Local franchise owners lend support
Their companies might be based elsewhere, their brands known coast-to-coast, but for those behind the scenes at many local franchise businesses, their hearts are firmly rooted in the culture of Calgary.
Beyond the obvious fact they give jobs to Calgarians, many franchises also step up to the plate to support local organizations and causes.
“What really makes a difference is we can do things for individuals,” says Joe Dand, dealer at the Macleod Trail location of Canadian Tire. “We’re not bound by corporate dictums — we’re entrepreneurs within the framework of the franchise system.”
As such, Dand’s store supports local athletes and has fundraising booths for community organizations.
In addition, employees participate in events such as Movember, rides for cancer research and JumpStart, he adds.
“And, of course, there’s Toonies for Turkeys,” Dand says, referring to the successful annual Theatre Calgary holiday-season fund- raiser for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank that’s supported by Canadian Tire stores around Calgary and area.
Chapters may have its headquarters down East, but that doesn’t stop its Chinook Centre branch staff from supporting local schools. “Schools across the country register to be considered for grants under (Chapters’) Love of Reading fund,” says general manager Aidan Barry. “Each year, every store adopts a local school and, for three weeks, any money raised from Love or Reading donations go to the school.”
Chapters Chinook had the goal to raise enough to pay for one new book for every student at Ramsay School, but ultimately raised enough to buy 600 new books for the school of 95. The store also supported another school, St. Augustine Fine Arts, in purchasing supplies awarded through the grant itself.
“I think the nice thing you see among some of the great (national) companies in Calgary is they may have their head offices somewhere else, but they get involved in community-based issues,” says Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Adam Legge. “It’s important for companies that people feel a connection with where they live and how they see the business relating to the community in which it’s operating.”
Adds Dand: “You get a real sense of pride. This is your community.”