An Evening to Remember: The Sororum’s Inaugural Candlelight High Tea in Toronto

There are some evenings that stay with you long after the last candle has gone out.

For The Sororum’s very first Toronto women’s event, we wanted to create exactly that kind of experience—an evening filled with beauty, history, conversation, discovery and, most importantly, meaningful connection between women.

Our vision for The Sororum has always been about more than simply hosting events. We wanted to create a women’s community in Toronto where women could step away from the everyday and enjoy experiences that inspire curiosity, encourage conversation and offer the opportunity to meet other interesting women along the way.

Guided by our three pillars—Inspire. Empower. Belong.—our inaugural Candlelight High Tea brought that vision to life.

Champagne, Candlelight & A Little Toronto History

Our guests arrived at the historic University Club of Toronto, where they were welcomed into the members’ lounge with a glass of champagne beside a crackling fireplace and beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

It was warm, elegant and wonderfully intimate—the perfect beginning to our first Sororum gathering.

From there, we were treated to a private tour of the club and its impressive art collection, including works by members of Canada’s famed Group of Seven.

And then came high tea.

Guests gathered around one long, beautifully set table illuminated by candlelight, where Executive Chef Douglas James Walker and his team had prepared an exquisite traditional high tea.

There was something particularly special about seeing everyone gathered around one table—some women arriving with friends, others coming on their own—sharing food, stories and conversation.

It was exactly what we had imagined when creating The Sororum.

An Evening with Royal Historian Dr. Carolyn Harris

For our inaugural event, we knew we wanted to welcome a speaker who could captivate the room while introducing us to stories we may never have encountered before.

We were delighted to welcome acclaimed Royal Historian Dr. Carolyn Harris.

A Toronto-based historian, author and royal commentator, Dr. Harris is an award-winning instructor at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and a trusted royal expert who has appeared across major international media, including CBC, CNN, BBC and Hello! Magazine.

As candles flickered around the table, Dr. Harris took us through the fascinating stories of powerful and influential women throughout history, shining a particular light on remarkable women with connections to the City of Toronto.

It was history brought to life through storytelling—and the room was captivated.

There were questions, conversation, discoveries and plenty of moments that left us wanting to know more.

For us, that is one of the most exciting parts of a Sororum experience: coming together not only to connect, but to learn something new.

A Toronto Venue with a Story of Its Own

Choosing the right setting was incredibly important to us. We wanted somewhere beautiful without feeling overly formal—a place with warmth, character and a history worth discovering.

The University Club of Toronto couldn't have been a more fitting choice. Founded in 1906 as a private dining club for university graduates, its landmark clubhouse was built in 1929 following an architectural competition open exclusively to club members.

For its first 82 years, the University Club operated as a gentlemen’s club. It wasn't until 1988 that members voted to admit women. And there we were, decades later, launching a new Toronto women’s community within those very walls.

Even more fittingly, our Candlelight High Tea took place in the historic room where women once gathered separately at the club. The original separate entrance remains visible today—a quiet reminder of just how much has changed.

Sitting together around that candlelit table, listening to stories of influential women from the past while creating a new community of women in the present, felt wonderfully full circle.

More Than a Toronto Networking Event

When we created The Sororum, we knew we wanted to offer something a little different from traditional women’s networking events in Toronto.

There were no name tags to work the room, no elevator pitches and no pressure to “network.” Instead, we wanted connection to happen naturally.

Around a beautiful table.Over a glass of champagne.While discovering an extraordinary piece of Toronto history.Through a fascinating conversation that gives everyone something to talk about.

Our Candlelight High Tea showed us just how powerful that kind of gathering can be.

Women who hadn't met before found themselves deep in conversation. New connections were made. Stories were shared. And by the end of the evening, the room felt less like a collection of guests and more like the beginning of a community.

See more images from the event.

And So, The Sororum Began...

The response to our inaugural event was more than we could have hoped for. Our guests loved the combination of culture, history, food, storytelling and meaningful connection, and their enthusiasm confirmed something we had believed from the beginning:

Women are looking for opportunities to gather differently. They want beautiful experiences. They want interesting conversations. They want to keep learning and discovering. And they want spaces where meeting new people feels natural rather than forced.

That is what we hope every Sororum Experience will offer. Whether we're stepping behind the scenes of one of Toronto's cultural institutions, gathering around a table with an extraordinary guest speaker, discovering a piece of women's history or simply sharing a memorable afternoon together, our goal remains the same:

To inspire. To empower. And to create a place where women feel they belong.

Our Candlelight High Tea was the first chapter. And what a beautiful beginning it was.

Looking for Women’s Events in Toronto?

If you're searching for Toronto women’s groups, unique women’s events in Toronto, cultural experiences, guest speakers, women’s networking events, or simply new ways to meet and connect with other women, we would love to welcome you to The Sororum.

Our events are thoughtfully curated for women who are curious, engaged and looking for something beyond the ordinary.

Come for the experience. Leave with a story—and perhaps a few new friends.

The Sororum

Inspire. Empower. Belong.