Mortimer's destiny keeps him going, giving
You get a sense of Brian Mortimer by
looking at some of the numbers.
He's owned or operated 17 different bars and
restaurants in London since 1975; he's helped organize hundreds
of events that have raised millions of dollars for local
charities; almost every day he punches out at least 30 phone
calls and 70 e-mails; and he's broken 38 bones in his body
(including a dozen in his face) from soccer, football and
wrestling. Oh. And about a kazillion people call him a friend.
But the numbers barely scrape the surface of
this seemingly tireless London music promoter, manager,
restaurateur and volunteer, whose 55th birthday is being marked
tonight with a bash at the downtown Music Hall.
"He's just one of those quiet gems that
London has," London West MP Ed Holder says from
Ottawa. "I'm a big fan of his because he cares so much and he
gives so much back."
Holder worked with Mortimer on the annual
Gathering on the Green festival staged by the Old South
Community Organization.
As always, Mortimer's job was to book the
entertainment.
"He's a very low-key, galvanizing character,"
says Holder. "If you say, 'Brian, can you help?' he's just
there."
It's astonishing how many events Mortimer has
helped organize during the years, including the Labatt 24-hour
Relay, the Corporate Challenge, the Soup Lunch (for the Heart
and Stroke Foundation), the Dustin Wighton Memorial Volleyball
Tournament (which during its 12-year existence raised more than
$250,000 for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the
Jack Richardson Music Awards, the Rubber Ducky Race and the
Balloon Fiesta, to name a few.
Many of the events, though, are smaller.
Sitting on Mortimer's dining room table yesterday was a card
from a woman thanking him for organizing a fundraiser after the
death of her son.
"I think it's in his blood," says Rick
DeJager, owner of Tiger Jacks. "There's nobody coaching him (to
do this charity work). It's a natural thing for him."
While the bar and music scene can be
cutthroat, Mortimer has somehow avoided sinking into cynicism.
"He's a fun guy with a big heart," says UWO
track coach Bob Vigars, who worked with Mortimer on the Labatt
24-Hour Relay.
"He's a really nice, gentle, ethical man."
When pressed, Mortimer says his job is
simple: To provide fun.
"I have a philosophy of abundance," he says,
adding his mother always emphasized kindness.
"I feel it's my destiny to help people."
But how does one guy get so much done in so
little time?
First, he says, he surrounds himself with a
team of great people.
The rest, he adds, is simple.
"I've been good to all these people, and I
pick up the phone and you know what? They can't say 'no' to me."
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IF YOU GO
Still Alive at 55, a
birthday bash for Brian Mortimer tonight at 8 p.m. at the Music
Hall (185 Queens Ave.), $10 tickets available at the door.
KEYWORDS=LOCAL
