From left, John Bassi, his sister-in-law Nadia Bassi, and Mike Dagenais at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala held at Sala San Marco on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
That’s amore: friends, family raise $356K in memory of Lino Bassi for University of Ottawa Heart Institute
In a show of love that would have meant the world to him, the community gathered Friday to honour the memory of the late Lino Bassi, a local businessman and devoted family man, while supporting the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Lino’s friends and family hope that the $356,000 raised that night will help prevent future heart-related deaths such as the one that tragically took his life on Jan. 24, 2025. They say the “Lino effect” is already at work, inspiring people who sense something wrong with their heart to think of him and seek medical attention.
While there were certainly moments that tugged at heartstrings or brought a discreet tear to the eye, the evening was really about remembering Lino by celebrating the remarkable life he lived and the lasting impact he had on everyone around him.
The gala, held at the Sala San Marco Event Centre, was organized by Lino’s widow, Nadia Bassi, and his business partner, Mike Dagenais of gold sponsor BGC Construction & Restoration. Also involved in the planning was Ottawa chef and caterer Ozzie Osman (Chef Oz).
“Lino was a man who loved gatherings, who loved bringing people together,” Nadia told CiTC during the cocktail reception. “He would be so happy that we did this in his memory. He really would.”
Attendees, upon arriving at the Lino Bassi Gala, passed a tribute display in honour of Lino Bassi near the front entrance of Sala San Marco Event Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Nadia Bassi and her three daughters (from left), Mila, 18, Martina, 23, and Arianna, 26, at an inaugural gala held in memory of Lino Bassi at the Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The turnout spoke for itself: the dinner quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town, selling out within two weeks.
Richard Valente, restaurant owner of Fratelli Kanata, was among the attendees who flew back from Florida to be there. “There’s no way I’m missing this,” were his exact words. He’s forever grateful to the Bassi family for supporting him after he lost his brother, Roberto, 46, in 2015.
First-time emcee John Bucciarelli openly admitted he was nervous about accepting the speaking role, worried he might fall short or become too emotional. Still, the honour of being asked by the family inspired him to embrace his duties with pride.
He described Lino as a genuinely caring person with a gift for making everyone who knew him feel valued and part of his family. “He invested so much of himself in everyone,” said Bucciarelli. He called it “a heartbreaking irony” that Lino’s heart — so full of love, generosity and joy — would ultimately fail him.
Attendees included Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. From the University of Ottawa Heart Institute were its board chair, Dalton McGuinty; president and CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands; Dr. Marc Ruel, endowed chair and director of minimally invasive cardiac research and surgery; and Dr. Katey Rayner, chief scientific officer and vice president of research at the UOHI. Representing the UOHI Foundation were board chair James Annis, senior portfolio manager and investment advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns, and foundation president Lianne Laing, with members of her foundation team.
Maureen Flanigan of ML DEVCO generously sponsored a table for a group of Heart Institute nurses to attend the gala.
Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death. The Heart Institute has launched a “One Million Canadian Hearts” campaign to screen more people for signs of heart disease.
“If Lino’s story inspires even one person in this room to get checked, to take heart health seriously or to encourage a friend or colleague to do the same, then his legacy becomes a force for saving lives,” said Laing, whose father also died prematurely from a heart attack years ago.
From left, University of Ottawa Heart Institute board chair Dalton McGuinty, UOHI Foundation president Lianne Laing, UOHI president and CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands, UOHI chief scientific officer Katey Rayner, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, cardiac surgeon and researcher Dr. Marc Ruel, and James Annis, board chair of the UOHI Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
All eyes were on prominent real estate developer John Bassi from gold sponsor JBPA Developments as he led the room in a touching toast that remembered his younger brother as having “a way of always being there for you. Though he’s no longer with us in the way we wish he were, his laughter, his kindness and the lessons he left behind remain very much alive in us.”
Said John, his voice cracking: “We carry him forward in the stories we tell, the love we share and the way we choose to live. Tonight, we remember him, not only with sorrow, but with gratitude for the time we had and for the bond that will never fade.”
The sound of hundreds of drinking glasses clinking together echoed through the banquet room.
John Bassi made a toast to his late brother, Lino Bassi, at the inaugural gala organized in memory of Lino and in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Lino’s outgoing personality was brought to life in an eight-minute video. It was produced for the UOHI Foundation by veteran storyteller Joel Haslam. It featured photos, family video clips and interviews with Nadia, whom Lino first met when they were teenagers, and their daughters, Mila, Martina and Arianna. The family spoke about the devastating day Lino passed away. They expressed their gratitude for the support received over the past year. They also encouraged the audience to enjoy life and to wake up each morning feeling grateful for the gift of a new day.
Attendees dined on a four-course meal (the heart-shaped ravioli in the starter pasta dish was a nice touch). After dinner, financial advisor John Saikaley led the live auction, which sparked multiple bidding wars. Many packages sold not just at but well above their retail value, and multiple times.
Splash Pools gave away two luxury hot tubs, with one of the top bidders being Ottawa neurosurgeon Dr. Adam Sachs. There were also gift cards from Howard Fine Jewellers that sold way over retail value.
A private dinner for 20 donated by gold sponsor Chef Oz sold three times, at $8,000 each to Joey Frangione (Preston Hardware), Aik Aliferis (Institutional Property Advisors/Marcus and Millichap) and John Bassi.
