LISE WATIER FOUNDATION EMPOWERS AND ENCHANTS
Hey Noties! Hope you’re enjoying the awesome events the Party City is so famous for (many of which were recently captured in our very own fall/winter social calendar, wink). Today we have all the glam-and-great from the epic seventh edition of the annual Lise Watier Foundation (LWF) Benefit Event, proudly presented under the venerated honorary co-presidency of National Bank vice-president, investment Nancy Paquet and Optimum Talent executive president Ronald Dahms (attending with wife and LWF ambassador Nathalie Bussières).
SOCIAL SCENE SUPREME: We kick off the recap with some notes about the festivities’ backdrop — a fragrant Moroccanthemed event-universe boasting a refinement and exoticism worthy of magnificent Marrakech Riads. This was thanks in large part to the inventive event architecture of Cava Rose, replete with billowing poufs and a rush of fairy lights sparkling above.
PARTY PERKS: Guided by MC and beloved tenor Marc Hervieux (attending with Caroline Rheault), we cocktailed, bid, feasted and danced with abandon to the intoxicating beats of acclaimed DJ Thomas H. Of particular celebratory note were the irresistible array of goodies featured in the silent and live auctions and raffle (think two Air France businessclass tickets and five-star hotels in Marrakech) and sumptuous themed eats, wines, bubbly and spirits, generously supplied by Société Traiteur, Vins Dandurand, Veuve Clicquot and Quartz Vodka.
SWISH VIP SUPPORT: Bien sûr, the “who’s who de who” were out in rare form (many draped in Moroccan-themed splendour), including Alyson Wood and Mike Burchmore; the divine Sophie Desmarais and Daniel Valoatto; media celeb/author Dominique Bertrand and husband, Scotia McLeod’s Jacques Maurice; Telus top tier François Gratton and Amélie Cliche; Caisse de dépôt super-execs Michèle Boisvert and Kim Thomassin; dashing Paysafe chief Joel Leonoff with his dream team; John Molson (Concordia) dean Anne-Marie Croteau; Martin Cauchon and wife Dorine Perron; right-on Elisabeth and Michael Wright; dazzling Daphné Mollot; Meryl and husband Dr. Sheldon Elman; Telesystem’s Charles Sirois; Agropur CEO Robert Coallier and wife Elaisne Blayn and many, many more just-as-powerfuls.
THE INSPIRATION: Clearly, a fine time was had by all. That said, the magical eve was always inspired by — and about — the numerous courageous women who benefit from the foundation’s empowering initiatives, designed to help them face and overcome adversities and actualize meaningful individual potential. Indeed, to read the testimonials of women who have succeeded in moving forward and asserting financial independence and growth because of the foundation’s S’Entreprendre program (now certified by prestigious academic institutions like Concordia) is to understand the real-life differences that this year’s $790,000 tally makes. These life changes are possible only through the generous support of patrons and partners including National Bank, BCF, the Caisse, National Bank Financial, Optimum Talent, Sanimax, Telus and others.
In a world still plagued by inequality for women (especially in the workforce), it is truly a beautiful thing to see a successful entrepreneur like foundation namesake and creator Lise Watier continue to devote so much time, energy, passion and resources to helping other women blaze triumphant paths of their own.
Hats off to you, Lise, and to your extraordinary team at the foundation, including husband and board member Serge Rocheleau; daughter and foundation GM Marie-Lise Andrade and past event chair, Sanimax tops Martin Couture; foundation chair, National Bank Financial luminary Guy Côté and wife, foundation ambassador Katerine Rocheleau; foundation board director David Cape, president of Groupe Marcelle; and fellow ambassadors not mentioned above, Clearspring Capital Partners’ Marie-Claude Boisvert, Desjardins’ Natalie Brown, Cava Rose’s Paule Labelle, Unilever’s Nancy Lavigne, DGC Capital’s Françoise E. Lyon, Capinabel’s Nathalie Marcoux, Anna Concierge’s Anna Roma and Société Traiteur’s Marie-Pierre Therrien.
FUN FOOTNOTE: While Lise Watier has since become a treasured friend and inspiration, she has also, in true fairy godmother style, literally sent the shoes I once admired on her feet to my door. That kind of human.