DAN CEARNS The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: A new slate of inductees have been announced for the 2024 Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-Neo) Business Hall of Fame.
This will be the second year this event has been held in Kawartha Lakes. The event is scheduled to be held on May 9th, at Mackey Celebrations, in Lindsay.
This year’s inductees include: Brad Bird of Birdhouse Realty, John Fox from Boston Pizza Lindsay, Kyle Hussey of Waste Logix Inc., Linden Mackey of Mackey Funeral Home and Mackey Celebrations, Marlene Morrison Nicholls from Stewart Morrison Insurance and Anthony and Carlo Polito from Polito Ford Lincoln and Kawartha Lakes Honda.
JA Northern and Eastern Ontario had put on this type of event in Peterborough in the past before expanding to Kawartha Lakes last year.
“The event is to recognize the City of Kawartha Lakes exceptional business leaders who have strengthened our economy and community, through their exemplary accomplishments of vision, leadership, and commitment to excellence in business, over a lifetime,” read a press release from JA Northern and Eastern.
Speaking to this year’s induction class, another press release explained, these “inductees embody a legacy of excellence, displaying unwavering commitment, leadership, and innovation throughout their careers.”
Mr. Bird told The Standard his reaction, when he learned he and his company were being recognized.
“We, at BirdHouse Realty, are humbled and overjoyed to be one of the businesses inducted into the JA Northern and Eastern Hall of Fame, for the City of Kawartha Lakes. To be recognized alongside these other hardworking and prominent businesses [and] business owners is an honour we will remember for years to come. We would like to congratulate all fellow nominees and acknowledge their hard work and dedication to the community.”
Mr. Hussey described his thoughts as “shocked and quite honoured,” over being named an inductee.
“I am a big advocate for the advancement of our youth, and honestly didn’t realize we still had a Junior Achievement program in Lindsay. This is a fantastic organization and I am happy they still work within our community. I will gladly put forward a helping hand to promote and donate to their cause in the future: our youth are the future leaders, and I feel we need to have programs which focus on entrepreneurship and skill building, to push them forward,” he said.
In a statement, President and CEO of JA-NEO, John McNutt discussed his feelings on bringing this event back.
“We are thrilled to unveil the distinguished class of inductees, for the second consecutive year. These outstanding business leaders exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship, demonstrating to local youth, building a successful business is both attainable and rewarding, with the potential to span generations."