2020 Recipients
2019 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière : Kenneth Tammadge, Chef Ric Watson, Katherine Cooligan, Kathleen Edwards, Jean-Michel Lemieux, Bernard A. Poulin, Inderpreet Singh, Marc LeBoutillier, Hindia Mohamoud, L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood, Victor F. Tedondo (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur)
Front Row / Rangée avant : Lisa Hébert, Claude Bennett, Dr. Roland Armitage, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, Madeleine Meilleur, Gwen Madiba M. Latulippe, Anand S. Aggarwal
Anand S. Aggarwal
Mr. Anand S. Aggarwal founded the real estate firm Manor Park Group of Companies more than 39 years ago. He is co-owner of the Infinity Convention Centre, as well as a number of hotel real estate holdings. Mr. Aggarwal has a vision to provide affordable housing for the Ottawa community. He owns Manor Park Management, which provides affordable rental properties for all demographics, including families in the Manor Park community.
As a former Board of Directors member at the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, and co-founder of Dhadkan, he helped to raise more than $10 million for the Ottawa Heart Institute. He also played a key role in the construction of the Gurdwara Sahib Ottawa, as well as the Sai Centre Ottawa. One of the founding advisors of Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber, he is also a Director and Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs, a not-for-profit trade group dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship.
Both his contributions and achievements have earned him recognition, including Businessman of the Year Award in 2007 (Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber), the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award in 2014 (City of Ottawa), and Corporate Citizen of the Year at the Indo-Canadian Harmony Forum Apex Awards in 2018.
Dr. Roland Armitage
A decorated Second World War veteran, Dr. Roland Armitage was a member of the Royal Canadian Artillery, serving on the Western Front of the European Theatre. Following the war, he obtained Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Surgeon degrees from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. As a veterinarian, Dr. Armitage specialized in and cared for thousands of horses.
A leader in both local and national horseracing, Dr. Armitage served as President of the Canadian Trotting Association from 1976 to 1981, and then as General Manager of the Rideau-Carleton Raceway from 1981 to 1991. He served as Mayor of the Township of West Carleton and as a member of the Council of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton from 1991 to 1994. He was the General Manager of the Carp Airport for ten years. He is a published author, having written a trilogy of autobiographical books about his life as a proud Canadian, a heroic war veteran and a dedicated veterinarian.
A strong community-builder, Dr. Armitage contributed to the development of the Carp Farmers’ Market and creation of various shops, a café and a state-of-the-art retirement residence in the centre of the village of Carp. In 2011, Dr. Armitage joined a West Carleton War Memorial Project Committee, successfully developing a Carp Cenotaph to honour residents of West Carleton-March who died during the First World War and the Second World War.
Dr. Armitage is an inductee of the Canada Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, the Carp Airport terminal was renamed the Roly Armitage Terminal after its former general manager. In 2011, a hall in the West Carleton Community Complex was named the Dr. Roland Armitage Hall in commemoration of his outstanding service and achievements.
Claude Bennett
Mr. Claude Bennett has served his community in municipal and provincial politics for five decades. He was elected to Ottawa City Council, serving as Alderman for Capital Ward from 1961 to 1969. He was elected as a Member of the Board of Control and served as acting Mayor of Ottawa for nine months in 1970 and 1971. Mr. Bennett was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa South, serving from 1971 to 1987, with 14 years in Cabinet as Minister of Tourism and Recreation, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Minister of Industry and Tourism. In 2000 and 2001, Mr. Bennett served as Chair of the Ottawa Transition Board, overseeing amalgamation of twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the new City Council. the authority that was tasked to oversee the amalgamation of the National Capital’s twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the New City Council. the authority that was tasked to oversee the amalgamation of the National Capital’s twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the New City Council. the authority that was tasked to oversee the amalgamation of the National Capital’s twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the New City Council. the authority that was tasked to oversee the amalgamation of the National Capital’s twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the New City Council.
From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Bennett served as Chair of the Board of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. He served as a director of the Royal Canadian Mint from 2007 to 2018, and prior to that was President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, President of the Commonwealth Games Foundation and Chair of the Canada Safety Council.
Mr. Bennett served on the Ottawa Airport Authority Board and was Chairman during construction of the new Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport Authority, from 2001 to 2003. He has been a board member of the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Central Canada Exhibition Association and St. Patrick’s Home, and has served as Chair of the Board of Ashbury College.
An avid supporter of sports in Ottawa, Mr. Bennett was an original member of the boards of the Ottawa Sooners Football Club and the Nepean Canadians Sports Club. He worked actively with long-time friend Howard Darwin to establish both the Ottawa 67’s and the Ottawa Lynx franchises. Mr. Bennett was President of the Ottawa Sooners for many years and served as Chair of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Katherine Cooligan
Since 2014, Ms. Katherine Cooligan has served as Regional Managing Partner of the Ottawa office of Canada’s largest full-service law firm, Borden Ladner Gervais. Ms. Cooligan is part of the firm’s National Management Committee and leads the region’s Estates and Family Law Group. She also serves on the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. Ms. Cooligan is a specialist in family law and appears before all levels of court.
Ms. Cooligan is a member of the Advocates’ Society, Canadian Bar Association and County of Carleton Law Association. She is a former executive member of the Ontario Bar Association Family Law Section, a former member of the Regional Law Day Committee and a former President of the Ontario Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Section.
An outstanding role model for women and community leaders, Ms. Cooligan is a member, donor and contributor to numerous charities and organizations. She serves as Chair of Women for Mental Health at The Royal, a member of the Leaders for Mental Health Breakfast Committee, a member of the International Women's Forum, a member of the Ottawa Board of Trade, a member of the Women's Business Network, a member of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation Board’s Executive Committee, and a member of the Ottawa Build Task Force. She is a regular volunteer at the CHEO telethon and Teddy Bear Picnic.
Ms. Cooligan received the Women’s Business Network Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2019, the United Way Spark Ignite Award in 2018, the Top 25 People in the Capital in 2016 and The Best Lawyers in Canada Ottawa Family Law Lawyer of the Year in 2012. She continues to support students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa and recently spoke about women in leadership at a TEDxKanata talk in 2019.
Kathleen Edwards
A native of Ottawa, Ms. Kathleen Edwards has made her home city shine. She is an accomplished, nationally recognized singer-songwriter and musician who has achieved outstanding success as an alt-country artist, playing on stage with greats like Joni Mitchell, Bryan Adams and Blue Rodeo, and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Her 2003 debut album, Failer, contained the singles Six O’Clock News and Hockey Skates. Her next two albums, Back to Me and Asking for Flowers, both made the Billboard 200 chart and reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart. In 2012, Ms. Edwards’s fourth studio album, Voyageur, became her first to crack both the top 100 and top 40 in the United States, peaking at number 39 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number two in Canada. Her albums Asking for Flowers and Voyageur were both shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and her single Soft Place to Land won the prestigious Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) Songwriting Prize. Each of her four albums has garnered Juno Awards nominations.
In 2013, Ms. Edwards returned to Ottawa, settling in Stittsville and establishing Quitters Coffee shop, developing it into a thriving business and a gathering spot for friends, community meetings and fundraisers. Now a successful local businessperson, Ms. Edwards lends her voice and support to many charities, community events and organizations, both locally and nationally, including The Royal, MusiCares, Ottawa Riverkeeper, Students on Ice and Golden Rescue.
Lisa Hébert
Lisa Hébert is one of the founders of Capital Rainbow Refuge, an advocacy group that supports and sponsors sexual and gender minority refugees. Ms. Hébert supports some of the world’s most vulnerable people. She is one of Ottawa’s leading advocates for LGBTQ newcomers. Capital Rainbow Refuge has helped to settle about 100 LGBTQ refugees since its inception, working with people from countries where being LGBTQ is a crime and who are often fleeing violence from police, gangs and their own families.
Ms. Hébert has been instrumental in creating a network of LGBTQ sponsorship groups in Ottawa to address the challenges of settling refugees. She also engages the LGBTQ community to support refugees that have no sponsors, offering workshops on LGBTQ sponsorship and settlement.
Ms. Hébert is a community contributor, known for feeding, clothing, housing and offering guidance to LGBTQ newcomers. She works with Refugee613 and other groups to mentor people and foster support for refugees. Her efforts have influenced federal legislative and policy reforms related to LGBTQ refugee sponsorship and human rights. Ms. Hébert is one of the reasons Canada stands out as a success with LGBTQ refugee settlement, making Ottawa among the most welcoming communities for LGBTQ refugees.
Marc LeBoutillier
Mr. Marc LeBoutillier is a leader and strategist in the fields of regional hospital management and laboratory medicine services. As CEO of the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital since 2007, Mr. LeBoutillier has led a $160 million redevelopment project to make that institution a model community hospital with leading-edge infrastructure and equipment, a full scope of secondary level medical programs, an academic affiliation with the University of Ottawa as a teaching hospital and a team of highly skilled physicians and professional staff
As Vice‑President of Dynacare Medical Laboratories from 1996 to 2007, Mr. LeBoutillier led the company’s Canadian business development strategy and managed their Eastern Canada operations. He spearheaded the construction of the Ottawa Regional Laboratory in 2003 and established the first private National Pathology Laboratory in Canada, also in Ottawa. Mr. LeBoutillier was Associate Executive Director of the Hôpital Montfort from 1984 to 1996.
Mr. LeBoutillier received the United Counties of Prescott and Russell Award for Leadership in 2013, the National Capital Award of Excellence from le Regroupement des gens d’affaires in 2014, the Alumnus of the Year Award from the University of Ottawa in 2015 and was a North American Hall of Fame Inductee in 2019.
Mr. LeBoutillier is on the Board of the Dominican University College and is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the Ontario Hospital Association and le Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la Capitale.
Jean-Michel Lemieux
Mr. Jean-Michel Lemieux is a Canadian tech leader and published author. As the Chief Technology Officer of Shopify, Mr. Lemieux is responsible for the technology strategy, infrastructure and platform that powers the tools and services entrepreneurs need to start and scale their businesses around the world.
A strong believer in role-modeling success and homegrown innovation, Mr. Lemieux supports initiatives at both of Ottawa's universities. He is a founding partner, donor and mentor for the MakerLaunch program at the University of Ottawa – a program that helps students and recent graduates bring Canadian technology to market. In 2016, Mr. Lemieux founded Dev Degree, a work-integrated Bachelor of Computer Science program in partnership with Carleton University, and later expanding it to York University. Throughout the program, students split their time between school and hands-on training, acquiring 20 per cent of their credits at Shopify.
He is a founding member of Canadian Tech @ Scale, a conference that brings together the best and brightest high-tech engineers to explore how to start and scale a business and retain tech talent in Canada. Mr. Lemieux is also known for his contributions and engagement around community and social issues. He and his spouse, Nadine Martel, created a fund within The Ottawa Community Foundation to help local causes.
Gwen Madiba M. Latulippe
Mrs. Gwen Madiba M. Latulippe is an international public speaker and an advocate for women and children’s rights. A designer and former model, her work creates opportunities for all people to feel appreciated, valued, respected and equal, regardless of their social background, race, age, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
Mrs. Latulippe supports social community and cultural growth in Ottawa through charitable initiatives and projects, including I AM FASHION, SAFARA Show, The International Dialogues, The Canadian Black History Month Gala, The International Gala, The Sisterhood Talks, The One Voice – Une Voix Campaign to end violence against women, The Equal Chance Foundation and The AFRO World Festival, to be launched in the summer of 2020. She has launched education funds for Orphans Africa in Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal. From 2014 until 2016 she was the Ambassador for North America of the Nelson Mandela Legacy and Official Representative of the Honorable Nelson Mandela’s family. In 2017, she became the first black woman to pass the top 20 and land in the top two at the International Women’s Rights pageant, Mrs. Universe. Mrs. Latulippe worked at the Native Women's Association from December 2017 until October 2019.
Mrs. Latulippe was included in the Women’s Executive Network of Canada’s list of Top 100 Most Powerful Women, in the Future Leader category in 2010 and in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders category in 2019. She received the Corporate and Community Social Responsibility Conference Youth Social Entrepreneur Award at Algonquin College in 2012, and the Young Alumnus Award from the University of Ottawa in 2018.
Madeleine Meilleur
Ms. Madeleine Meilleur has served the City of Ottawa and Ontario for more than 20 years as a nurse, lawyer, and in elected office. She is known as a champion of the Franco-Ontarian community. As a nurse, she worked with infants and new mothers at the Hôpital Monfort for more than a decade. While working, Ms. Meilleur earned a law degree and changed careers to specialize in labour and employment law. She went on to pursue a career as a politician and served both municipally and provincially for more than 25 years. Between 1991 and 2003, she served as a City of Vanier Councillor and a Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton Regional Councillor and worked with her fellow Councillors to create a bilingual policy for the City of Ottawa.
From 2003 to 2016, she served as Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier where she held various ministry position. In 2003, Ms. Meilleur became the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, a position she held for 13 years. In that capacity, she oversaw investments targeting education and health in francophone communities and played an integral part in creating the Commissioner for French Language Services position. As Attorney General of Ontario from 2014 to 2016, Ms. Meilleur focused attention on Indigenous Peoples, increasing French services in provincial courthouses and ensuring bilingualism is considered in the selection of candidates for judicial positions. She appointed the first female Franco-Ontarian Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice.
Ms. Meilleur has fought for important projects for Ottawa including the revitalisation of Montreal Road, the Byward Market, light-rail transit, expansions of the Hôpital Montfort and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins theatre. She has supported the Ottawa Carleton Children’s Aid Society, the Champlain District Health Council, Ottawa Carleton District Health Council and the Vanier Housing Corporation, among others.
Hindia Mohamoud
Ms. Hindia Mohamoud has nearly 20 years of experience in building community solutions through research, partnership development and program design. Ms. Mohamoud has dedicated herself to addressing social inequities. Since 2009 she has served as Director of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership. She is responsible for facilitating the establishment and implementation of a community-wide vision and strategy for improving the settlement and integration of immigrants in Ottawa.
Ms. Mohamoud came to Canada as a refugee 24 years ago and is passionate about ensuring Ottawa is welcoming to newcomers. Her work enables her organization’s partners to create community solutions, like the Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre, led by the Somerset West Community Health Centre and the Catholic Centre for Immigrants. Ms. Mohamoud’s efforts can also be seen in the work of the Ottawa Board of Trade on immigrant talent, in the Equity in Education initiative led by Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre, in the Equity Ottawa Partnership and in the Welcoming Ottawa Week – a platform to convey Ottawa’s respect and welcome to newcomers. Prior to her work at the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership, Ms. Mohamoud worked at Ottawa’s Social Planning Council and at the United Way. She has volunteered for multiple local causes, ranging from her local food bank to women’s organizations.
