(Posted 7:30 a.m., Jan. 22)
Pantry Plus, nutritionist author among inaugural Leadership in Health Award recipients
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

(L to r) Ruth Lewis-Tracht, Adrian Delorey, Emile Chenier, Linda Chenier and Kathy Smart are the recipients of the first annual Orléans Leadership in Health Awards. Fred Sherwin/Photo

The first-ever Orléans Leadership in Health Awards were handed out on Saturday to four lucky recipients and a family-run business that has been serving health conscious residents for the past 20 years.

When Pantry Plus first opened its doors in 1992, it was primarily a bulk food store. But over time, as the health food craze began to take off and customers started asking for different food supplements the business responded and it soon became the top health food store in Orléans.

On Sunday the store's owners Gilles and Linda Chenier received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Orléans Health and Wellness Expo.

"So much has changed over the past 20 years. Customers are much more aware of what's out there and what they want," said Linda Chenier in accepting the store's award with her daughter Emilie.

Four other awards were handed out in the categories of Eating Well, Thinking Well, Being Fit and Going Green.

The winner of the Eating Well Award was Orléans nutritionist, author and budding multi-media star Kathy Smart.

The author of the glutten-free cookbook, "Live The Smart Way" and host of the Roger's television show by the same name, was thrilled to receive her award.

"This means so much to me. I feel like I'm at the Academy Awards," said Smart who was disgnosed with a gluten allergy when she was 12. "Since I was little so many foods weren't available to me. It's nice to see that things are changing and more foods are being made. It's always been my passion to help people eat healthier and live healthier."

Fitness instructor and entrepreneur Adrian Delorey shares Smart's passion for educating others on the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle. The two recently launched a joint venture on the Internet entitled renegadesofhealth.tv which is designed to dispel common fitness and nutrition myths.

Delorey is the owner of the Orléans Adventure Boot Camp and the 180° Fitness gym. His credo in both business and life is to practice what you preach.

"It's important to be able to walk the walk," said Delorey who won an Orleans People Choice Business Award for Young Business Person of the Year in 2007 and Best Service Business in 2008.

The Go Green Award was presented to Shaklee products distributor Ruth Lewis-Tractch who first got into the business in 1992.

"Twenty years ago people were not that aware of the effects of chemicals on the environment and in their homes. Now they are more aware and are looking for better products," said Lewis-Tracht who was among the 90 exhibitors at this year's Health and Wellness Expo.

The Think Well Award went to Linda Therien, founder of the Living Health Healing Centre and a master teacher in Dimensional Meditation.

The Leadership In Health Awards were the centrepiece of this year's Health and Wellness Expo which attracted more than 1,500 people.

Over 90 exhibitors were on hand at the Shenkman Arts Centre providing information on everything from reiki massage to the latest in eco-friendly cleaning products and socks made out of Alpaca wool. Another 40 exhibitors had to be turned away due to a lack of space.

During a break in Saturday's event, co-organizer Dr. Nathalie Beauchamp said that she and partner Deborah MacDonald were thrilled with the quality of this year's exhibitors and even happier with the turnout.

"We haven't been able to get an exact figure on the attendance, but it is definitely higher than last year," said Beauchamp.

This year's Expo included several new exhibitors including the Family Physiotherapy Centre and the Massage and Treatment Clinic. Both businesses decided to come to the Expo to increase their exposure.

"We're the type of business that people only need when they're injured or they've been referred to us. It's important that we get our name out there and people know where we are and what we do," said Family Physiotherapy manager Jason Bellefleur.

Massage and Treatment Clinic co-owner Julie Tessier-Woodcock echoed Bellefleur's comments.

"A lot of people don't know where we are so this really helps us educate potential clients," she said.

Both businesses said they plan to come back next year.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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