The biggest-ticket item was an escape for 12 to an Italian villa in Salerno, not far from the Amalfi Coast. Tamara and George Georgostathis (Access Capital Equipment) and Tektam Integrations business partners Joel Richer and Francois Sicotte were in competition to win, and they both did at $18,000 apiece. The villa holiday was donated by Carmelina Arecchi of Angelina restaurant in Manotick, and her husband Dom.
The final highlight of the night was when Nadia Bassi, Mike Dagenais and John Bassi flipped over the giant cheque, revealing how much the crowd had raised together. The room erupted in cheers and applause. “That’s unbelievable,” said Bucciarelli, who saved his final words in memory of Lino: “Our brother, we love you, we miss you, and we carry your heart with us always.”
Nadia Bassi, seen greeting new arrivals to the inaugural gala that she and Mike Dagenais organized to raise funds and awareness for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in memory of her late husband, Lino Bassi, who died a year ago of a heart attack. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Camille Beaulé with Tommy Sachs, his sister Hannah Sachs, and their parents, Michelle Sachs and Richard Sachs (gold sponsor Urbandale Construction) at the Lino Bassi Gala held at the Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Lino Bassi Gala organizers Mike Dagenais (BGC Construction & Restoration), and Nadia Bassi, assisted by Lino’s brother John Bassi (JBPA Developments) reveal the remarkable amount raised at the inaugural event for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Joey Frangione (Preston Hardware) was one three highest bidders on a private dinner for 20 donated by Chef Oz to the Lino Bassi Gala, held at Sala San Marco. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Nick Giorgio and his wife Antonella Giorgio and Cathy Giorgio and Dino Giorgio (Byron Rental Properties) at the Lino Bassi Gala at Sala San Marco. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Rick Iafelice (Main + Main), former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, board chair of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, in conversation during dinner at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala in support of the Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Nadia Bassi with John Bucciarelli, who emceed the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala, held at the Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Jim Georgaras and Ellie Dellis, seated with gold sponsor HN Homes, attended the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala, held at the Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Heart Institute cardiac surgeon and researcher Dr. Marc Ruel, Sala San Marco Event Centre owner Tony Zacconi and Ottawa chef and caterer Ozzie Osman (Chef Oz) at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala held at the Sala San Marco on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation president Lianne Laing spoke about the ripple effect that the late Lino Bassi had in the community at a sold-out gala held in his memory and in support of the Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Chris Pierce (Les Suites Hotel Ottawa) and Geneviève Dumas (Fairmont Château Laurier) were guests of Catherine McLaughlin and her husband Terry McLaughlin, president of gold sponsor Terlin Construction, at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation director of major gifts Jessica Roback, at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala alongside Ron Vered (Arnon Corporation) and Lindsay Firestone, vice president of corporate engagement and events
The Heart Institute’s Dr. Marc Ruel, centre, was eager to be photographed at the Lino Bassi Gala with this group of University of Ottawa Heart Institute nurses, whose table was generously sponsored. Joining them that night was Matt Harris of the UOHI Foundation, standing at left. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Charles Mirsky (gold sponsor District Realty), Sam Chowieri (Katasa Group) and home realtor Luigi Aiello at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala at Sala San Marco on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
John Saikaley (Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network) served as the live auctioneer, selling donated packages not just at, but often well above, their retail value, and sometimes multiple times. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Dr. Mario Bassi with his parents, John Bassi (JBPA Developments) and Maria Bassi, and his brother Anthony Bassi, director of business development at JBPA Developments, at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala at the Sala San Marco Banquet Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Joel Richer and his business partner Francois Sicotte (not seen), from gold sponsor Tektam Integrations, were one of two highest bidders at the Lino Bassi Gala on a one-week stay for 12 at a villa in the Italian city of Salerno. Photo by Caroline Phillips
BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Ottawa executive director Dean Karakasis and his wife, Kathy, at the Lino Bassi Gala at the Sala San Marco in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Cesare Santaguida, Mona Ahuja, realtor Nella Zourntos and Richard Valente (Fratelli Kanata) at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala held at Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, John Bassi (JBPA Developments), the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation’s vice president of transformational gifts Elizabeth Rodgers, manager of philanthropy Matt Harris, foundation president Lianne Laing, and Ottawa neurosurgeon Dr. Adam Sachs at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala at Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Pat Nicastro, co-owner of La Bottega Nicastro fine food shop and café, in conversation at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala at Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Trevor Schentag (Sun Life), Joanne Kudakiewicz (Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network), realtor Sandra Idone and David Grummett (Epcon Homes) at the inaugural Lino Bassi Gala at Sala San Marco Event Centre on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Tamara Georgostathis and George Georgostathis (not seen) of Access Equipment Capital were one of two highest bidders on a one-week stay for 12 at a villa in the Italian city of Salerno. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Aik Aliferis (Institutional Property Advisors/Marcus and Millichap) and Samar Saab were one of the three highest bidders on a 20-person catered dinner with wine donated by Chef Oz to the Lino Bassi Gala in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Dr. Rob Beanlands, Jessica Roback, James Annis, Richard Sachs, Elizabeth Rodgers, Ron Vered, Lianne Laing, Lindsay Firestone, Olivia Grebe, Dr. Katey Rayner, Matt Harris and Dr. Marc Ruel gathered for a group shot at the Lino Bassi Gala in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. 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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