Staff
Al Atkins
Al worked the North Bay store from 1979 - 1986 and then was transferred to Barrie from 1986 until Zellers took over.
Al Hammond
Al came to Towers from Woolco around 1971. He was an assistant manager in Rexdale 43, promoted to manager in the spring of 1973 in Owen Sound, transferred to North Bay 58 in 1979, promoted to District Manager in 1982 and was responsible for the five stores of Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Collingwood and Owen Sound.
Anne Reid
"I worked at Orfus briefly then Airport Rd. working in the mailroom with Cliff, then moving to reproduction with Dale, covering the switchboard breaks for Pat and Carmen, played badly on the baseball team, but had many a laugh and met some great people."
Amy Prope
Amy started her career at Morgan's, which became the Hudson’s Bay Company. The last 10 to 15 years of her working career were spent at Towers Department Stores as a head buyer. Amy passed away July 3, 2007, at 91, in Huntsville, Ontario.
Andre Roch
Verdun, Quebec
Ann B. Waller
Ann was employed as a clerk with Towers Department Store in Saint John. She passed away August 4, 2007. MORE
Anne Marie Brown annamariab@rogers.com
Anne Marie started with Towers in 1973 at the Dixie and Dundas store. She lives in Toronto.
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Ann Walters aiwalters@rogers.com
Ann Walters was an employee of the Oshawa Group for 22 years. During that time she worked at Towers Head Office on Orfus Road and was secretary to Bill Atkinson, Don Beaumont, and Hugh Simpson. Anne left for the Corporate Offices for a while but returned for a second stint at Towers in their new offices on Airport Road as secretary to Ed Harsant. She's happily retired and lives in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Art Large artlarge2001@yahoo.ca
Art worked at Towers from 1971 to 1979: Jane and Finch, Brampton and Dixie. Still keeps in touch with friends.
Art McGaughey mgrstore052@gianttiger.com Art worked for Towers for 17 years. He worked at lots of Towers locations: Sudbury, Westside, Cyrville and North Bay. He lives near Embrun, Ontario. MORE
Audrey Freeman
Audrey worked at Towers Jane and Finch from 1969 to 1974 as a cashier and Courtesy Desk staff member. She recalls: ``...when busy answer the phones hundreds of times a day with "Towers Jane and Finch, May I help you?" One bright manager decided we should also identify who we were...so not surprising one day at home I answered my home phone.."Towersjane andFinchAudreyspeakingmayIhelpyou". It's still embedded somewhere in my brain.``
Barry Hanna
Barry worked at the Towers Jane and Finch store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Barry Jackson
Barry worked at the Owen Sound store for 5 years - starting as a stock boy, then Department Manager and finally shipper/receiver. He worked with Al Hammond, Mel Reinhart, Rick Courtios and many others.
Barry Smith dreyfuss1@cogeco.ca
Barry worked for Towers from 1974 to 1980 at the Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Dixie and Dundas stores. He lives in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Bernie Vermette bvermette@sympatico.ca
Bernie started at Towers in 1963. He worked in Cyrville “Ottawa”, Montreal, London, Scarborough and Dixie. After managing numerous stores in Montreal area he was promoted to toy buyer. He lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Betty Foster
Betty worked for about a decade at the Towers in Ottawa from the mid 70s to 80s (Gloucester at the time, Cyrville Road). MORE
Bill Douglas bcdouglas@bmts.com
Bill started with the chain in 1964 in the Dixie Store Men's Wear Department which at that time was a concessionaire [Rockower of Canada Ltd]. He went to the old Riteway store in Brampton, the new Riteway store at Carlaw and Gerrard, and was promoted to the buying office. Over the next 20 odd years he held many positions such as buyer, Sr. buyer, Merchandise Manager, Group Merchandise Manager and Vice President Marketing. He lives in Owen Sound, Ontario.
Bill Waicus towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com
Bill started part-time at the Jane and Finch store in 1970. Twenty-two years later, with the company sold, we was "encouraged" to leave -- along with many others -- by the new owners. Things worked out well since. He still lives in Toronto and is the web master of this site.
