CORNWALL, Ontario – Stephen Douris has been named as this year’s Citizen of the Year in the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards magazine.
Douris is being recognized for his work promoting men’s mental health and for his role in bringing about the return of Bereaved Families Ontario (BFO) to Cornwall.
Douris survived a suicide attempt 31 years ago, and since then has been a strong suicide prevention and men’s mental health advocate. He works with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and is a member of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Champlain East, he hosts a men’s mental health TV show on YourTV titled “Man to Man” and started the men’s support group MenTALK/ k’homminique with Ivan Labelle.
In addition to his mental health work, Douris also volunteers his time as a Big Brother and volunteers with the United Way of SD&G.
“I feel so humbled,” Douris said in an interview with Seaway News. “I never did anything for the accolades.”
Douis explained to Seaway News that he felt men were under served in terms of mental health supports and wanted men to know it was okay to cry.
At 72-years-old, Douris said he wants to keep on doing what he can to help people.
“I never ever in my life believed that people would want to listen to me,” he said. “I don’t have many years left and I and I want to do all I can to help people.
Business Excellence Award winners
Below is a full list of this year’s Business Excellence Award winners. Instead of the traditional awards gala, the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce chose to present the awards in the form of a magazine.
Tourism Excellence – Archie’s Family Golf Centre, Owner Carol Ann Baxter
Sustainability – The Local Fill, Owners Julie and Jason Dennis
Inclusion and Diversity – Happy Popcorn Co., Owners Kirstin Davey and Bill Hallman
Small Business – ZipGrow, President Eric Lang
Large Business – Minimax Express Ltd., President Yves Poirier
Community Impact – ACCFutures (formerly Cornwall and Counties Community Future Development Corporation ) and the Eastern Ontario Training Board (EOTB), Executive Directors Lesley Thompson and Martha Woods
Economic Impact – SigmaPoint, Founder Dan Bergeron
Above and Beyond -Three winners:
- Beth Brown (Cornwall); Brown alongside Annissa Mohamed organized a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Cornwall on June 6, 2020 in response to the killing of George Floyd in the United States. It was the largest protest in recent memory in Cornwall.
- Cayde Lazore (Akwesasne); Cayde pledged to run four miles every four hours for 48 hours to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Akwesasne. In the end he raised $3,701, with David Goggins adding in an additional $5,000.
- Corey Stone, Jackson, Cheyenne Leger; Corey Stone along with his fiancée and some Jackson maintained a 56-by-80 foot outdoor community rink this past winter.
Entrepreneur of the Year – Andrew Seguin
Lifetime Achievement – Andre Pommier, Pommier Jewellers
Honourable Mentions:
Kelly Bergeron, the experienCity Project
Rory & Kathy MacLennan, Summerheights Golf Links
Barbara Leduc, Mrs. B’s Gifts & Home Decor
Loise Bazinet-Gendron, Studio 101
Corus Entertainment
Scott Fines, Fines Home Hardware
Williamstown Fair
YourTV/ Community Matters
City of Cornwall
The Port Lands
Cornwall’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre
Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit
