Ottawa and the surrounding National Capital Region have long punched above their weight when it comes to community giving — and last Wednesday's CIBC Wood Gundy Annual Charity Dinner at Les Fougères in Chelsea, Quebec was a perfect example of that spirit in action.
A Night to Remember at Les Fougères
Nestled in the Gatineau Hills just a short drive from downtown Ottawa, Les Fougères is one of the region's most beloved dining destinations, known for its farm-to-table philosophy and warm, intimate atmosphere. It was the ideal backdrop for an evening that blended fine food with a genuine sense of purpose.
The dinner brought together longtime supporters of Maison Libère-Elles alongside new faces eager to get involved — a mix that organizers say is part of what makes this annual event so special. Whether guests had attended for years or were discovering the cause for the first time, the room buzzed with connection and goodwill.
Over $38,000 Raised for a Vital Cause
By the end of the night, the event had raised over $38,000 for Maison Libère-Elles, a non-profit organization that provides housing and support services for women and children fleeing difficult situations. That total is a testament to the generosity of everyone who attended, bid, donated, or simply showed up.
For a community-driven charity dinner — not a gala at a convention centre, not a black-tie affair with thousands of attendees — $38,000 is a genuinely impressive number. It speaks to how deeply people in this region care about supporting vulnerable members of their community.
Why Events Like This Matter
There's something about a smaller, intimate fundraiser that hits differently than a massive corporate gala. When you're seated at a beautifully set table, sharing a meal prepared with care, and you can see the organizers and beneficiaries in the same room — it feels personal. The cause stops being abstract.
Maison Libère-Elles does critical work that often goes unseen. Safe housing, transitional support, and community resources are the kinds of services that don't make headlines until they're desperately needed. Events like this one help ensure those services are there when people need them most.
A Tradition Worth Celebrating
The CIBC Wood Gundy dinner has become a reliable fixture in the Ottawa-Gatineau charity calendar, and the consistent choice of Les Fougères as the venue is no accident. The restaurant's commitment to hospitality and quality aligns naturally with an evening meant to honour community and generosity.
If you weren't able to attend this year, it's well worth keeping an eye out for future editions — or looking into how you can support Maison Libère-Elles directly in the meantime. Opportunities to give back at this level don't come along every day, and the impact is very real.
Here's to another year of community, connection, and making a difference — one dinner at a time.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
