The Rosens, the Nugents and other monied guests walked like Egyptians at the Fandango gala
Wannabe Cleopatras, pharaohs and sultans took over the Ritz-Carlton on Saturday night, causing the doorman to do a double-take as guests arrived for the annual Fandango fundraiser in support of Bridgepoint Health . This year’s theme was “On the Nile,” and the 450 guests were encouraged to shake things up by dressing with Egyptian “flair.” To our surprise, many did, and in place of the typical stuffy attire befitting a society affair, we saw snake-adorned crowns, towering gold and black nemes headdresses, kohl-lined eyes, jewel-encrusted baubles, flowing robes and sequined loin cloths (often worn on top of tuxedos). Among the monied guests were Catherine and David Nugent , W. Bruce C. Bailey , Shangri-La’ s Alex Filiatrault, Evelyn and Harry Rosen, dapper duo Andy Body and Alan Hanlon and politicos Jerry Grafstein, Mike Harris , Paula Fletcher and David Shiner .
Outside the ballroom, the crowd roared with laughter as costumed guests made their grand entrances. Nooks were adorned with draped muslin, heavy lanterns, hookahs and bowls of pomegranates to keep on theme, and guests nibbled on falafel and fresh watermelon. The massive silent auction stretched along both sides of the room and featured vintage wines, spa getaways, fine jewellery, shopping experiences and a framed print of Cher wearing a cowboy hat (because, um, why not?).
Guest were lured into the ballroom-cum-bazaar by a train of brightly dressed belly dancers—they weaved through the room as waiters brought out the Middle Eastern-themed menu of fattoush, pilaf and basboosa. Host Ken Shaw joked, “If tomorrow is Mother’s Day, then today is mummies day.” (Oh, lordy.) The event raised over $600,000 (not including a generous $300,000 donation from Steve Hudson of Element Financial Corporation) toward Bridgepoint’s mission to meet the challenges of complex chronic disease. We are sad to report that the Bangles did not hit the stage after dinner (but that didn’t stop guests from putting on their dancing shoes).
137744 (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INTRO-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INTRO.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/INTRO.jpg 652 493 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/intro-5/ intro-5 0 0
137738 Fandango co-chairs Vivian Abdelmessih and Dr. David Dixon (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7281-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7281.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7281.jpg 624 884 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7281/ spr_7281 0 0
137739 Sun Life Financial’s Tracey Baker and Linda MacKenzie (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7299-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7299.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7299.jpg 624 803 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7299/ spr_7299 0 0
137740 Gala committee member Linda Netten Hodgson and Tim Hodgson (recently retired as special advisor to the Governor of the<br />
Bank of Canada) (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7316-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7316.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7316.jpg 624 831 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7316/ spr_7316 0 0
137741 Fandango committee members and philanthropists Andy Body and Alan Hanlon (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7336-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7336.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7336.jpg 624 856 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7336/ spr_7336 0 0
137742 Postmedia Network president and CEO Paul Godfrey and Gina Godfrey (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7351-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7351.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7351.jpg 624 787 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7351/ spr_7351 0 0
137743 Shangri-La Hotel’s director of sales and marketing Alex Filiatrault and Mary Symons (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7394-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7394.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7394.jpg 624 840 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7394/ spr_7394 0 0
137745 Bridgepoint Health Foundation chair Phil Arthur and TD CFO Colleen Johnston (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7401-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7401.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7401.jpg 652 493 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7401/ spr_7401 0 0
137746 Evelyn and Harry Rosen (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7419-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7419.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7419.jpg 624 818 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7419/ spr_7419 0 0
137747 Camille Bacchus and senator Art Eggleton (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7450-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7450.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7450.jpg 624 850 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7450/ spr_7450 0 0
137748 Jennifer Carter, president of Hermès Canada (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7470-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7470.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7470.jpg 624 825 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7470/ spr_7470 0 0
137750 Former premier of Ontario Mike Harris and Laura Harris (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7484-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7484.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7484.jpg 624 803 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7484/ spr_7484 0 0
137751 Bridgepoint Health vice-president of operations Janak Jass and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7495-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7495.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7495.jpg 624 856 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7495/ spr_7495 0 0
137761 Standing:<br />
Philanthropist David Nugent, The Ensil Group of Companies president and CEO Farsad Kiani and Bridgepoint Health Founadation senior development officer Catherine Nugent<br />
<br />
Seated:<br />
Maureen Squibb and XactScribe Inc founder and former president of the Indo-Canada chamber of commerce Pradeep Sood (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8045-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8045.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8045.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_8045/ spr_8045 0 0
137754 Porter Airlines president and CEO Robert Deluce and Chestnut Park Real Estate president and CEO Catherine Deluce (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7447-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7447.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7447.jpg 624 812 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7447/ spr_7447 0 0
137755 Diamond Schmitt Architects’ Greg Colucci, Bridgepoint Health chair Dr. Renée Lyons (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7840-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7840.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7840.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7840/ spr_7840 0 0
137756 Entrepreneur and co-founder of Trivial Pursuit John Haney and Velvet Haney (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7854-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7854.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7854.jpg 624 815 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7854/ spr_7854 0 0
137757 Renee Welling, Mike Castles and writer and former model Velvet Haney (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7914-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7914.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7914.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7914/ spr_7914 0 0
137758 Angela Zaccak, , Diamond Schmitt Architects principal Greg Colucci<br />
and PCL Constructors Canada Inc. manager Darius Zaccak (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7974-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7974.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7974.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7974/ spr_7974 0 0
137763 Mount Sinai board member Carole Grafstein and CFTO News anchor and Fandango MC Ken Shaw (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8296-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8296.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8296.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_8296/ spr_8296 0 0
137759 Principal at Heidrick and Struggles Michelle Fiebig and managing director and head of retail structured products at CIBC Investment Banking Michael Shuh (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8002.jpg 624 768 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_8002/ spr_8002 0 0
137760 Susan Shoukri and president and vice chancellor of York University Mamdouh Shoukri (Image: George Pimentel)<br />
Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8019-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8019.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8019.jpg 624 838 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_8019/ spr_8019 0 0
137762 Bridgepoint Health chair Ted Freedman, Element Financial Corporation CEO Steve Hudson, Bridgepoint Health president and CEO Marian Walsh and Bridgepoint Health Foundation chair Phil Arthur (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8117-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8117.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_8117.jpg 624 499 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_8117/ spr_8117 0 0
137753 Harry Rosen and Catherine Nugent (Image: George Pimentel) Fandango gala https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7416-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7416.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SPR_7416.jpg 624 793 {"copyright":"Sonia Recchia \/ Pimentel Photo"} https://torontolife.com/city/ritz-carlton-bridgepoint-health-fandango-gala-2012/slide/spr_7416/ spr_7416 0 0