The "Award-winning" Blog

July 28th, 2010 - Toronto, Ontario - We had a feeling, that this night was going to be a good night, we had a feeling ♫ wooooh hoooo ♫

Given their tremendous success in 2010 it is no surprise that the 2010 Top Choice Music Group of the Year is the Black Eyed Peas! Normally when we conduct our Canadian Top Choice Award survey it is our intention to send the award to the winners, release the results and even travel to present the award in person. With the Black Eyed Peas we got lucky, because we got them right in the middle of the Canadian leg of their World Tour, which had 2 shows in Toronto.

The Black Eyed Peas are renowned for their spectacular live performances and Toronto was no exception. The group performed two sold out shows at the Air Canada Centre and we were able to catch up with them while they enjoyed some much deserved rest and relaxation at Luxy Entertainment Complex, Toronto’s new destination for high-profile celebrity after parties.

Things were tense in Luxy as guests anticipated their arrival and as the limo pulls in the crowd exploded with excitement; it stayed that way the entire night! Security was pretty tight, even for the media, but we were able to present the award to the group. The award was received by front man and co-founder Will.i.am, who had this to say “Wow this is great, all I can say is that we love our Canadian fans and we thank them for their support.”

It is nights like this that are true examples of what the Black Eyed Peas are made of, they go from performing at the ACC to celebrating at Luxy to receiving the Top Choice Award and will pack up and do it all again tomorrow in another city! That takes dedication and passion, which also happen to be necessities to receiving the Top Choice Award.

We knew it was going to be a good night...and that’s exactly what it was!

We have been proud supporters of the Brazilian Carnival Ball since 2007, the year we had the pleasure to meet the late Anna Maria de Souza, founder and remarkable driving force behind the event.

Anna Maria de Souza passed away in September of 2007, but her positive energy and dedication still lives on in the hearts of everyone she touched with tireless love throughout her life. Together with her husband, Ivan, they have been trailblazers, raising more than $46 million over the course of 42 years of running the ball to support a variety of health, educational, cultural and research institutions.

We all know that a picture says a thousand words, well in this case the breathtaking images say a million. Yet they cannot compare to sense awakening experience of actually being there! You can truly smell, feel, and taste Brazil, which I have experienced first hand. I am Portuguese and we consider Brazil and its people a part of our family. Listening to the Brazilian anthem in my language, being played for the most prestigious business owners in Canada, made me so proud and reminded me of the same inner-strength that Pedro Alvares Cabral had when navigated the unexplored ocean to discover Brazil in the 1500's!!!

For those who are looking to feel the thrill of carnival and help a good cause, I would suggest you be a part of the next Brazilian Carnival Ball!

As part of our continuing support of this incredible cause, Top Choice Magazine will dedicate a section in the coming issues to highlight the organizers and supporters of Brazilian Carnival Ball. Because as they say at the event "When united, we can do so much more."