Another record-setting Cummings Sports Celebrities breakfast

The 20th anniversary edition of the Cummings Centre Foundation’s Sports Celebrity Breakfast was another sold out record setting event as over $415,000 was raised to benefit the numerous seniors’ programs the centre offers. Co-chairs Mike Wagen and Bram Naimer along with their committee and dedicated volunteers held a highly entertaining morning for those in attendance. Joining in this year was Richard Pound as honourary chair of the event.

Brothers Rob and Paul Cutler of Delmar International will be honoured for their philanthropic commitment to the Foundation and the event over numerous years. Tony Marinaro is the 2024 winner of the Larry Fredericks Media Award.

Montreal Canadiens’ defenceman Jordan Harris was the Sports Personality of the Year, the only biracial Jewish player in the NHL and is a member of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition. “I think it’s always an honor,” Jordan Harris said of the honour. “I mean, to be recognized, but it’s really not about that it’s a lot bigger than me and just to be here and support the foundation and what it stands for, especially what’s going on in the world right now. And I think it’s huge and hockey’s a great avenue to be able to express that and use your platform for the greater good.”

Habs’ ambassador Chris Nilan was on hand to accept the Canadiens Legend award. “I’ve been here quite a few times,” Chris Nilan said. “It’s just a great cause, a great time to get together and see people that you know, you saw back in the day in the 80s. A lot of people that certainly a big fans of Canadian so yeah, it’s a great event and I’m very pleased to accept this.”

Georges Laraque, a 13-year NHL veteran with different teams including the Canadiens was recognized for his volume of community service as he was presented with the Humanitarian Award. “I’ve always been really thankful about that opportunity (to give back),” Georges Laraque said. “The one thing that you have to do when you have a platform, when you make it is to be a role model to the young children in the community that one day might reach my level. It was so important to also to get a chance to get to know me outside of hockey because on the ice, it was a fight on the ice. The thing that’s more important is to recognize that on the ice we’re entertainers, what you do with that platform, to me is the most important thing. That’s why, throughout the years, the different causes, those are the things that to me tI’m the most proud of, supporting causes to help people. That’s the real world, that’s what we need. And we need to show example to others.”