Sarah Jarvis
Photo: Courtesy of Eyecontact Photography
Special events manager Sarah Jarvis is responsible for organizing and executing all fund-raising events for the Canadian Opera Company, the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The three major annual events she plans are the C.O.C. Fine Wine Auction, the Opera Golf Classic, and Operanation, a fund-raiser for young professionals. Next year, a gala is being added to the lineup. Jarvis has been with the C.O.C. since 2004.
Photography: "Mark Ridout from Eyecontact Photography really understands events and is completely personable and noninvasive with people attending. He has a fantastic memory for faces—he knows the Toronto social scene and knows who to cover."
Catering: "Catering by Davids’ is completely reliable, very inventive, and will do anything to ensure the success of an event. The food is always fantastic regardless of your budget. We used them for Operanation last year, and I really enjoyed their amaretto cheesecake lollipops."Venue: "Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was just completed in June 2006 and is owned and run by the C.O.C. The National Ballet of Canada is a tenant, so most of our events take place in this building. It’s a very contemporary building with a traditional horseshoe-shaped theatre. As far as event space, there is a five-story glass-enclosed lobby space called the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room that is used for sit-down dinners and launches and fits about 1,100 for cocktail receptions. Everyone going down the main drag on University Avenue, Toronto’s main boulevard, can see the parties happening."
Flowers: "The Floral Studio is the official florist for the C.O.C., and Mario provides all the flowers for the company. He is always there for all the operas and has very creative, artistic ideas. Church Street Flowers is also great for much larger-scale events, when you want to go beyond decor and centrepieces and you need help with your entire theme. They’re great at realizing your vision for an event and allowing it to come to life."
Rentals: "Chair-Man Mills’ supply is endless, and [the company] will always have what you need. They are always available to bring something to an event at the last minute. In the past, we have rented tables and chairs, place settings, carpets, candles—all the bare bones."
Photography: "Mark Ridout from Eyecontact Photography really understands events and is completely personable and noninvasive with people attending. He has a fantastic memory for faces—he knows the Toronto social scene and knows who to cover."
Catering: "Catering by Davids’ is completely reliable, very inventive, and will do anything to ensure the success of an event. The food is always fantastic regardless of your budget. We used them for Operanation last year, and I really enjoyed their amaretto cheesecake lollipops."Venue: "Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was just completed in June 2006 and is owned and run by the C.O.C. The National Ballet of Canada is a tenant, so most of our events take place in this building. It’s a very contemporary building with a traditional horseshoe-shaped theatre. As far as event space, there is a five-story glass-enclosed lobby space called the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room that is used for sit-down dinners and launches and fits about 1,100 for cocktail receptions. Everyone going down the main drag on University Avenue, Toronto’s main boulevard, can see the parties happening."
Flowers: "The Floral Studio is the official florist for the C.O.C., and Mario provides all the flowers for the company. He is always there for all the operas and has very creative, artistic ideas. Church Street Flowers is also great for much larger-scale events, when you want to go beyond decor and centrepieces and you need help with your entire theme. They’re great at realizing your vision for an event and allowing it to come to life."
Rentals: "Chair-Man Mills’ supply is endless, and [the company] will always have what you need. They are always available to bring something to an event at the last minute. In the past, we have rented tables and chairs, place settings, carpets, candles—all the bare bones."
