Samuel Dorais
Samuel is an early-rising people person. “The future belongs to those who get up early,” he says with his infectious smile. A customer service leader who would move mountains to satisfy his customers, Samuel is a fixture at the IGA Extra in Châteauguay, Quebec. He really takes the time to get to know his customers personally, whether laughing and playing with their kids, or showing genuine concern for what is going on in their lives. Samuel says his father is a role model who is well known in the city of Châteauguay, and he aspires to be like him. “We always win when we are natural with one another,” he says. His goal is to ensure that everyone leaves the store with a smile on their face. Samuel thrives in the team atmosphere at Sobeys, which he says has become like a family to him.
Philip Deng
During his career with Sobeys, Philip has distinguished himself as someone who embraces every opportunity that comes his way and ensures he learns far more than is expected of him. Philip was instrumental in getting Rocky View RSC up and running and has worked tirelessly to get his team organized, states his nomination letter. Working hard is second nature to him. “I like challenges. I grew up in a warzone that’s all about challenges,” he says. The ever-changing nature of the job is what keeps things interesting, but the one thing that remains constant is the way he is treated. “We are treated with respect.” Philip, who immigrated to Canada from South Sudan, is grateful that he was given the opportunity to prove himself. “When I came here in 2005, my English wasn’t that good … but they decided to give me a chance. From that moment, I have never thought of leaving. This has become my second home.”
Elaine Dennis
Elaine Dennis was a stay-at-home mom for 17 years before being encouraged to take a job at the new inner-city liquor store in Edmonton. Turns out she was a perfect fit, bringing high energy, great customer service and compassion to the job. And lots of laughs. “Even if I’m only with a customer for 20 or 30 seconds, I’m going to try to make them smile,” she says. “If you put a smile on someone’s face, they really do appreciate it.” So much so that customers are known to bring her little gifts like homemade jam. She is also known for giving out candy canes at Christmas or chocolates on Valentine’s Day. She is also lauded for her compassion and empathy for those who may be struggling. Coming from a family of caregivers in the medical field, she says it comes naturally to her. “It’s just who I am.”
Joëlle Dickey
Direct, honest, and transparent with her colleagues, Joëlle has great confidence in her employees’ abilities, and respects their expertise. Joëlle is proud to have built a solid and engaged team that always seeks to collaborate, innovate, and focus on achieving the objectives of the corporation. “I believe that Sobeys has always been a company that is very close to its community,” she says. “I think it is beautiful to see, that it is not just about business, but it is also about giving back to others and making sure everyone is okay.” Joëlle is inspired by her mother for her resilience and limitless energy in climbing the career ladder while raising her and her sister alone, and for the Sunday family dinners she prepares religiously. About her work life, she says, “Sobeys is where I spend a lot of time, and when I come to work, I feel a little bit like I am getting together with my family.”
Terri-Lynne Dormer
Terri-Lynne, who goes by TL, does indeed proudly serve her community. In her former role as manager of the Selkirk Safeway, she has been tireless in her efforts to ensure her store supported all manner of community events, from giving out water bottles at an MS Walk with her staff to organizing a variety of charity fundraisers. “I always connect with people, trying to inspire or make their day brighter I always make the time.” For her efforts, she and her store were bestowed the Selkirk Biz Community Spirit Award. “Proudly serving our communities’ means connecting with the people we’re serving and mirroring our communities that we’re working in,” she says. And for her that means all people, having also championed hiring people with disabilities in partnership with Community Living Selkirk. She has also been in the forefront of organizing events for employees through the Safeway Employees Association. “The best part of my job is interacting with people and helping to make a difference.”
Rémi-Claude Dorval
Rémi-Claude is an employee who brings his passion to his work. A 26-year Sobeys veteran, Rémi-Claude has come a long way from his first stressful days of bagging groceries. He later moved to the meat department, watching the butchers work before deciding to return to school for a diploma in the field and making his personal motto “one day at a time, but above all, think of tomorrow” a reality. Always an innovator, he uses the store’s increasingly popular smokehouse to create exclusive new recipes such as smoked meat, maple chicken, brown sugar bacon and two kinds of ribs that make the store unique. During the holidays or on special occasions, Rémi-Claude sets up a buffet with smoked gourmet products, where he lets his passion for his work shine. “I love my job,” he says. “There are so many memories and good times to remember.”
Andrea Eriksson
It only took Andrea nine months of working behind a desk in an office to realize it wasn’t the job for her. So she hightailed it back to the grocery business, where she started out as a courtesy clerk and 31 years later is a store manager. She hasn’t looked back since. “You don’t ever have one day that’s the same as the next day,” she says of her passion for the retail world. But it isn’t just her own well-being that Andrea cares about. The manager also puts in tireless volunteer hours as president of the Employees Association for Northern Alberta, organizing eight to 10 events annually, such as the Kid’s Christmas Party, the Employee Christmas Banquet and Night at the Zoo. She is also a Kronos and Labour Champion. “Regardless of the job that I’m given, I do 100 per cent well, actually, 100 to 900 per cent,” she says. “I make sure everything is done to the best of my ability.”
Shadia Farhat
Getting it done with passion and integrity is Shadia’s calling card. Without being asked, she takes care of tasks like completing morning logs and fully stocking checkout lanes with bags and supplies every day, often before her shift starts and always with a smile. Even when she worked with a broken foot, she refused help to do what’s needed to keep the store’s front end running smoothly. Thanks to her, the Oakville store boasts 100 per cent in food safety scores. Shadia says she is motivated to do a good job because she loves the customers and her co-workers. “I’m proud where I’m working,” says Shadia, who was a nurse in her home country of Kuwait and a former pharmacy technician. “We are treated well.” Although she is being lauded for always performing her job with a smile, she is honoured to be recognized for it. “I appreciate it so much. To me, everything is good.”
Christopher Gallant
Chris’s customers are unequivocal about the impact he has had on their lives. One customer in particular credits Chris’s guidance with helping her lose 60 pounds following gastric bypass surgery. “I was recently asked what tool has been most useful to me in this journey,” the customer wrote. “My response? My Sobeys!” Chris already had a good rapport with the customer before her surgery, so giving her extra help came naturally. “She came in and told me about her surgery and I took out my cellphone, Googled what foods she could and couldn’t eat, and we went from there,” he says. “I took her right around the whole store.” Chris is humbled and proud that the customer took the time to write a glowing letter and says it is within every employee’s abilities to provide exceptional customer service. “Just be yourself,” he says. “Be natural. It’s not just coming in and doing the job. It’s actually wanting to help people.” “I want to make every customer feel welcomed and have the very best shopping experience.”
Connie Gould
Connie knows that it’s sometimes the little things that make customers feel appreciated and welcome in her store, like the time she introduced shoppers to a new cashier as “regular customers” during a very busy pre-holiday shift. “Wow!,” the impressed customer wrote in an email to the store. “It was so nice to be recognized and noted that we were regulars. We felt special and appreciated!” The customer also noted that not only was Connie making them feel important, but was encouraging that same level of exemplary service to a new colleague. Connie says as a reflection of her upbeat personality, she strives to bring a smile to people’s faces throughout the day. “If you come down my aisle you’re not just going to just get great service, you’re going to have fun and a great conversation. When you come down my line, it’s time to have fun.” And it seems to be a hit. “I have so many repeat customers,” she says.
