Ever been to a fertility gala?

Toronto just had its first ever, co-chaired by two sisters who had their own difficulties conceiving

- SHINAN GOVANI

Sisters Randi, left, and Danna Grunberg are co-chairs of the Smash the (In)fertility Stigma Gala, which aimed to raise $600,000 to help at least 50 families realize their parenthood dreams.

On its surface, the gala held at Hotel X, over on the lakeshore, looked like any other gala held in the valley of spring social season: there was a choice of beef or sea bass, a fancy-pants rendering of “The Price Is Right” courtesy of a live auction and — because this is 2024 — at least one person heard shouting over the bread basket, “What is the hashtag for this thing?”

The cocktail hour itself, before dinner, seemed like biz as usual: a pantomime of How Are You’s and It’s Been So Long’s, some interpretive dance (think: acrobatic Rockettes, on poles!) and a room full of people who’d come dressed for different events, ranging from Weekday Wedding to Met Gala to ParentTeacher Night.

What looks like a duck and sounds like a duck? Not always a duck, as the saying goes, and so, too, this la-di-da benefit. That much was clear by the time the gala chairs came along to announce they were there to help fund babies! (Talk about a loot bag!)

Called “Smash the (In)fertility Stigma Gala,” it was a first for the city (and for me, no novice on the shindig front): a whole event dedicated to increasing access to fertility care and raising $600,000 to help at least 50 families achieve their dreams of having a child.