David lowenstein Vallee - an eventful life, so far

David’s grandparents kept a huge cutting garden at their house in the country, rows and rows of flowers that weren’t used as landscape but were cut and brought indoors, filling their home with flowers from April until the autumn. A family party in June meant the house would be filled with peonies and early roses.

David learned a much more casual style of entertaining from his parents with fun barbecues and staff parties at their village home in Bayham Township. He did his Baccalaureate year of his education in Europe, when he won a prestigious, Rotary International Youth Exchange Scholarship and fell in love with whole style – formal and European. The family with whom he lived had an elegant home filled with eighteen century French furniture.  And with a generations-long connection to the Swedish royal family, they would sometimes entertain in a very haute style indeed. It was a real education for a young man from the tobacco fields of Tillsonburg, Ontario.

After a film, politics and drama education at Queen’s University at Kingston (Canada,) David relocated to Ottawa for a stint in politics, and then migrated to Toronto to follow his bliss in the food and event planning industry.  David managed, owned or promoted a variety of businesses, but his focus was producing stellar events. He even took the show on the road and spent a year in Miami Beach, Bahamas and New York. David tells these stories of his life and more in his upcoming book, I am (NOT) Patient.

After living in Miami, and all sorts of interesting travels, David returned to Toronto permanently in 1998. After running several successful large hospitality companies, he narrowed his event planning practice when he joined A la Carte Kitchen, one of Toronto's most successfully catering companies that recently celebrated their last dance during COVIDity. They are much missed. Chef/Partner Simon Kattar, a also a noted artist, is semi-retired but painting prolifically and is sought after by sharp collectors.

Sadly, co founding partner Brian J. King died in spring of 2018. His death was ruled as “death by misadventure.” David says his kindred spirit, friend, catering and party planning mentor died as he lived - beautifully, recklessly, with gusto, purpose and accidentially - just as he lived. It was complicated, too soon but like his whole story - grippingly compelling.

“He had spent his last evening with new friends, and Bri loved meeting new people. He retired to his bed and died surrounded by some 0f his favourite things,” David writes. David interviewed Brian extensively before he died. They b0th made a pact, 0ne to the other: “Whom outlives the other tells the full story, Brian and David pledged.”

David does just that in “I am (NOT) Patient”, his soon to be published fictionalized memoir.

In 2004, David struck it out on his own, with partner Gabriel Elias, to create David Vallee Entertains and since then has had several successful brands in food, catering and more recently in television. In 2005, David was the last person cast in season one of but soon became one of the shows most popular planners.

In September, 2006, Rich Bride fans were shocked to hear David announce on Entertainment Tonight Canada that he been diagnosed with Stage Four Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. No stranger in fighting and indeed thriving with illness (David has had Crohn's disease since childhood) his family and friends were not surprised that nine months after he started chemo, David was back on set and on site at events - he has been cancer-free since 2008. 

In 2008, David co-wrote the RICH BRIDE, POOR BRIDE: Your Ultimate Wedding Guide headed by Sean Buckley, creator executive producer, along with his wife, Jennifer, with whom he created the show.

Beyond ‘Rich Bride, Poor Bride’ David has guest-starred in episodes of ‘Style by Jury’ ‘Maxxed Out’ and"the Social.' During the latest royal wedding, he appeared on CTV, CBC and CanWest Global networks as an expert. Beyond that, he has appeared on most local stations in television and radio across the country promoting both his television projects and the many charities he supports. He was named to the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research Advisory Council by Chair Andrew Pringle in 2010. Pringle and the CANFAR board also awarded David and his first husband, Gabe with The Chairman’s Award, for their incredible contribution as individuals, volunteer, professional and financial contributions to the CANFAR and for advocacy for fight against HIV/AIDS generallly.

While David continues to enjoy his work as an event planner, he is more than ever focused on his creative interests. He is writing a book and working on a scripted narrative television script, loosely based on the many adventures his living and life continues to uncover.

His next book, I am (NOT) Patient: Loving in Dangerous Times will drop May 2024. He is also developing several new screen media projects with co-producers in Canada, California and Sweden. David Lowenstein-Vallee is joining ACTRA-SAG at their invitation.

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For more information, please contact David Lowenstein Vallee, Executive Producer at Event/Narrative Management Group at dlvenmg@gmail.com for media avails, editoral comment, commercial written and screened media opportunities and charity & volunteer causes that need help. Our office number is available upon request.