Bernard A. Poulin
For the past 52 years, Mr. Bernard A. Poulin has been a portrait painter, sculptor and muralist. Recognized in Canada and around the world, his subjects have included politicians, royalty and various national and international icons, including Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Power Corporation’s Paul Desmarais, Yousuf Karsh, Dame Jennifer Smith, The Premier of Bermuda, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Mr. Poulin sculpts in bronze, using the lost wax process. As a muralist, he has created several three-dimensional projects using acrylic, black marble and maple. These can be found in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society and the Solange Karsh Center for Medical Research. His commissioned exhibitions have included subjects such as Tuscany and Venice (1996), Provence (1998), Jerusalem (2000), Paris (2005) and a Grand Tour Exhibition in 2007.
Mr. Poulin is the author of 12 books and has collaborated on more than a dozen other published projects in Canada and the United States. A teacher by vocation, he has been a speaker and workshop facilitator in Canada, the United States and Bermuda for more than 30 years. An eclectic artist dedicated to the advancement of arts and culture, his contributions have been valuable influences in our community.
The Assemblée parlementaire de la francophonie internationale, the association of the world’s French parliaments, conferred upon Mr. Poulin the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre de la Pléiade in 2011 in recognition of his international efforts to promote the visual arts and the Francophonie. Mr. Poulin received an honorary doctorate from Laurentian University in 2019, in recognition of his remarkable career in the arts.
Inderpreet Singh
Mr. Inderpreet Singh is a leader in Ottawa’s South Asian community. Mr. Singh is the Director of the Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards and is devoted to cultivating an audience for Indian cinema and culture in Ottawa. The festival highlights Indian films, supports Indian filmmakers, recognizes performers and business executives, and promotes the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. Working in partnership with Ottawa Tourism and other local organizations, the awards connect and promote local talent, filmmakers, distributors and producers.
Previously, Mr. Singh published a fan magazine called Bollywood Plus. He also publishes South Asian Connection, a business directory and guide to local business and professionals, targeted to the South Asian community in Ottawa. Now in its ninth edition, South Asian Connection has a distribution of more than 15,000 copies and is available free at local libraries and Metro grocery stores in Ottawa.
Mr. Singh founded the annual Job and Newcomers Settlement Fair, which allows newcomers to Ottawa to learn about settlement services, secure mentorship and entrepreneurship support, and connect job seekers with work opportunities. Mr. Singh supports fundraising initiatives for the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Queensway Carleton Hospital and the United Way. In 2016, he participated in the Mayor’s Trade Mission to India, travelling with the mission to generate investments and opportunities in technology, film production and tourism.
L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood
As founder and President of Andrex Holding Limited since 1973, Mr. Sandy Smallwood is a leader in the regeneration of landmark buildings. He offers exceptional heritage accommodations in Canada and the United States and has received six municipal heritage restoration awards. His stewardship of heritage properties includes the Strathcona Apartments, the Windsor Arms, the home of the National Trust of Canada at 190 Bronson Avenue, and the Wallis House on Rideau Street. Through these and other projects, Mr. Smallwood has provided direction on the importance of heritage properties in the city. He is the President of Historic Ottawa Developments and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Ontario Heritage Trust.
In 2012, Mr. Smallwood was appointed as City Council’s Citizen Representation to the Ottawa Police Services Board, where he now serves as Vice-Chair. In 2013, he was elected Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Police Governance, an organization focused on issues of police governance from across Canada. Mr. Smallwood is a former Rockcliffe Park Councillor, and a former board member of both the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Ottawa Arts Centre Foundation. He is a well-known philanthropist, providing significant support to the Ottawa Heart Institute.
Recognized by various organizations for his contributions, he received the Ontario Heritage Foundation Award for Achievement in 1996, the Heritage Canada Foundation Prize for Exemplary Stewardship of Heritage Architecture in 2007, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012.
Kenneth Tammadge
Mr. Kenneth Tammadge is a senior accounting and business leader with more than 40 years of experience providing taxation and business advisory solutions to clients. Mr. Tammadge is a Tax Partner with Baker Tilly Ottawa LLP and has been the Managing Partner since 2012. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and a Fellow and member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He has been involved in many marketing and business development activities, including co-authoring brochures on research and development tax incentives, and financial planning.
Mr. Tammadge has been a long-time supporter and contributor to many local organizations in his community. These include serving as Co-Chair of the Boys and Girls Club Ski-a-thon Committee, past member of the Community Foundation of Ottawa-Carleton’s Board of Advisors, past member of the Board of the Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation, past member of the National Capital Dragon Boat Festival Committee and past Treasurer and Director of the Kanata Chamber of Commerce. He has also been past Chair and Honorary Director of the St. Patrick's Home of Ottawa, chairing their Corporate Development Committee and helping secure financial support to rebuild St. Patrick’s Home. For many years, he has organized a team to run in the 24-hour relay, a major fundraiser for The Royal.
Chef Ric Watson
As the Executive Chef and Director of Food Services at The Ottawa Mission, Chef Ric Watson is responsible for managing the staff, students and volunteers who serve daily meals to shelter clients and community residents. While preparing more than 1,400 meals per day for some of those in Ottawa facing the greatest need, Chef Ric also mentors and teaches the skills and tricks of his trade.
Having been homeless and struggled with alcohol issues himself, Chef Ric found a mentor-based program that turned his path around and led him to earn a Professional Cook Red Seal Endorsement from Camosun College in Victoria, B.C., and a certificate in Hotel and Restaurant Management. His career led him back to Ottawa, and what started as occasional volunteer service became full-time employment at The Ottawa Mission in 2002.
Chef Ric convinced The Ottawa Mission to introduce a similar training program to the one that had transformed his life. In 2004, he launched The Ottawa Mission Food Services Training Program to train for individuals struggling with homelessness. Every graduate is placed with a local restaurant or caterer as part of this curriculum. The program has graduated 149 individuals, 142 of whom went on to find employment in the industry – a success rate of 95 per cent.
Chef Ric has volunteered with several community organizations, including the Algonquin College Student Advisory Board, the Board of Just Food and the Board of the Ottawa Canadian Culinary Federation Ottawa branch. He has received many awards, including the Ottawa Chef of the Year in 2014, the Maury Carp Award for Community Development in 2015, and the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship in 2016.
Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Victor F. Tedondo
Mr. Victor F. Tedondo and his family immigrated to Canada from Cameroon in 1996, when he was 10 years old. Mr. Tedondo went on to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces for 12 years, as a way of giving back to the country that welcomed him as a young child. He currently works as Unit Security Supervisor for the Department of National Defence.
Mr. Tedondo played high school football as a running back for the St. Peter Catholic High School football team in Ottawa and was offered a partial scholarship to Syracuse University. He also played for the Cumberland Panthers, the Myers Riders Football Club, the Gloucester Dukes Midget Club and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Mr. Tedondo has been coaching football in Ottawa since he was 17, first as assistant coach for the Orléans Bengals, and then as a student at the University of Ottawa. In 2007, he founded the Gridiron Academy – an organization committed to providing a modernized form of training, helping athletes obtain a strong athletic foundation and focus on individual goals. As the Program Director, Mr. Tedondo has helped athletes reach the National Football League, Canadian Football League and Major League Baseball. The Academy now has more than 100 youth in the program, with about sixty under the age of 14. Mr. Tedondo has seen more than 50 athletes receive thousands of dollars in scholarships to both American and Canadian universities.
Mr. Tedondo is passionate about football, continually striving to enhance the skills of young athletes. His approach to success includes both on-field and off-field growth and development, helping youth in the community, often from less affluent backgrounds, to become more confident, motivated, active and healthy.
2018 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Aldège Bellefeuille (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur), Monique Doolittle-Romas, Marie-Claude Doucet, Julian Armour, Dr. /Dr Marc Ruel, David Rattray, Emily Glossop, Brian Tardif, Lawrence Greenspon, Heather Wilson (representing the late / représentant feu Robert J. Wilson).
Front Row / Rangée avant: Elizabeth Graham, Graham Bird, Angela Cameron, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson,Barbara Farber, Kathy Wright, Bernie Ashe.
In absentia: Inderpreet Singh
Julian Armour
Over the past 20 years, Julian Armour has distinguished himself as an arts administrator, artistic director and award-winning, international performing musician. He is the Artistic and Executive Director of Music and Beyond, the Artistic Director of the Chamber Players of Canada and the Principal Cellist of the chamber orchestra, Thirteen Strings.
Mr. Armour founded two major music festivals in Ottawa; Music and Beyond and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. Each festival has generated millions of dollars for Ottawa’s arts and culture sectors and the local economy. Mr. Armour teaches arts management at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business and has regularly taught courses in both music and arts management at the University of Ottawa.
Julian Armour remains a dedicated advocate of Ottawa and Canadian artists and composers. He continually strives to make Ottawa a major artistic centre and cultural hub. He is internationally renowned for innovative, high-level music programming and he creates opportunities for young musicians. He has brought top international talent to perform in large and small performance halls and spaces in Ottawa.
Mr. Armour’s Music and Beyond festival was named “Event of the Year” at the 2018 Ottawa Tourism Awards. Under his direction, the Ottawa Chamber Music Society was a seven-time recipient of Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for the Arts. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and in 2002, he was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France. He was awarded the Friends of Canadian Music Award from the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre in 2011. He has recorded more than 30 albums, and his most recent release with the Chamber Players of Canada, was nominated for a Juno Award in 2014.
Bernie Ashe
Bernie Ashe has enjoyed a long and formidable career in the nation’s capital, contributing to its economic growth and making the city a better place to live and work.
In his role as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club from 1990 to 1997, he helped build the Canadian Tire Centre. As the first CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, Mr. Ashe was instrumental in the development of Lansdowne Park and the launching of major sports franchises in Ottawa. Its Canadian Football League team, the Ottawa Redblacks, made it all the way to the 2015 Grey Cup in their second season, and won the 2016 Grey Cup. The Ottawa Fury FC competed in a championship match at the end of its second year. More recently, Mr. Ashe’s ambition helped bring the 2017 Grey Cup game and festival and the 2017 NHL 100 Classic to Ottawa.
Mr. Ashe helped the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group Foundation raise more than $2 million for youth of all backgrounds to participate in team sports. He launched the Bernie Ashe Sports Fund, which provides children in the care of the Children’s Aid Society an opportunity to participate in organized sport.
A long-serving trustee and former Chairman of the Board of CHEO, Mr. Ashe also served on the boards of the Shaw Centre and Celebrations Ottawa, the organization that planned events for Canada’s 150th anniversary. He was a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Table on Homelessness and acted as a mentor to future leaders as CEO in Residence of the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management. In 2015, he was named the CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.
Graham Bird
Community builder and former City and Regional Councillor for Elmdale Ward, Graham Bird is a Professional Engineer and the President of GBA Development and Project Management.
With more than 35 years of development, construction and project management experience, Mr. Bird has played an integral role in the development of many Ottawa landmarks. These projects include the World Exchange Plaza, Orléans Town Centre, Royal Ottawa Hospital, Canada Post Headquarters, Chambers Building (NCC), the Canadian Firefighters Memorial, the Lansdowne Revitalization, LeBreton Flats, and the Ottawa Convention (Shaw) Centre. Mr. Bird’s high level of experience and expertise has led to the successful completion of these projects.
As part of his lifelong commitment to community building, Mr. Bird donates his time to a variety of community organizations. These include the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Operation Come Home, Ottawa Hospital President’s Breakfast, the Ottawa Civic Hospital, the Ottawa University Executive MBA Advisory, CHEO Foundation Board, the Children’s Aid Society Board, Ottawa Board of Trade, the Community Care Access Centre, the Ottawa Airport Authority, the Salvation Army Advisory; the Forum for International Trade Training, and the Ottawa-Carleton Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Bird received the Governor General Sovereign Medal for volunteers in 2017. A native of the City of Ottawa, Mr. Bird attended Connaught Public School, Fisher Park High School and Queen’s University.
Dr. Angela Cameron
Dr. Cameron is one of Ottawa’s leading advocates for Indigenous peoples, for women and girls, and for LGBTQ rights. An Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, she is heavily involved in both academic and community-based advocacy and research, governance of not-for-profit organizations, volunteer work and research for women’s anti-violence organizations. Dr. Cameron researches the exploitation of the reproductive health industry as well as educational practices that discriminate against the LGBTQ community.
Dr. Cameron is the Chair of the Feminist Alliance for International Action, one of Canada’s leading feminist organization, the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, and the Canadian Association of Law Teachers. She is the co-chair of the Ottawa Rainbow Friendship Alliance, an LGBTQ refugee sponsorship organization. Dr. Cameron has helped develop feminist shadow reports on Canada’s progress on women’s rights to the UN. She has organized a major consultation with Indigenous and other feminists to advocate for and inform the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and to advocate for amendments to the sex discrimination that remains in the Indian Act. She has provided services and resources to some of Ottawa’s most vulnerable populations including refugees facing persecution in their home countries.
Dr. Cameron has been a faculty advisor to the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law Women’s Legal Membership Program. She is currently the advisor to the OUTlaws LGBTQ student group, and is the Shirley Greenberg Professor of Women and the Legal Profession Chair at the University of Ottawa.
Monique Doolittle-Romas
Monique Doolittle-Romas is the Executive Director of The Good Companions Seniors Centre. She was the Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Society from 2006 to 2015 and Regional Director for the Canadian Hearing Society. Ms. Doolittle-Romas has led a variety of not-for-profit agencies, building increased engagement among members, communities and the private sector. She brings a revolutionary approach to social organizations without compromising the advocacy or emotional fabric from which they were built.
She is responsible for expanding and solidifying partnerships in the community with the Ottawa Seniors Pride Network, serves on the Older Adults Centres’ Association of Ontario’s Board of Directors, and donates her time to the Canadian Society of Association Executives as a member of the Network Council. Ms. Doolittle-Romas successfully received funding for Ottawa’s Seniors’ Centre Without Walls program, the first virtual seniors centre in the province that provides a personal connection for seniors who may not be able to leave the comfort of their own home.
Ms. Doolittle-Romas is dedicated to raising awareness and funds to benefit the plight of isolated seniors in our communities. She inspires, engages, and empowers community members to become catalysts and advocates for the marginalized, those deprived of opportunity, or those who are simply forgotten.
Marie-Claude Doucet
Marie-Claude Doucet is celebrating 20 years at the Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans (MIFO), an organization that has provided French-language services to the Orléans community and surrounding areas for 40 years. Under Ms. Doucet’s leadership as Executive Director, MIFO has become a centre for the community, promoting collaboration, engagement and a sense of belonging within the National Capital Region.
Ms. Doucet has helped to reduce isolation experienced by seniors, provided safe and stimulating spaces for children through childcare services and camps, and fostered cultural and artistic expression through performances, visual arts, film, and music school within our communities. Through Ms. Doucet’s involvement in the education sector and her role in creating hundreds of jobs in Orléans, she has contributed to the region’s social and economic development. Through Ms. Doucet’s leadership, MIFO offers many opportunities to young people in our community who have benefited from a spirit of collaboration and a philosophy of community service. While remaining faithful to MIFO’s mandate as a non-profit organization, she has overseen a 300 per cent increase in its revenues over the last 10 years.
