Ashbury College tipped its hat to pop art legend Andy Warhol by offering a wonderful world of bold colours, fleeting fame and, yes, lots of Campbell’s soup cans on display at this year’s Ashbury Ball, held Saturday night at the elite private school in Rockcliffe Park.
The sold-out, black-tie gala saw a crowd of 340 dine on beef tenderloin, bid on an endless array of luxury items and later hit the dance floor with Montreal’s Electrik band. “This is not your typical high school dance in a gymnasium,” Ashbury College head Norman Southward casually remarked.
No kidding. With its stunning decor, table settings and lighting, the place resembled a party palace of epic awesomeness.
From left, lawyer Ryan Keon with his wife, Cindy Tomlinson-Keon, who co-chaired this year’s Ashbury Ball with Kristine McGinn, seen with her husband, Walt McGinn, president at Allegra Print & Imaging, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on November 7, 2015.
Co-chairing the $275-a-ticket gala were Kristine McGinn and Cindy Tomlinson-Keon. Her family-owned companies, Tomlinson Group and the Centurion Conference and Event Center, were big sponsors in the long list of sponsors backing the event. Organizers hoped to raise more than $150,000, with a portion of the gala proceeds going toward student bursaries and scholarships at the school.
This year’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame gala, named after the popular expression credited to Warhol, showcased a record number of live auction items. The Ottawa Senators hockey club offered the chance to play a two-team game on Canadian Tire Centre ice with Sens alumni as guest coaches, plus refs, announcers, loaner jerseys and party suites.
Looking for 15 minutes of flying? There was all that and more in the acrobatic flight experience aboard an Extra 330LT aircraft, donated by Vintage Wings Canada founder Michael Potter.
Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto Dormond and his wife, Gabriela Carazo, offered a week-long stay at a beachfront villa in their home country. For the ultimate kids’ birthday bash, forget the teeny Tonka toys; parents could buy an afternoon at a Tomlinson sand pit with actual trucks and excavators.
Photos: Ashbury College Gala
The theme was Warhol-inspired 15 MInutes of Fame on Nov. 7, 2015.
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![Michael Potter, founder of Vintage Wings Canada, seen with his partner, Diane Cramphin, donated an acrobatic flight experience to the live auction for this year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at the private school in Rockcliffe Park.]()
Michael Potter, founder of Vintage Wings Canada, seen with his partner, Diane Cramphin, donated an acrobatic flight experience to the live auction for this year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at the private school in Rockcliffe Park.
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![Real estate agents Charlie Sezlik and his mom, Cindy Sezlik, of Sezlik.com, attended the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Real estate agents Charlie Sezlik and his mom, Cindy Sezlik, of Sezlik.com, attended the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![Mike Wilson and Jacqui Wilson with Maria Bassi and her husband, John Bassi, president of Bassi Construction, at the Ashbury Ball held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park.]()
Mike Wilson and Jacqui Wilson with Maria Bassi and her husband, John Bassi, president of Bassi Construction, at the Ashbury Ball held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park.
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![Leigh Harris Fowell and Ashbury College alumnus Darcy Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of Edelman Canada's Ottawa office, at this year's Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Leigh Harris Fowell and Ashbury College alumnus Darcy Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of Edelman Canada's Ottawa office, at this year's Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Peter Froislie with his wife, Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation, and Ashbury College board member Carol Devenny, PwC, with her husband, Grant McDonald, KPMG, at the annual Ashbury College ball held in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Peter Froislie with his wife, Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation, and Ashbury College board member Carol Devenny, PwC, with her husband, Grant McDonald, KPMG, at the annual Ashbury College ball held in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![This year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park, presented guests with a creative Andy Warhol "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" theme.]()
This year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park, presented guests with a creative Andy Warhol "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" theme.
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![Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto Dormond and his wife, Gabriela Carazo, donated a week-long stay at a beachfront villa in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for the live auction at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto Dormond and his wife, Gabriela Carazo, donated a week-long stay at a beachfront villa in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for the live auction at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![Ashbury College parents Mike Way and his wife, Laurence Way, at the Ashbury Ball, which transformed the school gymnasium into a colourful party palace for this year's gala for the Rockcliffe Park private school, held Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Ashbury College parents Mike Way and his wife, Laurence Way, at the Ashbury Ball, which transformed the school gymnasium into a colourful party palace for this year's gala for the Rockcliffe Park private school, held Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![This year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park presented an Andy Warhol-inspired theme with decor by Creative Edge and lighting by Prime Time Entertainment.]()
This year's Ashbury Ball, held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park presented an Andy Warhol-inspired theme with decor by Creative Edge and lighting by Prime Time Entertainment.
