A Timeless Beauty – Omni King Edward Crystal Ballroom

The Omni King Edward Hotel welcomed more than 100 guests to enjoy delicious foods and fantastic entertainment while leading up to the main event of unveiling the timeless beauty that is the Crystal Ballroom, fully restored and as pristine and elegant as ever.  The Omni team is excited about the new space and is already booked for a number of weddings over the next few months.

Our Deb Lewis from CityEvents was lucky enough to see the ballroom a few times over the last decade at Doors Open Toronto. The first time over a decade ago, when the room was full of cobwebs and was only used by a local fly fishing club. After that the ballroom was deemed unsafe so it was years later after the renovation started she was able to see the ballroom starting to take shape.  “It is such an exciting time to see the King Eddy ballroom rebirth for another century of key events.”

Named after their adorned crystal chandeliers, the Crystal Ballroom also kept its old-world charm meets modern luxury with ornate moldings, 8-metre high coffered ceilings and floor to ceiling windows with panoramic views of the city. These features are what makes the Crystal Ballroom the most popular venue for hosting grand society affairs, royal galas, debutante balls, weddings and conventions.

In fact, since opening in 1922, the venue, located on the hotel’s 17th floor has hosted some of Toronto’s most prestigious and extravagant events from the 1920s to the 1970s including:

• August 8, 1927 - The Prince of Wales (later, the uncrowned King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor) and British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin were entertained with a lavish state dinner.

• 1939 – Senator Frank O’Connor founder of Laura Secord Candy in Canada, received a remarkable testimonial dinner, which had a crowd overflow the hall and the head table was filled with the chief representatives of the king, the government and the city including Mayor Ralph C. Day

• April 12, 1955 - Polio Vaccine proved effective and safe for 80% to 90% of children across Canada and the US. Nearly 700 doctors, technicians and nurses crowded the Crystal Ballroom to watch the news report on two dozen TV Sets, installed specifically for the occasion.

And it seems that the hotel has some very strong intentions to keep doing so, especially with the new restoration that has brought new life and shine to the ballroom.

For more info about the Crystal Ballroom re-opening, click here: Omni King Edward Hotel 

Recap: 13th Annual Canadian Helen Keller Centre Award Luncheon

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

On April 5th, 2017 The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) held their 13th annual Award Luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The luncheon is held each year to help raise money and awareness to support the services the CHKC provides free of charge to its clients.

This year, The Honourable Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services and MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham, received the prestigious award for her continuous support and dedication to bettering the lives of those in the deafblind community. Since becoming the Minister of Community and Social Services, her work to assist deafblind Ontarians has been groundbreaking. Most recently, she will focus on the development of new frameworks that will result in a consistent, fair and accountable approach to funding.

The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Gail Asper O.C., O.M., LL.D., President of The Asper Foundation, Governor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and sitting board member of The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CHRM) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ms. Asper’s speech reminded everyone in attendance of the importance of inclusivity and charity. As a special thank you Vim Kochhar, founder of Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons and chair of CHKC, presented Gail with a cheque for $15,000 to go towards the CHRM to continue to be the most accessible museum in Canada.

 

Thanks to Steve Blackburn, you can check out photos from the afternoon on his website steveblackburn.com

Learn more about the Canadian Helen Keller Centre www.chkc.org

Information on past awards and the host organization, Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons www.cfpdp.com

 

Written by: Paula McDines

 

Your Favourite Independent Event Planner – Deb Lewis

On Tuesday, March 28th, Deb Lewis, CEO of CityEvents, took home the Canadian Special Events 2017 Readers Choice Award for Favourite Independent Event Planner.  With the category filled with seven other very talented planners that spread across the country, Deb was honoured with the recognition.

“It was amazing just to be nominated, and I’m completely blown away by all the support I received over the weeks leading up to the ceremony,” says Deb after her win from The Aga Khan Museum where the awards and kick off to CSE LIVE.

Besides being a highly effective Certified Meeting Planner, Deb is also passionate about educational and mentoring opportunities within the community. Each season she takes on interns from local colleges, universities and high schools as well as diverse international students. Deb keeps a strong connection with her Alma Mater, George Brown College and sits on the organizing committee of “5 to Watch”, a groundbreaking annual event for the Canadian sports marketing industry that set the standards for identifying the next generation of industry captains.

