Every beautiful garden begins with a seed. For Jayne and Steve Lowell, that seed was planted last summer during a walk through their Manotick garden with friend and event planner Catherine Landry. As they admired the gardens, Catherine suggested the space would be perfect for a garden party. Jayne loved the idea, but she wanted it to be more than a gathering with friends. As a member of the cabinet for the hospital’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow, she saw an opportunity to bring people together in support of the future of healthcare in Ottawa. And with that, the idea for the Garden Party on the Rideau was born.
The first Garden Party on the Rideau was designed to raise awareness of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow. Guests wandered through the gardens as they enjoyed local food, music, and boat rides along the Rideau River while learning about the once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the future of healthcare in our region.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Guests left inspired by the vision for a new hospital campus that will deliver world-class care, accelerate internationally recognized research and innovation, and provide patients with access to cutting-edge technologies and treatments.
Encouraged by that response, the second Garden Party on the Rideau, held on August 5th, invited guests to turn inspiration into action. With $100 from each ticket supporting The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, this year’s Garden Party on the Rideau donated $15,000 for the Campaign to Create Tomorrow!
A celebration in support of world-class care
In opening their garden once again, Jayne and Steve, partnered with Catherine, owner of She Shops Local, along with friends Kelly Gabie and Darpan Ahluwalia, owner of Manotick Natural Market, to bring the community together in support of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Surrounded by gardens in full bloom and overlooking the Rideau River, guests enjoyed an evening of local food, music, conversation, and connection. More than a memorable gathering, the event gave people an opportunity to see how every contribution, no matter the size, helps shape the future of healthcare in Ottawa.
“We are all privileged to have our hospital,” said Jayne. “I think we should all take part in it and be proud of it. You don’t have to donate thousands of dollars. If every single person donated $100, imagine what we could do.”
Hearing firsthand the importance of supporting innovation
Guests heard from Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, who shared how community support is helping bring the new hospital campus to life — a place where patients will receive exceptional care and researchers will continue leading discoveries that change lives.
Jennifer Stewart, a member of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors, shared her family’s experience with cancer and how access to exceptional care and groundbreaking research inspired her own philanthropic journey. Her story was a powerful reminder that behind every advancement in healthcare is a patient, family, and a community hoping for a better tomorrow.
Guests also heard from Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, Head of Critical Care at The Ottawa Hospital, who shared his perspective on the urgent need for a new hospital campus and what it will mean for patients, families, and care teams. Drawing from his experience caring for critically ill patients, Dr. Kyeremanteng spoke about the importance of building a hospital designed to support innovation, collaboration, and the evolving needs of healthcare.
The final guest speaker of the evening was neighbour and friend, Donna Lister, who, in 1955 at only six years old, was badly burned in a house fire. She was rushed to the Civic, but with no burn unit at the time, doctors gave her little chance of survival. However, after nine months in hospital and more than 70 surgeries, Donna was on the road to recovery. She later became the hospital’s first medical imaging technologist with a disability.
The event also showed that everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of healthcare. Whether by sharing a personal story, volunteering, attending an event, or making a gift, every act of generosity helps move healthcare forward.
Planting the seeds for a better tomorrow
Every beautiful garden begins with a seed. But it only flourishes when people choose to nurture it. The future of healthcare will be shaped by the same care and commitment from our community.
Every ticket purchased. Every local business that donated its time. Every volunteer. Every conversation shared in the garden. Together, these individual acts of generosity are helping grow something that will benefit our entire community for generations to come.
For Steve and Jayne as well as Catherine, Darpan, and Kelly that has always been the heart of the Garden Party on the Rideau: bringing people together to plant the seeds for a healthier future.