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![Dr. Dan Smith and Bev Smith were among the couples to get stopped for a celebrity-styled interview on the red carpet by KP "Babe Kelly" Proulx upon their arrival to the Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball, held at Ashbury College on Saturday, November 7, 2015, in Rockcliffe Park.]()
Dr. Dan Smith and Bev Smith were among the couples to get stopped for a celebrity-styled interview on the red carpet by KP "Babe Kelly" Proulx upon their arrival to the Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball, held at Ashbury College on Saturday, November 7, 2015, in Rockcliffe Park.
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![From left, lawyer Chris Spiteri, Tamarack Developments vice-president Scott Parkes, consultant Kellie Major and Warren Newberry, owner of ReNew Homes, at this year's Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, lawyer Chris Spiteri, Tamarack Developments vice-president Scott Parkes, consultant Kellie Major and Warren Newberry, owner of ReNew Homes, at this year's Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Cindy Tomlinson-Keon and Kristine McGinn co-chaired this year's Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball, held at Ashbury College, a private school in Rockcliffe Park, on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Cindy Tomlinson-Keon and Kristine McGinn co-chaired this year's Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball, held at Ashbury College, a private school in Rockcliffe Park, on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![Karsten Mecklenburg, a counsellor with the European Union to Canada, with his wife, Ariane Zeba-Mecklenburg, at the Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Karsten Mecklenburg, a counsellor with the European Union to Canada, with his wife, Ariane Zeba-Mecklenburg, at the Fifteen Minutes of Fame-themed Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Susan Bryson with Pooneh Azadeh, Tara-Leigh Cancino Brouillette and her partner, Jeff Mierins, owner of Star Motors, at Ashbury College's annual ball, held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Susan Bryson with Pooneh Azadeh, Tara-Leigh Cancino Brouillette and her partner, Jeff Mierins, owner of Star Motors, at Ashbury College's annual ball, held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Andre Schad and his wife, Chantal Biro-Schad, owners of exclusive fashion stores on Sussex Drive, with Lindsay Finkelstein and her husband, Harley Finkelstein, chief platform officer at Shopify, at the Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Andre Schad and his wife, Chantal Biro-Schad, owners of exclusive fashion stores on Sussex Drive, with Lindsay Finkelstein and her husband, Harley Finkelstein, chief platform officer at Shopify, at the Ashbury Ball held at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Shirley Kouri and her partner Michael Mrak from Mark Motors with Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes, and his wife, Ainsley Malhotra, at the Ashbury Ball held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park.]()
From left, Shirley Kouri and her partner Michael Mrak from Mark Motors with Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes, and his wife, Ainsley Malhotra, at the Ashbury Ball held Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park.
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![Royal LePage real estate agent and former Olympic rower Rob Marland, seen with his wife, Jane Forsyth, donated a free rowing lesson to the auction at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Royal LePage real estate agent and former Olympic rower Rob Marland, seen with his wife, Jane Forsyth, donated a free rowing lesson to the auction at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Dr. Shahram Zolfaghari and his wife, Parmoun Zolfaghari, with Nina Nicolini and Peter Nicolini, of Nicolini Construction, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Dr. Shahram Zolfaghari and his wife, Parmoun Zolfaghari, with Nina Nicolini and Peter Nicolini, of Nicolini Construction, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Janice McDonald, president of The Beacon Agency, with her husband, Stephen Bleeker, owner of Assurance in-home care, and Jackie King, senior vice president and general manager with Hill + Knowlton Canada, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Janice McDonald, president of The Beacon Agency, with her husband, Stephen Bleeker, owner of Assurance in-home care, and Jackie King, senior vice president and general manager with Hill + Knowlton Canada, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, Sean Murray and his wife, Jamilah Murray, from Sakto Corporation with Sandra Assaly and her husband, Stephen Assaly, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
From left, Sean Murray and his wife, Jamilah Murray, from Sakto Corporation with Sandra Assaly and her husband, Stephen Assaly, at the annual Ashbury Ball held at the private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![Ashbury College parents Dr. Derek So and Dr. Judy Shiau pass through the Hall of Fame, which served to recognize sponsors of this year's Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.]()
Ashbury College parents Dr. Derek So and Dr. Judy Shiau pass through the Hall of Fame, which served to recognize sponsors of this year's Ashbury Ball held at the Rockcliffe Park private school on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
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![From left, lawyer Ryan Keon with his wife, Cindy Tomlinson-Keon, who co-chaired this year's Ashbury Ball with Kristine McGinn, seen with her husband, Walt McGinn, president at Allegra Print & Imaging, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on November 7, 2015.]()
From left, lawyer Ryan Keon with his wife, Cindy Tomlinson-Keon, who co-chaired this year's Ashbury Ball with Kristine McGinn, seen with her husband, Walt McGinn, president at Allegra Print & Imaging, at Ashbury College in Rockcliffe Park on November 7, 2015.
