Saturday, November 30, 2019
The Carlu, Toronto
The St. Andrew’s Charity Ball is a highlight of the annual calendar and a tremendous opportunity to experience Scottish hospitality and revel in Scotland’s rich history and traditions
The Ball is co-hosted by the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto and the 48th Highlanders of Canada in support of the charitable activities they both serve
Thanks to the money raised at the Ball, many smaller charitable organizations in Toronto are receiving the support that they need.
Where & when is the Ball this year?
The Ball will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM. For the first time since 1929, the Ball will take up its new residence Toronto’s Carlu.
Dance to stirring jigs & reels from the Pipes and Drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, dine on a four-course meal by the Carlu’s executive chef, then, enjoy entertainment from champion highland dancers of the McDonnell School of Highland Dance during intermission.
How much are tickets and tables?
Tickets range from $75.00-$200.00 per person. Full tables can be purchased as well and range from $1,520 – $1,900 per table. Click on the next tab for more information.
TICKETS FOR THE 2019 CHARITY BALL ARE SOLD OUT!
How does the Host Bar Pass work?
Those who have purchased Host Bar privileges should pick up their identifying bracelets at the St Andrew’s Greeting Table directly in front of you when exiting the elevators.
1: Reception 6 -7 pm: All alcohol is by cash or credit card.
2: Dinner: 7-9 pm:
Host Bar Guests: House Wine is served in your glass at your table and will be re-filled as needed throughout dinner.
Other Guests: Before entering the Concert Hall, order wine (by the bottle or glass) or other drinks from the Elevator Bar (to the right of the entry doors to the Concert Hall); provide your table number and it will be delivered to your table in due course.
3: After Dinner till 1:00 pm:
Host Bar Guests: Throughout the evening, by presenting your bracelet at either of the two bars, you can be given a drink of your choice a single drink at a time.
Other Guests: All alcohol can be purchased by cash or credit card.
Note: Alcohol choices available with Host Bar purchase:
House Wine, House/Rail Liquor and Domestic Beer
I would love to go to the Ball but I’ve never ceilidh danced. Are the dances quite easy to pick up?
Yes, the dances are relatively easy to pick up but even easier when you come to the free ceilidh dancing practices before the Ball! We are running 4 practices this year: Tuesday November 19th, Friday November 22nd, and Tuesday November 26 from 8 to 10 pm at the Moss Park Armoury. The extra practice will be on Saturday, November 16th at Glenview Presbyterian Church.
Will there be a photographer at the Ball this year?
Two photographers will be there to photograph us in all our finery! After the Ball we will post how to obtain the photos on this website.
What if I have food allergies?
Please indicate your allergies on the ticket form when purchasing, or email us directly and we will let The Carlu know.
Where can we stay overnight?
The Chelsea Hotel is just a four minute walk down the street from The Carlu on Gerrard and will be offering a special rate to Ball attendees.
What do gentlemen wear to the Ball?
Gentlemen attending the Ball are asked to dress in black tie. This leaves many different options open to the sartorially minded gentleman; from the traditional highland regalia to tartan inspired evening attire, Mess Kit, to the classic tuxedo. Each individual’s taste only adds to the rich visual of the event. For outfit inspiration, take a look at the photos from the 2018 Ball.
Where can a kilt be hired for the Ball?
William Glen & Son at 1825 Avenue Road and The Scottish Company at 2001 Leslie Street are two great Scottish shops in Toronto where you can hire kilts for the Ball.
What do ladies wear to the Ball?
For Ladies attending the Ball, the choice of gown is almost limitless. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that dancing is an integral part of the evening. Almost before the dress is chosen, the shoes should be a determining part of your evening’s ensemble; an evening of dancing requires special attention to the proper shoes. For outfit inspiration, take a look at the photos from the 2018 Ball.
Where are the profits from the Ball applied?
In 2018 we were able to donate almost $100,000 to local, grassroots charities in Toronto. Our Grants Committee takes a hands-on interest in our recipients and their work.
Charitable donations are made with the needs of the most vulnerable people in mind, including women, children and those new to the country.
We provide most of this support through agencies which provide food, counselling, housing, recreational programs and other needed services. In order to make sure that the funds of the Society are needed and that they are used in accordance with the goals of the Society, members of the Grants Committee visit each charity regularly.
The charities we support assure us that our support is important to them, especially as government funding is being cut back, new affordable housing for the poor is not being created, and the income of the poor is not rising as quickly as the cost of living in our city. All of the funds raised through membership donations and profits from events of the Society are used to help comfort, feed, teach and support others.
[button link=”https://standrewstoronto.ca/events/charity-ball-tickets/” size=”large” style=”default”]Purchase tickets [/button]
Table Options
Purchasing a table will SAVE you $10 per person compared to the individual ticket price AND give your table a Sponsor Designed/Produced Personalized Signage which can include a Family Name/Crest or Company Logo!
The Tables will seat up to ten guests to enjoy Dinner & Ceilidh Dancing, Pipes and Drums Tattoo at the 2019 St. Andrew’s Charity Ball. In lieu of Host Bar Passes drinks can be purchased as usual on a cash basis.
