At Ottawa Business Journal, we like to give our readers a head’s up when we can, to let them know when a big event is coming up. We’d hate to see you miss it because it didn’t make your radar. We truly can empathize with having to read about a special evening after the fact, perhaps with a tinge of envy or regret.
So, consider yourself informed: tickets will be going on sale in mid-March for the 2023 Riverkeeper Gala, set for Wednesday, May 31. The evening of first-rate food, drinks and live music, enjoyed in a spectacular setting, is reputed to be one of the best parties of the season.
This year’s signature fundraiser for Ottawa Riverkeeper will be extra special because it’s being held for the first time at the non-profit organization’s charming new headquarters, River House, located right on the Ottawa River. The three-storey heritage boathouse, located off the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, was recently renovated by the National Capital Commission. Ottawa Riverkeeper signed on as a tenant of the iconic property late last October.
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“Just yesterday we got the keys to our new site,” Laura Reinsborough informed guests at an event launch held Thursday at the Ottawa office of global law firm Dentons.
Reinsborough, who joined the environmental group in 2021 as the new Riverkeeper and CEO, told the room how her organization has been fitting up its new space for its offices, science lab, education hub and public meeting space. “We want everybody who comes to visit River House to walk away with a deepened connection to water and a better understanding of the importance of protecting the Ottawa River and its tributaries,” she said.
The organization is excited to host its gala at its new home, which has a large wrap-around outdoor deck and a sprung ballroom floor that particularly welcomes unabashed dancing. All 350 tickets are expected to sell out.
“For anyone who has not been to this gala, it’s definitely something that you cannot miss,” said David Little, managing partner of the Ottawa office of Dentons, as he welcomed guests to the reception catered by Thyme & Again.
Reinsborough promised everyone this year’s gala will make “a big splash”. Considering the venue is surrounded by water, we hope she was only speaking figuratively.
A series of fun and fabulous photos from galas past were projected onto large screens during the reception. Guests also watched a short video that really captured the excitement and atmosphere experienced by attendees.
The gathering recognized RBC for having reached a philanthropic milestone in helping Ottawa Riverkeeper protect and promote the ecological health of the Ottawa River since May 2011.
“When we looked back at (RBC’s) most recent support and tallied the numbers, we realized this pushes their total giving over one million dollars to Ottawa Riverkeeper over the years,” said Reinsborough. “It’s a good reason to host a party. They said ‘Yes’ but made sure that they would foot the bill, so RBC is also helping to make tonight’s event possible.”
Reinsborough presented Justin Schurman, regional vice president of business financial services at RBC, with a special plaque and a water-themed painting, called Afloat, by local artist Crystal Beshara. “As one of Canada’s leading employers, we have a responsibility to get involved to ensure the health and well-being of the communities where we work and where we live,” he said at the podium.
As well, the room heard brief remarks from Ottawa Riverkeeper board member Frédéric Boulanger and from Jason Clark, national director of climate change advocacy for the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The national industry association for property and casualty insurers across the country is the returning presenting sponsor of the Riverkeeper Gala.
Several members of the gala organizing team were in attendance, including Ottawa’s inaugural Riverkeeper, Lara van Loon, and fine arts consultant Trish Barr.
This is the third year Courtney Kehoe has been volunteering on the gala committee. She has yet to attend the springtime gala, however. Instead, the Cape Bretoner returns to the small island of Isle Madame off the coast of Nova Scotia each May and June to fish for lobster. Her family has been lobster fishermen for generations. While she’s sorry to miss the big night, she told OBJ.social that she loves the cause too much to not get involved.
“I feel like I’m here in spirit when I’m out on the water,” said Kehoe, managing director of a soon-to-be launched initiative hosted by The Natural Step Canada and the Smart Prosperity Institute. It aims to significantly increase public and private investment into nature in Canada through the collective action of a broad group of member organizations.
Ottawa Riverkeeper is running a $5-million campaign to help with the expansion of its educational programming at its new site. The campaign, which has the support of a committee of community leaders from both sides of the river, is being co-chaired by Colleen Westeinde and Michel Drouin.
The campaign remains in the “quiet phase” of fundraising. “It’s going very well,” Chloe Hillier, director of philanthropy for Ottawa Riverkeeper, said of efforts to rally support and secure early leadership gifts. “We’ll be talking about it more at the gala.”
The Riverkeeper Gala has a long tradition of bestowing the title of Honorary Riverkeeper on an illustrious individual from the community. The inaugural Honorary Riverkeeper was Mark Carney, back when he was governor of the Bank of Canada and the gala was held on a riverboat. Most recently, it was the Ottawa Senators’ former long-time captain, Daniel Alfredsson. The organization will announce in the coming weeks this year’s Honorary Riverkeeper.
caroline@obj.ca
