The "Johnny Leroux Community Centre"

City of Ottawa advertisement in the Stittsville News this week:

Commemorative Naming Proposal – “Johnny Leroux Community Centre”
In 2002, City Council created the Commemorative Naming Program as a means to formally recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence, courage or exceptional service to the citizens of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, or Canada. This program provides the opportunity for the

contribution and dedication of these individuals to be honoured through the naming of municipal streets, parks and facilities.

Further to an application received under the Commemorative Naming Program, the City is considering a proposal to name what is commonly referred to as the Stittsville Arena the “Johnny Leroux Community Centre.” This Centre is located at 10 Warner Colpitts Lane just off of Stittsville Main Street.

John Leroux is an upstanding member of the Stittsville community and is particularly well-known for his dedication to sporting initiatives. John is a former Canadian Army Featherweight Boxing Champion and has won the Golden Glove competition in Montreal. He served his country in the

Korean War and is an integral member of the Stittsville Legion. John’s passion for sports led him to form a local boxing club, a recreational men’s fastball league, as well as the bantam girls’ softball team, the Stittsville Roadrunners. John is also the founder of the Stittsville Merchant Select

teams who have hosted numerous old-timer hockey tournaments and participated in national and international tournaments, including the Can-Am Tournament in Lake Placid. In addition to playing and coaching, John has been a stick boy, an umpire, an official time keeper, and a referee. He

has also maintained baseball diamonds in Stittsville for 15 years and has contributed to fundraising efforts by hand-crafting benches for the benefit of local sports teams.

John has many accomplishments under his belt, and his charitable spirit has touched the lives of so many people in the community. He has received several awards of appreciation from the sporting community, including the Stittsville Men’s 30 Plus Hockey League and the men’s and women’s recreational softball leagues, and was inducted to the Goulbourn Sports Wall of Fame in 1999.

He also received the Legionnaire of the Year Award in 2002 and the Certificate of Merit from the Government of Canada for his contributions to his community. In recognition of John’s dedication and contributions over the years, the City has been asked to name the Stittsville Arena the “Johnny Leroux Community Centre.”

If you would like to provide comment on this proposal or require any further information, please contact:
Beverley Watt, Policy & Projects Co-ordinator
City Clerk & Solicitor Department
Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2424 ext. 21835
Fax: 613-580-2416
Email: namingottawa@ottawa.ca

Comments on this proposal must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 6, 2010.