From left, Terry Matthews, founder and chairman of Wesley Clover International, Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation president and CEO Shannon Gorman and Nyle Kelly, executive vice president and general manager of Brookstreet Hotel, at Lumière Rock held at the hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of QCH Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Canadian tech legend Terry Matthews was the undeniable life of the party at the annual Lumière Rock gala his hotel co-hosted Thursday for Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH).
The 81-year-old founder and chairman of Wesley Clover International was seen moving some of the furniture away in order to expand the dance floor. He then danced and danced, ridding himself of his blazer in the process, as the live band, Rebecca Noelle and the Rebels, delivered a stellar performance. “Seriously, his energy and enthusiasm,” QCH Foundation president and CEO Shannon Gorman later remarked. “He has more energy than most people I know.”Terry Matthews, founder and chairman of Wesley Clover International and owner of Brookstreet Hotel, on the dance floor at Lumière Rock held at the Kanata hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
If ever there was a night to party like a rockstar, it was at Lumière. This year’s theme was rock and roll, which meant some of the 400-plus attendees donned rocker wigs, concert t-shirts and leather.
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Not only did the evening raise nearly $125,000 for QCH, it also boosted awareness for Ottawa’s only full-service hospital in the west end, described by Matthews as “incredibly important” to the community. It serves one of the fastest growing and aging hospital catchment areas in the country, regularly operating at or beyond capacity.
“We need your support and we need you to spread the word that we’re about to launch a very large campaign to make our hospital even better,” Gorman told her audience on stage, rocking the iconic Axl Rose look, from Guns N’ Roses.
Attendees were formally welcomed by Brookstreet’s general manager Nyle Kelly, who was delighted to see so many guests embrace this year’s theme in their own unique ways. “Everyone’s version of rock is a little different.”
To date, Lumière has donated more than $1.5 million to local charities, said Kelly, who holds a special place in his heart for QCH: both his children were born there. The evening was presented by Brookstreet in collaboration with Wesley Clover Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Wesley Clover International. Returning as the presenting sponsor was RBC.From left, Dion Farentino from presenting sponsor RBC, Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation president and CEO Shannon Gorman, QCH president and CEO Dr. Andrew Falconer and Brookstreet Hotel general manager Nyle Kelly at Lumière Rock with their ceremonial cheque for $124,435 raised. Photo by Lindsay GermanoCarole Saad, director of Chic + Swell Event Designers, and Brookstreet Hotel general manager and executive vice president Nyle Kelly at Lumière Rock held at the hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Ray Rashed, director of innovation and technology banking at RBCx, Lindy Ledohowski (VP RBCx), Flaka Hasanaj (RBC Wealth Management), Dion Farentino (regional VP, private banking, RBC) and Karl Quinn (VP at RBC) at the VIP sponsor reception for Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Brookstreet Hotel executive coordinator Rosanna Versace, along with volunteer Cassandra Chiasson, deserved to pose with these Harley angel wings after putting so much work into organizing Lumière Rock, held at Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsRoyal LePage Team Realty co-owner Frank Gray and Mary Browne, whose husband Kent Browne is also a co-owner, at the VIP sponsor reception for Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsRebecca Noelle and the Rebels performed at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, for the rock-themed Lumière gala in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsAccora Village/Ferguslea Properties HR manager Basheerah Hayat with the vice president of marketing and resident engagement, Sharon Ravnas, and HR director Michelle Cosh, at the VIP sponsor reception for Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Brazeau Seller Law founding partner and past QCH Foundation board chair Fred Seller and his wife, Stacey Seller, with Nancy Walkington and her husband, Harold Feder, partner at Brazeau Seller Law, at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsLumière, an annual charity gala held at Brookstreet Hotel, always culminates with a brilliant fireworks display that can be seen from the hotel and beyond. Photo by Caroline PhillipsYves Laberge, vice president and general manager of Star Motors of Ottawa Mercedes-Benz, and his wife, Lynn Laberge, at the VIP sponsor reception for Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsThe electric guitar ice sculpture was a nice touch at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsVeronica Farmer, vice president of marketing for Wesley Clover, and her husband, Ian Spicer, were dressed as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson from the classic movie Grease for the rock-themed Lumière Gala held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Karen Sparks, executive director of Wesley Clover Parks and her husband, Andy Sparks, from Royal LePage Team Realty, and Wesley Clover’s Rod Price with Claire Price at the rock-and-roll themed Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsJames Ciesielski, co-founder and CTO of Rewind, with Beth Ciavaglia, executive director of Parkdale Food Centre, at Lumière Rock. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Deloitte vice chair and partner Mark Noonan, Wesley Clover International founder and chairman Terry Matthews and Paul Chiarelli, president and COO of Wesley Clover, at the rock-and-roll themed Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The gala featured 10 culinary food stations, each paired with wine or beer. Also available were complimentary tequila tasting, VIP bourbon tasting, a bracelet bar, and a variety of fun photo-op opportunities. As is custom, Lumière closed with an exciting fireworks show.