Ms. Doucet has been recognized as Personality of the Year awarded by Le Droit/Société Radio-Canada, Business Category in 2017, Leader of the Year – Gala de l’excellence du Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la capitale nationale (RGA) in 2016. She received a Certificate of Merit – Women Leaders in Community Development, awarded by the Ontario Minister for the Status of Women in 2011.
Barbara Farber
Barbara Farber is the President of Leikin Group Inc., a family business focused on real estate development and property and asset management. Ms. Farber has served in the community for close to five decades, investing her time and talent to ensure that the education, skills development, and applied learning required by community initiatives, businesses, and manufacturing companies right across the city are met. She was Chair of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa, and National President of United Israel Appeal Federations Canada. She was an appointed member of the National Capital Commission Mandate Review.
Ms. Farber was the founding chair of the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, the founding Chair of the Algonquin College Foundation Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of the Women’s Heart Health capital campaign. She has also served as a board member on the Ottawa Police Services Board, Crime Prevention Ottawa, Major Gifts Division United Way Ottawa, the Ottawa International Airport Authority and Ottawa Community Foundation, and was an ambassador and fundraiser for the Wabano Centre. Ms. Farber is presently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation. Numerous students in the community benefit from bursaries, scholarships, apprenticeships and employment opportunities that Ms. Farber has provided.
Ms. Farber received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003, an Algonquin College Honorary Degree in 2009, the Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award and the Ottawa Philanthropy Award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising, among other honours.
Emily Glossop
Ms. Glossop is a former member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team, serving as a guide to one of Canada’s top vision-impaired skiers, and winning many World Cup medals. Ms. Glossop is a recreational therapist with CHEO, providing therapeutic, educational and support services to children and youth with physical and/or developmental disabilities. Her passion, teamwork and advocacy help her clients develop independence, and problem-solving and life skills.
Ms. Glossop is dedicated to working with children and youth who have multiple physical, developmental and associated behavioural needs. Ms. Glossop advocates for programs and services for people of all abilities to ensure equal opportunities and access. Since 2013, Ms. Glossop and her husband Todd Nicholson have been planning Abilities Centre Ottawa, a component of the proposed redevelopment of LeBreton Flats. The Centre is planned to be a 125,000-square foot accessible, inclusive, multi-purpose recreation and community facility for all people. Abilities Centre Ottawa will offer four streams of service: sport and recreation, arts and culture, life skills development and research and innovation.
As a motivational speaker, Ms. Glossop gives talks on the importance of physical activity and following your dreams. She is the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a person, in recognition of her outstanding contributions. She also received the Growing Up Great Award for Stable and Nurturing Relationships from the Ottawa Child and Youth Initiative. Most recently, Ms. Glossop was one of 16 women acknowledged for their contributions at CHEO, in celebration of the 2018 International Women’s Day.
Elizabeth Graham
Elizabeth Graham and her late husband, Tony Graham, built Tony Graham Automotive Group, a successful automotive business in Ottawa, which continues to thrive and is one of the top-selling Toyota dealerships in Canada. Established in 1969, three generations of family members now work for the business.
In appreciation of the Ottawa community, Mrs. Graham formed The Graham Family Foundation to support community hospitals, research and disease control, the environment and charities. The Foundation has made significant donations to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, St. Vincent Hospital refurbishment campaign, canine and equine therapy for veterans, Beechwood Funeral Cemetery and Cremation Services, The Unforgettables Fund for families requiring assistance providing funeral services for their deceased children, Socks for The Homeless, the Wabano Centre, and the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. Mrs. Graham and her late husband chaired a major campaign to raise much needed funds for the Bruyère Centre, and Mrs. Graham ensured that a succession plan for the campaign was established. Her efforts have made significant improvements in the lives of so many Ottawa residents.
Mrs. Graham was knighted as Dame of the Order of St. George, and has been a generous contributor to its foundation. The Order supports the personnel and families of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and ancillary government services, in particular those demonstrating need after stressful duties performed by members at home and abroad.
Lawrence Greenspon
Lawrence Greenspon is the senior partner at Greenspon Granger Hill and practices criminal defence and personal injury litigation. He is the only Ottawa lawyer who is a certified by the Law Society in both criminal and civil litigation.
For more than 35 years, Mr. Greenspon has represented disadvantaged and diverse individuals and groups in dealings with governments, police, insurance companies and corporations. He represented the first person charged in Canada under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In 1981, the International Year of the Disabled Person, Mr. Greenspon co-founded REACH, the Resource Education Advocacy Centre for the Handicapped, and was a Chair and Board member of the organization for more than ten years.
A steadfast community supporter, Mr. Greenspon was a chair and Board member of The Snowsuit Fund of Ottawa for 25 years. He chaired the United Way Community Services cabinet, Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa (CAYFO), the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa, the Multicultural Centre and the Jewish Community Centre. He co-founded the highly successful Maharajah’s Ball, which funded the City’s Defibrillator Program, the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital and the Sens Rink of Dreams.
Mr. Greenspon has been recognized as a CAYFO champion and twice received the Golden Apple Award from the Ottawa Food Bank. He has received the Quality of Life Award from the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Volunteer Ottawa, and the Community Builder of the Year Award from the United Way. He has received the Gordon Henderson Award for his community work, the Bill Carroll Criminal Case of the Year award and the Advocates Society Award of Justice.
David Rattray
Prior to his work as a management consultant, David Rattray was an Assistant Auditor General of Canada for 16 years and a Senior Principal for five years. During this time, he was a Treasury Board of Canada appointee to the audit committees for the Department of National Defence and for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. For the past two years, he has been an external member of the Audit and Evaluation Committee for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada. He believes in accountability and sound management of public funds.
For almost 40 years, Mr. Rattray has been an active volunteer. He founded the Scouts Canada Foundation and served as its National Chair and Past Chair until November 2004. He co-founded the Christmas Cheer Foundation in 2007, co-founded the Ottawa Heart Support Group through the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and was a 10-year Director of The Unforgettables Fund. He is a past or current board member of several boards and foundations, notably the CHEO Foundation, the Ottawa Senators Foundation, the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Foundation, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, the Order of St. George Foundation, Rotary International, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 641, and the Fundraising Committee for Roger Neilson House. He co-founded Socks for the Homeless with his wife Marion.
Mr. Rattray is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal as well as the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. He is a Chevalier Commander of the Order of St. George. He is an international Baden-Powell Fellow, was awarded the Paul Harris medal from Rotary International, and holds several other awards for his community service.
Dr. Marc Ruel
Dr. Marc Ruel is a pioneer in the field of heart surgery, where he has distinguished himself as a top surgeon, researcher, educator, and administrator. Dr. Ruel is a professor in the University of Ottawa’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and in the Department of Surgery, where he is also the Head of the Division of Cardiac Surgery. He is the Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery and Chair in Cardiac Surgery Research, and the Surgical Director of the heart transplantation program at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He is also the President-elect of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
Committed to seeking new and innovative ways in which to execute cardiac care, Dr. Ruel co-developed the world’s first series of minimally invasive cardiac surgical coronary artery bypass grafting operations, changing cardiac surgical practices worldwide. He is continually pushing the boundaries of surgical intervention, advancing care, research and technical innovation in an effort to shorten patient recovery time and ensure better overall outcomes. Dr. Ruel shares his knowledge and expertise with his peers across the world, and is widely involved in teaching advanced surgical techniques. He is the editor of a textbook about cardiac surgical techniques, and he has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters.
Dr. Ruel has received many awards. He was named UBC’s Alan Bernstein Distinguished Lecture, was the first recipient of the University of Ottawa Robert Roberts Award, was named the University of Ottawa Alumnus of the Year, and received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was awarded the Gold Medal in Surgery from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, becoming the first Ottawa surgeon to ever win this award.
Inderpreet Singh
Mr. Inderpreet Singh is a leader in the South Asian community in Ottawa, and the Director of the Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards. The festival is devoted to cultivating an audience for Indian cinema and culture and promotes the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. The festival awards act as a platform for networking and promoting local talent, filmmakers, distributors and producers.
Mr. Singh published a fan magazine called Bollywood Plus which was devoted to India’s movie stars and film industry that was available at Chapters and Indigo locations across Canada. In 2010, he published the first issue of South Asian Connection, a South Asian community business directory and guide to local business and professionals. Now in its ninth edition, it has a distribution of more than 15,000 copies.
Mr. Singh also founded the annual “Job and Newcomers Settlement Fair,” a volunteer-driven event offering opportunities for hundreds of newcomers to Ottawa to learn about settlement services, mentorship and entrepreneurship support, and employment opportunities. Mr. Singh is dedicated to supporting the greater Ottawa community, including fundraising initiatives for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the Queensway Carleton Hospital and United Way Ottawa. In 2016, he participated in the Mayor’s Trade Mission to India to help generate investments and opportunities in technology, film production and tourism for his business and for other Ottawa entrepreneurs.
Brian Tardif
Brian Tardif was the Executive Director of Citizen Advocacy Ottawa from 1985 to 2018. Citizen Advocacy Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization that supports and advocates for people living with disabilities, and their families. Under Mr. Tardif’s 33-year leadership, Citizen Advocacy Ottawa grew from a staff of four to 30. It grew from running one program and serving only Ottawa residents to offering several programs, events and services across Eastern Ontario helping more than 1,400 people monthly. In its early days, the organization would raise less than $1,000 a year. It now raises approximately $700,000 annually.
Recognizing the need to support people with disabilities, and their families, Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa introduced a number of family- support programs, including Walking in My Shoes, Lifetime Networks, the Fetal Alcohol Resource Program, a sibling support program and Independent Facilitation.
Mr. Tardif has also served the community as a volunteer contributor to a number of civic groups, including the Ottawa Developmental Services Network, the Ottawa Transportation Committee and Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Advisory Committee. He was instrumental in inaugurating the Celebration of People awards banquet, now in its 17th year, hosted by Citizen Advocacy Ottawa and other community agencies. In 2010, Mr. Tardif was recognized as the United Way’s Community Builder. In 2015, he was awarded the Ontario Good Citizenship Award and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Robert J. Wilson
Robert J. Wilson was a teacher who made significant contributions to his community through volunteering.
Mr. Wilson’s volunteer efforts included working as a National/ International student exchange coordinator, President of the Carleton Athletics Association, Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and an annual judge of the Canadian Geographic Challenge. He was a founding member of the South Nepean Autism Group. He devoted many years of service to the Nepean Museum and coordinated a veteran’s recognition program to thank more than 1,000 veterans. He spent more than nine years volunteering for the Ontario Trillium Foundation and helped grant more than $1 billion to charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Ontario. He served as a volunteer with the City of Nepean’s Parks and Recreation department, the Nepean Sports Hall of Fame Board, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and the Ottawa Sports Awards Committee, helping to shape the history of amateur sport in Ottawa and recognize more than 5,000 amateur athletes. Mr. Wilson spent six years organizing a very successful Canadian Little League Baseball Championship in Ottawa, and the winning team went on to represent Canada at the World Little League Championship.
Mr. Wilson was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, named a member of the College of Fellows of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2009 and received the Nepean Carleton 150 Inspiration Award in 2017. He received the Canada West-Nepean Community Leadership Award in 2017, the Carleton Board of Education Coaches Award in 2002, and the Mayor’s Cup from the Ottawa Sports Awards Committee in 2018.
Kathy Wright
Kathy Wright was the First Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa-Carleton, now known as the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, which launched in 1985. Under Ms. Wright’s leadership, the organization grew from a one-person office to one of 25 staff, hundreds of volunteers and more than 3,500 clients, providing information, resources, education, support and counseling to those with dementia and their caregivers.
Ms. Wright has led many successful fundraising, advocacy, respite and specialized community-based initiatives and programs. In partnership with the City of Ottawa, the design and build of the Bungalows at the Peter D. Clark Long-Term Care Home took place. She led the establishment of the Guest House at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre and VON Ottawa, now the Carefor Health and Community Services. She worked with the Champlain Dementia Network and the First Link Framework to link individuals and families to a community of dementia learning, services and support. Ms. Wright was co-chair of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario for 10 years, providing leadership for a regional dementia strategy implementation.
Ms. Wright was the recipient of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario’s Award for Exemplary Leadership and Commitment to the Development of Geriatric Services in 2016. In her 30 years of service to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, Ms. Wright achieved many accomplishments, transforming the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, and greatly improving access, awareness and support to individuals with dementia and their families.
Aldège Bellefeuille – Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
For more than a decade, Aldège Bellefeuille has been a coach and executive with the Orléans Bengals Football Club. Established in 1973, the youth-focused recreational football club has achieved many championships and accolades during Mr. Bellefeuille’s tenure. Through his leadership and his approach of “no child left behind” and “outside the white lines,” the Bengals continuously strive for excellence on and off the field.
In 2012, Mr. Bellefeuille helped launch the “Be a Bengal, Not a Bully” program aimed at helping children who are bullied, angry and socially isolated to develop stronger social skills and a sense of community. The program won the prestigious Royal Ottawa Inspiration Award (Community Category) in 2012. Mr. Bellefeuille also developed the “Bengals Play 90” program, that helps children remain physically active throughout the winter. Mr. Bellefeuille also generously supported the “Streets for Cleats” program and pioneered a similar program to secure appropriate football equipment for athletes in need.
As Executive Vice President and Vice President (Operations), Mr. Bellefeuille was responsible for fundraising and community relationship development for the club. He raised funds for updated and certified equipment and camps for at-risk and less affluent players.
Over the last three years, Mr. Bellefeuille has worked with community leaders and politicians to renew the aging Bilberry Park into a recreational facility for all sports. Mr. Bellefeuille continues to support numerous high school and community football programs across Ottawa.
2017 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Claude Gingras, Jozef Straus, William Tupper, Dr. / Dr Bernard Leduc, Guy Laflamme, Cyril Leeder, Lawson A.W. Hunter, Steve Barkhouse, Stephen Dean (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur), Sheila Whyte.
Front Row / Rangée avant : Thomas d’Aquino, Q.C.,/ c.r., Dr. / Dr./ Dr Rod Rabb, Dr./Dre Lucy Rabb, Safaa Fouda, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, C. Jane Dobell, Édith Dumont, Grandmaster / le grand maître Tae Eun Lee (Recipient / récipiendaire de 2017), Todd Nicholson.
Steve Barkhouse
Steve Barkhouse is the Founder and President of Amsted Design-Build, an award-winning design build company that employs over 60 employees and has completed over 1500 projects across the City of Ottawa. Amsted has won several consumer awards and Mr. Barkouse has served on numerous boards and committees including the Algonquin College Board of Governors, as well as the College’s multi-million-dollar fundraising campaign cabinet to build the new Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence. Mr. Barkhouse hires and supports carpentry apprenticeships and acts as a personal mentor to students.
Amsted Design-Build also supports numerous charities, organizations and initiatives over the past 25 years including CHEO, the Ottawa Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice Care Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Roger’s House and the Kanata Blazers Hockey Team.
Thomas d’Aquino
An Ottawa resident for over forty years, Mr. d’Aquino continues to serve in leadership positions in the corporate world and in the not-for-profit sector. After serving as a Special Advisor to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Mr. D’Aquino spent thirty years as the Ottawa-based Chief Executive of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, now known as the Business Council of Canada. In recognition of his leadership, he was named a Distinguished Lifetime Member of the Council.
