Steve Klein Hosts Tribute for Janet Stavinga, Retiring City Councillor

January 15, 2007

Janet Stavinga, former City of Ottawa Ward 6 Councillor and Mayor of Goulbourn Township, was the guest of honour at a special tribute held at Scotiabank Place on Friday, January 12.

Organized by a group of volunteers from throughout Goulbourn Township, several hundred people gathered to  thank Janet for her 12 years of service to the people of Goulbourn Ward.

Emcee for the evening's celebration was Steve Klein, President of Marketing Breakthroughs.

Calling Janet a "very special lady," he told the crowd: "Since the day I met her, she has proven to be a highly capable and results-oriented advocate."

Janet's special guests included Jim Watson, MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean and Ontario Minister of Health Promotion, Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager for Ottawa, and Janet's husband Rudy.

The audience was treated to tributes from Kent Kirkpatrick; Louise Beggs, former Goulbourn councillor while Janet was mayor; Christine Hartig, a 21-year Stittsville resident and chair of the former Goulbourn Environmental Advisory Committee; Steven Lewis, elected to Goulbourn Council at same time as Janet; Terry Gervais, former Goulbourn Fire Chief, Gabe Miller, former assistant in Janet's Ward 6 office; John Curry, former Chair of Goulbourn Hydro; Metin Akgun, President of Stittsville Village Association; and Rudy Stavinga.

Local entertainers the Goulbourn Jubilee Singers and Jazz It Up entertained the crowd, while a tribute skit from the Goulbourn Family Players stole the show with John Curry, publisher of Stittsville News, playing the role of Janet.

"He dressed up as Janet in a skirt and blouse, wearing the old Chain of Office that she wore as Mayor of Goulbourn!" recapped Steve Klein.  "It was a fun and fitting evening."

The evening concluded with Janet presenting a $4000 cheque, the net proceeds from the evening, to the Rideau Conservation Authority Foundation.  Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd. also made a $2000 donation in Janet's name to the same cause.