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| Luigi
Mion: A Pillar of the Community |
| By
Il Postino Staff |
| Perhaps
one of Ottawa’s most well-known Italian names, both inside the
Italian community and out, Mion has come to stand for reliability and
leadership.
The Mion family has built a virtual dynasty of construction
firms in Ottawa that have come to serve the city’s needs and
give back to the community.
Just last December, Luigi Mion, founder of Central
Precast, passed on his business to sons Rudy and John and daughters
Anna and Marcella. In his retirement, Luigi also stepped back from
his role as president of Villa
Marconi, an Italian seniors' home and long-term care facility.
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The hard work and dedication that made the Central
Precast group of companies great and gave Villa
Marconi direction no longer resides in just the actions of Luigi
Mion but in his family as well.
The history of the Mion family and their contribution
to Ottawa begins back in 1954 when Luigi immigrated to Canada from
a small northern Italian town near Undine.
Though
he arrived with no money, he quickly found work with the railways
in British Columbia but eventually ended up in Ottawa with an old-time
friend.
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| Luigi
Mion (centre) receiving an award from the former City of Nepean
and surrounded by a proud family. |
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Luigi started working for Durie Mosaic and Marble
but his ambition and drive got the best of him and he soon left
to start his own company. Gathering up the minimal amount of necessities,
in this case a bag of cement, a wheelbarrow and a telephone, Luigi
and his friend founded Central Precast.
By 1958 they had moved from their small garage on
Preston Street out to a larger location. By 1963 the concrete business
had continued to grow so much that they had to move again. This time
they settled at the company’s current location in Nepean.
In 1976 Luigi bought his partner’s share of
the company and took his business through an era of quick growth.
During the 1980’s, Central Precast started other companies and
could offer products from highway barriers to sewer and patio slabs.
Central Precast was divided into three companies.
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| Mion,
past president of Villa Marconi,
is on hand for the grand opening of the Marconi Centre. |
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A
family business now, the companies of Central Precast are managed
by and employ many of Mion’s close family: sons, daughters,
his sons-in-law, a brother, and nephews. His wife Ada has given
support to the family along the way as well, and now the couple
have a little bit more time to spend with their 13 grandchildren.
Luigi
has also firmly proven his belief in giving back to the community
by helping to fundraise and lead Villa
Marconi during the past few years. His companies support local
amateur hockey and soccer teams and many charities. |
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In 1992 Luigi was given the Canada Award for Business
Excellence for Entrepreneurship. He has been appointed a Knight of
the Order of Merit by Rideau Hall, and has received community awards
from the former City of Nepean and a medal for business achievement
from his hometown in Italy. On March 2, 2002, Luigi was honoured at
the Kidney Foundation’s annual fundraising dinner for his contribution
to the organization.
Of all the awards and merits he has gained, most significantly
of all Luigi Mion has added his name to the distinguished list of
families that have come to be the backbone of the Ottawa Italian community.
With his children and relatives taking over the companies Luigi started
nearly 50 years ago, he is ensured that the Mion family name will
continue to signify of pride and generosity for the community.
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| This
article was originally published in the March 2002 issue of Il Postino.
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