Some 180 attendees dined together at one long table in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
A magical evening of fine dining among Beechwood Cemetery tombstones in support of Vanier food bank
Turns out, a cemetery makes a surprisingly charming dinner venue, with its quiet neighbors, manicured grounds and surrounding stories etched in stone.
On Wednesday, Beechwood Cemetery, the city’s largest and most historic resting place, set the scene for an elegant outdoor fundraiser in support of Partage Vanier, said to be the most visited food bank in Ontario.
The award-winning benefit raised $68,000 with a whimsical Midsummer Night’s Dream theme. The fundraiser, presented by Mark Motors Porsche, was created by the Vanier BIA in partnership with Beechwood Cemetery and Vanier Community Services Centre.
An estimated 17 per cent of residents in Vanier rely on the community’s food bank, and about one in three of those recipients are children.
More than 180 attendees mingled over cocktails near Beechwood Cemetery’s beautiful stone mausoleum before being led to one impressively long and continuous dinner table that was decked out with candles, flowers and elegant place settings.
Surrounding the dining area were ornate headstones and mature trees, softly bathed in light once darkness fell. The cemetery is the resting place to many famous Canadians, including politicians, writers, poets, inventors and scientists, generals and business leaders.
Partage Beechwood started as a “crazy idea” seven years ago that won the support of local businesses and community, said Vanier BIA executive director Nathalie Carrier, who was effusive in expressing her gratitude to all the “donorships”, as she fondly called them.
“Tonight, we come together as a community — one big family,” said Carrier. Why a cemetery? Because it’s one of Vanier’s loveliest green spaces. It’s also the National Cemetery of Canada, a National Historic Site, and includes the National Military Cemetery and the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery.
Nathalie Carrier, executive director of the Vanier BIA, welcomed guests to Partage Beechwood, a fundraising dinner held in Beechwood Cemetery in support of the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 180 attendees dined together at this one long table in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Meghan Gomes and Caroline Eyvindson embraced the Midsummer Night’s Dream theme at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Restaurant E18hteen executive chef David Godsoe and his team prepared a four-course gourmet dinner featuring chicken liver parfait, pink shrimp carpaccio, herb-crusted lamb loin, and tiramisu mousse cake. Godsoe, who lives just down the road from the Vanier food bank, told CiTC: “I drive by it every day and see people using it all the time. There are lineups constantly.”
Keep in mind, the large-scale, multi-course dinner was prepared and served entirely in a cemetery, with no electricity or running water on site. A refrigerated trailer, grills and other essential kitchen equipment had to be brought in.
Among the dedicated food bank supporters there that night was 2024 Order of Ottawa recipient and champion of artists Catherine Mensour. She invited five friends to join her as her special guests. “It’s such an important organization,” she stressed.
David Godsoe, executive chef and culinary operations director with the E18hteen hospitality group, designed a distinctive dining experience within Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ginette Gratton, Marie Lapointe, Jacqueline Pelletier, Catherine Mensour, Marie-Pierre Gariépy and Jacinthe Bergevin at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Partage Beachwood remains a favourite of Carole Saad, owner of Chic + Swell Event Design and LouLou Lounge Furniture Rental. “I call it the most exclusive dinner party in the city because there’s nothing else like it,” said Saad, who was the decor dreamweaver behind the event.
Outdoor gatherings come with their challenges, acknowledged Carrier before applauding Saad for her expert touch in pulling the event off. “Every year we run into some kind of chaos. If it’s not the heat, it’s the bugs. And if it’s not the bugs… dare I say, the rain,” she added, her voice dropping to a whisper (apparently, she and her team are no longer allowed to utter the r-word at the office). “This year, it was the wind.”
Saad quickly figured out a clever way to keep things in place and, by the time attendees arrived, everything was perfect.
Singer-songwriter Shawn Tavenier performed during the cocktail hour before leading the attendees to the dining area, joking that he was making them “sing for their supper”. Backed by a sousaphone and saxophone player, the trio performed The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love, which is not only the perfect song about peace and human connection — it has really easy lyrics to sing along to.
