An Asian Affair

For this year's Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade gala—held Wednesday at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel—organizers wanted the event to be a celebration sensitive to the current economic climate. So the planning committee, which called on Michelle Planche of Paradigm Events to produce the 13th annual benefit, opted for a "Zen Garden" theme. "It’s an evening of hope, courage, and harmony," said Planche. "We pitched this theme to them given what is going on in our world right now. We felt it had hope, it had tranquility."

Committee member Marilyn Horrick said the theme was a good fit for the organization, which formed in 1996 to support colleagues in the insurance industry in their fight against cancer. "We really wanted to move away from the Mardi Gras craziness that WICC normally likes to do. We wanted to introduce a theme that is a celebration, but in a very subdued kind of way. Something that would appeal to people who maybe are going through some tough times, not just cancer related issues in their life, but also financial troubles. We thought the Zen theme really spoke to that. It’s a re-energizing of your spirit and it really helps people across all cultures."

Planche projected images of tree branches onto Shoji screens to create a tranquil setting on the main stage. A presentation with rotating slides of Zen-like images and photos of auction items played during the cocktail reception on two large screens that flanked the platform. Chocolate brown linens topped tables, and a team of volunteers assembled small rock gardens and paper lanterns for the centrepieces. Volunteers carrying traditional Japanese parasols welcomed guests to the event, which also featured tai chi performers, drummers, and a koto player.

More than 600 guests attended the benefit. “Primarily it’s the insurance industry, so there are insurance companies, brokerage firms, adjusting firms, and various vendors," said the organization's executive director, Lyna Newman. "We fund-raise for the Canadian Cancer Society, so everything we raise, 100 per cent, goes to cancer research projects. And WICC is an entirely volunteer organization, so there’s no administration that goes with it. We do all of it and the entire industry just rallies behind us."