Around Town: Star-studded night at inaugural Nature Canada Ball

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It was a night to just sit back and soak it all in, from award-winning singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk‘s phenomenal performance, to Sophie Grégoire Trudeau lifting the spirits of an entire room with her passionate words, to an exciting bidding war to become a character in a Margaret Atwood book.

Then, there was the Canadian Tire-donated canoe, portaged into the ballroom of the Fairmont Château Laurier by strapping young lads in tuxedos. It sold off for $4,600, along with cherry paddles autographed by Grégoire and her other half, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

As parting gifts for everyone, there were brand new Woods sleeping bags.

The inaugural Nature Canada Ball on Friday attracted a sold-out crowd to raise funds for the country’s oldest national nature conservation charity and its Naturehood program aimed at connecting children to nearby nature.

The elegant event was chaired by Greenbridge Group president Sheefra Brisbin, who’s also board vice chair at Nature Canada.

Canadian broadcast journalist Marci Ien served as MC while Ottawa animal lover and photographer Sandy Sharkey helped out as celebrity auctioneer. Up for grabs were: a $38,000 Arctic cruise for two donated by Adventure Canada, a trip to Iqaluit courtesy of First Air, a work by wildlife artist Robert Bateman, and an embassy dinner for 10 with Irish Ambassador Jim Kelly and his wife.

Photos: Nature Canada Ball


The inaugural Nature Canada Ball on Friday attracted a sold-out crowd to raise funds for the country's oldest national nature conservation charity and its Naturehood program aimed at connecting children to nearby nature.

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  John Gregory, a manager with PCL Construction, with Canadian broadcaster Marci Ien and Laura Gregory at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Lawyer Chris Spiteri, partner at Spiteri & Ursulak LLP, with one of his guests, Joanne Dobson with the Port of Vancouver, at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, environmental educator and environmental speaker Geoff Green, president and founder of Students on Ice, with his wife, Diz Glithero and Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Three-time Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk delivered a magical performance at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  The star-studded presence of Margaret Atwood, left, and Chantal Kreviazuk added to the excitement of the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, organizing committee member Henrietta Southam with Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie, Liberal MP for Orlèans, and Vanessa Luna at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Renate Mierins, Iola Price, Tara-Leigh Cancino Brouillette and Ainsley Malhotra were part of the Kanata Honda-sponsored table at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Nature Canada Ball patron Sophie Grégoire Trudeau with event chair Sheefra Brisbin, who's also vice chair of the board with Nature Canada, at the inaugural event held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  This Canadian Tire-donated canoe, autographed by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and paddles, signed by her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, fetched $4,600 at the live auction during the Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Nature Canada Ball committee chair Sheefra Brisbin, founder and president of Greenbridge Group, with her husband, Ritchard Brisbin, of BBB Architects, at the inaugural gala held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Canadian broadcast journalist Marci Ien served as MC at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi and his wife, Christine McMillan, at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Sheila Whyte, owner of Thyme & Again Creative Catering and Take Home Food Shop, with her husband, Clayton Kennedy, at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Ron (Deganadus) McLester, special adviser and executive director of aboriginal student services at Algonquin College, with Peggy Austen from the Algonquin College Foundation, at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Environment Minister Catherine McKenna at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Photographer and animal lover Sandy Sharkey sold off tens of thousands of dollars worth of live auction items at the Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Nature Canada Ball patron Sophie Grégoire Trudeau spoke passionately about her love of nature at the inaugural benefit evening for the nature conservation charity, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Nature Canada Ball patron Sophie Grégoire Trudeau with organizing committee member Henrietta Southam, Chief Government Chip Andrew Leslie and his daughter, Erica, and organizing committee member Sheila O'Gorman at the inaugural charity ball for Nature Canada, the oldest national nature conservation charity in Canada. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Susanna Carson of Besics Packaging attracted curious looks in her ball gown of compostable, biodegradable cups and lids at the Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, ball patron Sophie Grégoire Trudeau with Ashleigh White, Canadian author Margaret Atwood and award-winning singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk at the inaugural Nature Canada Ball held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, September 30, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  

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Most intriguing was the donation by Atwood, the keynote speaker, to include the name of the highest bidder in volume three of her Angel Catbird graphic novel trilogy. It went for $11,000 to a woman who plans to surprise her father (the gift will be a creative far cry from a necktie, that’s for sure).

Grégoire, a self-professed “nature lover” was there as the ball patron. She’s also the 100th member of Nature Canada’s philanthropic initiative Women for Nature (just ahead of Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who didn’t mind settling for the 101st spot).

Grégoire, who lived in the Laurentians during her early years, spoke of the outdoors as being such a vital part of her childhood. “My father used to tell me, ‘Just listen to the sounds of rocks,’ ” joked Grégoire, who’s since used that same line with her own three children.

She shared a poem that she wrote, describing some of her exhilarating experiences in nature, from surfing in Tofino, to exploring Gros Morne, to seal watching near the Magdalen Islands. There was even a reference to her inadvertent drowning of Ski-Doos, which would have made for good dinner conversation back at her table.

Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie, Liberal MP for Orléans, and Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, were also among the attendees.

Carolyn001@sympatico.ca

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