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An empty, dilapidated old building, previously locked up and littered with trash, was turned into a stunning party palace for the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala, held Wednesday night on the Ottawa River’s Albert Island.
The former industrial site, which is to eventually become a vibrant and sustainable urban waterfront community, saw 350 guests soak in scenic views while surrounded by great music, food, drinks and decor. Evan Solomon, host of CBC TV’s Power & Politics, was back to head the organizing committee as it pulled off another sell-out event.
It was the first time such a party has ever been held on the property. The last two galas involved cruising the river by boat but, with stowaways not an option, there just wasn’t room for more guests. “We had to get an island. So, we did,” Solomon quipped.
More than $170,000 was raised for the citizen-based action group that protects and promotes the ecological health and diversity of the Ottawa River and its tributaries. On hand were the organization’s Riverkeeper and executive director, Meredith Brown, and board chair, Geoff Green.
Kevin Vickers, Canada’s new ambassador to Ireland, was recognized for his support of the Riverkeeper organization. The former sergeant-at-arms has been a national hero since he killed the lone gunman who stormed Parliament Hill last Oct. 22.
“I’m very honoured and extremely humbled to be here this evening,” Vickers told listeners before sharing, with such sincerity and affection, his personal connection to rivers, particularly to the Ottawa River and to New Brunswick’s Miramichi, where he used to fish for trout as a young boy.
Rivers personify human life, said Vickers. The shallow and timid streams at the headwaters eventually develop depth, strength and confidence. Some routes turn into dead ends. Others bring unexpected turbulence, said Vickers in analogizing the events of Oct. 22 that hit him like a set of rapids. He spoke of his need to return home, to his river, for a visit following those life-changing events.
“Rivers to me are spiritual places with spiritual powers,” said Vickers. “They heal. They give us solace, reconciliation. And, if you let them, they will speak to you.”
The former industrial Albert Island saw 350 guests soak in scenic views while surrounded by great music, food, drinks and decor at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala.
Also feeling a bond to the Miramichi was New Brunswick native Gary Zed from returning presenting sponsor EY. Other VIPs included such prominent Algonquin First Nation members as Elder Peter Decontie and Claudette Commanda, and the well-known Westeinde clan. Brothers Jeff and Jonathan Westeinde are partners at Windmill Development. It has a visionary plan to turn the old Domtar lands on the Ottawa River into retail, residential, commercial and green space.
The very engaging Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from the Canadian band The Skydiggers played for the crowd. They were joined on stage by such musically gifted guests as Riverkeeper board member Kathleen Edwards and NDP MP Andrew Cash.
The gala also honoured former RBC chief executive Gord Nixon for the bank’s RBC Blue Water Project, a 10-year global charitable program dedicated to protecting fresh water.
Later, Susan St. Amand, head of Sirius Financial Services, won the return airfare WestJet tickets for two, to Ireland. She’ll be hosted for lunch by Vickers while she’s there.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
查看原文...
The former industrial site, which is to eventually become a vibrant and sustainable urban waterfront community, saw 350 guests soak in scenic views while surrounded by great music, food, drinks and decor. Evan Solomon, host of CBC TV’s Power & Politics, was back to head the organizing committee as it pulled off another sell-out event.
It was the first time such a party has ever been held on the property. The last two galas involved cruising the river by boat but, with stowaways not an option, there just wasn’t room for more guests. “We had to get an island. So, we did,” Solomon quipped.
More than $170,000 was raised for the citizen-based action group that protects and promotes the ecological health and diversity of the Ottawa River and its tributaries. On hand were the organization’s Riverkeeper and executive director, Meredith Brown, and board chair, Geoff Green.
Kevin Vickers, Canada’s new ambassador to Ireland, was recognized for his support of the Riverkeeper organization. The former sergeant-at-arms has been a national hero since he killed the lone gunman who stormed Parliament Hill last Oct. 22.
“I’m very honoured and extremely humbled to be here this evening,” Vickers told listeners before sharing, with such sincerity and affection, his personal connection to rivers, particularly to the Ottawa River and to New Brunswick’s Miramichi, where he used to fish for trout as a young boy.
Rivers personify human life, said Vickers. The shallow and timid streams at the headwaters eventually develop depth, strength and confidence. Some routes turn into dead ends. Others bring unexpected turbulence, said Vickers in analogizing the events of Oct. 22 that hit him like a set of rapids. He spoke of his need to return home, to his river, for a visit following those life-changing events.
“Rivers to me are spiritual places with spiritual powers,” said Vickers. “They heal. They give us solace, reconciliation. And, if you let them, they will speak to you.”
