On April 25, Canadian politics and literature joined forces for the annual Politics and the Pen gala. Held at the Fairmont Château Laurier, the event brought together politicians, writers, diplomats, leaders from the arts and business communities, and other notable names to celebrate with food, drink, entertainment and — of course — memorable conversation. The night also included a presentation of the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing to Richard Gwyn for his biography Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times; Volume Two: 1867-1891. Here’s a look at the who’s who from the night (guests walked away with copies of Ottawa Magazine in their goodie bags). For an insider’s perspective on the evening, check out the post on Ottawa Magazine’s Politics Chatter blog, where Mark Bourrie blogged about the event in a post entitled “Dishing on last night’s Politics and the Pen dinner. Hint: Barbara Amiel rocked it.” Photography by Jake Wright and Steven Gerecke.
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- (L to R) Co-hosts David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, with Gary Doer, Ambassador of Canada to the U.S., get the party started with some good-natured arm wrestling.
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- The ballroom at the Chateau Laurier buzzes with excitement before the event.
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- Amanda Lang, Writers’ Trust of Canada Vice Chair.
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- Shaughnessy Cohen Prize nominees and Trudeau biographers Max and Monique Nemni.
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- Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, with author Terry Fallis.
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- Laureen Harper with Peter Kent, Minister of Environment
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- (L to R) Don Oravec, Executive Director for the Writers’ Trust of Canada with Bernadette Kahnert and Peter Kahnert, Chair of the Writers’ Trust of Canada.
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- Arlene Perly Rae from the Politics and the Pen committee and Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Bob Rae.
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- (L to R) Broadcasters Don Newman and Wendy Mesley with Leader of the Official Opposition Thomas Mulcair.
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- (L to R) Senator Linda Frum; Chris Alexander, MP; Lisa Samson, Politics and the Pen committee.
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- (Left) John Lounds, President and CEO of Nature Conservancy of Canada, with author Graeme Gibson.
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- John Geddes, Ottawa Bureau Editor for Maclean’s, shared a laugh with Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance.
