Tillsonburg’s ‘Mayor of Kigali’ celebrates change of scenery in Rwanda

Carey Ouellette, ‘The Mayor of Kigali’ (left), shares a smile with ‘Mr. Chips’, Paul Searby, at the latter’s Canadian-style fast food restaurant in the Rwandan capital. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

As Carey Ouellette settled into a familiar table at Kigali, Rwanda’s famous Mr. Chips restaurant, owner Paul Searby cued up Stompin’ Tom’s Connors’ ‘Tillsonburg’ on the stereo.

It was a strange juxtaposition, a Canadian singing icon’s cautionary classic about working in the tobacco fields playing deep in the heart of Africa, but that only built on a day of ‘small world’ coincidence.

The optimistic notion of producing some form of documentary on Jean-Claude Munyezamu’s remarkable journey from 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi survivor to Canadian refugee, to executive director of a Calgary-based non-profit, to supporting his former African village drew me to Rwanda, accompanied by fellow journalist JP Antonacci.

Munyezamu wrangled a meeting with Rwanda Basketball Federation Executive Director Fiona Ishimwe that morning at Kigali’s 10,000-seat BK Arena. Pulling into the parking lot, Munyezamu noted ‘Mr. Chips’ was approaching, his vehicle parked beside ours.

Mr. Chips - Searby - is a Canadian, well-known in Kigali who had opened a fast-food restaurant Munyezamu explained, serving up what his daughter Anabelle insists are the best burgers in Rwanda or anywhere else. Mr. Chips also has an outlet at BK, the adjoining 45,000-seat soccer stadium and projected space in Masai Ujuri’s Kigali-based development project.

We introduced ourselves, Antonacci’s head going up, sensing a Hamilton Spectator feature when Searby mentioned he came from a ‘small town outside that city.’

“Dundas?” I inquired, because an old friend hailed from there, Searby nodding, curiously.

Conversation continued, insisting my name sounded familiar, which I shrugged off until, having mentioned living on a farm south of Woodstock, Mr. Chips indicated a ‘good friend of his worked at the newspaper in Tillsonburg.’

“That’d be Pete Kehoe,” I responded, Searby’s turn to look shocked, confirming mutual connection.

Laughing, he invited our trio to his original restaurant that afternoon to complete Antonacci’s interview with photos and test Anabelle’s theory for ourselves.

“You know,” Searby added, “there’s a guy from Tillsonburg who comes in most days.”

Ouellette grew up in and around Tillsonburg via a chance stop en route of a planned family move from the Windsor area to Burlington, his mom Barbara (who still lives near Tillsonburg’s fire station) impressed with large Tillson Ave. trees.

“My mother just said, ‘Corky (his dad’s nickname), we’re going to bring our family up here.’”

Ouellette lived and attended schools in multiple locations including near the bridge at Coronation Park, Delmer, Brownsville and Culloden, with his parents and siblings Glen, Sally, Dale, and Jane.

“We weren’t a rich family.”

Carey was a member of the boy scouts, and also joined the 153 Varnavair Air Cadets, commanded by Frank Wentzel.

Ouellette attended Maple Lane Public School, while living near the current Hillside Kennels along Cranberry Line, and then Annandale. He did odd jobs, worked in pumpkin and corn fields and ironically given Searby’s ‘walk-up’ song, a single harvest as a tobacco kiln hanger.

“I did it for one season and said I’d never work that hard again,” Ouellette laughed.

He played defensive tackle at high school, practising against brother Glen on the offensive line, and remembers the Marauders winning two bowl games in three years.

“That was when Annandale was at its prime.”

Arn Stover was not only Ouellette’s coach and English teacher, but a major influence in his life.

“He encouraged me to join the air force,” credited Ouellette, who finally made it to Burlington, enlisting at that community’s recruitment centre. He spent 14 years in the air force as an engine and airframe technician, reaching the rank of master corporal. Taking early retirement as the force downsized, Ouellette earned his civilian aviation ticket in Comox, B.C., working his way up to maintenance manager at E&B Helicopters.

Fourteen years in, looking for a change in his life, he received a ‘head hunter’ call informing him a new position awaited, his plane ticket already paid for.

“Three days later I was in Rwanda,” he recalled, thinking he had landed in Vancouver because of how neat and clean things were.

That was 19 years ago, his rough employment outlines including eight with Akagera Aviation, one in Papua, New Guinea, R&D and maintenance on electric motorcycles, and a pair of mining companies. Ouellette is currently with Trinity Mines as a heavy duty mechanic and maintenance manager.

“You only have the half of it,” laughed Ouellette, who had spent the day immersed in a river, fighting with heavy machinery.

He claims he was Searby’s ‘first customer at his first restaurant’ and stuck with him throughout his culinary progression, as advertised, stopping by most evenings after work.

“I’m part of the furniture now,” Ouellette laughed, noting Mr. Chips’ nickname for him is ‘The Mayor of Kigali.’

Ouellette’s last visit to Tillsonburg came earlier this winter, coinciding with Searby’s return.

“We’ve got to be the two stupidest Canadians to visit Canada in February,” he laughed.

“I love Tillsonburg, I really do,” added Ouellette, who says injuries suffered while playing football, in the air force and from motorcycle accidents have caught up to him. “I just can’t handle the cold. My body just can’t do it.”

In any event, Rwanda is home now Ouellette concluded, calling it the safest country he’s lived in, and a far cry from what most Canadians think.

“I wouldn’t trade any of it.”