Especially unique was the pop-up tattoo parlour offering the real deal. John Robinson, president and CEO of Intega IT, wasn’t quite sold on the idea of getting permanently inked at the party. “Maybe in an hour or two; we’ll see how the whiskey tasting goes.”Donna Richardson got a tattoo during the rock-and-roll themed Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Ottawa Business Journal publisher Michael Curran and his wife, Catrina Curran (CO-OP program coordinator at uOttawa), and Bruce Raganold, director of business development at Welch LLP, and his wife, Giselle Bergeron-Raganold, at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsRebecca Noelle returned to her rock music roots while performing with the Rebels at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Steve McEwen, managing director of CMLS Financial, and Cindy McEwen with Marianne Whitten and Alan Whitten, founding partner of Huntington Properties and an ambassador for Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of QCH Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsLisa Desroches and Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, at Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 for its rock-themed Lumière in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsTerry Matthews, founder and chairman of Wesley Clover International and owner of Brookstreet Hotel, on the dance floor at Lumière Rock held at the Kanata hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsCatherine McLaughlin and Terry McLaughlin, president of Terlin Construction, got matching bracelets at the fundraising bracelet booth during the rock-themed Lumière gala held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsRebecca Noelle returned to her rock music roots while performing with the Rebels at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsPeter Strom, president and CEO of March Networks, and Maryjane Richards at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsGuests, including Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation board member and KPMG Enterprise senior manager Stacey McMillan, checked out the parked motorcycle on display at the rock and roll-themed Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel in support of QCH Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Carole Saad, director at Chic + Swell Event Designers, and a wig-wearing Erin Benjamin, president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, at the rock-themed Lumière held at the Kanata hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsEmcee and live auctioneer Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid embraced the punk rocker look for the rock-themed Lumière gala held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Tanya Ramsamy, Dan McManus, Stephanie Pereira and Ricardo Pereira, regional director of technology industry at BDC, embraced the rock-theme for this year’s Lumière gala, which returned to Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Lumière Rock emcee and live auctioneer Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid with Terry Matthews, who purchased the live art created by artist Robbie Lariviere, also known as Falldown, at the rock-themed Lumière gala held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo by Caroline PhillipsLeo Lax, co-founder and executive managing director of L-SPARK, sees whether he is actually a pinball wizard on the KISS-themed pinball machine at Lumière Rock, held Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Brookstreet Hotel in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Mike Abbott, managing partner of markets and industry for BDO Canada, and BDO Canada partner Jeff Johnson at Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 for its rock-themed Lumière gala in support of Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline PhillipsNyle Kelly, executive vice president and general manager of Brookstreet Hotel welcomed more than 400 attendees to Lumière Rock. Photo by Caroline PhillipsFrom left, Nik Lemieux, owner of Mirabel Management, Corey Roberts, partner at Paterson & Company, Intega IT president and CEO John Robinson, La Bottega Nicastro owner Pat Nicastro, and Dorothy Wollenschlager, vCIO at Intega IT, at Lumière Rock held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of Brookstreet Hotel. Photo by Caroline PhillipsEmcee and live auctioneer Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid embraced the punk rocker look for the rock-themed Lumière held at Brookstreet Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
An Ottawa couple that never disappoints when it comes to themed parties is Bruce Raganold, director of development for Welch LLP, and his wife, Giselle. They love dressing up. He put his entire costume together from items he had at home, discreetly covering his nipples with tape because they were “sticking out too much” through his rocker mesh top, he told OBJ.social.
Also known for getting into the spirit of themed events is emcee and live auctioneer Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid (remember his Anne of Green Gables straw hat with red braids from Evening in the Maritimes?). This time, he donned a punk rock wig to sell off popular packages, including a 100-level suite with 18 tickets to an upcoming Ottawa Senators versus Montreal Canadiens game. Always in demand during the Lumière live auction is the three-day golfing experience for four at Matthews’ five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. The package prompted a bidding war that saw the highest offer of $10,500 go to Nik Lemieux, owner of financial services fintech company Mirabel Management.
Earlier in the night, Matthews hosted the top sponsors for a reception. There were representatives seen from RBC, Brazeau Seller Law, Royal LePage Team Realty, Star Motors and Accora Village.
Alex Lopez provided the live music at the reception. Matthews brought it to everyone’s attention that it was Lopez’s birthday. This bit of news prompted the crowd to serenade the musician with the Happy Birthday song.
Matthews also taught his guests the playful extended version sung back in Wales, where he was born and raised — long before he moved to Canada and became one of our country’s most successful tech entrepreneurs. He was knighted by our late queen in 2001.Terry Matthews, who hosted a VIP reception for top sponsors of Lumière, put musician Alex Lopez in the spotlight when he let guests know it was Lopez’s birthday. Photo by Caroline Phillips
caroline@obj.ca
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