It’s been almost a year since Peter Gilgan made the single largest private donation to a children’s hospital in Canadian history. “Didn’t you hear? I took it back,” he playfully jests about the $40 million he donated to the SickKids Centre for Research and Learning. Removing the lid to let his herbal tea cool while …
Margaret McCain’s mother had a problem managing her money: she loved giving it away. “She was incorrigible,” McCain says with a chuckle, recalling the predicaments that wild munificence brought. The family farm sunk into deep financial trouble over it, and was to be sold off. The family gathered at the Nova Scotia estate, sat down …
In an otherwise ordinary downtown Toronto office tower, the Hal Jackman Foundation’s 10th-floor University Avenue suite reaches a level of unlikely wonderment. A museum-like foyer where Persian rugs kiss chevron floors and landscape masterpieces coat the walls is just a prelude to the erstwhile lieutenant-governor of Ontario’s penchant for the arts. The former chairman of …
On October 8, 2012, the Canadian arts community lost one of its most beloved and generous supporters. “I remember how his eyes lit up,” says Karen Kain, retired ballerina and the National Ballet of Canada’s artistic director, of her first encounter with Walter Carsen. He reminisced about his experience at a traditional geisha house during …
OnSaturday, May 26, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto held its 18th annual Imperial Ball. This year’s theme was Bauhinia Night – and Bauhinia being the floral emblem of Hong Kong, the evening shimmered with the ambiance of a Chinese garden. The event’s purpose was to raise funds to build a heritage hall at …
On May 30, 2012, the Brain Trust event, ROCK, was held at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex to support the Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital. Performances by Marc Cohn as well as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts transported guests to the era of their favourite tunes for a night …
