Supporters of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre on stage at the Infinity Convention Centre on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 with volunteers from the Ottawa AHEPA family to announce $50,000 raised at Stand-Up For A Cause. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Beloved philanthropist and businessman Dave Smith will be in the hearts and minds of many when a brand new youth treatment centre bearing his name opens in the west end of Ottawa early this spring.
The octogenarian didn’t live long enough to see his dream realized; he passed away in 2020 at age 87. Nevertheless, Smith had been the driving force for years behind creating a new recovery centre to help young folks overcome their drug and alcohol use.
The $20-million centre, which replaces existing facilities, will accommodate 25 per cent more youth, thereby reducing wait list times, and will offer more comprehensive services to both youth and their families. Young people aged 13 to 21 will receive up to three months of live-in addiction treatment services, followed by an additional three months of aftercare.
There’s still some fundraising to do, however. The $4-million campaign has raised about $2 million. The DSYTC has successfully recruited high-profile lawyer Lawrence Greenspon and his wife, marketing expert Angela Lariviere, to co-chair the campaign.
The community-minded couple was out Friday at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and its affiliates. Together, they make up the AHEPA family. Business leader Bill Sioulas, director of real estate for Golpro Holdings and Econo Petroleum, co-chaired the event, which raised $50,000 for the DSYTC. He’s also the president of AHEPA Ottawa.
An audience of nearly 700 was entertained by local comics Alastair McAlastair, Rick Currie and Jim McNally.
Distinguished guests included Greek Ambassador-Designate Ekaterina Dimakis, who drew the name for the grand prize of a trip to Greece. Kathy Karakasis won it.
Dennis Laurin, a well-known leader in the construction industry, was among the attendees. His company, Laurin, is not only building the new DSYTC but also donating the labour to construct a trades workshop for youth in treatment.From left, Bill Sioulas (president of AHEPA Ottawa) with his event co-chair, lawyer Sophia Mitsopoulos, Jenny Papadopoulos (chapter president of Daughters of Penelope) Altina Mellios (chapter president of Maids of Athena) and Yanni Krassakopoulos (chapter president of Sons of Pericles) at the Stand-Up for a Cause benefit in support of the new Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre being built in Ottawa’s west end. Photo by Caroline PhillipsAngela Lariviere and her husband Lawrence Greenspon, volunteer chairs of the campaign to raise $4 million for the new Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, at the Infinity Convention Centre on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 for a stand-up comedy fundraiser for the DSYTC. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStilt walkers roamed around during the cocktail hour as guests arrived and settled in for Stand-Up For A Cause, a comedy night hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsOttawa business leader Dennis Laurin, founder, president and CEO of Laurin, and his wife, Andrea Laurin, were out supporting Stand-Up For A Cause, a comedy night hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsGreek Ambassador-Designate Ekaterina Dimakis drew the winning name of Kathy Karakasis for a trip to Greece during a benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, held at the Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, local stand-up comics Rick Currie, Alastair McAlastair and Jim McNally performed, with help from Absolute Comedy, at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsOttawa lawyer and long-time charity auctioneer Lawrence Greenspon, co-chair of the fundraising campaign for the new Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, sold off everything from private dinners to sports swag during the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit hosted by the Ottawa AHEPA family and its affiliates in support of the DSYTC. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Greenspon, who’s been volunteering in the community for more than 40 years, took to the stage to lead the charity auction, which featured a painting by local artist Katerina Mertikas that sold for $2,500 to Grizzlie Glass owner Donnie Robitaille.
Also up for grabs were: a Brookstreet Hotel package, and hockey tickets and swag donated by the Ottawa Senators Community Foundation. Additionally, there was a home-cooked dinner for 10 to be prepared by celebrated chef Joe Thottungal of Coconut Lagoon and Thali restaurants, a skincare package from Refined Image Ottawa, and a gastronomic experience for 10 prepared by Infinity Convention Centre’s chef. It sold twice, at $5,000 to each of the top two bidders.
Well-known Greek-Canadian artist Katerina Mertikas, at a benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates, seen alongside her acrylic on canvas painting, Canada Plays, which sold for $2,500 in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The motivation behind Greenspon and Lariviere joining the campaign is personal. Having witnessed a family member struggle for years before receiving treatment, they’re leveraging their public role to combat the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol use — a pervasive issue affecting more families than one might realize, they said. “Addiction does not discriminate,” Lariviere told OBJ.social.
