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(Posted
12:30 p.m., Jan. 30)
Third time's the charm for Orléans Business Person
of the Year
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Bellefleur
Physiotherapy co-owners Jason (left) and David
Bellefleur were double award recipients at
the Orléans Business Excellence Awards
Thursday night. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Bellefleur
Physiotherapy co-owner Jason Bellefleur had been nominated
for the Orleans Business Excellence Awards Business Person
of the Year twice before and both times he was left a
bridesmaid.
On
Thursday night, he finally became the bride, beating out
Janet Gray from Money Coaches Canada and John Gordon from
The Reno Guys, for the honour.
"I
thought I was going to be a bridesmaid for another year,"
joked Bellefleur after receiving his prize. "It's
nice for me, but I got a big thrill when my brother won
earlier tonight. We work hard at wahat we do and its nice
to be recognized."
Jason
was referring to his brother Dave who picked up the award
for Healthcare Professional of the Year.
Born
and raised in southern Ontario, the two brothers went
to school together at the University of Ottawa. After
they graduated David stayed in Ottawa and did his own
thing, while Jason managed the Family Physiotherapy Clinic
on Innes Road and won the Young Business Person of the
Year award in 2012.
In
2013, he took a gamble and opened his own clinic with
the support of his wife. Six months later David joined
him as co-owner and the brothers haven't looked back since.
"It
was a bif risk because you don't know what's going to
happen, but I have to say that my wife was my number one
fan and she said go ahead and do it," Jason recalls
in making that initial decision. "So we put both
feet forward and here we are a year and a half later and
we're doing well."
David
had planned to move to Toronto before deciding to join
forces with his older brother.
"My
life plans were a little different back then, but I believe
everything happens for a reason and my staying in Ottawa
was meant to be," said David.
"I
knew his approach to physio thearapy was the same as mine.
We had the same vision. That was about a year ago and
now we're winning awards and making people feel better.
It's a great accomplichment.
Unlike
other years when guessing the winners wasn't that difficult,
this year's award ceremony had more than it's fair share
of surprises and none bigger than in the category of Business
of the Year (11 employees and over) where the Orléans
Veterinary Hospital beat out Boston Pizza on Innes Road,
and last year's Business Person of the Year, Paul Rushforth,
and Paul Rushforth Real Estate. Rushforth had to settle
for Realtor of the Year instead.
The
Service and Sales Business of the Year award went to John
Gordon from The Reno Guys, who beat out Stella Ronan from
Ezcape Spa and Tim McKee from the Ottawa Citizen
in another shocker.
The
award for Business of the Year (10 and fewer employees)
was also a bit of a surprise as Moksha Yoga Orléans
took home the trophy beating out Heritage Funeral Home
and the Pita Pit.
The
Financial Services Person of the Year went to relative
newcomer Lisa Whittleton from Freedom 55 Financial who
beat out fellow Freedom 55 adviser Matt Berschi; well-known
local businesswoman and financial adviser Judith Cane
who is now with Money Coaches Canada; and Lucie Hallé
from the Dominion Lending Centre.
Orléans
lawyer and community advocate David Bertschi accepted
the Professional Business of the Year award for Bertschi
Orth Solicitors and Barristers.
The
Trim and Innes Sobeys store was named Retail Business
of the Year; St. Martha's Brasserie d'Orléans receed
the award for Restaurant of the Year; the Orléans-Cumberland
Community Resource Centre picked up the award for Community
Service/Non-Profit Organization of the Year; and Orléans
Ward Coun. Bob Monette received the award for Community
Service Business of the Year.
The
Business Excellence Awards are open to members of the
Orléans Chamber of Commerce which separates them
into 12 categories. Members of the public are then invited
to vote for their favourite business or business person
online. The nominees are then narrowed down to the top
three or four vote-getters for a second round of voting
to determine a winner.
Last
night's award ceremony was held at the Hampton Inn Conference
Centre on Coventry Road
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support
of our local business partners.)
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