Most couples spend the months leading up to their wedding thinking about flowers, seating charts and cake flavours.

Cara Vaccarino and Brian Bohunicky spent theirs raising money for people experiencing homelessness.

What began as a casual conversation between friends more than a year ago ended Saturday night with wedding vows, a packed celebration and a fundraising total that exceeded even the most optimistic expectations of The Ottawa Mission.

Vaccarino, president and CEO of The Royal, and Bohunicky, a recently retired senior political advisor and public servant, combined their wedding celebration with a fundraising campaign called Two Hearts, One Mission. With the support of their community, they raised $112,688 for The Ottawa Mission’s programs that help people move beyond homelessness, addiction and poverty.

Guests gathered Saturday at the spacious headquarters of CAA North & East Ontario, where president and CEO Jeff Walker donated the office space to his friends to support a fundraising idea first “cooked up” on Vaccarino’s back patio. “They were talking about doing a fundraiser and the challenge of finding a venue, and I told them our office is pretty awesome,” Walker told CiTC. “I suggested they take a look and see if it might be a good fit.”

With its open layout, outdoor terrace and views of TD Place, the two-storey space proved an ideal setting.

The ceremony was officiated by Dave Kornelsen, chaplain at The Ottawa Mission. He guided the couple through the exchange of vows and rings before pronouncing them married. Standing beside them were their three daughters: Izzy and Sophie Vaccarino, and Darby Bohunicky, who later joked that she finally got the sisters she’d always wanted after years of having to settle for a dog.

Brian Bohunicky and Cara Vaccarino tied the knot at a wedding ceremony that brought in $112,688 for The Ottawa Mission through their fundraising campaign, Two Hearts, One Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Bride Cara Vaccarino with her daughters, from left, Izzy and Sophie Vaccarino and Darby Bohunicky at a fundraising wedding for The Ottawa Mission held at CAA North & East Ontario’s corporate headquarters at Lansdowne. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The buffet dinner was prepared by The Ottawa Mission’s catering social enterprise, Chef Ric’s. Additional support came from Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, Capital Florist, Chic + Swell Event Designers and Bakeology, which is The Royal’s vocational baking program.

Musician Rita Matar played modern tunes on violin during the ceremony and reception. Later, guests packed the dance floor as the DJ kept the party going, with 85-year-old community builder Shirley Westeinde in the thick of it, alongside Lara Van Loon, who has yet to meet a charity gala dance floor she didn’t like.

The celebration drew friends and family from across Canada and beyond, as well as Vaccarino’s twin sister Lisa McWhinnie and colleagues from The Royal. Bohunicky’s mother was unable to make the trip from Winnipeg, but guests made sure she felt included, collectively shouting “Hello, Phyllis!” during a FaceTime call.

A relative of the groom became visibly emotional as the room greeted Phyllis Bohunicky, who joined her son’s wedding celebration virtually from Winnipeg. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The evening marked the completion of a fundraising campaign that some at The Ottawa Mission initially worried might struggle to reach its ambitious $100,000 goal.

Namrata Goyes, the Mission’s director of development, even suggested the couple lower their target. “Which is a really rare thing to do,” the professional fundraiser acknowledged.

Having volunteer fundraisers tap into their own personal networks requires persistence, commitment and a willingness to keep asking for support. “They were determined,” said Goyes. “I ended up being so impressed.”

Speaking to guests, Bohunicky joked that his recent retirement had allowed him to focus on becoming “a wedding planner and social media influencer,” a reference to the extensive awareness campaign he and Vaccarino undertook in support of the fundraiser. The top donor to the campaign was Stuart Parson, president and owner of Parson Refrigeration.

Bohunicky continues to volunteer weekly at The Ottawa Mission, serving lunch. Through that experience, he has seen the challenges people face and the importance of the services the organization provides. Vaccarino serves on its board of directors.

Recently retired senior political advisor and public servant Brian Bohunicky at the podium during the celebration of his marriage to Cara Vaccarino, seen listening. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Bohunicky spoke about holding two emotions at once: concern for the state of the world and gratitude for the good fortune that he and Vaccarino enjoy in their own lives. “The alarm and gratitude exist side by side, just like joy and sorrow often do in life. They exist side by side and often we find them woven together in the fabric of our lives.”

When the couple began discussing their wedding celebration, they decided it made sense to pair the occasion with something larger than themselves.

“You’ve come to celebrate our good fortune,” Bohunicky told guests. “And you’ve also joined us in supporting the Two Hearts, One Mission campaign.

“This party, then, is about the start of our married life together and the end of our fundraising campaign. Both things side by side.”

Peter Tilley, CEO of The Ottawa Mission, reminded guests that while municipal funding supports emergency services such as shelter beds, meals and frontline intervention, many of the programs that help people rebuild their lives depend on community support.

Ric Watson, better known in the community as “Chef Ric,” brought the impact of those donations to life. The Mission’s director of food services and founder of its Food Services Training Program knows firsthand the power of second chances. As a youth, he lived on the streets, abusing drugs and alcohol, before being given a job washing dishes at Queen’s University.

“I once in my life needed someone to give me a second chance. I would be dead by now for sure if someone hadn’t.”

A proud “Chef Ric” Watson on stage with Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley at a local wedding that raised $112,688 for the work the non-profit organization does to help people rebuild their lives. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brian shared a loving tribute to his new wife. He spoke about proposing to Cara on a park bench in Barcelona, and described her as a leader whose career has been devoted to helping people living with severe mental illness. A social worker and CEO, he said she embodies servant leadership.

