Inside Calgary’s T’was the Night shopping extravaganza: Chantal Kreviazuk, Lainey Gossip, and partygoers in ballgowns (at the mall)

Photography by Brian Buchsdruecker
Photography by Brian Buchsdruecker

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T’was the Night we dressed in our finest holiday attire for a fully-fledged mall party to celebrate the multimillion dollar TD Square/Holt Renfrew renovations at Calgary’s CORE Shopping Centre. The CORE lit up indoor fireworks and a 45-foot tree, sprinkled fluffy fake snow from the balconies, and a threw a mini concert with Canadian songstress Chantal Kreviazuk, all on top of some lofty holiday sales and prizes.

Greeting guests on the red carpet was the queen of smut, Elaine Lui of Lainey Gossip and eTalk, who posed for fan photos in a form-fitting, blue and white Yigal Azrouël number. The belle of the mall-ball, however, was Kreviazuk, who got pampered at Eveline Charles before taking the stage in a whimsical, feathered Paul Hardy gown, and later, at the VIP lounge, where she signed autographs and posed for photos with Mr. Hardy himself.

Even Calgary’s mayor, Naheed Nenshi, showed up to watch the traditional White-Hatting ceremony for Lui and Kreviazuk, which officially inducted them into Calgary’s categorical elite (the same rite Prince William & Duchess Kate received during their Canadian tour last summer).

With over 7,500 attendees, the event raised over $40,000 for the United Way’s “BeCause” initiative and the National Music Centre Project, making it the biggest private shopping event to ever hit the Calgary scene.

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