From left, Gold Plate Dinner co-chair Aik Aliferis, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation president Lianne Laing, and Gold Plate Dinner co-chair Nick Pantieras at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Meet the mensch who would have won the Mercedes at Hellenic Community’s Gold Plate Dinner
At last night’s Gold Plate Dinner, one lucky guest had the chance to leave with either $40,000 in cash or the keys to a brand new Mercedes-Benz from Star Motors of Ottawa.
It was an exciting possibility as the reverse elimination draw narrowed to its final 20 contestants. They faced a tempting choice: split the money and end the game, or keep the draw alive for a shot at the full jackpot or the luxury car.
All it took was one person willing to gamble.
If even a single contestant wanted to continue, another name would be pulled from the lottery drum, sending that person off the stage.
Now in its 38th year, the Gold Plate Dinner is a fixture on Ottawa’s social scene and has seen a growing number of second-generation attendees. The gala returned to Infinity Convention Centre, drawing a crowd of 650 guests for the full experience of cocktails, dinner and afterparty.
To date, the dinner has cumulatively raised close to $4 million, with its two causes being the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Aik Aliferis and Nick Pantieras, who are senior managing directors of Marcus & Millichap’s Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) division, are the co-chairs of the organizing committee. The event was supported by a long list of businesses, all prominently featured through projection advertising and with their names seemingly everywhere at once. The presenting sponsor was Dymon Storage.
Gold Plate Dinner co-chairs Nick Pantieras and Aik Aliferis welcomed a sold-out crowd of 650 to this year’s fundraising dinner for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
While the Hellenic Community’s spiritual leader, Father Alex Michalopulos, couldn’t be there, he delivered a blessing before dinner, via video, accompanied by his usual joke. The room also heard from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who called the Gold Plate Dinner one of “the most exciting evenings” in Ottawa. And he should know — he attends a lot of events.
The clearest reminder of why everyone had gathered came when Lianne Laing, president of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) Foundation, took to the stage. As she wrapped up her remarks, she acknowledged the UOHI’s “miracle workers”, including CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands and cardiac surgeon Dr. Marc Ruel, both of whom were in attendance. That’s when Pantieras reminded everyone that Ruel had saved his life many years ago. Pantieras stood and began clapping, inspiring others to join in.
“It was really touching,” Laing told CiTC afterward of the unexpected moment. It was followed by guests approaching her to share their own stories of Heart Institute doctors who’d been there for them when they needed their specialized care.
The Ottawa Heart Institute, its foundation and some of its supporters turned out in force for the Gold Plate Dinner — including CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands and cardiac surgeon Dr. Marc Ruel, both at the far right. Photo by Caroline Phillips
As for the much-anticipated reverse elimination draw, once the final risk-taker of the group, Matthew Tannis, was eliminated, the remaining nine players were happy to share the $40,000. There was talk of them donating half the winnings back.
Jeff Mierins, owner of Star Motors, watched closely from his front-row table, hoping there would be a final winner and that he’d be giving away a new car. The last time that happened was in 2019, when the remaining contestant chose the Mercedes over the money.
Mierins noted that “there has to be a certain chemistry to make it happen.” In other words, everyone has to be willing to keep gambling long past the point where their spouses or pals are mouthing, “Take the money.”
From left, Star Motors of Ottawa owner Jeff Mierins with his guests, Prime Benefits Group senior partner and co-founder Dave Dickinson, Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation board chair Kaveh Rikhtegar and Steve Assaly at the Gold Plate Dinner held at Infinity Convention Centre in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Hellenic Community of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Emcee Sandra Plagakis, morning show co-host on Kiss 105.3, kept the game going just to see whose name would have been the last remaining in the lottery drum.
The final name was Ken Ages from Paramount Properties. A true mensch, he told CiTC, “I would have given it all back to the charities, anyway.”
Coincidentally, his brother Stuart Ages was up on stage during the earlier $10,000 cash draw, which did get whittled down to one contestant: Amanda Gordon, chief talent officer of CLV Group. She was donating half her winnings back to the cause.
