THE SCENE: An Unforgettable Night at the sixth annual benefit for the Alzheimer Society
THE SCENE: An Unforgettable Night at the sixth annual benefit for the Alzheimer Society
By Simone Olivero | October 7, 2011
By Simone Olivero | 10/07/2011
Maureen McTeer and Margaret Trudeau
On Wednesday night, the Four Seasons Hotel was bursting with honorary guests for the sixth annual Alzheimer Society Unforgettable Night gala in honour of all Canadians who care for someone with dementia. Mila Mulroney joked that “there’s no first wives club in Canadian politics,” and yet the room was filled with them: Gellis Turner (wife of John Turner, who was also present), Margaret Trudeau and Maureen McTeer came together in support of the cause despite their differing political views. The mixed crowd included Michael Ignatieff and wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar , Ben Mulroney and wife Jessica Brownstein , theatre community darling Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia ) and actress Fiona Reid (King of Kensington ), among others. Check out the scene and find out who made a special surprise performance after the jump.
Host of the evening and CBC correspondent Amanda Lang got it right when she said, “This is not a disease that touches strangers.” Despite the energy in the room, the mood had a sombre undertone as guests sipped champagne and politely posed for pictures against the backdrops of screens streaming personal stories of people affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. Time and time again we were reminded of the 500,000 Canadians currently living with Alzheimer’s and how that statistic is expected to double in a generation (yikes). Halfway through dinner, guests were honoured with a performance by Canadian Tenor Remigio Pereira , who belted it out like only a tenor can. During his performance, fellow tenor Victor Micaleff suddenly emerged from the back of the room and joined Pereira on stage for a surprise performance (no one looked more excited than superfan Ben Mulroney). It was definitely a performance to remember, and with the night raising nearly $500,000, we hope this marks the near end of such an unforgiving ailment.
94390 Gellis Turner, Christian Bode and Jane Kinney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5689-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5689.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5689.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5689/ asp_5689 0 0
94391 Gellis Turner and guest Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5719-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5719.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5719.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5719/ asp_5719 0 0
94392 Former prime minister John Turner and wife Gellis Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5753-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5753.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5753.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5753/ asp_5753 0 0
94393 Louise Pitre and Joe Matheson Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5771-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5771.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5771.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5771/ asp_5771 0 0
94394 Deloitte in Canada’s managing partner and chief executive Alan and Glynis MacGibbon Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5778-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5778.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5778.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5778/ asp_5778 0 0
94395 Executive chair of Just Energy Rebecca MacDonald (second from left) with guests Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5795-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5795.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5795.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5795/ asp_5795 0 0
94396 Jessica Mulroney, Ben Mulroney, Caroline Lapham Mulroney, Mila Mulroney and Vanessa Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5807-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5807.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5807.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5807/ asp_5807 0 0
94397 Senator Jerry Grafstein and wife Carole Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5812-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5812.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5812.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5812/ asp_5812 0 0
94398 Mila Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5816-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5816.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5816.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5816/ asp_5816 0 0
94399 Mila Mulroney, Alzheimer Society of Toronto board member Jane Kinney and guest Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5821-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5821.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5821.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5821/ asp_5821 0 0
94400 Michael Ignatieff and Christian Bode Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5829-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5829.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5829.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5829/ asp_5829 0 0
94401 Michael Ignatieff and Zsuzsanna Zsohar Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5830-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5830.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5830.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5830/ asp_5830 0 0
94402 Shinan Govani, Gellis Turner and Carole Grafstein Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5839-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5839.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5839.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5839/ asp_5839 0 0
94403 Margaret Trudeau and daughter Alisha Kemper Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5860-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5860.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5860.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5860/ asp_5860 0 0
94405 Ben Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5869-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5869.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5869.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5869/ asp_5869 0 0
94406 Mark and Vanessa Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5873-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5873.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5873.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5873/ asp_5873 0 0
94407 Vanessa Mulroney, Jessica Mulroney, Margaret Trudeau, Maureen McTeer, Gellis Turner and Mila Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5878-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5878.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5878.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5878/ asp_5878 0 0
94408 Maureen McTeer and Margaret Trudeau Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5889-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5889.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5889.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5889/ asp_5889 0 0
94409 Wives of former Canadian prime ministers: Margaret Trudeau, Maureen McTeer, Gellis Turner and Mila Mulroney Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5891-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5891.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5891.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5891/ asp_5891 0 0
94410 Maureen McTeer Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5899-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5899.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5899.jpg 624 940 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5899/ asp_5899 0 0
94411 Pianist Darryn DeSouza with Canadian Tenors Remigio Pereira and Victor Micaleff Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5912-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5912.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ASP_5912.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/asp_5912/ asp_5912 0 0
94412 CBC’s Amanda Lang Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3579-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3579.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3579.jpg 624 938 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/ktp_3579/ ktp_3579 0 0
94413 Canadian Tenor Remigio Pereira and wife Viviana Chantel Rosati Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3599-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3599.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3599.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/ktp_3599/ ktp_3599 0 0
94414 Canadian Tenors Remigio Pereira and Victor Micaleff Unforgettable Evening gala to benefit the Alzheimer Society https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3984-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3984.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/KTP_3984.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/unforgettable-night-gala-to-benefit-alzheimer-society/slide/ktp_3984/ ktp_3984 0 0
Really, Remigio is now married?