On Thursday, May 16, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens held its prestigious annual benefit gala in the home of Les Grands Ballets located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, welcoming over 250 guests from the Quebec corporate sector. Co-chaired by Mathieu Talbot, Vice President, Business Services Group and Corporate Banking at Desjardins, and Martin Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solotech, the event raised more than $530,000 in support of the creation fund.
This fund is essential to the renewal of the company's repertoire, enabling Les Grands Ballets to perpetuate the ballet tradition with flair and audacity, and to continue captivating audiences of all generations. The gala represents much more than just a social event, it is a grand gesture of generosity and commitment to culture and the arts from the business community.
The evening began with a cocktail reception, followed by a gourmet dinner served on the Studio-Théâtre stage. Guests were able to admire several performances featuring highlights from iconic ballets such as Giselle and Don Quixote, just a few feet away from them. Our guests also spent the evening sitting next to some of our dancers, getting a unique perspective on their fascinating careers, before being invited to join them on the dance floor to wrap up this magical night in style.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our honorary co-presidents and to all our guests for their support and generosity. Our partners Clarins and Roche Bobois not only contributed generously to our silent auction, but also made the cocktail reception even more delightful with a photobooth and a comfortable lounge area. The 4-course dinner was beautifully paired with a selection of wines from the SAQ.
Among our notable guests, we were honoured to welcome Christine Fréchette, Member of Parliament for Sanguinet and Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration, Philippe Adam, President and CEO of Pomerleau, Filipe Da Silva, CFO of Alimentation Couche-Tard, Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of BDC, Jean-Yves Germain, Co-President, and Marie-Pier Germain, Vice-President Sales and Marketing of Germain Hôtels, François Dumontier, President and CEO of Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, and Julie Snyder, host and producer, Productions J. The presence of Katia Mead, daughter of Ludmilla Chiriaeff, was also a highlight of the evening, emphasizing the importance of continuing to uphold the precious legacy of our visionary founder.
Ivan Cavallari
Artistic Director
Marc Lalonde
Executive Director
Ludmilla Chiriaeff
Founder
Constance V. Pathy, C.M., C.Q., D.Mus.
President Emeritus
Gradimir Pankov
Artistic Director Emeritud
Anne Lassonde, Director of Philanthropic Development
Camille Le Bihan, Senior Project Manager, Fundraising, Sponsorships and Events
Yannick Frégeau, Coordinator, Events and Volunteers
Alicia Coche, Coordinator, Fundraising and Database Management
Sonia Picot, Coordinator, Sponsorship and Communications
Mireille Lavigne, Senior Advisor, Donations and Foundations
Élise Côté, Coordinator, Donations and Foundations
Hervé Courtain, Marina Villanueva, Ballet Masters
Steve Coutereel, Artistic Coordinator
Stéphan Pépin, Production Director
Benoît Archambault, Technical Director
Erik Lapierre, Technical Director, Studios GB
Gabrielle Lemoine-Brin, Production Coordinator
Jasmine Kamruzzaman, Stage Manager
Mélanie Ferrero, Manager, Wardrobe
Louisanne Lamarre, Assistant to the Manager
Kéli Alexandre, Principal Cutter
Jessica Meghan Marcotte, First Assistant Cutter
Emilie Lévesque-Tremblay, Wardrobe Assistant
Marie-Hélène Gravel, Project Manager
Julie Pelletier, Buyer
Christelle Deforceville, Clerk
Pierre Lavoie, Lightning Designer
Roberto D’Avanzo, Head of video
Aidan Mc Cormack, Head of sound
Mike Arnold, Head Stage Carpenter
Pierre Berthiaume, Property Master
Patrick Carrière, Head Lighting Technician
Dominic Drouin, Head Electrician
Denise Morin, Head Dresser
