(Photo: Paul Meek holds up a bottle of Harvey & Vern’s root beer at Quitters Coffee, November 2014. Photo by Barry Gray.)
The first thing to go through Paul Meek’s head when he got a call telling him he was receiving the Order of Ottawa: “There’s no way, I’m not worthy.”
Meekis the president and co-owner of Kichesippi Beer Co., and Harvey & Vern’s, and lives in Granite Ridge. He’s one of 14 people to be inducted into the Order of Ottawa by Mayor Jim Watson, at a ceremony this evening at City Hall.
“It’s incredibly humbling. I don’t mind telling you there’s time I think”, ‘how did i make that list’,” he told StittsvilleCentral.ca
“We’re very passionate with our business in helping out our city however we can. It is easly the most humlbling thing I’ve ever gotten a call on… The biggest compliment- is that people have said it’s well deserved. I’m apprecaitive for that,” he said.
“Stittville’s been a very good community for us and Ottawa’s has been a great city since we moved here 13 years ago.”
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Kichesippi is one of Ottawa’s fastest growing craft breweries, established in 2009. He focused the company on a commitment to Ottawa’s history and heritage, using locally sourced ingredients, brewing completely in Ottawa, and sponsoring many local recreational sports teams, tournaments, festivals and community events. The company donates 50 cents for every growler of beer sold to Juvenile Diabetes research, in support of Mr. Meek’s son Alex.
He has partnered with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce to promote business education for new start-up companies and entrepreneurs. As a member of the Beer Canada Lobby group, he endeavours to ensure a strong voice for small-scale brewmasters. He continues to demonstrate extraordinary community commitment in every aspect of his professional and personal life.
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This year’s recipients include an eclectic list of residents including Ben Babelowsky, Ron Burke, Guy Cousineau, Bill Malhotra, Vera Mitchell, Wendy Muckle, Bryan Murray, Alicia S. Natividad, Marion Rattray, The Honourable Allan Rock, Ernest G. Tannis, Simone Thibault, Ewart Walters and Gary Zed.
“I am honoured to award the 2015 Order of Ottawa to these remarkable individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to our city,” said Mayor Watson. “They have not only made Ottawa a better place to live, work and raise a family, they have shown us how one person’s actions can make a difference in the lives of others within our community.”
The civic award recognizes exceptional citizen contributions in the many areas of city life, including arts and culture, business, community service, education, public service, labour, communications and media, science, medicine, sports and entertainment, or other fields of endeavour that benefit the residents of Ottawa.
Recipients of the Order of Ottawa were chosen by a Selection Committee comprised of the Mayor, City Clerk and Solicitor, Chief of Police, Chief of Protocol, City Archivist and the Chief Executive Officer, Library Services.
For more information regarding the Order of Ottawa and the full biographies of the recipients, visit ottawa.ca.
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