from left to right: Anne-Marie Canning, Sisterhood Soiree Event Chair; Devyani Saltzman, Deepa Mehta’s daughter; filmmaker Deepa Mehta; Valerie Pringle, television broadcaster; George Friedmann, owner of the Windsor Arms Hotel and "honorary Sister"; Penny Shore, event organizer and a supporter.

WHEN It may have been dreary and raining, but hundreds of dedicated socialites and party-goers put on their best duds and faced mother nature on the evening of Wednesday, May 27 to whoop it up in style in support of the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

WHERE The grand lobby of the elegant Windsor Arms Hotel was transformed into a rose-tinted, champagne soaked affair with nary a man in sight-except for the buff, pink t-shirt clad butlers ready to serve each woman’s every whim… and of course hotel owner George Friedmann, who was made honorary "sister" for donating the lobby for the soiree.

WHAT The Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Sisterhood Soiree, a beautiful ball in honour of the 400 local women who generously gave their time, energy and funds to help move one other woman each out of poverty through the "Women Moving Women" campaign, whose aim is to provide low-income women with the skills and life tools they need to stand on their own two feet. "The cost of doing this is approximately $2500 per woman," explains Anne-Marie Canning, event chair. "Each of these amazing ladies has pledged that $2500 to in effect put their hand out and say ‘I will help to bring one other woman out of poverty.’"

WHO High-profile Canadian women including Chantal Kreviazuk, Deepa Mehta and host Valerie Pringle joined the 400 charitable "ladies who lunch" to celebrate raising $1 million for the "Women Moving Women" campaign. Revelers (many of whom donned pink frocks and all of whom were sipping pink cocktails) included community leaders like Margot Franssen (we can thank her for bringing The Body Shop to Canada), Helen Ching-Kircher (President of Downtown Porche) and guest speaker Kim Jeremic-Redekop (president of Ricki’s, retailer of stylish workplace attire in Winnipeg) who shared her story of growing up in poverty and the importance giving hope to those in need. "I remember how it felt to go to school and pretend to be like everyone else when things were so difficult at home," she says. "I’m very passionate today about giving women the opportunity to find their potential and their talent because I believe every woman has a talent-she just needs the opportunity to build her confidence and express what that is."

 

from left to right: Anne-Marie Canning, Sisterhood Soiree Event Chair; Devyani Saltzman, Deepa Mehta’s daughter; filmmaker Deepa Mehta; Valerie Pringle, television broadcaster; George Friedmann, owner of the Windsor Arms Hotel and "honorary Sister"; Penny Shore, event organizer and a supporter.

WHY For Chantal Kreviazuk, who showed her support by performing at the event, it’s all about empowerment. "I don’t want to get all women’s lib-y about it, but women have a pretty tough job and unfortunately they get stuck holding the bag a lot," she says. "So when a program comes along that empowers women and give them the tools they need to improve their quality of life rather then just giving a handout, I think it’s a great opportunity."

And according to event chair Anne-Marie Canning when you help women, you change the world. And she’s really not exaggerating. "Women are the foundation, the community builders, the glue that keeps everything together," she explains. "You’re not only helping to change one woman, you’re changing the lives of her children, you’re changing what happens in her community, you’re strengthening the whole fabric of our society."