'A lot of these have memories': Watson reflects as he auctions off special items for food bank
In six weeks, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson will be leaving city hall, but he’s not taking much with him. Many of the items he has received over the years have been auctioned off for a good cause.
“Well, after 15 years as mayor, you accumulate a lot of different things that are given to you,” Watson said.
Dozens of items that were gifted to the mayor were up for auction Tuesday at city hall, with all of the proceeds going to the Ottawa Food Bank. The mayor's office says the auction raised nearly $4,000.
Some were one-of-a-kind collectables, like custom street signs.
“Ryan Reynolds Way, Paul Anka Drive, the signs that we put up across from the Russian Embassy, Sens Mile back in 2014-2015,” Watson said.
The outgoing mayor says it would be impossible for him to keep everything.
“I don't need, you know, 35 jerseys for hockey teams and football and I don't need 50 baseball caps or baseballs or soccer balls or paintings and so on,” he said. “So, I thought it was a good way to raise awareness of the food bank and particularly as we head into Thanksgiving, the need to support the food vank now more than ever.”
The Ottawa Food Bank says, right now, any donation helps.
“It shows what kind of mayor he's been for the city of Ottawa to always be thinking about those in the community,” says Ottawa Food Bank CEO Rachael Wilson. “These funds will mean that we can go out and purchase healthy fresh items for people. We're seeing, you know, dramatic increases month over month. So anytime we receive funding, all of that goes right back into the community to support those accessing food banks.”
This custom sign with the Ottawa Redblacks, Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Fury logos and Jim Watson's name will not be auctioned, but will go in Watson's den. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)
Watson isn’t getting rid of everything, though. A custom-made street sign with all three of Ottawa’s teams will go in his den and the cracked windshield from the snowmobile accident in 2015 that broke his pelvis will be coming home with him too.
Jim Watson will be keeping the windshield from the snowmobile that he crashed in 2015, causing him to break his pelvis. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)
Other special items will be sent to the archives.
And although Watson says he’s grateful for each and every gift he’s ever received, he knows they will all end up in a better place.
“A lot of these have memories,” says Watson. “But I think it's better that they go to members of the community and the funds raised go to the food bank as opposed to sitting in a box in my basement.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Ont., Hamilton, Ont., Brampton, Ont., and Montreal.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.