Story | Kenson Ho Photogrpahy | VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
In May, the ballroom at Fairmont Pacific Rim was awash in Spanish red.
Thousands of red blooms cascaded from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over candlelit tables and the stage. More than 400 guests gathered for the Serein Properties Time to Shine Gala, raising $3.09 million in one evening for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.
Behind that figure is an even greater ambition. The Foundation’s $35-million Greater Than Cancer campaign supports three key areas of cancer care and research at Vancouver General Hospital: a next-generation AI-powered pathology lab to accelerate diagnosis and improve treatment precision; advanced surgical innovation and infrastructure for complex cancer care; and expanded research capacity to drive future breakthroughs.
Throughout the evening, raised paddles turned generosity into tangible numbers. A Holt Renfrew lifestyle experience and private fashion party fetched $32,000, while a Hermès Kelly 28 Sellier Rose Pourpre handbag sold for $30,000. A private Catalonian culinary journey for two, donated by Restaurant Lasarte, the Kong Family and Gallina de Piel Wines, raised another $23,000. A five-night Kenyan safari, a private Avenue Road design experience, and a behind-the-scenes journey into the worlds of Hermès and John Lobb in New York and Paris were also among the evening’s offerings. Fashion, food, design and travel all found another purpose when the auction hammer came down.
The celebratory spirit of the evening offered another interpretation of Time to Shine.
This year, Spain came to Vancouver. Karen Flamenco Dance Company brought the rhythms and passion of flamenco to the stage, while another performance unfolded at the table, led by Michelin three-star chef Paolo Casagrande, who travelled from Spain for the occasion. Bringing members of his culinary team and specially selected ingredients with him, Casagrande created a contemporary Spanish menu for the evening.
Marinated hamachi was paired with green apple and licorice, followed by Carabineros with avocado, celery, tomato and mint. Roasted sea bass gave way to charcoal-grilled beef tenderloin with huitlacoche and smoked corn, before coffee, cocoa, black garlic and raspberry brought the dinner to a close. Wines from Gallina de Piel Wines and Vins El Cep carried the journey from the stage to the table.
When the evening ended, the $3.09 million raised was destined for laboratories, operating rooms and cancer research—helping make diagnosis faster, treatment more precise and the next medical breakthrough that much closer.
For cancer patients and the people working to change the future of cancer care, this was where Time to Shine truly lived up to its name.
