More to life than money
Norm Gallant believes in helping others
Norm Gallant knows people talk. He counts on it.
He’s been selling furniture at the Furniture Gallery in Summerside for 25 years and knows the importance of maintaining services to small communities.
“If you sell a product up in Tignish, a family that buys a fridge, stove or dishwasher, and they have real serious problems with it, and you don’t take care of them, they’re going to tell all their neighbours and friends,” he said.
What he doesn’t know is why some prosperous people are never satisfied.
“Some people have $2 million and they want two more. I don’t know what the hell they want it for,” he said.
“I can never figure people out that are so wealthy and keep wanting more and more and more. So you have seven cars in the garage, (you) only can drive one. What’s the difference?”
So when an anonymous donor reached out with an idea to help someone in the community, Gallant was interested.
It was the early days of the pandemic and nurse Susan Doucette had been without a working washing machine for two weeks.
The anonymous donor approached Gallant, offering to cover half the cost of a new machine, if Gallant would donate it.
He agreed.
“We stepped up to the plate and delivered one to her,” he said. “She was quite happy about it. She put it on Facebook and thanked us.”
Gallant notes they were only able to deliver it to her door, and made sure to follow pandemic protocols.
COVID-19 showed people just what a global economy means, he said.
“The whole thing is interconnected.”
While he tries to stock Canadian products, most manufacturing that used to be done in places like Ontario and Quebec has moved internationally, he said.
“We try to stay as much in Canada with products as we can, but that’s impossible. The world is a small place now.”
At 74, he doesn’t work for the money anymore. He doesn’t need it.
He still runs Furniture Gallery Nationwide because he loves it.
“A lot of real good people have come into my store over the years.”
But he also doesn’t let it run him.
“I could have busted my (butt) and worked twice as hard and had 10 stores,” he said. “What would a person want? It’s just more headaches, that’s all.”
For him, life isn’t all about work.
“I’ve always worked as much as I could, but I enjoyed life. I got to Labrador every summer, sometimes twice.”
Gallant’s real passion is flyfishing.
“I’ve fished most every river in Labrador. For 30 years, I’ve been going to Labrador.”
His wife doesn’t quite understand how he can spend hours doing nothing, he said.
“My wife says, ‘How the hell can you sit in a boat for five hours fishing?’ and I said, ‘Fran, I love it.’
“My mind goes blank when I’m fishing.”
It’s like meditation, he said.
“I just concentrate on the fishing and putting that fly out there.”
While fishing is Gallant’s preferred way to relax, he’s not ready to sail off into a Labrador sunset yet.
“I’m still here. I don’t intend to retire, as long as my mind stays healthy.”
Being active and working at what he loves is what keeps him sharp, he said.
“I think your mind stays healthy so long as you’ve got something to do. I think if you just go and sit home or sit at the coffee shop, your mind starts going dormant on you.”