Your ticket also includes up to four (4) Ceilidh Dance Practice Sessions in Toronto leading up to the Charity Ball with Sponsored Whisky & Beer Tastings at three (3) of the four (4) practices.
Regimental table – $1,900 per table (10 people)
Aberdeen table – $1,710 per table (9 people)
Dunvegan table – $1,520 per table (8 people)
Individual Ticket Options
10 individual tickets can be purchased in any combination
Burns ticket – Individual – $200 per person
The Burns Ticket will provide one (1) guest access to enjoy Dinner & Ceilidh Dancing, Pipes and Drums Tattoo at the 2019 St. Andrew’s Charity Ball. In lieu of Host Bar Passes drinks can be purchased as usual on a cash basis.
Your ticket also includes up to four (4) Ceilidh Dance Practice Sessions in Toronto leading up to the Charity Ball with Sponsored Whisky & Beer Tastings at three (3) of the four (4) practices.
Ceilidh ticket – Dance Only – $75 per person
The Ceilidh Ticket will provide one (1) guest access after 9:00 pm to enjoy Ceilidh Dancing, Pipes and Drums Tattoo at the 2019 St. Andrew’s Charity Ball. In lieu of Host Bar Passes drinks can be purchased as usual on a cash basis.
Your ticket also includes up to four (4) Ceilidh Dance Practice Sessions in Toronto leading up to the Charity Ball with Sponsored Whisky & Beer Tastings at three (3) of the four (4) practices.
Host Bar Passes
Dinner (starting at 7:00 pm) – $50 per person OR Ceilidh (starting at 9:00 pm) – $45 per person
This year you will have the opportunity to purchase a Host Bar Pass as a supplement to your ticket that will enable one (1) individual (over the age of 19) to order alcoholic beverages for the evening starting with dinner and for the remainder of the evening for $50. The Host Bar Pass for the ceilidh ticket starting at 9:00 pm will cost $45. As before, you can purchase drinks individually on the evening of the Ball. If you forget to purchase a pass when you purchase your tickets, don’t fret– you can purchase them individually online prior to the Ball as long as you reference your original group name.
Note: There is no package during the reception. Ontario liquor laws prohibit outside liquor from entering the facility.
The free ceilidh dancing practices are: Tuesday November 19th, Friday November 22nd, and Tuesday November 26 from 8 to 10 pm at the Moss Park Armoury. The extra practice will be on Saturday, November 16th at Glenview Presbyterian Church.
Be sure to check out the Ceilidh Dancing Cribs and their accompanying videos so you know how to do the dances ahead of time.
The Dance Card & Cribs
To see a YouTube video of most dances, click on the dance title. Download the cribs here!
The Grand March
The Dashing White Sergeant – Reel
The Flowers of Edinburgh – Reel
Interval & Entertainment featuring a display of Highland Dancing performed by the McDonnell School of Highland Dance.
The Borrowdale Exchange – Reel
The Dashing White Sergeant – Reel
1:00 am Beating Retreat: traditional performance by the Pipes and Drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada
The 2018 St. Andrew’s Charity Ball was a grand success. Attended by 461 supporters of the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto and the 48th Highlanders of Canada.
Click here for photos from the 2018 Ball
The first “Ball and Supper” was held in 1843 in Toronto started to become an annual event in the ’20s and ’30s.
From the 1950′s until the late 1990′s the name of the ball alternated between the “The St.Andrew’s Ball” and the “48th Highlanders Ball”.
Since that time, the event has been jointly organized by the Society and the 48th Highlanders and the name simplified to “The St.Andrew’s Ball”, then eventually “The St Andrew’s Charity Ball”.
The pageantry and camaraderie of the Ball make it the preeminent Scottish social event in Canada.
The St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto
Formed in 1836 at a time of some political upheaval, Scots’ families met at St. Andrew’s Church and decided that a Society should be formed so that, as a united group, they could raise money to assist new immigrants from Scotland who were in distressed circumstances.
For more information please click here.
The 48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve (i.e., part-time militia) infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division’s 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
Ever since its formation in 1891, the 48th Highlanders have had a longstanding tradition of participation in the life of its parent city, Toronto. The regiment has participated in community functions for over 100 years, in addition to fulfilling its operational duties around the world. Since its inception, the men and women of the regiment have been among the first Canadians to step forward and answer their nation’s call. Members of the regiment have served on Operation RECUPERATION, in the Golan Heights, Korea, South Africa, Cambodia, Cyprus, Bosnia, and Afghanistan to name only a few and of course, both World Wars and the Boer War.
For more information please click here.
The 2019 Ball Committee
The St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto is entirely organized and run by its volunteers, from the Chair of the Board to the Event Set-Up Team and everything in between. A special thank you to the 2019 Ball Committee:
Rory Gus Sinclair – Ball Co-Chair – St. Andrew’s Society Toronto
Major Jason Morische – Ball Co-Chair – 48th Highlanders of Canada
and committee members:
Matt Aggus Graham Desson Ann Pennington
Catherine Cook Jaye Marsh Michael Noble
Brendan Fyfe Jenna Little Karen Stewart
Jean Normand
For questions or inquiries, please email ball@nullsast.c7.ca