From left, Lalit Aggarwal, president of Manor Park Group of Companies, and The Ottawa Mission's Chef Ric Watson and Peter Tilley strike Watson's signature pose at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Last night’s Blue Door Gala for The Ottawa Mission was like stepping through a portal of compassion: one that leads to a brighter future for those who need it most.
Some 720 guests of the sold-out fundraising dinner held at the Infinity Convention Centre heard about the laudable efforts of the non-profit organization to train individuals from all walks of life to work in commercial kitchens.
“The Food Services Training Program is much more than teaching someone how to cook,” Chef Ric Watson, director of food services at The Ottawa Mission, told his audience after receiving a standing ovation for his leadership. “The program gives people the skills and confidence to be able to change their lives for the better. We don’t care about their past; we care about their future.
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“I have seen over the years so many people who have come with nothing, who come from nowhere, and just ask for a chance. We’ve given them that chance.”
The Aggarwal family, which has a history of helping out The Ottawa Mission, are co-owners of the Infinity Convention Centre. They typically host annual galas each fall in support of different local charities. This year, they did things a little differently by aligning themselves with the Blue Door Gala to become its “junior partner”, said business leader Lalit Aggarwal, president of Manor Park Group of Companies, founded by his father, Anand Aggarwal.
The evening, presented by Caivan, was the biggest and most successful Blue Door Gala yet, raising $350,000. Among the business leaders from the Indo-Canadian Ottawa community were Bill Malhotra, founder of Claridge Homes, and Kris Singhal, founder of sponsor Richcraft Homes. Attendees also included local MP Jenna Sudds and deputy mayor Theresa Kavanagh.
From left, Richcraft Homes founder Kris Singhal and Anand Aggarwal, founder of Manor Park Group of Companies and co-owner of the Infinity Convention Centre, which partnered with The Ottawa Mission to hold its Blue Door Gala this year. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Twenty-six-year-old Jean Chirac shared with his audience how the FSTP was there for him when he first came to Canada almost a year ago. He arrived here from the East African country of Burundi, where he grew up in an environment filled with violence, misery and hunger, he said.
The newcomer learned about The Ottawa Mission’s FSTP through a community agency. The program appealed to his love of food and of preparing delicious meals that make people happy. He had no trouble getting quickly accepted into the program. “I felt very fortunate to have found an opportunity like this,” said Chirac of a program he described as being “like a mother to me” in the way it provided him with all the tools he needs to succeed in life.
The FSTP graduate is now working in a local restaurant. “I am excited for my future in Canada,” he told the room as Marjolaine Hudon, regional president of RBC, stood supportively at his side.Marjolaine Hudon, regional president of RBC Royal Bank, introduced Jean Chirac, who spoke at the Blue Door Gala about his recent participation in the Food Services Training Program run by The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips
A highlight of the night was the celebration of the latest cohort of graduates of the FSTP. The students were tasked as part of their final exam with preparing that evening’s well-received dinner. They worked under the guidance of five guest chefs.
Later in the evening, 23 men and women took to the stage to proudly receive their diploma from Watson, who’s widely known in Ottawa as Chef Ric. There to help congratulate the students were The Ottawa Mission’s past board chair, Matt Triemstra, associate principal at Navigator, and Anand Aggarwal.Chef Ric Watson, director of food services at The Ottawa Mission, hugs one of his students of the Food Services Training Program during the graduation ceremony held at the Blue Door Gala. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStudents of The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program held their graduation ceremony at The Blue Door Gala after preparing the dinner for some 720 guests as part of their final exam. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program was started by Watson some 19 years ago to help people turn their lives around. Virtually all of its graduates land jobs.
It was heartwarming to hear The Mission’s CEO, Peter Tilley, and others speak of Watson’s dedication and hard-work. “I work with this gentleman every day and it’s no exaggeration when I tell you this is a community hero,” Tilley said at the podium.
Watson knows what it’s like to be homeless. As a teenager, he lived on the streets in Kingston for a couple of years, with nowhere else to go, until a chef at Queen’s University took him under his wing and offered him a job as a dishwasher. It was the start of his journey back to a better life, said Tilley of Watson’s ascent up the kitchen ranks, all the way to certified Red Seal chef.Peter Tilley, CEO of The Ottawa Mission, at the podium during the Blue Door Gala, which raised $350,000 for the non-profit organization. Photo by Caroline PhillipsChef Ric Watson, director of food services at The Ottawa Mission, at the podium during the Blue Door Gala, which raised $350,000 for the non-profit organization. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The room heard how The Ottawa Mission, which is commonly known for feeding and sheltering the homeless, plans to copy its FSTP model to launch a new apprenticeship training program, with the goal of alleviating current labour shortages in the trades.
