In 1996, a group consisting of Dr. Walther Lichem (Austrian Ambassador to Canada), Roland Pirker (ACC and Austrian Society of Ottawa), Otto Heberlein (Austrian Society of Ottawa) and Garry Bonner (ACC) conceived the idea of a ball in Ottawa modelled on the Opera Ball in Vienna. Unfortunately, the ball suffered initially from major financial constraints. David Wallace and Benny Scott joined in 1997 and, together with Ambassador Lichem, were able to put the ball on a solid financial footing. From that point on, the ball was highly successful. It was the highlight of the winter social season and managed to raise many thousands of dollars for the several charities it supported. The ACC and Austrian Society of Ottawa continued to be involved in the organization of the ball until the fall of 2009, at which time the ball was taken over by another group.
The website of the Viennese Opera Ball Ottawa, the new name for the ball, gives full details of its current incarnation.
The website of the Ottawa Viennese Winter Ball is the website as it was during the years the ACC and the Austrian Society of Ottawa were involved in organizing the ball. It contains many details of the history history of the Winter Ball over the years.
