April 11 2023
This Event Is Over

Exquisite Evening 2023

The first edition of a festive evening of food and drink, featuring guest chef Pasquale Vari, and our very own Ambassador Marina Orsini.

Event Ended

In the company of guest chef Pasquale Vari, and our long-time ambassador Marina Orsini, we welcome you to the first edition of our Exquisite Evening!

The Tel-jeunes Foundation is proud to have the support of Vincent Lafortune, who helped create and produce this new fundraising event; an evening of Italian cuisine, good conversation, and lively entertainment, with the honorary co-chairs from Desjardins and Levio.

Your attendance will allow the Tel-jeunes Foundation to continue in our role as a trusted ally of youth throughout the National Capital Region, and to help them grow in confidence and become accomplished adults.

Marina Orsini and Pasquale Vari, your co-hosts for the evening

Marina Orsini, comedian, host, and ambassador for the Tel-jeunes Foundation

From her debut as a comedian, Marina Orsini has embodied dozens of unique characters for audiences of all ages. As a host, she has used her warm and generous spirit to entertain hundreds of guests, from all walks of life, for television, radio, and podcasts. She has been a part of Tel-jeunes from the very beginning, taking up the role of spokesperson and passionate ambassador for the Tel-jeunes Foundation.

During the Exquisite Evening, you will share her passion for food alongside her childhood friend and co-host Pasquale Vari.
Born in Italy, Pasquale Vari has been a teaching chef at the ITHQ since 1995.

After graduating from the Italian Cuisine program at Vibo Valentia hotel management school in Calabria (1984) he obtained two diplomas from ITHQ, one in Professional Cuisine and the other in Progressive Cuisine for Restaurants and Hotels.

Pasquale Vari has completed numerous Culinary Internships at Michelin star restaurants throughout France and Italy.

His career has many highlights: in 1991 he won the gold medal at the Relais & Châteaux Excellence Awards, in 2005 he was a guest chef at the National Assembly’s Le Parlementaire restaurant, in 2011 he was one of three instructors to give a culinary workshop to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, and in 2013 the Société des Chefs, Cuisiniers et Pâtissiers du Québec awarded him with the national chef of the year award.

His years of experience in France, Italy, and Quebec have made him a highly sought-after chef in Quebec’s restaurant and gastronomy sector. Since 1999, he has been a culinary consultant for the catering of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada, as well as for a range of different cooking shows.

Pasquale can also be seen on television; since 2009 he has been a consultant and permanent judge on Les Chefs on Radio-Canada, and he has been a regular chef on 5 Chefs dans ma cuisine, a show hosted by Marina Orsini, since 2020.

A Message from Our Co-chairs

It is an honour to be able to participate in the first-ever edition of the Exquisite Evening, in support of the Tel-jeunes Foundation. We are excited for a wonderful evening meeting all the people who also support this important cause, a cause that is very close to the heart for Desjardins and Levio. 

As we are all aware, today’s young people continue to feel the impact of the pandemic, especially when it comes to their studies and their social relationships. Tel-jeunes plays an important role in supporting them through this critical stage of their lives. 

Naturally, these activities require financial and human support. This is especially true for an organization like Tel-jeunes, which has to adapt to the ever-changing needs and new realities of youth, by constantly transforming the online services they offer so that adolescents and their parents can get the relevant help and information they need. 

Your participation in this event is invaluable as it will contribute to the present and future of our youth, their parents, and ultimately society at large. Thank you for your generosity.
Mathieu Guénec and Simon Desgagnés

Members of the Honorary Committee

Catherine Desgagnés-Belzil
Executive Vice-President and Head of Business Performance and Information Technology, Beneva
Charles-Antoine Soulière
Québec City Office Lead Partner, McCarty Tétrault
Diane Déry
Company Director
Hélène Baril
Chief Business Performance Officer, SCOR Canada
Henrick Simard
Partner, Fasken
Hugo Germain
Vice-President of Operations, Germain Hotels
Julie Bourgon
Head of Retail for Canada, Ivanhoé Cambridge
Louis-David Gagné
Senior Private Banker and Team Lead, Scotia Gestion de patrimoine
Martin Coulombe
Vice-President, Construction Pomerleau
Martin Lizotte
Senior Director of Private Equity, Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec
Mathieu Bergeron
Marketing Director, TELUS Québec.
VP of Marketing, Products, and Strategy at GoCo, TELUS
Maxime Durivage
Senior Vice-President and Head of Private Equity Investments, iA Gestion de Placements
Michel Théroux
Portfolio Manager of Private Wealth Management, JFL Global
Stéphane Lirette
Vice-President of Finance, Corporation des Concessionnaires Automobiles du Québec
Vincent Landry
Associate Vice-President of National Accounts Group for Major Companies, Banque Nationale

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