The stars were out in downtown Toronto last Tuesday night for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association’s gala honouring 21 high-profile Canadians — including several of the nation’s most influential lawyers — for their contributions to a “rich, diverse and dynamic society.”
Honourees including actor/director Sarah Polley, filmmaker Deepa Mehta, authors Rohinton Mistry and Joseph Boyden, TVO anchor Steve Paikin and Olympic bronze-medal-winning skater Joannie Rochette, joined with 250 other guests to wine and dine on the lawn of historic Campbell House at Queen Street West and University Avenue.
And Salman Rushdie crashed the party — sort of. The controversial novelist originally had been invited but didn’t announce he planned to attend the sold-out gala until just an hour before. (In any case, he got in, and appeared to enjoy himself.)
Earl Cherniak, Marlys Edwardh, Lorne Waldman and Purdy Crawford also were honoured at the June 21 event.
The CCLA fundraiser received considerable support from Toronto’s law community. Sponsors included McCarthy Tétrault, Lerners, Osler, Torys, Lenczner Slaght, Blakes, BLG, Stockwoods, Fasken Martineau and Paliare Roland.
In all, Celebrating Canada raised more than $60,000 for the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust, the CCLA’s public education, research and outreach arm.