Cornerstone Featured on An Hour to Give with Sam Laprade
October 21, 2026
Cornerstone Housing for Women goes Bigger, Better and Bolder - in Purple.
Purple filled the Delta Hotels Ballroom on Wednesday, October 28, as close to 300 guests gathered for Cornerstone Housing for Women’s 8th Annual Purple Tie Gala.
Together, we raised more than $203,000, surpassing the Gala’s fundraising goal.
The History Behind the Purple Tie Gala
At Cornerstone, we knew that our residents, supporters, and staff deserved more than just another black-tie event, so we chose Purple Tie to reflect the vibrancy, strength, and spirit of the women we serve. That’s how the Purple Tie Gala was born.
Inspired by Jenny Joseph’s iconic poem “Warning”, which begins with “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple,” this gala invites us to show up boldly, live outrageously, and celebrate community with colour and joy.
Delta Hotel Ballroom decorated for the Purple Tie Gala
More Than a Celebration
From three cots in the basement of a Sandy Hill Anglican church in 1983 to a 165-bed emergency shelter and four supportive housing residences today, Cornerstone has grown because of the commitment of people who believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Beneath the purple gowns and excitement of the Gala was an urgent reality: homelessness among women and gender-diverse people in Ottawa continues to grow.
The number of women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness in Ottawa rose from 912 in 2020 to 1,789 in 2025. Women over the age of 65 are among the fastest-growing groups seeking shelter, including many experiencing homelessness for the first time in their lives.
A Message of Hope
Addressing guests, Cornerstone’s Executive Director, Anne-Marie Hopkins, spoke about the growing pressures facing women experiencing homelessness and the increasing demand for emergency shelter.
"I see Cornerstone’s vision – that everyone has a home in a community that supports them to live with dignity and hope – and I genuinely see that for our future” Anne Marie shared.
We are able to support 330 people each day because of our generous friends, neighbours and donors.
Every contribution helps Cornerstone continue providing a safe place to stay, supportive housing, and essential services for women and gender-diverse people navigating homelessness.
An Evening of Generosity
The evening was filled with memorable moments, from the energy and humour of comedian and host Janelle Niles to the music and dancing that kept guests on their feet with The Rock Steadies.
A Special Transition.
After several years of bringing their energy, sparkle, and compassion to the Gala stage, former co-hosts Heidi Rodger and Joseph Cull joined the celebration as guests - passing the hosting baton to Janelle Niles.
Cornerstone is deeply grateful for their years of dedication and the memorable moments they helped create.
Thank You to Our Sponsors, Donors, and Partners
A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for helping make this evening possible. A special recognition to Tony Graham Toyota as our Community Champion Sponsor! We are grateful to Debbie Chang, Real Estate, our Supporting Sponsor; McDonald Brothers Construction, our Buy-a-Brick sponsor; Fratelli Westboro, our Cocktail sponsor; Crosspoint Financial, our Wine sponsor; Convergence, our Lounge Sponsor; Lupiano Executive Search, HUB Insurance, Place Pad, and All Insurance Ontario, our Community sponsors; The Laurin Team at Dominion Lending Centres, our Friend of Cornerstone; nNovation LLP, Somerset West Community Health Centre,
Ottawa Inner City Health, our Table Sponsor; Delta Hotels, our Venue Partner; and Ottawa Business Journal, our Media Sponsor.
To everyone who purchased a ticket, sponsored a table, donated an auction item, placed a bid, bought a brick, volunteered, or helped spread the word: thank you.
Your generosity and support helped make the 2026 Purple Tie Gala possible!
Thank You to Our Media Partners
A special thank you to Caroline in the Capital and the Ottawa Business Journal for covering the evening!
Relive the evening through their stories and photo coverage:
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Read Caroline Phillips’ coverage in Caroline in the Capital: Purple with a Purpose: Cornerstone Gala Raises $203K
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See the Ottawa Business Journal photo gallery: Purple Tie Gala to Support Women Facing Homelessness
Thank you for helping us extend the reach of this important work.
