The snowstorm forecast to hit Ottawa this week held off just long enough for guests in evening wear and high heels to attend the 5th annual SnowBall at the Ottawa Art Gallery Wednesday night.
The event is hosted in support of the Snowsuit Fund, which uses donations to purchase and distribute warm winter outwear to children from low-income families across Ottawa.
Just in time for many kids, who will be breaking out their snowsuits this week to enjoy the aftermath of a winter storm.
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“The weather is working a little bit against us,” Lauren Parkes, second vice-chair of the organization’s board of directors, told OBJ. “But people in Ottawa are used to the snow. And it’s a bit fitting with our event, right?”
According to Parkes, it was a record-breaking year for the Snowsuit Fund, which is in its 43rd year. But, in this context, that isn’t necessarily a good thing.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” she told OBJ. “In past years, we distributed around 16,000 snowsuits annually, which is huge. This year, we have well passed 19,000. So the need in our community is high. But then, I feel grateful that we’ve been able to meet that need and deliver snowsuits to all those people who need it.”
The organization was started in 1982 by Joan Gullen and Ralph Tannis, who recognized a need that has only become more acute in recent years, said board member Jon Sinden.
“Kids who are coming to live here don’t know what they’re in for. The snow and the cold is a real thing here in Ottawa. They had this idea that no kid can be a kid without a proper snowsuit,” he told OBJ.
“Ottawa’s population is growing. People are coming from all around the world where snow banks the size of buildings aren’t a thing … It’s a good story that we’ve been able to fill that need, but the fact that there is that need is an issue that needs a long-term solution. The Snowsuit Fund is here to solve that.”
With the snow dump holding off until late in the evening, guests made it to the Ottawa Art Gallery chilly but unscathed.
The event took over all three levels of the building, which was decked out with sparkles and lights around every corner. Food and beverage tables manned by Ottawa’s top chefs were nestled between art installations.
The main level featured a champagne wall and beauty bar run by Salon Fiorella, while Humen Kind Boutique offered feather boas, bedazzled hats and props for partygoers to strike a pose on the 360 photobooth on the first floor.
Upstairs, guests enjoyed live entertainment from Ottawa disco band The Electric Company in a lounge packed on all sides with small bites and desserts from Ottawa restaurants, including Restaurant 18, Thyme & Again, Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine, Mādahòkì Farm, Heart & Crown, and the new Hard Rock Ottawa. A slew of beverage options were available from Dunrobin Distilleries, Split Tree Cocktail Co., and Kichesippi Beer Co.
According to Parkes, many of the food and beverage providers are businesses that have formed long-standing relationships with the Snowsuit Fund, offering to come back for free year after year.
Parkes said the foundation’s decades-long reputation has allowed it to continue succeeding every winter.
“We have some people even on our board today who say, ‘When I was a child and first moved to Ottawa, I remember getting my snowsuit from the Snowsuit Fund,’” said Parkes. “It’s really nice that that longevity and that history gives us that full circle moment. Some of the people that donate now do so specifically because they were snowsuit recipients at one point in their lives.”
But challenges remain. Due to the seasonal nature of the cause, Parkes said it can be hard to find sponsors every year. Last month, the organization inked a three-year deal for Ottawa tech support company Intega IT to be the presenting sponsor until the 2026/2027 season.
Intega IT president and CEO John Robinson said the SnowBall is an under-rated Ottawa mixer and a cause that aligns with the company’s values.
“It’s a great event,” Robinson told OBJ. “There’s a lot of organizations in Ottawa that you can contribute to. Sometimes you see the effects immediately, sometimes you don’t. But the Snowsuit Fund is different. You donate money, the kid gets a snowsuit, and then they’re warm for the winter. Easy peasy.”
The event was packed with members of the business community who have been regular supporters of the event for years.
Joe Forsyth, a director at Ottawa engineering firm Paterson Group, said his company buys a pack of tickets to the SnowBall each year for staff. It’s a chance to celebrate and hit the town as a team, while also giving back to the community.
“Growing up in Ottawa, you realized how cold the winter is,” he told OBJ. “In the last five years, we’ve obviously seen an influx of immigrants, with COVID happening and costs getting really high, realizing there’s a huge demand. It’s a great cause to try and help those in need to deal with winter conditions they may not be used to.”
