The University of The West Indies Toronto Benefit Awards remains the season’s most sought-after affair. The perfect kick-start to spring’s social calendar! The event’s 15th iteration, which took place on Saturday, April 20, lived up to the frisson felt from the Caribbean Plate to the Ritz Carlton, Toronto.

With the event sold-out weeks before and the phone ringing off the hook on the day with hopeful patrons trying to secure seats in the room, there was no surprise that the reception area was soon bursting at the seams.

Inside the ballroom the calm demeanour of Carole Adriaans left little doubt that all would be seamlessly executed. It was! “We are starting on time,” announced the evening’s sartorial-looking compère Dwight Drummond. Soon the pulsating sounds of drums silenced and members of Fiyah Brigade exited the stage. Almost 500 nattily dressed guests slipped into their seats, took note of the bold statement made by Caricom flags on the stage, Grace Hot Pepper Sauce and gorgeous anthurium blooms informing the tablescape.

Dwight Drummond, the multiple award-winning journalist and host of CBC Toronto News at Six, was the evening’s compere.

Scotiabank executives (from left) Maria Theofilaktidis, executive vice-president and chief auditor, Scotiabank; Anya Schnoor, executive vice-president, Caribbean and Central America International Banking, Scotiabank; and Audrey Tugwell Henry, president and CEO, Scotia Group Jamaica Ltd, symbolically light the way for students.

To be clear, The UWI Toronto Benefit Awards is the largest fund-raiser in Canada for The University of the West Indies and, as eager as guests were to catch up, applaud and enjoy photo-ops with the honorees, Caribbean personalities and the indomitable Marci Ien, minister for women and gender equity and youth, their attendance was primarily to lend support to the vision of the university to “Light the Way Together”. And this they did via silent and live auctions, and the live scholarship donation call-out ably executed by Arthur Einav, general counsel, corporate secretary, senior managing partner & co-head, enterprise, shared services, Sprott Inc.

The live scholarship donation call-out ably executed by Arthu Einav, general counsel, corporate secretary, senior managing partner and co-head, enterprise, shared services, Sport Inc.

The powerful impact of the evening’s seven honorees introduced by tribute narrator Michael Anthony Cuffe spoke to the deliberation that went into unearthing stories of relatable resilience. How spirits soared as Justice Hugh Fraser, Raj Kothari, Pamela Appelt, Stanley Julien, Deland Kamanga, Claudette McGowan and Norman Haughton took centre stage to be acknowledged by their people!

Divine Brown, Canadian Juno Award-winning R&B singer and theatre performer, receives a standing ovation after her heartfelt performance of the Canadian national anthem.

As guests transferred the feel-good vibes to the Air Canada after-party, mental notes were made to save the date for the 15th staging.

SO shares this year’s visual feast.