Around Town,
Food, lifestyle TV channel was 5 years in making
Gusto TV president and chief executive Chris
Knight may have had a case of the takeoff jitters Wednesday, but the launch of his new food and lifestyle specialty channel — held at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum — was smooth all the way.
A vibrant crowd of 250 partygoers was joined via video by Knight, looking larger than life on a six-metrehigh screen. He was speaking live in the master control room in Toronto, or so his audience believed, ready to debut the new national network to 2.5 million homes across the country.
Everyone participated in the exciting countdown to confetti. Then, the DJ cued the music — Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days — and Knight suddenly stepped out onto the stage.
“What, do you think I would miss this?” Knight said with a grin as the room erupted into cheers.
It’s taken Knight five challenging years to get his channel so, understandably, he was feeling a little emotional. He kept it together for his speech, though. “Look Mom, I got a TV network,” he joked while delivering his thank yous to his team, his friends and his family. Special mentions included his wife, Taryn Manias, and son, Adam, who “stuck by me through this long, arduous journey.”
Among attendees were Mayor Jim Watson, Ottawa MP Mauril Bélanger, Farm Boy CEO Jeff York, Stephen Beckta and chef Michael Moffatt from the Beckta, Play and Gezellig restaurants, Francis Pomer
leau and Sean Lundy from the construction industry and such other prominent businessmen as Paul Hindo and Sean Murray.
The sophisticated and stylish party was catered by
Sheila Whyte’s Thyme & Again and organized by primo party planners James Jefferson and Daniel Mackinnon.
Up on the big screen played the first episode of The French Chef, featuring one of the most endearing TV personalities of all time, Julia Child. She was making one of her signature dishes, boeuf bourguignon.
CHâTEAU LAURIER FETES SUPPORTERS
Around Town arrived Wednesday to the Fairmont Château Laurier’s annual holiday party to find general manager Claude Sauvé and his wife, Deborah, shaking hands and greeting guests at the entrance of the Adam Room.
Sauvé has been managing the landmark hotel for 15 years now but his roots go back to his youth, when he started working there as a mail and information clerk. He went on to finish his education and then quickly rose through the ranks to become a hotel general manager, always with the same chain as the Château Laurier.
“It’s a privilege to be the custodian of such an icon as the Fairmont Château Laurier,” Sauvé told Around Town. “I treasure that every day that I walk through the doors.”
The Adam Room was decorated in festive flair by event designer Nancy Trem
blay. Some 350 guests, including diplomats, business folk and media personalities, mingled over drinks and helped themselves to the fantastic spread of food. The party is the Château Laurier’s way of thanking its clients for their support.
Guests included our partyhopping Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Mathieu Fleury, as well as National Capital Commission chairman Russ
Mills, retired parliamentarian Herb Gray, businessman and former mayor Jim
Durrell and longtime friend of the hotel Gerry Arial, owner of The Silver Rose flower shop.
LADIES LUNCH TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL MENU
There are ladies who lunch and there are ladies who rock. Sometimes, they’re one and the same. Radio personalities Sandy
Sharkey and Wendy Daniels were guest DJs at the Ladies Who Lunch business and social networking event held at the National Arts Centre last Monday. They spun classic rock tunes from a collection of vinyl records, using Tetra speakers. The three-hour event saw more than 200 women “do lunch” while enjoying shopping opportunities and free donated gifts and prizes. The guest speakers were Ottawa At Home Magazine editor in chief Mary Taggart and entrepreneur Janice Mc
Donald, recently named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).
The Ladies Who Lunch gatherings are organized by personality-plus Cather- ine Landry. She welcomed the women and encouraged them to work together and support each other. “If you want to meet someone just go up and talk to them,” said Landry. “Tell them they rock.”
Fashion and fragrance specialist Sid Crantzbarg was singled out (for being the only guy there) and so was 96-year-old Isobel Gallipeau for being, well, 96. She received a bouquet of flowers and a warm hug and kiss from her granddaughter, Ottawa writer and MC Julie Beun. NAC executive chef John Morris was briefly present until Around Town teased him about being outnumbered by women. “I’d better get back to the kitchen,” he replied with a smile.
GIRL RISING; MOMS, GIRLS WATCHING
Only a pop concert could have competed with the high number of mother-daughter sightings at Tuesday’s screening of Girl Rising, an American documentary that addresses the importance of education for girls around the globe.
The auditorium at Library and Archives Canada was near capacity as a large crowd turned out on International Human Rights Day to see the film. The event was co-hosted by the Guatemala Stove Project, represented by volunteer Liz Ballantyne-Jackson, and ACCESO International, represented by volunteer Christine Gervais.
Kimberly Weir brought her 11-year-old, Tatiana, to broaden her knowledge. “As a mom with a daughter, I think it’s really important to expose her to as many things that can empower her as a woman,” Weir told Around Town.
Another mom, Carol DeMone, thought the film would interest her teen, Lauren, a student of Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Kanata. She’s going on a school trip in February to El Salvador. “International development is something I’m thinking of going into,” said Lauren, 16. Ottawa CBC News anchor Lucy van Oldenbarneveld arrived straight from work to host the event, which also included a craft sale and snacks. Proceeds were in support of girls’ education in Latin America, the Caribbean and Ottawa.