Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre board member Katarina Kalajdzic, left, shares a laugh with Indigenous artist Ashley Clark while helping to weave a giant dreamcatcher during the Metamorphosis fundraiser held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre fundraiser spreads its wings with message of hope and recovery
You can’t always tell what someone is going through just by looking at them.
That’s especially true of eating disorders. Just ask Christopher Vallée, who shared his story Tuesday at Metamorphosis in support of Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, the only community-based organization of its kind in Eastern Ontario.
The annual fundraiser returned to hospitality veteran Erin Clatney’s Parlour, a retro-chic restaurant and event space in Wellington Village. The event raised more than $53,000 and attracted 185 attendees.
The butterfly theme took flight overhead, with animated projections fluttering across the venue’s vaulted ceiling throughout the night. The food was equally eye-catching, artfully arranged in displays grouped by colour. New to the event this year was DJ Lisa Martel, whose mix of catchy tunes brought extra energy to the night.
Art was another big part of the event, with Indigenous artist and educator Ashley Clark, Ottawa artist Atticus Gordon and multimedia artist Tina St. John creating original works, sometimes with help from guests. St. John also serves on Hopewell’s board.
Hopewell also plans to launch an online silent auction featuring the original artworks created during the evening, along with a few additional items.
The Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre’s Metamorphosis fundraiser returned to Parlour — butterflies and all — to raise funds for the resources, programs and workshops provided by the community-based support centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Hopewell’s board is led by Tracy Rait-Parkes, a registered psychotherapist at Westboro Psychology. She’s also married to Taggart Group of Companies CEO Scott Parkes, whose family has a long history of supporting charitable causes in Ottawa. They were out in full force for the fundraiser, which was presented by the Taggart Parkes Foundation.
Major sponsors also included District Realty; Flora Hall Brewing, represented by founder and owner Dave Longbottom; Richcraft, represented by principal and director Monica Singhal; and Parlour, represented by Clatney.
Other business and community leaders in the room included The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s board chair, Mark Noonan of Deloitte, and his predecessor as board chair, senior investment counsellor Janet McKeage. She was an early board member of Hopewell, founded in 1999 by three Ottawa mothers whose teenage daughters were undergoing treatment for anorexia at CHEO.
Hopewell runs support groups and workshops and provides information for people dealing with eating disorders, as well as family members, caregivers and educators. Its work is not government funded but instead relies on the generosity of its volunteers and partners. Attendees also heard that Hopewell is now offering free programming to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
Attendees also included one of Hopewell’s quieter supporters, Stuart Parson, owner of Parson Refrigeration. He was last seen helping to push a high-profile wedding fundraiser for The Ottawa Mission past its $100,000 goal.
From left, Hayley Magermans, Danial Taggart (CFO of Taggart Group of Companies), Sarah Taggart and Riley Taggart (Taggart Construction), retired company executive Chris Taggart, Mary Taggart, Taggart Group of Companies CEO Scott Parkes and Tracy Rait-Parkes (board president of Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre), Julie Taggart (president of Taggart Realty Management), Jessica Parkes and Diana Parkes at the Metamorphosis fundraiser in support of the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre executive director Jeff Bond and longtime supporter Stuart Parson, president and owner of Parson Refrigeration, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser held at Parlour in support of the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, psychologist Jamie Brooks, who’s on the board of the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre and is clinical director of Westboro Psychology; Monica Singhal, principal and director at Richcraft Homes; and fellow attendees Amanda Niccolini and Sarah Grand at the Metamorphosis fundraiser held at Parlour in support of the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Erin Clatney of restaurant and event space Parlour in Wellington Village has been hosting the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre for the past three years. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Andy Edmondson with Julie Taggart, president at Taggart Realty Management, Flora Hall Brewing founder and owner Dave Longbottom, and Taggart Group of Companies CEO Scott Parkes at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, presented by Taggart Parkes Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Marisa Shaver; Janet McKeage, senior investment counsellor for RBC PH&N Investment Counsel; and McKeage’s daughter Heather Williams, philanthropy associate at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre board president Tracy Rait-Parkes and fellow board members Noémie Ducret, Christopher Vallée, Anna Jackson, Tina St. John, Melisa Arias-Valenzuela, Sarah Jane Norwood, Michelle Illing and Jamie Brooks at the organization’s Metamorphosis fundraiser, which raised more than $53,000. Photo by Caroline Phillips
But beyond the food and festivities, the evening was also about raising awareness of a serious mental-health issue that’s more widespread than many people realize. One in three Canadians is affected by an eating disorder, either personally or through a loved one, according to Hopewell’s executive director, Jeff Bond. Eating disorders are among the deadliest forms of mental illness.
“Yet they are misunderstood, overlooked and underfunded,” he added.
