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Profile 3 - Venicio Rebelo
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.By Bill Hutchins with photography
by Bernard Clark
 If
there was a Mr. Kingston contest to pick the best promoter of the
city, then Vinnie Rebelo would surely be in the running. The well-known
hotelier, Rotarian and civic booster has been trumpeting the benefits
of Kingston as a place to live, work and play for a long, long time.
His passion for this city comes through loud and clear in almost
any conversation. Once he gets talking about the city, it’s
hard to get him to ease up on the enthusiasm. His words flow faster
than a trip down the Ambassador Hotel waterslide. “Kingston
is where I want to be. I can’t think of any place better.
It’s not too small and not too big. It’s just right.”
Vinnie doesn’t just talk about Kingston; he actively promotes
the city and supports many of the causes within it. He has led or
contributed to countless community events over the years, most notably
Rotarian causes that raise money for the Greater Kingston Boys and
Girls Club. He has also championed a host of city-led initiatives,
such as the construction of the downtown sports and entertainment
centre, Market Square’s revitalization into an all-season
attraction and the programs that complement them.
The unofficial Mr. Kingston is a man for all seasons. Vinnie remains
one of the driving forces behind Feb Fest, Kingston’s annual
winter carnival which is about to celebrate its sixth year.
“When we were promoting the need for improvements to Market
Square, we wanted to let people know what the outdoor rink would
look like,” he recalls. He partnered with high-profile organizers
such as Kirk Muller and Doug Gilmour to turn the dream into a reality.
. . .
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Profile Kingston and Summer in the City are divisions
of Riverview Publishing Inc.
© 2010 Profile Kingston/Summer in the City/Riverview Publishing
Inc. No reproduction or republication in whole or part without written
permission.
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