Mike Morreale in business with Ticat teammates

As a starting slotback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Mike Morreale could always look forward to sharing a laugh with teammates Rob Hitchcock and Paul Osbaldiston.
Hitchcock, a safety who holds the team record for career tackles, was just one locker away from Morreale in the Ticat dressing room. Kicker Paul Osbaldiston’s locker was on the opposite side. Osbaldiston is Hamilton’s career scoring leader with 2,856 points.
By 2008, all three players had retired from the Canadian Football League. Today they remain teammates in the business world through their careers with Walton Capital.
Morreale, who now lives in Ancaster, joined Walton Capital Management nearly two years ago, following in the footsteps of his teammates Hitchcock and Osbaldiston.
“(Rob) said it was very rewarding, so I took the leap,” said Morreale.
As the regional vice president, Hitchcock is now Morreale’s boss.
“How did the defensive guy become the boss? That’s what I always said,” Morreale quipped. Paul Osbaldiston is a sales account manager for Walton Capital.
Walton Capital Management is an Exempt Market Dealer offering land-based real estate investments syndicated by Walton International Group to qualified investors.
While he’s now focusing more on the business world, Morreale remains active as a TV commentator for TSN and CIS football on the Score Network. He also spent 2007 as a receivers coach for the McMaster Marauders, his university alma mater.
Morreale had many ups and downs during his 12 years in the CFL, including eight seasons in Hamilton and four with the arch-rival Toronto Argonauts.
“I miss the guys. I miss the camaraderie,” he admits.
A two-time Grey Cup Champion in 1996 with Toronto and 1999 in Steeltown, Morreale also won the Most Outstanding Canadian Award in the 1999 championship with three catches for 51 yards. He was the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 1998 and the 2000 recipient of the Tom Pate Memorial Award for his off-field community service.
Despite a disappointing season opener last week in Winnipeg, Morreale believes this year’s Tiger-Cat team has what it takes to build on the success of a 9-9 2009 season.
“I actually think they are going to have a pretty legitimate chance to get second place and make the playoffs,” said Morreale.
Morreale, a Stoney Creek native, moved to Ancaster about two years ago along with his wife, Jackie and their daughter.
“I always liked the town feel,” said Morreale, describing the Ancaster community. “It’s close to my parents and in-laws and it’s easy driving to anywhere around.”
Morreale has also worked as the director of marketing and business development for Pro Players, the sports marketing division of the CFL players association. Upon his retirement following the 2006 season he compiled 509 receptions for 6,649 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Mark Dennis lost CFP credentials prior to being charged

A source with the Financial Planning Standards Council has just confirmed that Mark Dennis is no longer registered as a certified financial planner. His delisting, I'm told, has nothing to do with the charges against him.
His credentials were not renewed for this year due to incomplete paperwork. He was still listed as a CFP on the FPSC website, but his listing was removed this week. See this week's paper for more.

Police seek woman in bank robberies

Police are looking for a young woman accused of multiple bank robberies including an April 22 heist at the Ancaster CIBC.
At 2 p.m., a woman entered the CIBC at 21 Wilson St. W. and approached a customer service agent indicating she had a gun, although none was seen. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Thirty-five minutes later, a suspect matching the woman’s description entered the TD Canada Trust at 781 Mohawk Rd. W. where she demanded cash, claiming she had a weapon. The teller turned over cash and the suspect left the bank.
Police said the woman is also wanted for bank robberies in Halton and Waterloo Regions.
Police have released a suspect photo and are seeking the public’s assistance. The suspect is in her twenties, black, approximately five feet tall. She was wearing a grey hoodie, grey sweat pants, a black Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat, and dark sunglasses.
Anyone with information on this robbery is asked to contact the Hamilton Police Break, Enter, Auto Theft and Robbery Unit at 905-546-6967 or call Hamilton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Financial advisor, former Tiger-Cat charged with fraud

A former Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker and financial planner has been charged with misappropriating $1.8 million from one of his clients.
Mark Allen Dennis, who police named as the president of the Dennam Group of Companies, is charged with Obtain Credit by False Pretence and four counts of Theft by Conversion. He is an Ancaster resident.
“It is alleged that between 2004 and 2006 Mark Dennis misappropriated $1.8 million from one of his clients while in his capacity as a financial advisor,” Detective Craig Parmenter stated in a news release.
A corporate profile report for the Dennam Group Ltd. lists only Dennis’ wife, Francisca, as a director. The Financial Planning Standards Council lists Mark Dennis as a certified financial planner for Dennam Consulting.
The Dennam Group has an office in Ancaster at 114 Wilson St. W. A man who answered the phone at the Dennam office on Thursday said the firm remains open. Dennis plans to issue a statement next week, the man said, and clients will be the first people notified.
Police are looking for other victims. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Parmenter in the Major Fraud Branch at 905-546-4521.

