We feel like this year’s Spinal Chord Gala was the best yet! Thank you for supporting ICORD and the Vancouver Cantata Singers. We’re especially grateful for this year’s sponsors, whose contributions make our event possible.
To view photos from the event, please visit silver sponsors Edward Lai Photography and Butter Photo Booth, as well as this gallery by Jesse Read.
Excited for the Spinal Chord Gala this Saturday? So are we! Here’s some information you should know.
Programme for Saturday October 24, 2015.
| 6:45 pm | Doors open |
| 7:35 pm | Welcome | Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 8:15 pm | Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 8:25 pm | First raffle draw | Decadent Descent begins |
| 8:45 pm | Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 9:15 pm | Second raffle draw |
| 9:25 pm | Silent Auction Table 1 closes |
| 9:35 pm | Silent Auction Table 2 closes |
| 9:45 pm | Silent Auction Table 3 closes |
| 10:30 pm | Gala ends |
What should I wear?
Spinal Chord is a great opportunity to shine in your sequins and dazzle in your tux. Cocktail attire is definitely appropriate. A free coat check will be available for overcoats and umbrellas.
[Makeup hint: if you are moved to tears by beautiful music, consider waterproof mascara for the evening!]
Where can I park?
If you are driving to the gala, there is plenty of pay parking available at the Fairmont Medical Building. Metered street parking is also available along 10th Avenue. Paid accessible parking is available on the East and West sides of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre–the ticket machine is located near the entrance to Heather Pavilion, just across the East parking lot from the Blusson Centre. Better yet, leave your car at home and come by train (the Broadway Canada Line station is 3 blocks east of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre) or cab so you can relax and enjoy yourself.
What can I bid on this year?
Get a head-start on the amazing prizes you want to bring home by previewing our list of silent auction items up for bid, including a safari package for two, a year’s worth of pies, gift certificates and memberships and lots more from our generous sponsors.
Will there be food?
We’ll have a selection of tasty hors d’oeuvres by Platinum Sponsor The Lazy Gourmet, and an oyster bar by Curious Oyster.
I’ve heard that there’s a dessert event at the Gala. What is it?
Our Decadent Descent features local and world-famous desserts. As you descend along the 200 metre ramp wrapping around the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre atrium, you can enjoy an assortment of chocolates, cheeses, macarons, gelato, artisanal marshmallows, and other delicacies. This year’s Decadent Descent features dessert by Archimallows, Bella Gelateria, Gusto Chocolate, La Macaronette, Sweet Obsession, and Lazy Gourmet.
Will drinks be available?
A variety of beverages will be available for purchase. Soft drinks will be available at no charge.
How can I pay?
We will be accepting cash, cheques, Visa, or Mastercard.
Can I still buy tickets?
Tickets are still available online or in person.
Proceeds support spinal cord injury research at ICORD and the artistic endeavors of the Vancouver Cantata Singers. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this worthwhile event, please contact us.
Check out last year’s Spinal Chord Gala, created for us by Life Studios.
What is Spinal Chord Gala all about? Check out this video, created for us by Life Studios.
One highlight of the Spinal Chord Gala is the array of silent auction items up for bid. Artwork, adventure, dance lessons, concert tickets, gift certificates, and more – there’s something for everyone. Proceeds from the auction go towards supporting the Vancouver Cantata Singers and spinal cord injury research at ICORD. Go home with something unique, knowing that the money spent goes towards worthwhile causes.
Here are some of the items you’ll be seeing on Saturday, October 24:
| Personal training with Ozone Boutique Fitness |
Valued at $110 each, Ozone Boutique Fitness is offering one free personal training session for every attendee of the Spinal Chord Gala! Achieve your fitness goals with the help of Ozone’s on-site professional kinesiologists and nutritionists. You can also bid on a one-year membership or a three-month membership in our silent auction.
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| 1 year’s worth of pies from Aphrodite’s Organic Cafe & Pie Shop |
Receive a monthly treat from Vancouver’s renowned pie specialists, Aphrodite’s Organic Cafe & Pie Shop. This unique prize is valued at $400 and would be a perfect holiday gift for family and friends. |
| Safari package for 2 with Zulu Nyala |
Relax in an all-inclusive Zulu Nyala Safari Lodge located in one of South Africa’s richest wildlife regions. Dine on authentic African cuisine while enjoying the sight of lions, zebras, buffalo, and other animals you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Want a vacation you won’t forget? With a value of over $6,000, this is your silent auction item to keep an eye on!
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| Private dance lessons with FirstDance Vancouver |
Know a soon-to-be-married couple? Why not give them some private dance lessons for the first dance at their wedding! Unique and useful, your friends will be thanking you for your thoughtfulness! |
| Hair makeover + make-up for two with Mink Hair and Make-Up |
Wow your friends at your next party with the help of Mink Hair and Make-Up! This auction item is the perfect girl’s night out indulgence. |
| Babysitting gift certificate from Nannies On Call |
Relax with ease knowing that pre-screened Nannies On Call are taking extraordinary care of your children on your night out. This auction item is perfect for parents who are in need of a break! |
| 1 year unlimited membership with iDance Vancouver |
Become a pro at dance styles including hip hop, street jazz, and Bollywood, with a one-year dance membership. iDance offers classes in a variety of dance styles every day of the week! |
| Hand-carved wooden wren by John Scott of Richmond Carvers |
Bring some beauty into your home with this lovely, hand-carved wooden house wren! This is a great item for bird and nature lovers. Look for other hand-carved wooden items created by instructors from Tetra Society Woodworking shop.
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| Tickets to shows at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts, Vancouver Playhouse, and Goh Ballet. |
Surprise your partner or a friend with tickets to music and dance shows around Vancouver. |
| Gift certificates and gift baskets |
Spoil yourself with some goodies and gift certificates from the Sutton Place Hotel, Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar, Studio 209, Uncle Fatih’s Pizza, Original Joe’s, Harbour Dance Centre, Bean Around the World, and more! |
Don’t miss out on a chance to bid on these items. Purchase your tickets today! An $80 tax receipt for each ticket purchased will be provided.
This year’s Spinal Chord Gala is coming up in less than six weeks, and it promises to be spectacular.
In addition to beautiful music provided by the choir, you can enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres from platinum sponsor Lazy Gourmet, one of Vancouver’s leading catering companies, fine wines and cocktails, and tasty treats from La Macaronette, Sweet Obsession, Gusto Chocolates and Bella Gelateria in our Dessert Descent, one of the most popular events of the night.
Capture your gala-finery with instant photos at our Butter Studio Media photo booth or by our on-site photographer, Edward Lai.
We have some amazing auction and raffle prizes up for grabs, courtesy of our generous sponsors. We’re very happy to welcome returning sponsors including Jeweliette Jewellery, Mink Hair and Make-Up, Sutton Place Hotel, Nannies on Call, and Semperviva Yoga. These amazing companies, and many others, have donated an impressive array of raffle prizes and silent auction items. Every guest attending the Gala will receive one free personal training session (valued at $110 each), courtesy of diamond sponsor Ozone Boutique Fitness, who have also generously donated membership packages for our auction.
Presenting sponsor Medtronic, platinum sponsor David Doig & Associates, and gold sponsors Murphy Battista LLC and MCMP Architects are also proud supporters of this event.
If you haven’t purchased your Spinal Chord Gala tickets yet, be sure to do so soon! Tickets can be purchased online or in person.
Proceeds support spinal cord injury research at ICORD and the artistic endeavours of the Vancouver Cantata Singers. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this worthwhile event, please contact us.
Excited for Spinal Chord on Saturday? Here is a timeline of some things to look forward to during the night!
| 6:45 | Doors open |
| 7:35 | Welcome & Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 8:15 | Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 8:25 | Raffle draws |
| 8:55 | Performance by the Vancouver Cantata Singers |
| 9:15 | Raffle draws |
| 9:25 | Auction tables begin closing |
Be sure to get your bids in for our fabulous silent auction items, donated by our generous sponsors.
One highlight of every Spinal Chord Gala is our array of incredible silent auction items that can be won! Generously donated by our sponsors, our silent auction items range from $50 to almost $1000! Proceeds from the auction go towards supporting the Vancouver Cantata Singers and spinal cord injury research at ICORD.
Here are some of the fantastic items you could go home with on November 1st:
| SG90 Solar Kit By Samlex America |
Unlimited clean and quiet power generation from the sun. Samlex Portable Solar Charging Kits are easy to use – just unfold, connect to a battery using the clamps provided and start charging! A 250 Watt Power Inverter is included so you can plug in all of your favorite devices, just like you would into the wall at home. Power lights, laptops, smart phones, tablets, fans, tv’s, stereos and even a blender! In optimal sunlight, the 90W solar panel can generate up to 35 Amp hours of battery charge per day! |
| Roy Rogers photo with Disney Collectibles certificate of authenticity |
This photo of famous American country singer and cowboy actor Roy Rogers includes a certificate of authenticity from Disney Collectibles. Roy,”King of Cowboys”, appeared on an episode of the Wonderful World of Disney as well as an episode of The Muppet Show, in addition to over 100 films! |
| Hair and makeup makeover for two with Mink Makeup + Hair |
Need to look fabulous for an event? Then this hair and makeup makeover package for two is perfect for you. This includes on-location hair and makeup styling (with lashes!) from experience hair and makeup artists. |
| Stay and play package from Crown Isle Golf Resort |
This package includes a round of golf for two and a one-night stay in the Deluxe Suite of the Crown Isle Golf Resort in beautiful Courtenay, BC. |
| Training package with Innovative Fitness |
Achieve your fitness goals with three one-on-one personal training sessions and one health consultation with professionals from Innovative Fitness. |
| 3 months unlimited yoga with Semperviva Yoga |
Re-energize with three months of unlimited hatha, vinyasa, yin, and kundalini yoga. |
| Jewelry sets by Elena Okon |
Bid on some beautiful jewelry sets, including freshwater pearl and agate necklaces and earrings, and turquoise bracelet and earrings! |
| Original Paintings by Maggie Bernet |
Two original paintings appraised at $850. Mixed media-acrylic on canvas, 24″x24″. |
| Gift baskets & gift certificates | Win a variety of gift certificates and gift baskets from generous sponsors BierCraft Restaurant, Clubcard, Granville Island Brewery, Hawksworth Restaurant, Holy Crap Cereal, Luxe Beauty Lounge, Promosapien, Nannies on Call, Soirette, Sutton Place Hotel, Stablehouse Bistro, Harbour Dance, and more! |
See more auction prizes from our amazing sponsors at our Spinal Chord Gala, happening on Saturday, Nov 1st. Tickets are available online or in person.
The Spinal Chord Gala is happening in a little over two months! With summer ending, the next thing you can look forward to is our Gala on Saturday, November 1st. Are you as excited as we are?
Be sure to buy your tickets before October 1st so that you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a prize package including vintage rosé cushion cut Swarovski crystal earrings with clear pave stones from Jeweliette Jewellery and gift cards from Luxe Beauty Lounge and BierCraft Restaurant ($175 value).
Tickets are $100 each (with a tax receipt for $80/ticket issued). Tickets are available for purchase online and in person at the ICORD Admin Office.
Have you had a chance to look through our sponsor list yet? We’ve added many new generous sponsors this year to our ever-growing list. Be sure to check out our Spinal Chord Gala Facebook page to see our fantastic array of door prizes and silent auction items waiting to be won, with new items and sponsors featured each week!
Here are a few of our featured sponsors so far:
