The U.S. Embassy’s annual 4th of July bash started this summer off with a bang, fireworks not required.
Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, hosted well in excess of 4,000 people Monday at their official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park. The outdoor party was a fun and festive three-hour-plus of eating, drinking, live music, dancing and socializing with idyllic weather conditions that recent Canada Day revellers could only dream of.
Vicki Heyman and her husband, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman greet guests to the U.S. Embassy’s road trip-themed 4th of July party, held at the couple’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
The convivial couple welcomed the massive crowd to their Road Trip USA-themed shindig, catered by The Westin, before hitting the dance floor to bust some moves with their three young grandkids.
Guests could get their kicks at Route 66, one of five culinary highway tents serving everything from corned beef sandwiches, fried catfish, crab cakes, bison burgers and chicken wings. If only famous road trippers Thelma and Louise had such options available to them as at the End of the Road tent: blizzards from Dairy Queen and some of Chicago’s famous Eli’s Cheesecake.
From left, George Weber, president and CEO of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, with Stephanie Richardson and Luke Richardson, who helped launch the DIFD (Do It For Daron) youth mental health awareness campaign, and Dr. Raj Bhatla, psychiatrist-in-chief and chief of staff of the Royal Ottawa, at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
The program handout came with a map of the sprawling property, as well as a list of the nearly 100 corporations that sponsored the event.
Seen at the primo people-watching event were: federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould arriving with her husband, Tim Raybould; Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance, chatting with U.S. Air Force General Lori Robinson, the first woman to lead a top-tier U.S. warfighting command; Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein beaming with pride as he and his wife, Lindsay, pushed a baby pram with their sleeping newborn daughter; retired NHLer Luke Richardson and his wife, Stephanie, from the youth mental health awareness Do It For Daron campaign, with their friends from the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre; and maestro Alexander Shelley hanging with his peeps from the National Arts Centre.
From left, Gwen Goodier with her husband, Christopher Deacon, managing director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and its music director, maestro Alexander Shelley, and NAC Foundation chief executive Jayne Watson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife, on Monday, July 4, 2016.
Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and her husband, Tim Raybould, were among the thousands to attend the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at its ambassador’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
From left, General Lori Robinson, the highest ranking woman in U.S. military history, with Canadian General Jonathan Vance, chief of defence staff, and his wife, Kerry Vance, and retired U.S. Air Force major general David Robinson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, at the U.S. ambassador’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park.
Also in the crowd was RCMP Const. Pete Woolley. He makes a special red serge appearance in a delightful and popular online video made by the Heymans to promote their Independence Day party.
The ambassador, who spoke with affection and admiration about Canada, was still feeling the buzz from President Barack Obama’s recent visit to the nation’s capital.
During Heyman’s two years in Canada, he’s seen much of the country, including the Arctic. “What strikes me every time I travel across this country … is the warmth and generosity and genuine hospitality of Canadians,” Heyman told the receptive crowd. “I have never been treated as a stranger in Canada.”
What makes the country so great, he added, are its priceless intangibles, from its human kindness to its breathtaking beauty. “Most importantly, it’s Canada’s unfailing, unwavering readiness to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States as friends, as neighbours, as allies, as kin.”
Around Town photos: Life is a highway at Road Trip USA July 4th bash
The U.S. Embassy’s annual 4th of July bash started this summer off with a bang, fireworks not required.
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![Shopify chief operating officer Harley Finkelstein and his wife, Lindsay, show off their three-week-old daughter Bayley Shayne Finkelstein, seen sleeping through the 4th of July bash held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
Shopify chief operating officer Harley Finkelstein and his wife, Lindsay, show off their three-week-old daughter Bayley Shayne Finkelstein, seen sleeping through the 4th of July bash held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, on the dance floor with their granddaughters at the 4th of July bash hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016 at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park.]()
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, on the dance floor with their granddaughters at the 4th of July bash hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016 at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park.
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![From left, Miriam Barak, Vicki Heyman, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and Israeli Ambassador Rafael Barak at the road trip-themed 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.]()
From left, Miriam Barak, Vicki Heyman, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and Israeli Ambassador Rafael Barak at the road trip-themed 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.
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![U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, welcomed well over 4,000 guests to the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, welcomed well over 4,000 guests to the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and her husband, Tim Raybould, were among the thousands to attend the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at its ambassador's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and her husband, Tim Raybould, were among the thousands to attend the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at its ambassador's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, General Lori Robinson, the highest ranking woman in U.S. military history, with Canadian General Jonathan Vance, chief of defence staff, and his wife, Kerry Vance, and retired U.S. Air Force major general David Robinson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, at the U.S. ambassador's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park.]()
From left, General Lori Robinson, the highest ranking woman in U.S. military history, with Canadian General Jonathan Vance, chief of defence staff, and his wife, Kerry Vance, and retired U.S. Air Force major general David Robinson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, at the U.S. ambassador's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park.
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![Tony Mariani, president of Ottawa's Italian Week, and his wife, Grace, broke out the red, white and blue for the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at the U.S. ambassador's official residence in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
Tony Mariani, president of Ottawa's Italian Week, and his wife, Grace, broke out the red, white and blue for the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at the U.S. ambassador's official residence in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, Douglas McLarty and Lynn Honsberger with Grant McDonald, regional managing partner of KPMG, one of many dozens of sponsors of the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in Rockcliffe Park.]()
From left, Douglas McLarty and Lynn Honsberger with Grant McDonald, regional managing partner of KPMG, one of many dozens of sponsors of the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in Rockcliffe Park.
