AROUND TOWN
Social highlights of the week
Over the years, the Royal Ottawa Golf Club has been the go-to course for former prime ministers and governors general, famous hockey players, successful business executives, and top lawyers and doctors.
On Wednesday, members came together at the private golf course, located across the river in Gatineau, for an elegant cocktail reception celebrating the Royal’s 125th anniversary. It was held on the clubhouse veranda and patio, under clear skies and alongside manicured gardens.
Town crier Daniel Richer, standing beneath the attractive new clock tower commemorating the club’s anniversary, grabbed everyone’s attention for the opening ceremony.
The mayors of Gatineau and Ottawa, as well as the local MP from that area, were unable to make it due to Barack Obama’s visit to the capital that day (club president Tim Wardrop was such a good sport, really, about being upstaged by another president).
The history of the Royal dates back to 1891 and includes among its founders a dry goods merchant, banker and real estate developer. It was originally located near Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill but moved in 1902 to its current spot on Aylmer Road and was granted its royal designation by King George V in 1912.
“I will say that what I most enjoy about this place is the camaraderie, strong friendships and great memories that come with being a member,” said 125th committee chair Michael Renaud.
The Royal has seen clubhouses burn down and members go off to fight in the Great War. As well, it has hosted many big tournaments. It’s welcoming the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship this August.
With history and tradition has come evolution. Fashion police will be happy to know that golfers no longer have to wear shorts with knee socks. That’s such a hard look to pull off, anyway.
“Although it’s 125 years old, it has changed with the times,” said Dr. Kathy Keely. The pediatrician, who can recall a time when women were restricted from entering certain parts of the club, was its first female president.
FUZZY BEARS FOR THOSE COMING INTO FOSTER CARE
Armloads of soft and cuddly teddy bears were donated last Monday to the local Children’s Aid Foundation by members of Quota International of Ottawa.
There were 70 bears to mark the 70-year milestone of the service club’s Ottawa chapter and its hands-on projects and fundraising in aid of women, children and the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
The stuffed animals will be given to kids coming into foster care.
The dinner, held at Algonquin College’s restaurant, featured as its guest speaker Jim Kyte, retired hockey player-turned dean of the college’s School of Hospitality and Tourism. Kyte is the only legally deaf man to have ever played in the NHL.
On hand were Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor and representatives from such beneficiary charities as Shepherds of Good Hope, Youville Centre and Youth Services Bureau.
BARBERS PERFORM AT BENEFIT
A crowd of 150 enjoyed an exclusive evening with Canadian singer-songwriter siblings Matthew Barber and Jill Barber at Up Close and Unplugged, an annual arts and health-care benefit recently held at the National Arts Centre.
The evening, presented by BMO Private Banking, netted $170,000 for the NAC Foundation and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. Community leaders Peter Charbonneau and Stephen Greenberg were back to co-chair the event. It included cocktails and dinner followed by an intimate concert with the Barbers, who performed numbers from their recent collaboration, The Family Album.