While society has become more comfortable talking about mental health, Bond said eating disorders still “remain the most hidden.”
Vallée was just 11 when he began struggling with body image and developing increasingly rigid eating habits. “At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening,” said Vallée, who couldn’t imagine he had an eating disorder because he didn’t see himself reflected in the common stereotypes.
His condition eventually became so serious that he collapsed during gym class and was rushed to CHEO.
“My recovery was a very long journey,” said Vallée, who spent six years in and out of hospital receiving treatment for anorexia.
“I could not begin to express how foundational it was for me to feel connected to people who understood my experience, and that’s exactly what brought me to Hopewell in 2015,” said Vallée.
Christopher Vallée, who once turned to Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre for help with his own recovery, now serves on its board of directors. Photo by Caroline Phillips
He said he sought out Hopewell for a sense of community and support, knowing how isolating eating disorders and recovery can be. “Having people who understood me, who met me where I was at, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone made all the difference,” said Vallée, who recently joined Hopewell’s board of directors.
“Everyone deserves to feel like they belong, and that their recovery is possible for them too.”
Professionally, Vallée is the manager of strategic communications at the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions. He’s also a part-time professor at Algonquin College.
Vallée co-hosted the event with Johanna Bernardi, a familiar face to Ottawa sports fans through her work with the Ottawa Charge, Redblacks and 67’s. Bernardi, who has struggled with anxiety, spoke about how reaching out for help was “the best decision” she ever made.
The pair also led the live auction, which featured a hockey night package for an Ottawa Charge game at the Canadian Tire Centre, including an opportunity to meet star forward Rebecca Leslie, who’s been named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
There were bidding wars over the group dinners donated by Arlo Wine & Restaurant and by Coconut Lagoon, whose owner and executive chef, Joe Thottungal, is a longtime supporter of Hopewell’s fundraisers. He will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at Volunteer Ottawa’s 2026 VOscars this Thursday.
From left, Maja Brajkovich and Mélyna Amyot of Girl Dinner 613 — which previously raised thousands for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre — were top bidders on tickets to an Ottawa Charge game, with a meet-and-greet with player Rebecca Leslie. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa artist Atticus Gordon puts brush to canvas during Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre’s Metamorphosis fundraiser at Parlour, creating an original work of art. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre board president Tracy Rait-Parkes, a registered psychotherapist at Westboro Psychology; board secretary Noémie Ducret, a lawyer with Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall; board treasurer Katarina Kalajdzic, senior finance manager at eXp Realty; and Anna Jackson, head of strategic communications at branding agency Stiff, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Parlour hosted the Metamorphosis fundraiser for Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre for its third year, presenting artfully arranged food displays grouped by colour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Mary-Ann Mattioli and Stephanie Appotive, owner of Howard Fine Jewellers & Custom Designers, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
DJ Lisa Martel, left, accompanied by Trinity Noble, kept the tunes coming all night at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre board president Tracy Rait-Parkes; Taggart Group of Companies CEO Scott Parkes; registered psychotherapist Jenny Noonan; and Mark Noonan, vice chair and partner at Deloitte and board chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Katherine Henderson and Shari Mayman from Anchor Psychological Services were top bidders on a group dinner at Coconut Lagoon restaurant in support of Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Alexandra Marinelli, managing director at branding agency Stiff and its head of strategic communications, Anna Jackson, who’s also on the board of the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, and Ingrid Gingras, vice president of communications and donor experience at The Royal Ottawa Foundation, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Johanna Bernardi, co-emcee of Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre’s Metamorphosis fundraiser, shared her personal experience with anxiety and the importance of reaching out for help. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, community volunteer Andrea Laurin, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre board president Tracy Rait-Parkes and Padme Raina, director of strategic partnerships and programs at Ashbury College, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa artist and Hopewell board member Tina St. John put her scissors, glue and creativity to work on a butterfly-themed mixed-media piece during Hopewell’s Metamorphosis fundraiser at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kelly Mounce and Tom Timlin were out supporting the Metamorphosis fundraiser for Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, which was back at Parlour on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Vanessa von Finckenstein; Suzanne Pack, owner of Studio Me Hair Design; Parlour director Erin Clatney; and Denise Carruthers, a board member of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, at the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre Photo by Caroline Phillips
Parlour hosted the Metamorphosis fundraiser for Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre for its third year, presenting artfully arranged food displays grouped by colour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wealth advisor associates Courtney Young and Emily Gray from Raymond James were out supporting the Metamorphosis fundraiser for the Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre, held at Parlour. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Bidders react with excitement during the live auction at Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre’s Metamorphosis fundraiser at Parlour. 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, Westland Benefits and Ottawa Rapid FC.
hello@carolineinthecapital.ca
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