Angelo is top of mind today after organizing yet another widely successful kick off breakfast for the CTC’s Bike-a-thon plus. More than 650 people set the record for attendance at the popular annual event.

PHOTO CREDIT - Children's Treatment Centre

Cornwall - Apr. 28, 2011 - The term local hero is thrown around fairly frequently, some would say too frequently. It’s used to primarily describe overachieving athletes. No disrespect to those that have earned that moniker but Cornwall has a true local hero and he’s not even an athlete, unless walking is a considered an Olympic sport.

I’m writing about Angelo Towndale. The former local Children’s Aid Society Executive Director (he served the CAS in several capacities from 1965 to 1995) has been the driving force for fundraising for the local Children’s Treatment Centre since longer than most pro sports careers (15 plus years).

Angelo is top of mind today after organizing yet another widely successful kick off breakfast for the CTC’s Bike-a-thon plus. More than 650 people set the record for attendance at the popular annual event.

You could hear a pin drop as guest speaker Sheldon Kennedy fought back tears during the most soulful part of his 40 minute talk about being a sexual abuse survivor. The former NHLer broke his silence in the late 1990’s about being abused as a teen and young man by former coach Graham James.

Early in his talk, Kennedy mentioned Angelo and how he was instrumental in ensuring Kennedy would make the trip to Cornwall to speak about his experiences.

The community is filled with volunteers and people of action who would ensure the Treatment Centre would be running and getting the private funding needed to survive (the CTC does NOT receive any government funding) but it’s hard to imagine that success without Angelo.

There are movers and shakers in Cornwall. Angelo’s the one that motivates and encourages those people.

Angelo Towndale, who along with his wife Margaret, was bestowed a Provincial Government Trillium Award in April 2010 is a former Citizen of the Year (1990).

Angelo’s done it all in the name of community. But he’s still not finished. The kick off breakfast was just another shining example of what you’re capable of.

Thank you Angelo for all that you have done, do and will continue to do. Cornwall is truly a better place because of you.