EVENTS
“It’s surreal. You come here and you watch so many terrific players and everything that gets done on the ice. Then, to experience it for a different reason, in this case doing great things for the community.”— GOLDY HYDER, BOARD CHAIR OF THE OTTAWA SENATORS FOUNDATION AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HILL+KNOWLTON STRATEGIES CANADA
Sens soiree scores big money for kids in need BY CAROLINE PHILLIPS SPECIAL TO OBJ
T Wives and girlfriends of the Senators players (above) are joined by Spartacat at the Ferguslea Senators Soiree on Jan. 10. Sens public address announcer “Stuntman” Stu Schwartz (left) introduces the players before dinner. Below (clockwise from upper left), defenceman Dion Phaneuf with wife Elisha Cuthbert (right) and Barbara Crook of Ferguslea Properties; defenceman Chris Wideman and Bell executive Mirko Bibic; Senators president Cyril Leeder with daughter Ciera Leeder; Senators coach Guy Boucher (far left) and his wife Marsha Akkerhuis are joined by former mayor Jim Durrell and his daughter Melissa; and centre Kyle Turris with wife Julie, Ottawa Senators Foundation president Danielle Robinson and her partner Wayne Mullett.
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2017
PHOTOS BY CAROLINE PHILLIPS
OBJ.CA
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he Ottawa Senators parlayed home ice advantage into a major win for kids in our community earlier this month, raising nearly $450,000 at their signature gala, the Ferguslea Senators Soirée presented by Bell. A crowd of more than 750 turned out for the black-tie event at the Canadian Tire Centre on Jan. 10. This was no hot dogs and nachos affair; attendees enjoyed a fourcourse gourmet meal in the rink where the Sens beat the Oilers two days earlier. Goldy Hyder, board chair of the Ottawa Senators Foundation and president and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada, attended that game and marvelled that two days later he was standing on the same surface – minus the ice, of course. “It’s surreal,” he said of standing near what would be centre ice on game day. “You come here and you watch so many terrific players and everything that gets done on the ice. Then, to experience it for a different reason, in this case doing great things for the community.” For the players, the arena represents their workplace. “This is their office and they’ve invited us in and given us a feel for it,” said Mr. Hyder. Not that the venue resembled a typical office – or even an ice rink for that matter. It was transformed into a modern ballroom with elegant dinner tables, carpeted flooring, bright lights, stylish decor and fancy video screens. The evening began with a performance show on stage featuring visual artist Elliott From. With Pearl Jam music blasting, the artist frenetically crafted a canvas painting of the Sens logo. It was later sold off during the live auction. The enviable list of items up for grabs also included a kids’ street hockey game with a couple of the Senators players, golfing with Senators GM Pierre Dorion and a private dinner party with a pair of