Board members, supporters, hard working employees and Toronto fashionistos gathered Thursday night at upscale party palace Easy & the Fifth to give support for Street Haven at The Crossroads, an agency for homeless women in Toronto that provides medical & addiction services, housing, a learning centre and more.

Much Music darling Sarah Taylor & Sportscentre personality Cabbie Richards hosted the event, with tunes to keep the dancefloor entertained by DJ Lissa Monet & Johnny Hockin, a performance by soul singer Jessica Rose and a hip hop-classical-fusion violin set by Brazilian Yosvani Castenada that brought the house down. All of the women in the place made their way to the dancefloor and gathered around Yosvani’s focused & brilliant violin freestyling over Michael Jackson and hip hop tracks, and they were totally smitten. I’m sure after that performance he could have 20 new distinguished sugar mamas if he wanted, he’s THAT cute! 

Aside from the dancefloor, photo flip-book booth (my favourite addition to any party) and friendly and charming waiters with ever flowing hors d’oeuvres, the night was kept lively with a silent auction featuring prizes like a stay at The Thompson Hotel and gorgeous leather jacket from Toronto’s own LINE knitwear.

I had a nice chat with two support workers at Haven at The Crossroads who were over the moon at throwing on a party dress and having a fancy night out on the town to celebrate all the hard work their agency does, while funds and awareness were being raised for such an important cause. They said the women they work with on a daily basis are wonderful, smart and a pleasure to be around once they have gotten help for their addictions (pretty standard description for anyone caught in the tornado of drug abuse), and have wise and sad stories they are happy to tell. They are not unlike any other women, they have just have been through awful experiences in life and are trying to make a change. Street Haven at The Crossroads gives them the crucial support they need to be taken care of and feel safe enough to share their stories, which is only the beginning.

Learn more and donate to Haven at The Crossroads.

This was the 1st annual Gala of Light to benefit Street Haven at The Crossroads.

Photos & Words by Becca Lemire (Click to Enlarge)