During this time, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. He was the Founding Chair of the Heritage Village of Rockcliffe Park Foundation and has been a long-time philanthropic supporter of the National Arts Centre. A Gold and Diamond Jubilee medal recipient, Mr. d’Aquino chairs the North American Forum and is a member of an international advisory group assisting The Vatican with the Sport in the Service of Humanity Initiative led by Pope Francis.
C. Jane Dobell
Education and literacy have been a common theme in Ms. Dobell’s personal and professional life in Ottawa over the past 50+ years. She is a professional educator, having served both as Director of the Language Programme Branch of the Secretary of State as well as Ottawa Board of Education Trustee and sometime Chair.
She has been incredibly active in her community where she has previously served on the Rockcliffe Park Village Council and Rockcliffe Park Residents’ Association. She has played a leading role in two separate book fairs which collectively have raised seven-figure profits for the Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ottawa Public Library to support library and literacy programs. Ms. Dobell has served as a Board member on various educational institutions including Algonquin College, the University of Ottawa, as well as on the Ontario Training and Adjustment Board.
Édith Dumont
Édith Dumont, Director of Education for Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), has spent over 25 years with the organization. She serves as an advocate for the rights of women and linguistic minorities. Ms. Dumont is recognized for her commitment to school communities and today’s youth. Her passion for education makes her an inspiring ambassador and she has spoken around the world. Ms. Dumont has created global innovative partnerships with the likes of the European Union, FC Barcelona and the Cosmodome, in Laval, to benefit her students and broaden their education.
Ms. Dumont has served on several boards including Groupe Média TFO, Crime Prevention Ottawa, the Ottawa Network for Education and Centre franco-ontarien de ressources pédagogiques. She has chaired the Conseil ontarien des directrices et directeurs de l’éducation de langue française and is a member of Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones.
Safaa Fouda, PhD
Safaa Fouda is a pioneering female engineer who moved to Canada from Egypt in 1969 and became one of the first female Canadian recipients of a PhD in Engineering. Since 1981, Dr. Fouda worked at CANMET Energy Technology Centre, Natural Resources Canada, developing novel technologies and catalytic processes for transforming natural gas into transportation fuels and chemicals. She retired in 2005 as Deputy Director General for the CANMET.
Following her work career, Dr. Fouda has devoted herself to philanthropic and community work, especially in helping vulnerable communities and in cross-cultural bridge building, peace-building and Muslim/non-Muslim relations. She served on the board of directors on the Multifaith Housing Initiative and has been involved with a variety of other community groups. Dr. Fouda has received several recognitions including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and Ontario’s “Leading Women Building Communities” award and in 2015, was recognized with the Mayor’s City Builder Award for outstanding volunteerism.
Claude Gingras
As the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Board Trustee of Ginsberg, Gingras & Associates, an Ottawa-based management consulting firm helping clients to overcome business, management and organizational challenges, Claude Gingras has over 30 years of experience and an in-depth knowledge of Canadian industry. He has helped make Ginsberg, Gingras & Associates the undisputed leader in the field of bankruptcy trustees by introducing innovative practices and expanding its field of expertise.
Mr. Gingras has been a leader in Ottawa’s francophone community. He served for 20 years as President, Fondation Franco-Ontarienne and helped protect, preserve and promote Ontario’s Francophone culture. Mr. Gingras chaired and sat on numerous local fundraising campaigns, including the Ottawa General Hospital and La Cité Collégiale.
Lawson A.W. Hunter, Q.C.
Lawson Hunter is one of Canada’s best renowned regulatory and government relations counsels. For several years, he was Canada’s senior civil servant responsible for the drafting of the federal Competition Act. From 1993 to 2003, he was a partner of Stikeman Elliott and head of the firm’s Competition/Antitrust Group. He was Executive Vice-President and Chief Corporate Officer of Bell Canada and BCE Inc., responsible for overseeing regulatory, governmental relations and corporate affairs. He has been recognized by organizations such as CD Howe, the University of New Brunswick and by Chambers and Partners.
Mr. Hunter has been heavily involved in Ottawa’s arts community. He is the current Chair of the Ottawa Art Gallery and has invested in its expansion and growth. In fact, the new third floor gallery at the new OAG will be called the Lawson A.W. Hunter Permanent Collection Gallery. He has also been a key member on fundraising committees for the NAC and Opera Lyra.
Guy Laflamme
Guy Laflamme has been producing major events in the Capital for over 25 years with the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission. Since 2014, he has been Executive Director and Producer of Ottawa 2017, creating over 200 events and experiences to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial. His previous successes have included Canada Day Celebrations, Winterlude, Mosaika and the H2K millennium show produced at the Casino Lac Leamy.
Mr. Laflamme is also a professor with the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management and with the Executive MBA program for 25 years. He has been teaching with the University of Bucharest Business School for over eight years. With his university students, Mr. Laflamme led a humanitarian project "Making Niger Our Business" to deliver half a million dollars in benefits to Niger. Mr. Laflamme was Chair of the United Way campaign for the Outaouais in 2011.
Dr. Bernard Leduc
Dr. Bernard Leduc has served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Hôpital Montfort since 2010. Previously, Dr. Leduc served as Chief-of-Staff at Montfort from January 2004 to November, 2009, and has 27 years of experience in family medicine. Dr. Leduc led the hospital through its Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada in 2014 and the hospital was named one of the Top 25 Employers of the National Capital Region in February 2015.
In 2004, Dr. Leduc was awarded the Irwin Bean Award, given to the individual in the group of eligible practitioners who obtained the highest score on the certification examination in family medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. He is co-recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for the Family Medicine program at Hôpital Montfort in 2006-2007. In 2010 he was awarded the Ralph E. Giffin Award for his contribution to the Queen's Executive MBA Ottawa program.
Cyril Leeder
Cyril Leeder is an accomplished business and community champion in Ottawa. He was one of a small group of leaders who brought the Ottawa Senators back to Ottawa. Mr. Leeder spent close to three decades as President of the organization. His work helped the City land the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend and the 2013 World Women’s Hockey Championship.
Throughout his career, Mr. Leeder has established partnerships that have directly benefited the community, such as the numerous Sensplexes across the City and the Sens Rink of Dreams at City Hall. In 1998, Mr. Leeder founded the Annual Bell Capital Cup, the world’s largest hockey tournament. His community work has helped the Ottawa Senators Foundation, Algonquin College Sports Management Program, Ottawa Carleton Ice Partnership and the Bell Capital Cup. He coached minor hockey for 11 years and, in 2012, was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Todd Nicholson
A three-time Paralympic medalist winning gold in 2006, silver in 1998 and bronze in 1994, Todd Nicholson represented Canada on the national and international stages as a member of Canada’s National Sledge Team. He won eight medals at the world sledge hockey championships. He has also competed in a number of other summer sports including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, triathlon, duathlon, marathons and para-skeleton.
From 2013 until April 2017, he served as Chairman for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council and has been involved planning and administering the Games from 2012 through 2018. Nicholson was named Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. He was inducted to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Mr. Nicholson and his wife now devote their free time and energy to building The Abilities Centre Ottawa, a centre that aims to create a fully inclusive recreational facility for people of all abilities.
Dr. Lucy Rabb and Dr. Rod Rabb
Dr. Lucy and Dr. Rod Rabb have been family physicians in the Village of Richmond from 1969 to 2016. They have served thousands of multi-generational patients in the community, making numerous house calls. The Rabbs have provided their services to the Salvation Army Grace General Hospital from 1966 to 1999, and later to the Queensway Carleton Hospital and Ottawa Hospitals.
They have been a strong driving force behind the Richmond Refugee Relief Fund which sponsored two Vietnamese families during the migration of Vietnamese refugees to Canada in the 1970s, sponsored and provided medical care for Syrian refugees, including Heal the Children Canada, which brought Korean Children to Canada for heart surgery, fostering the children during their stay in Canada. They provided Christmas baskets to shut-ins and nursing home patients during the Christmas season.
Dr. Lucy Rabb was one of only seven female graduates from the University of Ottawa Medical School in 1965. She became a coroner for the region, covering the area of Rockland to Arnprior for 25 years. She was Chief of Family Medicine for five years at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital and the Grace Hospital. She was also a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School superintendent for many years at the Richmond Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Rod Rabb served as a volunteer firefighter in Richmond for 39 years, from 1971 to 2010, and was involved as a local Cub Scouts and Scout level leader with Scouts Canada.
Jozef Straus, PhD
With a lifetime of extraordinary achievements in technology innovation and business success in the telecommunications industry, Dr. Straus is best known for co-founding JDS Fitel in 1981 and was instrumental in its merger with Uniphase Corporation in 1999. Dr. Straus holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Alberta, Touro College, the University of Ottawa, and Carleton University. He is a current and past board member of various high tech companies and research organizations, including The Ottawa Partnership, the University of Ottawa’s Science Advisory Council and other Ottawa-based organizations.
He is involved in several charitable organizations and is most proud of his past involvement as Co-Chairman of the successful Ottawa Hospital’s Legacy Campaign. Over the last several years Jozef Straus has been very much involved in supporting activities at the National Gallery of Canada.
William M. Tupper, PhD
A retired businessman, geologist and professor, William ‘Bill” Tupper is a community leader in every sense. He served as a Councillor in the Township of North Gower, as the first Mayor of Rideau Township and Regional Councillor from 1974 to 1978 and as a Member of the House of Commons from 1984 to 1988.
Mr. Tupper has immersed himself in the history of Rideau Township, preserving Dickinson House in Manotick, and developing Dickinson Square as a heritage destination. He was a founding member and Past-President of the Rideau Township Historical Society. Along with his wife, he published “The Dickinson Men of Manotick”, a book chronicling the family that founded the historical village. He has been a lifelong fundraiser for organizations like the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, the United Way, the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, and the Association of Former Parliamentarians Education Foundation. Mentoring young people, from Boy Scouts to graduate students has been among his many priorities.
Sheila Whyte
Since Sheila Whyte opened Thyme and Again Creative Catering in 1991, the business has grown to include a take-home food and a retail shop and an in-house bakery. Ms. Whyte was a founding member of the advisory board for Savour Ottawa, and sits on the boards of the Culinary Management Advisory Board at Algonquin College, Ottawa Philanthropy Awards, Wellington West BIA, and the Parkdale Food Centre. She has been a champion for the Ottawa Mission Chef Program, is a judge for Gold Medal Plates in Ottawa and a member of the City of Ottawa Food Truck Selection Committee.
Ms. Whyte has volunteered her time with other community organizations including the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Great Canadian Theatre Company, and the Coffee for Community Cause. She is also a founding member of The Royal Ottawa Women for Mental Health Campaign. Ms. Whyte has received numerous awards including the Ottawa Business Woman of the Year Award in 2006.
Stephen Dean - Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Stephen Dean is the driving force behind the success of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA). He has been serving as President of NCAFA since 2005 and has seen the League expand to include 15 clubs. Mr. Dean is the President of the Nepean Eagles Football Club since 2000, also having served as coach from 1998 to 2004. Since taking over as President, the club has grown to over 700 participants and coaches in program areas such as tackle, girls touch, flag and cheer.
He has forged strong ties with the Ottawa Sport and Entertainment Group (OSEG) and the Ottawa Redblacks while maintaining relationships well as Football Canada, the Ontario Football Alliance, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and local high schools. He has promoted a ‘football helps football’ philosophy and promotes a sustainable and growing vision for Ottawa youth and a strong football future in our Nation’s Capital.
2016 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière : John Medeiros (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur), Jim Robinson, Brian Coburn, Jacqueline Pelletier, Mark Sutcliffe, David Smart, George Hanna,Chris Phillips, Erin Phillips, Gibson Patterson, Harley Finkelstein.
Front Row / Rangée avant : Sister / Soeur Louise Dunn, C.N.D., Bill Malhotra, Adrian Burns, His Worship / Son HonneurJim Watson, Clarence (Gus) Este, C.D., Nishith Goel, Abraham Feinstein, Q.C. /c.r.
In Absentia / Absent : Grandmaster / Maître Tae Eun Lee
Adrian Burns
Adrian Burns has served as Chair of the National Arts Centre (NAC) Board of Trustees since December 2014, and on their Board of Trustees since 2002. Ms. Burns previously served as Director of the Ottawa Art Gallery from 2003 to 2011.
Ms. Burns has dedicated her career to Canadian broadcasting and the arts, education, corporate and public governance, and community development. She is the Director of Shaw Communications, and has been a member of the Copyright Board of Canada. From 1988 to 1995, she was a Commissioner of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and held the positions of Business Editor, Anchor, Writer and Producer for CFCN-TV between 1981 and 1988.
Deeply involved in the Ottawa community, she has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Shirley E. Greenberg Women’s Health Centre, past member of the Board, Rockcliffe Park Foundation, Past Governor, Ashbury College Foundation and Ashbury College, Chair of the Lord Stanley’s Gift Monument Public Art Competition Jury 2016. She mentored a young patron of the Salamander Theatre for Young Audiences to organize a fundraiser to large national enterprises such as the NAC Gala and the Advisory Board of Canadian Women in Communications.
A Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient, she has also received the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award, United Way Community Builder Award and holds an Honorary Captain designation from the Royal Canadian Navy.
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn has 30 years of diverse public sector and community service experience, with a prior background in business ownership and operations. He served as Councillor for the Township of Cumberland from 1981 to 1989, Mayor of Cumberland from 1989 to 1999, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans with various ministerial portfolios such as: Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Tourism and Recreation and Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. After leaving politics, he was appointed to the Assessment Review Board of Ontario from 2004 to 2006 and received a Governor in Council appointment as a Citizenship Judge, and served in that capacity from 2006 to 2012.
Always active in his community, Mr. Coburn served on the Board of Governors for Algonquin College, acted as Vice Chair of the Ottawa River Committee, as Director with the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, was an active member of the Navan Lions Club and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Capital Commission in 2015. He initiated the Mayor’s Car Rally, a successful fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Cumberland Heritage Museum. As an avid wood hobbyist, it is not unusual to see Mr. Coburn’s handiwork in the form of solid oak doors leading into a church, trophy cabinets lining the walls of a city curling facility, crayon trucks lined up for CHEO in his workshop or a pendulum clock on an auction table at a community event, all in the name of charitable organizations in the City.
In 2012, Mr. Coburn received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Sister Louise Dunn, C.N.D.
Sister Louise Dunn co-founded Serenity Renewal for Families (SRF) with Alexa Smith in 1983. This charitable organization serves the community by offering counselling and education for children and youth, adults, seniors and partners experiencing the direct or indirect effects of addiction, addictive behaviours and trauma. As a chemical dependency counsellor, Sister Louise Dunn accompanies countless individuals on their recovery journey.
In her 26 years as an educator, including former Vice Principal of Notre Dame High School in Ottawa, and her interaction with students and families, Sister Louise Dunn became aware of and sensitive to the on-going effects of addiction in their lives. This awareness led to the development and implementation of a wide range of educational and counselling services provided by SRF. In turn, thousands of individuals and families are living their serenity journey in a spirit of health, hope and self-awareness. After 34 years, Sister Louise Dunn continues to counsel clients, facilitates workshops and remains an active member of the SRF Leadership Team.
Sister Louise Dunn is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, 2013, the Eugene de Mazenod Medal, 2015, from St. Paul University, the Doran Award from St. Patrick’s High School in recognition of her 25 years of service as an educator, and the 2016 Recovery Day Ottawa Award acknowledging her commitment and perseverance to addition recovery. In July 2016, Sister Louise Dunn was invited to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to share her experience of working with families during their journey of recovery.
Clarence (Gus) Este, CD
Mr. Este is a Korean War veteran who served 34 years with the Canadian Armed Forces. He has worked with Veterans Affairs Canada to ensure that there is an oral history of his experience in the Canadian military and the Korean conflict. He first joined the Canada Post, Branch 79 of The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) in Montreal in 1953. Since then, Mr. Este has been a member of various branches, including in Oromocto, Trenton, Nepean, Westboro and Bells Corners. He is a charter and founding member of Barrhaven Branch 641, serving as President, Branch Chairman, Veterans’ Service Office and Poppy Chairman. In May 2011, he was elected president and still holds a seat on the executive. Throughout his notable involvement with the RCL, Mr. Este has made service to veterans his top priority.
In addition to his involvement with the RCL, Mr. Este is consistently active in his community, volunteering with several organizations. He was instrumental in the formation of two Lions Clubs and has sponsored 35 new members during his history as a Lion. He was actively involved with the Ottawa Branch and the Ontario head office of the Lung Association, the Mayor of Nepean’s Task Force on Visible Minorities, the Nepean Public Library Board and the Canadian Korea Association. He is a key player in the local Santa Claus parades, Toy Mountain toys for kids’ drives and a food cupboard supporter. Mr. Este also serves as a Knight Commander of the National Region Commandery of the Order of St. George, a Knightly Order supporting veterans and their dependants.
Abraham Feinstein, Q.C.
Abraham Feinstein joined Soloway Wright in 1965 as a lawyer in their Real Estate and Development Law Group in Ottawa. He has extensive experience in real estate financing, acquisitions and land development, and has acted for many financial institutions, major property owners and land developers. Mr. Feinstein has lectured in real estate law at both the University level and in continuing education programs.
He is a recipient of the Carleton Medal, the Law Society Medal and the County of Carleton Solicitors Award, an award that was renamed the Abe Feinstein Solicitor Award in his honour.
Mr. Feinstein is currently co-chair of the Fundraising Committee for the Law Library Renovation with the County of Carleton Law Association. He has played an active role in numerous legal, quasi-legal, charitable not-for-profit organizations including local, provincial, national and international legal organizations. He is a Past President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and a Past Honorary President of the Ottawa YM-YWCA.
Mr Feinstein is a founding Director of the County and District Law Presidents Association and the Centretown Citizens of Ottawa Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and a Director of the Ottawa Food Bank. He is a past director of the Lawyers Professional Indemnity Corporation. He is an honorary member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Law Society of Saskatchewan and is currently a Life Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada. A strong community supporter, Mr. Feinstein was made Honoury President of the National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA in the mid-1990’s, an honour that has been given to only a very few select over the course of the “Y’s” 175-year history.
Harley Finkelstein
Harley Finkelstein is a Canadian entrepreneur, lawyer and public speaker. He is best known as the Chief Operating Officer of Shopify, one of Canada’s most valuable technology companies, and one of the largest employers in Ottawa. Mr. Finkelstein is also a Dragon on CBC Dragons’ Den, Next Gen Den, helping to nurture future entrepreneurs in Canada.
Mr. Finkelstein founded his first company at the age of 17 while a student at McGill University. He completed his law degree as well as his MBA at the University of Ottawa, where he co-founded the JD-MBA Student Society and the Canadian MBA Oath.
He is on the board of the C100, an organization that supports the Canadian technology community and is a bridge between Canada and Silicon Valley. He serves as an advisor to venture capital firms OMERS Ventures and Felicis Ventures, and mentors Canadian entrepreneurs through Invest Ottawa, FounderFuel, and L-Spark.
The Ottawa Business Journal named Mr. Finkelstein “Newsmaker of the Year” in December 2013, and he was listed as Ottawa Citizen’s “People to Watch in 2014.”
Dr. Nishith Goel
After his early education in India, Dr. Nishith Goel arrived in Canada in 1976 to pursue higher education. He earned his PhD in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Goel began his professional career at Bell Northern Research in Ottawa in 1984 before moving on to Northern Telecom in 1988.
Dr. Goel is the CEO of Cistel Technology, an Information Technology company he founded in 1995 which has operations in Canada and the U.S. He is a veteran technology executive and a serial entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of CHiL Semiconductor, iPine Networks and Sparq Systems. He has served on the Board of Directors of several technology companies including CHiL, Sparq and Enablence (ENA:TSX-V). In 2015, Dr. Goel received the City of Ottawa Immigrant Entrepreneur Award.
Dr. Goel has been an active member of the Ottawa community for the last thirty years. He strongly believes in contributing to the community in which he lives and works at giving back. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Ottawa, the Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation. As the chair of QCH Foundation board, he was instrumental in helping to raise $35M in the Care Grows West Campaign. He generously supports various charities in Ottawa.
Dr. Goel co-founded the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber (ICOBC) to promote business ties between India and Canada. He served on its board and was Chair from 2009 to 2010. Currently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Carleton University’s Canada-India Centre of Excellence and is Chair of the Board of Directors of Queen’s University Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research. He has served on the Senate and Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo.
George Hanna
In 2003, George Hanna was appointed as the President of Gabriel Pizza Franchise Corporation. Mr. Hanna immediately embarked on developing a dedicated team that would support his vision and determination to rapidly grow the franchise and brand.
Within five years, the company had grown to 23 locations across the national capital area. With a strong customer loyalty, growing interest in franchisee opportunities and customer demand, a new corporate office and call centre was established in 2008 – creating hundreds of new jobs for Ottawa residents.
In recent years, Mr. Hanna expanded the corporation and brand with the creation of Crust and Crate Public House. The first location opened at Lansdowne Park with plans to open additional locations in the very near future. The company has been recognized with several awards including Best Business Award for Ottawa’s Outstanding Company in 2014, CAFÉ Ottawa Award for Family Enterprise of the Year and Mr. Hanna was personally recognized in 2014 as a recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 Award.
Mr. Hanna has strong bonds to the area and continually gives back to the community. Mr. Hanna serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at St. Elias Cathedral, as well as the Chair of the Ottawa Lebanese Festival. From recognizing the hard work of the Ottawa Hospital employees during staff appreciation week with the annual donation of 28,000 slices, to supporting neighbourhood events and sports teams, Gabriel Pizza takes pride in its strong connection to countless big and small organizations and events each year.
As the company prepares for it’s 40th anniversary in 2017, it has grown to over 38 locations in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Mr. Hanna remains passionate about delivering the ultimate Gabriel Pizza guest experience while growing the company with even stronger ties to the local community.
Grandmaster Tae Eun Lee
After emigrating to Canada from Korea in 1976 with the purpose of introducing the ancient 2,000 year-old Korean martial art of Taekwondo to Canada, Grandmaster Tae Eun Lee opened Ottawa’s first Taekwondo School in 1977. Over the past 39 years, he has shaped the lives of over 20,000 students and developed affiliated schools and clubs across the National Capital Region as well as in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Germany, Greece and Hong Kong. Grandmaster Lee founded Canada’s national sport organization, Taekwondo Canada, and is the only internationally certified Grandmaster with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in Ottawa.
A student of Taekwondo since the age of 12, Grandmaster Lee is a 9th Degree Black Belt, the highest level attainable, making him both one of the highest-ranking Grandmasters and one of the only actively teaching 9th Degree Black Belts in the world. Grandmaster Lee works closely with the Ottawa Regional Police, the OPP, the RCMP and the NCC, in various matters of training and security.
Grandmaster Lee was instrumental in having WTF Taekwondo recognized as both an official Olympic and Paralympic sport. For 39 years he has provided free Taekwondo classes to children with special needs and he is the founder of the Canadian Special Needs Taekwondo Federation. Grandmaster Lee is an inductee into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame, and was the first martial artist inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Grandmaster Lee has been active in Canada-Korea international trade and cultural relations having accompanied three Canadian Prime Ministers and one Governor General to Korea as well as other Asian countries as a member of several Canadian delegations with the aim to develop and strengthen diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Canada. A proud citizen, he has always promoted Canada as the best country in the world in which to live and raise a family.
Gibson (Gib) Patterson
In 1972, Gib Patterson’s career expanded into real estate, buying and selling farms as well as various real estate initiatives. Most notable was the development of two family farms in the Hunt Club Road area into high-density housing developments and commercial properties. Mr. Patterson is the owner of three golf courses in the Ottawa area including Emerald Links Golf Club, Cloverdale Links Golf Club and Anderson Links Golf Club. Mr. Patterson continues to operate a large grain farm on the family owned property in the Metcalfe area.
A founding member of the Ottawa-Carleton Plowing Association from 1978, Gib Patterson worked diligently to extend the Ottawa Plowing Competition into provincial and national competitions, culminating in hosting the 2016 Canadian Plowing Championship held at Anderson Links Golf Course in August, having a tremendous impact on the National Capital’s tourism industry. The association is set to represent Canada at the 2017 World Ploughing Championship in Kenya.
Mr. Patterson has been an active community supporter and Ottawa Rotary Club member since 1983, with extensive contributions including the construction and operation of a respite home, student exchanges, an annual fund-raising golf tournament and the initiation of a goat farming operation in Saint Lucia.
Jacqueline Pelletier
Jacqueline Pelletier is a recently retired facilitator specialized in strategic development and change management with over 30 years experience in government, as well as voluntary and private sectors.
Ms. Pelletier regularly served as host and facilitator of prestigious national and international conferences. She has a strong background in communications and during the 80’s and 90’s, hosted several prime-time programs for TFO, the French TV Ontario, covering broadcasts of government projects, business, arts, social and community initiatives.
Ms. Pelletier chaired the Board of Directors and fundraising for La Nouvelle Scène (LNS) from 1998 to 2001, during its initial creation. In 2012, she co-chaired the steering committee for the 2013-2016 Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture in Ottawa. An active Franco-Ontarian, she was involved with the creation of Le College La Cité and is currently on the board the Funeral Cooperative of Ottawa Inc. She has most recently assisted with the integration of numerous Syrian refugee families in Ottawa. She is the Past President of the Ontario Advisory Council on Women’s Issues, and is a Knight of the Order of the Pleiades of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie since 2000.
Chris and Erin Phillips
Chris Phillips is a Canadian businessman and retired professional hockey player. Mr. Phillips was a member of the Ottawa Senators for his entire career, which began with the 1997–98 season. The Senators drafted him first overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Mr. Phillips played 1,179 games with Ottawa in the regular season making him the longest serving player in the Senators’ franchise history. In addition, he played in 114 playoff games. In 2012, Mr. Phillips and his partners opened the successful restaurant and brewery, Big Rig Kitchen & Brewery.
Ottawa born Erin Phillips graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Science degree in Human Kinetics and continued her studies at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is a registered nutrition consultant and co-author of the National bestselling cookbook The Ultimate Cookbook for Hockey Families. She is currently working at Royal Lepage Team Realty as a Sales Associate.
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are strong believers in giving back and investing in their community. They have been part of the Candlelighters’ Childhood Cancer Support Program for the last 13 years as Honourary Chairs and in 2012-2014, Mrs. Phillips served as Candlelighters Chair of the Board. They have also given their time and resources to the Snowsuit Fund, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation, 24H of Tremblant, DIFD, Queensway Carleton Hospital for the Care Grows West Campaign and are currently serving as honourary chairs for the HOPES RISING campaign for mental illness. They are great supporters of the Senators Foundation and the Queensway Carleton Hospital. Always giving freely of their time, they respond to requests to visit critically-ill children in the hospital and in their homes. In 2010, they received the United Way Community Builder Award. Only weeks after Mr. Phillip’s retirement from the Ottawa Senators, with the support of Big Rig Kitchen & Brewery, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips lead the Ottawa4FortMac fundraising event to great success, raising over $125,000 for wildfire relief efforts in Fort McMurray.
Jim Robinson
In over 17 years as Race Director of the Ottawa Marathon from 1996 to 2013, Jim Robinson developed the event into a world-class marathon, attracting 48,000 participants from declining enrollment of just 629 marathon runners in 1995. Renamed Run Ottawa in 2009 to better represent the organization’s broader focus, both at its flagship weekend event and throughout the year, Mr. Robinson was named President and Race Director and served in that capacity until 2013.
His extensive travel throughout North America promoting Ottawa and the city’s beautiful landscape as the perfect destination for runners from around the globe resulted in increased momentum through the years. To complement the race and better service runners, he developed the Health and Sports Expo that accompanies the marathon, attracting exhibitors from all over North America during race weekend. Mr. Robinson expanded the race to make it accessible to both elite and local recreational athletes including a half marathon, 10K, 5K and 2K family run as well as a wheelchair marathon. Ottawa Race Weekend’s growth has resulted in the annual generation of an estimated $28 million in economic activity for the City of Ottawa.
With Jim Robinson’s leadership, the charitable impact from race weekend is estimated to be well over $6 million and growing for a number of local and national charities. The event has also benefited the sports community by serving as a host site for several national championships, Canadian military championships, and a world military championship.
David Smart
Since taking over as head coach of the Carleton University Ravens men’s basketball team in 1999-00, Mr. Smart has turned the program into one of the most successful dynasties in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). His coaching success is unprecedented with a record 12 CIS team titles, six Canadian university Coach of the Year Awards, nine provincial (OUA) coach of the year awards, five City of Ottawa Coach of the Year Awards and nine City of Ottawa Male Team of the Year Awards. He has attracted some of the top NCAA basketball schools to Canada to compete against the Ravens, allowing many of the visiting players and support staff to experience the Nation’s Capital.
In 2012, Mr. Smart was named Assistant Coach for the Senior Canadian Men’s National Basketball team and for the last four years, he has been a part of Canada’s very successful showings at the Four Nations’ International Invitational Tournament, accomplishing a perfect 9-0 record, the FIBA America’s Championship, with a 8-2 record, and the FIBA Rio Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Taking a year-long sabbatical for the 2015-16 CIS season, Mr. Smart assisted in leading the team to finish third at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City, Mexico.
Through coaching and mentorship, Mr. Smart develops outstanding young men, instilling the values of hard work, team first, respectfulness, modesty and community spirit. He supports the community, leading his team in acts of kindness including visits to Camp Merrywood, or serving meals at the Ottawa Mission, and works tirelessly with youth through grassroots initiatives and local community basketball in the City of Ottawa.
Mark Sutcliffe
A native of Ottawa, Mark Sutcliffe has been a writer, broadcaster, entrepreneur and volunteer for more than 30 years. Mr. Sutcliffe has had a lifelong interest in the media and in helping his hometown flourish as a place of opportunity, diversity and equality.
