Party Pages: local philanthropists don their dandiest cowboy duds for the Wellspring Henderson Hoedown
Should all Toronto’s ritzy charity galas require guests to wear goofy outfits? Probably not, but last Thursday’s Wellspring Henderson Hoedown had a Western theme, and the well-worn party cliche transformed what could have been just another stuffy fundraiser into a rollicking good time. Monied philanthropists came dressed in their best Western threads—for most, that meant blue jeans, a vintage plaid cowboy shirt and, of course, a big ol’ cowboy hat (though we did spot one woman packing a gun holster with pink cow splotches)—at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel for the 20th annual event to support Wellspring’s efforts to provide relief for individuals, family members and professional caregivers touched by cancer. Guests included a number of media personalities, including Wellspring chair and CBC anchor Nancy Wilson, TVO’ s The Agenda’ s Steve Paikin, Canada AM’ s Beverly Thomson, the CBC’s Wendy Mesley and City TV’ s Cynthia Mulligan. Also in attendance were Jim Treliving, chairman and owner of Boston Pizza and noted dragon on the Dragon’s Den, roaming comedian Ali Badshah, Olympic gold medallist Tessa Bonhomme and Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy, who provided entertainment—and a little romance—during the dinner portion of the evening.
All told, the event raised upward of $1 million for Wellspring. Guests could bid on more than 50 items in the silent auction (our favourite: a lunch date and “lowdown” with Doug Ford ) during the pre-dinner cocktail, which featured a number of Western-themed activities. Naturally, the mechanical bull ride proved to be the main attraction—once the first rider broke the bull-riding ice—but there was also a shootout in the lobby, and wannabe prospectors busily sifted for gold in a makeshift trough. When guests were ushered into the dining hall, Badshah toured the crowd with a camera crew and hammed it up for all to see on two large video screens on either side of the stage. Wellspring CEO Lynda Morrison shared an impassioned—and touching—speech before dinner was served, and after the meal, the main draw finally took to the stage. Cuddy strummed on his guitar and even presided over a live auction—he offered one lucky person the chance to for a personal serenade. Swoon.
134825 (Image: Erin Seaman) Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown_intro.jpg 656 430 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown_intro/ apr12hendersonhoedown_intro 0 0
134799 (Image: Erin Seaman) Yee-haw! Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown18.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown18/ apr12hendersonhoedown18 0 0
Yee-haw!
134798 (Image: Erin Seaman) Guests were welcomed into the dining room by statuesque, shirtless men in perfect cowboy garb. It was on theme—but kind of creepy Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown17.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown17/ apr12hendersonhoedown17 0 0
Guests were welcomed into the dining room by statuesque, shirtless men in perfect cowboy garb. It was on theme—but kind of creepy
134796 (Image: Erin Seaman) Guests had the opportunity to partake in many old-timey Western activities—including panning for gold, engaging in a pistol duel or drinking sarsaparilla at the bar (there actually wasn’t anything particularly old timey about that last one) Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown15.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown15/ apr12hendersonhoedown15 0 0
Guests had the opportunity to partake in many old-timey Western activities—including panning for gold, engaging in a pistol duel or drinking sarsaparilla at the bar (there actually wasn’t anything particularly old timey about that last one)
134794 (Image: Erin Seaman) …and the bull always came out the winner Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown13.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown13/ apr12hendersonhoedown13 0 0
…and the bull always came out the winner
134793 (Image: Erin Seaman) From then on the bull rides were many... Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown12.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown12/ apr12hendersonhoedown12 0 0
From then on the bull rides were many…
134795 (Image: Erin Seaman) The first cowgirl (making her second Wellspring Henderson Hoedown) appearance to ride the mechanical bull ended up ripping its left horn right off Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown14.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown14/ apr12hendersonhoedown14 0 0
The first cowgirl (making her second Wellspring Henderson Hoedown) appearance to ride the mechanical bull ended up ripping its left horn right off
134792 (Image: Erin Seaman) The girl with a table for a dress roamed the room with her bounty of beverages. We didn’t see her spill even a single drop Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown11.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown11/ apr12hendersonhoedown11 0 0
The girl with a table for a dress roamed the room with her bounty of beverages. We didn’t see her spill even a single drop
134790 (Image: Erin Seaman) One of the items up for grabs in the silent auction was a date with Doug Ford. Sadly, Margaret Atwood wasn’t in attendance to register a bid Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown9.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown9/ apr12hendersonhoedown9 0 0
One of the items up for grabs in the silent auction was a date with Doug Ford. Sadly, Margaret Atwood wasn’t in attendance to register a bid
134886 (Image: George Pimentel) Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown19.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown19/ apr12hendersonhoedown19 0 0
Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy
134889 (Image: George Pimentel) CBC host and Wellspring chair Nancy Wilson with friends Jet Belgraver and Herrie Tencate Wellspring-Henderson-Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Wellspring-Henderson-Hoedown-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Wellspring-Henderson-Hoedown.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Wellspring-Henderson-Hoedown.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/wellspring-henderson-hoedown/ wellspring-henderson-hoedown 0 0
CBC host and Wellspring chair Nancy Wilson with friends Jet Belgraver and Herrie Tencate
134787 (Image: Erin Seaman) Packing heat—pink cow spots-style Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown6.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown6/ apr12hendersonhoedown6 0 0
Packing heat—pink cow spots-style
134786 (Image: Erin Seaman) Bobbi Reinholdt, Andy Faas and Wellspring CEO Lynda Morrison Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown5.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown5/ apr12hendersonhoedown5 0 0
Bobbi Reinholdt, Andy Faas and Wellspring CEO Lynda Morrison
134785 (Image: Erin Seaman) Jim Treliving and wife Sandi Treliving Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown4.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown4/ apr12hendersonhoedown4 0 0
Jim Treliving and wife Sandi Treliving
134784 (Image: Erin Seaman) CBC Television host Wendy Mesley Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown3.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown3/ apr12hendersonhoedown3 0 0
CBC Television host Wendy Mesley
134783 (Image: Erin Seaman) City TV reporter Cynthia Mulligan with an event volunteer Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown2.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown2/ apr12hendersonhoedown2 0 0
City TV reporter Cynthia Mulligan with an event volunteer
134782 (Image: Erin Seaman) Dragon Den’s Jim Treliving and Canadian national women’s ice hockey team member and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Bonhomme Wellspring Henderson Hoedown https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/apr12HendersonHoedown1.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/city/wellspring-henderson-hoedown-2012/slide/apr12hendersonhoedown1/ apr12hendersonhoedown1 0 0
Dragon Den’s Jim Treliving and Canadian national women’s ice hockey team member and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Bonhomme