Skip to main content

Dinner in honour of interior designer Nicky Haslam, New York

’Round and ’round the world he goes – Nicky Haslam, that is, the globetrotting, party-hopping interior designer with friends in all the right places. For his latest tome A Designer’s Life, published by Rizzoli, a swish New York dinner was given by PR whiz Peggy Siegal, Misha Nonoo, Amanda Foreman and Shelley Wanger at legendary dining room La Grenouille on March 9 to celebrate. I had a chance last year, when Haslam was in Toronto for the Design Exchange’s Rise Up fundraiser, to flip through an advanced copy of the book, part rich visual feast of Haslam’s elegant interiors created for the likes of Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry and Charles Saatchi and part scrapbook of Haslam’s rise to the top, including time spent at Vogue and Warhol’s factory. Spotted in the low-lit, highly glamorous space was designer Carolina Herrera and husband, Reinaldo; Paddle8 co-founder Alexander Gilkes; writers Alexandra Kotur, Amy Fine Collins and Bob Colacello (whom Haslam called “nearly a god” during his speech); NH Design creative director Colette van den Thillart; The Globe and Mail’s weekend and features editor, Gabe Gonda, and his wife, Victoria Webster; artist Hugo Guinness; and society legends Lee Radziwill, Mica Ertegun and Mercedes Bass.

(Photos by Marion Curtis)

Alexander Gilkes and Carolina Herrera

Nicky Haslam and Lee Radziwill

Inside La Grenouille

Mercedes Bass

The Ireland Fund of Canada Long Luncheon, Toronto

The sound of Guinness cans opening filled the Toronto Convention Centre recently, and drink they did, the crowd of 1,200 or so, for a cause of course – The Ireland Fund of Canada. The St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, this year held in Toronto on March 13, is the largest fundraising celebration for the foundation, which aims to promote connections between Canadians of Irish descent (the worldwide fund operates in 11 other countries) and the country of their ancestry to support cultural development and integrated education. This year, the afternoon affair (although hard to tell in the decidedly dim lit space) was a tribute of sorts for the late Honourable Jim Flaherty. The former federal minister of finance was proud of his Irish roots (and a green neck-tie collection to prove it!) and was also a great supporter of the Ireland Fund of Canada, where his annual comedy laced remarks were a highlight of luncheons past. Charles Flanagan, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, presented Christine Elliott, deputy leader, Ontario PC Party with the Ireland Fund’s “Bird and Bell Award” in recognition of her husband’s contributions to Irish culture and society. Flaherty joins a list of past recipients including Hon. Hilary Weston, Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume and Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds. Among those who made remarks to the crowd, paying tribute to the late Flaherty while noting the impressive economic growth in Ireland (which boasts the fastest growing economy in the European union), was Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and native of Northern Ireland; Hon. Joe Oliver, minister of finance; Kiernan McLoughlin, president and CEO of The World Ireland Fund; and Oliver Murray, Chair of the Ireland fund of Canada. Also in attendance to raise a pint to Mr. Flaherty; Toronto police chief Bill Blair; labour and women’s issues minister Kellie Leitch; recently retired minister of foreign affairs John Baird and Seamus O’Regan, event emcee and Liberal candidate for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. Those from corporate Canada included former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Harper and chief of staff to Jim Flaherty, Derek Vanstone, now vice-president, corporate strategy, industry and government affairs for Air Canada; Vale Canada COO, Conor Spollen; RBC Capital Market’s head of global equities, Greg Mills and Sunlife Financial CFO Colm Freyne.

(Photos by Nolan Bryant)

John McDermott

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell

Students from the Celtic Dance Centre

Seamus O’Regan

The Canada Club’s spring reception with Muhammad Yunus and Allison McCain, London

HRH Queen Elizabeth reopened the home of Canada’s high commissioner Gordon Campbell last month with great pomp after a lengthy $20-million revamp. Canada House, located on Trafalgar Square, serves as a front door of sorts for Canadians in the U.K. On March 3, it served as a chic, art-filled backdrop (the space features Vancouver lighting designer Omer Arbel’s impressive stairwell installation and work by St. John’s-based artist Will Gill, among many others) for the spring 2015 Canada Club Reception with a special guest: Nobel Prize-winning economic and social developer Muhammad Yunus and his business partner Allison McCain, chair of McCain Foods. Also in attendance, spotted mingling in the newly opened space: BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet; Free the Children foundation founder Craig Kielburger; and Lisa Tomas, chair of the Canada Club.

(Photos by Amanda Clay)

From left: Allison McCain, Clare Whelton-McCain and Lyse Doucet

Social activist Craig Kielburger

Muhammad Yunus