Mr. Sutcliffe launched his first business as a teenager and, starting as a volunteer on campus radio and community television, began a career as a respected media commentator and executive. Now Ottawa’s most experienced talk-show host, Mr. Sutcliffe is the anchor of Ottawa Today, a four-hour daily program simulcast on 1310 NEWS and Rogers TV. He is also a partner in Great River Media, which publishes the Ottawa Business Journal and the Kitchissippi Times. Mark was the co-founder of both publications and also created iRun, Canada’s national running magazine. He writes a weekly column in the Ottawa Citizen, where he was previously executive editor.
Mr. Sutcliffe is the author of four books including the newly published Long Road to Boston, about his quest to run the world’s most prestigious marathon.
A passionate volunteer and fundraiser, he has served on and chaired many community boards, including the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Invest Ottawa, Algonquin College and United Way Ottawa. Mr. Sutcliffe was the chair of the 2014-15 United Way campaign, and has raised more than $180,000 for local causes through his marathon running.
John Medeiros - Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
John Medeiros has been a police officer with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) since October 1988. In the Spring of 2008, the OPS kicked off an Ottawa Police Service Soccer Mentoring Program that brings at-risk children from grades three to six and police officers to the soccer pitch. The program focuses on children who may be struggling academically, who cannot afford official programming or have endured some form of hardship. Inspector Medeiros has played a leadership role with the program, creating the program and serving as a volunteer coach. With approximately 40 children participating annually, Inspector Medeiros recruits and organizes other police officers to join, teaches rules and techniques, describes the responsibilities of being part of a team, the importance of each player’s role, attitudes, behaviours and their impact and affect on life and life choices.
Inspector Medeiros is also an active participant and supporter of the Aboriginal Working Committee (AWC) since its inception in 2008, and led the effort to spearhead a soccer mentorship program that includes Aboriginal participation. The program includes Inuit, Métis and First Nations children and places police officials in the same space with community members in a non-confrontational environment that reinforces positive interaction and friendship. More than 370 children and youth have taken part in the program and at least 150 police volunteers have donated their time since it began eight years ago. The program has partnered with the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre and the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health to also include Inuit youth in four phases of the program. FC Capital United, Ottawa South United, Ottawa Internationals, Bell Canada and the Sens Foundation have all shared their expertise to ensure the success of this important program. Inspector Medeiros has been recognized by the Métis Local in Ottawa and was named as an honorary member of the Métis Nation for his work and dedication to this program.
He has also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), the Gold Medal award by the Centre of Human Rights and Race Relations (2010) and the program won the Ottawa Sports Award (2012).
2015 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Ewart Walters, Gary Zed, The Honourable / L’honorable Allan Rock, P.C., Q.C. / c.p., c.r., Bryan Murray, Paul Meek, Ron Burke, Ben Babelowsky, Guy Cousineau, Dasa Lelli (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraineûr).
Front Row / Rangée avant: Simone Thibault, Wendy Muckle, Alicia S. Natividad, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, Vera Mitchell, Marion Rattray, Ernest G. Tannis.
In absentia: Bill Malhotra.
Ben Babelowsky
Mr. Babelowsky is a world renowned visual artist, generous community builder and philanthropist.
His art work is part of important collections all over the world. He has produced more than 2,000 watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings and 750,000 reproductions depicting local scenes. He has donated paintings to support many worthy causes. He also supports local youth, having been involved with Young At Art, a juried art exhibition that brings the work of young visual artists to local art galleries across the City of Ottawa, for close to 20 years.
He worked at the Ottawa Citizen in advertising, commercial art, marketing, promotion and public relations for 30 years. While he was Director of Community and Public Relations at the Citizen, he raised several million dollars in support of local charities by donating his art and spearheading many Ottawa Citizen promotions.
Since retiring in 1993, he continues to paint rural and urban scenery of Eastern Canada, the USA and the Maritimes, and to provide outstanding support of cultural and community life in Ottawa.
Ron Burke
Performing in Ottawa for over 30 years, and over 15 years at Ottawa’s oldest tavern, the Château Lafayette, Ron Burke or “Lucky Ron” as he is affectionately known, is a legend in Ottawa. His performances have sparked a love of old country tunes from the 1940's, 50's and 60's.
A staple at “The Laff” since 1999, having never missed a Saturday afternoon show, the Lucky Ron Show has both a local and worldwide fan base. The New York Times travel section selected him as a “must see” when visiting Ottawa, describing the throngs of delighted tourists lining the sidewalk outside the Château Lafayette listening to a packed house singing along.
Loyal to his community, he organizes an annual fundraising event in support of the Ottawa Food Bank, the Firefighter’s Association, the Hintonburg Community Association, and regularly supports other community initiatives and charities. He performs in public schools and talks to children about his passion for music, and is an avid supporter of the Canadian music scene.
Guy Cousineau
First elected in 1974 to Vanier City Council, Guy Cousineau became Mayor of that city from 1991 until the amalgamation of the City of Ottawa in 2001. Following a successful municipal political career spanning close to 30 years, he remains highly involved with his community through community collaboration, public service and social engagement.
Since retiring from Bell Canada and municipal politics, he continues to be a community volunteer, working with residents to identify issues and find solutions to improve the lives of Ottawa residents, specifically within the Vanier community. He is an honorary member of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa, founder of the Optimist Club of Vanier, very active with his parish and the Knights of Columbus, and a volunteer and supporter of the Partage Vanier Food Bank.
A person of great integrity, he exemplifies the importance and power of teamwork and collaboration, demonstrating a professional and benevolent lifetime of passion and participation in his community.
Bill Malhotra
In his 30 years as CEO, President and founder of Claridge Homes, Bill Malhotra has built a range of homes, from basic and affordable to exclusive and expensive residential units, including social housing, suburban family neighbourhoods and urban developments.
A registered professional structural engineer with an interest in downtown urban intensification and renewal, his responsible-growth developments bring people back to the downtown Ottawa core. In total, he has built more than 8,000 Tarion certified homes, 4,000 condominiums and several retirement homes totalling 500 suites across the city.
Sharing his success with the community, Mr. Malhotra supports numerous charities and non-profit organizations in Ottawa including the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and other public institutions, and helped to create the Malhotra Family Foundation.
Paul Meek
Paul Meek is President and co-owner of Kichesippi Beer Co., one of Ottawa’s first and fastest growing craft breweries, established in 2009.
He focused Kichesippi Beer Co. as a company committed to Ottawa’s history and heritage. His interest in maintaining the brewery’s commitment to using locally sourced ingredients, brewing completely in Ottawa, and sponsoring many local recreational sports teams, tournaments, festivals and community events demonstrates his strong commitment to the Ottawa community. Additionally, Kichesippi Beer Co. donates $0.50 for every growler of beer sold to Juvenile Diabetes research, in support of Mr. Meek’s son Alex.
He has partnered with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce to promote business education for new start-up companies and entrepreneurs. As a member of the Beer Canada Lobby group, he endeavours to ensure a strong voice for small-scale brewmasters. He continues to demonstrate extraordinary community commitment in every aspect of his professional and personal life.
Vera Mitchell
Vera Mitchell has had a successful and diverse career in the field of agriculture, both locally and across the province. She is a shareholder of Donevelyn Farms Ltd., a modern diversification agri-business in the Osgoode area. She was appointed by the Federal Minister of Agriculture to the Ontario Farm Debt Review Board in 1986 and resolutely mediated between financially stressed farmers and their financial institutions. She was elected as Councillor for Osgoode Township in 1992, holding office for six years.
She served as fundraiser, Director, Treasurer and Chair of the Board at Osgoode Care Centre; Director, Vice-Chair and Chair with the Osgoode Home Support Program; Vice-Chair of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Board, Director of the Foundation Board; served on the Advisory Board of Kemptville College; and hosted numerous national and international bus tours at Donevelyn Farms.
Wendy Muckle
As former Medical Director of the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, co-founder and current Executive Director of Ottawa Inner-City Health (OICH), Wendy Muckle’s key areas of interest and contribution include poverty and health, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, harm reduction and health care for vulnerable populations.
She has been working with the homeless population since the early 1990s, chaired the Alliance to End Homelessness, and continues to serve as a director.
OICH started on a shoestring budget in 2001 and has grown to a comprehensive health service for Ottawa`s homeless people offering nine programs on seven different sites with a solid base of partnerships and funders. OICH touches almost every homeless person in Ottawa. Her leadership, enthusiasm, collaborative approach and national and international speaking engagements have helped put Ottawa on the map for innovative programs that address social inequality through a comprehensive system of health services that works closely with housing and judicial systems.
In Africa, she developed ongoing health, education and community economic development initiatives for the poor with partners in Kenya, and has educated many children. She has also been involved in palliative and hospice programs, primarily for victims of the AIDS epidemic.
Bryan Murray
Bryan Murray began his career as a teacher, moving to coaching junior hockey in western Canada and the American Hockey League in the late 1970s and early 1980s before joining the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals in the 1981-82 season. Mr. Murray joined the Ottawa Senators as head coach in 2005-06 and has since been promoted to General Manager, President of Hockey Operations and Alternate Governor.
Continually encouraging excellence both on the ice and in the community, his leadership of the Ottawa Senators has resulted in thousands of community appearances by the players, coaches and organization. The Ottawa Senators Foundation surpassed $100 million in community contributions in support of charitable organizations that have enabled positive life changes for children in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
He continues to draft and cultivate hockey players who mirror his own attributes of character and determination. He has also worked with a number of groups to share his cancer journey and raise the importance of regular colon cancer testing following his diagnosis in 2014.
Alicia S. Natividad
Alicia S. Natividad is an activist and philanthropist who supports women, her Philippine heritage and her community.
The first Filipino-Canadian woman to practice law in Canada, she was a founder of and past president of the Ottawa Women’s Network; edited the first Directory of Women’s Groups in Ottawa-Carleton; worked with the Women’s Programme of the Ottawa-Carleton Immigrant Services Organization to set up a women’s co-operative; incorporated the Multicultural Council of Professional Women; and worked with Nelson House, a shelter for abused women and their children, as its first (pro-bono) legal counsel during its first five years of operation.
She was a founder, past president and advisor to the Canada Philippines Business Council, the only national business organization that promotes bilateral trade and business between Canada and the Philippines.
She is a past trustee of the Ottawa Civic Hospital and Loeb Health Research Institute, past director of the Employment Assistance Society of North America, and past chair of the Municipal Law Section (Ottawa Chapter) of the Ontario Bar Association. She continues to offer support to those in distress and unable to afford a lawyer.
Marion Rattray
Marion Rattray has been a registered nurse for 47 years, including 40 years at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). She has provided leadership in pediatric palliative care at CHEO and Roger’s House for 17 years. As the current Manager of Palliative Care at CHEO and Roger’s House, the first pediatric hospice in Ontario, she has held numerous roles in the practice of nursing, hospital and health care administration.
A strong advocate for pediatric palliative care, she has spoken at numerous conferences, media events, and to various groups and organizations about the need for pediatric palliative care services locally, provincially and nationally. She has travelled to other countries including England, Scotland and Wales to share the vision and practices of CHEO and Roger’s House. She has been involved in fundraising for over 20 years for both CHEO and Roger’s House, and was an active participant in many CHEO telethons, as well as supporting The Unforgettables Fund, the Order of St. George, and providing active support for the military and veterans.
The Honourable Allan Rock, P.C., Q.C.
Allan Rock has been President of the University of Ottawa since 2008. During his tenure, both the University and the City of Ottawa have been reinvigorated through projects such the Advanced Research Complex, which is positioning Ottawa as the geoscience and photonics capital of the world, and the Campus Master Plan, which will have a significant impact not only on the quality of the student experience, but also on the city landscape of our downtown core.
He has also been influential in enhancing the reputation of the University of Ottawa internationally. Under his leadership, the university has launched new initiatives such as the differential tuition fee exemption for new international students registered full-time in a French-language program, and the Centre for Global and Community Engagement.
He remains highly committed to students, and has worked to create a stimulating and supportive environment. He is also respectful of cultural diversity. Through his outstanding management of the university campus, he has assisted in the economic development of the Ottawa region by nurturing a culturally diverse talent pool and helping to position Ottawa as a globally significant city.
Ernest G. Tannis, B.A. J.D. C. Med. Acc. FM (OAFM)
A negotiation, mediation and litigation strategist and a pioneer in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Canada, Ernest Tannis is a solicitor and mediator in his own practice and is a lawyer practicing individually with Francis & Francis LLP. He is an educator and President with both the ADR Centre (Canada) Inc. and Global ADR Strategies.
Mr. Tannis is the co-founder of REACH, a charitable organization that provides pro bono lawyer-referral services and educational awareness seminars to persons with disabilities. He helped found and later served as Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, leading to his role as a leader on the subject. He writes extensively on conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.
He was actively involved with the Citizen’s Forum Advocating Insurance Review, which helped to create the first Automobile Insurance Ombudsman in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Tannis assists self-represented people in litigation and mediation, particularly in the fields of family law and Aboriginal issues, estates, and business, focusing on good governance for NGO’s.
Devoted to the cause of social justice and contributing to society, he is a recipient of numerous community, legal and humanitarian awards.
Simone Thibault
As Executive Director of the Centretown Community Health Centre, Simone Thibault has increased staffing from 80 to 150 and doubled revenue from $6 to $12 million within six years. Her passion and leadership have facilitated the centre’s three successful accreditations and resulted in multiple awards from the Association of Ontario Health Centres, United Way Ottawa, Canadian Diabetes Association and CHEO.
She initiated the agency’s French Language Designation in 2011, and she continues to work on several key initiatives including co-chairing the Equity Project of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership to improve organizational capacity in the area of equity with local organizations. She is the former Chair of the Champlain Region of Community Health Centres, and with 25 years of experience leading non-profit, community-based organizations, she continues her dedication to marginalized members of the community through a variety of community boards and committees. Known for her collaborative approach, advocacy, commitment, integrity and leadership, Ms. Thibault’s efforts consistently result in a positive impact and tremendous accomplishment for her clients and the health and well-being of Ottawa’s community.
Ewart Walters
Possessing a passion for justice, strong journalistic skills, and a talent for writing, Ewart Walters edited and published The Spectrum, Ottawa’s Black-community monthly newspaper for 29 years, defending and promoting the rights of visible minorities in Canada.
His contributions to Ottawa’s Black community began in 1964 as a co-founder of the West Indian Association of Ottawa, and expanded as one of the creators of Black History Ottawa; Harambee Canada, which replaced the National Black Coalition of Canada; the National Council of Jamaican-Canadians; and the National Council of Visible Minorities.
A triple-gold medallist prize-winner of Seprod Awards for Excellence in Journalism, he graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in 1968 and received his Master’s degree in 1979. In 1965-66 he served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Carleton, becoming the first Black editor of this weekly student newspaper.
Mr. Walters has published five books, and has also served as a diplomat in New York and this city for six years.