BJ Arsenault
BJ worked for Towers at the Summerside store in the summer of 1975 when he was 19 years old. He worked in the Records and Cameras section because he had also been a student disc jockey (BJ the DJ on CJRW) since the age of 15 at the local radio station CJRW.
Bob Clubley
Bob worked at the Towers Rexdale store for 14 years as department manager of Toys, Sporting Goods and Seasonal and, later, Hardware/Housewares. He lives in Furgus, Ontario
Bob Hogg
Bob passed away a couple years ago. He came to Towers via Riteway. He was the first store manager of the Rexdale store. Later he was in the buying office for a time as Record Department buyer. Later he was a District Manager. More
Bob Pierson
Bob worked at the Towers Jane and Finch store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Brenda (Larabee) Lanetta rlanetta@hotmail.com
Brenda started with Towers in 1979 and worked there until 1997 in various positions: cashier, security and department manager.
Brian Hillier brianhillier@nexicom.net
Brian worked at the Scarborough Towers store in the early '70s in security.
Bruce Peck
If you can provide some background information about Peck, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Cecile (Cayen) Bradley
Cecile worked at the Towers Sudbury store for many years. She passed away May 26, 2010 in Sudbury.
Celene Byrne gomer3@rogers.com
Celine worked as a cashier at the Towers Scarborough store from 1986 to 1987 and recalls "...great times working there with those red uniforms." She lives in Ajax, Ontario.
Cheryl Hickey-Singh
Cheryl worked at the Dixie store from 1977 - 1980 as a part time cashier, also working the "cash room" on weekends 1979 - 1980.
Cherylyn A. Booth
Currently employed at Nestlé Canada, Cherylyn worked in the IT department at Towers Head Office.
Cindy M. Hudson jsbu45@hotmail.com
Cindy worked the Kipling/Queensway store from 1980 through to 1986, in the Toys, Seasonal and Sporting Goods departments. She lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Check Newton
Worked at Jane and Finch Towers.
[If you have more information please, write contact the website manager at towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.]
Colleen McParland Parker
Colleen worked at the Towers North Bay store from 1979 to 1985 as a cashier. She "...just loved the old Sweda cash registers since I got to push a lot of buttons. I didn't have nails back then either so it made me even faster =)."
Colleen Zuber
Colleen was Towers buyer from April 1973 to May 1992.
Dale Stokoe
Dale was a district manager for Belleville, Peterborough, and the Ottawa stores. He passed away March 28, 2004 in the Peterborough area at the age of 79.
Daniel Roch strikeout55@live.ca
Daniel has great memories at Décarie Square with Jacques Valence. Daniel lives in Montréal.
Dave Bowyer
Buyer
Dave Hawthorne
Save worked at the Barrie store from 1985-1989. Midnight Madness sales were rough... "(I) just about got knocked out by a lady fighting for a 2L glass bottle of Coke 4 for 25cents."
Dave Jones davejones12@live.ca
Dave worked at many stores including Brampton, Dixie, High Park, Rexdale, and Sudbury. He particularly recalls that "Bruce Downey our store manager at High Park was like a father to all of us" and that the "Sudbury stores grand opening was the craziest". Dave lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Dave Jones david,jones@tdsb.on.ca
Dave worked at the Towers of High Park and lives now in Scarborough, Ontario.
Dave Morrow dmorrow@rogers.com
After helping security take down a shoplifter at a Towers store, Dave decided to say goodbye to Towers when the shoplifters gun fell out of his pocket! He started, at the age of 16, as a stock clerk at Towers Rexdale. Later he became a supervisor at Jane & Finch. He now lives in Thornbury, Ontario.
David Rabinovits
A IT Project Leader from 1984 to 1988, David is currently a Project Director at Algorithmics.
Debbie Morse
Debbie worked at the Towers Riverdale store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Deborah Dowdall
Deborah worked in the Data Processing Department from 1972 until 1988 at the Towers Head Office.
