around town: sophie grégoire trudeau leaves 'em feeling ......4/14/2016 around town: sophie...
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4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P S More from Caroline Phillips (HTTP://OTTAWACITIZEN.COM/AUTHOR/CAROLINPHILLIPS)
Published on: April 7, 2016 | Last Updated: April 7, 2016 2:58 PM EDT
Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves 'em feelingwarm and fuzzy at Debra DynesFamily House event
Sophie GrégoireTrudeau and her eldest son, Xavier, eight, seen with members of free music program
4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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OrKidstra following the young musicians' performance at Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, as part
of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Debra Dynes Family House. C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P S /O T T AWA C I T I Z E N
“I’d vote for her,” an audience member utteredaloud after listening to Sophie Grégoire‐Trudeau deliver a heart‐warming keynoteaddress about strong communities during aspecial event held Wednesday to celebrate DebraDynes Family House (DDFH) and the 20 yearsthat it’s been improving the lives of low‐incomeand multi‐culturally diverse families, childrenand youth.
GrégoireTrudeau, wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrived to
Ottawa City Hall with her eldest son, eightyearold Xavier. Having the
PM’s wife attend the event created an exciting buzz in the air. What
became clear from listening to her speak and watching her interact
with the public is that GrégoireTrudeau enjoys being around others.
She loves people. And they love her.
“The diúerences that separate human beings are nothing compared to
the similarities that bond us together,” she told her audience while
speaking without notes. “When you live from that space, your
interaction with other people completely changes.
4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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Keynote speaker Sophie GrégoireTrudeau and her eldest son, Xavier, eight, were at
Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, for the 20th anniversary and fundraiser
for Debra Dynes Family House, the multiservice community resource centre for low
income and working poor families, children and youth. C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P S /O T T AWA C I T I Z E N
“Because, you know that if you are fortunate, and my son, Xavier,
ahem, are you listening?” said GrégoireTrudeau as she good
humouredly made that throatclearing sound that moms make to
command attention from their kids. “We know that we’re fortunate.
We have a wonderful life and it is an honour for us to be of service, and
every single day dedicated to helping others and making this society
and this country a better place for more people.
“There’s a saying that goes ‘I am because we are and, since we are,
therefore I am’,” said GrégoireTrudeau, quoting Kenyanborn Christian
religious philosopher and writer John Mbiti. “The feeling of
community … is really what gives a sense, a purpose to a society.”
That day’s messy spring snowstorm didn’t prevent a healthy turnout
of supporters from making it to the fundraising benefit. The event
celebrated some of the families who have taken advantage of DDFH’s
4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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communitydriven services, activities and programs oúered — from
classes in English and computer skills to youth programs and onsite
childcare — in order to achieve a postsecondary education, career
and overall better life.
It’s easy to create a splashy headline when there’s a violent outbreak
in a lowincome neighbourhood like Debra Dynes, said longtime
DDFH executive director Barbara Carroll. “When we do that, we do a
disservice to the many people who live in those communities, who
have enormous potential and successes in their lives, often against
tremendous odds.”
From left, RideauVanier Ward Coun. Mathieu Fleury with Barbara Carroll, executive
director of Debra Dynes Family House, and Ottawa Community Housing CEO StÈphane
GiguËre at Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, for the 20th anniversary
celebration and fundraiser for Debra Dynes, a multiservice community resource centre
localed in a lowincome social housing area. C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P S /O T T AWA C I T I Z E N
Take, for example, Walid Kandar, now a proud constable with the OPP.
The former Debra Dynes resident is the son of Lebanese immigrants,
the youngest of four children and a graduate of the University of
Ottawa. “What the Family House has done for us is unbelievable,”
4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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Kandar told Around Town.
From left, OPP Const. Walid Kandar with his wife, Dunia, and parents, Ahmad and
Inaam, showed their support for Debra Dynes Family House by coming out to its 20th
anniversary celebration and fundraiser held at Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday, April 6,
2016. C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P S / O T T AWA C I T I Z E N
The event drew a wide range of support, from its MC, Alex Munter,
president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, to its
charity auctioneer, philanthropist and restaurateur Dave Smith. Also
present were Mayor Jim Watson, Ottawa Community Housing CEO
Stéphane Giguère, the fabulous Morrison sisters, Grete Hale and Gay
Cook, and celebrity gardener Ed Lawrence.
The celebration also showcased the talents of young musicians with
OrKidstra, which is a free program dedicated to empowering children
through music education and engagement.
Around Town: Debra Dynes Family Houseevent
(http://ottawacitizen.com/gallery/aroundtowndebradynesfamilyhouseevent)
4/14/2016 Around Town: Sophie GrégoireTrudeau leaves ’em feeling warm and fuzzy at Debra Dynes Family House event | Ottawa Citizen
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Sophie GrégoireTrudeau delivered a heartwarming keynote address
about strong communities during a special event held Wednesday to
celebrate Debra Dynes Family House (DDFH) and the 20 years that it’s
been improving the lives of lowincome and multiculturally diverse
families, children and youth.
Youth from the free music program OrKidstra performed at the 20th anniversary celebration and fundraiser for the
Debra Dynes Family House, held at Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. C A R O L I N E P H I L L I P SO T T AWA C I T I Z E N
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