16 Oct House of Distinction Victoria

In our fair province there are a number of Galas put on each year under the guise of raising funds for charities while spending lavish amounts of money on the event itself. At your first glance of the “House of Distinction” event you may be thinking the same thing – except you couldn’t be more wrong. House of Distinction is almost entirely supported by sponsors and almost all the money raised during the event will go to the Victoria Cool Aid Society. This is a great local charity that builds and funds housing for low income individuals and has been doing so here in Victoria for decades.

The Gala is invite only and will be offered to 100 people chosen by the committee as well as a few very lucky guests who apply on the website. Just like in the good old days, your invite will be mailed to you and that’s the only way you’re getting in. It is, of course, a black tie event. Your ticket includes cocktails at the Union Club and from there you’ll be whisked to a mansion in Saanich courtesy of LA Limo.

House Of Distinction is the brainchild of local event planner Aidan Henry and I sat down with him to get a better idea of just what he has in store for this very unique event.

Luxury BC: What gave you the idea for HOD and why is it different from other Gala’s?

Aidan Henry: I’ve produced numerous galas and signature events for charities and non-profits over the years, and I started to notice two negative trends. Firstly, the traditional gala experience is lackluster at best. A seated dinner with hours of speeches and videos isn’t overly engaging. House of Distinction event series twists the traditional charity dinner into a unique and captivating evening full of lustre. Secondly, typical galas take place in hotels and banquet rooms where expenses are extremely high. Venue costs, food & beverage, audio/visual and other suffocating costs drive down profit for the charity. House of Distinction events take place in private residences where there are no exclusives and almost all costs will be subsidized by sponsorship – maximizing profit for the charity or non-profit.

Luxury BC: While the location is a secret until the event, what can guests expect?

Aidan Henry: House of Distinction promises the quintessential guest experience of a reception-style gala with exquisite food & beverage, first class service, and amazing entertainment, creating the ultimate social event benefiting a noteworthy cause.

Luxury BC: What’s the charity for this HOD and why was it chosen?

Aidan Henry: The first charity of choice is Victoria Cool Aid Society. They’re currently in the midst of a Capital Campaign and looking to raise $5 million over the next few years to essentially build enough housing to put a roof over the head of half of Victoria’s homeless population – an ambitious and tall task, but a very admirable one as well. The fact that House of Distinction can raise funds and profile for this unique project is an amazing opportunity, and joining forces with the homeowner created the perfect chance to make it happen.

Luxury BC: There’s a hint of one coming to Vancouver, what can that city expect in the coming spring?

Aidan Henry: Vancouver can expect much of the same as Victoria, but as you can imagine, every city presents a unique set of event elements. From the homes, to the guestlist, to the entertainment, to the food, everything will be top quality but slightly different from every other city. This creates a one-of-a-kind opportunity in each market while still being supported by the underlying foundation of the event series.

Luxury BC: Since it’s invite only how can one have a chance to get themselves inside this exclusive event?

Aidan Henry:If a potential guest hasn’t been invited, they can apply to be invited on the website. They fill out a form and if there is room, they will receive an invitation in the mail.

Visit Website: http://www.houseofdistinction.ca/
Email Aidan: [email protected]