Lanark County Council honoured four citizens and a business for their outstanding work to enhance life in Lanark County as part of the annual Awards of Excellence on Wednesday evening.

This year, council recognized Paul Virgin of Almonte in the Volunteerism category, Phyllis James of ...Perth for Volunteerism, Rob McLellan of Perth for Recreation/Sports, Tim Hortons Almonte and Carleton Place owners Lisa Peters and Scot Moore for Business/Industry, and Lia Olmsted of the Love 4 Reesie Foundation for Philanthropy.

The fifth recipient is Lia Olmsted of Beckwith Township, along with family and friends, founded the Love 4 Reesie Foundation in memory of her daughter, Reese Elizabeth Olmsted, who passed away unexpectedly at 20 months old in 2022. The foundation provides direct assistance to local children who may otherwise be unable to participate in activities and experiences many families take for granted. Her nominator, Jessica McKenna Kelso, said the contributions may seem like small things, “but for a child and their parents they can mean inclusion, confidence, belonging and a special memory that lasts a lifetime.”

Love 4 Reesie has contributed to the JR Memories Program at Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH), which provides thoughtfully curated memory boxes and supporting resources to families experiencing the loss of a child or late pregnancy loss. It is jointly supported by Love 4 Reesie and Jett Gleason Angels in partnership with the CPDMH Foundation. Love 4 Reesie also donated to the new emergency department campaign. Alison Lunn of the CPDMH Foundation says “few local organizations have done more to strengthen health care in our community, and fewer still have done it with such warmth, generosity and heart,” adding “it has turned a deeply personal loss into a lasting comfort for other families facing the unimaginable.”

The Sanderson family notes Love 4 Reesie has donated buddy benches to local schools and parks, sponsored family skates and youth programs, and installed a memorial wind phone on the Beckwith Trail. They note the foundation makes an effort to incorporate locally made products and partnerships in its activities.

Lia is a director with the Canadian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation, where she shares Reese’s story to help educate others about undiagnosed conditions and to provide school resources to help students with SADS conditions. “She is also working to ensure that parents, teachers, coaches, and community members have greater awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, inherited heart conditions, CPR, and AEDs,” the Sandersons explained.

Supporter Melissa Kidd highlights donations to Beckwith Public School, such as two buddy benches, contributions for swimming lessons, CPR training and volunteering, as well as a bursary at Carleton Place High School and contributions to athletics and prom, and support for the Super Flex program at Open Doors Mental Health for Children, Youth and Families. “When you see the difference these supports make for a child, you understand just how meaningful Lia’s contributions are.”

Congratulations, Lia!

Lanark County Council honoured four citizens and a business for their outstanding work to enhance life in Lanark County as part of the annual Awards of Excellence on Wednesday evening.

This year, council recognized Paul Virgin of Almonte in the Volunteerism category, Phyllis James of ...Perth for Volunteerism, Rob McLellan of Perth for Recreation/Sports, Tim Hortons Almonte and Carleton Place owners Lisa Peters and Scot Moore for Business/Industry, and Lia Olmsted of the Love 4 Reesie Foundation for Philanthropy.

The fourth recipients were Lisa Peters and Scot Moore, who have used their four businesses and platform to support several local non-profit charities over many years, including the Almonte General Hospital-Fairview Manor (AGHFM) Foundation, Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation (CPDMHF) and the Hunger Stop-Lanark County Food Bank. One way they do this is through the Smile Cookie Campaign, which takes place twice each year. Over the past 17 years, Lisa and Scot have donated more than $350,000 to benefit the county by strengthening health care and filling the shelves for those in need.

Nominator Sophie Prescott of the AGHFM says Lisa and Scot always answer calls to action by donating to and supporting events, fundraising for local charities and using their online platform to highlight and share local events and activities.

Tammy Parent of The Hunger Stop says their “unwavering commitment to supporting their communities is evident in all the community initiatives they host,” adding “their kindness, generosity and genuine care for the community groups does not go unnoticed. They have shown time and time again that being a business owner is about so much more than serving customers – it is about being part of their community and supporting their neighbours.”

Alison Lunn of the CPDHF says Lisa and Scot have supported the foundation through the Smile Cookie Campaign since 2009, and “their partnership has made a lasting, measurable impact on health care in our community.” When the new Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department opened in 2025, the $25,000 raised through the 2024 Smile Cookie Campaign funded a nourishment alcove for patients and families that is named after Scot and Lisa and Tim Hortons Carleton Place. Their contributions have helped to fund a range of patient care equipment across four hospital departments. They routinely donate beverages and more when asked to support other fundraising events. “They have raised awareness of the hospital’s needs, inspired other businesses to step forward and shown their young employees what it means to be engaged community members.”

Congratulations, Scot and Lisa!

Lanark County Council honoured four citizens and a business for their outstanding work to enhance life in Lanark County as part of the annual Awards of Excellence on Wednesday evening.

This year, council recognized Paul Virgin of Almonte in the Volunteerism category, Phyllis James of ...Perth for Volunteerism, Rob McLellan of Perth for Recreation/Sports, Tim Hortons Almonte and Carleton Place owners Lisa Peters and Scot Moore for Business/Industry, and Lia Olmsted of the Love 4 Reesie Foundation for Philanthropy.

The third recipient was Rob McLellan of Perth, who has been an Olympian with the Perth and District Special Olympics for 25 years. His nominator, Jackie Hart, describes him as an accomplished athlete and role model to his fellow teammates. “He believes in teamwork and having fun. He encourages his teammates to try their best and to be good sports, regardless of the outcome.”

With Special Olympics, Rob has participated in basketball, bowling, soccer, softball and snowshoeing. Each year he takes part in the Special Olympics Torch Run in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Police to fundraise for provincial games. Throughout his sporting career, he has won many medals as an individual and a team member in local provincial and world-level Special Olympics events with his best individual achievement being gold at the 2009 Special Olympic World Winter Games for snowshoeing. He is described as a leader to his teammates who sets an example of what a strong, positive player should be.

Rob is well-known in the community. He volunteers with the Perth Blue Wings hockey team and is an ambassador with the Perth Figure Skating Club. He helps coach Perth Fire Dawgs ball hockey through the Perth Fire Department and he plays with the regular mixed league lob ball team. He also helps with the Knights of Columbus yearly raffle.

Wilson Street Auto, Fleet & Tire Bookkeeper and Perth Figure Skating Club Treasurer Krista Strachan says Rob demonstrates the same dedication, enthusiasm and determination in sports that he brings to his part-time job at the shop. “Whether he is at work, participating in Special Olympics, helping a sports team, volunteering at an event or simply lending a hand to someone who needs it, he gives his time generously and with a genuine desire to help others.”

Tim Zander, Chair of Perth and District Sports Hall of Fame, says Rob has been active with Special Olympics since he was eight years old, and his success in sports has allowed him to be a positive role model for people. “Rob is a paragon of sportsmanship and athleticism….and he feels that it is important for him to give back to the community the opportunities that he experienced.”

Congratulations, Rob!