Joseph Oombash receives Mayor’s City Builder Award

Mayor Jim Watson, Knoxdale-Merivale Ward Councillor Keith Egli and College Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli presented a Mayor’s City Builder Award to Joseph “Joe” Oombash at today’s City Council meeting, recognizing his many years of generous volunteering in this community.

Joe was born 69 years ago on the Cat Lake First Nation, an Ojibwa reserve about 180 kilometres northwest of Sioux Lookout. Blind from birth, he was taken into the care of the Province of Ontario at age 13, and has been living in a group home in Ottawa since 1988. He will be moving back to Northern Ontario in January to be close to his family.

He has the remarkable gift of being able to play almost any musical instrument by ear, including piano, organ, electronic keyboard, guitar, accordion, harmonica, electric bagpipes and several wind instruments. He has committed an extensive repertoire of songs to memory, from wartime standards to 20

th

century popular music.

He has been a long-time volunteer with the CNIB’s Letson Hall Chorus, a group of visually impaired adults who sing and share their musical talents at seniors’ homes across Ottawa every week. For over 25 years, he has brought joy to seniors’ lives, encouraging them to dance and sing along with his group’s musical selections.

The Mayor’s City Builder Award is a civic honour created to recognize an individual, group or organization that has, through outstanding volunteerism or exemplary action, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to making our city a better place today and for the future. This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building or other exemplary achievements. Individuals, groups or organizations may be nominated by members of City Council or the public. The award is presented at the beginning of each City Council meeting.