Gary Zed
Gary Zed is the Tax Market Leader for Canada, Canadian Tax Policy and Controversy Leader and Managing Partner for Ottawa at Ernst & Young (EY), and captained their Ride team in the annual Ottawa Hospital event in support of cancer research. As an active community supporter, he sits on boards and committees including the Lift Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital Gala, and the Ottawa Senators Foundation.
He was a member of the 20-20 Campaign Cabinet, a group of individuals who lead a successful $20 million campaign to build a new Cancer Centre at The Ottawa Hospital.
Mr. Zed sits on the National Arts Centre (NAC) Foundation Board and is the current Chair of the NAC Gala. He has been involved with Vintage Wings of Canada, the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards and the Cancer Foundation through the Cancer Champions Breakfast.
Dasa Lelli - Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
In 1975, Dasa Lelli introduced rhythmic gymnastics to the Ottawa region with the founding of the Kanata Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Club. As a head coach and founder, she led the not-for-profit organization to become the largest rhythmic gymnastics club in Ontario.
She has guided dozens of provincial champions over her 40-year career, as well as providing the early development for gymnasts who went on to compete at higher levels. She has led the club’s participation as part of the Canadian team delegation in the past four World Gymnaestradas.
She is a role model to two generations of young gymnasts, developing strong moral values, the ethics of hard work, and the importance of fairness and fellowship to teammates and competitors. It is her vision that drives the club’s overall objective of developing strong, healthy young women who will contribute to the community in their professional and social lives.
2014 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Greg Patacairk (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur), Mary Wiggin, Dr. Qais Ghanem, Greg Kane, Q.C., Tom Schonberg, David Gourlay, Jesse Stewart, Ph.D.,Glenn McInnes, Gary Sealey, Gilles LeVasseur.
Front Row / Rangée avant: Peter Morel, Barbara Crook, Dr. Angel Arnaout, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, Dr. Tim Aubry, Mariette Carrier-Fraser, Nicole Fortier.
Dr. Angel Arnaout
Dr. Arnaout is one of Canada’s leading breast surgical oncologists. With knowledge, skill, dedication and compassion, she continues to improve the care of cancer patients while reducing the need for chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Dr. Arnaout is a scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and the Women’s Breast Health Centre at The Ottawa Hospital.
She led multiple clinical trials aimed at discovering new treatments for breast cancer and she is the creator of the Rapid Access Diagnostic and Support (RADS) Clinic, a patient-centred program aimed at expediting diagnosis and treatment for patients whose mammograms indicate they are most at risk. The process has helped countless women in Ottawa and is now being implemented across Canada as the new standard of care for breast cancer patients. Dr. Arnaout was awarded the Ontario Ministry of Health Award for “Best Innovation in Cancer Care Delivery” for her contributions to enhanced patient care.
Dr. Tim Aubry
Professor in the School of Psychology, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services, and Faculty of Social Sciences Research Chair in Community Health and Homelessness at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Aubry has dedicated more than two decades of his professional life to education and community improvement in the areas of mental health, homelessness, and social services.
Dr. Aubry has focused his expertise and research on further understanding the relationship between mental health and homelessness, with the ultimate goal of developing solutions to help individuals leave homelessness and achieve social inclusion. He has worked with the Alliance to End Homelessness in Ottawa and on numerous research projects and has inspired students to become community leaders and engaged citizens.
Mariette Carrier-Fraser
For 36 years Mariette Carrier-Fraser has worked in provincial education, beginning as an elementary school teacher and finally serving as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for French-language education at the Ministry of Education where she participated in the bill that led to the creation of the twelve French-language school boards in January 1998. She was a member of the Post-secondary Education Quality Assessment Board and a group of experts advising Mordechai Rozanski, chair of the Education Equality Task Force during the Government of Ontario's revisions to funding models for primary and secondary education.
Ms. Carrier-Fraser is very involved in the Francophone community and served as president of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, and as president of the Centre canadien de leadership en evaluation. She is also a board member of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue, the French Language Health Services Network of Eastern Ontario, the Hôpital Montfort board of trustees, and the Société Santé en français.
Barbara Crook
Writer and philanthropist, Barbara Crook devotes her time and energy to improving the Ottawa community. Ms. Crook spent most of her journalism career as a full-time writer and editor at daily newspapers in Ottawa and Vancouver, and later lectured in the School of Journalism and Communications at Carleton University. She is a columnist for the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, and a leading Ottawa-area philanthropist, who has participated as a donor and volunteer in numerous community events, activities and fundraising campaigns.
She is the Chair of the Ottawa component of the Partnership 2Gether Project, sits on the board of the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the TELUS Ottawa Community Board, and serves on the cabinet for the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Campaign for Mental Health. As part of her mental health advocacy, she has been featured in the Royal’s “You Know Who I Am” campaign, and delivered the 2014 Queen’s-Bell Canada “Breaking the Silence” lecture on mental health and anti-stigma research.
Nicole Fortier
Nicole Fortier has shown a tireless commitment to her community and to La Francophonie. Early on Ms. Fortier was a French teacher with the federal government and later managed the coordination of the application of the Official Languages Act. In 1979, she founded and chaired the Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans to support French language culture and arts. Ms. Fortier has been a member of numerous committees at the municipal, provincial and federal levels and has led the production of several publications on Orléans.
She is the founding chair of the Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans, to promote the history and heritage of Orléans. In addition to installing historical plaques in Orléans and coordinating celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s arrival in the region, the Société was able to save the Vinette silo through a heritage designation that celebrates the community’s agricultural and Franco-Ontarian roots.
Dr. Qais Ghanem
Dr. Qais Ghanem has worked as a medical practitioner, neurologist and educator in Ottawa for over twenty years. He is a former Clinical Professor at the University of Ottawa, a former President of the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists, and former Director of Neurology and Sleep Lab at the Military Hospital in Ottawa as well as the sleep labs at the Ottawa and Montfort hospitals.
Dr. Ghanem has also authored three novels primarily focused on gender inequality in the Arab world, co-authored “My Arab Spring My Canada” and published a book of Arabic and English poetry. He is the founder of CHIN Radio’s four-time award-winning show “Dialogue with Diversity” garnering awards from the Canadian Ethnic Media Association, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and the United Way. He is the President of the Canadian Authors Association of the National Capital Region and continues to promote interfaith understanding and gender equality.
David Gourlay
For the past three years, David Gourlay led efforts for the return of a CAN-AM professional baseball team in Ottawa. As the founder of the “Champions for Ottawa Baseball,” he sold over 3,000 season-ticket deposits to business investors and fans. With his leadership the City of Ottawa will welcome the Ottawa Champions Baseball Club to the Ottawa Stadium in 2015 where Mr. Gourlay will act as President. He serves as a trustee on the Ottawa Public Library Board and is a former Director on the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation that supports vulnerable youth in their pursuit of higher education.
He is the President of the Miracle League of Ottawa, a not-for-profit group whose goal is to build the first ever in Canada purpose-built baseball field, playground and recreation hub for children with special needs in Ottawa. He has secured close to $1M in funding from the City of Ottawa, community organizations and corporate and foundation sponsors, with construction planned to begin in Orléans in the spring of 2015.
Greg Kane, Q.C.
Greg Kane is a respected member of Ottawa’s legal community where he has practiced law since 1973. He is counsel to the international law firm Dentons LLP and was a founding partner with Stikeman Elliott LLP Ottawa for 31 years. Mr. Kane is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and the former Counsel to the General Legal Council in Ghana. He also served as Associate General Counsel to the CRTC.
Mr. Kane is the recipient of Best Lawyers 2014 Ottawa Communications Law “Lawyer of the Year”, Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2014, The Legal 500 Canada 2014, and Chambers Global 2014: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, to list a few of his most recent professional recognitions.
Mr. Kane volunteers with the Ottawa Hospital Foundation as immediate Past Chair and current board member, as a Past Chair of the National Arts Centre Gala, a member of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation Gala Committee, Past Chair of the Ottawa Ballet, and fundraiser for the United Way of Ottawa.
Gilles LeVasseur
As a lawyer and university professor of law in management and economics, Gilles LeVasseur is active in constitutional language rights in Canada. He is a member of both the Ontario and Quebec Bar Associations, a member of business and health professional corporations, and has numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees. Mr. LeVasseur has been president of several associations and professional corporations including the Conseil de la Coopération de l’Ontario, the Regroupement des organismes du patrimoine franco-ontarien. He has published eight books, of which three directly address the situation of francophones in Ontario and Canada.
For over 25 years, Mr. LeVasseur has been an active member of key organizations working to promote the French language in Ontario and Canada. He is a committee member and leader on numerous community organizations supporting socio-culture, arts, health, heritage and French Ontario committees, including the Association des auteurs et auteurs de l’Ontario français, the constitutional expert on Language Rights Program and Opera Lyra of Ottawa.
Glenn McInnes
For more than 20 years, Glenn McInnes has been an arts advocate for Ottawa artists and arts organizations serving as a board member, arts patron, mentor, fundraiser and policy advisor. One of his most significant contributions to the Ottawa art scene was the incorporation of the Ottawa Art Gallery in 1992 and his role as the founding chair, an initiative aimed at keeping the best Ottawa artists in Ottawa and to showcase them outside the city.
Mr. McInnes is an active fundraiser for the arts, focusing his early efforts on membership development and the establishment of the Ontario Lottery Corporation’s “Nevadaman Lotteries” in support of the Ottawa Art Gallery, SAW Gallery, Gallery 101, and more recently to PAL Ottawa, an organization dedicated to providing services to Ottawa’s senior artists and various other small Ottawa art organizations. His efforts have resulted in many tens of thousands of dollars being raised to support the Ottawa arts community.
Peter Morel
Peter Morel is the Owner and Managing Partner of TopShape Inc., the parent company of the TopShape Fitness studio a fully accessible fitness facility in Ottawa. Born with Spina Bifida, he has devoted his life to helping people with disabilities reap the benefits of health and fitness. Mr. Morel exhibited outstanding athletic ability by representing Canada at the Adaptive World Rowing Championships in Germany and qualified for the Beijing Paralympics.
Mr. Morel developed and copyrighted a unique “Adaptive Fitness Certification Course” designed to educate fitness professionals to work with clients with mobility impairments, accepted by many different governing bodies. He works with the “Solider On” program to help injured military personnel return to fitness programs and adaptive sports. He is a former volunteer Director of Health and Safety with Sledge Hockey Canada, a past member of the City of Ottawa’s Accessibility Advisory Committee and former marketing committee member for the newly revamped ParticipACTION initiative.
Tom Schonberg
Tom Schonberg is the President and CEO of the Queensway Carleton Hospital. Since moving to Ottawa in 1998 to accept this challenging position, Mr. Schonberg has led the hospital through many phases of expansion and redevelopment that have more than tripled the size of the hospital footprint. Development projects have included two MRI units, two CT scanners, state-of-the-art surgical suites with 10 operating rooms, a 12-bed ICU, a 15 bed dialysis unit, acute rehabilitation unit, and a new Emergency Department and Ambulatory Care complex. In addition, the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre was opened, as well as the James Beach Health Care Centre. Growth and development efforts continue, with the current construction of an Acute Care for the Elderly Unit, the second of its kind in Ontario.
Under Mr. Schonberg’s strong leadership, the Queensway Carleton Hospital now has a long track record of balanced budgets, and is recognized province-wide as a leading health care facility.
Gary Sealey
In 1984 Mr. Sealey established Ottawa’s Club Moustache, renamed Time Out, serving as first President of this bilingual, recreational and social club, building bridges of understanding between gay, lesbian and other populations through sports and recreation. He founded Lambda Foundation, a national charity endowing annual scholarships at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and other universities and high schools in human rights studies related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex conditions and achievements. From 1991 to 2006, Mr. Sealey created and produced Wilde About Sappho, a community-based gay and lesbian literature festival.
From his international work with the Global Network on Food Security, Servas President and International Peace representative to the UN, as well as serving four terms as President of the Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association (KBCA) up to 2014, and a total of seven years with the Board, Gary Sealey offers a strong local community voice with international insights on many municipally-based issues.
Jesse Stewart, PhD
Jesse Stewart is an award-winning percussionist, composer, improviser, artist, instrument builder, educator, and writer dedicated to re-imagining the spaces between artistic disciplines. Dr. Stewart is an Associate Professor of music in Carleton University’s School for Studies in Art and Culture and an adjunct professor in the Visual Arts program at the University of Ottawa.
He has performed and recorded with many musical luminaries in addition to leading several groups and performing regularly as a soloist. In 2012, he was honoured with the “Instrumental Album of the Year” Juno award for his work with Stretch Orchestra. He has been widely commissioned as a composer and his music has been featured at festivals throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. He is a past recipient of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award and is dedicated to building and strengthening communities through arts education and outreach.
Mary Wiggin
A “pioneer” of the literacy movement for over 30 years, Mary Wiggin is the Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy, established in 1984. Ms. Wiggin developed three community-based literacy programs in the city including the one at the John Howard Society of Ottawa; Access to Literacy, a program for adults with physical disabilities at the Neil Squire Society; and English Language Tutoring of the Ottawa Community which teaches ESL learners in their homes.
In 1987, Ms. Wiggin organized the first conference for literacy educators in Eastern Ontario which was attended by 150 enthusiastic participants. She spearheaded the development of tutor training materials which have been purchased by literacy organizations across North America. Over the years, she has encouraged the Ottawa Public Library to develop a variety of services to support adult literacy and second language learners. She was a founding member of the Ontario Literacy Coalition in 1988 and represented Ottawa for over a decade. For 21 years, she sat on the Ottawa Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy Organizing Committee in support of literacy organizations across the country.
Greg Patacairk - Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Greg Patacairk is the founder, organizer and head coach of the Dunrobin Sports for Children with Special Needs Program. Now in its fourth year, the program provides the opportunity for children with special needs to play soccer and hockey in an organized league. His dedication and unique coaching ability to connect and work with each child ensures individual and team success and progression within the program.
The program presents a unique opportunity for children who do not normally have the chance to participate in and benefit from organized sport to do just that. Through Mr. Patacairk’s leadership, the children benefit through improved physical fitness, strength, balance, coordination and enhanced self-confidence. The children learn new social and athletic skills, and develop a sense of belonging to a team, while having fun and making friends.
Mr. Patacairk’s contributions to the program extend beyond coaching the children on the hockey rink and the soccer field. He is also the driving force behind program logistics including facility scheduling, access to equipment, organizing end of season celebrations, and recruiting much needed volunteers.
2013 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Mark Monahan, Pierre de Blois, Carl Nicholson, Scott Heggart, Raymond Desjardins, Dr. Barry Bruce and Earle Morris (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur).
Front Row / Rangée avant: Peter Honeywell, Janet Bruce, Dr. Caroline Andrew, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, Roberta Della-Picca, Ginette Gratton, Patrick Dion.
Absent: Rob Ashe, Antonello Diteodoro, Pinchas Zukerman.
