The former professional hockey player joked he was a west-end boy who met an east-end girl. "At one point, I didn't even know where Orleans was."
But, said Mr. Rushforth, he is now proud to call Orleans home and his base for his growing real estate company, which includes about 20 employees. The company says it sells about 400 homes per year.
In 2009, Mr. Rushforth was ranked as the top global performer for Keller Williams. In 2011, he formed his own company.
Presented at the Orleans Chamber of Commerce People's Choice Awards, which were garnered through online votes, the award is the latest in Mr. Rushforth's long list of distinctions.
This includes an Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award, and an Ottawa Chamber of Commerce finalist award for service provider of the year.
Mr. Rushforth said he is most proud of the company community work, which includes donations to events such as CHEO's barbecue, the United Way, the Snowsuit Fund and the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
The full list of finalists (awardees are in bold):
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Paul Rushforth Real Estate
Sherwin - Williams Paints
The Athletic Club
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Cedar Valley Restaurant Lebanese Food
Ficient Web Soultions Inc.
Simply Lavish ( Wedding & Event Planners)
PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Cecilia Perdigao - La Pierre Law Office
David Bertschi - Bertschi Orth Smith LLP
Diane Duplin - La Cite Collegiale
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Broadway Bar & Grill ( Portobello)
Rangoli Indian Cuisine
The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro
COMMUNITY SUPPORT/NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
AOE Arts Council
Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre
Orleans Cumberland Community Resource Centre
RETAIL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Innescents Floral Design & Gifts
Proulx Sugar Bush
Quilty Pleasures
SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Orleans Auto Pro
Portobello Manor
The Promenade Retirement Residence
YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Jason Bellefleur - Family Physiotherapy Centre
Jeremy Sumner - Sherwin Williams Paints
Leslie Scott - Boston Pizza
REALTOR OF THE YEAR
Irene Bilinski Keller Williams Ottawa Realty Ltd
Pilon Hamilton Real Estate Team
Paul Rushforth Real Estate
FINANCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Janet Gray - Investors Group
Lucie Halle - Dominion Lending Centres
Murray Groen - Mortgage Brokers Ottawa The Groen Team
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Bryan Castilla - Healing Hands Massage Therapy
Dr. Mark Huner - Hunter Chiropractic
Dr.Natalie Beauchamp - Beauchamp Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Centre
CORPORATE CITIZEN
David Bertschi - Bertschi Orth Smith LLP
Donna Roney - Great River Media
Remi Paquette - Ficient Web Solutions Inc.
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Ben Lalonde - Orleans Auto Pro
David Bertschi - Bertschi Orth Smith LLP
Paul Rushforth - Paul Rushforth Real Estate
