From left, emcee Shelagh Rogers, Wabano CEO Allison Fisher and Igniting the Spirit Gala chair Kevin Ford at this year's signature fundraiser for Wabano, an Ottawa-based Indigenous health, healing and culture centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips
‘This matters’: Calian CEO Kevin Ford on why he supports Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala
Wabano’s signature gala isn’t your average social function in Ottawa — the kind where you might half-listen to speeches, check your phone periodically and slip out before dessert.
Instead, it’s one of those nights where you soak it all in, catch up with old friends, lose track of time and leave with a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture and identity. When it finally comes time to go, you do so feeling inspired, more aware and a little more grounded.
Just ask one of our city’s leading business leaders, Kevin Ford, who was the returning committee chair of this year’s Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty, held at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre on Thursday.
“This isn’t just ‘a night out’, this is us showing up and saying ‘this matters’,” said Ford, CEO of Ottawa-based Calian Group, which provides professional services in healthcare, technology, training and defence. “Everyone is really connecting with reconciliation, and really trying to be here for that purpose.”
The evening attracted a full-capacity crowd of 620 guests and was backed by more than two dozen sponsors — including platinum sponsor TD, represented by Lee Rose, and diamond sponsors RBC, represented by Philippe Forest, and Elm Printing.
The event sells out so quickly that it hardly needs promotion, making it one of Ottawa’s most sought-after galas. It also benefits from the warm and welcoming presence of retired CBC broadcaster and Queen’s University Chancellor Shelagh Rogers, who returns year after year to emcee.
Ford accepted his volunteer role at the invitation of Wabano’s CEO, Allison Fisher. A couple years ago, he toured the centre, located in Vanier on Montreal Road, and immediately fell in love with the place. He also quickly came to admire Fisher’s passion and leadership, and what she’s managed to accomplish.
It surprised him that she and Wabano had flown under his radar for so long. “You meet these people in this city and think, ‘How have I never met you before?’” said Ford, who admitted he “must have driven past that centre 700 times” before properly understanding what it’s all about. Ford was at the gala with members of his team, including Calian Group’s board chair, George Weber, and his president of IT and Cyber Solutions, Michael Tremblay, the new board chair of The Ottawa Hospital.
Igniting the Spirit gala committee chair and Calian Group CEO Kevin Ford (centre), with his president of IT and Cyber Solutions, Michael Tremblay (left) and chair of Calian’s board, George Weber, at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Lee Rose, manager of community engagement at platinum sponsor TD, with Wabano CEO Allison Fisher, and Jonathan Bodden, executive director of corporate relations at uOttawa, at Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano CEO Allison Fisher, left, and former governor general Michaëlle Jean at the Igniting the Spirit Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Founded in 1998, Wabano is an Indigenous health and wellness hub offering programs, services and gathering spaces geared toward healing and helping its people reconnect to their culture.
Held annually around National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice, the Igniting the Spirit Gala celebrates culture, community and renewal. “Wabano” means “new beginnings” in Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin), the language of the Anishinaabe people.
One of the evening highlights is the cultural performance that gracefully weaves together traditional Indigenous, ballet and contemporary dance. Adding to the charm this year was a young boy in stunning regalia, and the way the other dancers lifted him high in the air during the finale. Acknowledged for their contributions were choreographer Christine Friday, contemporary choreographer Maggie Shew and costume designer Aoife Swandel.
Dancers hoist a young boy, dressed in Indigenous regalia, during a cultural performance that told the story, during Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala, of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Presented in four parts, the performance told a story aligned with the theme of Walking in Beauty. At its heart, Igniting the Spirit is about storytelling — and no one tells a story better than Fisher.
She reminded everyone that, in 1914, while her grandfather was fighting for Canadian freedom in World War I, the Canadian government was focused on implementing laws that regulated and controlled Indigenous people and their culture through Section 149 of the Indian Act.
First Nations individuals couldn’t take part in any dance, performance or stampede in “Aboriginal costume” without the permission from government officials, said Fisher. “This ‘Aboriginal costume’, as they called it — this stunning regalia that you saw in the performance tonight – would have made each one of those beautiful dancers criminals.”
She fast-forwarded to 1951, a few years after Fisher’s father had returned from fighting for Canadian freedom in the Second World War, when Indigenous people were finally allowed to dance again in their regalia.
Fisher, who was born and raised in the First Nation community of Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island, spoke fondly of the “most beautiful deerskin dresses” her mother made for her to wear for ceremonial dances when she was a young girl. Yet, as a teenager, she strongly objected to her mother’s suggestion that she wear her newest dress to greet politicians and visitors at the ferry docks when they arrived on Manitoulin Island. “In my teenage mind, this was the dumbest idea I had ever heard of,” said Fisher. “There was no way I was going to dance in my beautiful deerskin dress for a bunch of old guys that I didn’t even know.”
The resolution of that mother-daughter conflict was revealed on the giant screens for all to see: a photo of a young Fisher dancing in her cultural dress. The audience chuckled and applauded, knowing that mom got her way.
“What my teenager mind didn’t understand was what my mother precisely did: that being that visible matters … She wanted the beauty of our culture to be fully visible.”
The audience expressed its deep appreciation — its own “chi miigwetch” — for Fisher with a long standing ovation after she finished delivering her message, which was inspired by a Diné prayer and blessing, where beauty is a presence that both surrounds and guides us.
