I grew up poor but loved deeply by my parents in Marmora.
I started working in my father’s antique store when I was only 9. My father also worked 12-hour shifts at the Marmora mine to feed his five children of which I was the oldest. I learned about good customer service at a young age. I learned that if I listened carefully to the customers then they would teach me how to treat them.
I modelled for quite a few years starting at age 18. I worked at the Trenton licence bureau for almost 20 years while volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Women’s Institute and my Church.
I bought the Brighton Service Ontario office when I returned from Israel in 2011 so I could change the atmosphere and the reputation that many licence bureaus had as being stressful and unhappy. I knew that it didn’t take much to make a customer happy. Chairs, bottled water, a bathroom and a sincere kind smile. I open up very early for the car dealers so that they can get back to their car lots before they open and I make after hours appointments for those who can’t wait in line. I sincerely like everyone who walks into my office and I want them to have a positive experience. I am well aware that they are the reason that I have a job. No customers no job.
When Covid hit in March, we were given the option of staying open or closing. We are an essential service. We were offered a lot of money not to work but I chose to stay open to look after my community who keeps me open all year. Because most offices closed, I saw over 1000 people a week. People were lined up around the office day after day. I worked 15 hour days for three months straight. I kept the tunes playing outside and the free water and pop stocked up. When many establishments were closing down their bathrooms, I was posting signs up to tell people that the bathrooms were available in my office.
To learn more about her journey and impact on the community, listen to the link below.
