he fell deathly ill with ulcerative colitis some 10 years ago. Cratzbarg, while still in hospital recovering, was visited on Christmas by Boushey and his young daughter. The next Christmas began a tradition of gifts arriving for the Bousheys, signed by a mysterious individual with the initials S.C. While Boushey knew it to be Cratzbarg, his daughter figured otherwise, and later told classmates that her father had operated on and saved Santa Claus.
Culinary students at Algonquin College got to rub shoulders and kitchen utensils with some of the best in the biz — Catherine Beddall (Edible Art), Marc Doiron (Town), Marc Lepine (Atelier), Mike Moffatt (Beckta, Gezellig and Play) and businesswoman Sheila Whyte (Thyme and Again) — at the Celebrity Chefs Night for the RiverGreen Fund held Wednesday at the college’s Restaurant International.
A crowd of 100 mingled over cocktails and canapés before sitting down for a four-course gourmet meal paired with wines.
The evening raised more than $25,000 for a foundation set up by lawyer Lawrence Greenspon and his wife, Angela Lariviere, to help seniors, people with physical and mental disabilities, and those suffering from mental health issues.