Wabano’s CEO Allison Fisher speaks to the theme of Walking in Beauty, drawing from her own experience of growing up in the First Nation community of Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island. Photo by Caroline Phillips
On the subject of visibility, there were many prominent figures in attendance, including former governor general Michaëlle Jean, uOttawa Chancellor Claudette Commanda, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs. The latter was a good sport, pedaling in circles on the small stage as a bidding war broke out over the bicycle donated by OPS. Valued at $1,050, it eventually sold for $3,100 to Paige Milonas-Roberts, seated at the Makwa Resourcing table. Later, the chief was seen high-fiving his wife Diane after she was the highest bidder on the ultimate Ottawa sports night package.
Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty attended, as did local Liberal MPs Mona Fortier and Yasir Naqvi, Liberal MPP Lucie Collard and a number of city councillors. Also spotted was Ottawa-based Canadian photographer Michelle Valberg, who prepared one of the videos shared during the gala.
Derick Fage, new supervising producer at CTV Morning Live Ottawa, sold off more than a dozen live auction items, working up such a sweat that, at one point, Rogers jokingly mopped his brow with a dinner napkin.
Up for grabs were Indigenous art, an Iceland getaway, an embassy dinner hosted by the Hungarian ambassador, a VIP experience with Shania Twain at Bluesfest and an Eagle paddle autographed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. It was bought by Constance McKnight from Timmins, Ont. for $2,000. She told CiTC she’s hoping it will be “something my grandchildren will treasure.”
There were a combined 250 silent and live auction items. Fisher told CiTC she was expecting the gala would raise in the neighbourhood of $250,000 for Wabano.
Renowned Ottawa-based Canadian photographer Michelle Valberg with Allison Fisher, CEO of Wabano, at the organization’s signature fundraiser, Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty, held at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
An Eagle paddle autographed by Prime Minister Mark Carney sold for $2,000 at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Liberal MPP (Ottawa-Vanier) Lucille Collard, former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty (chair of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Board), Liberal MP Mona Fortier (Ottawa-Vanier), Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre) and Ottawa city councillor Rawlson King (Rideau-Rockcliffe) at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This yellow cedar eagle carving by Coast Salish artist Chris Sparrow was one of several pieces of Indigenous artwork auctioned off during the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Leanne Moussa, president at All Saints Development and chair of The Other Hill, with gala committee member Melissa Hammell, co-founder of Bridge Building Group, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Roberta Roberts and her daughter, Paige Milonas-Roberts, with event sponsor Makwa Resourcing, were both highest bidders during the live auction at Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Peter Tilley, CEO of The Ottawa Mission, with one of his board members, Cara Vaccarino, who’s also the president and CEO of The Royal mental health care provider, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala opened with a drumming performance from the Ottawa River Singers. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Yasser Ghazi (vice president of commercial services at RBC), with his colleagues Cynthia Desjardins (senior commercial account manager) and Philippe Forest (vice president of commercial banking for the Indigenous market in Quebec) at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Emcee Shelagh Rogers at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Anna Willman was hosted by her mom, Sandy McDonald, regional director of community affairs for Bell Canada, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Welch LLP senior manager Brendan Johnson, Welch LLP partner Bryden McMaster, Welch LLP business development manager Josh Raganold and Ottawa city councillor Marty Carr (Alta Vista) at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Meghan Hanley, director at Waverley House Foundation, and Louisa Taylor, executive director of Refugee 613, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research board member Susan Richards (co-founder and managing partner at Numbercrunch), The Royal Ottawa Foundation’s president and CEO, Chris Ide, Wabano board member Jennifer Francis and Kelly Goulet, vice president of philanthropy program at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala committee members Nicole Loreto and Carlie Chase at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs rode circles around the stage, showing off the bike donated by Ottawa Police Service to the live auction at Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Wabano board member (treasurer) Shaun Logue and his wife, Kristina Logue, chief financial officer for Payments Canada, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Wabano gala committee member Marie-Josée Martel, former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty (chair of the board at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute) and Sharon Squire, board chair at The Royal, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Shelagh Rogers mops Derick Fage’s brow during the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
uOttawa Chancellor Claudette Commanda, surrounded by her University of Ottawa colleagues, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe with Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Royal Canadian Mint’s director of public affairs, government relations and stakeholder engagement Deneen Perrin, who last year bought a big trip in support of Wabano, was back this year — successfully bidding on an embassy dinner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Montfort Hospital supporters Mathieu Fleury and Robert Rhéaume with Marc Villeneuve, president and CEO of Montfort Hospital Foundation, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
“Reclamation of Space” by Anishinaabe artist Leland Bell was among the artwork sold off during the live auction at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kristin Smith, a senior director with the Canadian Medical Association, and her colleague Courtney Clark, director of Indigenous health, at the Igniting the Spirit Gala: Walking in Beauty in support of Wabano. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Assistant Crown attorney John Ramsay and his mother, Justice of the Peace Louise Logue, are on the board of Wabano together. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Scott Phelan, Ottawa-based deputy chief of staff to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, community leader Steve Georgopoulos and Mark Mullan, chair of the Ottawa Catholic School Board, which was among the many supporters of Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala featured a cultural performance that told the story of this year’s Walking in Beauty theme. 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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