The annual Homes for the Holidays fundraising event is hoping to spread more cheer this year with additional homeowners and artists joining the tour.
Homes for the Holidays brings local businesses, known for their artistry and flair, together to decorate different homes on the tour, and local artists donate pieces for ticketholders to bid on or purchase.
For the 12th year, people can purchase tickets to tour elegant holiday-adorned homes from Rockcliffe Park to Kanata to raise money for Hospice Care Ottawa. The event runs from Nov. 14-16.
One local Ottawa artist, Gayle Kells, has donated an original piece of artwork this year to be raffled off amongst ticketholders. Kells’ studio is located in Centretown and she is known for her work that draws heavily on issues of female identity. Her art has been displayed at several exhibitions at the Ottawa Art Gallery.
Robert Greenslade, spokesperson for Homes for the Holidays is calling the event the “new and expanded tour” with eight locations on the tour this year instead of six.
One of the new stops is called Tables to Dine For. At Centretown’s Orange Gallery, five rooms will present exquisite holiday themed table settings as local contemporary art hangs on the walls.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to supporting end of life care through Hospice Care Ottawa. Money raised will go to building bed facilities at the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice facility in Kanata, which was built last year.
The newly opened facility will also be professionally decorated and is another added stop to the tour this year. Ticketholders can stop by and enjoy seasonal refreshments and bid on a collection of holiday wreaths through a silent auction.
Proceeds will also come from the Holiday Pop Up Shop, located at the residence of the Irish ambassador to Canada. It will feature items for sale from local artisans, bakers and business owners. The items range from children’s clothing, jewelry, artwork, Christmas décor and pastries, with a portion of the sales going towards Ottawa Hospice.
One of the eight homes featured on this year’s tour is the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner to Canada.
Penny Tucker, the High Commissioner’s wife, says she is excited for Ottawa residents to get a taste of New Zealand life.
“The florist that has been working with us has really embraced the concept of New Zealand colours. There’s a lot of red and there’s a lot of black,” says Tucker. “A lot of it will be quite avant-garde in terms of the actual floral designs and décor.”
Tucker is an honourary patron of the Ottawa May Court Hospice and says she feels a special connection to Homes for the Holidays. “They (hospice care) just do an incredible job looking after people in situations that are extremely challenging, so I am very happy and proud to be associated with it.”
Artistic Landscape Designs was selected to decorate the Tucker’s home. Elise Schmitz, manager of the boutique, says being asked to decorate a home has been a goal of hers for years.
“It’s been a long-standing tradition that the top standing florists in Ottawa are asked to do the homes so we were absolutely thrilled,” she says.
She is planning on representing New Zealand culture in her design. “New Zealanders are very laid back,” says Schmitz. “They’re not formal and they’re not stuffy.”
The house is not going to have a traditional balsam fir Christmas tree, but a Norfolk pine, which is native to New Zealand. Instead of adding the more traditional oranges or pomegranates into holiday arrangements, Schmitz has decided to use kiwis. There will also be outdoor lanterns incorporated into the design, symbolizing the sacredness of fire in the country’s culture. Schmitz has also added netting into the décor, a nod to the native Māori fishermen of New Zealand.
“It’s going to be a little different than I think some people will expect and definitely not the Coca-Cola Christmas,” says Schmitz. “It’s totally different. So I’m hoping people will be delightfully surprised.”
Tickets for the event are $50 and give attendees access to all eight homes, as well as the Ruddy-Shenkman Centre, the Holiday Pop Up Shop and the Tables to Dine For stop located at the Orange Gallery.