McCord Stewart Museum Grand Ball raises nearly $600,000 in support of the Museum’s mission

Montreal, May 7, 2025 – On Thursday, May 1, the McCord Stewart Museum Foundation hosted its highly anticipated annual philanthropic event. Three of Montreal’s standout leaders served as honorary co-chairs for this year’s Grand Ball: Manuela Goya, Vice-President of Destination Development and Public Affairs at Tourisme Montréal; Vickie Joseph, Co-founder and CEO of V Kosmetik and outgoing Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal; and Marie Ginette Lepage, Senior Vice President of Transformation at Cogeco. Their leadership helped make the evening an extraordinary success, raising nearly $600,000 to support the Museum’s mission.

The McCord Stewart Museum Foundation’s Board of Trustees extends its heartfelt thanks to the evening’s generous philanthropic partners: Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Sun Life, Intelcom, Tourisme Montréal, Cogeco, and the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. Proceeds from the event will support the Museum’s ongoing efforts to preserve and share its remarkable collection of millions of objects, images and archival materials, and to deliver innovative exhibitions and programming.

“This year’s Grand Ball was nothing short of magical. Witnessing such generosity, engagement and creativity all in one place was truly inspiring. Thanks to our community’s outstanding support, we are more energized than ever to pursue our mission: to preserve, innovate and celebrate our cultural heritage with youth, families, and the broader public,” said Amélie Saint-Pierre, Executive Director of the McCord Stewart Museum Foundation.

Download the images of the evening

An allegory-themed evening at the Cartier Theatre

The 2025 Grand Ball took guests on a journey through time with its “Allegory” theme, hosted at the stunning Cartier Theatre, a beautifully restored former church revitalized by the Carosielli Group. The 350 guests were transported into an elegant, historic atmosphere inspired by classic costume balls, with event design by Studio Oxygène—an homage to the Museum’s current exhibition, Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870–1927 (on view until August 17, 2025). Throughout the evening, the space was brought to life by characters in costumes inspired by this exhibition and created by students from LaSalle College Montreal, part of the LCI Education network.

Several other partners played a key role in the night’s success, including the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), which generously provided the evening’s wine and spirits.

Together, let’s continue to tell stories, bear witness, stimulate and engage!

Supporting the McCord Stewart Museum Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign is a meaningful way to help the Museum continue telling stories and bearing witness to our social history through dynamic educational and cultural programming.

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