iVillage Canada is proud to announce the winner of our Hot Dads 2012 Contest! From May 5 to June 13^th families across Canada submitted the awesome dads in their lives and voted on their favourites. Thousands of Canadians voted and iVillage Canada’s Hot Dad 2012 Contest winner is…

Lenny LaPlante, a dad of two girls and a boy, from Hamilton, Ontario! When his eldest daughter, Stephanie, submitted his entry she said, “My father is standout dad because he always makes me laugh. He reminds me of Archie Bunker with his silly words and attitude. Sometimes I laugh with him, sometimes I laugh at him, but either way he always makes me smile.”

Lenny knew his daughter entered him, but was flabbergasted when he got the congratulatory. “Stephanie told me about it, but I had no idea I would win!” says the proud dad. “I still can’t believe it.”

And Lenny’s finest achievement? His determined daughter Stephanie who motivates him every day. “Stephanie has muscular atrophy and is only capable of using one finger and won that contest with just one finger! She’s a sweetie but she’s a fighter! There is nothing she can’t do. She’s 25 years old and only weighs 50 lbs, but has a mouth like she weighs 500 lbs, so it’s my blessing to have her!”

Lenny is turning 61 tomorrow, and he’ll be reflecting on a quarter century of parenthood. The secret to raising daughters, he says, is as simple as “be a good listener.” And one other little thing: “When you wake up every day, say a prayer and thank God for yesterday.”

Happy birthday, Lenny! As our Hot Dads 2012 Contest winner, he’ll receive a Coleman Even Heat 4-Burner Stationary Propane BBQ (valued at $649.99) courtesy of Canadian Tire.