Linsay Michael is the manager of development and events at Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada, a position she has filled for the past 18 months. Among her many duties, Michael oversees special events, fund-raising, and additional third-party events. Michael is currently gearing up for the organization's annual signature event, Eat to the Beat, when 60 female chefs make their signature dishes for 900 guests. Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada is a nonprofit that encourages, educates, and empowers all Canadians affected by breast cancer.
Venue: “This year is the 13th annual Eat to the Beat, and it will be our 11th year using Roy Thomson Hall since we outgrew our first venue. We keep going back because the staff are fantastic, they know our event inside and out, and they’re supportive. We need to be able to fit 900 people in an easy-to-access space in downtown Toronto, and this is a venue that doesn’t need a lot of decor. We’re working with an extraordinarily tight budget and are proud of the fact that we return 90 percent of event proceeds back to Willow to be applied to our programs and services.”
Entertainment: “A group called the Advocats have literally been with Eat to the Beat since the beginning. They play big band, swing, and jazz music. Their tag line is, 'Teachers and lawyers by day, talented jazz musicians by night.' They’re dedicated to Willow, and they’re wonderful to work with.”
Graphic Design: “3 Dogz Creative do all of our Eat to the Beat creative work; they’re our creative sponsor. They do all of our graphic design, including tickets, programs, signage, and Web site design. 3 Dogz is a really fun team to work with. They created our new Eat to the Beat logo; it works with the event and ties the culinary element back to the creative.”
Rentals: “We use Chair-man Mills, which is the preferred rental company at Roy Thomson Hall. Chair-man Mills is very kind and cognizant that we’re nonprofit, providing excellent service and rates. This year we’ll be working with a new company called Furnishings by Corey. His specialty is contemporary furniture, and we’ll be using him for our martini lounge at Eat to the Beat to assist us in creating atmosphere. He has helped us to find some great furniture pieces that fit within what we’re trying to do.”
Storage: “All Canadian Self-Storage recently opened a new location on Laird Drive in Toronto. It’s the only drive-thru self-storage facility in Canada, and they’ve been kind enough to donate storage space to us. There is a container at their building where we store donated items, which All Canadian Self-Storage can then deliver on a truck to our event venue for use.”
