Around Town: Snowsuit gala goes Far East to help kids

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A fetching crowd of 350 came together at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Saturday to raise enough money − more than $80,000 − to keep 2,000 kids in toasty-warm snowsuits during the bitter cold months ahead.

The occasion was The Canadian Tire Snowsuit Fund Gala “Asian Reflections”, but there’s no ancient Chinese secret behind its success; it all comes down to a loyal following of supporters with some creative flair and fresh ideas.

This year’s Far East theme was seen, heard and tasted everywhere. Guests were escorted by dragon dancers to a ballroom adorned with paper parasols. A kimono-wearing Sandra Plagakis from KISS FM styled her hair into a Chinese bun, with souvlaki sticks poking out, to MC the charity event with colleague Carter Brown.

As well, there were egg rolls served from the famous Golden Palace Restaurant and loot bags from Tim Hortons packaged in lovely little Chinese take-out food boxes.

One of the reasons for the gala’s popularity is that you don’t really know what to expect until you arrive, said volunteer board chair Lianne Laing, a morning host with CTV Ottawa. Last year, the theme was Marie Antoinette. The year before, Northern Lights. “Every year, people are wondering, when they open the (ballroom) doors, what are they walking into.”

The gala was co-chaired by Valerie Hammell, an owner of the Canadian Tire store on Carling Avenue, and Peter O’Leary, new chief marketing officer for the Ottawa Senators. He’s been on the board for at least 15 years and says he sticks with the cause because he likes its grassroots approach to helping disadvantaged children in need of proper outdoor winter wear. “Everything that’s raised here tonight buys snowsuits; it’s as simple as that,” said O’Leary.

Honourary co-chair Erin Phillips arrived for a night of dinner and dancing with her “date,” Caitlin Neil, since both of their Ottawa Senators hockey-playing husbands, Chris and Chris, were on the ice in Calgary.

Also seen were OSEG Sports president Jeff Hunt, Ottawa Senators Foundation president Danielle Robinson and charity auctioneer Kent Browne, owner of Royal LePage Team Realty and Gale Real Estate. He gavelled away such items as a framed Sidney Crosby-signed Team Canada hockey jersey, Ottawa Senators tickets, a Sarah Moffat painting, and sports equipment packages from Canadian Tire and SportChek.

The purchase of decorative chopsticks entered guests into the raffle for a pair of WestJet tickets, but there was good luck for everyone — all the fortune cookies contained promises of a free hot chocolate at Tim Hortons.

carolyn001@sympatico.ca