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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Florals

Canadian Foundation Marks 50th Year of Stem Cell Discovery With Gala at Mercedes-Benz Dealership

Carla Warrilow
March 12, 2012

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of stem cells, the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation hosted the Renew the World gala on Wednesday night. Designed to spread awareness and launch the foundation, the event drew 500 guests, including Canadian scientists, celebrities, and business leaders. “Everything we’ve done tonight is about raising the cause,” said Hala Bissada, president and C.E.O. of Hala Events and Communications, which produced and managed the event for the organization.

The gala was held at the Mercedes-Benz Midtown dealership, a space that hosts just one charity event every year. “It was a one-time event where our tag line was ‘the night we make history again,’” Bissada said. “We wanted to select a unique space that reflected a huge milestone for Canada.”

Bissada turned the service bay into a reception space, replete with white draping and white lounge furniture. White Mercedes-Benz cars were hoisted onto the car lifts and uplit in purple. “We wanted to create a great space but also keep it what it is—it’s a service bay,” Bissada said. She added that the all-white decor made the space resemble a lab environment that fit with the cause. While the linens and chairs in the dining room set up on the venue's showroom floor matched the all-white decor, moving lights and centrepieces provided pops of colour, reminiscent of the Stem Cell Foundation’s logo. A 100-foot-long screen stretched across the front of the space.

The evening also offered a number of educational elements, including a discovery wall that displayed Canada’s contributions to stem cell research, patient and researcher speakers, and a celebrity and scientist seated at each table.  

At the end of the evening, guests received an envelope containing a personalized, non-monetary task. “It’s one action that we want [guests] to take beyond this event,” Bissada said. Actions ranged from tweeting about the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation to signing the Stem Cell Charter. “They received the action envelopes that night and many of them are already fulfilling their actions,” Bissada said.

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Photo: George Pimentel
The cocktail reception took place inside the Mercedes-Benz dealership's service bay. All-white lounge furniture and white draping decorated the space.
The cocktail reception took place inside the Mercedes-Benz dealership's service bay. All-white lounge furniture and white draping decorated the space.
Photo: George Pimentel
White Mercedes-Benz vehicles, suspended by car lifts, lined the cocktail space. Westbury uplit the area with purple lights.
White Mercedes-Benz vehicles, suspended by car lifts, lined the cocktail space. Westbury uplit the area with purple lights.
Photo: George Pimentel
Pops of colour from the floral centrepieces and moving lights brightened the white linens and silver chairs in the dining room, normally the dealership's showroom.
Pops of colour from the floral centrepieces and moving lights brightened the white linens and silver chairs in the dining room, normally the dealership's showroom.
Photo: George Pimentel
Tables had different coloured floral centrepieces. The colour scheme followed the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation's marketing imagery.
Tables had different coloured floral centrepieces. The colour scheme followed the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation's marketing imagery.
Photo: George Pimentel
The sales desk on the showroom floor became the bar in the dining room. The screen was 100 feet long and 16 feet high.
The sales desk on the showroom floor became the bar in the dining room. The screen was 100 feet long and 16 feet high.
Photo: George Pimentel
The illuminated discovery wall at the rear of the dining room displayed the history of Canadian stem cell research, beginning with its discovery at the University of Toronto.
The illuminated discovery wall at the rear of the dining room displayed the history of Canadian stem cell research, beginning with its discovery at the University of Toronto.
Photo: George Pimentel
At the event. Chantal Kreviazuk played a Schimmel Glas piano that was donated.
At the event. Chantal Kreviazuk played a Schimmel Glas piano that was donated.
Photo: George Pimentel
After dinner, there was a poetry slam. The poets performed a piece written using words that renown Canadians had submitted about stem cell research. The key words popped onto the screen as they were said.
After dinner, there was a poetry slam. The poets performed a piece written using words that renown Canadians had submitted about stem cell research. The key words popped onto the screen as they were said.
Photo: George Pimentel
For the finale, Keshia Chante performed an ensemble with Canadian singers that included Chantal Kreviazuk, Dan Hill, and two of the Canadian Tenors.
For the finale, Keshia Chante performed an ensemble with Canadian singers that included Chantal Kreviazuk, Dan Hill, and two of the Canadian Tenors.
Photo: George Pimentel
The Mississauga Children's Choir performed the ensemble, as well.
The Mississauga Children's Choir performed the ensemble, as well.
Photo: George Pimentel
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