Cemetery dinner? Trust us, it works: BIA's Partage Beechwood raises $80K-plus for Vanier food bank

Gina Marquez performed at the Moroccan-themed Partage Beechwood, held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 in support of the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Cemetery dinner? Trust us, it works: BIA’s Partage Beechwood raises $80K-plus for Vanier food bank

Published On: August 20, 2026By Caroline Phillips

There are probably easier places to throw a dinner party than a cemetery.

Then again, they probably wouldn’t be nearly as memorable.

The eighth annual Partage Beechwood, presented by Mark Motors Porsche, brought guests back to Beechwood Cemetery for one of Ottawa’s more unusual — and beautiful — long-table dinners, raising money for the Partage Vanier Food Bank while celebrating the neighbourhood and the people who help look after its most vulnerable residents.

The event far exceeded its fundraising goal, raising more than $80,000 for one of the most-used food banks in the province.

There was a Moroccan-inspired dinner prepared by Ottawa chef and Vanier resident David Godsoe, founder of DG Cuisine, and his crew. There was belly dancing. And there was a table that seemed to stretch forever, exquisitely styled by Carole Saad of Chic + Swell Event Designers and LouLou Lounge Furniture Rentals, along with her team.

Saad, one of the event’s sponsors, describes Partage Beechwood as one of her favourite events, even though it means a long day of hard work setting up and, often, a battle with the weather. “There’s no other event like this,” said Saad, who had fun bringing the Arabian Nights theme to life with glowing lanterns, rich colours and ornate touches.

A sold-out crowd of 200 dined in Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 as part of Partage Beechwood, an annual fundraiser for Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

And you think your job is stressful: David Godsoe, founder of DG Cuisine, somehow pulled off the fundraising dinner at Beechwood Cemetery while also overseeing culinary operations for major events at HISTORY Ottawa the night before and the night after. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Some 200 attendees gathered around one very long dinner table at Beechwood Cemetery during Partage Beechwood, the annual fundraiser for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Carole Saad, head of Chic + Swell Event Designers and of LouLou Lounge Furniture Rentals — both sponsors of Partage Beechwood — with her fiancé, François Bordeleau, at the fundraising dinner for the Partage Vanier Food Bank, held at Beechwood Cemetery in Vanier. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Nathalie Carrier, executive director of Vanier BIA, with Andrée-Anne Martel, executive director of the Vanier Community Services Centre, at the outdoor dining fundraiser held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

And after Ottawa’s wettest month on record, there was, naturally, more rain. But, as they say, this too shall pass. It did, leaving behind a double rainbow.

It’s become a tradition for guests to make their way from the cocktail reception to the outdoor dining area in a musician-led procession, but this year the performers had to bow out. Luckily, there were a few seasoned singers in the crowd: Melanie Brulée, Tara Shannon and Sam Stone, who fittingly struck up the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun as attendees joined in with percussion instruments.

Sam Stone (in green), Tara Shannon (in pink) and Melanie Brulée (holding umbrella) — all of whom are talented singers — led the way to the dining area at Beechwood Cemetery while singing Here Comes the Sun following a sudden downpour of rain. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Liza Mrak, executive vice president of Mark Motors Group of Ottawa, and her brother, Michael Mrak, dealer principal of the luxury auto dealership, were back as presenting sponsors of Partage Beechwood, an outdoor dining event held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Some 200 attendees dined al fresco at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 to raise more than $80,000 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, Jodie Janoska, social media manager with Eighteen Hospitality Group; Joyce Tannis, board member with the Vanier BIA; and Henrietta Southam, owner of full-service design firm Henrietta Southam Design, at the Partage Beechwood dinner held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of the Vanier food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Gina Marquez performed at the Moroccan-themed Partage Beechwood, held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 in support of Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Annabelle Cloutier, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, and Mona Fortier, MP of Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, 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, event and entertainment professional Erin Coyle, Ottawa Music Industry Coalition executive director Melanie Brulée, Vanier BIA executive director Nathalie Carrier, Ottawa Board of Trade executive vice president Erin Benjamin, Tim Hortons Dragon Boat Festival CEO John Brooman and Ottawa Festival Network executive director Tara Shannon at Partage Beechwood. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The crowd dined among the headstones of some of our most notable citizens at the National Cemetery of Canada, from former prime minister Sir Robert Borden, governor general Ray Hnatyshyn and Gen. Andrew McNaughton to more local civic leaders, such as Ottawa MP Mauril Bélanger and lawyer Marc Jolicœur, who never forgot where he came from: Vanier.

It was a setting that Jacqueline Belsito, president of the Senators Community Foundation, found more comforting than strange. “I think it’s lovely and I think it’s peaceful,” Belsito, a first-time attendee, told CiTC. “We’re surrounded by other beautiful souls.”

Added table mate Lesley Pincombe, president and CEO of Rogers Centre Ottawa: “And a lot of city builders who would have supported something like this.”

Also there for her first time was Tahera Mufti, director of communications for Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “People have told me about this event for years and how beautiful it was, saying, ‘You’ve got to go.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, whatever; these events are all the same.’”

She admitted last night that she’d been totally wrong. “It surpassed all my expectations.”