Diane Young Facebook link
Diane worked at the Towers Head Office on Orfus Road from1979 to 1991. She worked in many areas including the reproduction department and supply room. "After Pat retired I took her position on reception/switchboard... until closure. I was transferred to Oshawa Foods on Viscount from 1991 - 2001 as a switchboard/receptionist. I then decided to leave and move to Winnipeg with my family.
Donald A. Beaumont
Associated with Towers since 1977, Mr. Beaumont held the positions of vice president of marketing and executive vice-president and chief executive officer. In 1991 he was appointed president and chief executive officer of K Mart Canada Ltd. Later, he was President of Beaumont & Associates, Retail Consultants. Board memberships and affiliations include: Committee Chair, The North West Company; Board Member, The North West Company; Member of Board of Advisors, QLogitek.
Donna Corcoran
If you can provide some background information about Donna, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Doug Johnson
If you can provide some background information about Michelle, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Doug Waddell
Waddell, Douglas "Doug" Waddell passed away in Sauble Beach on June 26, 2010 at the age of 75.
Edie Andrews
If you can provide some background information about Edie, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Edward (Ed) C. Harsant
Ed Harsant held the position of vice president of Operations at Towers. He left Towers to become vice president of merchandising for Kmart Canada. Harsant joined The Business Depot as president in January 1995. In 2000 he took on the position of president, North American Superstores for Staples. He now sits on the board of directors of the Empire Company Limited - a Canadian company whose key businesses include food retailing and related real estate. MORE Edward (Ed) C. Harsant
Emily Twigg twiggeh@hotmail.com
Emily worked at several stores and at the Towers Head Office for a total of 24 years. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Eric Richardson wille@sympatico.ca
Currently living in Kitchener, Ontario, Richard started with Towers full time in 1962 in the High Park store. Over his 28 years with Towers he held a number of positions in the Toronto area stores and for a time was a Merchandise Specialist on the road covering Toronto, Northern Ontario along with Peterborough & Belleville.
Fernando Gomes azorean@bell.net
Fernado worked at a series of Towers stores from 1966 to 1982: Dixie, Scarborough # 21, High Park, Riverdale, Bridlewood Mall finally Peterborough. He went on to Radio Shack, later to become The Source. He retired in 2007 and is currently living in Batawa, Ontario.
François Belgiorno francoisbelgiorno@hotmail.com
François started his career in 1970 with Rockower of Canada, at that time, the Men's Wear concession at Towers. When Towers bought Rockower, he joined the Towers buying group in Montreal as a junior buyer. Over the years he was promoted to Buyer for Children's Wear and then Ladies Wear. He now teaches Purchasing Management at the Sherbrooke Cegep College.
Frank Grossi
A Towers Systems Analyst for three years (1984 - 1987), Frank is currently Senior Project Manager, Network Access Services Project at the Ministry of Government Services Legislative Bodies.
Gaye-Anne Overholt-Noiles gaye-anne@camphehoha.com
Gaye-Anne worked in the Towers St. Catherine store (1965 - 1970), as did her mom (Naomi Overholt) and aunt (Margaret McCarthy). She married Wayne Noiles in 1970. Gaye-Anne now lives in Eureka Beach, Alberta.
George Carraire
George worked at the Towers Jane and Finch store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Gerald Albert jeffalbert@rogers.com
Gerald, and his father, sold their family business, Albert's Hardware Stores, to open the Hardware & Houseware concessions at what used to be called Allied Towers. Gerald, along with many other concessioners, opened the 1st store on November 20th, 1960. He left Towers in 1974 to become the Vice President of Kent Drugs Limited. He passed away August 17, 2009. [MORE]
Gloria Silbernagel gsilbernagel@rogers .com
Gloria was an Inventory Control Manager for 27 years. She currently lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Gord Adams gorshe6769@hotmail.com
Gord worked at Towers Head Office and, later, at Oshawa Foods Head Office. He lives in Newmarket, Ontario.
Gord Murray
If you can provide some background information about Gord, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Greg Rambo
Greg worked at Towers form 1991 to 1997 in various capacities including Sale Promotions Manager, Image Centre Operations Manager, Department and Assistant Store Managers.
