LADIESFUND®

How to enter the contest?

To enter, just post a comment below with your name and why you think you are “divalicious.”   For extra points, follow us on twitter (@ladiesfund) and tweet about this event, and post a second comment below linking to that tweet and informing us you are following us on twitter.  All entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, 15th July 2012.  The prize is a pair of tickets for 2 women to attend Divalicious 4.  Only women can enter this contest.  Good luck and may the most divalicious gal win!

Style, entrepreneurship, events, giveaways, money and power, networking, shopping, special occasions, spending money, women C Lounge, cheval, contest, diva girls, divalicious, ladiesfund, roosevelt room, Shop Socials, shopping, tudawood, women

career development, entrepreneurship, networking canadian embassy, cida, dc, deborah lyons, ladiesfund, nancy clifford, tudawood, usa

The crème de le crème of Toronto high society gathered recently for the National Ballet of Canada’s 60^thanniversary Diamond Gala at the Four Seasons Centre, a night of dining and dancing that raised$1.25-million.

Lloyd Robertson and Principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson

Outside the centre, mannequin style models wearing specially designed tutus posed in the blistering heat while the 1500 guests were greeted with chilled water bottles.  The red carpet was filled with the who’s who ranging from the Old Guard to some very avant garde party-goers.  Most of the women were wearing long ball gowns with some in sassy cocktail dresses.

Jorn Weisbrodt, Rufus Wainwright and Emmanuelle Gattuso

The night began with an overture from Polovtsian Dances by Alexander Borodin that was on the programme of the National Ballet’s very first performance on November 12, 1951.  This was followed by a welcome from Artistic Director Karen Kain who looked stunning in navy.  The ballet portion of the night than began with an hour-long performance of very special short works, particularly sets of pas de deux.

Bernice Royce and Victor Royce, President & CEO of Rolex Canada

First up where Xiao Nan Yu and Jiri Jelinek performing a sexy, sassy, modern pas de deux from Amarant, a ballet that had premiered in Belgium in 2011.  Husband and wife Guillaume Cote and Heather Ogden then performed a World Premiere of the very romantic Polar Night choreographed by Robert Binet for this special occasion.  This was followed by the World Premiere of Silence Screams Venom, a riveting tour de force choreographed by Principal Dancer Guillaume Cote that featured Greta Hodgkinson and four male dancers and is certain to make him an exciting, upcoming choreographer in the dance world.  It was the talk of the after party and created great twitter buzz.  Sonia Rodriguez and Aleksandar Antonijevi (who is celebrating his 20^th year with the ballet this year) partnered for a vignette from the evocative and humorous ’90s contemporary ballet Herman Scherman.  The night then returned befittingly to the more classical and aptly selection excerpt from Diamonds From Jewels by George Balanchine.  This featured the entire corps de ballet dancing to the 1967 traditional ballet.

Dance installation

Afterward, guests mingled at a cocktail reception featuring the night’s signature drink a lemon martini titled Skyy with Diamonds, and hors d’oeuvres such as mini cupcakes and smoked salmon pinwheels from North 44°.

The dinner onstage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Some notables spotted included Lloyd Robertson, Cleophée Eaton, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Ross Petty (husband of Karen Kain), Rex Harrington, Roz Ivey, Veronica Tennant, Victoria Jackman, Lydia Prince, Galen & Alexandra Weston, Elvio & Marlene DelZotto ,  John Macfarlane, Victoria Webster, Thor & Nicole Eaton, Lynda Prince, Jian Ghomeshi, Jorn Weisbrodt and Rufus Wainwright and Albert Schultz.

Principal Dancers Jillian Vanstone, Greta Hodgkinson, Heather Ogden & Xiao Nan Yu

Moi

About 550 of the guests were then escorted to the Four Seasons Centre stage for a special dinner prepared by celebrity chef Mark McEwan.  Table for 10 tickets for this special privilege ranged from $15,000 – $25,000.

Photos by Gary Beechey

This article was originally published in DelectablyChic!

Arts & Culture, Style, events, fundraisers, money and happiness, networking, philanthropy, special occasions, spending money, spending money wisely Albert Schultz, Aleksandar Antonijevi, Alexander, Amarant Guillaume Cote, ballet, Cleophee Eaton, Diamond Gala, Diamonds, Elvio & Marlene DelZotto, Four Seasons Centre, Galen & Alexandra Weston, George Balanchine, Greta Hodgkinson, GUILLAUME CÔTÉ, HEATHER OGDEN, Herman Scherman, jewels, Jian Ghomeshi, Jiří Jelinek, John Macfarlane, Jorn Weisbrodt, karen kain, Llyod Robertson, Lydia Prince, Lynda Prince, MARK MCEWAN, national ballet of canada, North 44°, pas de deux, Polar Night, Polovtsian Dances, REX HARRINGTON, Robert Binet, Ross Petty, Roz Ivey, Rufus Wainwright, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Silence Screams Venom, Skyy with Diamonds, sonia rodriguez, Thor & Nicole Eaton, toronto, Veronica Tennant, Victoria Jackman, Victoria Webster, world premiere, XIAO NAN YU

Massoud Abbasi

Massoud Abbasi is convinced that Toronto has what it takes to be the next “it” international city.  And, he’s happy to trailblaze the way, particularly on the party scene.  His Omega Group New York-London-Paris style events are really standing out in a city that prides itself on being a “kinder, gentler” New York.  Omega Group soirees get happening at 11:30 pm (although they officially start at 8 pm) and go on easily til 2 am, with much of the crowd poring in after midnight.

