It was a tree-mendous night at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Monday as supporters of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario came together in the hotel’s beautiful ballroom for the 17th annual Trees of Hope for CHEO.
New records were set as more than $70,000 was raised and a practical forest — 33 trees in total — was sponsored and decorated by a variety of corporations, small businesses and community organizations, all with the shared goal of helping sick babies, children and youth living in our region.
The trees, festooned with unique ornaments and inspiring messages, brought sparkle to the room. But, so did all the sweet-faced and smartly dressed kiddies who accompanied their parents and grandparents to an event that’s become, for those lucky enough to get an invite, the unofficial launch of the Christmas season.
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![Organizer Deneen Perrin with Alex Munter, CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and Perrin's daughter, Sophia Michel, 14, and son, Alex Michel, 10, a former CHEO patient, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO fundraiser held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Organizer Deneen Perrin with Alex Munter, CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and Perrin's daughter, Sophia Michel, 14, and son, Alex Michel, 10, a former CHEO patient, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO fundraiser held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![From left, Alyssa Beltempo, Angie Russell and April Atherton are seen with their tree, sponsored by Bayshore Shopping Centre, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
From left, Alyssa Beltempo, Angie Russell and April Atherton are seen with their tree, sponsored by Bayshore Shopping Centre, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Chris Kincaid, V-P at Mediaplus Advertising, with her daughter, Annie Saint, 11, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Chris Kincaid, V-P at Mediaplus Advertising, with her daughter, Annie Saint, 11, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Ottawa investment advisor Dean Usher with his son, Dane, nine, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Ottawa investment advisor Dean Usher with his son, Dane, nine, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![From left, philanthropists Dave Trick and Ann Trick, seen with CHEO Foundation president and CEO Kevin Keohane, attended the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
From left, philanthropists Dave Trick and Ann Trick, seen with CHEO Foundation president and CEO Kevin Keohane, attended the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Volunteer judge Nancy Tremblay from Wedecor, with her husband, Matthew Burns, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.]()
Volunteer judge Nancy Tremblay from Wedecor, with her husband, Matthew Burns, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
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![From left, Tassy Vassilyadi and her husband, CHEO physician Michael Vassilyadi, with the CHEO Foundation's Jacqueline Belsito, V-P of philanthropy and community engagement, and Ted Wagstaff at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
From left, Tassy Vassilyadi and her husband, CHEO physician Michael Vassilyadi, with the CHEO Foundation's Jacqueline Belsito, V-P of philanthropy and community engagement, and Ted Wagstaff at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Grant McDonald, managing partner at KPMG, with Meredith Parker and their firm's winning tree at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Grant McDonald, managing partner at KPMG, with Meredith Parker and their firm's winning tree at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Nathalie Khoriaty tickled the ivories at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Nathalie Khoriaty tickled the ivories at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![From left, Kevin Keohane, president and CEO of the CHEO Foundation, with Laurie Gillin and Chris Gillin, Gillin Engineering & Construction Ltd., at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
From left, Kevin Keohane, president and CEO of the CHEO Foundation, with Laurie Gillin and Chris Gillin, Gillin Engineering & Construction Ltd., at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Lianne Laing from CTV Morning and Matt Skube from CTV News emceed the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Lianne Laing from CTV Morning and Matt Skube from CTV News emceed the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel general manager Claude Sauvé with his wife, Deborah, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the hotel on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel general manager Claude Sauvé with his wife, Deborah, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the hotel on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa went with the Superhero theme at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event on Monday, November 24, 2014, and included a written reminder, held by Janique Cyr, that even Superman was raised by foster parents.]()
The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa went with the Superhero theme at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event on Monday, November 24, 2014, and included a written reminder, held by Janique Cyr, that even Superman was raised by foster parents.
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![Dave Betts, volunteer board vice-chairman of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), wore his Father Christmas tie to the Trees of Hope for CHEO holiday fundraiser, held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Dave Betts, volunteer board vice-chairman of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), wore his Father Christmas tie to the Trees of Hope for CHEO holiday fundraiser, held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Sylvie Carbonneau from the Shaw Centre with its superhero-themed tree honouring Ottawa's emergency service responders, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Sylvie Carbonneau from the Shaw Centre with its superhero-themed tree honouring Ottawa's emergency service responders, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![From left, Sujatha Kumar and Joyce Gorman from Keller Williams Ottawa Realty with their sponsored tree at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
From left, Sujatha Kumar and Joyce Gorman from Keller Williams Ottawa Realty with their sponsored tree at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presented by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
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![Arlie Mierins, former board member with the CHEO Foundation, and her youngest daughter, Mila, 11, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presened by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.]()
Arlie Mierins, former board member with the CHEO Foundation, and her youngest daughter, Mila, 11, at the Trees of Hope for CHEO event held at and presened by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Monday, November 24, 2014.
Photos: Around Town at Tree of Hope event for CHEO
Supporters of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario came together in the Chateau Laurier's beautiful ballroom for the 17th annual Trees of Hope for CHEO on Monday, November 24.
The benefit is organized by a volunteer committee led by Deneen Perrin, director of public relations at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Also from the historic hotel was its general manager, Claude Sauvé. His wife, Deborah, was a volunteer judge with CHEO president and CEO Alex Munter, Nancy Tremblay from wedding and event design company Wedecor, and Majic 100 radio hosts Stuntman Stu, Angie Poirier and Trisha Owens. The evening was MCed by Lianne Laing from CTV Morning and Matt Skube from CTV News.
Every year, the event holds a friendly tree-decorating competition. The judges, as the arbiters of ornaments and all things shiny (silver tinsel and stringed popcorn don’t cut it these days), chose the KPMG-sponsored tree in the Silver Bells category. Its team worked hard, spending a couple of months planning, gluing, sewing and crocheting more than 350 decorations for its tree, with splendidly elegant results.
The other winner was the Shaw Centre, in the category of superheroes. Its tree decor told stories of leadership and bravery demonstrated by Ottawa’s police, fire and ambulance workers. As a sweet bonus, the team handed out free homemade themed cupcakes.
In the crowd of 400 was CHEO Foundation president and CEO Kevin Keohane and such generous CHEO supporters as Dave and Ann Trick, residents of the small community of Rideau Ferry just south of Perth. Donations from their family charitable foundation have helped the hospital purchase vital equipment for its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
There were delicious treats to devour, 200 silent auction items to bid on and live music to get everyone in the mood, played by Nathalie Khoriaty on piano. As well, there was a draw for a pair of Air Canada tickets, to anywhere it flies in North America, and a $1,000 gift certificate from Jubilee Fine Jewellers.
The ornate trees will remain on display in the hotel’s public spaces throughout the holidays. Visitors are welcome to drop in and vote on their favourite tree while also making a donation to CHEO.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
