Jacqueline Desmarais, patron of the musical arts and benefactor of young musicians, and Frank Gehry, iconoclastic architect and design visionary, were honored by the Council for Canadian American Relations (CCAR) at its 40th anniversary Gala dinner in New York City at a private club on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
Despite the torrential downpours, there was no dampening of style spirit at the fancy affair of women in elegant dresses and men in black-tie ensemble.
Handsome guests of prominent dignitaries, as well as leaders in business, the arts, and public life from both countries, partaking in tasty bites of mini-franks, crab cakes and lobster endive, was just the beginning of an evening highlighting the accomplishments of its distinguished honorees, whose contributions have made a significant difference in the arts and culture of both Canada and the United States.
Two prominent women enjoying time together included Christine Schwarzman, wife of American business magnate Stephen, and Rita Bronfman, wife of Charles from the Canadian Seagram dynasty.
The impromptu performance of two opera singers up-top the marble staircase followed by attendants ushering us into the main dining room via xylophone made for a memorable evening.
Guests that attended included: David and Carol Appel, Count and Countess Arco, Michael Audain, Ashleigh Banfield, Aszure Barton, Dennis Basso, Charles and Rita Bronfman, Geoff Beattie and Amanda Lang, Lucien Bouchard, Zita Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien, Brad Cloepfil and Lisa Strasfeld, Tom d’ Aquino, Sophie Desmarais and Daniel Valoatto, Ambassador Gary Doer, Rupert Duchesne, Dee Dee Taylor Eustace, Leslie Feely, James Fleck, Robert Foster, Sam Gehry, Peter Gelb, Peter Herrndorf and Eva Czigler, Ambassador Bruce and Vicky Heyman, Ambassador David and Julie Jacobson, Bank of Montreal, Hélène de Kovachich and Pierre Marc Johnson, Greg Kane and Adrian Burns, Dorothy Kosinski and Thomas Krähenbühl, Phyllis Lambert, Robert Lepage, Jessica London, Robert McEwen, Diana McQueen, David Mirvish, Brian and Mila Mulroney, Anthony Munk, Kent Nagano and Madeleine Careau, Judy Ney and Lee Elman, Gordon Nixon, David and Gail O’Brien, Gordon and Dailey Pattee, Dominique Poirier, Consul General John Prato, John and Phyllis Rae, Ambassador Guillermo E. Rishchynski, Leon and Paula Root, Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary Ross, Francois Roy, Dame Jillian Sackler, Stephen and Christine Schwarzman, Jay Smith, Lesley S. Smith, Frank and Harriet Stella, Peter Stringham, Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, Matthew Tietelbaum, Stephane Tétreault, Arni Thornsteinson, John and Lauren Veronis, and Hilary and Galen Weston.
Pictured:
Christine Schwarzman, Rita Bronfman