Dr. Caroline Andrew
Dr. Andrew has dedicated more than 30 years of her professional career to the University of Ottawa, building an impressive list of accomplishments while contributing to Ottawa civic life. She is currently a professor emeritus and Director of the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa, and co-chair of their Women and Leadership Speaker Series and former dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. A driving force for social change in Ottawa, she has chaired the executive committee of the Ottawa Local Immigrant Partnership, helping to build Ottawa’s capacity to welcome immigrants and improve their integration into Canadian society.
Rob Ashe
Former CEO of Cognos and former General Manager, Business Analytics at IBM, Rob Ashe has an indelible passion for people and our community. Mr. Ashe devotes considerable time to several boards and campaign cabinets including the YMCA-YWCA’s Strengthening the Heart of our Community Campaign. As a Campaign Cabinet Member (Treasurer) for the YMCA-YWCA National Capital Region, he assisted with the most ambitious community fundraising initiative in its history – a $15 million fundraising goal in support of a most successful $35 million fundraising effort for the expansion and revitalization of Y facilities. This campaign was vital to meeting the growing demand for essential community programs and services such as child care, housing, employment training, language assessment and emergency shelter.
Dr. Barry Bruce
A community-minded resident of the West Carleton area for several decades, Dr. Barry Bruce co-founded a family practice in Carp with his wife, Dr. Carol Bruce. Known for his vigilance in making the health of all residents his priority, the clinic offers a state of the art electronic medical records system, and the large multi-disciplinary “West Carleton Family Health Team” providing primary health care to approximately 17,000 west end residents. Acting as the driving force behind bringing the love of history to the Village of Carp, Dr. Bruce led a network of volunteers and government representatives called the Diefenbunker Development Group, who were directly responsible for saving this Cold War bunker built to house Emergency Government in the event of a nuclear war.
Janet Bruce
Despite prevailing attitudes and fears surrounding HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and mental health, Janet Bruce generously gives of her time and financial support to benefit and advocate for the neediest members of the Ottawa community. Instrumental in the creation of a hospice for the AIDS Committee of Ottawa in 1988, Janet Bruce remodelled and furnished a small house to provide a safe and comfortable home for people living with HIV/AIDS. This organization, later named Bruce House in her honour, has grown into a vital service which offers supportive housing and compassionate care for those in the greatest need, based on the belief that everyone has the right to live and die with dignity. Today, it houses 50 - 60 people with HIV and AIDS living independently, including men, women and children, as well as a seven-bed residence with 24-hour care.
Pierre de Blois
A man of ideas, conviction and passion, Pierre de Blois has made tremendous efforts in the last four decades to help our community progress and to expand the horizons of Francophones. Mr. de Blois has provided exceptional contribution to the capital throughout his professional career, at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and as director general of APEX, an association that represents professional executives of the Public Service of Canada.
Roberta Della-Picca
Roberta Della-Picca has devoted her lifetime to the expressive arts, health and wellness, primarily as a traditional (Aboriginal) healing and wellness consultant, a designer and a facilitator. A warm, sensitive, socially conscious member of the Ottawa community, Ms. Della-Picca has dedicated her professional career and numerous volunteer hours to the issues facing aboriginals, specifically aboriginal women, awareness for violence against women, and education and health organizations for over 35 years..
Raymond Desjardins
Raymond Desjardins was employed with the Canadian Tourism Commission for 35 years, retiring in 1995 as Director of Marketing USA and the Americas. A seasoned hands-on executive, Mr. Desjardins generously shares his exemplary talents in the many community activities he supports, strengthens or builds. Mr. Desjardins is Chair of the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation Board, serving in his fourth term, as well as a member of the Foundation’s Finance, Compensation, Investment, Strategic Planning, Communications and Executive Committees.
Patrick Dion
Appointed in 2007 as Ontario’s representative on the Board of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Patrick Dion is now a recognized voice for mental health and wellness, and is frequently invited to speak on the reform of Canada’s mental health system. In 2009, he was recruited by Ontario’s Minister of Health to serve on the advisory group guiding the Government of Ontario’s review of its mental health and addictions system. As a partner with Greenbridge Consulting Group, he is a government relations professional, recognized for helping clients solve strategic issues and enhancing their reputation and brand with federal, provincial and municipal governments. Mr. Dion’s work in this field, enhanced by his strong belief that business and volunteerism are indivisible, has earned him the trust of Canada’s most respected business leaders.
Antonello Diteodoro
A musician, songwriter, teacher, mentor and an inspiration to many aspiring musicians in Ottawa and Canada, Antonello Ditedodoro, better known as Tony D, performs extensively in Canada, Europe and the USA, reinforcing his reputation for excellence in music. He was recently recognized with a 2012 Juno Award for Best Blues Album with his Ottawa band, MonkeyJunk, performing at the Juno Awards Gala in Ottawa. Additional awards include a 2010 Canadian Independent Music Award for Blues Album of the Year; 2010 Blues Music Award, (USA) for Best new Artist Debut and a 2009 Maple blues Award, honouring Mr. Diteodoro as Guitarist of the Year, adding to the 15 Maple Blues Awards received since 2008.
Ginette Gratton
Throughout her television career and other professional projects, Ginette Gratton has been recognized as a leader and advocate for the rights and interests of Franco-Ontarians in Ottawa. As co-producer and host of the Rogers TV daily talk show Ginette Gratton reçoit, Ms. Gratton has enthusiastically promoted the French fact in the national capital region, training the cameras on issues that affect Francophones in Ottawa and promoting the creative strengths of our communities. Ms. Gratton’s knack for creating a warm and intimate environment makes for easy conversation with her guests, with whom she discusses in depth the many topics that affect our society: arts, education, health, integration, spirituality, politics, and personal development. The program also helps spread a culture of living together that is rooted in solidarity and respect for plurality.
Scott Heggart
Scott Heggart, University of Ottawa Communications student, has dedicated his recent years to telling his story about coming out as a homosexual athlete in an effort to make a difference, offer support and spread awareness for unsupported youth members in the community. After struggling with his own sexual identity through his pre-teen and teenage years, and fearing being ostracized into giving up playing sports, which were a huge part of his life, Mr. Heggart decided that he needed to share the support he had received from his team mates, family and friends with others in his community.
Peter Honeywell
Peter Honeywell has been a long standing supporter and activist for the arts in Canada’s historic National Capital and across the province of Ontario. Born and raised in Ottawa, he began his career as a visual artist specializing in textile design from 1973 to 1988, and exhibited his work in galleries in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Mr. Honeywell has played a key role in establishing not-for-profit organizations and arts cooperatives, and has held numerous board and committee positions with community organizations.
Mark Monahan
Mark Monahan founded the Ottawa Bluesfest organization in 1994 to promote music awareness and live performance in the City of Ottawa and to raise funds for Dinners Unlimited. After re-casting its vision in 1999 and initiating a music education program called ‘Blues in the Schools’, the organization became a registered charity in 2000. The RBC Bluesfest has grown over the years from its infancy as a one-stage, three-day event to a multi-staged, two-week music showcase featuring some of the best talent available on the planet. Close to twenty years later, as Executive Director, Mr. Monahan has built Bluesfest into one of the largest music festivals in the world, and one of Ottawa’s cultural jewels.
Carl Nicholson
A longtime advocate and visionary of immigrant services, Carl Nicholson has been the Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants Ottawa since 1994 and Executive Director of the Catholic Immigration Centre Foundation since 1996. A strong community builder, he continues to work towards making Ottawa the most harmonious city in Canada through his commitment to social justice for immigrants, thus promoting equality and a sense of belonging, which is the goal of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Under Mr. Nicholson’s leadership, the Catholic Centre for Immigrants has provided key start-up assistance to sister agencies including, the Somali Centre for Family Services, the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership Council, the Urban Diversity Forum, and the Conseil Economic et Social d’Ottawa Carleton.
Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman has remained a phenomenon in the world of music for over four decades. His musical genius, prodigious technique and unwavering artistic standards are a marvel to audiences and critics. Devoted to the next generation of musicians, he has inspired younger artists with his magnetism and passion. His enthusiasm for teaching has resulted in innovative programs in London, New York, China, Israel and Ottawa. The name Pinchas Zukerman is equally respected as violinist, violist, conductor, pedagogue and chamber musician. Pinchas Zukerman's 2013-2014 season includes over 100 worldwide performances, bringing him to multiple destinations in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Mr. Zukerman is currently in his fifteenth season as Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa, with whom he tours China this fall.
Earle Morris - Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Earle Morris is this year’s worthy recipient of the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching and has made significant contributions to curling as an athlete, builder, and coach. As a player, Mr. Morris is part of the only three-generation family to skip in the Tim Horton’s Brier, the annual Canadian Men’s Curling Championships (with son John and grandfather Cliff McLachlan) and in doing so, he represented three different provinces. A Level III Certified Curling Instructor, Mr. Morris coached at three World junior championships, including his son John’s in 1998 and 1999 and Rachel Homan’s in 2010. He is the former coach of the Jennifer Jones rink, 2011 and the Australian National Men’s Team, 2006–2008.
2012 Recipients
Back Row / Rangée arrière: Paul Benoit, Christine Tremblay, Russell Mills, Robert Gillett, Hélène Campbell, Terry Kelly, Diane Morrison, Dr. John Bell, Allison Fisher and Don Campbell (Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching / Prix Brian-Kilrea soulignant l’excellence d’un entraîneur).
Front Row / Rangée avant: Moe Atallah, Gisèle Richer, Jim Durrell, His Worship / Son Honneur Jim Watson, Nazira Naz Tareen, Marc Jolicoeur, Sara Vered.
Moe Atallah
Moe Atallah is a successful business person and a well-known philanthropist, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. He is also co-founder, along with the late Canadian journalist Earl McRae, of the Elvis Sighting Society, a philanthropic organization that donates generously to many fine, local institutions. Mention the name Moe Atallah almost anywhere in this city and everyone will know that you are talking about this iconic and generous restaurant owner.
Dr. John Bell
Dr. John Bell’s research first brought him to Ottawa in the early 1980s. Today he heads the prestigious Canadian Oncolytic Virus Consortium in addition to his many responsibilities at the University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and Research Institute. Dr. Bell has attracted and trained countless young scientists and physicians during his time in Ottawa. His commitment to our community, scientists, physicians and especially patients is inspiring.
Paul Benoit
Paul Benoit became the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ottawa International Airport Authority in 1996 and has been instrumental in putting Ottawa on the map of the international aviation industry. For members of the Canadian Forces, he has personally ensured appropriate recognition for their service, spearheading the initiative to make the airport’s VIP lounge available for families to reunite with their injured loved ones who had just been airlifted home from Afghanistan.
Hélène Campbell
Hélène Campbell is an outstanding young Canadian, a great humanitarian and an exceptional citizen of Ottawa. She has accomplished much in a very short period of time while exemplifying courage, even at the very real cost of her own life. Her remarkable story has helped shine the light on organ and tissue donations as she looked beyond her own difficult situation to help and inspire others.
Jim Durrell, C.M.
Jim Durrell has served his community with distinction in many unique capacities - public office, private business, community builder, volunteer, visionary and fundraiser. He is well known for his significant contribution as Mayor of the City of Ottawa from 1985 until retiring from public office in 1991. During his tenure he was very involved in the promotion of professional sports in Ottawa, securing an NHL franchise, a triple-A baseball team and the 1988 Grey Cup.
Allison Fisher
Allison Fisher is a community builder and social justice advocate dedicated to creating a safe space where First Peoples can live and celebrate their cultures. As the Executive Director of the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, serving more than 10,000 Aboriginal people through its culturally-based health programs and services every year, Ms. Fisher brings together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to build healthy and inclusive communities.
Robert Gillett
Robert Gillett is a visionary leader with an outstanding record of service as an educator, administrator and volunteer. During his 16-year tenure as President of Algonquin College, the third largest college in Ontario, Mr. Gillett championed the interests of a student population. A fervent believer in empowering people for success through education, he guided the college through a period of exceptional growth and demand for relevant programming.
Marc Jolicoeur
Marc Jolicoeur, Regional Managing Partner of the Ottawa office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, is a well-known and respected community advocate who has distinguished himself by virtue of both the quality and quantity of his contributions and his passion for community service. As the second longest serving Chairman in the University of Ottawa’s history, his service was extraordinary in both its length and enduring value, providing exceptional leadership for almost two decades.
Terry Kelly
Terry Kelly, retired from Defence Construction Canada, is a consummate professional engineer. He approaches people and situations with an unparalleled degree of humility and professionalism. Mr. Kelly has served the residents of West Carleton and the City of Ottawa for the past 40 years as a volunteer firefighter. During this time he has served his community at parades, schools, fundraisers, fairs and provided education and support to a generation of community-oriented volunteers.
Russell Mills
Russell Mills’ passion for the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Region is undeniable. In his current role as Chair of the National Capital Commission, his steadfast belief in the national mandate to serve Canadians, and his desire to improve the region for residents and visitors alike is always at the forefront. As the former Editor and Publisher of the Ottawa Citizen and subsequently President of the Southam Newspaper Group, his emphasis on editorial excellence is legendary.
Diane Morrison, C.M., O.Ont.
As the Executive Director of The Ottawa Mission, Diane Morrison is an unwavering advocate for homeless men and women across the city. Under her leadership, the Ottawa Mission has been transformed from a men’s shelter to a multi-service organization. Mrs. Morrison is a strong believer in community building and partnerships and many of the programs that have been developed under her leadership are the direct result of relationships and partnerships that she has nurtured.
Gisèle Richer
For more than 40 years, Gisèle Richer has been contributing to the well-being of the community through her involvement in various areas of activity, particularly Francophone and women’s rights, health and education. A well-known personality in the Franco-Ontarian community, she has fought hard for the French presence with the greatest respect for both cultures.
Nazira Naz Tareen
Nazira Naz Tareen immigrated to Canada from India and embodies the values that define us as Canadians. She values diversity, builds bridges of understanding and contributes in her many roles to making ours a better community. She is the founder and former long-time President of The Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization, an organization established in 2001 dedicated to fostering and maintaining relationships amongst the diverse elements of Ottawa.
Christine Tremblay
Christine Tremblay is the founder and Executive Director of the AOE Arts Council. For more than 20 years, she has worked to enhance the cultural life of Ottawa through her experience in organizational and community development, strategic planning, lobbying, fundraising and partnership development. Her aim has always been to promote the arts, improve the lives of artists, and make arts more visible and accessible.
Sara Vered, C.M.
Sara Vered is an accomplished community builder. The recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa, she is a great friend to institutions of higher learning in the National Capital Region, as well as the National Arts Centre. In addition, Sara’s steadfast commitment to the University of Ottawa’s Heart Institute has had an extraordinary impact on the evolution of the Heart Institute, embracing the vision of defeating heart disease in this century.
Don Campbell – Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching
Don Campbell is this year’s worthy recipient of the Brian Kilrea Award for excellence in amateur coaching. Mr. Campbell began his coaching career with the McKellar Park Phillies with the sole purpose of enriching the lives of amateur baseball players. With over 37 years of volunteering, he has successfully assisted countless players in securing athletic scholarships, and by extension, some major league careers. He is also a sports reporter with the Ottawa Citizen.
