Suppliers and retailers from across Canada gathered last night to honour the retail home improvement industry’s best hardware and building supply retailers. The occasion was the 30th Outstanding Retailer Awards Gala Dinner at the Queen’s Landing hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Following a pre-gala reception hosted by Home Hardware, dealers were awarded in eight categories covering the range of hardware and home improvement retailing formats.
This year’s winners (with award sponsors) are:
- Best Hardware Store – Quincaillerie Jean Denis (Home Hardware), St-Raymond, Que. Sophie Denis and Philippe Moisan, owners. (JRTech Solutions)
- Best Building Supply or Home Centre under 15,000 square feet – Grunthal Lumber (Castle), Grunthal, Man. Murray Rempel and Mel Funk, owners; Mike Bourgeois, manager. (Johns Manville Canada)
- Best Building Supply or Home Centre over 15,000 square feet – Grande Prairie Home Hardware Building Centre, Grande Prairie, Alta. Kevin Gillman, manager. (Trex)
- Best Contractor Specialist – Pierre Naud Inc. (BMR), Trois Rivières, Que. Marc-André Lebel and Philippe Lebel, owners; Jessica Bastarache, manager. (North American Hardware and Paint Association)
- Best Large Surface Retailer – Lowe’s Pickering, Pickering, Ont. Angelo Tzogas, store manager. (National Hardware Show)
- Retail Spirit Award – Gander Bay Building Supplies (Castle), Victoria Cove, Gander Bay, N.L. Deborah and Todd Brinson, owners. (Kohltech)
- Young Retailer of the Year – BMR Paulin Moisan Inc., St-Raymond, Que. Marianne Moisan and Mathieu Moisan, owners. (Acceo)
- Marc Robichaud Community Leader – RONA Fort Erie, Fort Erie, Ont. Dennis Doidge, owner; Jeff Hill, manager. (Burlington Merchandising and Fixtures)
The awards gala capped the first day of the 26th Hardlines Conference, which featured scintillating addresses from speakers including Alison Fletcher, award-winning founder of the Cookery group of stores; Sexton Group VP and GM Eric Palmer; and economist Peter Norman, whose insights are a perennial staple of the Hardlines Conference.
