Around Town: Evening in the Maritimes nets a record $110,000

It was a night to tie on the bibs and offer up the bids as a crowd of 500 gathered Thursday at the Hilton Lac Leamy for a lively evening of East Coast music, tantalizing seafood and lobster, and enviable auction buys, all in support of Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa.

The 22nd Annual Evening in the Maritimes saw Senator Vern White, who was born and raised in Cape Breton, once again serve as honorary chair with David Cork from Scotia Wealth Management.

From left, Senator Vern White with his wife, Sari Musta-White, Jenni Tipper and David Cork, who served with White as honoury co-chairs of the 22nd Annual Evening in the Maritimes, held Thursday, May 19, 2016, at the Hilton Lac Leamy in support of Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa.

The gala, presented by pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, hauled in a record-breaking net total of $110,000 for Citizen Advocacy, a local non-profit organization that’s been helping people with disabilities for more than 40 years.

The live auction, led by lawyer and community builder Lawrence Greenspon, featured the return of an unforgettable trip to Antarctica. It was donated by One Ocean Expeditions and Worldwide Quest, which quietly promised to throw in a second package if the bidding demand got high enough. It did, and the item sold twice, at $20,000 each, to Myrna and Don Law-West of LWI Consulting Partners, and their guests, Terri Morgan and Maury Hill, raising a total of $40,000.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, seen with his wife Angela Lariviere, served as charity auctioneer at this year’s Evening in the Maritimes gala, held at the Hilton Lac Leamy on Thursday, May 19, 2016, in support of Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa.

The big-ticket purchase was not impulsive, said Law-West, who was planning to visit the world’s southern-most continent with his wife in the near future. It made sense, he told Around Town, to buy the trip at a charity dinner in order to further help a cause that he’s been supporting for a number of years. The trip is valued at $25,000.

The popular shindig offered up laid-back East Coast charm, from fiddle music and highland dancing, to fishing village-inspired decor. That meant a lot of anchors, but none as prominent as host Graham Richardson from CTV Ottawa News.

Winning the crowd over was Caroline Joanisse, a young woman born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Through Citizen Advocacy’s Everyday Champions program, she has found a mutually rewarding and lasting friendship with volunteer Patricia Collette. The pair enjoys a weekly movie and dinner date together, out in the community.

From left, Caroline Joanisse and Patricia Collette shared their story of being matched up through Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa at the 22nd Annual Evening in the Maritimes gala held at the Hilton Lac Leamy on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (

“My time with Caroline is special,” Collette told the room. “She is a joy to be with and she makes me feel young.”

Joanisse spoke of the valuable support she has received from Collette. “I like that she listens to me and she has empathy,” said Joanisse. “I think of her as a role model or as a big sister.”

Currently, Citizen Advocacy has a waiting list of 300 people with developmental disabilities hoping to be matched with a volunteer advocate.

Carolyn001@sympatico.ca