June 11, 2026 • Volume 40, No. 5
Next edition June 25
5369 Canotek Rd. 613-841-7867 • www.stitchco.ca
Orléans WestInnes celebrates its shining Gems By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star
Students from Glen Ogilvie Public School are all smiles as they march in this year’s Blackburn Fun Fair parade last Saturday. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO
Orléans West-Innes city councillor Laura Dudas has been busy the last few weeks delivering Gem Awards to some of the shining businesses and organizations in her ward. Dudas started the award program in 2021 to give residents the chance to nominate their favourite business or organization for making an effort to be an integral part of the community they serve. “The nominations are not just chosen for excelling at a particular business or service,” explains Dudas’ special assistant Chelsey Wynne. “Those who are nominated, and win, shine because they have made themselves integral to the fabric of our community, through excellent customer service, outreach and a deep love for the community they serve.”
Your Orléans Community Photography Store • SI NCE 2 0 1 9 • Portraits n Printing & Frames n Wall art Photo restoration n Passport/ID photos Custom greeting cards n Film developing Lessons n Slide/video/film conversion n Buy & Sell
www.michaelwillemsphoto.com
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613-702-1874
Located on the first floor of Place d’Orléans across from Maison d’Or
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LOCALLY OWNED
This year’s recipients include Marsh’s YIG for Best Retail Business – Food, Louis Pizza Express as Best Restaurant, and the Ottawa Compassion Centre Food Bank for Best Community Service Organization. Other recipients include the Zunzun Reading Community/Little Readers Library for Best Arts or Cultural Organization, Almighty Cheese for Best New Business, The Bookkeeping Bureau for Best Professional Service Business, the Rotary Club of Orléans for Best Community Social Organization, Ottawa Easy Wheels for Best Personal Service Business, and the book Market for Best Retail Business – Merchandise. This is the sixth year of Councillor Dudas’ coveted Gem Awards. Originally started during the pandemic as a way to recognize local businesses and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2