Best of Canada Awards
The 12th annual Best of Canada Design Awards took place Sept. 25 on the Keynote Stage at IIDEX/NeoCon. Frank Delfino, president, World Markets, Teknion, presented an interesting perspective on the trends and outlook for Canadian design in the year ahead. Then, emcee Glen Baxter, host of CTV's In Fashion, along with sponsoring dignitaries from Teknion, Steelcase and Inscape, announced the winners. They received a nine-pound crystal prism etched with the winning category and their company name. The celebration continued with guests enjoying hors d'oeuvres, networking and good cheer.
1--Host Glenn Baxter and freelance writer Karolina Olechnowicz, a frequent contributor to Canadian Interiors who assisted in handing out the awards.
2--Valerie Gow, of Gow Hastings Architects; Bartlett & Associates' Inger Bartlett; and communications director Marni Andrews with her counterpart at Burdifilek, Sonia Germain.
3--Teknion's Laura Barski, marketing director, and Frank Delfino, president, Canadian and international markets.
4--Kasia Pawlowski, sales associate at Klaus by Nienkämper, and Klaus Nienkämper (Isola 8 seating).
5--Partygoers at the bar.
Bullfrog launch
The late, lamented Montreal Bistro, the live-jazz eatery, now swings in another key as Operation Snow White Contemporary European Design Furniture Store -- the first North American franchise store of Germany's Bullfrog Design (China already boasts 20).
1--Two of TV's three Designer Guys, Anwar Mukhayesh and Matthew Davis of Design Agency (formerly Precipice Studios); Kati Wicht, founder of Germany's Bullfrog Design; hostess and store owner Christine Chang.
2--Bill Dietrich, mortgage broker, Invis; Paul Devereaux, VP, Choice Bank; Brian Simpson, general manager, Travelocity.ca; and Brad Karsh, general manager, Bullfrog and Limitless.
ARIDO Awards gala
During IIDEX/NeoCon, the A&D community celebrated the 25th anniversary of IIDEX and the 75th birthday of ARIDO in style at the Liberty Grand at Exhibition Place.
1--On the podium: Deborah Rutherford, ARIDO president, and Robert Chaban, ARIDO fellow and honourary chair of the 2009 ARIDO Awards Gala.
2--From IBI Group: Willem Berends, project manager; Filomena Monteiro, project director; and Erik Heppner, principal.
3--Trifon Voltsinis, interior designer, and Roger Mole, associate, Mole White and Cohos Evamy, flank Nancy Tran, designer, Shikatani Lacroix.
4--Loraine Buyar, A&D market manager, Teknion; Kasian's Liana Butt, senior interior designer, and Dean Matsumoto, principal.
Inscape InJazz
Inscape's après ARIDO Awards InJazz party at the Reservoir Lounge jazz club on Wellington Street East.
1--Janice LeBlanc, design director, DePM; Megan Husk, intermediate designer, Designstream; Jon Taylor, owner, construction manager Govan Brown; and Karen Boyce, product application specialist, Inscape.
2--Richard Hudon, VP sales, Inscape; Mahesh Babooram, A&D regional manager; Samantha Hulst, interior designer, KBH Interior Design; Tim Au-Yeung, interior designer, Kasian; and Sharad Mathur, VP marketing, Inscape.