By James Sinclair
Margo Borenstein served 27 years as executive director of the Good Companions Senior’s Centre. And now, she looks forward to joining it as a member.
The centre’s board announced that Louise Martin will be taking over the position. Martin will officially take on the position on Oct. 4. Many seniors say she will have big shoes to fill.
“For those of us who know Margo, you just can’t ask for anybody better,” says Tim Williams, a 20-year member.
“We’ll get used to a new person naturally because I know whoever they get is going to be a great person. But for Margo not to be here is going to be hard on the members.”
Williams remembers Borenstein’s aid when her husband passed away 10 years ago.
“She was extemely supportive all through that. I needed that, and I got it from the people in the centre too, but Margo was great.”
About 300 people, including former mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa Centre MP Mac Harb, were at a farewell ceremony Sept. 15 to honour Borenstein.
“(The ceremony) was very reflective of the amount of friends Margo has assembled over the years,” Harb says. “She’s an outstanding individual.”
Without Borenstein, says Harb, the centre “will be like a bird with a lot less feathers.”
Borenstein is not only saying goodbye to many friends and colleagues, but also to a centre that she has steered through two expansions.
The 45-year-old centre, dubbed by former board member David Bernhardt “the house that Margo built,” has seen enormous growth with Borenstein at the helm.
When Borenstein began her career at the senior’s centre, in the early ‘70s, it was a cramped 540-square-metre brick building. Now, the centre is six times larger and offers an array of new services including support for seniors in their homes.
“We’ve come a long way,” says Borenstein. “There’s a lot to be proud of.”