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From left, Whitney Fox with RBC regional president Tina Sarellas at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at a new and unique location, Albert Island, on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen 
Gala committe chair Evan Solomon with honouree and Canadian ambassador Kevin Vickers at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Karinne Baker, interior architect and designer Tania Kratt, Lara Van Loon, Penny Schroeder and Ruth McKlusky were the design team for the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island, on the former Domtar lands, on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Algonquin Elder Peter Decontie, Claudette Commanda, Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown and Jeff Westeinde, partner at Windmill Development, seen with Christopher Griffin's group art installation at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Colleen Westeinde with her sister-in-law, Sue Finlay and Finlay's husband, Windmill Development partner Jonathan Westeinde, at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island, future site of Windmill's mixed-use development.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Jennifer White, Margot Sunter, Ottawa Centre federal Liberal candidate Catherine McKenna and Stephanie Bolt, seen at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island, All participated in the Ottawa Riverkeeper's 4km-long fundraising swim on the Ottawa River last year.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Gala supporters Jennifer White and Chris White, from Trailhead Paddle Shack, at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa artist Christopher Griffin with Katrin Trost on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala and its new location, Albert Island along the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Tina Sarellas, regional president of RBC, with raffle prize winner Susan St. Amand, Sandy Goldberg and Sue-Ellen Holst at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, navy cadets Gabrielle Gingras, 12, and Acacia Mulindwa, 11, from the NLCC Vice Admiral Kingsmill, participated in the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Bill Duncan with his daughter, Emily, singer-songwriter and businesswoman Kathleen Edwards and lead event designer Tania Kratt at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Green Party leader Elizabeth May with Claudette Commanda at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island, former site of the Domtar lands.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from The Skydiggers headlined at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala, held at its new location on Albert Island, along the Ottawa River, on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Andy Maize from the Skydiggers makes shadow puppets while performing at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala, held at Albert Island on the Ottawa River on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Singer-songwriter and Ottawa Riverkeeper board member Kathleen Edwards performed on stage with Andy Maize from the Skydiggers during the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Andy Maize from The Skydiggers and NDP MP Andrew Cash (Davenport) sing "You've Got a Lot of Nerve", written by Cash, at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Stephanie Potter with her brother, Citizen editor Andrew Potter, and Sarah Burns and Ottawa Riverkeeper staff member Stephanie Bolt at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, John and Shirley Westeinde with their eldest son, Jeff Westeinde from Windmill Development, and his wife, Colleen, a member of the gala committee and the Ottawa Riverkeeper board, at this year's gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Windmills' future development site of the former Domtar lands.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Lee Rose with Susan Finlay and Anne-Marie McElrone at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Gala host Evan Solomon addressed some 350 guests of the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala inside an old industrial building that was spruced up for the fundraiser, held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, on Albert Island.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Honouree and Canadian Ambassador Kevin Vickers recited The Brook Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson while speaking at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala, held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the former Domtar lands and future site of a residential, commerical and recreational development along the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Gord Nixon, former chief executive of RBC, was honoured for the bank's tremendous support of water projects on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Gary Zed from presenting sponsor EY welcomed VIP guests to the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at a new location, Albert Island, former site of the Domtar lands on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Geoff Green, chair of the Ottawa Riverkeeper board, welcomed attendees to this year's sold-out gala, held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at a new location, Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Gatineau City Councillor Mike Duggan with Ottawa Centre NDP MP Paul Dewar and Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus, wearing their complimentary Canada Goose scarves, at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at Albert Island on the Ottawa River on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Michael Sangster, V-P of government relations for Telus, with Telus CEO Joe Natale at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held at a new and unique location, Albert Island on the Ottawa River, on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Mario Burke of Ad Mare serves crab cakes on a bun to Chris Boerger from his mobile restaurant at the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
It was a gorgeous night for being by the water on Albert Island, at the site of the former Domtar lands, for the sold-out Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
An outdoor lounging area allowed guests to enjoy the beautiful summerlike evening during the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Albert Island on the Ottawa River, a former industrial site.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
The former industrial Albert Island saw 350 guests soak in scenic views while surrounded by great music, food, drinks and decor at the third annual Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala.
Also feeling a bond to the Miramichi was New Brunswick native Gary Zed from returning presenting sponsor EY. Other VIPs included such prominent Algonquin First Nation members as Elder Peter Decontie and Claudette Commanda, and the well-known Westeinde clan. Brothers Jeff and Jonathan Westeinde are partners at Windmill Development. It has a visionary plan to turn the old Domtar lands on the Ottawa River into retail, residential, commercial and green space.
The very engaging Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from the Canadian band The Skydiggers played for the crowd. They were joined on stage by such musically gifted guests as Riverkeeper board member Kathleen Edwards and NDP MP Andrew Cash.
The gala also honoured former RBC chief executive Gord Nixon for the bank’s RBC Blue Water Project, a 10-year global charitable program dedicated to protecting fresh water.
Later, Susan St. Amand, head of Sirius Financial Services, won the return airfare WestJet tickets for two, to Ireland. She’ll be hosted for lunch by Vickers while she’s there.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
查看原文...
