From left, Liza Mrak, executive vice president of Mark Motors Group — presenting sponsor for BGC Ottawa's Western Winds Glamping Gala — her husband, former BGC Ottawa board member Gary Zed, and Pina Sicard and her husband, business leader and Senators Community Foundation board member John Sicard. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Rain or shine, supporters show up, raise $620K-plus for BGC Ottawa at Western Winds Glamping Gala
Even as the rain clouds rolled in, the Western Winds Glamping Gala didn’t flinch. It simply tightened the reins and rode it out, cowboy-style.
Despite the dampness, more than 500 business and community leaders answered the call Thursday to support BGC Ottawa (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa). No fair-weather cowpokes here.
Through sponsorship, ticket sales and donations, the gala raised $620K (and counting) for a non-profit that supports thousands of kids and teens each year through after-school programs in education, recreation, creative arts and leadership.
“It hasn’t rained all summer, and now we get a full summer’s worth in just one day,” said BGC Ottawa’s CEO, Adam Joiner, looking decidedly Johnny Cash-ish in his all-black cowboy attire. “It is what it is.”
Or, as a cowboy might drawl: Ain’t nothin’ we can do ’bout it.
At least the rain made donning a cowboy hat an easy call. It’s not like anyone’s hair was going to survive the weather anyway, joked strategic communications expert Catherine Clark, a guest of Syntax Strategic.
Drew McMillan, president of Ages Group of Companies, and his wife, Stacey McMillan, senior manager with KPMG Canada, were protected against the wetness at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Michelle Taggart, vice president of planning and land development at Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes, along with two of her fellow Western Winds Glamping Gala committee members, Christopher Schlesak, president and co-owner of North & Navy and Cantina Gia restaurants, and Sarah Grand, sales representative at Engel & Völkers. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, leadership coach Maureen Cunningham, BGC Ottawa emeritus director Stephen Beckta (owner of the Beckta, Play and Gezellig restaurants), Altis Recruitment co-founder and owner Kathryn Tremblay, Syntax Strategic founder/CEO and BGC Ottawa board member Jennifer Stewart and her co-founder of The Honest Talk, Catherine Clark, keeping dry at the Western Winds Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Monica Singhal, left, and her sister Angela Singhal, both executive vice presidents at Richcraft Homes, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held on the Great Lawn outside of the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
BGC Ottawa CEO Adam Joiner and his chief advancement officer Sylvie Madely at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Organizers, who began setting up two days in advance, saw the soggy forecast coming and quickly tweaked the venue layout to keep everyone dry beneath the multiple giant party tents.
The gala — regarded as one of the must-attend charity galas of the summer — took place on the Great Lawn located outside the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse, at 1463 Prince of Wales Dr.
“We have a ton of umbrellas and ponchos for people, and just hope that people enjoy the rain, anyway,” Amanda Ruddy, founder of Amanda Julia Events, told CiTC as attendees began arriving.
The grounds resembled a prairie paradise, decorated with hay bales, stagecoach wheels, live country music and a backdrop wall covered in cowboy hats. Top sponsors had their own fully furnished glamping-style areas to host guests. Many attendees dressed for the occasion in hats, boots, denim and neckerchiefs.
Jacqui Wilson, creator of EatFreshGlow.com, and her husband, former BGC Ottawa board member Michael Wilson, co-CEO of 1251 Capital Group, are long-time supporters of the non-profit organization and the work it does to support thousands of kids and teens each year through after-school programs in education, recreation, creative arts and leadership. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Whitney Fox, Bibi Alfredsson and former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, now assistant hockey coach for the Ottawa Senators, supported The Big Ask for pledges at BGC Ottawa’s Western Winds Glamping Gala held on the Great Lawn outside the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Simran Kochar, business development and flooring division manager at Stone Design Concepts, and her husband, Rahul Kochar, vice president of operations at DCR/Phoenix Group of Companies, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, KOTT Inc. co-owners and siblings Ryan Kruyne and Melissa Kruyne, and Melissa’s spouse, Kyle MacHutchon, owner of Inverness Homes, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
BGC Ottawa donors Birgitte Alting Mees and her husband, Franklin Holtforster, founder of Colliers Project Leaders, were attending the Western Winds Glamping Gala for the first time. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Virtual CFO Mark Murray and his wife, Laurel Murray, also a CPA, with Lisa Johnson and Howie Silver, president of The Silver Group, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This year’s gala committee included Aires Almeida, Sarah Grand, Shannon Holbrook, Dr. Sam Hetz, Marcie Murray, Jamie Petten, Monica Singhal, Christopher Schlesak, Jeffrey Smith and BGC Ottawa board member Michelle Taggart. Holbrook and Petten — interior designers, business partners and sisters — are second-generation BGC Ottawa volunteers. Their father, retired deputy police chief Ed Keeley, formerly served on the board.
