GREEN FOR THE BLUE
Upper Canada College holds an auction like no other at the ROM
It was a glittering soiree that lured dazzling and dashing patrons to the Royal Ontario Museum for the sold-out Upper Canada College Believe in Blue Gala. The big brouhaha was held to raise money for increased needsbased scholarships, upgrades to the Upper School science wing and enhanced boarding facilities and programs.
After walking the blue carpet, the night started with an extensive cocktail reception where guests perused one of the most lavish silent auctions you have ever seen. It included everything from Palm Beach getaways to tickets for just about every sporting match possible. Master of ceremonies Ben Mulroney welcomed the crowd of nearly 600 (and did such a good job that he may have secured entry for both his adorable twin boys at the same time) as they sat to a gourmet dinner prepared by North 44 and wines supplied by Magnotta. The live auction was equally as impressive, boasting close
to 20 experiential items, including a round of golf and lunch with actor Hugh Grant in England, a fashionable getaway to the Shangri-la Hotel in Paris for fashion week and/or a dinner for eight with Rush lead singer Geddy Lee in the storied wine cellar of Barberian’s Steak House.
“It’s all about giving extraordinary boys an extraordinary opportunity,” UCC principal Jim power enthused. “The night was a great success, and a huge reason why was the benevolence of the many people who donated unique and valuable items to the gala’s silent, super silent and live auctions. Auctioneer Josh Gold was exhausted while trying to keep up with the furious bidding.”
It was an impressive list of bright lights lending their support, almost too many to be able to mention, but here it goes: Hockey Hall of Fame member Paul Coffey and wife
Stephanie; Toronto Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo and wife Barbara Bottini; Onex Corporation’s Andrew Lapham and wife Caroline Mulroney Lapham; philanthropist and former New Brunswick lieutenant-governor
Margaret Mccain; former senator Michael Meighen and wife Kelly; Air Canada chairman David Richardson and wife Kathy; television host and interior designer
Sarah Richardson and hus
band Alexander Younger, founder Design Lab; author, speaker and media, technology and innovation advisor
Don Tapscott and wife Ana Lopes; cellist Ofra Harnoy; television host and interior
designer Holly Miklas and television host and developer
Paul Miklas; singer Eleanor Mccain; Oxford Properties CEO Blake Hutcheson; TD Securities vice-chair and head of equities and TD Bank Group executive vice-president Rob
bie Pryde. Gala co-chairs Pat and Michelle Meneley did an impressive job of raising a whopping $1.5-million for UCC. Rumour has it many danced into the wee hours of the morning. Bravo!