Look26 Gala raises funds for Calgary Contemporary, Biblio Bash supports Toronto Public Library youth programs | Canada Voices

Calgary Contemporary’s LOOK26 Gala, May 2, Calgary

On the evening of May 2, 1,200 guests gathered to raise $1.2 million in support of Contemporary Calgary’s programming and exhibitions.

A live and silent auction of 88 artworks, underwritten by longtime gallery supporter Heather Edwards, netted more than $550,000.

Canmore-based artist Pascale Ouellet’s 2026 piece Missing Noah 33 received a flurry of bids and sold for more than 200 per cent of its estimated value. Another high-profile work, Birch Woods by Group of Seven member L. L. FitzGerald (donated by board member Dr. John Lacey), sold for 125 per cent of its market value.

Earlier in the evening, a dinner sponsored by Holt Renfrew was held for the year’s major donors, with investment management firm Mawer back as the gala’s presenting sponsor.

The evening’s honorary chairs included architect Bruce Kuwabara, philanthropists Linda and Mike Shaikh and economist Peter Tertzakian. David Leinster, CEO of Contemporary Calgary, and Kelly Streit, who co-chairs the Board of Directors, delivered remarks onstage.

Later, a sea of young patrons streamed into the Centennial Planetarium for the after party, underwritten this year by art dealer Ryan Green. This portion of the evening saw performances by TR/ST, Hermitess, Dan Solo, DJ Hannah and The Hacker.

Artist duo DaveandJenn, who served as the LOOK26 Gala Curators; Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir; Holt Renfrew’s Jared MacKay; Allison Webb, Mawer’s chief marketing and people officer; and gallery board members Hoda Ahmadi, Matthew Grieve, Margaret-Jean Mannix, Caroline Loewen, Jeremy Barretto and Alan Ross, KC were all in attendance.

Toronto Public Library Foundation’s Biblio Bash, April 23, Toronto

One week earlier, the Toronto Reference Library hosted the 2026 edition of Biblio Bash, Toronto Public Library Foundation’s most important annual fundraiser.

More than 400 of the city’s leaders were in attendance, raising upwards of $1 million for the foundation’s youth initiatives including After School Clubs and Leading to Reading, offered in branches across the city.

Last year alone, these programs reached 15,000 young people.

Moez and Marissa Kassam chaired the event, which was presented by real estate developer Fitzrovia. The Kassams swapped the usual format – pre-dinner drinks, usually served among the stacks, were held on the first floor (the impressive Raymond Moriyama structure towering above), and dinner unfolded in the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon.

Unchanged was the presence of celebrated authors, with more than 35 attending this year’s gala. At least one author was seated at each table as a guest of honour, among them two-time Giller Prize–winner Souvankham Thammavongsa, Otoniya J. Okot Bitek, Terese Mason Pierre, Jess Gibson, Michael Bungay Stanier and Dr. Dan Werb.

Also in attendance were Will Scott, CEO of Toronto Public Library Foundation, and his husband, Stephan Jost, director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario; and Moe Hosseini-Ara, TPL’s City Librarian.