On Thursday, November 25, 2021, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) returned to Bloor-Yorkville for the 25th Anniversary of Bloor Street Entertains. The evening. Which included 16 intimate dining experiences and four after-parties, raised 1.1 million dollars thanks to the generosity and support of its donors, the team at ESP Inc. and a host of amazing event partners. Carrying on the decade-long partnership – students in Seneca’s Event Management – Creative The Design program had the opportunity to participate in this incredible event by designing five locations.
ESP Inc’s Principal Chad Brincheski was more than eager to get back to planning BSE this year and found to his delight that even after a tenuous couple of years, the majority of partners from previous years were also happy to jump in and support the event. Dealing with pandemic restrictions and ever-changing guidelines, the teams had their work cut out for them and made sure a plan to pivot if needed was securely in place and adapted throughout the planning phase.
Producing BSE during the pandemic meant logistical challenges would arise. They each added an additional layer to an already challenging execution, whether big or small.
The event plan for this year included a broadcast to be shown at each venue so CANFAR could share its messaging across to all its guests and make everyone feel part of the community.
This required AV to be sourced or installed at each venue, formatting the video for many different screens, a volunteer from the venue to operate it, and a dress rehearsal at 17 venues the night before the event to ensure everyone was comfortable playing the videos.
At a time when this event was already scaling logistical walls, the one thing no one expected happened: one of our venues flooded the night before BSE! A new location had to be sourced and set up within hours, including staffing, catering, rentals, design, and managing to redirect all guests and deliveries.
“With guest safety top of mind and ever-changing gathering restrictions, we produced four unique after parties and invited the 800 guests from the 17 dinners to the optimal location.” Chad Brincheski,ESP Inc.
To ensure guest safety, the capacities were capped at 50, which was the restriction at the time of the event announcement. ESP sent out COVID protocols to all guests ahead of time, including contact tracing of all 700 guests, double-vaccinated guests only, vaccine passports, and limited socializing outside of their table.
Four unique post-dinner receptions needed to be created as equally as impressive and immersive experiences to ensure each felt like it was “THE place to feel as though it was the place to be. And, given capacities were tightly restricted, making sure guests knew which reception they were invited to so that one venue didn’t have an influx of guests posed another hurdle. One of the venues even included a car service to pick up the guests from their dinner venue and bring them to the post-dinner reception.
Planning BSE is always a highlight of the year for ESP and an event dear to their hearts. By design, it is a logistical feat at the best of times, but this year, it was in a league all its own amid the challenges of the time, uncertainty, and a revolving door. But after being unable to gather for this critically important fundraiser in 2020, Chad, the event partners, the venues, the sponsors, and the students were evermore committed to making it a success. Which indeed it was.
It’s always a pleasure to support this longstanding event & fundraiser. Our dinner brought people together, where they enjoyed good company, ate delicious food, and savoured amazing wine. Despite COVID with its restrictions, the intimate dinner we created raised incredible funds and awareness to the cause; a true testament that CANFAR continues to be successful against all odds.” Corbin Tomaszeski, Corbin Catering, and Foods
Bloor Street Entertains, the 25th anniversary, presented so many challenges for our organization. In addition to dealing with the ongoing pandemic, we had to create event spaces that felt safe and welcoming for all our guests and donors.
We hosted four after-dinner red carpet-events this year, which presented our event
management team ESP with next-level logistical challenges. We were lucky to identify four different locations that catered to four different groups of participants. One of which required us to transport 140 people from Bloor Street to King West, a first for CANFAR; needless to say, our priorities were always to keep people safe and follow proper protocols, all at the same time as creating an experience that would be memorable for the 25th anniversary of Bloor Street Entertains.
“We are truly grateful for the dedication and passion for the ESP team led by Chad and Jenna; we could not have done it without them.”
－－Alex Filiatrault,CANFAR
Juno award – winner singer Molly Johnson in Bloor Street Entertains 2021 teaser reel.
