IGNITING THE SPIRIT
Dancers amaze at fundraising gala
With giant red umbrellas suspended upside down from the ceiling, it was as if the sold-out crowd of 600 was dining under a strawberry moon. It was in keeping with the theme of this year’s Igniting the Spirit Gala for the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, held Thursday at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre. The non-profit, community-based health care centre provides holistic, culturally-relevant programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, serving more than 10,000 each year. “Wabano’s work is critical for Ottawa but it’s a role model and a beacon for communities right across the country,” said CBC Radio host and MC Shelagh Rogers. The evening was co-chaired by Barbara Farber from the Leikin Group and police Chief Charles Bordeleau, with Canadian actor Mary Walsh as the hands-on honorary chair and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau as guest speaker. A canoe paddle, signed by her hubby, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, sold for $1,100 that night. Also on the charity auction block were First Air plane tickets, a sculpture by artist David General, a Pat Flesher Furs jacket, first-class Via Rail tickets, a group dinner from Tulips & Maple and Jubilee Fine Jewellers bling.
UP CLOSE AND UNPLUGGED NETS $200,000
Generous supporters of two different causes — helping cancer survivors and boosting the performing arts — came together Wednesday for a special evening that raised $200,000 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and National Arts Centre Foundation. The Up Close and Unplugged benefit was founded by former Newbridge senior executive Peter Charbonneau, who sits on both the NAC Foundation audit committee and the cancer foundation’s Cancer Champions Cabinet. He was back to co-chair the successful event, now in its 11th year, with fellow cancer survivor Stephen Greenberg, president of Osgoode Properties. Some 161 attendees, many dressed in the 1920s theme, gathered for a reception and gourmet dinner on the NAC’s rooftop terrace, followed by a private concert with Montreal jazz sensation Nikki Yanofsky. Attendees included philanthropist Dan Greenberg, Dr. Hartley Stern, Malhotra Family Foundation co-founder Louise Malhotra, Mitel CFO Steve Spooner, Trinity Development Foundation manager Mariette MacIsaac, Jeff York, CEO of Farm Boy, and Michael Mrak from Mark Motors. Also spotted were NAC president Peter Herrndorf, along with the chief executive of its foundation, Jayne Watson, and cancer foundation CEO Linda Eagen.
CROWD DROPS, GIVES $100,000 FOR BOOTCAMP FOR BRAINS
Still on a high from meeting U2 frontman Bono that day, 19-yearold Olivia Zed’s hot streak continued as she helped host a benefit that raised big bucks for a new female-empowerment initiative with a catchy name, Bootcamp for Brains. Zed co-chaired Monday’s event with Jayne Watson at The Waverley on Elgin Street. The evening raised nearly $100,000. Auctioneer Ryan Watson sold off such items as a luxury suite to the upcoming Taylor Swift concert, a Koyman Galleries painting by Philip Craig and VIP tickets to a Blue Jays game. Bootcamp for Brains is a unique skills-building program bringing 100 girls, ages 15 to 17, from across Canada to Ottawa next July to build future leaders. The two weeks of intense training will take place at Ashbury College and will provide scholarships to half the participants. The initiative is being launched by G(irls)20, a Canadian-based global charity started in 2010 by CEO Farah Mohamed (she formerly worked on the Hill for Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan).