Bidding adieu to Maurice Allard
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This article was published 28/04/2021 (765 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Throughout these past 14 months, small businesses in St. Vital have had to face incredible challenges and changes in the way that they operate. Like many of you, I have been choosing to support our St. Vital local businesses and I encourage everyone the same.
It has been heartwarming to see in the face of these challenges that our local business leaders have stepped up to support one another. At the end of last year, we saw the Old St. Vital BIZ provide $675 each to their 150 member businesses, a total of $100,000 in financial assistance through their economic recovery recognition program. Thank you to the Old St. Vital BIZ board for supporting our local business community during these difficult times.
I want to also take this opportunity to recognize the retirement of Maurice Allard, executive director of Old St. Vital BIZ.
Allard says he will miss the people and the relationships he has developed over the years – being known by name in the Mayor’s office isn’t too shabby, either. A highlight for him during his time at the BIZ has been the St. Vital Watershed public art project. Working with actual canoes, altered, and stood on end, local artist Collin Zipp placed a display at the corner of St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s roads with historical neighbourhood references to the 1820 Métis settlement and dates marking the levels of Winnipeg’s great floods.
Allard shared that during his term, a successful move from 604 St Mary’s Ave. was made to a more modern and efficient space. he said the old building still has lots of life left and lends itself to numerous potential community projects.
The BIZ also reclaimed two vacant lots owned by the City and turned them into mini parks, one at Fermor Avenue and St. Anne’s Road and another at the BIZ’s digital display sign near Miller’s Meats, another instance of the BIZ making a big difference for families in the neighbourhood.
Allard has gone above and beyond his job description as executive eirector and has been on call 24/7, constantly looking for graffiti or for rent signs in the area. He leaves with memories of truly enjoyable times and some departing words of wisdom for the next executive director:
“Be willing to do anything, anytime to benefit the BIZ.”
Thank you, Mr. Allard, for your many years of dedicated service to improving St. Vital and the wider community.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with me by email at jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca or by phone at 204-219-5407.
Jamie Moses
St. Vital constituency report
Jamie Moses is the NDP MLA for St. Vital.