Keeping business in the family

retail side of pets.

“I set up a little retail space in town and we still did the grooming and boarding out of town,” she said. “We also had our shuttle service going, which was great.”

Being a family-owned and operated business for 32 years, Hippe couldn’t help but reflect on the community that’s supported her over the years.

“The community has been awesome; very supportive,” she said. “I’m doing more administration work and less hands-on work with the customers now, and I really miss more of the hands-on work, it’s therapy for me.”

Hippe also mentioned the fact it hasn’t just been the business that’s changed over the years, the knowledge the staff carries has also changed.

“When you watch the same animals for roughly 18 years through the boarding facility, you can really start to see what the food they eat does to them over the years,” she said. “I got more into the aspect of learning the products very well. We’re still learning because you learn every day, but we have a little niche there.”

Family has always been a big part of the business for Hippe, so much so that she now has one of her daughters and two of her granddaughters on the payroll.

“My one granddaughter Jayden has a lot of interest in the business, and who knows, maybe one day she’ll take it over?” she said.

“There’s an expertise with each and every one of them, so there’s lots of diversification.”

The Pet Pad was also a recent recipient of the Canadian Pet Community Awards Independent Retailer Award for all of Western Canada, something Hippe is beaming over.

“I’m still pinching myself, is that for real? We were up against some pretty big stores and I was just thrilled to receive that award. After 32 that says a lot about the staff, the store itself, as well as our customers.”

“It was a huge win for us,” she said. “There was a lot of gratification winning that award, and I’m still pinching my cheek.”

Not everyone has the drive and motivation to start their own business, but for Hippe, there are no regrets.

“The biggest thing I learned was to always follow your dreams,” she said. “The customers have been great in the Lloydminster and surrounding areas, and they are the reason we continue to grow the way are.”

The Pet Pad is located at #2 4010 50 Ave., Lloydminster, Alta.

HAYGARTH

FROM PAGE

“I was the billet coordinator for the Bobcats for six years, plus we billeted,” she said.

“We’ve actually been involved with the team in every aspect as my husband coached them when they were the Blazers. He was an assistant coach for two years then the head coach, then we started billeting... three weeks after we started billeting I was asked to be the billet coordinator.

“That was supposed to be a short-term gig, which turned into six years of volunteering, but I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Haygarth has also been called ‘the best hockey mom in the rink,’ for reasons she isn’t quite sure of.

“I don’t take any credit for being a good hockey mom, we were a good hockey family. All four of our kids played hockey growing up, so we were always at the rink and doing our best to make sure the kids were where they had to be.”

In her current role, the best part of Haygarth’s day boils down to the kiddos she gets to see every day.

“I think preschool is the best, and I know a lot would disagree with me, especially if you teach junior high or high school because it’s not their forte,” she said.

“The kids love being here, so how can you not love it back? They’re excited to come through the door, they’re excited to tell you about their weekend, they’re excited about their dog ... they just love being here.”

So, what makes Lloydminster such a great place to live for Haygarth?

“For us, it’s our friends and family,” she said. “Both sides of our family are here, we’ve got amazing friends, and both our kids have grown up close to family, so you can’t really ask for more than that.” possible with family and friends before getting back into another year of play school at Grace United Church. 8

If you think it’s too late to follow what makes your heart truly happy, ask Cheryl Holtby her thoughts, she might just change your mind.

Holtby grew up on a farm four and a half miles east of Marshall and spent over a decade teaching English and phys-ed at Bishop