Front row, the Fairmont Château Laurier's Catherine McLaughlin and Geneviève Dumas, with the Best in Branches Award winners: Rosanna Versace, left, and Amanda Chapman (Brookstreet Hotel), and Wendy Barron, Monique Clayton and Amy Gallant (KRP Properties), and, of course, Santa, at Trees of Hope for CHEO. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Tree-mendous talent in holiday decorating shines at Fairmont Château Laurier’s Trees of Hope for CHEO
There’s no limit to the lengths a Christmas tree-decorating team will go to claim the top spot at the Fairmont Château Laurier’s 28th Trees of Hope for CHEO.
Take the Brookstreet Hotel/KRP Properties crew, for example. Its large Santa ornament weighed more than double the five-pound limit for decorations. Santa needed to trim his festive figure, or the team risked disqualification.
So, they hollowed him out. “We made him lose weight,” joked Brookstreet Hotel’s executive coordinator, Rosanna Versace, as she proudly showed off her team’s impressive display.
Their Santa, caught in action climbing down a ladder, was cleverly positioned on the opposite side of the tree from the milk-and-cookie tray.
This year saw 44 entries — the largest number yet. All the trees were decorated by local businesses and organizations in support of the region’s pediatric hospital that cares for some of the sickest children in our community and beyond.
Later, when the Brookstreet Hotel/KRP Properties team was named winner of the Best in Branches Award, its members cheered loudly, jumped up and down, and hugged each other. They each had medals draped over their bowed heads by Santa himself.
Fairmont Château Laurier general manager Geneviève Dumas said she had no problem awarding the top prize to another hotel. “They deserve it,” she replied.
Brookstreet Hotel is based in Kanata, while KRP Properties owns and operates commercial office buildings in the Kanata Research and North Technology Parks, forming Canada’s largest technology park. Both are owned by high-tech entrepreneur Terry Matthews.
Team members from the Brookstreet Hotel and KRP Properties team, Amanda Chapman, Wendy Barron, Rosanna Versace, Monique Clayton and Amy Gallant (back to camera), react with excitement immediately after they were declared winners of the Best in Branches Award at Trees for Hope for CHEO, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Santa presented the Brookstreet Hotel and KRP Properties team with medals after they were declared winners of the Best in Branches Award at Trees for Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The winning tree was selected by a panel of volunteer judges that included Dumas, CHEO’s president and CEO, Dr. Vera Etches; Terry McLaughlin, president of major sponsor Terlin Construction; wardrobe consultant and communications specialist Mary Ciancibello; Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public affairs at the Ottawa International Airport Authority; communications advisor Loukia Zigoumis; Mary Marquardt.
McLaughlin is also married to Catherine McLaughlin, a former volunteer organizer of Trees of Hope who now works full-time for the hotel as its events and activations manager.
From left, Catherine McLaughlin, events and activations manager at the Fairmont Château Laurier, holds the Best in Branches trophy while standing alongside the hotel’s general manager, Geneviève Dumas, at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the hotel on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
All participants were asked to decorate their tree based on the classic poem ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.
The public is invited to drop into the hotel to see the holiday trees, which will remain on display until January 6. Visitors are also encouraged to vote on their favourite tree and make a donation to CHEO.
Leading up to last night, Trees of Hope had raised more than $1.5 million for the CHEO Foundation, which was represented at the gathering by its president and CEO, Steve Read.
From left, Steve Read, president and CEO of CHEO Foundation, Fairmont Château Laurier general manager Geneviève Dumas and Terry McLaughlin, president of Terlin Construction and one of the volunteer judges for Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at the hotel on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dr. Vera Etches, president and CEO of CHEO, listens as Ottawa realtor Sara Adam, part of the Sezlik.com team, shares the story behind the tree they decorated for Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public affairs at the Ottawa International Airport Authority, was a volunteer judge at Trees of Hope for CHEO with wardrobe stylist and communications specialist Mary Ciancibello and Terry McLaughlin, president of Terlin Construction. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The runners-up were sponsor Farrah Fine Jewellers, represented by president Farrah Ainuddin, and Manotick Place Retirement/The Millers Senior Apartment. Its tree impressed judges with the involvement of its residents, including 105-year-old Alice Frisen, who still crafts and crochets, and Aileen Passmore, who, at 95, remains surprisingly spry.
Not only did Passmore bake cookies to be handed out, but she also appeared as Mrs. Claus, donning the same beautiful red velvet robe she once wore on a vintage sleigh float in the Santa Claus Day parade in Muskoka.
Aileen Passmore, 95, who resides at The Millers Seniors Apartments in Manotick, not only showed up to the Trees of Hope for CHEO dressed as Mrs. Claus, she also baked cookies. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Farrah Ainuddin, president of Farrah Fine Jewellers, with her daughter, Sarah, and five-month-old granddaughter Sofia, alongside their decorated tree, at Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at and hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
First-time participants included Mann Lawyers, who eagerly joined when they learned that Trees of Hope celebrated both Christmas and children, said law partner Heather Austin-Skaret. She especially appreciated the collaborative and nostalgic nature of the experience. “Everyone shared memories from their childhood and their favorite traditions,” she said of her office’s involvement. “It created a lot of good feelings.”
The festive event featured live harp music, costumed carolers and local firefighters selling tickets for raffle prizes. Geoff Walker and Michelle Walker from RE/MAX Absolute Walker Realty won the VIP stay at the Château Laurier while Ursula Gobel was the lucky winner of a pair of Air Canada tickets.
Event design and production company Optimal Show Experience got a shout-out for creating a convincing brick wall and several storefront facades outside the hotel’s brand new 1912 pub, helping to section off the space and create a more intimate feel.
Ursula Gobel, wearing a brooch from local boutique Stunning! Women’s Fashion + Accessories, won the raffle prize of a pair of Air Canada tickets at Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Fairmont Chateau Laurier marketing and communications manager Chelsea Beliveau (centre) with raffle prize winners Michelle Walker and Geoff Walker from RE/MAX Absolute Walker Realty at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The evening has special meaning for Dumas, whose first public event after she became GM of the Château Laurier four years ago was a Trees of Hope celebration.
And now, as the new grandma of a five-week-old baby boy, she appreciates the cause even more. “You always wish for healthy babies but some people are not so lucky,” she added. “It’s very important to us that the community comes together to support CHEO.”
Dumas said one of her favourite parts of the evening is learning about the thought and creativity that goes into the decorating process. “With every tree, there’s a story.”
And the teams are more than happy to share them, explaining how each ornament was made and by whom — like little secret chapters in the story of a very merry Christmas.
Julie Papineau, left from Westboro Closet Candy, hit it off with Santa at Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
Back row, Rosanna Versace and Amanda Chapman (Brookstreet Hotel) post with their decorated tree along with Amy Gallant, Wendy Barron and Monique Clayton (KRP Properties) at the Fairmont Château Laurier’s Trees of Hope for CHEO prior to being announced the Best in Branches Award winner. Photo by Caroline Phillips
CTV News Ottawa’s Jackie Perez on location during the Fairmont Chateau Laurier’s Trees of Hope for CHEO, held Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
Three generations of McElligotts: Brigitte McElligott, project coordinator for Canada Lands Company, Laura McElligott, Bob McElligott, Casa Verde Construction president Paul McElligott, Micheline McElligott, nine-year-old Cameron McElligott and 11-year-old Mila McElligott at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
KPMG partner and former office managing partner Andrew Newman and senior manager Elizabeth Buiting next to their KPMG-decorated tree at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Costumed carolers performed at Trees of Hope, an annual fundraiser hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier that brings the community together in support of CHEO. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association (OGHA), and Lisa Desroches next to the OGHA tree at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Michele Tommy with Ottawa realtors Charles Sezlik and Dominique Laframboise of Sezlik.com, and Michele’s daughter, Brooklyn Tommy, at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Heather Austin-Skaret, partner at Mann Lawyers, at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd took in a live harp performance of Christmas music at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, attendees Ann Rickenbacker (Bank of Canada), Tammy Laverty (Royal LePage Team Realty) and Janet Wilson, who serves on the board of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
Steve Read, president and CEO of CHEO Foundation, expressed his gratitude at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd took in a live harp performance of Christmas music at Trees of Hope for CHEO, hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Optimal Show Experience president Peter Gilroy, business partner Livia Zheng and chief creative officer Joey Gunn, who created a faux wall and storefront facades outside the hotel’s new 1912 pub, helping to section off the space and create a more intimate feel. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Farrah Ainuddin, president of Farrah Fine Jewellers, was a first-time participant of Trees of Hope for CHEO hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
From left, MJ Naim-Brown, Cindy Tomlinson and Adam McDonald attended Trees of Hope for CHEO hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dana Pollex, left, and district fire chief Ron Phillips were among the Ottawa firefighters to volunteer selling raffle tickets at Trees of Hope for CHEO hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
From left, Brookstreet Hotel/KRP Properties team members Amanda Chapman, Amy Gallant, Rosanna Versace and Monique Clayton, along with Wendy Barron (not seen) were the winners of the Best in Branches Award at Trees of Hope for CHEO hosted by the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips
A young boy is seen playing with ornaments hanging on one of the trees decorated for Trees of Hope for CHEO, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Erica Giustiniani
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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