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Philanthropic businessman Lyle Hallman to receive Order of Canada say thank you Thank you for his health. Thank you for his family. And thank you for his sucâ€" cess. "Someone is looking after me," said the longtime Waterloo resident, known both professionally and for his long list of community initiatives. Over the last 56 years, Hallman, now 79 years of age, has become a household name in terms of land and apartment development throughout the Waterloo region. His brainchild, the Hallman Group of Companies, which he began on a budâ€" get of $700, has grown into one of the most prosperous businesses in the area. And in turn Hallman has made sure to share the wealth he has gained with the community around him; a philanâ€" thropic attitude which has earned him a number of accolades, including the one he will receive this Thursday when he is presented with a membership to the Order of Canada. "My father was a contractor in Preston," Hallman explained. "But in the late 1920s to the early 1930s, when the recession hit, his company went bankâ€" rupt." Though his father‘s dream was over, Hallman knew the passion for the buildâ€" ing business ran in his blood. So once he returned from a twoâ€"year stint with the Canadian Air Force, his own career took flight. But the climb to the top hasn‘t always been easy. "I started out with a pair of overalls on and tried to build it up from there," he explained. "The business gradually grew and expanded, and expanded some more." From there he turned his attention to land development, and then to apartâ€" ment development â€" a business deciâ€" sion which to this day is still flourishing throughout the region. "In our first 12 years, we built 4,000 apartment units," Hallman explained. _ "Sure, I could have gone to Toronto or Hamilton. But there‘s a lot of competiâ€" tion there. s "There was and always has been so hen Lyle Shantz Hallman wakes up every morning, he makes sure to look above and By Anoprea Bamey Chronicle Staff As years went by, the business kept growing and the profits kept soaring. But instead of sitting on the goldâ€" mine, Hallman chose to share it. much â€" opportunity in this area Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo is still leading the parade in terms of its industry." But Hallman pointed out he is quite picky over who reaps the benefits of his generosity. _ s â€" "I only donate to the hospitals (Grand River and St. Marys}, the univerâ€" sity (University of Waterloo} and for chilâ€" dren who are 13 years old or younger," he said. "I‘m making a pile of money every year," he said. "I know I can‘t take it with me, and my family will never starve, so why not give some back. "I‘m a very localâ€"oriented person. I‘ve made sure to donate a minimum of $2 million each year to the local situations." Waterloo businessman Lyle Hallman will be in Ottawa tomorrow to receive the Order of Canada. "The university needs money to get the best people to teach. There‘s an ongoing joke that in some cases the stuâ€" dents should be teaching the professors. That‘s why we need qualified teachers. "Hospitals should be topâ€"notch and people should be able to have the best they can get for their health. "And children over the age of 13 are at LIFESTYLE the stage when they are making their own choices. Before that time, they can be swung one way or another, and 1 want to help provide them with the opportunity to make the right choices in their lives." Because of his interest in these causes, Hallman is the governor of the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Hospital Foundation and a founding member of the board of directors of Conrad Grebel College. He has also provided financial resources to the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Community Foundation and has fundâ€" ed an institute and professorship at the University of Waterloo Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, now known as the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Better Health. But the businessman admitted he couldn‘t understand at first why he was being recognized in this special way. "My wife and the (former) president of the UW nominated me for thisaswo years ago, all without me knowing," he said. "When I received a letter last December stating I was going to receive it, they filled me in on the secret. But it came so out of the blue." But after thinking about the last halfâ€" century of his life, the reasoning behind the honour became somewhat clearer. "The majority of multiple millionâ€" aires become successful, not through education, but through common sense," he said. "It‘s a fight to get that money, and the harder you fight the more you make. In just over two weeks the university will present Hallman with an honorary degree of law for his contributions to the institution. But perhaps the most memorable tribute will come later this week in Ottawa â€" when Governor General Adrienne Clarkson presents him with the Order of Canada. "When you think about it, there will only be one person between me and the Queen of England, and that‘s the goverâ€" nor general," Hallman said. "It‘s quite an honour." "After all these years I‘ve stayed around, kept my nose cleap and not spent my money foolishly.?&nd that‘s why I‘m able to do what I do. "Some people say I‘m crazy for giving so much money away. But I just enjoy doing it." K\\’ Business Women in Networking will preâ€" ent "Destiny by Design", an evening of netâ€" working opportunities, a trade show and fashion show, June 14 at the Holiday Inn in Kitchener. Kâ€"W Business Women in Networking is a nonâ€" profit organization founded in 1983 to advocate and promote the success and professional develâ€" opment of women in business. Members have a commitment to support each other in the develâ€" opment of personal and professional excellence. Networking with other women provides opportuâ€" nities to learn from those who face the same chalâ€" lenges and provides us with a forum to share experiences. Registration will begin at 5 p.m., with the trade show to follow at 6 p.m., and the fashion show at 8 The cost for the evening is $30 for registration before June 1, and $40 for late registration.. There will be door prizes, finger foods, dessert, coffee and a cash bar. _ Women business owners or entrepreneurs interested in attending the event should contact Norma MacDonald at 747â€"4166. The Waterloo Region Education and Public Network (WREPNet) founders, in partnership with the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Symphony, have creâ€" ated a unique learning event called A Virtual Duet, that will take place June 1 in the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. The interactive initiative will bring the worldâ€" class orchestra to selected Waterloo region public and Catholic schools, including St. David secâ€" ondary school in Waterloo, as well as the main branch of the Kitchener public library. A Virtual Duet will feature a live symphony perâ€" formance that will be transmitted from the rotunâ€" da in realâ€"time across the fibreâ€"optic network to selected public and separate schools and public libraries throughout the region. An interactive discussion with students and the public at various host sites will be integrated into the performance and people in the rotunda will be able to hear the results. The goal of the event is to demonstrate that the potential of this stateâ€"ofâ€"theâ€"art community information network can provide to other partner organizations. WREPNet and KWS present ‘A Virtual Duet‘ Business Women in Networking host trade/fashion show 1p9 >â€"rq4»°>â€" 1 v 7I° Ask for details WATERLOO NORTH Morthfield at the Parkway 0% FINANCING 746â€"1666