The Rob More Good Life Award presented to John Cholmondeley at LiveWorkPlay’s Make A Buzz Ottawa 17 April 2026

Presented live at Make A Buzz Ottawa 2026, LiveWorkPlay’s 31st Anniversary Celebration, April 17, at Bayview Yards

The Rob More Good Life Award – John Cholmondeley 

Introduction of presenter Mike More by Keenan Wellar.

You have been a fabulous audience, so let’s really bring it home with our final and most celebrated award tradition: 

The Rob More Good Life Award. 

Please welcome to the stage a very special guest representing the More family: a big round of applause for Mike More. 

I’m Rob’s dad, Mike More. The Rob More Good Life Award was established to celebrate the life of our son, LiveWorkPlay member Rob More, who died tragically along with five others in the September 18, 2013, Barrhaven bus/train crash.

We continue to celebrate Rob’s life, and we also hope to inspire others to pursue a Good Life of their own. Rob loved his home, his neighbourhood, volunteering at the Experimental Farm, and his work at IBM. Rob enjoyed LiveWorkPlay events, provided they were not on the same night as a playoff hockey game.

We know Rob is looking down this evening with a huge smile on his face, seeing the Rob More Good Life Award ceremonial cup being presented here at the Preston Event Centre.

The Rob More Good Life Award is given each year to an individual who has experienced significant life transitions in pursuit of their own goal and dreams. This is the 30th anniversary of LiveWorkPlay, so I would like to remind everyone of our previous recipients.

We started in 2014 with Phil Landreville, then Caroline Matte, Ashley Lavigne, Tim Siebrasse, Marie Stanfield, Gillian Gillespie, Frances Laube, Martin Couture, Paul Knoll, Matt Suttie, Fred Dixon, and Chris Jones. What a wonderful representation of the LiveWorkPlay community, and what a tribute to the memory of Rob.

This year’s recipient is yet another legendary figure of the LiveWorkPlay community. Let me tell you a bit about him.

This year’s honoree was first connected to LiveWorkPlay more than 25 years ago. He went on many LiveWorkPlay trips, from big North American cities to the Caribbean. He took part in the On Our Own Together housing projects, which helped him prepare to live in his own apartment, as he has been doing for many years now.

He was a part of the first ever LiveWorkPlay employment placement partnership and was ultimately hired to work at the TD Bank cafeteria. Most recently he completed a contract position working in furniture assembly. Since there are so many employers here in the room, please note that he is ready for his next career: just speak to the LiveWorkPlay employment team and they’ll set you up with an interview.

This year’s recipient likes video games, but he also likes working out at the gym, visiting with his mom here in town, and entertaining when his brother visits from Toronto.

I can tell you that there are not many people who could rival our son Rob for his love of sports, and certainly not for his vast knowledge of sports. This year’s recipient is one of those rare individuals who could keep up with Rob. He can go many levels deep, down into the minor leagues of hockey and many other sports, not just in Canada but around the world, and educate you about the relevant geography for each of the team locations.

Also, like Rob, he can start up amazing conversations with people he has just met and is legendary for coming up with interesting questions. He leaves people smiling, laughing, and wanting more.

I am sure I have given it away already with all of these clues, but please join me in welcoming John Cholmondeley to accept a plaque to take home with him and get a photo with the Rob More Memorial Cup.

John, come on up!