Domino’s Pizza

CONT’D

Supervisor/trainer, Amanda Boersen, Morin reflected on years of giving back to the community in various ways.

“The fundraiser we did after the earthquake in Haiti; after that point I started to realize our brand was very strong in Sherbrooke,” the franchisee said when asked what experiences stand out to him from his years of work. “The sales that we did that day still stand as our best Monday ever, and it’s nearly ten years ago.”

That fundraiser netted over $10,000, and inspired similar actions for causes ranging from typhoon relief in the Philippines to the Lac-mégantic rail disaster or the Fort Macmurray wildfires. On top of these crisis-specific fundraisers, Domino’s also provides ongoing to support (in the form of pizza) to the Eastern Townships School Board through fundraisers at schools ranging from Danville to Stanstead for various projects.

Boersen also said that they provide the pizza for almost all of the blood drives in Sherbrooke

“It’s almost 800 pizzas per year that we donate for Hema-quebec,” Morin said.

Business has been good for Domino’s in Sherbrooke, so much so that the franchise has opened two new locations within the last five and a half years; one on Richard Street near André-viger Park, and the other on King Street East near the intersection with Duplessis.

That’s not to say, however, that there have not been bad days.

In February of 2010, almost a month to the day after that record-setting fundraiser for Haiti, the business and another pizza restaurant in Sherbrooke were attacked by an arsonist.

“We were closed for four and a half days,” Morin said, recalling the time after the firebombing as quite stressful. “I didn’t get much sleep in there, but we were open the Friday afternoon for supper.”

These days the restaurant is bigger than ever. Having expanded earlier this year into the neighbouring space, what began as a pick-up counter can now offer an eat-in experience.

“The experience here is much different than at home,” he said. “It’s homey, it’s warm, and it’s fun to see.”

In addition to being set up in such a way that people can watch their pizza being made while sitting in the dining room, the new space is also meant to highlight the history of the building, which used o be a fire station.

“We’re trying to really keep the history of the building alive,” Morin said, pointing out photos on the walls that show the building in its heyday.

Looking to the future Morin said that he can see retirement on the horizon, but he shared a hope that Boersen might decide to take on the family business.

“We’ll see where life takes us,” Boersen said, saying regardless of what happens next, she has always valued the lasting relationships that come out of the Domino’s kitchens. “For me what stands out is seeing the staff grow.”