“That means leadership is not about leaders. It’s about others,” he said. “She lives that every day.”

He praised her not only as a professional but also as a mother and as a woman who creates memorable occasions through her cooking and caring spirit.

After a decade on his own, Bohunicky reflected on how fortunate he felt to have found Vaccarino. “If you had told me 10 years ago that it would take that long to meet someone like Cara, I would have taken that deal in a heartbeat.”

He ended his remarks with a reference to the summer solstice, which is the exact instant the sun reaches its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year. The event was just hours away.

“The solstice has been happening for an expanse of time we can scarcely comprehend and it will continue into a vast, unknowable future. It’s timeless. This moment at which we are gathering right now is part of something timeless. Something forever.”

Then, turning from thoughts on time and eternity to something far more personal, he addressed his new wife.

“That describes my love for you.”

Brian Bohunicky and Cara Vaccarino shared a kiss that lasted much longer than the peck they shared in their promotional video for their successful Two Hearts, One Mission fundraising campaign for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Dr. Benoit Mulsant, interim chief of staff at The Royal, alongside Dr. Florence Dzierszinski, president and CEO of The Royal’s Research Institute, and The Royal’s senior medical officer and deputy chief of staff, Dr. Maiko Schneider, at the wedding ceremony of The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Community leader Shirley Westeinde on the dance floor during the celebration of Brian Bohunicky and Cara Vaccarino’s wedding, which raised $112,688 for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mark MacAulay, president and CEO at Ottawa Salus — a local charity that provides housing and support services to people living with serious mental illness — and his wife, Liz Costello, attended the wedding ceremony for The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, to Brian Bohunicky, held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The Ottawa Mission’s CEO, Peter Tilley, alongside its food service director, “Chef Ric” Watson, and Namrata Goyes, director of development at The Ottawa Mission, at the wedding ceremony for The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, and Brian Bohunicky, which raised six figures for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Lara Van Loon, seen with Katie Paris from the National Capital Commission, doesn’t just attend a party; she becomes part of the dance floor entertainment. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Nicholas Carkner, vice-principal at Sawmill Creek Elementary School, and his husband Chris Ide, president and CEO of the Foundation at The Royal, attended the wedding ceremony for The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, and Brian Bohunicky, held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brian Bohunicky and Cara Vaccarino react with smiles and laughter during their daughters’ tribute to them during their wedding celebration held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, community builder Shirley Westeinde, Elder Marques, partner at Blakes, and his wife, Teresa Marques, president and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation, attended the wedding ceremony for The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, to Brian Bohunicky, held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Jeff Walker, president and CEO of CAA North & East Ontario, with his longtime friend Brian Bohunicky, who tied the knot at the company’s Ottawa headquarters on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips 

The Royal’s executive director, Stephanie Carter, linked arms on the dance floor during the wedding celebration of The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino and Brian Bohunicky in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Joel Haslam and his partner, visual artist Leanne Cusack, both volunteers with The Ottawa Mission’s upcoming Blue Door Gala in support of The Ottawa Mission, attended Cara Vaccarino and Brian Bohunicky’s wedding, which raised $112,688 for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Darby Bohunicky on stage with her new sister, Izzy Vaccarino, seen speaking in the background at their parents’ wedding held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Andrea MacLean, director of communications and community engagement at The Royal, with her colleagues, executive director Stephanie Carter, Linda Mohri, senior vice-president of patient care services, and chief nursing executive Dom Ielo at the wedding of The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, which raised $112,688 for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brian Bohunicky jokingly gave his necktie a nervous tug as the officiant, Dave Kornelsen, chaplain at The Ottawa Mission, paused to ask if anyone wanted to voice their objections. Happily, none did. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, The Ottawa Mission’s CEO, Peter Tilley, with risk-management consultant Carmen Abela, who’s on the board of The Ottawa Mission and also serves as chair of The Royal’s foundation, with her husband, senior public servant Aaron McCrorie, at the wedding ceremony for The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Izzy Vaccarino on stage with her new sister, Darby Bohunicky, during the wedding ceremony of their parents held at CAA North & East Ontario’s corporate headquarters in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Soley Soucie, founder of The Treehouse Group of Companies, 19-year-old Devlin Taillon and his mom, consultant Peggy Taillon, at the wedding celebration of The Royal’s CEO, Cara Vaccarino, and Brian Bohunicky in support of The Ottawa Mission and held at the Ottawa headquarters of CAA North & East Ontario. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Some guests did double-takes at the sight of Cara Vaccarino’s identical twin sister, Lisa McWhinnie, who later took to the stage to deliver remarks. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Julie Cafley, vice president of Francophonie at the University of Ottawa, with Jacline Nyman, professor at uOttawa’s Telfer School of Management, were among the attendees of Cara Vaccarino and Brian Bohunicky’s wedding, which marked the successful completion of their Two Hearts, One Mission fundraising campaign for The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Entrepreneur Luc Bohunicky, who’s the nephew of Brian Bohunicky, flew in from West Palm Beach, Florida to attend his uncle’s wedding to Cara Vaccarino, held in support of The Ottawa Mission. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brian Bohunicky and Cara Vaccarino were married by Dave Kornelsen, chaplain at The Ottawa Mission, during a ceremony at the headquarters of CAA North & East Ontario that doubled as a fundraiser supporting The Ottawa Mission’s work helping people rebuild their lives. 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.

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