Elmwood’s “Reach for the Stars” Gala was like a homecoming of the heart for Dr. Véronique French Merkley as the physician took to the stage Saturday night to welcome a room full of guests to the school’s signature fundraising gala.

Dr. French Merkley shared her earliest memory of the gala, when she was a Grade 7 student at the all-girls private school, located in Rockcliffe Park. She recalled watching her mom in action — dressed in jeans, her hair all done up — helping to organize everything before “rushing home to get her dress on for the event”.

Fast forward to today, and Dr. French Merkley is not only an Elmwood alumna but also the chair of its board of governors. “So, this is really a fun full-circle [moment] for me,” said the Bruyère Health physician. “This night is really where we see the magic happen, when a team of caring individuals comes together.”

Dr. Véronique French Merkley, chair of the board of governors at Elmwood School, and her husband, Ben Merkley, president at Dustbane Products Ltd., at the Elmwood Gala held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the all-girls private school in Rockcliffe Park. Photo by Caroline Phillips

She gratefully acknowledged the dedication of the gala committee, led by volunteer chair Simran Kochar, for creating a spectacular event that left everyone wowed. “I’ve heard the word ‘stunning’ over and over again since I arrived tonight,” said Dr. French Merkley.

She also stressed the significance of the evening in funding key school projects that rely on support from the Elmwood community. In past years, the gala has helped to fund a new art space, redesigned science labs, a reimagined library and new play structure.

This year’s funds will focus on the school’s athletics department and contribute to the rejuvenation of the sports field. “This is the major fundraising event of the year,” said Dr. French Merkley, speaking to the impact the evening has on strengthening the school environment.

By the end of the evening, the gala had raised $210,000, surpassing its fundraising goal.

Joining Kochar on the organizing committee were Rocio Darevic, Shella Mithani, Nooren Thawer, Amira Drake, Nimroz Thawer, Pragash Krishnamoorthy and Clara Nehme.

The Elmwood Gala committee, from left, Rocio Darevic, Shella Mithani, Nooren Thawer, Simran Kochar (Chair), Amira Drake, Nimroz Thawer, Pragash Krishnamoorthy and Clara Nehme, spent months planning and organizing the school’s “Reach for the Stars” fundraising gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The group worked with Nancy Tremblay, owner and founder of WEDECOR, to create an Art Deco-inspired evening in rich blue and gold tones. It was “a lot of work but a lot of fun,” said Kochar, a business development expert who drew on her early experience in the restaurant industry. Her entrepreneurial father, Raj Narula, used to co-own Haveli Indian Restaurant. It was involved with the Maharaja’s Ball held in the 2000s.

Elmwood School head James Whitehouse patiently waited for the crowd of 220 to fall silent before officially welcoming guests to the gala. “I still hear a bit of chitchattering,” he said with a smile, gently encouraging the crowd to give him its full attention.

The transformed gymnasium was full of former students, diplomats, business sponsors, table hosts and their friends. The gala’s honorary patron is Jamilah Taib Murray.

“About 48 hours ago this room was filled with kids,” began Whitehouse, before expressing his great pride in the girls at Elmwood. “I feel so fortunate to be the person at this time to lead this school and the people in the school.”

There are 385 students at the school, from Pre-K to Grade 12.

Elmwood School head James Whitehouse welcomed attendees to the Elmwood Gala, held in the school gymnasium of the all-girls private school, located in Rockcliffe Park. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees included alumna Catherine Clark, president of Catherine Clark Communications, and her mother, Maureen McTeer, a lawyer, rights activist, and author. McTeer has been volunteering as a mentor to a Grade 11 student at Elmwood — a connection that developed out of The Women’s Talk Summit, a one-day event held in October, co-hosted by Clark and her The Honest Talk co-founder, Jennifer Stewart. Elmwood School is one of the many sponsors of the summit.

Business supporters also included Jacquie LaRocque, CEO of the government relations and public affairs firm Compass Rose. She was joined at her table by newly re-elected Ottawa–Vanier Liberal MP Mona Fortier. Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties also hosted a table, represented by founder and CEO Marilyn Wilson and her daughter, broker of record Reba Wilson, a former Elmwood student who now sits on the school’s board of governors.

Other members of the board attending the event included David Wu, co-founder and chief growth officer at Altea Active; Dentons law partner Andrea Johnson; entrepreneur and angel investor Simon Nehme; and Richcraft Homes executive vice president and school alumna Monica Singhal, whose eldest daughter is graduating next month from Elmwood. “She had an incredible experience,” said Singhal, who’s a little sad to see her daughter’s time at Elmwood come to an end.

