Community Partnerships at The Westin Ottawa
The Westin Ottawa is committed to giving back to the community, so we have established numerous community partnerships and events. Learn more about our involvement below:
Event: Big Bike
Charitable Organization: Heart & Stroke Foundation
Funds Raised: $3321.00
Big Bike was a hugely successful fundraising event that the Westin Ottawa Team participated in on August 19, 2011. It began with recruiting 29 team members/riders to raise funds for Heart & Stroke research. Our team was very enthusiastic about the cause and the big bike ride itself. It was a sunny Friday afternoon, with all 29 riders proudly wearing our “Westin Cares” t-shirts. We cheered and celebrated our fundraising efforts and rode around the capital on the oversized, 30 passenger red bike! We were one of the top fundraising teams in Ottawa raising $3,321.00.
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Event: CHEO Fundraiser (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario)
Charitable Organization: CHEO
Funds Raised Annually: $1000.00
The annual CHEO fundraiser is hosted and organized by our talented Culinary Team. A delicious and healthy buffet using food donations from various suppliers is served by our Chefs in our associate cafeteria for $5 per associate. 50/50 tickets are also for sale during the course of the event. All proceeds go directly to CHEO.
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Event: My First Suit Program
Charitable Organization: Local Community
In co-operation with Brown’s Cleaners, The Westin Ottawa donates all of our gently used business attire to a program called "My First Suit" program, developed by Brown's Cleaners. This program provides professsional attire to disadvantaged individuals looking to enter or rejoin the workforce.
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Event: Capital Clean Up (Annual)
The Westin Ottawa's Green Committee is committed to showing that The Westin Ottawa cares! Since 2008, the Committee has organized and participated in a city-wide event called “Clean up the Capital". The City of Ottawa encourages individuals and businesses to choose one day in early spring or fall to sweep and pick up litter in order to help make our Nation's capital bright and clean!
This event draws associates from all departments, who spend the morning/afternoon beautifying the city we live in. Everyone is given a "Westin Cares" t-shirt, and we take to the streets, parks, and alleys equipped with garbage bags and brooms doing the best we can to help the environment and ensure our city is even more beautiful for its residents and tourists.
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Event: Earth Hour (Annual)
Each year, The Westin Ottawa participates in the world’s largest environmental event: Earth Hour. On the last Saturday of March, The Westin Ottawa powers down all unessential lighting from 8:30pm – 9:30pm. Most recently in 2011 and 2012, we hosted a fun and interactive reception in the hotel lobby, featuring local sustainable food, live acoustic entertainment, and a wide variety of environmental activities.
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Event: Cooking for the Cure
Charitable Organization: Canadian Cancer Society
Funds Raised Annually: $1500.00
Since 2009, our Culinary Team has organized a bake sale, lunch and silent auction for the associates of The Westin Ottawa. This event has become an annual tradition, and takes place every April in our staff cafeteria. All culinary associates are asked to bake their favourite dishes and desserts, which are then marked for sale at modest prices. However, the generous hotel team always donates much more than the asking price for this amazing cause - cancer research.
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Event: Christmas Cheer
Charitable Organizations: Ottawa Food Bank, Sharing and Caring Exchange, local shelters and community outreach programs
Average Funds Raised: $165,000.00
“Christmas Cheer" is an annual event held at the Westin Ottawa Hotel since 1991. Our General Manager, John Jarvis is the past Chair of this Foundation, is actively involved in raising funds for this amazing foundation which helps bring a brighter holiday season to families in our area.
The Christmas Cheer event is Ottawa's largest networking breakfast with exciting draw prizes, entertainment, and a live broadcast on local radio. All food prepared for over 1200 attendees is donated from The Westin Ottawa and our partners. Our culinary team prepares and creates a delicious "Superfoods" breakfast, which is then served by Ottawa's celebrities and politicians. Ticket sales sell out every year, and all funds collected are donated to different local chairities including The Ottawa Food Bank, The Sharing and Caring Exchange, as well as local shelters and assistance programs. All of the funds raised are distributed during the Christmas season.
The Christmas Cheer Radio Broadcast begins at 6 a.m. live from the Christmas Cheer Breakfast. At 9 a.m., the broadcast moves to the adjacent Rideau Centre Shopping Centre’s Court, where local musicians and celebrities will sing Christmas songs, read pledges and have fun while raising money for the Christmas Cheer Foundation.
The event is entirely planned by the executive office of The Westin Ottawa, and all leaders volunteer their time from 6am until 11am in many different areas, including directing guests, checking coats, clearing tables or washing dishes! This event brings our team together for this worthy cause.
References from Local Community Groups available upon request