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The Book Lover’s Ball, Toronto

There’s something about letting loose in a usually off-limits space that even the most lavish hotel ballroom can’t replicate. One such event, The Book Lover’s Ball, took place in Toronto on Feb. 5; held in the Toronto Reference Library for the first time, Canadian authors, patrons of the written word and literary enthusiasts drank, dined and danced in support of the reference library’s remarkable collections and forward-thinking programming. The annual fundraiser, now in its 10th year, has raised over $3.6-million over the past decade. At the Feb. 5 fete, cocktail hour took place in the curving atrium designed by architect Raymond Moriyama in the late 1970s; dinner was served between the stacks with one seat at each table reserved for an author, among them Maureen Jennings, 2014 Writer’s Trust Award winner Miriam Toews, Claire Cameron, Michael Winter, Andrew Pyper and Conrad Black. The evening was hosted by the CBC’s Gill Deacon and Matt Galloway, co-chaired by Helen Burstyn and Amy Burstyn Fritz and attended by Toronto Public Library Foundation president Heather Rumball, RP Investment Advisors’ Andrew Pringle and his journalist wife Valerie, novelist and poet Dionne Brand, TV personalities Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, philanthropist Margaret McCain, Trinity Jackman and Marcus Doyle, The Printing House Limited chairman and founder Earle O’Born and his wife Janice and the TD Bank Group’s Alan Convery.

(Photos by George Pimentel)

The CBC’s Matt Galloway and Gill Deacon, co-hosts of The Book Lover’s Ball.

From left, Amy Burstyn Friz and Helen Burstyn, co-chairs of The Book Lover’s Ball.

Greta Podleski and David Chilton.

Dinner between the stacks.

The Canadian Film Centre gala, Toronto

On. Feb 4, the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) hosted its 21st annual gala, this year titled Televisionaries, in celebration of the institution’s global television partnerships, the foundation’s renowned talent and the CFC alumni who have contributed to countless productions internationally. The yearly gala and auction is the CFC’s biggest fundraising event; this year’s co-chairs, Steven DeNure of DHX Media Ltd., Christina Jennings of Shaftesbury and John Morayniss of Entertainment One Television, helped set the record for the most funds raised toward the centre’s programs, which focus on building a foundation and future for Canadian talent in the fields of film, television and music. Throughout dinner, guests including TV and film directors/producers Patricia Rozema, Marty Katz and Don McKellar, actors Annie Murphy, Amy Jo Johnson and Jonny Harris and philanthropists Karen and Michael Vukets, Paul and Alessandra Dalla Lana and Donna and Gary Slaight were treated to performances by singer-songwriter Nefe and Albertaborn singer Theo. Not in attendance but there in spirit was the CFC’s founder, legendary filmmaker Norman Jewison, who helped kick off the evening with a welcome message to guests from his California home.

(Photos by George Pimentel)

OMERS Ventures CEO John Ruffolo with Carryn Ruffolo.

James Watt, divisional vice-president and general manager of sales and service at Holt Renfrew, with Lisa Tant, vice-president of exclusive services and store experience at Holts.

Christina Bylyna and CFC CEO Slawko Klymkiw.

From left, director and CFC alumnus Don McKellar with David Daniels, principal of Daniels Capital Group.