Avenue‘s Top 40 Under 40 party was a night to remember, attended by hundreds of Calgarians on October 30th at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
The event kicked off with a VIP pre-party for the Class of 2024, Top 40 alumni and invited guests and dignitaries, all of whom enjoyed live music performed by Rick Climan’s Trio. The pre-party also featured the annual tradition of ushering in the new cohort of Top 40s with a Champagne toast, sponsored by Pacific Wine & Spirits.
Congratulatory speeches by RedPoint Media president and co-owner Käthe Lemon and Avenue editor-in-chief Shelley Arnusch were accompanied by greetings from Mayor Jyoti Gondek and remarks by Deborah Yeldin, president and CEO of Calgary Chamber of Commerce, who both reiterated that the night was one to celebrate the Top 40s, recognize all they had overcome to achieve their accomplishments, and honour the people who helped them do so.
The main awards presentation, emceed by Global News anchors Dallas Flexhaug and Joel Senick, with music by the Russell Broom Memorial Orchestra, was bookended by delicious food and drink stations, like the Calgary Chamber’s sweet treat café and connectfirst Credit Union’s charcuterie cup station.
Throughout the night, guests visited fun activations and lounges. This included a live art collaboration with Dean Stanton hosted by Calgary Telus Convention Centre, taking photos at the interactive magazine photo booth sponsored by Oxford Properties, the Top 40 photo booth operated by Cosmo Photo Booths and sponsored by Bloom Benefits in the Bloom Benefits Lounge, and grabbing a tote bag at the Calgary Economic Development Blue Sky City Lounge.
Following the main awards presentation, local artist Kenna Burima (2015 Top 40 alum) performed piano renditions of the class of 2024’s favourite tunes on the main floor. And on the mezzanine, Calgary Surge erected a 20-by-24-foot basketball court for guests to shoot some hoops.
This year, we also hosted the exclusive Avenue A-List backstage experience, which included VIP tickets to the event, access to the backstage Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Lounge with private catering from Brie & Banquet, and the opportunity to tour the backstage area to meet the band and emcees and see the Jubilee from the main stage. The experience was attended by an intimate group of Avenue A-list members, in-the-know Calgarians who get access to intimate dinners, secret tastings, unique tours and exclusive parties throughout the city.
Now, we’re excited to announce that nominations for the Top 40 Under 40 class of 2025 are now open at top40under40.com.
Read the Top 40 Under 40 2024 profiles in Avenue’s Nov-Dec issue, on stands now or online.
The Top 40 Under 40 is made possible thanks to our sponsors: Calgary Chamber of Commerce, connectFirst Credit Union, Oxford Properties, University of Calgary, Pacific Wine & Spirits, Global News, Cerco Design and Vivienne Huisman Real Estate.
