Orléans-area residents Wyatt McWilliams and Tahawar Rana were bestowed with the Order of Ottawa for service to their community during a ceremony at Ottawa City Hall last week. The pair were among 15 recipients who were inducted into the Order.
McWilliams is a former 4-H and Junior Farmer member who owns and operates Navadale Farm in Navan where he raises Clydesdale and Shire horses along with his wife Cheryl and their three daughters. In 1995, he helped organize the World Record 50 Horse Hitch, alogn with his father Willard McWilliams as part of Navan Fair’s 50th anniversary.
In 2002, Wyatt and his father launched Hay West, shipping 711 train cars and 161 truckloads of hay to drought-stricken prairie farmers. He later founded Food Aid, which over the years has provided over one million pounds of beef to the Ottawa Food Bank.
Despite being legally blind, he continues to support initiatives like the extended McWilliams family’s Navan Village Christmas Food Drive and Parading through Time.
Tahawar Rana has been a dedicated leader in the Orléans community since 1997, exemplifying service grounded in empathy, collaboration, and integrity. As a long-standing volunteer at Masjid Bilal, including as president, he has strengthened its role as a welcoming space for faith, learning, and community connection.
With more than 27 years of leadership and relationship-building experience, Rana is widely recognized for bringing people and organizations together to achieve shared goals. Renowned for his collaborative leadership, he has built lasting partnerships with civic, interfaith, and humanitarian organizations, reflecting his lifelong commitment to unity, compassion, and impactful service.
In his role with Canadian Blood Services, Rana builds partnerships across community, corporate, and government sectors, promoting inclusive engagement. His thoughtful leadership continues to inspire others and create lasting, positive change throughout Ottawa.
The Order of Ottawa recognizes exceptional residents who have made a significant contribution in a professional capacity to city life, including arts and culture, business, community service, education, entrepreneurship, public service, labour, communications and media, science, sports and entertainment or other fields that benefit Ottawa residents..
GLOW OF LOVE is a deeply moving and elegant Mother’s Day Candlelight Concert created to celebrate the unconditional love, strength, and beauty of mothers and mother-figures. Enjoy an unforgettable evening of music while supporting the CHEO Foundation. For more information or to purchase tickets visit 
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Monday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