From left, Lesley Pincombe, president and CEO of Rogers Centre Ottawa, Senators Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito, Tahera Mufti, director of communications for Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and Jennifer Cameron, director of events and fundraising for the Senators Community Foundation, at the Partage Beechwood dinner held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of the Vanier food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

John Robinson, CEO of Intega IT, and Nik Lemieux, owner of Mirabel Management, didn’t let a little rain dampen the mood during the cocktail reception at Partage Beechwood, held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Guests gathered around a seemingly endless dinner table at Beechwood Cemetery as part of Partage Beechwood, the annual fundraiser for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard, still smiling despite getting drenched by the rain, enjoyed the evening with her daughter, professional actor Stéphanie Bernier Collard, at Partage Beechwood, held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Bruce Linton and his wife Heather Linton, who support many local causes throughout the city, with percussion instruments as the crowd made its way to the outdoor dining area at Beechwood Cemetery for an annual fundraiser for Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Award-winning playwright and poet Jean-Marc Dalpé was among a large group of attendees hosted by Mensour Foundation’s Catherine Mensour at an outdoor dinner raising money for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Natasha Commanda helped to welcome guests to Partage Beechwood, a fundraising dinner for the Vanier food bank held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Some 200 attendees dined at Beechwood Cemetery during Partage Beechwood, the annual fundraiser for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Annabelle Cloutier, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, and her husband, Sébastien Carrière, Chief of Protocol of Canada, at Beechwood Cemetery for an outdoor dinner held in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Gina Marquez performed at the Moroccan-themed Partage Beechwood, held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 in support of Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Annie Ste-Croix, CTV News Ottawa community and weather anchor Jackie Perez and Vanier BIA executive director Nathalie Carrier at the Moroccan-themed Partage Beechwood, an outdoor dinner held in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ann Rickenbacker and Rogers Centre Ottawa president and CEO Lesley Pincombe, who — as a nearby resident of the area — arrived to the Partage Beechwood fundraiser by scooter. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Natasha Commanda, founder of FN Clean Water and strategist and partnerships coordinator at Emdash Agency, sat alongside Linda Grussani, who also has Algonquin Kitigan Zibi and just completed her PhD at Queen’s University, at Beechwood Cemetery for an outdoor dinner held in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Yasser Ghazi, vice president of commercial financial services at RBC, and his colleague, commercial account manager Marlene Johnson, were out supporting the Partage Vanier Food Bank at the outdoor fundraising dinner held at Beechwood Cemetery. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jo-Anne Saikaley Sparkes arrived at Partage Beechwood dressed perfectly for the Moroccan theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips

For all its beauty, the evening is really about neighbours being there for neighbours. “Tonight we gather as a community, one big family, to celebrate those who dedicate their work and lives to helping the most vulnerable,” said Vanier BIA executive director Nathalie Carrier, who’s the driving force behind Partage Beechwood.

The French word “partage” means sharing, pointed out Liza Mrak of family-owned Mark Motors Group. “We get to share a meal, we get to share each other’s company, all to put support where we really need it, which is toward the food crisis that we’re facing today.”

Guests were also welcomed by local entrepreneur Natasha Commanda, as a representative of the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi, and Andrée-Anne Martel, executive director of the Vanier Community Services Centre, which operates the Partage Vanier Food Bank.

From left, Liz Heaney, Jean Desjardins, Deborah Hawken, Christine Irvine and Joe Irvine were out supporting the Partage Vanier Food Bank together at Partage Beechwood, an annual outdoor dining fundraiser held at Beechwood Cemetery. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Natalie Belovic and Susan Jacobson, founder of Jacobsons, the gourmet food shop on Beechwood Avenue specializing in artisanal products, at the outdoor fundraising dinner held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Local politicians in attendance included MP Mona Fortier, MPP Lucille Collard and Ottawa city councillors Rawlson King and Stéphanie Plante. Also attending were Annabelle Cloutier, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, and Franco-Ontarian playwright and poet Jean-Marc Dalpé, a three-time Governor General’s Award recipient, hosted by retired talent agent Catherine Mensour, who now heads up her own foundation to support artists.

The dinner took place during what can accurately be described as a ridiculously busy week for Godsoe, who is also leading culinary operations for Ottawa Venues, handling the food and concessions at the new HISTORY Ottawa live music venue in the ByWard Market.

Partage landed right between HISTORY’s soft opening and its first major show. “These few days have been absolutely crazy,” said Godsoe, whose team was working at the cemetery from a makeshift outdoor kitchen powered by a generator.

Other first-timers included Nik Lemieux, owner of Mirabel Management, and John Robinson, CEO of Intega IT. They first heard about Partage last June at Taste for Hope, a local fundraiser that addresses homelessness, when a flyer caught their eye and they figured they’d give it a try.

“And here we are,” they both said. “We actually followed through.”

And they’re so glad they did. Lemieux, who helps to plan fundraisers on a voluntary basis, described Partage as one of the best-run and most original events she’d attended.

“We’ll definitely be back,” she said.

Ottawa restaurateur Peter Boole of the Eighteen Hospitality Group and his partner, Henrietta Southam, at Beechwood Cemetery for the Moroccan-themed Partage Beechwood outdoor dinner held in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Some 200 attendees gathered around one very long dinner table at Beechwood Cemetery during Partage Beechwood, the annual fundraiser for the Partage Vanier Food Bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Engel & Völkers realtors Frank O’Dea and Nancy O’Dea, John Gomes and managing broker John King at Partage Beechwood, an annual fundraiser held at Beechwood Cemetery in support of Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees headed to the outdoor dining area, where they enjoyed a Moroccan meal as part of Partage Beechwood, an annual outdoor dining fundraiser for Vanier’s food bank. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Emily Edmunds, director of development at event sponsor main + main, and Dan Racicot at the cocktail reception portion of Partage Beechwood, an annual outdoor dining fundraiser for Vanier’s food bank, held at Beechwood Cemetery. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The double rainbow at the Partage Beechwood fundraiser was a pretty nice reward for getting wet during the tail end of the cocktail reception. 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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