It was Lalit’s idea. He was a key figure in helping The Ottawa Mission expand its FSTP to its current storefront space, Chef Ric’s, located at 384 Rideau St. The location offers enough room to train students, sell prepared foods and run a catering social enterprise. It was Lalit who donated the vacant space, formerly the Rideau Bakery, at no cost to the organization. Commercial real estate broker Michael Church and the late Marc Jolicoeur helped out behind the scenes, Tilley added.
From left, David Renfroe, president at Renfroe Land Management, with Lalit Aggarwal, president of Manor Park Group of Companies, at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The Ottawa Mission plans to launch its new Trades Helper Training Program in the spring. It will start small, said Tilley, and hopefully graduate more students as the program grows. The goal is to “turn lives around for those people who go through the blue doors of The Ottawa Mission,” said Tilley, referring to the main entrance in their building on Waller Street and the inspiration behind the gala’s name.
The evening featured a live auction, led by Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who formerly co-chaired the gala with popular Ottawa caterer Sheila Whyte.
There was a Let’s Make a Deal-style game that pulled three names out of a raffle drum. The contestants, Bruce Raganold, Matthew Capello and Alan McCafferty, had to choose one of three blue doors, each which opened to reveal a prize package. There were no booby prizes, much to Raganold’s relief. He scored a catered barbeque for 10. Coincidentally, his wife won a trip to The Bahamas at an Ottawa charity gala last weekend in support of Bruyère.
From left, Bill Malhotra, founder of Claridge Homes, with Anand Aggarwal, founder of Manor Park Group of Companies, at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStudents of The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program had their graduation ceremony at The Blue Door Gala after preparing the dinner for some 720 guests as part of their final exam. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Anu Sohal, TJ Sohal, Sonny Sohal and Kiran Sohal, co-owners of the Infinity Convention Centre, at the Blue Door Gala held Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsWestview Projects partners, from left, Cedar Nisbet, Seth Richards (president) and Brad Doran Veevers were out supporting The Ottawa Mission’s Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Julie Beun, director of communications and public relations for CAA North & East Ontario, with Donna-Lee MacLean, director of major accounts for Eastern Region at Rogers Communications, and guest MJ Naim-Brown at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsMatt Triemstra, past board chair of The Ottawa Mission, with the organization’s director of development, Namrata Goyes, at this year’s Blue Door Gala held at the Ottawa Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Joseph Cull with Sheila Whyte, owner of Thyme & Again Creative Catering and Take Home Food Shop, Clare Brennan, creative director and partner at Fifty Strategy & Creative, and Mom in the Know blogger Julie Findlay at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsLawrence Greenspon, former co-chair of the Blue Door Gala, with his wife, Angela Lariviere, at this year’s fundraising dinner, held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Scrivens Insurance and Investment Solutions’ David Scrivens and his brother Michael Scrivens with their business partner Claude Miron and fourth-generation Jake Scrivens at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsMarjolaine Hudon, regional president at RBC Royal Bank, with Claridge Homes founder Bill Malhotra at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsCTV News Ottawa’s Stefan Keyes hosted this year’s Blue Door Gala at the Infinity Convention Centre in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, guest JD Lees with Allison Capello and table host Matthew Capello, vice president at Capello Audio Electronics, and guests Sophie Sauvé and Sean Lundy at the Infinity Convention Centre in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Saroj Aggarwal with federal Families Minister Jenna Sudds, MP for Kanata-Carleton, and Romina Malhotra at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Lalit Aggarwal with Rajiv Bhatia, president of Phoenix Properties, and his wife, Pamila Bhatia, and Anand Aggarwal, founder of Manor Park Group of Companies, at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, for the Blue Door Gala in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Rahim Tejani, chief risk officer at REVAU, with John Bethune, director in the Ottawa office of BFL Canada, at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of the Ottawa Mission.Students of The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program had their graduation ceremony at The Blue Door Gala after preparing the dinner for some 720 guests as part of their final exam. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Brenda Rothwell, former board member with The Ottawa Mission, with Sandy McDonald from sponsor Bell Let’s Talk at The Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of the Ottawa Mission.Riti Gupta and Sandeep Gupta, founders of Cada Día tequila, at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of the Ottawa Mission.From left, Joanne Nelson, Rob Nelson, Marilyn Collette, president of SE Change, and Robert Collette, president of RCBI, were guests of WCPD at the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in support of The Ottawa Mission.From left, Bruce Raganold, Alan McCafferty and Matthew Capello all won one of the prizes behind their respective blue door as part of a game played during the Blue Door Gala, held at the Infinity Convention Centre in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline PhillipsBruce Raganold from Welch LLP reacts to winning his prize after choosing Door #1 during a guessing game played during the Blue Door Gala held at the Infinity Convention Centre in support of The Ottawa Mission.
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