Inspirational leader Solange Tuyishime Keita was celebrated in delicious style Friday night at one of Ottawa’s finest restaurants, surrounded by friends who adore, admire and respect the award-winning president and CEO of Elevate International.
Aiāna Restaurant Collective, located on O’Connor Street, graciously hosted the exclusive culinary experience in support of the public speaker, social entrepreneur and philanthropist, and her efforts to become the next Miss Universe Canada. A portion of the price for the multi-course meal will help Tuyishime Keita in her mission to elevate women and girls.
Aiāna’s owner, businessman Devinder Chaudhary, sits on the Ottawa Board of Trade (OBoT). He welcomed some 30 attendees that night, joined by OBoT president and CEO Sueling Ching. The lavish menu was a collaboration between Aiāna’s executive chef, Raghav Chaudhary, and guest chef Patrick Turcot from the Shaw Centre. The crowd dined on such gourmet delights as salmon and caviar, oysters, foie gras, prawns, and crispy pork belly with scallops.
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The send-off dinner for Tuyishime Keita was a far cry from the honouree’s earlier pageantry days, when she was living on a very tight budget. She subsisted on rationed cans of tuna and cheap almonds.
“Tonight, what you’re doing for me — all of you are here — honestly, this is probably one of the most touching moments that I will ever have,” Tuyishime Keita told her supporters while reflecting on how far she’s come. “This dream has been so lonely for a long time.”
Tuyishime Keita was born in East Africa, where she survived war and genocide before coming to Canada in 1996, at age 13. The time she spent living in a refugee camp, early on in her life, inspired the work she does today to advance women and girls’ leadership globally.
She spoke about how she first got involved with pageants 20 years ago while in New Brunswick. Initially, she didn’t take her invitation to participate seriously. “I thought it was a prank. They called me back again, and I declined again. I knew it was real when they followed up with an email.
“I didn’t really know anything about pageantry. I just went because I was responding to the little girl in me who was once a refugee and who had big dreams. I thought, ‘I’ll give that little girl a chance’.”
To her surprise, she was crowned the winner. “I was wearing Walmart shoes and a Walmart dress. I knew nothing about pageants but I spoke from the heart, and I felt like – for the first time — my voice was heard … That, of course, has flourished into other things.”
Today, Tuyishime Keita serves as a role model for others, and a glamorous one, to boot.
In 2022, Tuyishime Keita landed a Forty Under 40 Award. That same year, she won a WBN Businesswoman of the Year Award – earning herself an unforgettable standing ovation in response to her rousing acceptance speech. In 2023, she was named to the Order of Ottawa.
The married mother of three young daughters has made it her mission to inspire young girls to envision themselves in leadership roles, and not feel restricted by a society that “tells you who you should be”.
She’s a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Canada and co-founder of Naylah’s Legacy, a non-profit organization to help premature babies and their mothers. It was created in memory of a baby she lost while giving birth to triplets.
Tuyishime Keita has done Canada proud in the world of international pageants. But, her success has gone somewhat under the radar, until now, she said.
Dinner guests included fellow award-winning immigrant entrepreneur Karla Briones, the trailblazing Shirley Westeinde, Canadian International Trade Tribunal vice-chairperson Bree Jamieson-Holloway, former Willis College CEO and chair Rima Aristocrat, a honorary colonel for the Canadian Armed Forces, among others.
In expressing her appreciation, Tuyishime Keita shared that everyone in the room will always feel like family to her now. “I’m grateful that I will not be eating tuna this week because of your incredible generosity,” she added with a smile.
“I’m thankful to each and everyone of you because you have touched me immensely, and now I know I am not alone.”
Tuyishime Keita is competing for the title of Miss Universe Canada against 63 other delegates. The national competition takes place in the Ontario city of Windsor, beginning with a preliminary competition this Thursday and the final competition on Saturday. Miss Universe 2024 is to be held in Mexico in late September.
According to its website, Miss Universe is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions. It aims to create and provide a safe space for women to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically. The women who participate in its international platform serve as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities. As part of her involvement, Tuyishime Keita has been raising funds for Smile Train, a charity that provides corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates.
caroline@obj.ca
