CARP-
Among the winners at this year’s Kanata Chamber of Commerce awards – named
during a gala event at the glamorous Brookstreet Hotel – was West Carleton’s
own, Greg Leblanc, contacted days after the glitzy affair in his sugar bush
across from Carp Station.
Named citizen of the year,
Leblanc has a gift for disarming everyone he meets. He downplays his many
accomplishments, especially over the last year. And his wild, curly hair and
affable demeanour may give the impression that he isn’t always to be taken
seriously. That would be the wrong impression to leave with.
Leblanc recently closed the
door for the last time to his office near the top of the massive RBC building
in Bells Corners. He owns numerous properties in and around Carp. Along with
his wife Sally Storey, he is moving ahead with a $27-million project to build a
seniors complex in the heart of the village.
He recently revived the Carp
business improvement area, an organization that beautifies business districts
and presents a unified voice to city hall. (It is one of just two rural BIAs in
Ottawa.) He
also played a crucial role in helping the Diefenbunker position itself as one
of the largest tourism draws in the national capital region. And he continues
to contribute to the rural healthy living coalition.
But if you ask him about the
award, he won’t mention any of the above.
“I was just glad that some
people seem to appreciate having a few flowers around the village,” he said. “I
was overwhelmed. I love living here. This was just icing on the cake.”
Leblanc said the plan for the
115-resident seniors complex has undergone a few changes, notably in Carp Road parking
and on-site parking. Chartwell will manage the building, but he is counting on
between 20 and 30 private, local investors to take on ownership roles when the
project is finally completed.
“It’s costing more than I
thought, but it still seems to work,” he said.
The BIA continues to look at
expanding its membership base as it pays off past debts for the sidewalks and
lamp posts. Leblanc hopes to have more benches and bike racks in place this
summer, along with flowers connecting the village to Diefenbunker.
He has high hopes for the
BIA, and is even considering one for Carp
Road businesses.
“It can be really great for
the village,” he said. “The city is hugely helpful. There is a lot to tap into.
They won’t always volunteer everything, but as long as you have somebody to ask
...”
He said the rural healthy
living coalition - made up of about 10 people with backgrounds as varied as a
farmer to a nurse to a police officer – is keen to start affecting change at
all demographic levels.
“Dr. Barry Bruce is involved,
and from the EcoWellness centre, a lot of really great people,” Leblanc said.
“We are trying to put words into action now.”
WCMHA WINNERS
No stranger to putting words
into action is Sherry Malloy, president of the West Carleton Minor Hockey
Association. The WCMHA won the award for non-profit organization of the year.
“To all coaches, assistant
coaches, trainers and team managers, each of you should feel a great sense of
pride in what you have helped our community accomplish. We bring minor hockey
to over 500 youth aged 4-17 in the region and we provide a safe, fun and fair
environment,” Malloy said on the group’s website. “With regards to fundraising,
we strive to ensure everyone can afford to play along with giving back to the
community, all efforts big and small are critical to our operations.”
Some of the activities WCMHA
takes part include:
• Christmas food drive;
• Canadian Tire Christmas Tree Raffle (raised $2,300 for food cupboard);
• Christmas baskets by several teams annually;
• raffle for Rene Faucher (draw March 15);
• purchase of goalie equipment up to peewee level so the position is more
affordable and accessible to all;
• Jon Brunette Memorial Tournament;
• Cam Harvey Educational Bursary for graduating midget players;
• financial help with registration fees for families in need;
• community events – West Carleton Day and Ottawa 67’s Day.
The
Kanata Chamber of Commerce awards are broken down into three geographic
regions: Kanata,
West Carleton and Goulbourn. Residents nominate their favourites in each
category, with the most votes taking top honours.
Other West Carleton winners
include: Greensmere Golf & Country Club (tourism business of the year),
Yoga & Team Studio (health and wellness business of the year), Cappuvino
(new business of the year), Dunrobin Meat and Grocery (large business of the
year), The Glass Case (small business of the year), and Heart and Soul Cafe
(restaurant of the year).
West Carleton-March Coun. Eli
El-Chantiry attends the gala event most years. He was impressed again with the
high quality of the competition and the organizers’ choice of using the Olympic
Games as the theme.
“Congratulations to all the
winners and those who were nominated, because you know that just being nominated
means people care about what you are doing,” El-Chantiry said. “Congratulations
especially to Mr. Leblanc and the WCMHA and others. This is a good news story
for me and our community, to be recognized from outside the area.”
El-Chantiry added that as the
lone male at a table of some nine women who learned that night that Canada’s women’s hockey team won gold, he felt
the something of the pressure Sidney Crosby and the rest of the men’s team were
feeling in the lead up to the gold medal match against the U.S.
“They all pointed to me and
said, ‘It’s up to you guys, now,’” he said, laughing. “So the ceremony was
great.”
Newly minted Kanata Chamber
of Commerce manager Rosemary Leu said the sold-out event included some 50 or
more people from West Carleton.
“It’s just so nice to have
that opportunity to highlight and support people who provide so much support to
our communities,” Leu said. “It was a wonderful event to be a part of.”