Ottawa has always been a city that punches above its weight when it comes to community giving — and the 2026 Spark Soirée, hosted by the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE), was a shining example of exactly that.
On May 6th, the Infinity Convention Centre transformed into an elegant gathering space as community members, local sponsors, and longtime supporters of ONFE came together for an evening dedicated to one of the city's most practical and impactful initiatives: the School Breakfast Program.
What Is ONFE?
The Ottawa Network for Education is a non-profit that bridges the gap between Ottawa's business community and its schools. Since its founding, ONFE has worked to ensure that local kids have access to the tools, resources, and yes — the meals — they need to succeed in the classroom.
The School Breakfast Program sits at the heart of that mission. Research consistently shows that students who eat breakfast before class are better able to focus, retain information, and participate in learning. For families facing economic pressure, the program is a quiet but essential safety net — one that gets kids through the door fed and ready.
A Night to Remember at the Infinity Convention Centre
The Spark Soirée is ONFE's flagship fundraising event, and the 2026 edition lived up to its name. The Infinity Convention Centre — one of Ottawa's premier event venues — provided the perfect backdrop for an evening that blended community spirit with a genuine sense of celebration.
Attendees included a cross-section of Ottawa's civic fabric: educators, entrepreneurs, local leaders, and everyday Ottawans who believe that investing in children is the smartest investment a city can make. Sponsors from across sectors showed up to show support, reflecting just how broadly the ONFE mission resonates in this community.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
In a city of our size, it can be easy to assume the big problems are handled somewhere else — by the province, the feds, someone with a bigger budget. Events like the Spark Soirée are a reminder that local action fills critical gaps.
Every dollar raised through evenings like this one goes directly toward ensuring Ottawa students start their school day with something in their stomachs. That might sound small, but for a child trying to focus through morning math on an empty stomach, it's everything.
ONFE's model — leveraging Ottawa's business community to support its schools — is one worth celebrating. The Spark Soirée isn't just a fundraiser; it's a statement about the kind of city Ottawa wants to be.
Get Involved
If you missed this year's soirée, it's not too late to support ONFE's work. The organization accepts donations year-round and is always looking for community partners and volunteers who want to make a tangible difference in Ottawa classrooms.
You can learn more at onfe-rope.ca.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal / OBJ.ca
