Bloor Street Entertains celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with the theme Red Ribbon, Black Tie. The fund-raiser for Canfar took over 20 top-notch retailers on Bloor, hosting simultaneous dinner parties. While an after-party at the Royal Ontario Museum normally follows the dinners, in honour of the anniversary, Canfar hosted The Show, a concert and tribute ceremony at the Royal Conservatory of Music in the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. “The main focus for the change was to identify and recognize long-term supporters,” said Scott Koch, president of Spinradius, the company that produced the event for Canfar.
The event began with a cocktail reception and dinner for 778 guests. They were dispersed among 20 different venues on Toronto’s “mink mile,” near Bloor and Yonge, from Tiffany & Co. to Ferrari Maserati. Each venue was designed differently to represent the company brand, with a notable chef cooking in each. Timing for the dinner parties had to be just right, with all the guests in their seats at the Royal Conservatory by 10 p.m. “It’s a beast to organize, but it all comes down to everyone doing their part,” said Paul Oakley, co-owner of Spinradius and manager of the dinner party portion of the event. Decor highlights from the dinner parties included Seneca student-designed ice and floral centerpieces at Harry Rosen, custom-made velvet tablecloths at Holt Renfrew, and a woodsy Muskoka-vibe at Roots.
The Show attracted 900 guests and included a tribute ceremony to long-time supporters of Bloor Street Entertains and a performance from Keshia Chanté.
“There were three key pieces we wanted to work with: red ribbon, black tie, and crystal [commemorating the 15th anniversary],” said Koch, who headed decor and production of The Show, along with Bassett Events and Seneca students Bemi Douglas and Diana Li. Red and black decor items were prominent, and the walls were uplit in red. Crystal spheres hung from the ceiling in the reception area, and on stage in Koerner Hall, guests spoke behind a crystalline podium.
Organizers found it challenging to properly thank all of the volunteers this year. In past years, they were invited to the after-party. “We didn’t have the space to have that kind of party,” Koch said. Instead, Canfar hosted a second party, exclusively for volunteers.
Bloor Street Entertains is Canfar’s largest annual fund-raiser and has raised more than $4 million for HIV and AIDS research. While totals for this year are still being tabulated, organizers expect it to be one of the highest netting years yet.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Roots Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Guests at Roots dined on the second floor of the Bloor Street location, decorated with fake snow, Christmas lights, and Roots clothing.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Roots Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
The Roots dining room had an outdoorsy feel, with wood charger plates, live plant centrepieces, and leather card-holder as a gift for guests.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Swarovski Dining Room at Bloor Street Entertains
At Swarovski, miniature chandeliers hung underneath the floral arrangements. Tables were set with mirrored charger plates.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Swarovski Dining Room at Bloor Street Entertains
Crystals were scattered at the base of the rose floral centrepiece on the tables. A bejeweled rose sat in a small crystal votive inside the glass vase.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Teatro Verde Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Crystal and silver Christmas trees were used as one of three different centrepieces at Teatro Verde, an eclectic home and garden store. Guests dined among the products on the first floor.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Teatro Verde Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
A unique living centrepiece was lined with glittering pine cones on the square tabletop in Teatro Verde.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Diesel Dining Room at Canfra's Bloor Street Entertains
Seneca students created mannequin-inspired centrepieces at Diesel. The table was vibrant with a silver tablecloth and colourful floral arrangements.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Harry Rosen Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Seneca students studying in event management design the Harry Rosen dining room. The deep purple linen matched the creative centrepieces—purple gerberas, encased in ice.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Boss Hugo Boss Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
In Boss Hugo Boss, Seneca students hung tea lights from the ceiling.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
William Ashley Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
In William Ashley, Seneca students were inspired by Alice In Wonderland. Each guest was invited to crack open the spotted egg waiting for them at their seat. Inside was a thank you note.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
William Ashley Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Overhead, tea cups hung from red sticks.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
Holt Renfrew Dining Room at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
The Holt Renfrew cafe was transformed with reflective silver paper covering the wall of the dining room. Holt Renfrew had the red velvet tablecloths made custom for the event.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Guests had to arrive on time for the The Show at the Royal Conservatory. Sponsors lined the stairway and columns were covered in red and black for the theme Red Ribbon, Black Tie.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Red roses and crystal spheres hung from the ceiling of the reception area in the Royal Conservatory. Spinradius, with the help of Seneca students Bemi Douglas and Diana Li, incorporate red, black, and crystal (for the 15th anniversary) into the decor.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
The hanging roses were studded with crystals.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Imagin8 supplied an interactive bar. When guests moved over the bar, the screen would display moving sponsor logos or the Canfar red ribbon.
Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Gala chair Janice O'Born and gala co-chair Tristan Michela spoke on stage during The Show. The podium was made out of crystals and lit from below.
Photo: Tom Sandler
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Long-time Canfar supporters were honoured on stage during The Show.
Photo: Tom Sandler
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
Juno award-winning singer Keshia Chanté performed.
Photo: Tom Sandler
The Show at Canfar's Bloor Street Entertains
After The Show, guests mingled in the reception space. A timeline of Canfar Chairs lined the windows.
Photo: Tom Sandler
