How it’s Done

Meeting: September 15, 2015

On September 21, 2015, Helene discussed a gala fundraising event she was helping organize for Algonquin College’s culinary program combined with an 85th birthday celebration for Gay Cook, food columnist and author of Mrs. Cook’s Kitchen.

The event took place at Ottawa City Hall

The Media Club of Ottawa (MCO) has had a long standing relationship with Algonquin College and has presented the Melba Lent Woelflé Award to one of the college’s journalism student annually since 2008. That same year Gay Cook, food columnist and author of Mrs. Cook’s Kitchen, was a MCO guest speaker. Hélène Cayer, our September 21 speaker, will kick off our Fall season by linking these two together for us.

Hélène, born in Ottawa.  is of Algonquin and French heritage, the latter family arriving in Canada in 1667. She has enjoyed an interesting and diverse career as a filmmaker, public affairs officer and fundraiser while working at such places as the National Arts Centre and the astronaut program at the Canadian Space Agency.  She was a team member starting the Internet Company for Bell Canada and  describes herself as “an organizer who gets the job done regardless of the obstacles and defeats.”

A Board member of Friends of Library and Archives Canada,  at the occasion of the 85th birthday celebration for Gay Cook  Hélène organized a gala fundraising event for Algonquin College’s culinary program, hosted by the College.

At Gay’s request, funds raised by the November 8 event went towards the renovation and enhancement of the baking labs used by the baking and pastry arts program students, who come from all across Ontario, thus ensuring students have the industry-standard instructional equipment to enable them to graduate career-ready.