Lion 'Ho Ho' Al Page - BIO
Lion Al Page joined the Greely Lions Club as a Charter Member in 1988. He was Club President in 2000-01, and has held most Executive positions in the club, maintaining his 100% attendance record. Al has also been an executive member of the Lions B.A.I.T. program since 1994, having served as B.A.I.T. Chair for 2 years (2000-01) and has served on the organizing committee as PR and Recognition & Awards Chair for the past 8+ years. Most recently Al has served as Zone Chair for 41N in 2004-5, as Region 41 Chair for the last 2 terms. ( 2005-2006 & 2006-2007) and as Vice District Governor A4 (2007 - 2008).
Al continues to serve Lions by attending forums and conferences at the district, multiple district and international levels. In recognition of his contributions, Lion Al has received many appreciation awards from Club Presidents and Governors. He is a member of the Lions Foundation of Canada and, for his extensive community service, Al was named recipient of the Lions Judge Brian Stevenson Fellowship.
He has been similarly recognized by Scouts Canada for his more than 40 years of meritus service to Scouting, with the Governor General 'SilverAcorn' medal. And in 2003, Al's community volunteer work, was again recognized with his being named recipient of the 'Queen's Golden Jubilee medal'.
'Best Known' for the last 18 years as HoHo Al, he is Canada's Premier Mall Santa Claus. And is Santa to our own Prime Ministers, often seen visiting 24 Sussex Drive on Christmas Eve.
Originally from Montreal, Al was transferred with his family to Ottawa in 1982 by his employer of 32 years, Bell Canada. He retired in 1997.
Presently residing in Greely with Lise, his wife for the past 39 years; they are the proud parents of 2 children, and 2 grand-children.
Fellow Lions, please welcome Lion Al as our District Governor of A4 for 2008-2009, and our friend.
GREELY'S AL PAGE TO BE HONOURED (AGAIN)
Al Page is a man for all seasons. A tireless com\munity volunteer, Deputy District Governor (Lions) the best mall Santa Claus in Canada and now to be inducted in the Order of the Good Bear. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is honouring Al for his on-going support and dedications to the children's of CHEO for the past 15 years. Wow what a guy!
The plaque associated with this award reads:
ALAN PAGE
Let it be known that Alan Page has been inducted into the Order of the Good Bear.
Each year, during the first week of Christmas, a very special visitor takes time out of his very busy schedule and makes his way to CHEO to visit the patients and spread some Christmas cheer. Regardless of the weather, he travels in his magical sleigh, carefully parks it on the roof at CHEO and makes his way inside the hospital. As he enters the lobby of the hospital, he immediately brings a smile to the faces of the children and adults because at CHEO, Santa Claus is always welcome!!
For the past nineteen years, Alan Page has been the Billings Bridge Mall Santa and has shown us why he is such an amazing person. His kindness, generosity and magical touch allow the patients at CHEO to forget about their illness and focus on the magic of the holiday season. Most importantly, his visit reminds all the children staying at CHEO that although they may not be home for Christmas - Christmas will still come to them.
The annual Santa visit is one of the highlights of the year at CHEO. It reminds us all that Christmas is for children, that a presence is worth more than a present and no matter where we are and how we are feeling, Christmas will find us. Alan really makes a difference and he really knows how to get into character…even his phone number has Santa’s familiar cheer…ho, ho, ho.
Santa is one of the busiest men in the world, yet he always manages to include CHEO on his world wide journey and for that we are extremely grateful. We now show our appreciation by inducting Alan Page into the Order of the Good Bear.
