FEATURE

pioneer Marc Robichaud. Although he died at only 36, Robichaud left his mark through innovative thinking—and his strong commitment to community engagement.

The Marc Robichaud Community Leader Award celebrates the outstanding contributions, charitable donations and events created by store staff, managers and owners who make an enduring impact on the communities they serve.

“It certainly impacted the staff,” says Chris Locke of the Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre’s own 2016 Marc Robichaud Community Leader award. The 25,000-square-foot store, which is owned by his father and uncle, sits in the downtown core of Orillia, Ont., a gateway to cottage country in Central Ontario. “That’s part of the success we’ve had. We’ve built a culture where people care about the success of the business and take it to heart,” he says of the store’s 85 employees, reduced from 100 due to the COVID pandemic.

Management and staff take pride in their commitment to community initiatives, including donating funds to build a shelter and provide for the city’s vulnerable. Through the years, they’ve launched many initiatives to support the community, including contributing garden centre produce to the local food bank and supporting local youth.

“It was a culmination of all the things we do. We have a lot of philanthropic ventures