Ottawa Cancer Foundation CEO speaks to power of partnerships at breakfast

Cancer Care Champions Breakfast brings 170 community and business leaders together at The Westin's TwentyTwo rooftop venue

Some 170 community and business leaders attended the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 170 community and business leaders attended the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
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Ottawa may have just hired its first nightlife commissioner to help shape the city’s after-hours culture, but our early-morning social scene was nothing to sneeze at today during the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo.

Some 170 community and business leaders gathered in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization working to ensure individuals living with cancer have equitable access to the community-based supports and resources they need for supportive cancer care.

The Cancer Care Champions Breakfast was held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The two-hour event, presented by Alio Recruitment, was emceed by Dr. Anmar Salman, a family physician and co-owner of Novel Health. The breakfast was an opportunity to learn more about the work the foundation is doing in the community, and to hear first-hand personal stories and perspectives. Organizers also made it easy to donate; there were QR codes available on each table.

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Among the attendees were Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa MPP John Fraser, city councillor Marty Carr, as well as the foundation’s board chair, Karen Brownrigg, founder and CEO of iHR Advisory Services, and board vice chair Ian Sherman, CEO of Relationship Capital and an award-winning volunteer fundraiser for the cancer foundation.

The Ottawa Cancer Foundation’s board chair, Karen Brownrigg, founder and CEO of iHR Advisory Services, and board vice chair Ian Sherman, CEO of Relationship Capital, at  the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dr. Anmar Salman, a family physician and co-owner of Novel Health, emceed the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation,  at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Allen LeBlanc, acting senior vice president of philanthropy for The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, Alio Recruitment founder and managing director Meghan Baldeau and recruitment manager Kaitlyn Steele, and Tricia Ross, director of special events and community engagement at The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, at the organization’s Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

It was particularly inspiring to hear Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, speak at the podium about the theme, the Power of Partnership, to a room packed with individuals who are familiar with effecting change together.

“When we join forces as a collective, magic happens,” Lehmann told her audience. “We drive continuous improvement, innovation, and we do that because we want to make sure that everyone’s efforts have a long-sustaining impact.

“I believe we’re the stewards of our society, and we understand, we get it,” she said of their shared understanding of the pressing needs in the community. “Whether it’s fighting against all types of discrimination, advocating for this city’s sustainable long-term growth, addressing housing and homelessness, tackling food insecurity, enhancing access to all health care services, or increasing access to social services – we are driving change, we’re building capacity, and we are looking for the best possible future for this city.”

After a nearly two-year break, the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast was back, but with a notable difference: it was smaller. This was done on purpose, explained Lehmann, who’s nearly a year into her new role. “Our gathering today is, in addition to educating and building awareness and a call to action, about acknowledging those key supporters who have been with us on a very long journey for a very long time, and we are grateful.”

Retired lawyer and former award-winning volunteer fundraiser Chuck Merovitz, with his wife, Bonnie Merovitz, and Brazeau Seller Law partner Fred Seller, also a long-time supporter of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, at the organization’s Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, spoke about the non-profit organization’s new vision during the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Peter Charbonneau, who was recognized in 2020 as an Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by AFP Ottawa, and his wife, Joan, with Deloitte’s Dan Doré, culture and people leader in the National Capital Region/Canadian real estate mid-market leader, and Ian Sherman, board vice chair of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation and CEO of Relationship Capital, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

 

The Ottawa Cancer Foundation has shifted its focus in recent years away from primarily funding cancer research and, instead, to offering an extensive range of programs to help individuals and their family members and caregivers affected by cancer. “What is very new and exciting is we want to extend our reach, we want to serve more vulnerable groups, as well as more equity-deserving groups,” said Lehmann.

The breakfast allowed attendees to learn more about the organization’s evolution as “a unique service provider in the cancer care space” through its Community Cancer Hub and Cancer System Navigation. Programs and services are delivered out of the foundation’s Maple Soft-Jones Centre on Alta Vista Drive.

“What’s really cool about us is that we create pathways of support that are unique to each individual situation. We truly meet people where they are at,” said Lehmann.

If there was one point that she really wanted to drive home, it was this: “Emotional support, education and practical assistance build capacity and resilience”.

Said Lehmann: “Families who are well-informed and emotionally supported can make better decisions, they can be stronger together for each other. Ultimately, they’re going to persevere through some pretty challenging times.

“Cancer demands our attention, turns everything upside down. It challenges not only someone’s physical health but their mental health and, actually, their everyday life.”

The foundation is focused on providing hope and connection to individuals and their loved ones as they navigate through their difficult situations, Lehmann continued. 

“At The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, optimism is part of our culture, and hope and connection is part of our belief system. Transforming supportive care through community collaboration is the reason why we exist. It’s about community collaboration and it’s the power of partnership. It changes everything.”

From left, Matt Jacques, commercial realtor with Royal LePage Performance Realty, and his colleague, Jim Carty, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Carrie Irvine, CEO and  founder of Carrie Irvine Communications, The Ottawa Cancer Foundation president and CEO Deborah Lehmann, Solange Tuyishime Keita, p
Andrea Timlin, director of philanthropy at The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Capital Office Interiors’ vice president of sales and solutions, Jeff Snyder, and Paul Cook, partner at Lennard Commercial Realty,
Sammy Beattie on stage with his father, Scott, and brother, Sebastian, shared their family’s story
From left, Wenying Yu, owner of Shanghai One Fine Dining, and Helen Tang, founder and CEO of Helen Tang Real Estate,
Some 170 community and business leaders attended the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation president and CEO Deborah Lehmann and Devinder Chaudhary, owner of Aiāna Restaurant and a board member with the Ottawa Board of Trade, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Matthew Carr, president of Gifford Carr Insurance Group, Keynote Search vice-president of post-placement integration Brenda Kirkwood, and Keynote Search CEO and co-founder James Baker at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Critical care and palliative physician Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast alongside Ottawa lawyer Michel Nungisa and 2024 Forty Under 40 recipient Yasser Ghazi, director and team lead at Meridian Credit Union, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Karen Brownrigg, board chair of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation and founder and CEO of iHR Advisory Services, delivered closing remarks at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Danielle Demark, associate wealth and investment advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, Krisi Pearson, Paradigm Commercial Real Estate and Brokerage broker of record Sarah Vandenbelt, and i4C Consulting chief revenue officer Dan Julien at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Scott Beattie, joined by sons Sebastian and Sammy, shared his family’s story at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Stéphane Giguère, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing Corp., and Ottawa city councillor Marty Carr (Alta Vista Ward) at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Arlington Group senior managing director Kevin Ling, Inflector Environmental Services vice president and area manager Michael Simmons, and Fight for the Cure CEO Scott Whitteker, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Karen Brownrigg, board chair of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, addresses her audience at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Michael Maidment, president and CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation, and Peter Nicholson, president at The Foundation (WCPD) at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dr. Anmar Salman, a family physician and co-owner of Novel Health, Andrea Timlin, director of philanthropy at The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, and one of its board members, Joanne Kudakiewicz, community relations manager with Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Hussein Amad, co-founder, president and CEO of  Yorkville Asset Management, and Candace Enman, president of Welch Capital Partners, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Kelly Tabor, Meredith Langille and Sue Merrill participated in a panel discussion with Dr. Anmar Salman at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology past president Jason Wentzell, Alicia Davis and Rabia Sadiq at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Sarah Vandenbelt, from Paradigm Commercial Real Estate and Brokerage, at the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, held at The Westin’s TwentyTwo venue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

caroline@obj.ca

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