Helen “Nellie“ Storin
Nellie worked for Towers Department Store for many years before retiring. Helen passed away April 2, 2009.
Hilda Brideau
Hilda worked at the Saint John Towers Department Store for over 15 years. She passed away August 30, 2008. MORE
Iona (Hixson) Fevreau ifevreau@on.aibn.com
Iona started as a cashier in the Jane & Finch store and went on to become Store Manager many years later after working in all departments including Inventory Control. Her first store as Manager was in the Westside Mall. Her last store was in the Bridlewood Mall store at Finch & Warden. She lives in Wilberforce, Ontario.
Ivana Pannozzo Facebook Link
Ivana worked at the Dufferin & Dupont Towers store from 1979 to 1988 as cashier.
J. McIntyre
First job was at the Towers store in London while in high school (1981-84). Lives now in Whitehorse.
Jack Genser
Mr. Genser was, for a period of time early in the history of Towers, Vice President and General Manager of Towers Department Stores of Canada.
Jackie Hughes jackie.hughes@zellers.com
Jackie started at Towers Head Office at the age of 19 and stayed for 18 years. She recalls that "Doug Waddell was the greatest influence any young buyer could possibly have in their early career" and "... credit that time for making me the business person I am today." She is currently a Zellers buyer and lives in Burlington, Ontario.
Jacqueline Shaftoe-Stonhill jackston@hotmail.com Facebook link
Jacqueline started at Towers Head Office in the advertising/sales promotion department, then moved to the Mens & Boys Wear department. Jacqueline lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
James (Jamie) Defreitas jamesdefreitas@hotmail.com
Now living in Brampton, Ontario, Jamie started as a stock clerk and worked his way up to a supervisor in the Rexdale store. He left after thirteen years - when the store closed.
Jane Denison McKenzie clarkson20032000@yahoo.ca
Jane worked at the Towers Head Office at 10 Orfus Road from 1974-1979. She left as a Home Furnishings Buyer. She lives in Brampton, Ontario
Jeff Sutton jms1966@mac.com Facebook link
Jeff worked at Towers #27, Waterloo (Bridgeport Road), from 1984 until 1989. He recalls working in electronics, moving later to the photo lab after the "Store of the Future" renovation. He remembers that Towers was ahead of the times when it introduced bar code scanning! Right now he's in Russia.
Kerry Soares
Kerry was a Towers department manager for less than a year in 1990. She currently is a buyer for Zellers.
Jim Forbes jimforbes@sympatico.ca
Jim worked at the Towers Head Office from 1979 until 1990 and currently lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Jim Wilks
Jim worked from 1972 to 1974 as a stockboy in the Brantford store. He live is Carlisle, Ontario.
Jocelyne Godin
Jocelyne worked in the Bonimart (Place St-Jean ) store #49 from 1980 to 1990. It was her first job. She lives in Brossard, Quebec.
Joel Myerson
Joel worked as an Information Center Analyst for Towers from 1985 to 1988.
John Charlton
John worked at the Towers Jane and Finch store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Joel Myerson
An Information Center Analyst at Towers from January 1986 - December 1988, Joel is currently
Customer Category Manager at Schering-Plough.
Jo-Anne Porter jponheritage@yahoo.ca
Jo-Anne worked at Towers Head Office on on Orfus Rd and on Airport Road, Ad Control, toys, men's wear and notions buyers. She lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Josephine Prestia
Josephine had been an employee of the Niagara Falls Towers Department store for many years, She enjoyed her Tuesday lunches with her friends from Towers. She passed away in 2008.
Judy French c_d_j@live.ca
Judy worked at Riverdale Towers where Liz Grogan was Personal Manager when Judy was hired. She also worked at Food City and the upstairs Drug City (then bought out by Knob Hill Farms). She lives in Belleville, Ontario.
