KARLSSON’S CLASSICAL DEBUT
Senator on hand for symphony party
Hospice Care Ottawa supporters were invited to venture inside the historical Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of Rideau Hall, last Wednesday for an exclusive cocktail reception in aid of a charitable organization that provides care and comfort to the dying and their families.
There to greet them Stephen Wallace, secretary to the Governor General, who resides at the home. He was joined by Hospice Care executive director Lisa Sullivan and Homes for the Holidays 2015 honorary chairs Andrea Laurin and her husband, Dennis Laurin, owner of Laurin General Contractors.
Tickling the ivories was Evelyn Greenberg. Before the reception was over, Greenberg had partygoers, including her sister, former mayor Jackie Holzman, singing along to the music. Holzman co-chaired with Gail Joynt the $200-a-ticket event in support of the planned expansion of the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice in Kanata. The Thyme & Again-catered evening also launched Hospice Care’s signature fundraiser, Homes for the Holidays, taking place Nov. 13 to 15.
The stately residence, decorated with flowers from Scrim’s Florist, featured artworks by John Eaton, Jerry Grey, David W. Jones, Kenneth Lochhead and Michael Sproule. Silent-auction items included two nights at the incredible Fogo Island Inn and a dinner for 12 hosted by Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui.
KARLSSON CHARMS THE CLASSICAL CROWD
Star Motors is living up to its name, having drafted one of the biggest stars in Ottawa to be celebrity spokesperson for the local Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Senators captain Erik Karlsson made a special (pre-haircut) appearance at the National Arts Centre last Monday in his new role. He joined a crowd of classical music lovers at a post-concert benefit party for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra.
Karlsson, who owns a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG sedan and bought a top-of-the-line Mercedes SUV for his girlfriend, was introduced to the crowd by Star Motors of Ottawa general manager Yves Laberge. The dealership treated 200 customers to the Italian-themed concert and to the reception, hosted by Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado.
The Sens captain was friendly and courteous as he smiled and posed for photos with guests. Maestro and OSO music director David Currie and his two grandsons got in on the action. So did the concert’s star violinist, Kerson Leong, 18. Edith Orton, who’s been teaching piano for more than 70 of her 90 years, linked arms with the handsome Swede while she and OSO honorary board member Allison Dingle got their picture taken.
“Every lady in the room didn’t want to miss this chance,” remarked OSO special events chair Snookie Lomow.
ELMWOOD CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL WITH MARGARET ATWOOD
Members of the Elmwood School family from past and present spent an evening with Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood at a gala dinner to celebrate the elite all-girls private school’s centennial, held Saturday at the Canadian Museum of History.
Atwood, considered one of Canada’s finest writers, participated in a Q&A with Elmwood alumna Catherine Clark, daughter of former PM Joe Clark and head of her own communications company.
Atwood, who was born in Ottawa and whose latest novel The Heart Goes Last was published in September, spoke with Clark about the influence of her childhood on her writing, encouraging girls to take intellectual risks, and why failure is an important part of learning.
Present were school headmistress Cheryl Boughton and board chair Mike Greenley, along with such recognizable Elmwood parents as popular Citizen columnist and dinner MC Mark Sutcliffe and political talk-show host and Maclean’s columnist Evan Solomon.
Every lady in the room didn’t want to miss this chance. Ottawa Symphony Orchestra special events chair Snookie Lomow on meeting Senators captain Erik Karlsson