German Ambassador Werner Wnendt was out on the town Wednesday to do the official tapping of the keg at an Oktoberfest-themed benefit that netted $81,972 for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
“This is the first time I’m doing this in Canada, I must tell you,” the diplomat revealed before tapping the keg like a champ and letting the beer flow at the Bier Markt pub on Sparks Street. Next week, he’s headed to the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, where he will be experiencing the real deal.
The inaugural event was organized by a committee led by Steve Gallant, a first vice president, branch manager and investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy, and Tony Rhodes, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Rhodes & Company. Gallant is the guy who came up with the original idea for Ringside for Youth, a wildly popular benefit held each year to help disadvantaged kids.
More than 200 guests of the sold-out, $250-a-ticket event (with a $125 tax receipt) spent the night eating, drinking and socializing inside the music-filled pub and on the outdoor patio. The beer of choice was Paulaner, served in heavy glass steins and enjoyed with such traditional Bavarian hits as schnitzel sliders, bacon spaetzle, suckling pig, ribs and strudel.
Photos: Around Town at Heart Institute fundraiser
Around Town at Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the Heart Institute, held at Bier Markt on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
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![From left, Steve Gallant from CIBC Wood Gundy and Tony Rhodes, Coldwell Banker Rhodes & Company, teamed up and dressed up to co-chair the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street.]()
From left, Steve Gallant from CIBC Wood Gundy and Tony Rhodes, Coldwell Banker Rhodes & Company, teamed up and dressed up to co-chair the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street.
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![Shannon Gorman, national director of community affairs for TELUS, is flanked by her husband, Mike Hickey, and her colleague, Gwen Avery, at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street.]()
Shannon Gorman, national director of community affairs for TELUS, is flanked by her husband, Mike Hickey, and her colleague, Gwen Avery, at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street.
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![From left, portfolio manager Kash Pashootan and Darcy Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of Edelman Canada in Ottawa, were among the 200-plus attendees of the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt.]()
From left, portfolio manager Kash Pashootan and Darcy Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of Edelman Canada in Ottawa, were among the 200-plus attendees of the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt.
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![Guests arrived to the Capital Oktoberfest benefit at Bier Markt on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, to find Kazimier Samujlo there to greet them on his accordion.]()
Guests arrived to the Capital Oktoberfest benefit at Bier Markt on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, to find Kazimier Samujlo there to greet them on his accordion.
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![From left, Peter Chase, general manager of the host venue, Bier Markt on Sparks Street, with server Louisa Stieda-Sanne and Jeff O'Reilly, general manager of nearby D'Arcy McGee's, at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015.]()
From left, Peter Chase, general manager of the host venue, Bier Markt on Sparks Street, with server Louisa Stieda-Sanne and Jeff O'Reilly, general manager of nearby D'Arcy McGee's, at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015.
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![From left, Pia Rhodes with her husband, Tony Rhodes, who co-chaired with Steve Gallant, seen with his wife, Janet, the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at the Bier Markt on Sparks Street.]()
From left, Pia Rhodes with her husband, Tony Rhodes, who co-chaired with Steve Gallant, seen with his wife, Janet, the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at the Bier Markt on Sparks Street.
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![From left, sisters Annie Savoie and Lorraine Savoie helped out at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
From left, sisters Annie Savoie and Lorraine Savoie helped out at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![From left, Bruce Raganold, director of business development with Welch LLP, with Kaveh Rikhtegar and Jeff Mierins from Star Motors of Ottawa at Bier Markt on Sparks Street for the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
From left, Bruce Raganold, director of business development with Welch LLP, with Kaveh Rikhtegar and Jeff Mierins from Star Motors of Ottawa at Bier Markt on Sparks Street for the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![From left, Jeff O'Reilly with Mark Bonneau, senior vice president with the Ottawa Senators, and Jeffrey Dale during the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at the Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
From left, Jeff O'Reilly with Mark Bonneau, senior vice president with the Ottawa Senators, and Jeffrey Dale during the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, held Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at the Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![From left, German Ambassador Werner Wnendt with University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation president and CEO Jim Orban at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit held for the Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
From left, German Ambassador Werner Wnendt with University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation president and CEO Jim Orban at the Capital Oktoberfest benefit held for the Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![Grant Cobb, senior vice president with Cara Operations, which operates Bier Markt and numerous other restaurant chains in Canada, and Megan Boate attended the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the Heart Institute, held at Bier Markt on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
Grant Cobb, senior vice president with Cara Operations, which operates Bier Markt and numerous other restaurant chains in Canada, and Megan Boate attended the Capital Oktoberfest benefit for the Heart Institute, held at Bier Markt on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![It was the perfect evening for being out on the patio at Bier Markt, the downtown venue for the Capital Oktoberfest benefit held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
It was the perfect evening for being out on the patio at Bier Markt, the downtown venue for the Capital Oktoberfest benefit held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![From left, Milan Topolovec, president and CEO of TK Financial Group, celebrates with Divya Agarwal and David Sutcliffe (not seen) at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
From left, Milan Topolovec, president and CEO of TK Financial Group, celebrates with Divya Agarwal and David Sutcliffe (not seen) at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![Kent Browne from Royal LePage, seen with his wife, Mary, was emcee and charity auctioneer at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
Kent Browne from Royal LePage, seen with his wife, Mary, was emcee and charity auctioneer at the Capital Oktoberfest fundraiser held for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Bier Markt on Sparks Street. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
The night included a $5,000 knock-out draw and – hold onto your lederhosen – the chance to bid on a five-course feast for 10 at Bier Markt, a private dinner for 14 hosted by the German ambassador, and a dozen tickets for 200-level suites to a couple of Sens games.
Grant Cobb, senior vice president with Cara Operations, which operates Bier Markt and numerous restaurant chains in Canada, was there. So was the venue’s general manager, Peter Chase. Supporters also included Mark Bonneau and Peter O’Leary from the Ottawa Senators business operations, Shannon Gorman from Telus, Gary Zed from EY, Milan Topolovec from TK Financial Group, and Kent Browne as MC and auctioneer.
Emond Harnden lawyer Jacques Emond, chair of the board for the Heart Institute Foundation attended, as did its president and CEO, Jim Orban. He told everyone how “vitally important” fundraisers like Capital Oktoberfest are in raising awareness and funds for the Heart Institute “that will benefit patient care, not just this year and next year, but going into the future.”
Carolyn001@sympatico.ca
