PRESS RELEASE

Alex Wisniowski, Caring Canadian
Mr. Leather Ottawa-Hull 2002 honored by Governor General

Ottawa, March 25, 2002 -- Alex Wisniowski has been known by many titles, most recently Mr. Leather Ottawa-Hull 2002. Now he has one more to add to the list: Caring Canadian.

Alex’s lifetime of volunteer service to the GLBT community, and the community at large, was recently recognized by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, the Canadian head of state, who presented him with the Caring Canadian Award. (For information on this award, see the Governor General’s web site at www.gg.ca/media/appointments/archive-2002/20020325_e.asp and at www.gg.ca/honours/caring_e.asp.)

Alex has been volunteering in the GLBT community since the mid-1970s, when he was involved with Gays of Ottawa (now ALTGBO - Association of Lesbians, Transgendered, Gays and Bisexuals of Ottawa) and Dignity, an organization for GLBT Catholics.

Over the years, Alex has raised thousands of dollars for various charities and community groups, including The Living Room (a space for persons living with HIV/AIDS), breast cancer research, Ottawa Lesbian Week, Mr. Leather Ottawa-Hull (to enable the winner of the competition to travel to International Mr. Leather in Chicago), ALTGBO and Pride.

More recently, Alex has been active in Pride festivities in the Ottawa-Gatineau region (souvenir program, volunteer coordinator, week’s events coordinator, etc.). He has also helped to organize the annual Mr. Leather Ottawa-Hull competition. In November 2001, he entered as a contestant himself and won the title of Mr. Leather Ottawa-Hull 2002.

For the past decade, he has shown caring and thoughtfulness to Ottawa’s seniors, mainly at Island Lodge, a home for the aged.

Alex’s philosophy as a caring Canadian is summed up by the message on his telephone answering machine: "Lend a helping hand and make a difference in someone’s life."

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Information: Alex Wisniowski, (613) 749-2366
leatherheart 'at' sympatico.ca

Enclosure: Letter from Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada