Main Hall Holds Art Battle’s Annual Canadian Championship

Art Battle Canada has held more than 650 events with 6,000+ artist-competitors across Canada since 2009. With thousands of artists represented in competitions across dozens of Canadian cities, the Art Battle community is deeply connected to Art in Canada. Each year, top artists from across the country battle to be named Art Battle Canada’s Champion. This year, Art Battle held their annual Canadian Championship at The Great Hall with 15 contestants competing for the title.

What is Art Battle you may ask? Art Battle is a live competitive painting event. Painters will create the best work they can across three timed rounds. As they work, the audience moves around the easels, allowing them an up-close view of the creative process. The only medium used is acrylic paint and the tools allowed are brushes, palette knives or any other non-mechanical implements. At the end of the round, the audience votes for their favorite painting and the top 2 artist move on to the Final Round with a new canvas. Audiences can also later place bids in a silent auction to take the paintings home.

A huge congratulations to this years Art Battle Canada Champion Dimitri Sirenko of Vancouver and the three runners-up who made it to the Final Round; Monique Legault of Sudbury, Karel Prickett of Fredericton and Moses Salihou of Toronto. Click here for the full list of competitors and their work.

 

 

The Great Hall featured on GustoTV

Sarah and Dave aren’t sure in what direction they want to take their wedding—well, Sarah’s not sure; Dave just wants a venue with a “chill place” where he can enjoy cigars and scotch with the boys. Sarah, meanwhile, is so focused on making their big day as trendy as the wedding blogs she frequents, she’s having trouble narrowing down an actual theme. Hopefully, this restored Victorian building in the heart of downtown Toronto can check all (or at least most) of her boxes.

Established in 1889, the historic Great Hall perfectly captures that “blogger-chic” aesthetic Sarah loves and somehow manages to feel both ultra modern and classically romantic at the same time. Plus, its airy white interior offers a stunning blank canvas for Where to I Do? host Tommy Smythe to work his design magic and pull all those scattered wedding dreams together.

But will this indecisive couple actually be able to commit to this venue?

Watch the video below to find out!

https://www.gustotv.com/entertaining/the-great-hall/

Allison and Stefan Celebrate With Copper Pendants and Purple Hues

The Great Hall had the privilege of hosting Allison and Stefans ceremony and wedding. A simple, yet sophisticated, ceremony filled the Conversation Room with white chairs dressed by geoforms and a stunning arch front and centre. Allison had created the gorgeous arch as a DIY project using spray paint and copper paper straws while wiring all the elements prior to arriving to assemble the final arch day of.

The Main Hall’s set-up was a contrast to the ceremony with hues of purple and wooden chairs accentuated by copper pendants illuminated by tealight candles. The couple’s personality shone through their choice of table numbers, rather, famous figures from the good ol’days like Frank Sinatra. The newlyweds also proved to be a tight knit family using a sword, the family’s heirloom, to cut their cake.

The guests enjoyed a great night of live music, passed hors d’oeurves and dinner ending the night with a dancing and latenight poutine. Congratulations Allison and Stefan!

 

Longboat Hall hosts Courageous – My Safe Work

It’s that time of year again; school is out for the summer! Students will be flooding the work force and seeking out full or part time positions during the break. Although that sounds normal because a majority of the population held a job as a youth, there are a few important key points to be aware of. Did you know that new and young workers in Ontario are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job than at any other time? Between 2012 and 2016, 30 young workers aged 15 to 24 died in work-related incidents, according to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) statistics. On April 27th Courageous – My Safe Work held an event in Longboat Hall to shed light on these facts to our youth.

At the age of 18, David Ellis was killed in a workplace accident. He was given limited training and no supervision. It was his second day on the job. After his death, David’s father, Rob Ellis, started MySafeWork, a not-for-profit organization and registered charity.

Emcee Raymond Ablack, Rob Ellis and guest speakers took time to educate young and new workers on safe work environments and their right to refuse to work if they feel unqualified for the appointed task. Injuries can result from inadequate training, orientation, and supervision; a lack of awareness and workplace rights and responsibilities also plays a huge part. Rob encourages our youth to ask questions, request proper training and to acknowledge when a situation is unsafe and that it’s ok to ask for help. Check out more about Courageous here.

Click here for more statics about youth and new workers in Ontario

 

2018 PEN Gala Dinner with special guest, Martin Amis

Brilliant, incisive and savagely funny, award-winning author Martin Amis, named by the Times as one of the greatest British writers since 1945, is frequently controversial but never dull.

On February 20th, 2018 PEN Canada and Martin Amis hosted an intimate evening of conversation ranging from Saul Bellow to Donald Trump: incendiary politics, literature, and the madness of crowds in the Main Hall. This event was hosted in support of PEN Canada and authors worldwide, advocating for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression.

PEN Canada is one of the 148 centres of PEN International. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Check out the PEN Canada website for more information here!

 

Maylee Todd: Afanyala Music Video

Maylee Todd astounds us once again with her new video release for Afanyala off her album Acts Of Love. Todd is dressed in an ornate costume standing solo in Main Hall with nothing but lighting and her delicate movements to convey the message of her lyrics, “there’s no one else like you.”

Todd has chosen The Great Hall, nicknamed her second home, for the second time within a year; last November she debuted her album with a virtual womb. She quotes, “I was going to either have people walk into a vulva or into an ear and go into the mind of someone,” she explains. “The mind is riddled with ego, identity and all sorts of things that have benefits and detriments. In the womb, nothing has been defined yet. Experience hasn’t been defined. I’m interested in inner space, inner-inner space, deep space, outer space. These dark spaces are always fascinating.”

We’re excited to see what Todd has in store for the future, but for now check out her newest video below.

Read more here

Refreshing Spring Wedding Inspiration

The Great Hall hosted a playful and delicious lemon-chiffon styled shoot beckoning for Spring to make its grand entrance. This juicy editorial featuring blush tones and lemons sprung a new-found love for yellow evoking an overwhelming sense of happiness.

A perfect combination of couture and a whimsical air – the dramatic pop of ruby on the bride’s lips ties in the delicate balance of this shoots vivid palette. The Great Hall’s Conversation Room grand windows illuminated the space displaying every little detail charmingly.

Find more photos on these blogs:
http://strictlyweddings.com/blog/2018/04/refreshing-high-fashion-spring-wedding-inspiration/
https://www.elegantwedding.ca/lemon-inspired-wedding-ideas/

Credits:
Photographer: Motion D Photography | Event Venue: The Great Hall | Cinema and Video: Amaros Media | Equipment Rentals: Plate Occasions | Invitation Designer: Castlefield Design | Equipment Rentals: Cre8ive Studios | Equipment Rentals: Detailz Couture | Other: Reznick Event Carpets | Floral Designer: Secrets Floral Collection | Cake Designer: Sweet Regards Cakes by Daniela| Bridal Designer and Retailer: Stephan Caras Design | Bridal Designer: Lanesta-Armonia | Bridal Retailer: Anakoi Bridal | Model: Bella Krys | Personal Stylist: City Sophisticate | Hair Stylist: Sam’s Hairband | Makeup Artist: Emma Hughes Makeup | Event Planner: RDK Events & Communications | Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Choir! Choir! Choir! and Jesus Christ Superstar!

This St. Patrick’s Day 400 patrons lined up outside The Great Hall’s Longboat Hall venue as Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman presented the official “Choir! Choir! Choir! Epic! Night” for the NBC Universal production of Jesus Christ Superstar!

Erik Gronwall & Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton on Broadway) – singers from the NBC production of JCS flew up from NYC to Toronto to sing “Simon Zealotes” and “Superstar” with all the patrons.

Choir! Choir! Choir! is a Toronto based choir which originally started off on West Queen West practicing in Nobu’s living room, but on March 25th, they had fans travelling in from LA and NYC to sing along to Universal’s broadway Jesus Christ Superstar. It’s come a long and fans truly came together over the years to make it the performance it was. Don’t miss Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert this Easter Sunday, APRIL 1 on NBC.

https://www.facebook.com/choirx3/videos/10156596412956535/

https://www.facebook.com/choirx3/videos/10156583893796535/

 

 

The Great Hall Hosts the 2018 Juno Nominees Announcements

 

 

Felix Cartal, who earned two JUNO

nominations Tuesday, performs at

The Great Hall in Toronto.

 

 

The 2018 Juno awards kicked off earlier this year at The Great Hall. This year’s Juno nominees were announced at a press conference hosted by CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science) and emceed by CBC host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe. This weekend, the 47th Juno Awards Ceremony will take place at the Rogers Arena, Vancouver. The Awards ceremony will be broadcasting live from coast to coast for the first time, live streaming to the entire world bringing millions of viewers and listeners together to celebrate Canadian music.

 

 

 

Introductory remarks by CARAS 

and MusiCounts CEO & President Allan Reid

 

 

This year’s nominees included numerous talents, old and new, with Arcade Fire and Jessie Ryze leading in nominations. Charlotte Cardin, who is performing at The Great Hall this weekend, was announced for breakthrough artist of the year. Find the complete list of nominees here.

 

 

 

Charlotte Cardin nominated as

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

 

 

Chris & Jill Say “I Do”

On first meeting Chris and Jill, you could tell they were made for each other.  Their intimate wedding on Sunday, November 5, 2017 truly represented this couple’s style and spirit through and through.

Their outdoor ceremony had a last minute change of plans due to the weather but they found the Drawing Room a perfect match for what they were envisioning. As the flowers were laid on the mantel and the room was cleansed with some herbs, Chris and Jill were ready to say “I Do”.

After the ceremony on the third-floor of The Great Hall, guests swiftly moved to the second floor to enjoy premium cocktails, dinner by Northern Maverick and dancing surrounded by Addison’s vintage decor Chris and Jill handpicked for their special day.  Scarlet O’Neill captured intimate moments while the Conversation Room was their sanctuary for the rest of the evening.

Chris and Jill, The Great Hall raises its glass to you!