Partygoers at Summer Soiree

“We’re providing a social platform for sophisticated Torontonians to professionally network and meet like-minded individuals,” stated Abbasi, “We want to bring the sophistication of big cities like London and New York to Toronto and create a community and encourage camaraderie among members in refined settings.”

Berkeley Church

The recent summer soiree, held at Berkeley Church, was another great success, attracting over 600 of Toronto’s hip and happening crowd, particularly professionals and those with global connections, heritage or businesses.  Many of these jetsetters recently moved to Toronto from New York or Europe and are quite restless and Omega Group events are like a mecca for them.

Paul Pedersen T U Dawood Pallavi Valabji & Lasana Burrows

The poets, philosophers and party-goers enjoyed the unique set-up, the cocktails and the free-flowing Perrier and Purdy’s Chocolate.  The venue lacked the opulence of The Carlu, but as the evening wore on, was ideal for a clubbing vibe and definitely had its own charm.  Although DJ Lissa Monet played a new remix of Beyonce’s classic commitment cheer Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), this party was a sign of the times with the mostly single and ready to mingle crowd full of free spirits and Call Me, Maybe girls in summer dresses.

The guests may have been uber busy professionals and entrepreneurs by day, but at the event, were able to let loose and socialize and network in a relaxed yet sophisticated way.

Photos courtesy of Omega Group

Event PR by Evolution PR

This article was originally published in DelectablyChic!

Arts & Culture, events, networking, special occasions, spending money BERKELEY CHURCH, events, ladiesfund, massoud abbasi, omega group, PARTIES, SUMMER SOIREE, toronto, tudawood

Lisa Lisson

Women of Influence is known to feature top and inspire speakers but they really outdid themselves on their recent Deloitte Women of Influence Luncheon held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center featuring Lisa Lisson, President of FEDEX Express Canada.

Not only is Lisson a strong, dynamic and inspiring professional, she is an extraordinary individual who has survived and thrived despite her husband being in a coma for two years before passing away.  She balances her work and 4 children, 3 dogs, a rabbit and a goldfish; is a hugger; and begins each day with gratitude.

Lisa addressing the audience

Lisson is the first female president of FEDEX Canada and is a four-time winner of the FedEx Five Star Award (FedEx’s highest accolade), voted by her employees as exceeding company managerial standards.  She is an active member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

At the Women of Influence Luncheon, she spoke from the heart, sharing her story while peppering it with humanity and pearls of wisdom.  She spoke of training one’s mind to keep positive and focused, the importance of mentors and how to find them, filling one’s live with gratitude and constant acts of kindness, saying no and prioritizing “me” time, and nurturing an environment of inspiration.

She also emphasized to the 350 guests in the audience the importance of letting your intentions - particularly career ambitions - be known. She reminded everyone, “Every interaction with senior management is a mini interview.”

Lisa Lisson with author T U Dawood

Now in her 20^th year at FEDEX, she related the charming story of how she got her entry to this family like corporate culture by connecting with a marketing assistant and forming a bond with her.

Featured on Undercover Boss, Lisson shared how that experience helped her connect with her teammates and employees of all levels and better understand what they do each day.

In this intense, emotional speech which resulted in many tears in the audience, Lisson shared her mind, heart and soul and truly inspired those lucky enough to attend.  She’s a leader who is passionate, yet grounded; talented, yet humble; and friendly and approachable, yet professional.

The event was moderated with gusto by the popular Erin Davis, Morning Host, CHFI.

Audience Shot (photograph provided by WOI)

Some VIPs at the event included Barbara Dickson (Managing Director, Queen’s Executive Education), Carolyn Lawrence (President & CEO, Women Of Influence), Devorah Lithwick (Vice President, Marketing Communications, Bell Mobility), Jane Allen (Global Leader, Renewable Energy, Chief Diversity Officer, Canada, Deloitte & Touche), Marilyn Horrick (Chubb Insurance Company Of Canada, Assistant Vice President, Canadian Zone Projects And Communications Manager), Michele Goddard (Senior Vice-President And Managing Director, Client Strategy And Execution, BMO Nesbitt Burns), Nelly Daley (Strategic Account Manager, Cisco Canada), Paulina Paplinski (Senior Manager, Enterprise Risk, Information Technology And Risk Services, Deloitte & Touche), Penny Hicks (Publisher, Maclean’s Magazine), Sandra Stewart (Director Of Marketing, The Jones Group Canada), Susie Federchuk and Valerie Battler (Principal, Career Solutions, Knightsbridge, Human Capital Solutions).

Lisson’s mother, two aunts and nanny also joined the event and were celebrated by the speaker as integral parts of her life.

Guests had come from all over Canada including Bonnie Johnson, who was visiting from New Brunswick, and had planned this as one of the highlights of the trip.

Raymonde Lavoie who is launching Femmes d'Influence

Attendees

Christine Jackson of Burts Bees - a total fashionista

business trends, career development, entrepreneurship, events, making money, money and happiness, networking Barbara Dickson, Bell Mobility, BMO Nesbitt Burns, carolyn lawrence, CHFI, Chubb Insurance Company Of Canada, Cisco Canada, Deloitte & Touche, Devorah Lithwick, Erin Davis, fedex express canada, FedEx Five Star Award, Jane Allen, lisa lisson, Marilyn Horrick, Michele Goddard, Nelly Daley, Paulina Paplinski, Penny Hicks, Queen’s Executive Education, Sandra Stewart, Susie Federchuk, undercover boss, Valerie Battler, women of influence, work/life balance