Look who they're adding to the 2010 Walk of Fame!

NEWS RELEASE

DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

************************* Four to be honoured in the 2010 Walk of Fame

SAULT STE. MARIE - (June 11) - The City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association are pleased to announce the names of the four inductees in the 2010 Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame.

The inductees are: Eric Alessandrini, Dr. Peter Black, Douglas Bradford and Jo Forman.

“These people are ambassadors for our community and by inducting them into the Walk of Fame, it is a wonderful way of recognizing and honouring their achievements,” says Anna Boyonoski, manager of the Downtown Association and co-chair of the Walk of Fame Committee.

The four inductees will be honoured at a special ceremony to be held on Friday September 17 at the Essar Centre.

“All four of these nominees are not only role models to the youth of our community but, in the bigger picture, they are also role models to people in their respective fields or areas of interest,” says Jamie Caicco, City councillor and co-chair of the Walk of Fame Committee.

Each year, inductees are recognized for outstanding achievement in one (or more) of the following areas: athletic, cultural, academic or humanitarian achievement, outstanding contribution to community business, environment, sports, science or entertainment.

The Walk of Fame Committee reviews public submissions and selects a maximum of five inductees. Inductees are honoured with a 16” x 16” granite maple leaf stone embedded in concrete on the north side of the Essar Centre on Queen Street East.

Nominations for the 2011 Walk of Fame inductees will be solicited from the public next spring.

The Walk of Fame is an annual event and is a joint project between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association. The following are approved biographies of the 2010 Walk of Fame inductees:

********************** Eric Alessandrini

The dictionary describes humanitarianism as an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings.

It is an apt description for Eric Alessandrini, a firefighter who is being honoured for his life-long commitment to volunteer work, his tireless fund raising efforts and for consistently looking out for the well being of others.

For more than 25 years, Eric’s name has been synonymous as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Society.

His efforts in this capacity, have been recognized far and wide and, in fact, he’s been a guest on the Jerry Lewis Telethon courtesy of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Eric has also recognized that fundraising initiatives have to be diverse in order to appeal to a wider range of audiences.

As a result, he’s served as a key promoter of boxing, martial arts, bodybuilding and weightlifting competitions.

Eric has also been a staunch supporter of the March of Dimes.

His lobbying and fundraising efforts were integral towards the purchasing of the first parabus so that physically challenged residents had access to mobility.

He’s also served on the City’s community services board, with a focus on seniors’ issues and initiatives.

In addition to serving as a volunteer for Heart and Stroke Foundation and on the founding Bon Soo Carnival Committee, Eric continues to volunteer his time visiting patients at the hospital, residents of nursing homes or shut-ins.

In 2009, Eric received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean.

Eric is also past City of Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit recipient.

************************* Dr. Peter Black, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Black is the Franc D. Ingraham Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School.

He is also the founding chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and former neurosurgeon-in-chief at the Children’s Hospital Boston.

He is internationally known for his surgery of brain tumours including image-guided therapy, and his writing in medical ethics.

He also directs a tumour molecular biology laboratory.

He has been an author on more than 400 professional articles and 14 textbooks.

Dr. Black is a well-respected teacher of college and medical students, residents, and fellows.

He is also a sought-after international speaker, with more than 450 lectures in more than 50 countries.

He is currently the president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, a federation which binds all the neurosurgeons of the world.

Dr. Black still remembers his childhood in Sault Ste. Marie with great fondness.

************************* Douglas Bradford

Doug Bradford, a life-long resident of Sault Ste. Marie, is a watercolour artist whose work reflects the majesty of the landscape and dignity of its people.

He has been painting for over 35 years and his works hang in private collections and galleries throughout Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Japan.

Locally, Doug is part of “Four and Friends” an annual show which highlights the work of established and emerging artists of the Algoma area.

Doug is a past participant in the Canadian Forces Artist Program which provides artists the opportunity to be ‘in theatre’ to interpret their experiences in their chosen medium.

Two paintings from his experience aboard the HMCS Calgary hang in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa along with 11 other of his paintings housed at the museum.

In 2008, Doug was commissioned by the Canadian Navy to paint an event in the Korean War.

This painting is now part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Canadian Navy.

The painting is currently on tour in an exhibition that is traveling across Canada.

************************* Jo Forman

A tireless and dedicated advocate for athletics for more than 25 years, Jo’s legacy continues to live on in sporting guidelines and philosophies of today.

One example is his laying the groundwork for the Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) athletic constitution.

Jo’s attention to detail provided a template for another, subsequent generation of athletic coaches and leaders who adopted many of his practices and have extended his influence in immeasurable ways. A great promoter of fair play, commitment, discipline and effort, his coaching efforts saw many of his athletes go on to win local, regional and national titles.

Jo’s name is synonymous with football, basketball, wrestling and especially track and field, where the track at the Queen Elizabeth field is named in his honour.

Jo, himself, was the recipient of many awards including the H.P. Broughton Memorial trophy, a special Ministerial Certificate of Commendation, the Premier of Ontario Award, the Pete Beach Award and is a member of the Russ Ramsay High School Sports Hall of Fame.

This is a posthumous recognition as Jo passed away in 2006.

*************************