Venues and Retail Storefronts
Brunello Cucinelli,Christian Louboutin, Dolce & Gabbana, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, ardiner Museum,Harry Rosen,Holt Renfrew, Louis Vuitton,LUMAS,Park Hyatt,RIMOWA, Taglialatella Galleries,Tiffany & Co.,The Webster, Vintage Conservatory,William Ashley
Caterers
Corbin Catering and Foods,Sofia Yorkville, Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality,Café Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto,Food Dudes, Presidential Gourmet,Holts Café, Ascari, Daniel et Daniel,Park Hyatt,Encore Catering, Vintage Conservatory, Toben Food By Design.
Decorators
San Remo Floral Design,Rose Prick,Jackie O, Oudalova Events & Design, Seneca College,Artam Design, Earthwork,Aragon Cruz, The New Leaf,Quince Flowers,Aubé Studios, Fresh Florals Creations,Emblem Flowers, Opening Night Flowers, Inspire Design Studio.
Early into the school year, the students were put into five teams and appointed a faculty (or alumni) the lead, venue, culinary and floral partner, and a rental company. The colours, textures and style scapes proposed varied with diverse locations from Harry Rosen to Rimowa, the Gardiner Museum to Lumas Gallery, and the newly renovated Park Hyatt.After a site visit to their respective locations, the students created inspiration boards that accentuated the venue’s ambiance, aligned with their brand, and utilized products from their assigned rental partners, all while keeping CANFAR top of mind.
The student experience continued as each team compiled a rental order to support the culinary partner’s menu and coordinate with the design vision.Determining a floor plan, designing print materials, selecting a napkin fold, and building a production schedule were just a few of the additional responsibilities required at each location.
Location : Rimowa, Caterer : Encore Catering, Florist : Quince Flower
Rentals : Higgins Event Rental, Linens : Chair Decor, Seneca Lead : Scott McAllister.
The highlight for the Seneca students is the rush of execution. As with every event, challenges arise.This year, the students received first-hand experience learning the art of flexibility and problem-solving as one of their venues flooded overnight. This resulted in a last-minute venue, menu, and rental change, which needed to be done in only a few hours,including moving product displays and rentals and resetting intimate tablescapes for guest arrival. For most students, that was their first experience seeing an event design transpires from inspiration to installation; and their energy, enthusiasm, and excitement were infectious.
With lights dimmed and candles lit, the guests arrived to enjoy their unique dining experience while students headed offsite. After the dinner was complete and the guests moved on to their respective after-parties, the students returned to
strike their events – ensuring that each space was ready for business the following morning.
Bloor Street Entertains is an absolute highlight of the year for Seneca, a beautiful and glamorous evening for a special cause. And literally at the centre of it all are beautiful creations by our students, led by our expert faculty, transforming stores and galleries and spaces into stunning dining rooms for CANFAR supporters and guests. We are proud to showcase our talented students at this wonderful event with amazing venues, great food and wine, and terrific company.” — President – David Agnew, Seneca College.
Location: Four Seasons, Caterer: Four Seasons, Florist: Artam Design Inc.
Rentals: Four Seasons, Higgins Event Rentals
Linens: Chair Decor
Seneca Lead: Jenya Hart
Location : Park Hyatt, Caterer : Park Hyatt, Florist : Jackie-O Rentals : Park Hyatt
Linens : Chair Decor, Seneca Lead : Nicole Di Carlo
Location : Gardiner Museum, Caterer : The Food Dudes, Florist : Artham Design Inc.
Rentals : Chairman Mills, Linens : Chair Decor, Seneca Lead : Brittany Ockrant
Location : Harry Rosen, Caterer : President Gourmet, Florist : Artam Design Inc., Rentals : Event Rental Group, Linens : Chair Decor, Seneca Lead : Joh MacBride.
Learn how you can support CANFAR by visiting www.canfar.com. To view the work of ESP Inc.,visit www.espinc.ca. More information about the Event Management-Creative Design
program at Seneca College can be found at www.senecacollege.ca. For additional images follow ＃SenecaEventCreativeDesign.