Adhering to Midsummer Night’s Dream theme was Konrad Eyvindson, who came as Shakespeare’s Nick Bottom, complete with his famously transformed donkey head. Attendees were also treated to a surprise fairy-like musical performance by Jessica Pearson, Sam Stone and Malia Rogers. They sang Send Me Down a cappella. The trio was utterly enchanting, just as you’d expect singing fairies to be.
One of the more touching moments came when Mark Motors Porsche dealer principal Michael Mrak praised Carrier for the work she does with the Vanier BIA, calling her “a beacon” in the community. Carrier, who gets emotional easily, but had been trying hard to hold back that night, was seen wiping away tears of gratitude.
The fundraiser has also helped to inspire others. Manotick BIA’s Kelly Belair, who attended the event, is already planning a similar fundraiser for her community next June.
From left, Heather Linton and Bruce Linton with their friend Carole Saad, who’s the event planner for Partage Beechwood, a large-scale fundraising dinner for the Partage Vanier Food Bank held in Beechwood Cemetery, a National Historic Site. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Musicians, including singer-songwriter Shawn Tavenier, led attendees, including Vanier BIA board member Kelly Weiss and her husband Adam from BiBi’s Middle Eastern Kitchen, to the outdoor dining area at Beechwood Cemetery. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Gary Zed, founder and CEO of Canada’s Forest Trust, and his wife, Liza Mrak, co-owner of Mark Motors Porsche, at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Nathalie Carrier, executive director of the Vanier BIA, wiped away tears while Ottawa business leader Michael Mrak commended her for the work she does to help local businesses. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Rick Hunter, president and CEO of ProSlide, with his wife Cato Hunter and their daughter Tarah Hunter at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ottawa entrepreneur Tracey Clark, owner of Linden Pizza in Vanier, with CTV News Ottawa’s Jackie Perez, who had earlier been reporting live on location at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Lindsey Suprunchuk, director of operations at Linebox Studio, and the architecture firm’s COO, Melissa Reeves, who’s also board chair of Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, on their way to the Partage Beechwood dinner held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Konrad Eyvindson adhered to the Midsummer Night’s Dream theme for the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Michael Mrak, principal dealer of Mark Motors Porsche, expressed his gratitude to Vanier BIA executive director Nathalie Carrier for her support of local businesses at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery to raise money for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Vanier BIA board member Anna Bélanger, owner of Anna Bélanger & Associates, and her husband, Robert Roppovalente, at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Tara Shannon, founder of Willow Sound Records, with fellow performing artists Sam Stone, Jessica Pearson and Malia Rogers, who later performed at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Natasha Commanda, owner of FN Clean Water, helped to welcome attendeees to the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ottawa city councillors Stéphanie Plante (Rideau-Vanier) and Marty Carr (Alta Vista) at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Nightlife Commissioner Mathieu Grondin at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Restaurant e18hteen executive chef David Godsoe, left, and prominent restaurateur and co-owner Peter Boole at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard attended the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Rogers Centre Ottawa president and CEO Lesley Pincombe and Mathieu Gravel were out supporting the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Leah Nord, senior director of operations for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association and a board member with the Beechwood Cemetery, at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 180 attendees dined together in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Tara Shannon, founder of Willow Sound Records and executive director of the Ottawa Festival Network, with fellow singer-songwriter Melanie Brulée, executive director at Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 180 attendees were escorted by live music to the Partage Beechwood dinner held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Prominent entrepreneur Tracey Clark, owner of Linden Pizza in Vanier, and former Ottawa city councillor Mathieu Fleury at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Malia Rogers, Jessica Pearson and Sam Stone gave a surprise musical performance at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, held at Beechwood Cemetery to support the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips.
Ottawa city councillor Rawlson King (Rideau-Rockcliffe) and his wife Linda Grussani at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Partage Vanier Food Bank volunteer Alain Poirier (seated) at the Partage Beechwood dinner fundraiser held in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 180 attendees dined together at this one long table in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to raise funds for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.
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