OTTAWA — A pairing of Pinot and pooches with exceptional cuisine and a hint of superstar stilettos drew 250 people out to the National Arts Centre’s rooftop terrace last Sunday for the 13th annual Summer Harvest Garden Party.
The $125-a-ticket event raised a record-breaking $48,000 for the Ottawa Humane Society, which was the charity of choice for the late Kurt Waldele, executive chef at the NAC from 1978 to 2009. The popular chef used to host similar culinary fundraisers in support of the OHS.
Twenty-five top chefs participated in the afternoon garden party in honour of Waldele, who was a mentor to many young culinary artists before his death in 2009.
“The reason I’m here is because of Kurt,” said Louis Charest, executive chef of both Rideau Hall and the Big Easy Seafood & Steakhouse. “He always looked out for me.”
Unveiled was a framed plaque with photo recognizing Waldele’s many contributions. It will permanently hang outside the NAC’s Le Café. “Kurt Waldele served kings, queens, heads of state, prime ministers, presidents and even the pope,” NAC executive chef John Morris told the crowd. “He was truly an artist, on par with the artists hosted on our NAC stages.”
Dr. Suzanne Beauchemin said her late husband would have been “very touched” by what she called “a lovely tribute.”
Present were NAC president Peter Herrndorf and OHS executive director Bruce Roney. Sen. Marjory LeBreton attended with her sister, NCC board member Kay Stanley. The cute and cuddly crowd included 15-month-old Rafi (in the arms of his dad, Ontario Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi) as well as canine companions from the OHS Brightening Lives Program strolling around on leashes.
Animal lover Sandy Sharkey was seen holding her prized Manolo Blahniks. The shoes had belonged to Oprah Winfrey until the icon decided to give them away to a random fan — Sharkey — during her speaking tour in Ottawa. Guests could pose for a photo with the heels in return for an OHS donation.
Josh Malina displays menschly manners
Attention celebrity watchers: we had a Hollywood actor in our midst last Sunday. Former West Wing star Joshua Malina was in the nation’s capital to speak at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s campaign kickoff, held at the NAC.
There were no airs about him as he chatted in a friendly manner with guests at the reception, shaking hands and graciously posing for photos.
Malina addressed a crowd of 500-plus that night on “How to make it in Hollywood and remain a Mensch” (Yiddish for a person of integrity and honour). He spoke about being an actor and what being a Jew means to him. “I’m going to talk about the only two subjects which I’m an authority on — my career and my background,” said Malina, who’s a product of Jewish day school.
Nathan Smith, senior V-P of Cushman & Wakefield Ottawa, co-chaired the kickoff event with his wife, Cindy. “I’m a huge Josh Malina fan,” said Smith, who watched him play Will Bailey on The West Wing and now follows his ABC political-thriller show Scandal.
On hand were 2014 Annual Campaign chairs Charles Schachnow and Leiba Krantzberg, along with JFO’s new president and CEO, Andrea Freedman.
Big hand for Little Theatre volunteers
At the Ottawa Little Theatre, hundreds gathered last Sunday to recognize the legion of volunteers who’ve given their time, talent and tireless energy to the community theatre over its 100-year history.
The Cornerstone celebration, chaired by Val Bogan, featured an induction ceremony of 10 past volunteers. Their impressive involvement with the OLT spanned decades.
Inducted were: William (Bill) Adkins, Sybil Cooke, Elizabeth (Betty) Cruikshank, Florence (Flo) Fancott, W. E. (Ted) Fancott, William (Bill) Glenn, Michael Meiklejohn, Jane Murray, Gladys Cameron Watt and Dorothy White.
The ceremony attracted many inductee family members, like Alexis Fancott. His grandfather, Ted Fancott, was an architect and set designer, while his grandmother, Flo, was one of Ottawa’s earliest leading ladies (she once worked with Errol Flynn).
“I loved my grandmother and grandfather, and the work they did for the theatre was really important to them,” said Alexis. “They didn’t get paid for it; they did it for the love of the theatre.”
The event also saw the unveiling of artist Lynda Cronin’s sculpture, ShapeShifter, inspired by the transformative power of stage props. It’s located outside the theatre entrance on King Edward Avenue.
The inductees’ names have been included on the artwork and more names will be added each year.
Art auction brightens blues-in-schools program
There was no need to cry the blues at Portraits of Bluesfest 5, unless, maybe, you left the silent auction art fundraiser empty-handed.
18 artists donated original Bluesfest-inspired artworks to this year’s benefit, held Thursday at Patrick Gordon Framing Studio. The event raised roughly $10,000, pending final tally. All the money goes to the RBC Bluesfest Blues in the Schools (BITS) program that brings professional musicians into schools to help kids learn about music.
The Citizen’s arts-editor-at-large, Peter Simpson, is the founder and curator of the fundraiser. Also seen were framer Patrick Gordon, Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan and BITS co-ordinator Ana Miura.
“It’s a great cause, and it’s a really nice marriage between art and music,” opined one attendee, Pat Killen, a.k.a. Slim Reaper, frontman for the rock band Big Jeezus Truck.
Another attendee, local artist Ross Rheaume, had several friends with art in the show (he also has a connection to music; his niece is singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume). “I think the work is fantastic,” said Rheaume. “What’s really, really interesting is that, without looking at the names, I can spot all the artists that I know. They’ve been given a theme but they’ve managed to do something that’s completely their style.”
Fetching the most money was artist Philip Craig’s A Hot Afternoon with Tony D and Monkeyjunk. It was Simpson who ended up buying the painting for $2,000. “I just don’t want it to go for less than two grand,” he said after scribbling down his offer on the bidding sheet.
Alison Fowler’s Lemieux at Dusk painting was one of the pieces to get snatched up at its fixed buy-now price of $420. “I’m happy I can help,” Fowler replied after learning the good news.
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