Adding to her community involvement, this blog, CityEvents was created to share and support colleagues events, promote local venues and highlight industry businesses.

Her voraciousness and drive have allowed her to achieve the skilled organization of managing multiple events. On TorontoCityEvents.ca, Deb offers everything from sponsorship management to creating buzz and an online presence for their clients. CityEvents covers every aspect needed to run a successful event or campaign.

On deblewis.ca you’ll find out about venue specs, supplier information upcoming events, and event tips. On YouTube,  you can find her educational series of videos all about the tips and tricks of marketing an event online through different platforms.

Deb has been in the industry and planning events for 20 years. She’s experienced in everything from corporate and government events to charitable and not-for-profit galas and awards.

 

5 To Watch: Canada’s Sports Marketing Business Award

 

The 5 To Watch is in partnership with Globe and Mail to recognize Canada’s Sports Business leaders under 40 years old. George Brown’s School of Sport and Event Marketing staff and alumni are the creators of this event/award which launched in 2013. It’s a “must-attend” event where you get to network with industry professionals, enjoy amazing food, learn from keynote speeches, and join the after party.

The proceeds from the event will be put towards the George Brown College Foundation which grants awards and bursaries to individuals at the George Brown’s Centre for Business.

This year the Canada’s Sports Marketing Business Award will be at the Waterfront Campus of George Brown College. Business professionals will gather to celebrate the winners on Thursday, June 22, 2017.

2016 Highlights;

• Winners: Andrew Greenlaw, Senior Director, Sponsorship Marketing & Strategy, Brent Rossi, Executive Vice President of Brand Strategy and Marketing – Pegula Sports and Entertainment, Dan Near (Head of adidas Hockey – Adidas Group),

•  Matthew Logue (S&E Sponsorship Group), Sophie Kotsopoulos (National Hockey League).

• Alumni Achievement Award Winner: Jacquie Ryan (VP of Sponsorship Marketing with Scotiabank)

• More than 400 attendees

• Top-notch networking

 

When

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Agenda

6:00 PM – Networking Reception

7:30 PM – Awards Ceremony

8:30 PM – Post-Awards Reception

Location

George Brown College Waterfront Campus

51 Dockside Drive, Toronto, ON

Phone: 416-415-5000 x 6164

Email: 5toWatch@georgebrown.ca

For Further Details and tickets

Visit http://www.5towatch.ca/Login.aspx

 

‘Together we can do so much’ at the 2017 CHKC Award Luncheon

 Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. – Helen Keller  

This year, The Honourable Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services and MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham will receive the 13th Annual Canadian Helen Keller Centre Award at the April 5th luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Minister Jaczek has been chosen for this due to her enduring help and dedication to the betterment of the community. 

This year also falls on an important milestone for deafblind communication. On April 5th, 1887, Helen Keller was finally able to understand that everything has a name. When her teacher, whom later became her life-long companion, Anne Sullivan spelled ‘water’ into the hand of the young girls he life began to take shape. Helen Keller later went on to become the first deafblind person to earn a degree, she graduated with honours from Radcliffe College in 1904.

To help raise money to support the important services that CHKC provides free of charge to its clients, each year an annual luncheon is planned to help raise funds and awareness and to also recognize those who have supported the deaf-blind community and their families.

Special guest speaker at this year’s event is Gail Asper O.C., O.M., LL.D., President of The Asper Foundation and sitting Board Member of The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg Manitoba. Ms. Asper currently is currently the Chair of the Board of the National Arts Centre Foundation, is a member of the Board of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and is a Governor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

As of July 2001, the doors opened to Canadas first and only residential training centre for persons with vision, hearing, and combined vision hearing impairment, The Canadian Helen Keller Centre is a place for the deaf-blind community to go for affordable housing, access to services, and training to live independently.

CHKC has been giving the award since 2005, past winners include York University; George Brown College: Canadian National Institute for the Blind; The Honourable David C. Onley; IBM Canada; The Honourable Vim Kochhar; ICICI Bank Canada; Microsoft Canada; Reverand Robert L. Rumball; Jim Sanders;  and Joan McTavish.

http://www.chkc.org/

 

Written by: Paula McDines

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