Bill Lister, Meredith Walker, Rousseau House honoured

Bill Lister is Ancaster’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2009. Lister was honoured at the April 7 awards evening at the Ancaster Old Mill along with Youth Volunteer of the Year award winner Meredith Walker and Business of the Year, Rousseau House.
“Being involved is its own reward. That’s how I felt,” said Lister. A 53-year resident of Ancaster, Lister spearheaded efforts to build a new fellowship hall for Marshall Memorial United Church, a $1 million project. As building committee chair and contract manager, Lister helped Marshall Memorial retire all of its building related debt by 2009.
Lister has been a faithful brother at Seymour Lodge of the local Masonic Order for more than 40 years. Since 2004 Lister has also served as a volunteer treasurer for the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board’s Educational Archives and Heritage Centre. He has offered his expertise in tax return preparation to others in the community. Over the years his volunteer service has also extended to the YMCA and the Boy Scouts.
Steve Paterson was the runner-up for Ancaster Citizen of the Year. Since 1994, Paterson has been a committee member for the Ancaster Community Food Drive, which raises more than 75,000 pounds of food for eight social service organizations in Hamilton. Paterson is also involved in a number of volunteer capacities at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and Scouts Canada where he spends 16 to 20 hours monthly, planning meetings and weekend outings.
Meredith Walker’s volunteer service began at age four when she sold lollipops and peanuts door-to-door to raise money for the kidney foundation. In recent years she has participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life as a youth recruiter. During her time at Ancaster High School, Walker served as co-president of the Girls Athletic Association, a student council member, a volunteer leader for the Grade 8 orientation day and a member of the triathlon planning committee.
She draws inspiration from her late father, Glenn, her mother, Lynn, her grandparents and her brother.
She also thanked her former teachers at Ancaster High School.
“I’m honoured and flattered to have been selected for this award,” said Walker.
Walker plans to study sports management this fall at Durham College.
Other nominees for Youth Volunteer of the Year included Rachel Bellefeuille, Elise Dunn, Madeline Foley, Brittany Fothergill, Melanie Grice, Brittany Kruter, Sarah Rasmussen, Magdalena Szkarlat and Colleen Wilson.
Business owner Andrew Kershaw represented Rousseau House, a historically themed casual and fine dining establishment originally built in 1835.
The restaurant attracted Canadian silver medalist triathlete Simon Whitfield for a fundraising event and raised $25,000 for the Mark Preece Family House in partnership with Ancaster Financial Services.
Other Business of the Year nominees included Faloney’s of Ancaster, Meridian Credit Union and Redeemer University College.
The annual awards evening is presented by the Ancaster Division of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce along with keynote sponsors RBC Royal Bank, The Ancaster Old Mill, Heritage Complete Home Care and the Ancaster News.

Titans win bronze

Bishop Tonnos has won the bronze medal at the OFSAA AAA/AAAA girls hockey championships in Ottawa. Coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to eventual gold medalist St. Basil, the Titans faced Sacred Heart High School of Stittsville for bronze.
BT won 2-1 to capture the bronze.
Talia Paone opened the scoring for Bishop Tonnos in the second period, but Sacred Heart tied the score in the period's final minute.
Paone scored the game winning goal with 6:33 left in the third, and the Titans held on for the victory.

Titans playing for Bronze

The Bishop Tonnos Titans girls hockey team will play for bronze after a heart-breaking 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto's St. Basil the Great High School in the OFSAA semi-final.
Trailing 2-1 late in the third period, the Titans forced overtime when Tessa Giftopolous scored with 18 seconds remaining, assisted by Dallas Boyd and Sarah Nurse.
St. Basil scored the winner with 6:48 remaining in overtime.
Like Bishop Tonnos, St. Basil also dominated the round robin, outscoring the opposition 15-4 and posting a 3-0 record.
For Bishop Tonnos, who also won their pool with a 3-0 record, Today's loss was the first time they have tasted defeat all season.
The Titans play Sacred Heart High School from Stittsville in the bronze medal game this afternoon.