Published in Lakeshore Villages, August 2006:
     Along with city founders, there are sometimes people who do so much good for a community that they can be said to have shaped or redefined the whole settlement. Carl and Liz Porritt are such people. The Lakeshore’s revitalization and strong community spirit can be directly linked to their ceaseless civic efforts. Carl and Liz are spouses, owners of H.G. Porritt Real Estate, and have dedicated themselves to volunteering for the community for the last 20 years.
     Together they serve on the Lakeshore BIA, Carl as vice president and Liz as secretary. Carl also works as the treasurer for a few organizations: the Lakeshore Festival, Lakeshore Community Partnership, and the Etobicoke Lakeshore Christmas Parade.
     For the last 13 years, Liz has been co-ordinator of that parade. Before Liz revived the parade, it had not been held for 25 years. Now, it is claimed to be the fourth-largest parade in Ontario, with more than 1,000 people involved and more than 100 entries. It is estimated that this community parade draws 50,000 to 60,000 people to the Lakeshore.
     “Liz spends approximately six months a year working on the parade doing everything from sewing costumes, fundraising, to getting sponsors,” says her daughter Shelley Porritt, “as well as all the paperwork involved, such as permits and entry letters.”
     Liz tapped Carl for a very special position. For the last 12 years, Carl has been Santa Claus in the parade. He performs so well that he also appears as this at other community events, including the 22 Division police Christmas party for children.
     Carl is not just busy on Parade Day. Before and after the parade, he works at building and repairing the floats, and dismantling them for storage.
     Carl is also a member of the Sign Variance Committee for Toronto, and Liz is part of a committee that aims to build a new community band shell in south Etobicoke.
     “They are totally committed to the community,” says Ralph Chiodo, owner of Active Green + Ross Tire & Automotive Centres. He also mentions their work on the annual fundraiser for the Trillium Health Centre, and their involvement in Pasta Festa.
     Deitmar Lein is the president of the Long Branch BIA, and his list of community activities for Carl is long and adds some other accomplishments, including coaching minor hockey, being on the Etobicoke graffiti committee, the Community Police Liaison committee, and the Etobicoke mayor’s task force on safety committee.
     Lein adds “Along with Councillor Mark Grimes and others, he was responsible in getting the 22 Division Lakeshore community police station open at 2986 Lakeshore Blvd. West.”
     Shelley adds that both her parents “also sponsor local sports teams on an annual basis, donate prizes for local charity events and fundraisers, hire ponies for kids to ride at the Lakeshore Festival and donate all proceeds to a local charity or school. They also never miss attending local fundraiser, charity and community events.”
     If you wonder how they find time for all of this, Shelley reveals “Most of their days are scheduled around meetings of the different committees they are involved with. Their days often end late at night.”
     When Porritt Realty celebrated 50 years of business, a friend wrote a poem about Carl and Liz’s life and work. Denise Dickin is the co-ordinator of The Assembly Hall, Lakeshore’s community cultural centre, and has known the Porritts for eight years. Her tribute includes the lines:
          They attended every meeting and fought for every cause
          Though none, perhaps, was quite as dear as good old Santa Claus.
          Lakeshore Festival, LCP and the BIAs
          They helped build this community,
in oh so many ways.
     “They have a holistic concern about the neighbourhood,” Dickin says. “They really make an effort to be involved with a whole lot of things that are going on. They make sure it’s a good place to live and work.”

By Gloria Hildebrandt
Gloria Hildebrandt writes for magazines and organizations out of Orchard House. She can be reached through gloria@ohouse.ca.