Mindfulness Rocks is a lively cocktail fundraiser celebrating The Centre for Mindfulness Studies’ (CMS) award-winning social programs. Mingle with and meet our mindfulness masters over some tasty bites and get ready to rock-out as you support the growth of CMS’ charitable Social Program.
The night features unique and robust culinary tastings, great drinks, an exciting vacation home auction, dynamite Emcee Ana Serrano, Director of the Canadian Film Centre’s New Media Lab, special guest Bruce Coxon, investor and former Dragon’s Den dragon and co-founder of Lavalife, and more!
The highlight of the night is rocking out to a unique performance by Baby Come Back, an all-star band of seasoned and versatile Canadian touring and session musicians who back Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, have played with Bob Dylan’s legendary The Band, performed, toured or recorded with Leonard Cohen, Jesse Cook, Blue Rodeo, Ron Sexsmith, The Barenaked Ladies cruise show, Canadian folk group Leahy, rockabilly Ronnie Hawkins, legendary R&B/pop vocalist Martha Reeves, blues singer Long John Baldry, Canadian punk rock sensation Teenage Head, folk/pop artist Roger Whittaker, folk/bluegrass/country artists The Good Brothers, blues and rock singer Kathi McDonald, and lay down the reggae rhythms for The Sattalites.
Special guest vocalist Ori Dagan will top off the performances. Voted NOW Magazine’s “Best Male Vocalist” and named “Canada’s Next Top Crooner” by CBC Radio, sultry, rich bass baritone vocalist Ori Dagan is also a classically trained pianist with an impressive range of musical styles who can showcase a mindblowing a cappella scat roller coaster. In his own words his repertoire is “somewhere between Al Jolson and Bobby McFerrin, inspired by Ella Fitzgerald.” We can’t wait!
The night will be DJ’d by our friends Jeff Warren and Matt Thompson from the Consciousness Explorers Club, whose motto is Meditate Celebrate Activate. In addition to weekly meditation sessions, they spin tunes at monthly Open Soul dance parties. As Jeff says “Unite with the source by dancing your ass off beside other soldiers of the spirit, ’cause really, every moment that passes without some celebration is a missed opportunity.”
Get ready to move it and sing along to some favourites because we guarantee you won’t be standing still! We’ll give your arms a workout too when professional auctioneer Don Stewart hits the stage. With his enthusiastically friendly demeanour and outgoing personality Don likes to ensure that the live auction is the best entertainment of the night!
This event honours the late Gabriela Micallef, a vibrant Toronto social activist and one of The Centre’s key founders. Attending this cocktail fundraiser with your friends and colleagues is a fun and meaningful way to take part in creating solutions that effectively break down economic and social barriers that many people who are most at-risk in our community face when accessing help.
The Great Hall is a vintage venue with a limited capacity, so please get your tickets early!
When Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 Doors open at 6:30 pm
Where The legendary Toronto music venue The Great Hall * 1087 Queen Street West, at Dovercourt | Google Map.
$125 (general); $75 (youth under 35 - limited capacity)