Insider Events – Breaking Bread, Breaking Stigma

Breaking Bread, Breaking Stigma
Date: October 26, 2021
City, Country: Ottawa, Canada
Host Venue: All Saints Event Space

Organizing Team:

• Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre

Number of Attendees: 140 in-person and a separate concurrent virtual event

The Event:

Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre is a local charity that MPI Ottawa has supported for a number of years. 

As a thank you for our support over the years, MPI Ottawa was generously given two tickets to attend this exciting fundraising event, with the option to attend the in person or virtual event. Courtney Jones, CMP, DES, and Disa-marie Cameron attended as representatives of the Community Outreach Committee.

Sam Laprade, local radio host for CityNews 101.1 FM, was the emcee for the evening. The focus of the event was a silent auction fundraiser and in-person guests were treated to a live musical duet in one area and a sandwich cook-off in the main hall! The cook-off included five local Chefs competing against each other for the 2021 Sandwich Sovereign trophy. The Chefs were stationed around the perimeter of the room and attendees were invited to help themselves to sandwiches from the various stations.

The competing chefs were:

• Chef T, private BBQ chef
• Chef Adam Vettorel, North and Navy
• Chef Jamie Stunt, Arlo Restaurant
• Chef Tim O'Connor, Flora Hall Brewing
• Chef Luis Guerra, Torta Boyz

The 2021 Sandwich Sovereign Winner was Chef T. 

Attendees voted Chef Luis Guerra the winner of the People’s Choice award.

The judges were Chef Joe Thottungal and Margaret Dickenson.

Once both the live and silent auctions had closed, local musician Lucky Ron closed out the evening with some entertainment. The event offered a really fun atmosphere while raising funds for a great cause.

Target audience:

Members of the community who wanted to support Hopewell’s cause, local community members that have benefitted from the services provided by Hopewell, and the workers that treat the patients of Hopewell.

Main objective:

To raise funds in support of the programs Hopewell puts on for those living with an eating disorder.

Uniqueness of the event:

We were excited, as this was the first in-person event that we attended since the pandemic. COVID-19 screening was required for entry to the event. Volunteers were dedicated to checking for proof of vaccination while attendees waited in line.

There was also a separate virtual event taking place simultaneously to the in-person event. This event had a different program altogether with MC Christopher Vallee. The virtual attendees were able to participate in the silent auction via 32auctions, a web-based event app.

Biggest triumph:

The event raised a total of $55,000, which surpassed the previous event’s total of $48,000.

 Article edited by Cynthia Beaudin, Canada Foundation for Innovation

Co-Authors:

Courtney Jones, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Disa-marie Cameron, Encore