Mayor Jim Watson inducted two Ward 13 residents into the Order of Ottawa. The Order of Ottawa inductees are: Anand S. Aggarwal and L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood.
The Order of Ottawa recognizes exceptional residents who have made a significant contribution in a professional capacity in many areas of city life, including arts and culture, business, community service, education, public service, labour, communications and media, science, medicine, sports and entertainment, or other fields that benefit the residents of Ottawa. This prestigious civic award was established in 2012 by Mayor Watson and City Council. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee comprised of the Mayor, City Clerk and Solicitor, Chief of Police, Chief of Protocol, City Archivist and Chief Executive Officer of the Ottawa Public Library.
Anand S. Aggarwal founded the real estate firm Manor Park Group of Companies more than 39 years ago. He is co-owner of the Infinity Convention Centre, as well as a number of hotel real estate holdings. Mr. Aggarwal has a vision to provide affordable housing for the Ottawa community. He owns Manor Park Management, which provides affordable rental properties for all demographics, including families in the Manor Park community. As a former Board of Directors member at the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, and co-founder of Dhadkan, he helped to raise more than $10 million for the Ottawa Heart Institute. He also played a key role in the construction of the Gurdwara Sahib Ottawa, as well as the Sai Centre Ottawa. One of the founding advisors of Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber, he is also a Director and Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs, a not-for-profit trade group dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. Both his contributions and achievements have earned him recognition, including Businessman of the Year Award in 2007 (Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber), the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award in 2014 (City of Ottawa), and Corporate Citizen of the Year at the Indo-Canadian Harmony Forum Apex Awards in 2018.
L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood is founder and President of Andrex Holding Limited, a leader in the regeneration of landmark buildings. He offers exceptional heritage accommodations in Canada and the United States and has received six municipal heritage restoration awards. His stewardship of heritage properties includes the Strathcona Apartments, the Windsor Arms, the home of the National Trust of Canada at 190 Bronson Avenue, and the Wallis House on Rideau Street. Through these and other projects, Mr. Smallwood has provided direction on the importance of heritage properties in the city. He is the President of Historic Ottawa Developments and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Ontario Heritage Trust. In 2012, Mr. Smallwood was appointed as City Council’s Citizen Representation to the Ottawa Police Services Board, where he now serves as Vice-Chair. In 2013, he was elected Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Police Governance, an organization focused on issues of police governance from across Canada. Mr. Smallwood is a former Rockcliffe Park Councillor, and a former board member of both the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Ottawa Arts Centre Foundation. He is a well-known philanthropist, providing significant support to the Ottawa Heart Institute. Recognized by various organizations for his contributions, he received the Ontario Heritage Foundation Award for Achievement in 1996, the Heritage Canada Foundation Prize for Exemplary Stewardship of Heritage Architecture in 2007, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012.
