Christie Lake Kids gala nets $138K to connect inner-city kids with sports and culture

For the first time in recent memory, an Ottawa fundraising auction was led not by an auction specialist, local broadcast personality or charismatic lawyer but by a local teenager who didn’t need to swing a gavel or speak in rapid-fire fashion to show what he was capable of.

Nineteen-year-old Dyno Demostherne stepped up to assume the role during Friday night’s signature fundraiser for Christie Lake Kids (CLK). It was held at Infinity Convention Centre in support of a local organization that’s been helping children and youth from low-income families for more than 100 years.

The young man did double duty, also serving as youth speaker for An Unlikely Pairing: Adventures in Food Trucks + Fine Wines, featuring Angry Dragonz, Chef Ric’s, East India Company and Green Papaya.

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Business leader Scott Parkes returned for his 12th year to chair the fundraiser with the ongoing support of his family’s Taggart Parkes Foundation as presenting sponsor. His involvement started back when his three kids were busy doing extracurricular activities. He recognized how fortunate his family was, and felt others with limited means should have access to the same kind of opportunities. 

“We’re a family business; we believe in family,” said Parkes, co-president of Tamarack Homes and of Tartan Homes. The home builders are part of Taggart Group of Companies, a 75-year-old local business focused on commercial, industrial and residential construction, along with land development and property management. “My family and I are proud supporters, and have been for many years, because we know the incredible impact this charity makes in our community.”

The evening raised a net total of $138,200 for CLK’s STAR (Skills Through Arts and Recreation) program run in 12 locations in 10 neighbourhoods in Ottawa. Its latest two new communities are Karsh, near Hunt Club and Conroy Roads, and Carson Road in the east end.

Each year, the STAR program serves hundreds of kids, offering free access to such activities as basketball, soccer, hockey, cooking classes, martial arts, rock climbing, visual arts, dance and music, and STEM-learning experiences. The organization is also well known for the summer camp it operates at Christie Lake, about an hour or so south-west of Ottawa.

Demostherne is from the troubled Caldwell community. The audience of 260 heard how he became involved with the STAR program at the age of six. It allowed him to play sports and learn music, both after school and on weekends. More importantly, he gained leadership skills. By all accounts, the graduate of Notre Dame High School is an exemplary role model for other young people in his community. 

“Even though we’re not related by blood, I still consider every single kid in my neighbourhood one of my brothers or sisters,” he told OBJ.social.

Demostherne is the first to admit that, when he started with CLK, his attitude needed work. He eventually came around as a result of the staff’s support and guidance. 

“They were like my second parents, always being there for me, encouraging me, never letting me give up, always wanting the best for me,” said Demostherne. “It’s something I want to pass along to other kids, too, so they can see the better version of themselves, just like I did when I was their age.”

Demostherne, who also completed CLK’s leadership training program, is the oldest child in his family. His four younger siblings continue to participate in the STAR program while he’s now studying at Algonquin College in the child and youth care diploma program.

He was formally introduced by Natalie Benson, director of fundraising and communications for Christie Lake Kids, and AFP Ottawa’s 2023 Outstanding Fundraising Professional. 

Benson first met Demostherne nearly 10 years ago when he was a little boy and she a new employee, volunteering in the skating program. “I have to say he’s one of the most lovely kids I have ever met,” said Benson while recalling how he would hold her hand as they’d skate around together.

Demostherne auctioned off such items as a $10,000 gift card to Muskoka Cabinet Co. and an Ottawa RedBlacks jersey personally delivered and later autographed by Kene Onyeka. The defensive lineman and CLK ambassador formerly played football for Carleton University while completing his degree in mechanical engineering.

The top bidder on the jersey was Gord Cudney from loyal sponsor Inflector Environmental Services. Cudney is also a member of the Taggart and Parkes family as the husband of lawyer Alexandra Taggart. He thoughtfully gifted his prize to Demostherne for doing such an “unbelievable” job on stage.

In attendance was city councillor Theresa Kavanagh, board chair of Ottawa Community Housing. She was among a group of hikers to complete a challenging trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania this past summer, raising almost $50,000 for CLK.

Ottawa-based software company Knak had a table. Its chief marketing officer, Mychelle Mollot, used to work with CLK executive director Adrienne Vienneau during their days at Cognos and IBM. Like Parkes, Mollot can appreciate how privileged her own kids were to participate in extracurricular activities. “I like the idea of enabling other kids to be able to have a taste of what our kids got,” she told OBJ.social.

For Kathryn Tremblay, a long-time supporter of CLK and chief executive and co-founder of Altis Recruitment and Technology,  it made her feel good knowing they were helping out financially disadvantaged kids. It’s the same kind of community support that, at one time, allowed her late husband and business partner, Toni Guimarães, to attend the Christie Lake Kids summer camp, she said of the ‘pay it forward’ approach to kindness and generosity. 

“We’re here for the kids, we’re here for each other, we’re here to remind ourselves that this is much bigger than us,” said Tremblay. “It’s those kids who are going to be learning all those cool skills, and we’re just participating in the background, kind of pushing them along.”

Proceeds from the Unlikely Pairing gala will cover the cost of having 138 children and youth participate in the inner-city STAR program.

caroline@obj.ca