Around Town: Queensway Carleton Hospital heads to the farm to celebrate 40 years

[guest]

It’s hard to believe that only 40 years ago the Queensway Carleton Hospital sprang from a field much like the family owned Saunders Farm, where the hospital held its big anniversary party Friday night.

Since 1976, the west-end hospital has continued to grow, as has the population it’s been serving: from 90,000 to more than 400,000.

The 40 Years of Love charity gala brought everyone together under one magnificent party tent for a family styled dinner, shared together beneath a Harvest Moon.

So high was the demand for tickets that gala attendance swelled to 450.

The organizing committee was led by Sara Cinq-Mars, wife of Tomlinson Group of Companies president Kevin Cinq-Mars. There to welcome everyone was the warm and familiar voice of retired radio broadcaster Steve Madely, who served as the evening’s MC.

“Forty years ago, this hospital was pulled together from a number of volunteer community leaders, like Aubrey Moodie, Ben Franklin, Jean Pigott, Irving Greenberg,” Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation president and CEO Melanie Adams told the crowd. “There was a number of them who had a vision to pull from a farmer’s field a hospital for our community. It was an amazing success and, 40 years later, here we are celebrating with new community leaders with a vision for our future.”

Photos: Queensway Carleton Hospital celebrates 40 years


The 40 Years of Love charity gala brought together 450 under one magnificent party tent for a family styled dinner to celebrate the Queensway Carleton Hospital's first 40 years.

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  From left, Lise Jorgensen with Amanda Jerome, in her stylish boho chic attire, for the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for Queensway Carleton Hospital, held Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Saunders Farm in Munster. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Sherri Faloon and Hugh Faloon, partner at GGFL, with manager partner Deborah Bourchier, board chair of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, at the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala held at Saunders Farm. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Danielle Robinson, president of the Ottawa Senators Foundation, with her partner, Wayne Mullett, at the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for the Queensway Carleton Hospital, held at Saunders Farm in Munster. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Drs. Ron Vexler, Barry Bruce and Doug Mirsky are among the original physicians from the Queensway Carleton Hospital, which celebrated its 40th anniversary during a gala evening at Saunders Farm. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Retired radio broadcaster and gala MC Steve Madely with Melanie Adams, president and CEO of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, at the 40 Years of Love gala dinner held at Saunders Farm. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  The 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for the Queensway Carleton Hospital was held Friday, September 16, 2016, out in the country at Saunders Farm, owned by Mark Saunders and his wife, Angela Grant Saunders. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Supporter Ken Hoppner of Morley Hoppner Group and his friends dined elbow-to-elbow beneath a beautiful party tent during the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Honorary patrons Erin and Chris Phillips nailed the boho chic fashion look worn by many to the Queensway Carleton Hospital's 40 Years of Love gala dinner. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Kevin Cinq-Mars, president of sponsor Tomlinson Group of Companies, with his wife, Sara Cinq-Mars, organizing committee chair of the 40 Years of Love gala held Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Saunders Farm in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  A crowd of 450 dined elbow-to-elbow inside the giant party tent during the Queensway Carleton Hospital's 40 Years of Love anniversary gala, held at Saunders Farm on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Volunteer Liv Gregoire is seen with her mom, Andrea Gregoire, in her best boho chic attire, for the Queensway Carleton Hospital's 40 Years of Love anniversary gala. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Coun. Allan Hubley (Kanata South) with his wife, organizing committee member Wendy Hubley, and Rachel deKemp and her husband, Dr. Andrew Falconer, chief of staff at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, at the 40 Years of Love anniversary dinner held out at Saunders Farm on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 in support of the hospital's campaign to improve its mental health services. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Anik Bergeron, Dave Kelly and Michael Bergeron at the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for the Queensway Carleton Hospital. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  The 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for the Queensway Carleton Hospital, held Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, included a live auction led by auctioneer Ryan Watson. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Katie Faloon-Drew, left, with Caitlin Neil, wife of the Ottawa Senators' Chris Neil. Caitlin was part of the organizing committee for the Queensway Carleton Hospital's 40 Years of Love anniversary gala. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Gary Zed, managing partner at sponsor EY, with Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation board member Doris Ramphos and her husband, Steve Ramphos, president of District Realty, at the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  Paul McCarney, vice-president of business development at Tomlinson Group of Companies, seen chatting with Monica Mital at the 40 Years of Love anniversary gala for the Queensway Carleton Hospital. Caroline Phillips / -
  
  
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  From left, Barbara Crook and her husband, Dan Greenberg, owner of presenting sponsor Ferguslea Properties, with Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation president and CEO Melanie Adams and the hospital's chief of staff, Dr. Andrew Falconer, at the hospital's 40th anniversary gala. Caroline Phillips / -
  

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When deciding what to wear, many guests drew inspiration from the 1970s. Recently retired Ottawa Senators player Chris Phillips went for “boho chic”, a la Johnny Depp. He and his wife, Erin, were honorary patrons that night. They donated to the live auction a package for four to boat and lunch with them on the Big Rideau.

The Phillipses are also honorary chairs of the hospital foundation’s $5-million Hopes Rising campaign to make major improvements to the hospital’s mental health services.

Attendees included Ottawa mental health advocate Barbara Crook with her husband, Dan Greenberg, owner of presenting sponsor Ferguslea Properties and son of the late Irving Greenberg. The $5-million campaign was launched back in February with a $1-million donation from Crook.

Crook realized the mental health ward needed to be fixed after one of her relatives spent a few weeks there as a psychiatric patient. The unit has been pretty much in the same condition for the past 40 years.

Crook and a bunch of other families with similar experiences expressed their desire for change to the QCH. It paid attention. “The hospital didn’t just say, ‘Yes, dear,’ ” said Crook (referring to the conditioned response made by spouses when they’re not actively listening). “They said, ‘We’re going to do it.’ ”

So far, more than $2 million has been raised. Funds will help redesign and renovate the unit to improve the way mental health patients navigate through the system, and to create a safer, brighter and more welcoming space.

Gala attendees included Dr. Andrew Falconer, chief of staff at the hospital, and physicians who’ve been there since the beginning, such as Drs. Doug Mirsky, Ron Vexler and Barry Bruce (Mirsky and Bruce rocked on later that night while performing with their STAR Tools band).

Carolyn001@sympatico.ca

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