This morning while tricycling in the cool air and autumn sunshine about the neighbourhood where we live, I encountered two gentlemen whom I have seen many times during the past couple of months. They appeared to be overseeing the construction of two townhouses on the Mississippi River located not far from our apartment building. After a brief hello to one of the chaps, I decided it was time to enlarge the acquaintance. When I alerted my intention by slowing and approaching the younger fellow, he quipped, “How many miles have you done!”  I thanked him for the compliment then enquired about the progress of construction.  He confirmed the self-evident recent landscaping then detailed the current undertakings inside and outside the two homes. I then asked whether the properties were owned by the same chap who owns (or has a material interest in) our own apartment building, to which the fellow replied, “Yes.  You were my father’s lawyer many years ago!”

After a focussed investigation it was revealed that the two gentlemen are brothers and sons of Salim Houchaimi.  Mr. Houchaimi owns a vast number of properties within the immediate area including the entirety of farmland behind us along the river to the end of Old Almonte Road.

What makes this account scintillating is the story behind the currency.  Mr. Houchaimi’s son Moodie told me that when his father arrived in Canada he could not speak English. He initially worked for about 15 years in Nate’s Delicatessen on Rideau Street in Ottawa.  I mentioned I was friendly with the late Moishe Smith, nephew of Dave Smith (brother of Nate Smith, Moishe’s father) who eventually ran the delicatessen and the steak house next door. This alliance and familiarity arose when I was asked what had brought me to Almonte.  I mentioned my association with K. Patricia Flesher (whose name was familiar to both Moodie and his brother Mike) with whom I had begun my social introduction to Almonte.

The familial intelligence expanded to include Ezzat Eldali who is the brother of Salim Houchaimi’s wife.  I had also worked for Mr. Ezzat Eldali, another restaurateur. My memory now fails to recall whether it were Mr. Eldali or Mr. Houchaimi who first opened Mamma’s Place restaurant in Almonte; and upon which of the two gentlemen I attended over forty years ago upon the construction of a new restaurant in Ottawa. Clearly the industry of both gentlemen had grown to the point to require the services of more than a country lawyer. To this day for example there are notices on the internet heralding the development of a 23-acre parcel of land nearby Orchardview retirement home (the land of which I understand was also previously owned by Mr. Houchaimi).

As you might expect I encouraged the two gentlemen Mike and Moodie Houchaimi to record the history of their family enterprises not only for the mere adventure of the undertakings but also as part of the evolution of local history of general interest to the residents. But the very moment I proposed the record keeping, both men summarily withdrew to address the immediacy of construction issues which arose in the background. As so often happens the lesser virtues of historical accounting are overtaken by the greater importance of attending to business and doing the work at hand. This is indeed the tale of fortune and success!