Mary O’Farrell-Bowers, Dean at the Orillia campus of Georgian College, will be the guest speaker at the January 17th meeting of the Orillia Business Association. She will speak about programs and services that Georgian College offers to small business owners that will enhance their businesses in the community.
Date: Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Place: McCabes private dining room at the Highwayman Inn, Orillia
Time: Networking 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm and Dinner at 6:30 pm and Speaker at 7:15 pm.
Guest Speaker: Mary O’Farrell-Bowers, Dean at the Orillia campus of Georgian College
Topic: Programs and Courses for Small Business Development
Dinner & Meeting: $30 for Non-Members
RSVP Requested: Contact Ken Forbes 705- 329-1084 ken@orilliatrim.com by no later than noon on Monday, January 16th, 2012.
About the Speaker
Mary joined Georgian College in 1987 as a Professor of Psychology and Sociology. In 1993, while working towards her Masters of Education, Mary became Georgian’s first Prior Learning Assessment Facilitator, which provided mature students the opportunity to return to college and receive credit for life and work experience. Involved in curriculum development throughout her career at Georgian College, Mary has acted as the program coordinator for the General Education, Social Sciences and the Environmental Programs.
In 1999 Mary was nominated for the University of Toronto’s Distinguished Educator Award and in 2007 she received the Teaching Excellence Award. She is known as a strong advocate for teaching and learning, and for possessing a strong sense of social justice. On March 2, 2009 Mary assumed the role of Dean at the Orillia campus of Georgian College.
Outside of Georgian College, Mary is well known for her work as an environmentalist. She led a three-year environmental project in the Orillia area that gained provincial and national remark. The advocacy of this project contributed to the unanimous passing of the Lake Simcoe Protection Resolution in the provincial legislature. These achievements earned Mary the Provincial Green Diva award.
Mary has been an active volunteer in the Orillia community since she moved here in 1984. Encouraging fundraising within the community and the College, Mary shaved her head in May, 2009 during the Cops for Cancer fundraiser to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. In February, 2010, Mary challenged the students and staff of Georgian College to raise as much money as possible and took the plunge in the Orillia Winter Carnival’s annual Polar Bear Dip in Lake Couchiching. Mary continues to support many worthy community causes.
SARAH VALIQUETTE & IAN THOMPSON of ERA 67
Sarah & Ian have jumped in with both feet to the Orillia community Scene since moving to Orillia and opening ERA 67 Restaurant.
ERA 67 has committed to a 5 year Lakehead Pursuance of Education Bursary for 2 mature students who each receive $ 500.00 to help with their education costs. They also sponsor a Minor Hockey Pee Wee Team.
Entering the Polar Bear Dip and the Terry Fox Run has provided a great deal of satisfaction for Ian and Sarah and both raised money for local charities. Ian is an executive Chef, and provided creative menus, using fresh local products and is a member of the Simcoe County Farm Fresh Assoc. He belongs to Savour Simcoe, partnering and building relationships with local farmers to encourage people to buy and support local suppliers. They have purchased another building across from the restaurant to house their catering division and hope to open in April 2012.
Sarah is currently Event Chair on the Downtown management Board and the restaurant has been involved in all the events including: Sails on Parade as a boat sponsor, 50/60’s Car Show, Beatles Celebration, Sidewalk Sale, harvest Festival, Empty Bowl at the Sharing place, Turkey Trot Food Drive etc. etc. They initiated the Ball Hockey Charity Challenge, the Best Burger Challenge and the Women’s Spa Day. Era 67 is a proud sponsor of local cultural events including summer theatre as well as Mariposa Folk Festival.
11th Annual Orillia Business Association
William (Bill) Swinimer
2011 Business Leader of the Year Award
2011 NOMINEES
Laura Dixon – Harvey’s Restaurant
Sarah Valiquette/Ian Thompson – ERA 67
Ron Funnel – Sunshine 89.1 Radio
Mark Goode – Mortgage Architects
Previous Winners
Tom Ruff , Jim Wilson, Gini Stringer, Ken Forbes, John Weber, Jim Dykes
Doug Downey, Brian Nichols, Mike Davenport, Paul Larche
The Orillia Business Association is proud to announce the 11th Annual William (Bill) Swinimer “Business Leader of The Year Award” to be given to an outstanding business leader in our community. Orillia is fortunate to have so many business leaders who helped build a reputation of entrepreneurship and community service and we are pleased to have the opportunity to thank them for their faith in Orillia and the surrounding Townships.
All nominated Business leaders will be honoured and the 2011 Business Leader of the Year winner will be announced from that group.
2011 Nominee Biographies
MR. RON FUNNELL, Sunshine 89.1 Radio
Ron’s vision has been to bring local radio back to Orillia and give this community a voice again, all while making sure that local news and information is accessible to the people who need it.
Ron’s is particularly proud of the 52 week Community Cruiser Program that was built and assembled with the help of local business partners and program sponsors. Ron has put a lot of energy into this event.
Ron has initiated partnerships with a number of important local groups who have let us know that the support and efforts to help build their success is well received:
Orillia SPCA, Special Olympics & CAPS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orillia, Orillia Laser Tag, Shriners, Heart & Stroke Foundation, YMCA of Orillia, Telecare Orillia, Alzheimers Society of North East Simcoe County, MADD Canada & the Arrive Alive Campaign, Orillia Blues Festival, OSMH Foundation, Community Foundations and Orillia District Chamber of Commerce to name a few.
In addition Ron initiated relationships with three local taxi companies in order to launch the Sunshine 89.1 Arrive Alive Initiative. It has been years since we’ve seen these words and the important message they carry to the City of Orillia.
SARAH VALIQUETTE & IAN THOMPSON, ERA 67
Sarah & Ian have jumped in with both feet to the Orillia community Scene since moving to Orillia and opening ERA 67 Restaurant.
ERA 67 has committed to a 5 year Lakehead Pursuance of Education Bursary for 2 mature students who each receive $ 500.00 to help with their education costs. They also sponsor a Minor Hockey Pee Wee Team.
Entering the Polar Bear Dip and the Terry Fox Run has provided a great deal of satisfaction for Ian and Sarah and both raised money for local charities. Ian is an executive Chef, and provided creative menus, using fresh local products and is a member of the Simcoe County Farm Fresh Assoc. He belongs to Savour Simcoe, partnering and building relationships with local farmers to encourage people to buy and support local suppliers. They have purchased another building across from the restaurant to house their catering division and hope to open in April 2012.
Sarah is currently Event Chair on the Downtown management Board and the restaurant has been involved in all the events including: Sails on Parade as a boat sponsor, 50/60’s Car Show, Beatles Celebration, Sidewalk Sale, harvest Festival, Empty Bowl at the Sharing place, Turkey Trot Food Drive etc. etc. They initiated the Ball Hockey Charity Challenge, the Best Burger Challenge and the Women’s Spa Day. Era 67 is a proud sponsor of local culture evens including summer theatre as well as Mariposa Folk Festival.
MS. LAURA DICKSON, HARVEY’S RESTAURANT
Laura has been employed with Harvey’s Restaurant in Orillia since 2003 and has worked her way up from Kitchen Associate to supervisor to General Manager and as of December 27, 2011 will be a franchisee.
Her community involvement has been with Community Living Association where she employed a client for the last 12 years through this organization, as well as on-going placements giving other clients hands on work experience.
She is a sponsor of the Old Timers Hockey Game in Barrie, Sponsor of Ball Hockey teams, donated wieners, buns, condiments and cases of water for Washago Lions Club, Ride for Kids, sponsor of 2 ball hockey teams and sponsor of a Predator Hockey Player.
Laura initiated the restaurant staff Christmas Food Drive, donated many free burger coupons to different organizations such as Canada Day Committee.
Laura has also donated gift cards for the Rama Charity Golf Tournament in support of the Federation of Women as well as gift cards for Homes for Humanity.
Laura is currently program director of Coldwater YBC as well as tournament co-coordinator, secretary and in house tournament coach
MR. MARK GOODE, The Mortgage Man aT Mortgage Architects
Mark has been in the mortgage industry for over 10 years and helped 1000’s of people in the Orillia & Area achieve their dreams of home ownership and financial security. His mortgage business has grown primarily through referrals from satisfied clients, realtors and financial planners. Mark was recognized by the Canadian Mortgage Professional Association as one of the top 50 mortgage brokers in Canada as well as # 1 broker overall for Small Town Canada.
Mark is well known across Canada and Mortgage Architects has a team of 3300 Associate Agents and Brokers from BC to NFLD, all with their own areas of expertise and databases of satisfied clients. The company has its own Lending Company Institution called Radius Financial.
Mark and his two cousins also own Settler’s Ghost Golf & country Club and have made it a highly regarded destination for serious golfers.
Mark truly shines with his local, extremely successful business story.
Mark is past member of Orillia Kiwanis Club, Past OSMH Foundation Annual golf Classic Committee Member, Past Committee member Lakehead “Your Bright Future” Golf Tournament, Past member Advisory Board – Lakehead University 2010, Director & VP of Orillia Chamber of Commerce & 2012 President, Chair 2010 & 2011 Chamber Perch Festival, Chair 2010 and 2011 Chamber Scholarship Fund Program and Sponsor and Coach for Rep Hockey and lacrosse teams.