Kathy Levy klevy@eastlink.ca
Kathy worked at Towers in Bedford Nova Scotia and still works with some of her Towers Buddies at Marks Work Warehouse. She says, "Younger people always say wow this must have been some place to work. We say yeah it was. Good evening shoppers the time is now 10 minutes to 10. Towers closing time is 10 p.m. please bring all final purchases to the front checkouts. Thank you and have a pleasant evening."
Karen Baker Facebook link
Karen work at the Towers London store from 1975 to 1987.
Karen Rambo (nee Schmidt) tinakcbeagle@yahoo.ca
Karen remembers "A whole lot of work and a whole lot of fun!" working for Towers. She lives in Seagrave, Ontario.
Karen Simpson Karen.Simpson@avon.com
Karen worked in the Towers Montreal office from about 1980 to 1990 when it closed. She started as a summer student, moving up, eventually, to a buying position -- working closely with John Vittello and Myrna Libman. Karen currently is the head marketing at Avon Canada in Pointe Claire Quebec.
Karen Thompson (Zeigler) klthompson55@hotmail.com
Karen worked at Cyrville from 1973 to 1990 when it changed to Zellers. She lives in Ottawa.
Kathy Stivin
Kathy provided IT services from 1981 - 1984 and is currently Independent Information Technology and Services Professional located in Vancouver.
Kevin Ballantyne
Ken was a Profit Planning Manager from 1989 - 1991.
Larry Dobbs gproolz@rogers.com
Larry now lives in Kitchener. He worked at the Jane & Finch, Dixie and Stratford stores. He left Towers in 1989.
Laureen Shonaman
Laureen worked for a time as Head Cashier at the Saint John Towers. She passed away November 2, 2010.
Laurent (Larry) Chapman
Larry Chapman worked for Towers department store and then for Zeller's in New Minas. He passed away August 19, 2007.
Leni Wieder-Jensen leni.hoier@bigpond.com
Leni started with Towers in Training & Development under Michelle Ball (Darling) and Gordon Murray. She left in 1990 as Director, HRD & Employment and went over to Dutch Boy as Director HR for four years. She splits her time between Hong Kong and Australia.
Linda Neilson Facebook link
"I worked at Towers from 1979 until the closure in 1991. On Orfus Rd, I worked in the "Reproduction Dept", "Mailroom" and "Switchboard". On Airport Rd, I worked in the "Sign Shop/Typesetting Dept" and "Switchboard". I remember Cliff in the Mailroom and his young helper Gord."
Linda Symes
From 1973 to 1975, Linda worked as Store Operations Manager at Towers Dixie.
Lisa Lake Facebook link
Lisa worked at Towers Head Office in Malton starting in 1988. She was in the Food Services Division and Store Operations along side people such as Marlene Kershaw, Susan Sutherland, Doug Johnson, and Paul Zettel. Lisa lays claim to be one of the last people to walk out of the old building when they shut it down.
Lissa DeChamplain Facebook link
Lisa started at the Towers Airport Road Head Office to, as she recalls, "...cover mat leave for Diane on switchboard". She was temporarily put into the "Sign shop/Print shop", then "...worked for Janet in advertising for a ...couple of years until I joined the buying group, where I worked with Bob McDonald. The last time I seen the gang was at the good-bye party Bob organized. I had just had my baby three days before the party, but nothing was going to stop me from attending!"
Liz Grogan
Liz worked at the Towers Riverdale store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Lois Cowick
Although Lois worked for 23 years in security at Towers department stores (Ottawa), she always said that the proudest accomplishment was her children. "God blessed me with wonderful kids. I couldn't have lived through the (last) four years without them. They were always there. They always looked after me, always there if I needed them." Lois passed away December 29, 2004.
Mac Sinclair mbsinclair@sympatico.ca
Mac worked in Owen Sound, Belleville and Kanata. He currently lives in Guelph, Ontario.
Max Wolfe
Max Wolfe was a grocer and businessman born in Lithuania in 1893 and raised near Newmarket, Ontario. At age 16, with $25 cash and a $60 loan, he bought a horse, wagon and load of apples and went into business. In 1914, he launched Ontario Produce Co. to supply army bases. The operation expanded to become known as the Oshawa Group Ltd. and at his death it included IGA, Food City, Dutch Boy, Towers Department Stores and Drug City. Mr. Wolfe passed away March 11, 2004.
