The Kiwanis Walk of Fame committee has announced its new inductees for the ceremony which will take place in Downtown North Bay on Friday, November 8.
The fourth induction ceremony of the Kiwanis Downtown North Bay Walk of Fame will add several new honourees as chosen by the selection committee verified by board members.
The 2019 Kiwanis Walk of Fame Honourees are: George Couchie - Ralph Diegel – Mort Fellman – Murray Leatherdale – Jack Lockhart
Couchie, who was chosen in the Indigenous Educator Category, has over 33 years of policing experience, including 12 years designing and delivering award-winning Native Awareness Training Programs and Initiatives to youth, to members of the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as to other government employees and teachers.
Diegel inducted through the independent Retail category, was the owner of Deegan’s Shoe Store, which was the oldest independent Retail Shoe Store in Canada serving families and organizations for 130 years.
Fellman, inducted through the Journalist Editor category was a reporter with Nugget from 1933 then served as Sports Editor (1935) then Editor from 1940 to retirement in 1976.
Leatherdale was inducted through the Author, Historian Category. As a chiropractor, Dr. Murray Leatherdale started a regional practice in the 1950s including North Bay, Thorne and Mattawa. He founded the Northern Ontario Chiropractic Assoc. in 1954.
Lockhart was inducted through the Visual Artist, Educator Category. He is an internationally known Canadian artist whose paintings hang in private and corporate collections in many locations in North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, China and Japan,
“One of our Kiwanis International objectives is to develop and promote our citizens. The Kiwanis Walk of Fame selection committee reviewed a list of over 30 submissions so clearly the people of North Bay are conveying there is continued interest in this Kiwanis project," Kiwanis Club of Nipissing President Chris Mayne stated about this year's honourees in a release.
Ralph Celentano, Kiwanis Club of Nipissing Walk of Fame committee chair says the scope of the 2019 recognition covers several decades of the city's history.
"These individuals were engaged in numerous and different organizations, some known as community builders and many involved in the arts – literary, multi-media and visual – plus their historical and adventurous stories by some of these North Bay area citizens have shaped our city’s culture garnering provincial, national and international attention," said Celentano.
"Once the community collectively learns of the dedication by these individuals, their stories will be incorporated into the sidewalks of Downtown knowing our city has had these persons in our midst.”
The Kiwanis Walk of Fame induction ceremony will occur Friday, November 08, 2019 at The Grande Event Centre Downtown North Bay. Doors open by 6 p.m.
Tickets for this evening of celebration will be available at a cost of $ 75. per person. For further information, contact Kiwanis members Ralph Celentano 705-474-7830, Chris Mayne 705-474-1536 or Downtown North Bay office 705-472-8480 Ext. 233.
