LEFT: The Lee Chin family arrives at the Royal Ontario Museum. Adults from left: Vincent Chen, Hyacinth Gloria Chen, Sonya Hamilton, Michael Lee Chin and twin daughters Elizabeth (front left) and Maria Lee Chin. - Photo by Eddie Grant
RIGHT: Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Mila Mulroney and ROM director and CEO, William Thorsell. - Contributed

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Last week was a significant one in the lives of NCB Chairman Michael Lee Chin and his family. But all the action took place in Toronto, Canada, where the Jamaican-born billionaire four years ago donated CAN$30 million, making him lead donor for the new wing named for him at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Joining Mr. Lee Chin from Jamaica were his parents, Vincent and Gloria Chen, his eight siblings and their spouses or lovedones, NCB Group Managing Director, Patrick Hylton, as well as his deputy Dennis Cohen, his best friend Donovan Lewis and Mrs. Andrea Lewis, and close friends Capt. (ret.) Mike Lyn and wife Thalia. The local contingent was completed by journalists Kingsley Roberts, Al Edwards, Barbara Ellington and Jean Lowrie Chin, publicist for Portland Holdings Ltd.

It was a classy and glamorous affair from start to finish, with a private dinner for the family on Wednesday night. This was the first event to take place in the new fifth floor C5 Restaurant of Michael Lee Chin Crystal at the ROM. It was hosted by the museum's board members.

Activities continued with a press briefing on Thursday afternoon followed by a media tour of the new galleries. The tour was conducted by the Crystal's architect Daniel Libeskind, and William Thorsell, director of the ROM.

Friday evening's 'Singular Event' saw over 500 guests decked in glamorous haute couture; women were dressed to kill in their finest designer gowns and dripping with every precious jewel ever made. Men also went all out in tuxedoes, dressy kilts and a range of evening wear. All ushers wore white. Special 'human mannequins' wore heavy wigs, make-up and outfits that glowed with crystal accents and featured embellishment designed to rival elements of the new galleries.

Entertainment featured a live band; some native American Indian dancers and drummers and a prayer song instead of the traditional grace before the meal. Post-dinner activity saw a parade of costumed characters and an elaborate ribbon-cutting ceremony to declare the new Crystal open. This brought tears to the eyes of Mr. Lee Chin and a loving embrace from his mother, who no doubt understood the enormity of the moment. In her words, "Who would have thought that a little orphan girl from Portland, Jamaica, would get to this moment of her life?"

The night ended with the 'Big Bang' of parties on all five floors of the Crystal. Saturday saw cocktails at the Park Hyatt Hotel held to honour all the donorswho had given CAN$5 million or more to the ROM. This was followed by a free concert and museum tour sponsored the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Some of the VIP guests were: Tom Bata - honorary chairman Bata Ltd. and wife Sonja, founder, Bata Shoe Museum; Lawrence Bloomberg, adviser, National Bank Financial, and wife Fran; Ian Delaney, executive chairman, Sherritt International and wife Kiki, president, C.A. Delaney Capital Management; Hon. Caroline Di Cocco, Minister of Culture, Government of Ontario; Hon. James Flaherty and Christine Elliott Flaherty, Minister of Finance and wife Christine Elliott Flaherty, MPP Whitby-Ajax.

We also spotted: Michael Lee Chin Jr., Paul Lee Chin and Adrian Lee Chin; Hon. Frank McKenna, deputy chair, TD Bank Financial Group and former Premier New Brunswick and Julie McKenna; Daniel Libeskind, architect and wife Nina; Gerry McCaughey, president and CEO, CIBC. Rt. Hon Brian Mulroney, senior partner, Ogilvy Renault, former Prime Minister of Canada and his wife Mila; Hon. Bob Rae Partner, Goodmans LLP, and former Premier of Ontario and wife Arlene Perly Rae, journalist and author. Hiroshi Sugimoto, contemporary artist; W. Galen Weston, Chair, President, George Weston Ltd, and Chair, Loblaw and Hon. Hilary Weston, Campaign Chair, RenROM; Lennox Lewis and wife Violet, and scores more of Toronto's most interesting and influential citizens.