Margaret J. Flower
Margaret was the Personnel Manager (PM) at Jane & Finch from 1970 until 1987. When the PM positions were eliminated, she worked in Inventory Control until her retirement in 1989. She lives in Leamington, Onatrio.
Margaret McCarthy
Margaret worked in the Towers St. Catherines store, as did her niece Gaye-Anne Overholt-Noiles.
Margaret (Hines) Sweeney
Margaret was born in Reserve Mines, Nova Scotia and lived most of her life in New Waterford, moving to Ontario in 1968 where she was employed with Towers Department Stores until her retirement. Margaret passed away March 2008.
Marguerite Dowdall-Bulger
Marguerite worked at the Towers Head Office on Orfus Road from 1977 to 1980.
Marie Alfreda Bouchard
Born in Sudbury, she worked at K-Mart and Towers Department Stores. Marie passed away June 5, 2008.
Mariellen Penrose sampenrose@hotmail.com
Mariellen worked at the Towers Rexdale Store and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Mark Whittle mx5ona1a@yahoo.com
Mark worked part-time as a stock boy at the Aldershot store from 1976 - 1977. He now lives in Florida.
Martin Cato wmcatto@yahoo.com
Martin was SVP & CFO at Towers from 1978 - 1981 and is "...alive and well and living in Upper Nyack, New York and officially retired as I have reached an age where I correctly appear to be generally considered unemployable."
Mary Findlay maryfindlay1@rogers.com
Mary worked at the Lawrence and Midland Towers store for 15 years, most of the at the Courtesy Desk. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Mel Rinehart mel.rinehart@sunlife.com
Mel worked for Towers from 1970 until 1987. We worked in the Oakville, Stoney Creek, Owen Sound, and Collingwood stores. He lives in Wiarton, Ontario.
Michael Balz michaelbalz@yahoo.com
Michael Balz worked at Towers of Rexdale from 1975 to 1978, working mainly in Hardware and Pets. It was his first great first job, being only 17 when he started. In 2000, he moved to Cancun, Mexico.
Michel Charlebois michelcharlebois@rogers.com
Michel started in 1968 at the Towers store in Cyrville (Ottawa) store number 51. He worked part time in the camera and records department. Around 1970 he became a management trainee. He left Towers/Bonimart in the spring of 1972 and still lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Michelle Ball
If you can provide some background information about Michelle, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Michelle Dietrich Facebook link
"My mother worked at Towers on Orfus Road and on Airport Road. She was a supervisor in Accounts Payable and the filing room. I worked there briefly between high school and college in the reproduction department..... RIGHT BESIDE THE MAILROOM!! My mom moved on to Oshawa Foods when Towers was sold as well and then w...hen it changed again to Sobeys. Her name was Debbie LeBlanc."
Mike Burke mike_burke@sympatico.ca
Mike worked in the North Bay store from 1975 to 1980, Collingwood from 1980 to 1984, Niagara Falls in 1984, and 1985 back to North Bay.
Mike Lake
Mike worked at the Towers Jane and Finch store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Mohamed Taleb
Mohamed was a systems analyst for Towers from 1972 to 1976.
Morley Whittle mo_les@rogers.com
Morley worked for Towers for about 20 years - most of them in the Scarborough store. He lives in Keswick, Ontario. "When I was transferred to Scar #21 in 1978 the store had a playoff hockey pool, that I was not invited, they had it for whoever was working the night shift, I worked days in receiving, so I said I'll have my own, in which I did and still doing it over 30 years later Doug Johnson, Bruce Peck, Scott Brodie, after all these years are still a part of the pool."
Myrtle Churchill myrtlechurchill@live.ca
Myrtle says "Towers was a great company to work for. We were all family. Worked hard but always had fun." She live in Toronto, Ontario
Nancie Alberga (Casamento) thealbergas@aol.com
I worked at the Lawrence and Midland store. Lots of fond memories.
