GUESTS SEE DOUBLE AT GLEBE PORTRAIT SHOW
With or without booze, guests were seeing double as they flocked to Von’s Bistro on Sunday to check out Philip Craig’s new portrait show, attended by many of the folks whose faces now grace the walls of the popular Glebe restaurant.
For the past four years, Craig has been plugging away in his spare time to complete the 150-portrait installation.
His goal: to raise funds for the Jaimie Anderson Parliamentary Internship, Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery and Friends of HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-School Youngsters).
The paintings don’t come with a price tag, nor is there an obligation to buy.
Attendees included John Manley, a former federal Liberal cabinet minister who now heads the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. As a resident of the Glebe and a regular at Von’s, he’s enjoyed coming to the bistro and seeing the paintings appear on the walls. “I think Philip is very gifted,” said Manley, whose own portrait hangs high, by the bar. “I’m pretty flattered that he actually did one of me.”
Manley said he “absolutely” planned to buy his portrait. “I don’t think anybody else will, so I’d better. I’m really happy (with it) because I think it looks way better than I do.” MOTHER McGINTY WELCOMES THEM TO THE PARTY
The yearlong celebrations of St. Patrick’s Home and its 150 years in Ottawa enjoyed a special wrap-up party filled with festive Irish music, food and drink at the official residence of the Irish ambassador on Thursday.
Ambassador Ray Bassett and his wife, Patricia, co-hosted with successful Irish-born Ottawa businessman Pat Kelly and his wife, Laurie, a benefit party called Shamrocks & Shenanigans.
Renaissance woman Pat Marshall resurrected her role as Mother McGinty, from the bygone Bytown days of canal building. She welcomed arriving guests with her usual exuberant charm while Aydin Suatac was the mischief-making leprechaun.
The evening raised $58,000 for St. Patrick’s Home, a 288-bed long-term care residence located on Riverside Drive. It has a long and proud history as one of the oldest homes for the aged in Ontario. It was founded in 1865 by the Grey Sisters to help the orphaned and elderly. STAND CLEAR, IT’S KIDS AND CAKE
Nobody wanted to stand in the way of kids and their cake, so speeches were kept short at the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa’s joyous celebration of its newly-renovated clubhouse in Vanier.
The revamped facility on McArthur Avenue now bears the name of the late Don McGahan, a popular high school principal.
The club got a $1.5-million donation from the McGahan Family Trust and CLV Group, led by Mike McGahan.
“Our family is very honoured and humbled to be associated with the Boys and Girls Club,” he told the room full of staff, volunteers, donors and kids while describing how the organization’s values match those held by his late father.
The $2.8-million rejuvenation project was led by Gary Zed, Graham Macmillan and Sean Lundy.
Macmillan’s passion and dedication as board chair have led to the multi-hued foyer being named after him while Lundy earned MVP honours for getting the project finished on time and on budget.
Up from T.O. was Jays Care Foundation executive director Robert Witchel with Blue Jays baseball caps for all the children. Donors Michael Potter and Capital Taxi attended, as did Mayor Jim Watson, who had the kids screaming for cake.