May 4 - Le Bal de la Jonquille

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· montrealgazette.com · S a t u r d ay, May 4, 2013
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Social Notes
JENNIFER
CAMPBELL
[email protected]
Stéphane Poirier
The Daffodil Brigade: Committee members from left Joanne Kennedy,
Allen McInnis
At the top: 2013 co-chairs Javier San Juan, president/CEO
Connie San Juan Albores, Maria Antonopoulos, Nicole Magnan, Caroline
Codsi, Jeannie Saunders, Belle Grivakis, Alison Silcoff, Jean-François Bouchard, Shirley Quantz, Anne Gagnon, Léa Pfeiffer, Nathalie Schwartz Décarie
and Isabelle Lê.
L’Oréal Canada, Domenic Pilla, president/CEO Shoppers Drug
Mart/Pharmaprix and Michael Sabia, president/CEO Caisse de
dépôt et placement du Québec share a moment.
David Vilder
On the wings of chic: 2012 ball co-chair Calin Rovinescu,
president/CEO Air Canada and wife Elaine catch up with SylDavid Vilder
vie Lecours and husband, 2011 ball co-chair Marc Parent, Cheek2chic: Joanne Ezer and Richard Cohene embrace their
president/CEO CAE.
inner Arthur Murray.
David Vilder
Allen McInnis
lombe and wife Isabelle Hudon,
president of Sun Life Financial Quebec (in DUY), sartorially expert.
Michael M. Fortier and his wife,
Michelle Setlakwe, caught on the
glamcam.
Let the sun shine in: Gilles Cou- Smile for the camera: RBC’s
Allen McInnis
Looking good: Proof positive that men in
Toronto can dress; executive chair of Loblaw
Companies Ltd. Galen G. Weston, snapped
during cocktails.
Allen McInnis
Good giggles: Iohann Martin, Lise Watier and Mitsou Gélinas
share a laugh at the 20th Daffodil Ball benefiting the Canadian
Cancer Society.
David Vilder
Fine-feathered couple:
David Vilder
Stéphane Poirier
En vogue: Media celeb Herby Moreau and gorgeous volunteer Whoopee for Ranee: Homegrown jazz master Ranee Lee
Philippe Rainville amp up the dude.
makes the most of Making Whoopee.
Committee member Nathalie
Schwartz (in Badgley Mischka
and Georges Schwartz jools)
leans on husband, Cirque du
Soleil COO Charles Décarie.
David Vilder
Emcee: Andrew Lapierre (in
Boss) and wife/emcee Julie du
Page, in Hervé Léger by Max
Azria, enjoy cocktails.
David Vilder
And they can dance: John Parisella, executive director at
Campus Montréal, hits the dance floor with love, broadcast
journalist Esther Bégin (in BCBGMAXAZRIA).
David Vilder
The ’20s life: Young hostesses/models Julia Dawiskiba,
George Kanadjian and Monica Jolie enjoyed the dancing.
David Vilder
Jay G., your Long Island mansion has competition:
Décor dazzled at the 20th Daffodil Ball.
Puttin’ on the show: Members of the Ziegfeld Follies, in fabulous flapper costumes, kick things up a notch.
Stéphane Poirier
Daffodil Ball a flowering success
With a Roaring Twenties theme and dazzling decor, it was the place to be
A
s many of you are well aware, the award-laden Daffodil Ball benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society is
one of the season’s (and country’s) premier social and
charitable events. This year, the ball turned 20, and in
honour of this special anniversary, it embraced the Great Gatsby’s
Roaring Twenties as official theme. The verdict? Keep reading …
Jay Gatsby, your Long Island manse has competition:
Sadly, there is not room enough to accommodate all the superb
decorative touches implemented by the design specialists at
Decor & More. But of course, a quick synopsis of the most dazzling is in order. They were: the daffodil brilliant vintage Rolls
parked at the grand entrance; parade of Daisyesque models
lining the stairway to cocktails in extravagant gowns courtesy of
Holt Renfrew; a “living fountain”; five massive multi-tiered crystal chandeliers suspended in the art deco-styled dining room;
stunning lighting by illumination guru Nol van Genuchten;
towering black and crystal candelabras by floral designer Yves
Chénier (entwined with many of the 50,000 daffodils used in this
year’s decor); and, finally, exquisite black, white and gold tableware from new ball supplier Luxe Rentals Location Gervais.