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![From left, Jeff Turner, vice president of Project North, with the charity's board president, photographer Michelle Valberg, and First Air V-P Bert van der Stege and Kerry Mortimer at the 4th of July party held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, Jeff Turner, vice president of Project North, with the charity's board president, photographer Michelle Valberg, and First Air V-P Bert van der Stege and Kerry Mortimer at the 4th of July party held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, Rene Filiatrault, director of communications for the Minister of National Defence, with Andrea Stairs, managing director of eBay Canada, at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado, official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, Rene Filiatrault, director of communications for the Minister of National Defence, with Andrea Stairs, managing director of eBay Canada, at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado, official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, Marg Campbell and pianist Evelyn Greenberg were among the thousands of guests at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016, for the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party.]()
From left, Marg Campbell and pianist Evelyn Greenberg were among the thousands of guests at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016, for the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party.
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![From left, Jamey Wieser, Sarah Turnbull and her mother, Celia Turnbull, were among the thousands of people to attend the 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.]()
From left, Jamey Wieser, Sarah Turnbull and her mother, Celia Turnbull, were among the thousands of people to attend the 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.
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![From left, California native Carrie Cuhaci with her good friends Chad Schella and Catherine Clark in front of U.S. ambassador's official residence in Rockcliffe Park for the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, California native Carrie Cuhaci with her good friends Chad Schella and Catherine Clark in front of U.S. ambassador's official residence in Rockcliffe Park for the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, Ottawa Police Insp. Murray Knowles with RCMP Const. Pete Woolley, who makes a red serge appearance in a U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, to promote their road trip-themed 4th of July party, held at their official residence, Lornado, on Monday, July 4,2016.]()
From left, Ottawa Police Insp. Murray Knowles with RCMP Const. Pete Woolley, who makes a red serge appearance in a U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, to promote their road trip-themed 4th of July party, held at their official residence, Lornado, on Monday, July 4,2016.
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![Former Liberal cabinet minister John Manley, now president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and his wife, Judith Manley, were among the thousands to attend the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park, at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.]()
Former Liberal cabinet minister John Manley, now president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and his wife, Judith Manley, were among the thousands to attend the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park, at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador.
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![Parks Canada underwater archeologist Ryan Harris, who led the search for Sir John Franklin's lost ships, and his wife, Sam, were among the thousands of partygoers at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July bash, held in Rockcliffe Park at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
Parks Canada underwater archeologist Ryan Harris, who led the search for Sir John Franklin's lost ships, and his wife, Sam, were among the thousands of partygoers at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July bash, held in Rockcliffe Park at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![Vicki Heyman and her husband, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman greet guests to the U.S. Embassy's road trip-themed 4th of July party, held at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
Vicki Heyman and her husband, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman greet guests to the U.S. Embassy's road trip-themed 4th of July party, held at the couple's official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, Liza Mrak, Mark Motors of Ottawa, with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Blair Dickerson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park, at the U.S. ambassador's official residence, Lornado.]()
From left, Liza Mrak, Mark Motors of Ottawa, with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Blair Dickerson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, July 4, 2016, in Rockcliffe Park, at the U.S. ambassador's official residence, Lornado.
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![From left, Velma McColl, Earnscliffe Strategy Group, with popular restaurateur Stephen Beckta and his wife, Maureen Cunningham, and Joanne York and her husband, Farm Boy chief executive Jeff York, at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.]()
From left, Velma McColl, Earnscliffe Strategy Group, with popular restaurateur Stephen Beckta and his wife, Maureen Cunningham, and Joanne York and her husband, Farm Boy chief executive Jeff York, at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.
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![From left, New Jersey native Chris Kratt, of Zoboomafoo and the Wild Kratts fame, with his wife, interior architect and designer Tania Kratt, and well-known photographer Paul Couvrette at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, New Jersey native Chris Kratt, of Zoboomafoo and the Wild Kratts fame, with his wife, interior architect and designer Tania Kratt, and well-known photographer Paul Couvrette at the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party, held at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![Ann Rickenbacker, director of catering at The Westin Ottawa, with the hotel's general manager, Ross Meredith, at the U.S. Embassy's road trip-themed 4th of July party, catered by The Westin, on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.]()
Ann Rickenbacker, director of catering at The Westin Ottawa, with the hotel's general manager, Ross Meredith, at the U.S. Embassy's road trip-themed 4th of July party, catered by The Westin, on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife.
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![From left, Gwen Goodier with her husband, Christopher Deacon, managing director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and its music director, maestro Alexander Shelley, and NAC Foundation chief executive Jayne Watson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife, on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, Gwen Goodier with her husband, Christopher Deacon, managing director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and its music director, maestro Alexander Shelley, and NAC Foundation chief executive Jayne Watson at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador and his wife, on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![From left, George Weber, president and CEO of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, with Stephanie Richardson and Luke Richardson, who helped launch the DIFD (Do It For Daron) youth mental health awareness campaign, and Dr. Raj Bhatla, psychiatrist-in-chief and chief of staff of the Royal Ottawa, at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.]()
From left, George Weber, president and CEO of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, with Stephanie Richardson and Luke Richardson, who helped launch the DIFD (Do It For Daron) youth mental health awareness campaign, and Dr. Raj Bhatla, psychiatrist-in-chief and chief of staff of the Royal Ottawa, at the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Lornado in Rockcliffe Park on Monday, July 4, 2016.
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![U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman gives his grandson a kiss during the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party held Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the ambassador and his wife.]()
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman gives his grandson a kiss during the U.S. Embassy's 4th of July party held Monday, July 4, 2016, at Lornado, the official residence of the ambassador and his wife.
Carolyn001@sympatico.ca
