2018 Business Citizen of the Year MORRIS COX

Morris Cox has been quietly lending a hand in the community and abroad for decades. He’s a member of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, has sat on boards at Camp Kawartha, the Downtown Business Improvement Area and Saint Andrews Church and is involved with Kawartha Food Share, the United Way, and the Salvation Army, to name a few. Cox has also volunteered his time in Jamaica, Honduras and El Salvador, doing humanitarian work with the Rotary Club. But his days of flying under the radar are over. Cox, 83, was named Business Citizen of the Year by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. The Business Excellence Awards took place at Showplace Wednesday night. Cox is the former owner of Brant Basics. He handed the reins over to his three kids several years ago, but still heads into work nearly every day. “I just enjoy it,” he said. Cox opened the business with a partner in 1964, selling used typewriters and adding machines out of his house. The two were raised in Brantford, which led to the “Brant” name. Two years later, they opened a small shop on Charlotte St. Parnell Office Supply was also on Charlotte St. at the time. Cox eventually integrated it with Brant, along with Peterborough Office Supply, keeping the staff.

In 1975, Cox became the sole owner of the business when his partner moved away. A while later, Brant joined Basics, a Canadian buying group for independently owned office products companies, which helped Cox purchase products at a reduced price to stay competitive. In the 1980s, Cox bought two buildings on George St., which he renovated, adding a second floor. It’s a retail store, warehouse, showroom, and office space all in one. About a decade later, Cox’s kids, Jeffrey, David and Susan, returned to the business, later taking it over from their dad. His wife of 60 years, Helen, once worked at the store, too, many years ago. Over the years, Brant has employed hundreds of staff. There are about 30 employees there now, some of whom have been there for decades. After 54 years on the job, it could seem like it’s time for Cox to take it easy – but that’s not likely. “I still enjoy the business part of coming in here, meeting people and seeing what their needs are and helping them out,” Cox said. Helping people is innate for Cox, but he’s never felt the need to broadcast his efforts. “I’m not a person that goes out and tries to blow my own horn.” At the same time, Cox admitted that he’s grateful for a pat on the back occasionally, especially when it means earning such a prestigious award. “It’s very nice to be recognized.”