Big Cheeses partout: According to fervent Google research,
the popular term “big cheese” (used to describe the most important or influential people, aka the bosses) comes straight from
the twenties. And let’s just say, this year’s special edition, impeccably chaired by Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix president/
CEO Domenic Pilla (attending with wife Louise De Serres),
L’Oréal Canada president/CEO Javier San Juan (with wife/
committee member Connie San Juan Albores), and Caisse de
dépôt et placement du Québec president/CEO Michael Sabia
was nothing short of cheese heaven!
A slice of heaven (ready set BOSS!): Standing out against
the lush corporate landscape were (in random order): RBC’s
Michael M. Fortier (with wife Michelle Setlakwe) and Tony
Loffreda (with wife Angelina Comparelli); Cossette’s Mélanie Dunn; Metro’s Eric Richer La Flèche with wife Michèle
Plourde; Goldman Sachs’ Steve Mayer (who, scoop, made the
Daffodil debut and loved it); Fiera Capital’s Jean-Guy Desjardins with wife, Suzan; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt’s Monique
Jérôme-Forget and Brian Levitt; Lise Watier Cosmétiques
founder Lise Watier and husband/CEO Serge Rocheleau
(scoop: Lise’s Gucci shoes were to-die-for but more on the fash
front later); La Presse’s Guy Crevier with wife Anick Beaubien; Pharmascience’s Morris Goodman (with wife Rosalind)
and David Goodman (with wife Mia Melmed); Telus’ François Côté with wife Monique Légaré; Transcontinental’s Isabelle Marcoux and François Olivier; Agropur’s Robert Coallier with wife Elaisne Blain; CSL Group’s David Martin with
wife Laurence; BNP Paribas’ Anne Marie Verstraeten with
husband Constantine Prakas; Groupe Copley’s Alan Rossy
with wife Roula; and proud past chairs including Aimia’s Rupert Duchesne (with wife Holly Coll-Black), Medisys’ Dr.
Sheldon Elman (with wife Meryl) and Chris Clark (formerly
of PricewaterhouseCoopers, with wife Pam). Not done yet …
back with a vengeance! In addition to performances by resident
legend Ranee Lee, we were treated to the roaring talents (and
gams) of the Ziegfeld Follies choreographed by Artmistice. Flapper fabulous in costumes by former Cirque du Soleil designer
Natalia Baquero, the high-kicking troupe entranced with apropos performances of the Charleston and All That Jazz.
And from the glittering world of entertainment: beloved
journalist and committee member Sophie Durocher, who attended festivities with husband Richard Martineau; powerhouse media personality/actress/businesswoman Mitsou Gélinas in the grand company of hub Iohann Martin; gorgeous
Dominique Bertrand with husband, investment maestro
Jacques Maurice; Anne-Marie Losique and Blaise Renaud
(fun scoop: Anne-Marie wore a tiara emblazoned with “I’m
available”); and last year’s beautiful emcee, La Presse/ Clin
d’oeil journo Virginie Coossa.
Hoofers everywhere: When Paul Chacra and 1945 are in the
house (ahem Windsor Station), chairs empty at the speed of light.
Some of the most inspired dance stars included our esteemed
past premier Jean ‘Twinkle Toes’ Charest and stunning wife
Michèle “Ginger Rogers” Dionne; Norton Rose chief and past
chair Norm Steinberg and wife Renée Kessler; broadcast journalist Esther Bégin and love John Parisella; Cirque du Soleil’s
Jean-François Bouchard and wife Valesca Da Costa; Air Canada president/CEO and 2012 chair Calin Rovinescu and wife Elaine; Bombardier boss and 2010 chair Guy C. Hachey and wife
Christiane; UTC chief Alain Bellemare; and CAE bossman
and 2011 chair Marc Parent and wife Sylvie Lecours.
Decadent consumption: There was clearly no prohibition at
this ball or, as they said in the day, “no hooch” (bootleg liquor).
