At the Irish ambassador’s residence, fashion meets philanthropy for Cornerstone Housing for Women

From left, Irish Ambassador John Concannon and Ottawa designer Frank Sukhoo at the garden party and fashion show held Sunday, June 7, 2026 in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

At the Irish ambassador’s residence, fashion meets philanthropy for Cornerstone Housing for Women

Published On: June 8, 2026By Caroline Phillips

It takes confidence to walk a runway. It takes courage to rebuild a life. A Taste of Ireland Garden Party celebrated both, bringing a sold-out crowd of supporters of Cornerstone Housing for Women together for an idyllic afternoon of fashion, friendship and fundraising.

“One of the true measures of society is not wealth, power or success; it’s how we treat people when their lives become difficult,” said Irish Ambassador John Concannon while welcoming some 300 attendees to his official residence in Rockcliffe Park, where he reflected on the long history of goodwill between Canada and Ireland, including Canada’s support during the Irish Potato Famine.

The event raised $50,000 for Cornerstone Housing for Women.

Guests took in a dazzling fashion show by local couturier Frank Sukhoo, owner of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture. It featured more than 20 of his original designs worn by agency models and some of his clients. Concannon’s wife, Mary, was away in Ireland, but one of their daughters, Ellie Concannon, graced the runway.

The afternoon included a tribute to the late Madeleine Cormier, a beloved milliner whose creations maintained a signature presence at garden parties throughout Ottawa.

The fashion show was co-emceed by beauty expert Angie Semple and former Ottawa Citizen Style editor Janet Wilson, the latter of whom promised an afternoon of “glamour and glitz.” They took over from long-time Cornerstone supporter Joseph Cull, who still managed to turn heads at the fundraiser with his love-themed sequined interpretation of a nun’s wimple, courtesy of Sukhoo.

From left, Janet Wilson and Angie Semple co-emceed the formal program during A Taste of Ireland Garden Party held at the official residence of the Irish ambassador on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Sukhoo brought together a trusted team of professional hair stylists and makeup artists to deliver this year’s “corporate chic” theme. They paired oversized eyewear and neat bun hairstyles with long lashes and soft, sweetheart-shaped lips. The models were from AMTI Model Management and MIM Models.

It’s been 20 years since Sukhoo began showcasing his designs in support of the nonprofit organization, skipping over the pandemic years, when large gatherings suddenly went out of fashion. The majority of Cornerstone garden parties have been held at the Irish ambassador’s residence.

“I enjoy doing it, and it’s for a great cause,” Sukhoo told CiTC. He’s been designing clothes for more than two decades, creating for long-time clients, many of whom have become close friends and confidants. “I’ve been really lucky. I’ve had great clients. Ottawa has been good to me, and giving back is important.”

The fashion show created by Frank Sukhoo, owner of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture, is the highlight of the annual garden party for Cornerstone Housing for Women that’s held at the official residence of the Irish ambassador. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Olivia Walsh, Ellie Concannon, alongside her father, Irish Ambassador John Concannon, and Sophie Langford at the garden party fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, where the three young women participated in the Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture fashion show, which featured a “corporate chic” style. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Kristina Hamilton, principal at Hamilton Recruiting, and Nila Matthews, home realtor with Royal LePage Performance Realty, at the A Taste of Ireland Garden Party held in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

The garden party for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at the official residence of Irish Ambassador John Concannon, featured a fashion show by local designer Frank Sukhoo of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, long-time Cornerstone Housing for Women supporters Joseph Cull and Sheila Whyte, owner of Thyme & Again Creative Catering, and the venue host, Irish Ambassador John Concannon, at this year’s garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone, held at the ambassador’s official residence in Rockcliffe Park. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Client Kathleen Ethier modelled in the Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture fashion show, a featured part of the annual garden party held in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women at the official residence of Irish Ambassador John Concannon. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Models from AMTI Model Management and MIM Models donned Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture for the garden party and fashion show for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at the official residence of Irish Ambassador John Concannon on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Lindsay Germano

While Sukhoo’s designs were a sensation, Cornerstone Housing for Women had its own moment in the spotlight to raise awareness for the important work it does to help vulnerable women and gender-diverse people. It operates the largest women’s shelter in Ontario and one of the largest in the country, along with supportive housing and outreach programs.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do that without supporters like you, who show up to all our events, who are such incredible heroes and champions of Cornerstone,” said Cornerstone’s executive director, Anne Marie Hopkins.

At almost every Cornerstone event, she said, someone shares with her a personal connection to the cause.

Most recently, a mother spoke about her daughter, who years ago stayed at the shelter after leaving a situation of domestic violence while struggling with addiction. At the time, she feared her daughter might not survive. Today, she is employed, housed, and thriving in her relationship. Her mother believes that without Cornerstone, her daughter would not be alive, said Hopkins.