CLV Group’s Amanda Gordon, the eventual winner of $10,000 in cash, waits in anticipation at the Gold Plate Dinner to hear which of the final three contestants will be eliminated. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The DYMON table at Gold Plate Dinner, held at Infinity Conventoin Centre on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
From left, Gold Plate Dinner founder Steve Ramphos (District Realty), Sam Firestone (Marcus & Millichap), John Bassi (JBPA Developments) and Stephen Greenberg (Osgoode Properties) at Infinity Convention Centre for the gala dinner, now in its 38th year, for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Paramount Properties principal Ken Ages — who’s never one to seek the limelight — might very well have been the final winner of the reverse elimination draw, had the contestants decided to push their luck further at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Sabatino Schiavone, vice-president of pre-construction at Brigil, with the company’s president and founder, Gilles Desjardins, at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Karinne Baker, Jessica Greenberg (Osgoode Properties), Jennifer Mulley (Shoppers Drug Mart owner/pharmacist), Leslie Feldman and Danielle Simpson (CHEO) at the Gold Plate Dinner held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
James Annis (BMO Nesbitt Burns), board chair of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, and his partner, Steffanie Senechal (BMO Private Wealth), who’s expecting in six weeks. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Morning show host Sandra Plagakis was back to host the Gold Plate Dinner, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Seth Richards (Westview Projects), Brad Rodgers (Dream Unlimited) and Brad Doran-Veevers (Westview Projects) at the Gold Plate Dinner held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Jeffrey Miller, partner at GGFL Accounting Firm, with David Feldberg, managing director of DFSIN, at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Gold Plate Dinner co-chair Aik Aliferis, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and Gold Plate Dinner co-chair Nick Pantieras at this year’s fundraising dinner for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation vice president Lindsay Firestone, Cavanagh Realty general manager and City BuildHERS co-founder Kristen Buter, and guest Sarah Grand at Infinity Convention Centre for the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Risk-taking contestant Matthew Tannis, left, continued to drive the game — until his own name was pulled and he was eliminated. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Josh Kardish, president of eQ Homes and vice president of development for the Regional Group, and Brazeau Seller Law partner Harold Feder in the party tent erected to accommodate the large crowd of 650 people at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Proof that homebuilding runs in the family (twice over), from left: Santana Campanale (Campanale Homes), Angela Singhal (Richcraft Homes) and her sister Monica Singhal (Richcraft Homes), and Santana’s sister Jenna Campanale (Campanale Homes) at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the Gold Plate Dinner held in support of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Salem MacDonald with Osgoode Properties president Stephen Greenberg at Infinity Convention Centre for the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, CLV Group vice president of asset management John Wark, Anthony Scaletta (vice president of private equity), LAURIN founder and chairman Dennis Laurin and Oz Drewniak, president of CLV Group Developments, at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Aik Aliferis, co-chair of the Gold Plate Dinner, with his kids: Xristopher Aliferis and Liberty Aliferis, at the fundraising gala for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Amanda Gordon, chief talent officer at CLV Group, alongside Claudio Mion (vice president of operations at The Precast Group), was the happy winner of $10,000 in cash at the Gold Plate Dinner held in support of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Sam Tannis and Kammal Tannis with Joanne Kudakiewicz (DFSIN) at the Gold Plate Dinner, held in support of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Anthony Bassi (JBPA Developments), Maria Bassi, John Bassi (JBPA Developments) and Dr. Mario Bassi at the Gold Plate Dinner, held in support of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Gold Plate Dinner founder Steve Ramphos and Michael Polowin, partner at Gowling WLG, at the annual fundraiser for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Photo by Caroline Phillips
Stuart Ages, principal at Paramount Properties, on stage with fellow contestants of a $10,000 cash draw at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) Foundation philanthropy manager Matt Harris; Erika MacPhee, vice president of clinical operations at the UOHI; Richard Roulx and his husband, Glenn Sheen, regional director of marketing and citizenship at RBC; and Jessica Roback, UOHI Foundation’s director of major gifts, at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Aik Aliferis, co-chair of the Gold Plate Dinner, is seen hugging Ken Ages as the suspense-filled reverse elimination draw for $40,000 or a new Mercedes ends with nine contestants agreeing to split the pot, donating some of their winnings back to the cause. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Luxury car dealerships run in the family: Jeff Mierins, owner of Mercedes-Benz Star Motors of Ottawa, with Vicki Mierins, Jeff’s cousin Arnie Mierins, owner of Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown, and guest Mehrdad Azadeh at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
A parting shot of Michael Polowin, a partner at Gowling WLG, making his exit after his number was pulled from the lottery drum during the reverse elimination draw at the Gold Plate Dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.
hello@carolineinthecapital.ca
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