Greenspon is also committed to helping the DSYTC in memory of Smith, with whom he was close. Of the various charitable projects Smith supported, the new treatment facility “was closest to his heart,” said Greenspon.
“I feel this was a very natural thing for me, for us to get involved in because it honours him and his legacy and all the good work that he did.”
Smith had “incredible energy and was as generous as the day is long,” said Greenspon. “I don’t think the man could ever say no to a charity. He was a friend, he was a mentor, he was an inspiration. He was all that to me and to so many others. He was loved by everyone that was touched by him, and he touched a lot of people.”
Greenspon and Lariviere are also contributing to the campaign through their RiverGreen Fund. The couple met through charity work. At the time, Lariviere was working as creative director at United Way, while Greenspon led its community services cabinet.
The couple enlisted the support of several friends to help on the fundraising campaign, including Frank Bilodeau, regional director for Eastern Canada with Scotia Wealth Management, and his wife, Steffanie Bilodeau, market lead at Scotiatrust; Dr. Nalin Bhargava, co-owner of South Gate Dental; and David Feldberg, managing director of Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network.
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre campaign co-chairs Angela Lariviere and Lawrence Greenspon (centre) are surrounded by their friends and fellow volunteer fundraisers, from left, David Feldberg, Dr. Nalin Bhargava, Frank Bilodeau and his wife Steffanie Bilodeau, on the far right, at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the DSYTC. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Cindy Manor really put a face to the cause that night. In 2019, she was inspired to work for DSTC after it treated her son for problematic substance use.
“I can’t say enough about this place,” said the centre’s senior director of philanthropy. “They saved him; they saved my son’s life.”
Manor provided her audience a touching glimpse into the challenges of being a single parent of a child wrestling with substance use. She quietly bore the shame until the day her son disappeared for two days, the room heard. Faced with the need to locate him, she reached out to others. She spoke of the “beautiful village” that supported her. It was Vern White, former police chief and retired senator, who eventually directed the family toward the DSYTC.
Her son, now nearly six years sober, holds a position in sales and business development for a high-tech cybersecurity company. Manor credited DSYTC with providing them hope during their hardship. “If I can spread hope to other families who are going through this dark time – and, believe me, it’s one of the darkest times you’ll ever go through with a child — then I want to do it.”
Manor was joined that night by her colleague Kevin Crawford, who’s been with the organization for more than 23 years. DSYTC was founded in 1993.
Cindy Manor, joined on stage by AHEPA Ottawa president and event co-chair Bill Sioulas, courageously shared her story of how the Dave Smith Youth Treatment saved her son’s life. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStand-up comedian Alastair McAlastair emceed the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Jenny Papadopoulos, chapter president of The Daughters of Penelope, with Greek Ambassador-Designate Ekaterina Dimakis at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centrein support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStand-up comic Rick Currie was a headliner at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsOttawa business leader Aik Aliferis, senior managing director of investments with Marcus & Millichap, seen arriving to the Infinity Convention Centre with Samar Saab for a comedy benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipStand-up comic Jim McNally was a headliner at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit held at the Infinity Convention Centre and hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsKevin Crawford, associate executive director of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, with its senior director of philanthropy, Cindy Manor, at the Infinity Convention Centre for a comedy benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the DSYTC. Photo by Caroline PhillipsStand-up comic Rick Currie seen performing at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsKathy Karakasis, who won a trip to Greece, with husband Dean Karakasis, executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Ottawa at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsComedian Jim McNally performed at the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipsKammal Tannis and his wife Sam seen arriving to the Infinity Convention Centre for a comedy benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipAttendees were asked to clap to the rhythm of the music at the Infinity Convention Centre as a way of getting everyone in the mood during a charity comedy night hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipFrom left, Warren Newberry, owner of sponsor Canada Roof Restorations, and Graham Thompson, philanthropy manager for The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, attended the stand-up comedy benefit hosted by the Ottawa chapter of Greek organization AHEPA and its affiliates in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline PhillipMembers of the Ottawa AHEPA family gather on stage to announce a total of $50,000 raised from the Stand-Up For A Cause benefit in support of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