Schlesak, president and co-owner of North & Navy and Cantina Gia restaurants, was in charge of the hospitality partners, which consisted of: Beckta Dining & Wine, Coconut Lagoon, Gitanes, Catering by Jabberwocky, La Bottega Nicastro, Maverick’s Donut Company, My Catering Group, North & Navy, The Thirst Responder, and Town.
From left, Jon Petten, Jamie Petten, Shannon Holbrook, Tyler Holbrook, Anne Keeley and former BGC Ottawa board member and retired deputy police chief Ed Keeley at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd was rounded up with a chorus of “yee-haws” to get everyone’s attention and learn more about the cause. They heard from Delaila Salem, who joined BGC Ottawa in Grade 9. Now fresh out of Canterbury High School and headed to Carleton University for Childhood and Youth Studies, Salem credited the club’s Leaders 4 Life and competitive basketball programs for shaping her into the leader she is today.
“It’s been a total blast,” she said. “I love this organization so much.”
She even teased Adam Joiner about her career ambition to one day become CEO of BGC Ottawa, followed by some playful reassurance: “It’s all love, it’s all love”.
Continued Salem: “Really, honestly, one day I would love to give back to this community the way that BGC has given to me … It’s such an amazing organization.”
BGC Ottawa alum Delaila Salem on stage with Medin Admasu, chief programs officer at BGC Ottawa, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held Thursday, August 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The audience was then asked to take part in The Big Ask, a fundraising appeal that raised $130,000 to help address the issue of food insecurity for BGC Ottawa members. “For a lot of our kids, it’s the only meal they get that day,” Salem explained, recalling how her own long bus commute from her high school, off Walkley Road, to the Ron Kolbus Clubhouse, near Bayshore, often left her hungry and fatigued.
“Whenever I would get to the BGC, and I’d be able to have a snack after such a long day, it would help me to … keep going, to be part of conversations, and even run during basketball practice.”
Many guests raised their hands and pledged $5,000, earning them a special cowboy hat in return.
Afterward, there was no need to lasso the crowd onto the dance floor. Attendees practically stampeded there the moment the music started.
Attendees of the Western Winds Glamping Gala seen line dancing in the main tent. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, First Avenue Investment Counsel’s Jason Hunt (portfolio manager), Leah Boyd (president), Elliott Bourgeois (senior manager, private client group), seen with Sherry-Lee Massie and her husband, Richard Massie, CEO at Halpenny Insurance, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Aydin Mirzaee, CEO at Fellow.ai, and Dan Goldberg, president and CEO of Telesat, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held Thursday, August 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
BGC Ottawa board members Jennifer Stewart and Michelle Taggart on the dance floor during the Western Winds Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ed Herweyer, partner at Annis O’Sullivan Vollebekk (AOV Surveying), hanging out at the Western Winds Glamping Gala with Bruce Raganold, director of business development at Welch LLP, and his wife, Giselle Bergeron-Raganold. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From let, BGC Ottawa chief advancement officer Sylvie Madely, and volunteer committee members Michelle Taggart and Jeffrey Smith react to remarks made by a BGC Ottawa alum, Delaila Salem, during the Western Wind Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Jeffrey Smith, Jamie Petten, Shannon Holbrook, Marcie Murray, Sarah Grand, Michelle Taggart, Aires Almeida and chief advancement officer Sylvie Madely at the Western Winds Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
David Gilbert, president at Paterson Group, and his wife, Erin, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Steve Parkes (vice president of construction for Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes), Jeff Parkes (president at Taggart Realty Management), Simon Taggart (vice president at Taggart Construction) and Scott Parkes (president at Tamarack Developments and Tartan Homes) at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Business leader John Sicard and his wife, Pina, did not disappoint in their choice of attire for the Western Winds Glamping Gala, held Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Top sponsors had their own furnished glamping tents to host friends and/or clients at the Western Winds Glamping Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Kathryn Tremblay, co-founder and owner of Altis Recruitment, and Melissa Reeves, COO at Linebox Studio, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Michael Mrak, president of Mark Motors Group, and Aik Aliferis, senior managing director of Institutional Property Advisors (a division of Marcus & Millichap), and his partner Samar Saab at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Yasser Ghazi, vice president of commercial financial services at RBC, with colleagues Mike Hons, relationship manager at RBC, and Jake Malette, vice president at RBCx, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public consultations at Ottawa International Airport, Jennifer Cross, director of regional development at Chandos Construction, Tim Hortons franchise owner Lesley Holmes and executive coach/advisor Shannon Lambert at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Alison Telford, operations manager at Daybreak Non-Profit Housing, and BGC Ottawa board chair Robyn Osgood, CEO at McMillan Vantage, at the Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The Western Winds Glamping Gala in support of BGC Ottawa saw guests don cowboy hats, boots, denim and gingham. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The dance floor was packed at the Western Winds Glamping Gala held in support of BGC Ottawa. 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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