It is these stories, Hopkins said, that stay with her and guide her work at Cornerstone, acting as a “north star” in decisions affecting the women the organization serves.

Cornerstone Housing for Women executive director Anne Marie Hopkins spoke about the work the nonprofit organization does to help vulnerable women and gender-diverse people in our community. Photo by Lindsay Germano

She noted the sector is under pressure, facing funding gaps, rising homelessness, and increasingly complex mental health and addiction challenges. “When we have events like this, they’re incredibly uplifting,” said Hopkins. “They are a huge reminder of how much support we have in the community and how many people genuinely care about improving the lives of women and gender diverse people in this city.”

During the ambassador’s remarks, he spoke about Canada and Ireland’s shared values of kindness, generosity and humanity. “Everyone deserves hope and the opportunity to begin again,” he said.

Irish Ambassador John Concannon offered a warm welcome to his 300 guests at the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at his official residence in Rockcliffe on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Lindsay Germano

The bond between Canada and Ireland is not just cultural and historical; it’s also economic. For a relatively small country, Ireland has a surprisingly large economic footprint in Canada, ranking as its 10th-largest foreign investor.

Concannon is excited about Prime Minister Mark Carney making his first official visit to Ireland next weekend, including a stop in Mayo, which is the community from which Carney’s grandparents emigrated to Canada in 1925. “To think they arrived here with €5 to start a new life and, 100 years later, their grandson is going back as prime minister.”

The ambassador said the Carney story reflects a broader Canadian story of people coming here with hope and helping to build one of the world’s strongest countries over generations.

He also referenced Irish poet and playwright Seamus Heaney, who wrote: “Hope and history rhyme,” suggesting that sometimes, against the odds, the two come into harmony.

“Today, being here with all of you, and hearing the story of the prime minister, and seeing that hope and possibility, it feels like one of those moments.”

Before the event was over, Concannon promised Sukhoo he would participate in next year’s fashion show, prompting loud cheers from those within earshot and suggesting there could very well be a big rush for tickets.

Irish Ambassador John Concannon speaks while being filmed by photographer and videographer Richard Tardif, surrounded by models from Frank Sukhoo’s Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture fashion show supporting Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Rebecca Murray, whose eldest daughter is getting married in Dublin next month, modelled in the fashion show held at the Irish ambassador’s official residence and created by local designer Frank Sukhoo, right, in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Shannon Day Newman, Adrian Burns and Irish Ambassador John Concannon at the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at his official residence in Rockcliffe on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Cornerstone Housing for Women board member Katrina Draper and her friend Chloe Cao attended the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone, held at the official residence of the Irish ambassador on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Fashion designer Frank Sukhoo of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture shares the runway with one of the models wearing his creations at a fashion show held during a fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women at the official residence of the Irish ambassador. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Irish Ambassador John Concannon took a group selfie with the models and volunteers involved in Frank Sukhoo’s fashion show held at his official residence on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Jill Dickinson, president at CKL Properties, and her daughter, Leah Dickinson, attended the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone, held at the official residence of the Irish ambassador on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Lindsay Germano

Attendees of a fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women enjoyed a fashion show presented by Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Cornerstone Housing for Women board members Marlene Haines, a nurse practitioner with Ottawa Inner City Health, and Mark Barnes, owner of Respect Rx Pharmacy, at the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at his official residence in Rockcliffe on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Shiho Sakane, who’s a graduate of the Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy, and her husband, Daryl Hood, principal at CSV Architects, at the garden party and fashion show fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, held at the Irish ambassador’s official residence in Rockcliffe on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Cornerstone Housing for Women executive director Anne Marie Hopkins, Marnie Crossley and Amber Bramer, director of development and communications for Cornerstone, at the garden party and fashion show fundraiser held at the official residence of Irish Ambassador John Concannon. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Julie Beun in a hat created by the late Madeleine Cormier, a prominent milliner and supporter of Cornerstone Housing for Women, alongside Tammy Laverty, Ursula Gobel, Ann Rickenbacker and Mandy Gosewich at the Cornerstone garden party and fashion show held at the official residence of the Irish Ambassador. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ellie Concannon, daughter of Irish Ambassador John Concannon, brightens the runway in yellow while modelling in the Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture fashion show. Photo by Lindsay Germano

From left, Ottawa city councillor Theresa Kavanagh (Bay Ward) with Cornerstone Housing for Women’s Christopher O’Gorman at its garden party and fashion show, held at the official residence of the Irish Ambassador. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Irish Ambassador John Concannon (centre) surrounded by models and volunteers involved in Frank Sukhoo’s fashion show held at the official residence on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Lindsay Germano

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.
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