You, too, could have rolled like royalty by grabbing your fanciest hat for the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser, held Saturday on the grounds of Wesley Clover Parks.
The family-friendly, day-long schedule of activities featured aboriginal dancing, horse and dog demonstrations and a hat contest, but it was the fast and furious game of polo that was most unique to Ottawa. Spectators watched players on horseback as they galloped around the arena, with long mallets in hand, under blue skies and ample sunshine to brighten the day.
The fundraiser, held in support of the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton, is a partnership between the park and the Rotary Club of Ottawa South. The event chair is Rotarian Monique Warrack while the honorary chair is Karen Sparks, executive director of Wesley Clover Parks and daughter of high-tech mogul Terry Matthews.
The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.
The 500-plus-acre property, located in the west end along Corkstown Road, is a hotspot for horse shows and equestrian events, as well as a year-round recreation and community space.
“I think this time of year people want to come out and see something cool and different and to enjoy the weather,” Sparks told Around Town. “We’re so proud to have such a beautiful natural setting and we’re just so happy to host it.”
For those looking to posh it up, there was always the VIP tent. There was no shortage of sophisticated and elegant hats and head pieces worn by the ladies. Many of the pieces were created by Madeleine Cormier of Chapeaux de Madeleine on Dalhousie Street.
Worth special mention was Humayra “Myra” Kabir-Faisal‘s home-made fascinator of an artist’s palette. It was an entry in the hat contest. Her inspiration was her younger sister, who encouraged her to create a piece that captured who she was. That younger sister had just been discharged from hospital after having been injured in a car accident.
“I did it to make her happy, and I told her I was going to win for her,” said Kabir-Faisal, a mortgage underwriter with DLC Smart Debt.
Kabir-Faisal didn’t let her little sis down. She did win.
Photos: Polo in the park
The sport of kings was played, and hats were worn at the Polo in the Park fundraiser at Wesley Clover Park, Aug.27, 2016.
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![The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.]()
The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.
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![From left, Wesley Clover Parks event manager Tracy Howard with Ottawa milliner Madeleine Cormier of Chapeaux de Madeleine at the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
From left, Wesley Clover Parks event manager Tracy Howard with Ottawa milliner Madeleine Cormier of Chapeaux de Madeleine at the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![Humayra "Myra" Kabir-Faisal and her home-made artist-palette fascinator at the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa held Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks in support of Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton.]()
Humayra "Myra" Kabir-Faisal and her home-made artist-palette fascinator at the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa held Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks in support of Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton.
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![Andrea Faubert and Farees Nathoo were seen hanging out at the VIP tent during Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Park on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
Andrea Faubert and Farees Nathoo were seen hanging out at the VIP tent during Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Park on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![From left, Ann Matthews, Michelle Begin and Cheryl Howlett seen in the VIP tent during the Polo in the Park fundraiser for the Wabano Centre and Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
From left, Ann Matthews, Michelle Begin and Cheryl Howlett seen in the VIP tent during the Polo in the Park fundraiser for the Wabano Centre and Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![From left, Cailyn Degrandpre and Samantha Metcalfe demonstrated the art of Inuit throat singing to the crowd at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
From left, Cailyn Degrandpre and Samantha Metcalfe demonstrated the art of Inuit throat singing to the crowd at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.]()
The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.
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![From left, bloggeres Dominique Baker from Style Domination and Katie Hession of YOW City Style, with her matching purse and fascinator, at Polo in the Park Ottawa, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
From left, bloggeres Dominique Baker from Style Domination and Katie Hession of YOW City Style, with her matching purse and fascinator, at Polo in the Park Ottawa, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![Even the teddy bears were home-made by Barbara Drew on her "Teddy bears' picnic" hat that she wore to the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
Even the teddy bears were home-made by Barbara Drew on her "Teddy bears' picnic" hat that she wore to the second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser, held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![From left, Polo in the Park Ottawa honorary chair Karen Sparks, executive director of Wesley Clover Parks, with event chair Monique Warrack from the Rotary Club of Ottawa South at this year's fundraiser, held on Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks in support of the Wabano Centre and Therapeutic Riding Assocation of Ottawa-Carleton.]()
From left, Polo in the Park Ottawa honorary chair Karen Sparks, executive director of Wesley Clover Parks, with event chair Monique Warrack from the Rotary Club of Ottawa South at this year's fundraiser, held on Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks in support of the Wabano Centre and Therapeutic Riding Assocation of Ottawa-Carleton.
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![A dance performance presented by the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health got members of the audience participating to music by A Tribe Called Red at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser, in support of Wabano and Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton, at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.]()
A dance performance presented by the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health got members of the audience participating to music by A Tribe Called Red at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser, in support of Wabano and Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton, at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
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![Katrina Turnbull of ouicestchic.com in the VIP tent at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks.]()
Katrina Turnbull of ouicestchic.com in the VIP tent at the Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Wesley Clover Parks.
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![The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.]()
The second annual Polo in the Park Ottawa fundraiser held at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday, August 27, 2016, featured an Ottawa versus Toronto match.