Other community leaders included Ainsley Malhotra, past board chair of the CHEO Foundation, and energetic entrepreneur Ginger Bertrand. Along with co-founding Neue Theory, a plant-based supplement targeting gut health, Bertrand has been busy helping to lead The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s $500-million Campaign to Create Tomorrow as one of its co-chairs.

The live auction was led by her father, Michel “HOSS” Bertrand. It featured experiential packages, as well as items donated by Jacobsons gourmet food shop, Howard Fine Jewellers and Med Supper Club.

A stay at Grand Isle Resort & Spa in Exuma, The Bahamas was donated to the auction by WCPD Foundation’s Peter Nicholson and his wife Anabel Bane, two nights after they generously donated the same experience to another charity gala, where it sold twice to the two highest bidders.

Lawyer, rights activist and author Maureen McTeer and her daughter Catherine Clark, president of Catherine Clark Communications and co-founder of The Honest Talk, attended the Elmwood School Gala held Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Kelly Hutchinson, lead public affairs counsellor at Compass Rose, Liberal Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier, and Jacquie LaRocque, CEO and principal at Compass Rose, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

David Wu, co-founder and chief growth officer at Altea Active, and his wife, Debra Wu, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Elmwood School head James Whitehouse on stage with the chair of the school’s board of governors, Dr. Véronique French Merkley, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties founder and CEO Marilyn Wilson and her daughter, broker of record Reba Wilson, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa businesswomen Ginger Bertrand, co-founder of Neue Theory, and Stephanie Appotive, co-owner of Howard Fine Jewellers, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Hussein Valji, president and owner of H&N Hospitality, and his wife, Nadia Valji, territory manager with Align Technology, with gala committee volunteer Shella Mithani and her husband, Rahim Pirani, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Andrea Little, who’s on the board of governors at Elmwood School, with her husband, David Little — both law partners at Dentons, at the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Elmwood School alum gather for a group photo just outside the school, located in Rockcliffe Park. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ken Jennings, CEO of Jennings Real Estate, Star Motors of Ottawa Mercedes-Benz owner Jeff Mierins, and restaurateur Peter Boole (Social, Sidedoor, e18hteen, The Clarendon) at Elmwood School’s “Reach for the Stars” signature fundraising gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Peter Nicholson and Anabel Bane from WCPD Foundation donated a stay at their Grand Isle Resort & Spa in Exuma, The Bahamas to the Elmwood School’s signature gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Michelle Taggart, Allison Capello, Ainsley Malhotra, Megan McCarthy, Monica Singhal (executive vice president of sponsor Richcraft Homes) and Emily Jamieson were among the 220 attendees of the Elmwood Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

American actor and screenwriter John Allen Nelson and his wife, Elmwood School alumna Justine Eyre-Nelson, at the school’s Reach for the Stars-themed gala held Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Whitney Fox and her husband, Telesat president and CEO Dan Goldberg, at the Elmwood School’s “Reach for the Stars” fundraising gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation board member Denise Carruthers and her husband Dan Carruthers, CEO of Raven Connected, seated at their dinner table for Elmwood School’s Reach for the Stars gala, held at the all-girls private school on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Elmwood School head James Whitehouse and his wife, Nicola Whitehouse, vice principal at St. Peter High School, at Elmwood School’s “Reach for the Stars” fundraising gala, held Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Jessica Montanaro, Sylvie Bourgeois, Stacey Kay, Australian High Commissioner Kate Logan, Denise Carruthers, Whitney Fox, Clara Nehme at Elmwood School’s “Reach for the Stars” Gala held Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ken Jennings, CEO of Jennings Group of Companies, and his wife, Jessica Ramien, at Elmwood School’s Reach for the Stars-themed gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Véronique French Merkley, chair of the board of governors at Elmwood School, welcomed 220 attendees to this year’s “Reach for the Stars” signature fundraiser for the school. Photo by Caroline Phillips

David Adderley, managing partner of Celtic House Venture Partners, and his wife, Wendi Cibula, at the “Reach for the Stars” fundraising gala for Elmwood School, held at the all-girls private school in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Elmwood School alum Elmira Imbeault and her husband, Heartee Foods co-founder, investor and advisor Rob Imbeault, at the Elmwood School gala held in Rockcliffe Park. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Andrea Thomson, director of  development and alumni relations at Elmwood School, with James Whitehouse, head of Elmwood School, at the Reach for the Stars-themed gala held Saturday, May 8, 2025 in the school’s gymnasium. 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 and RBC.

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