Ron Kore named top Pelham citizen
It takes a while to have a coffee with Ron Kore.
The Fonthill Kinsmen Club’s 2016 Pelham citizen of the year is interrupted by staff, customers, contractors and old friends with questions, on the spot decisions and greetings.
The Fonthill Sobeys franchise operator loves it.
It’s what it means to have a business in your own community, he said. “I’m an old time grocer.” Said Kinsmen publicity director Kevin Twomey in announcing the award winner, “Ron never says no.”
Kore, 60, chuckled at that remark.
“My accountant says, ‘Ron, you should say no more often.’”
But it doesn’t fit with his philosophy to help, anymore than staying in his second-floor office.
“The weakest part of my game is in my office.”
He prefers talking to and getting to know customers.
“Hands-on all the time, I want to know what we do right and do wrong.”
It’s sound business practice, but it also shows him where he can help.
“You don’t measure success by what you accumulate but by what you give back to the community,” he said.
“In our society today, there is too much greed, too much of what’s in it for me.” He said volunteering is fun. The Kinsmen Citizen of the Year Award is for Kore’s volunteer work with Pelham Cares, the Fonthill bandshell concerts committee, Special Olympics, Pelham’s seniors advisory committee and Niagara Nutrition Partners.
With a team of assistants, he also organizes regular fundraising events, such as an annual golf tournament.
Kore said he was “very surprised” by the Kinsmen award.
“I am humbled and very honoured. It means a lot to anyone who receives it, to be lumped in with the previous winners.”
Kore is a Welland King Street Boy. He grew up just off King on Second Street.
His Pelham connection goes back to picking cherries on Canboro Road.
“You got up at five in the morning to get on a cattle truck and go and pick cherries until four in the afternoon,” he said. “It gave us our work ethic.”
His family life also gave him a sense of charity, as did his teachers at Notre Dame College School.
“With seven in the family, you can’t be selfish.”
His parents, Elizabeth and John Kore, raised him and his identical twin brother Bob, along with siblings John, Grace and Steve.
Kore started in the grocery business in 1971 as a part-time packer at Food City in Welland. He spent 30 years with Loblaws and managed Zehrs in Welland before getting the Fonthill Sobeys franchise eight years ago.
“I worked with the two best retailers in the country, Loblaws and Sobeys,” he said. “I now have my own store in my community. Your customers become an extended part of your family.”
He called his volunteer work fun. It is something you don’t do for awards.
On Thursday night, he helped to select bands for the 2017 Fonthill bandshell concert series.
Ron and his wife Tammy have two sons Bradley and Greg.
Twomey said the Kinsmen received more nominations than usual for 2016. “It may be a record year.” Twomey said Kore has a personality that inspires people around him and encourages volunteers.
The Kinsmen will present the award at a banquet in Old Pelham Town Hall on Tuesday, March 7. Tickets for $20 go on sale after Feb. 14 at the Sun Life office, 165 Highway 20 W.