GALA LOOKS TO FAR EAST
Asian-themed Canadian Tire event raises funds to buy snowsuits for 2,000 kids
A fetching crowd of 350 came together at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Saturday to raise enough money — more than $80,000 — to keep 2,000 kids in toasty-warm snowsuits during the bitter cold months that lie ahead.
The occasion was the Canadian Tire Snowsuit Fund Gala “Asian Reflections,” but there’s no ancient Chinese secret behind its success; it all comes down to a loyal following of supporters with creative flair and fresh ideas. The Far East theme could be seen, heard and tasted everywhere. Guests were escorted by dragon dancers to a ballroom adorned with paper parasols.
A kimono-wearing Sandra Plagakis from KISS-FM styled her hair into a Chinese bun, with souvlaki sticks poking out, to MC the charity event with colleague Carter Brown.
The gala was co-chaired by Valerie Hammell from the Canadian Tire store on Carling and Peter O’Leary, chief marketing officer for the Ottawa Senators. Honorary co-chair Erin Phillips arrived with her “date,” Caitlin Neil, since both of their Sens hockeyplaying husbands, Chris and Chris, were away.
Kent Browne from Royal LePage auctioned off a framed Sidney Crosby-signed jersey, VIP hockey tickets and sports equipment packages from Canadian Tire and SportChek. The pur- chase of decorative chopsticks entered guests into the raffle for a pair of WestJet tickets, but there was good luck for everyone — all the fortune cookies contained promises of a free hot chocolate at Tim Hortons.
A SNEAK PEEK INTO NEW BECKTA RESTAURANT
The highly-anticipated relocation of Beckta restaurant to its elegant new spot on Elgin Street gave rise to a celebration Friday, even if owner Stephen Beckta was on the brink of exhaustion from all his hard work getting the place in ready-set-serve shape.
Beckta Dining and Wine Bar now occupies the historical Grant House building, previously home to Friday’s Roast Beef House. It officially opens Wednesday. Attendees of the sneak-peek party included Ottawa MPP and Liberal cabinet minister Yasir Naqvi, entrepreneur Harley Finkelstein from Shopify, and executive director Colleen Mooney and board chair Graham Macmillan from the Boys & Girls Club. Beckta is on the board and is an alumnus. Also glimpsed were artists Jordan Craig and Andrew King, whose works hang in the new Beckta.
PHILANTHROPISTS HONOURED
A female trailblazer who keeps giving, a little brick salesman who could and a grocer who sees the value of second chances were among those honoured at the local Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Awards Dinner, on Wednesday at the Shaw Centre. Nearly 400 attendees heard moving stories of how three individuals, one organization and two businesses donated their time, energy and/ or money to make a difference in the community. Recipients were: Shirley Greenberg (individual philanthropist); Robert Merkley (volunteer fundraiser); Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa (philanthropic group); Allan and Joanne Foget of Foget Sobeys Stores (small business philanthropist); Telus (corporate philanthropist); and Patrick Twagirayezu (youth category). Claude Drouin, director of philanthropy at the Canadian Museum of History/War Museum.
IMAGES OF THE GREAT WAR
Some of the most generous supporters of the National Gallery of Canada joined leaders in the military for a special evening last Monday that commemorated the First World War through art. Close to 100 guests took in a panel discussion with Canadian military historians before making their way through The Great War: The Persuasive Power of Photography. The exhibit tour was followed by dinner in the Great Hall. On hand was NGC Foundation board chair Tom d’Aquino with such special guests as Vice-Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Guy Thibault and Toronto businessman Blake Goldring, honorary colonel of the army. A few days earlier, Goldring received the 2014 Vimy Award at a gala dinner, for his outstanding job of strengthening ties between the Canadian Armed Forces and the public.