Ottawa Life Magazine proudly presents our Ninth Annual Top 50 People in the Capital issue.
Each year, the Top 50 highlights the best and the brightest of our city’s most accomplished and influential residents. It comes as no surprise the results reflect such tremendous diversity. The Nation’s Capital is a multicultural community and host to the country’s most successful citizens, who in turn, bring positive world acclaim to Canada. The Top 50 selection process is arduous, OLM staff review countless news stories, press releases, phone calls, and letters from readers, nominating worthy candidates from all corners of the city. The ultimate goal is to produce a list of 50 individuals that is as thought-provoking as it is broad in spectrum, celebrating their accomplishments and devotion to our City. While honourees vary in vocation, they share commonality by being the best at what they do. Our top pick this year is Mayor Larry O’Brien who, despite a bitter trial and personal battle to successfully defend his credibility, has displayed tremendous leadership in his efforts to get the City on track by introducing accountability to municipal government through stricter budget control measures, governance process overhauls, and by offering leadership during times of crisis, such as the recent flooding in Kanata and Stittsville. Clerk of the Privy Council, Wayne Wouters, the de facto CEO of Canada, is the head of the public service and the most senior non-political government official in all of Canada. Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq’s ongoing poise while managing the swine flu pandemic crisis confirms Canada’s stature as a world health leader. Barbara MacKinnon has passionately served the Ottawa community for over thirty years and, as Executive Director of the Children's Aid Society, her benevolence will extend to future generations. Venkatesh Mannar is CEO of Ottawa's Micronutrient Initiative, one of Canada’s most successful international development programs that demonstrates the ingenuity of scientific research in the Capital. There is an abundance of talented and deserving people in Ottawa who deserve to be on this list. The ninth annual Top 50 represents those who have made a significant impact on the City through their endeavours; those who have contributed to the greater community at large; are shining examples of individual achievement; and are leaders in their respected fields. Only the Top 10 are numbered – the balance are considered first among equals.

This year, our number one pick is Mayor Larry O’Brien.
Larry O’Brien deserves the opportunity from the citizens of Ottawa to implement his agenda. O‘Brien showed true grit and displayed his guts and determination to protect his reputation and that of his family by fighting back against discredited claims by Terry Kilrea, who did not take defeat well. O’Brien never wavered from day one that he was innocent and was steadfast that he had done nothing wrong other than show political naiveté upon first leaving his life as a successful private sector CEO to run for mayor. His innocence was bolstered by Justice Douglas Cunningham’s resounding dismissal of all charges against him. O’Brien has already made a huge impact on Ottawa’s local politics. He played a vital role in both the infamous OC Transpo strike resolution, the approval of the rapid transit network and the city’s 2009 budget deficit. The Mayor has announced plans to implement a record number of projects designed to reduce unintended sewer spills, improve Ottawa’s aging infrastructure, and protect residents from floods. These projects have been imprudently ignored by past administrations and councillors but have become a priority for O’Brien and this council. The Mayor’s Taskforce on Governance report, Governing Ottawa: Strategic Thinking for a Winning City, recommends changes to the city’s strategic planning, management, and operational practices that would address an historic lack of proactive and strategic thinking and broaden the focus of council beyond the ward-level to the interests of all its citizens. One thing that can be said of O’Brien, after the ordeal, he can no longer be called naïve. Instead, he has proven indissoluble, honourable and with the City of Ottawa at his heart. He has had a tough year. The local press has been very unfair at times piling on and maligning both the Mayor and his family. He is still standing, still effective and still has a large canvass to paint for the City of Ottawa. For these reasons Ottawa Life Magazine has chosen Ottawa Mayor Larry O‘Brien as our number one pick and top person in the Capital for 2009.

List of Honourees of 2009 TOP 50 People in the Capital