ABOUT THE 2009 AWARD RECIPIENT

The 2009 Just One Person award recipient is Julie Tubman. As President and owner of Tubman Funeral Homes and Maisons Funeraires Cadieux, Julie Tubman has helped thousands of families cope with the pain of loss. 

As a professional and community leader Julie is committed to the health of our community and has given countless hours contributing her leadership skill to the community.  In addition to her professional and business commitments Julie is the founding Chair of Roger’s House and sat on the board of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario for 15 years, including a term as chair.   Julie was the founding president of the Widowed Support Group of Ottawa-Carleton and a founding member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, Ottawa Chapter. She has also served either as a director or on the executive of the Women’s Business Network, Joan of Arc Academy, West Carleton Business Association, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

In 2007 she was recognized by her professional colleagues and awarded the Humanitarium Award by the Ontario Funeral Service Association.  She was awarded the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year for 2006.  She was also awarded by the Women’s Business Network, Business Woman of the Year for 2006 as well she won in 2002 the Nepean-Kanata Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the year.

Julie also played a pivotal role in the launch of The Unforgettables Fund – National Capital Region chapter. The mission of the Fund is to provide financial peace of mind to families in need following the death of a child. This fund allows families to spend their last moments with their dying child free of financial worry. The Unforgettables Fund has now supported three families and without Julie and her continuing support through staff hours and financial gifts, the Unforgettables Fund would not exist in this region.

Licensed as a funeral director in 1979, Julie succeeded her father Joe Tubman as President of Tubman Funeral Homes.  After purchasing the family business she continued to build it by developing, along with her husband Ron Bidgood, a crematory and two additional funeral homes in Quebec.  In October 2006 she expanded business operations by one third with the purchase of funeral homes in Almonte and Carleton Place, making Tubman’s the largest private funeral service provider in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Julie is responsible for the strategic planning and operations of the eight funeral home chapels and crematory.

Julie is a devoted wife to Ron and the loving mom of their two daughters.  Compassion, dedication and the drive to make a positive difference to the families of our community are the tenets of Julie’s life.