U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, invited 3,500 or so of their closest friends over to their official residence in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday to help them celebrate the Fourth of July in patriotic party style.
Guests arrived in the late afternoon donning their best “festive fourth” red, white and blue (without looking like an American flag). The sprawling property was decked out with giant party tents, stars and stripes, summer treats and a wide array of shiny antique cars that attracted the attention and admiration of many. The old automobiles were part of this year’s Motor City Rising theme to celebrate the spirit of Detroit and the state of Michigan.
From left, Liza Heyman and her sister Caroline (with her boyfriend, Zak Rudzki), Gillian Frackelton, Vicki Heyman and U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman at the embassy’s annual Fourth of July party held at the ambassador’s official residence in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
The annual Fourth of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, July 4, 2015, at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park featured a wide array of vintage cars, as part of this year’s Motor City Rising theme.
The Heymans welcomed a long line of guests before taking to the podium to welcome everyone to Lornado for the embassy’s Independence Day bash, calling Canada “our best friend and neighbour”. It was the second year the outgoing couple has played host to one of the biggest parties of the summer in Ottawa, and the embassy lucked out once again with perfect weather for its outdoor shindig.
Guests included Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson, former prime minister Joe Clark, and Mayor Jim Watson, to name a few.
From left, Chad Schella with his wife, CPAC host Catherine Clark, and her parents, Maureen McTeer and former prime minister Joe Clark, at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Fourth of July party held at the ambassador’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
“Canada is simply a breathtakingly beautiful place to live,” Heyman told the crowd, speaking against a backdrop of Motown vinyl records and album covers. “This first year in Canada has been one of the most memorable years of our lives. We feel so honoured to call Ottawa and Canada our home.”
The ambassador was joined on stage by his wife and two of their three adult children, Liza and Caroline. Vicki shared some of the highlights of her time in Ottawa and Canada thus far, from the Canada Day fireworks to hiking in the Gatineau Hills, to dipping her hand in the Arctic waters. “Words, really, cannot describe the memories and friendships that Bruce and I have made and forged,” Vicki told the crowd. “Every day has been unique and, yes, every day has been really special.”
Jonas Langille and Karine Lessard arrived in their best “festive fourth” attire for the annual Fourth of July bash hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Retired RCMP Sgt. Garth Hampson sang both national anthems at the U.S. Embassy’s Fourth of July celebration held at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
The program began with the presentation of the colours by U.S. Marine Security Guards and the singing of both national anthems by retired RCMP Sgt. Garth Hampson. A student percussion group, called Offbeat, from Glebe Collegiate Institute, performed. It was followed by the Toronto-based band The Digs. It kept the crowd happy and hopping until it was time to go home.
On the dance floor, the Heymans got their grove on and were seen pumping their arms into the air to the Motown hit, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. The fun was infectious, because it wasn’t long until Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, one of many diplomats in attendance, was seen dancing with Vicki, arms linked at the elbows as they spun around with big smiles on their faces.
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From left, J. Serge Sasseville, a senior V-P with Quebecor, and FranÁois Dell Aniello at the Motor City Rising-themed Fourth of July party held in Rockcliffe Park at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Guests wait patiently in the receiving line to be greeted by U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, at the annual Fourth of July party that they hosted at their official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman, with his wife, Vicki, on the dance floor.
Rosemary Thompson, director of communications for the National Arts Centre, shows off her “festive fourth” red footwear with communications consultant Louisa Taylor at the annual Fourth of July party hosted by the U.S. ambassador and his wife at their official residence in Rockcliffe.
The Fourth of July program began with the presentation of the colours by U.S. Marine Security Guards.
From left, Danielle McGee with her husband, David Gourlay, president of the Ottawa Champions Baseball Club, Royal Canadian Navy Lt-Cmdr. Kelly Williamson and her husband, Conservative MP John Williamson (New Brunswick), and Christine Taylor with her husband, Bay Ward Councillor Mark Taylor, at the annual Fourth of July party held at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Members of the percussion group Offbeat from Glebe Collegiate Institute performed at the annual Fourth of July party held at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.
From left, Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, with Tim Barber, principal at Bluesky Strategy Group, and his wife, Nathalie Gauthier, at the annual Fourth of July party .
From left, Gillian Frackelton, special assistant to Vicki Heyman, with Chrystal Lotz and Bailey Reid, in their best “festive fourth” attire for the annual Fourth of July party that U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, hosted at their official residence on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Well-known Ottawa lawyer Jacques Shore with his wife, Dr. Donna Shore, and their eldest daughter, Emily, at the Motor Car Rising-themed Fourth of July party hosted by the U.S. ambassador and his wife.
A wide array of antique cars, on display as part of the Motor City Rising-theme, were a hit with the crowd.
Nicole Loreto, V-P of communications for the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, with her daughter, Dominique Souris, on the dance floor.
From left, Tracy Dohanue, manager of philanthropy at the CHEO Foundation, Shelley Page, Kerry Mortimer and Ottawa Citizen Style magazine editor Janet Wilson had a good time on the dance floor at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Fourth of July party.
From left, Nancy Faraday-Smith, advisor at Privy Council Office, Border Implementation Team, and Lisa Setlakwe, at the annual Fourth of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Rockcliffe Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Ronald Cohen, former national chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, with his wife, Wendy, on the dance floor at the annual Fourth of July party.
Laura Brown Breetvelt and entrepreneur David Luxton dressed for the Motor City Rising theme of this year’s Fourth of July party held at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.
From left, Dennis Recto with Alex Munter, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (in his red, white and blue) at the annual Fourth of July party.
The Toronto-based motown band, The Digs, kept guests dancing.
Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson briefly addresses the crowd on stage with, from left, Vicki Heyman, wife Arlene Nicholson, and U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman at the embassy’s annual 4th of July party, held at the ambassador’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park, on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, was decorated in red, white and blue for the Independence Day party.
