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Rising tide lifts all boats at BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala

Evening meets $500K goal, raises further $110K to resume free weekend programming for children and youth

August 30, 2024

Editor's Note

OBJ.social is supported by the generous patronage of Mark Motors and Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties® Inc. Read their stories here.

Even with summer quickly winding down, there was no need to fret about missing out on a trip to the ocean this season—not with BGC Ottawa hosting its spectacular Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala on Thursday.

The signature fundraiser may have skipped the big waves, sandy shores and — thank God — gulls behaving badly, but the atmosphere certainly captured the coastal charm, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle without ever leaving Ottawa.

A sold-out crowd of more than 500 attendees partied on the Great Lawn outside the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse on Prince of Wales Drive. Organizers once again got lucky this year with clear skies and pleasant temperatures for the largely outdoor gala, which called for “garden chic” attire.

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“It’s my favourite event of the year,” Dia Capello, owner of Valamode, told OBJ.social of the relaxed atmosphere that allows her to truly mix and mingle.

From left, Anna Bélanger and Carolyn Botting relax on one of the couches at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees mingled largely outdoors during the remaining days of summer at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

There were gourmet food and drink stations, a floral bouquet booth, music and dancing, engaging games, and stunning decor. The production was led by event planner and coordinator Amanda Ruddy (Amanda Julia Events) assisted by Angie Spicer (Event Design) and sponsor tent decor Sharon Bosley-House (Avant-Garde Designs). The sea of party tents included the semi-private variety for top sponsors wanting to host friends or clients in a comfortable setting. This year’s gala, presented by Mark Motors Group, saw a record number of business sponsors sign on.

More importantly, the gala reached its $500,000 goal for BGC (formerly Boys and Girls Club) Ottawa, a non-profit organization that’s been around for more than 100 years. It offers free creative arts, educational, leadership and social skills, and recreational programs throughout the city for thousands of young people ages six to 18. In doing so, it creates life-changing opportunities, the room heard.

BGC Ottawa board member Michelle Taggart, vice president of planning and development at Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes, was back to co-chair the benefit with her good friend Jeff Smith, president of Smith & Reid Insurance.

They were joined by a volunteer committee consisting of BGC Ottawa board member and angel investor Brittany Forsyth-Wilson, Sarah Grand (Engel & Völkers), Daniella Granzotto (Shopify), Dr. Sam Hetz (Dermapure), angel investor Marcie Murray, Christopher Schlesak (North & Navy, Cantina Gia restaurants) and Monica Singhal (Richcraft Homes).

There were several other BGC Ottawa board members in attendance, including chair Robyn Osgood, COO and managing director of McMillan Vantage. Among the guests were Ottawa Senators assistant coach and former team captain Daniel Alfredsson and his wife, Bibbi; Fullscript CEO and co-founder Kyle Braatz, who’s part of the hockey team’s ownership group, and his lawyer wife Rachel; and Jacqueline Belsito, president of the Sens Community Foundation, which provides support to BGC Ottawa.

From left, volunteer committee members Jeff Smith (co-chair), Monica Singhal, Marcie Murray, Brittany Forsyth-Wilson, Dr. Sam Hetz, Sarah Grand, Michelle Taggart (co-chair) and Christopher Schlesak at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Senators assistant coach and former team captain Daniel Alfredsson and his wife Bibbi Alfredsson were guests of Richcraft Homes at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala, held at the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Monica Singhal and Kevin Yemm from Richcraft Homes hosted lawyer Rachel Braatz and her husband, Fullscript’s Kyle Braatz, at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Liza Mrak, executive vice president of Mark Motors Group, with her husband, former BGC Ottawa board member Gary Zed, at the non-profit organization’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Jennifer Cross (MARANT Construction), Jeff Todd from WEALTH (WCPD Inc.), Sens Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito, Ted Wagstaff (North45) and Jennifer Cameron (Sens Community Foundation) at BGC Ottawa’s nautical-themed Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ian Taggart, retired partner at Taggart Group of Companies, and BGC Ottawa board member and lawyer Jock Climie (Emond Harnden LLP) at BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Angela Singhal (Richcraft Homes) and her husband, BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala co-chair Jeff Smith (Smith & Reid Insurance) and his co-chair Michelle Taggart (Tamarack Homes, Tartan Homes) and her husband, lawyer Alex Wilson at BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Later in the evening, Taggart and Smith led “The Big Ask”. They encouraged attendees to consider making a contribution of $5,000 by raising a hand. In return, donors received a tax-deductible receipt (and let’s not forget the spiffy captain’s hat).

The co-chairs were aiming to collect $100,000 to help BGC Ottawa bring back the Saturday programs that it had to cancel due to budget constraints.

Taggart and Smith kicked things off by each making their own $5,000 pledge. Many others — including notable Ottawa philanthropists Mike McGahan and Oz Drewniak, Michael Wilson, Braatz and Kathryn Tremblay — supported the cause. The efforts were also met with continued generosity from the likes of Ted Phillips and Stephen Billyard (Billyard Insurance Group). In seemingly no time, the co-chairs raised $110,00 to reinstate BGC Ottawa’s Saturday programming for an entire year.

From CLV Group: Ahmad Abujayyab (left), Erin McEvoy, Mike McGahan, Briea Roche and Oz Drewniak after responding to The Big Ask from organizers of BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala, held at the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Adam Joiner, CEO of BGC Ottawa, and second-year Carleton University student Aryan Kumar both spoke about how the non-profit organization changed their lives for the better during BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Stephen Billyard (Billyard Insurance Group) received a captain’s hat after responding to The Big Ask from organizers of BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala, held at the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, John Berryman (BMO Nesbitt Burns), Louise Berryman, Joanne Taggart and Ian Taggart responded to The Big Ask during BGC Ottawa’s Seaside Soirée Glamping Gala, held at the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From the outdoor venue, you could clearly see the apartment building where BGC Ottawa CEO Adam Joiner grew up. His family lived on the 12th floor. He would peer out his window, watching the comings and goings down below at the Clubhouse. One day, the bashful little boy gathered enough courage to visit — a decision that would not only transform his life but, he believes, help to save it.

“Every day I walked into that place, it made me feel like I was someone special, someone that mattered,” Joiner told the room after he successfully gathered everyone for some brief remarks.

He was joined on stage by 19-year-old Aryan Kumar, who talked about his own involvement with BGC Ottawa at its Ron Kolbus Clubhouse on Dumaurier Avenue. The young man told his encouraging audience how he grew up in a broken home and had attended multiple high schools.

“I never had the sense of belonging a lot of people have growing up, and that’s what I got from the Boys and Girls Club. I felt that sense of belonging. I felt like I was part of something, and that was just a great feeling.”

Kumar described the staff as having a genuine interest in him and his future. “They helped me with almost every aspect of my life: socially, academically, physically, mentally. They were always there for me, they were always people I could count on when I needed something.”

Attendees also heard how the Saturday programs at BGC Ottawa kept Kumar busy on the weekends. “They took me out of the house, got me going, got me doing something,” said Kumar, who’s also a basketball player with the BGC Ottawa Thunderbolts and a second-year business analytics student at Carleton University.