After 16-plus years of leading the popular Army Ball, Francis (Fran) Chilton-Mackay has decided it’s time for a changing of the guard.
The retired lieutenant colonel is ready to stand down as executive director, handing off her leadership role to someone new.
“This has been my life’s work,” she told OBJ.social at Saturday night’s Army Ball, her voice tinged with emotion. “It’s been my life’s work to showcase the army, and this event has achieved that. It’s the one night a year the army gets to celebrate itself.”
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The special evening offered a level of formal elegance our region’s social scene hasn’t witnessed much since before the pandemic. Some 900 attendees arrived at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in ballgowns and tuxedos, with many donning the army’s distinctly red mess dress jackets. Pomp and pageantry was on full display, with fanfare trumpets and marching bands. It was mixed with entertainment, dining and dancing, as well as toasts, tributes and other traditions.
There was some catching up to do that night, both socially and in commemorating the important military anniversaries and events that had passed since the last ball in 2019.
“The Army Ball is much more than just a social event,” said Lt.-Gen. Jocelyn Paul, commander of the Canadian Army, while addressing the guests seated before him in the massive ballroom. “It is a way to keep us cohesive, a place to gather as a family.”
The evening paid tribute to Canada’s soldiers for their hard work and dedication.
“Our country and our army have a tremendous reputation around the world,” said Paul, the highest-ranking Indigenous member of the Canadian Armed Forces. “So, let’s be proud of our Canadian Army, which is one of our most important national institutions.”
Distinguished guests included Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner, Defence Minister Anita Anand, National Security and Intelligence adviser Jody Thomas, Privy Council Clerk Janice Charette, Treasury Board President and Ottawa MP Mona Fortier, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Michel Doyon, and such heads of mission as U.S. Ambassador David Cohen.
Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, was in attendance, along with the army’s honorary colonel, Paul Hindo, executive chairman of Cyber Defence Corp., and his predecessor in the honorary role, Canadian businessman Blake Goldring. The evening drew at least eight former army commanders, including retired general Rick Hillier and retired lieutenant general and former Ottawa politician Andrew Leslie.
Chilton-Mackay, who retired from the Canadian Armed Forces seven years ago, has been in charge of Army Ball since 2005.
“You have paved the way and set the standard,” she was told by the army commander. “Fran, on behalf of the army, thanks to you and your team for making the Army Ball 2023 another tremendous success.”
Chilton-Mackay began her military career in the 1970s as a Reserve musician while she was studying music at the University of Toronto. She was the first female director of the Regimental Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards (GGFG) and was staff officer for the army bands. She also had a career as a public school music teacher.
Spotted from Raytheon, one of the major sponsors, was CEO Garry Venman. BMO Financial Group, official bank of the Canadian defence community, was represented by regional president Victor Pellegrino. Supporters also also included Kevin Ford, CEO of Ottawa-based Calian Group, which works in the defence sector, and ADGA Group president Shaun McEwan. Also spotted were Leikin Group president Barbara Farber, honorary lieutenant colonel of The Cameron Highlanders, and MaxSys Staffing & Consulting chairman and CEO Bryan Brulotte. He bought a table and is also honorary colonel of the GGFG, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.
Ford told OBJ.social how happy he was to be supporting the Army Ball and the work done each and every day by the men and women serving on the front lines during natural disasters, crises and war. “It’s always an honour to be in their presence.”
At ADGA, military veterans and RCMP make up about 40 per cent of its workforce. The Ottawa-based company is hoping to increase that figure to 50 per cent through its hiring of 100 more employees within the next 12 months, said McEwan. His vice-president of operations, retired colonel Rick Fawcett, was also at the dinner.
There was at least one doctor in the house. Dr. Fraser Rubens from the Ottawa Heart Institute performed a musical tribute later in the evening. He’s a gifted singer as well as a life-saving cardiac surgeon.
Serving as masters of ceremony were Maj. Sandra Lévesque and Capt. Adam Orton, the latter of whom livened things up by arriving in his tactical wear. “I’m a soldier first,” he joked.
The captain did remove his military pancho to reveal his mess kit uniform underneath. He had his audience laughing again when he joked about problems accessing his touchscreen tablet to read his script.
“My Face ID on my iPad doesn’t recognize me,” said Orton, whose face was still covered in army green paint. The captain is also host of the Canadian Army Podcast.
Organizers had been all gung-ho to present the Army Ball in 2020, before COVID led to the event’s cancellation. Three years later, the ball was back – which meant finally sharing the amusing video they’d made with Eyre, back when he was lieutenant general of the army.
Eyre is seen sprinting in his army fatigues through hallways and atriums, as well as up and down stairs, to get through the series of connected buildings at the National Defence headquarters on Carling Avenue. His mission: to get to the on-site Tim Hortons, reach the front of the line, order a coffee to go, and then make it back to his office in time for an important phone call. The committed commander accomplished his goal without even breaking a sweat. Bravo zulu, sir.