Conversely, the alcohol (“giggle water” as it has also been called)
was legal and aflowin’, beginning with an invigorating number
of Moët & Chandon flutes during cocktails. Dinner continued
this admirable trend and was accompanied by an impressive selection of wines and liqueurs. As for the eats? The ever-talented
team at the Fairmont Queen E. embraced the theme, working
sedulously to create a menu that was as aesthetically wondrous
as it was delectable. Period classics like Lobster Newburg and
Baked Alaska were cleverly reinvented with a modern twist
that left everyone optimally satiated (and quenched).
Glad Rags: The aforementioned twenties expression refers
to “going out on the town clothes.” And let’s just say this year’s
attendees lived up to all that implies. Some of my personal lady
faves included emcee, actress Julie du Page, a contemporary Grecian goddess in Hervé Léger by Max Azria; hot young
singer Charlotte Cardin-Goyer, elegantly of-the-moment in a
flame creation by DUY paired with nude Michael Kors pumps;
Sun Life Financial Quebec president Isabelle Hudon, reminiscent of screen idols past in a sequin-saturated noir column,
also by DUY; and Marie-Michelle Pathy, regal in champagne
Marchesa. On the man side, I carried a style torch for several
sartorially expert gentlemen à la Paul Pathy, classically handsome in Zegna; executive chair of Loblaw Companies Ltd. Galen G. Weston, proof positive that men in Toronto can dress;
and Gazette editor-in-chief/publisher Alan Allnutt, perfectly
tuxed in Canali (no, I didn’t have to write that!).
Cat’s meWOW entertainment: The Golden Jazz Age was
The Great Raffle: Though there were only eight lots, the total
value was a whopping $107,000. Lucky Jean Séguin won the top
prize and accordingly, will soon be jetting off to a luxe beach villa at Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos (value $27,000).
Stuck on SWAG: As danced out, schmoozed-out, glammedout patrons bid adieu to the Gatsby-esque pleasure palace and
made their way down the stairs for a traditional smoked meat
sandwich topped by a well-worth-the-calories dip in the chocolate fountain, they did not do so empty-handed. Au contraire.
Both men and women were laden with parting gifts: Fragrances
for all plus cosmetics for her, generously provided by Yves St.
Laurent; gift cards for each couple from Pharmaprix; scented
candles for each duo courtesy of Christofle; and VIP invitations
from Warner Bros. to The Great Gatsby MTL première for all
guests at the lead sponsors’ tables (excusez moi!).
Stéphane Poirier
Stéphane Poirier
tre of the atrium cocktail. Hats off to Decor & More for the
design’s dazzle and spectacle.
Dubois, France Desharnais, Marc Généreux and Pamela Fralick,
bask in the success of the Daffodil Ball.
Fountain of beauty: A living fountain captivates at the cen- So proud: Canadian Cancer Society top brass Suzanne
Allen McInnis
Allen McInnis
David Vilder
Flap-happy: Mystery ladies mix it up at the 20th Daffodil Ball
benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society.
Allen McInnis
David Vilder
David Vilder
David Vilder
son Silcoff, radiant in Eavis & Michèle Dionne and her husBrown, a headpiece by Natalia band, former Quebec premier
Baquero, and her grand- Jean Charest, strut their stuff.
mother’s 1920s jools.
president/co-CEO Paul Pathy
(in Zegna) and wife MarieMichelle Pathy, in Marchesa,
pose perfect.
Charlotte Cardin-Goyer, a
finalist in La Voix, scores high
on the style meter in DUY and
Michael Kors pumps.
emcee, La Presse/Clin d’oeil
journo Virginie Coossa works
BCBGMAXAZRIA and Pandora bling to perfection.
Gazette goes Daff! Yours Jools: Event architect Ali- Ginger & Fred: Stunning Fashion plates: Fednav Sizzling: Hot young singer 2-tone gorgeous: 2012
truly (in Hérve Léger by Max
Azria) and Gazette bossman,
editor-in-chief/publisher
Alan Allnutt (in Canali).
THROUGH MAY 31ST
Final Tally: The swankiest of daffs generated a super swell
$2,062,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, putting bright smiles
on the faces of dedicated society officials Marc Généreux,
Pamela Fralick, France Desharnais and Suzanne Dubois.
(To date the ball has raised a smashing 25 mil). Chic hats off to
the grand dame of the eve, event architect Alison Silcoff and
her extraordinary organizing team and volunteers, all of whom
worked indefatigably to bring yet another awards-worthy ball
to life: ‘Twas the bee’s knees, as they said in the day …
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