Nancy Sarchuk-Hussary Facebook link
Nancy's first job, at 16 years old in 1976, was working at Towers Dundas/Bloor St location in Toronto - in the tobacoo and cosmetics departments.
Naomi Overholt
Naomi worked at the Towers St. Catherine store, as did her daughter Gaye-Anne Overholt-Noiles. Naomi started in 1963 and retired in 1989. She now lives in Alberta.
Norine Adams Facebook link
As a student, Norine worked five years at the Towers Scarborough store. She recalls "...baseball teams and tournaments, dances, just a lot going on. I even still have my 25th anniversary key chain. Great place to work."
Norm Pratt npratt@rogers.com
Norm worked at the Towers Welland store. He also worked in the St. Catherines store and moved to Collingwood when that Towers store opened. After a few years with Woolco Catalogue he moved to Owen Sound with Canadian Tire. He still lives there.
Norma Arlaska Harlow
Norma worked at the Towers Riverdale store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Paul Gillen pagill2@yahoo.com
Paul ran the produce operation for the two Towers stores on Prince Edward Island for 16 years. He now lives in Washington DC.
Paul Nowlan
As assistant manager in the Towers Scarborough store, Paul went on to become managers of the Westwood Mall, Charlottetown, St. Catharine’s, High Park and Jane and Finch stores. He lives in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
Paul Okeefe paul-okeefe@hotmail.com
Paul worked at the Towers Kipling and Queensway store from 1980 to 1987 as a stock-boy and "paint department guy." He lives in Burlington, Ontario.
Paul Zettle
If you can provide some background information about Paul, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Peter Christos
Peter Christos was only 16 years old when he left his native Greece for Canada, landing in Halifax in May 1948. From there he travelled to Belleville, where his uncle had a restaurant. It was there he got his first introduction in running a restaurant. He also worked for seven years as a waiter at the Royal York Hotel. Later he opened his own restaurant, but sold it after awhile to take on the position as manager of Towers Department Stores cafeteria. Peter passed away April 17, 2006.
Peter Skewes pskewes@sympatico.ca
Peter joined Towers as an Assistant Electronics Buyer 1974 and when on to become the Towers Buyer for electronics and cameras. While on a buying trip in Hong Hong, he received word that Towers was no more and rushed around cancelling orders. Peter was also the toy buyer for boys toys, Karen Baillageon was the toy buyer for girls toys. He lives in Mississauga.
Ralph Harlow
Ralph worked at the Towers Riverdale store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Randall McKeown randy.mckeown@rogers.com
Randall worked at the Villager Restaurant and the Lawrence and Midland Towers Store starting when he was 17, over 27 years ago. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
Ray D. Wolfe
In 1949, Ray Wolfe acquired what was then known as Oshawa Wholesale. A couple of years later he brought Chicago's IGA grocery chain into Ottawa. Oshawa went public in 1957 and entered the retail trade in 1971. It had assets of about CAD 800 million and more than 100 food stores under the banners IGA Dutch Boy, and Food City. In 1980, he was made a member of the Order of Canada. Ray Wolfe passed away in 1990.
Rick Keddy keddy56@yahoo.ca Facebook link
Rich started with Towers in 1971 as a part-time stock boy at the Owen Sound store. He left towers in 1976 to join Beaver Lumber and have been in that business ever since. He lives in Barrie, Ontario.
Rick Larkin mom_and_pop10@hotmail.com
All through the seventies, Rick worked in the Peterborough store, running the shoe department. He lives in Cornwall, Ontario.
Rod Desjardins davrod20033@yahoo.com
In 1981 Rod started working at Towers Department Store in North Bay and was a manager trainee when Zellers took over. He worked at the Lawrence store. He then took a couple of short term positions before becoming a member of the STAPLES team. He lives in North Bay, Ontario.
Ron Chenier chenier.ron@videotron.ca suzannebelgiorno@hotmail.com
Ron worked for Towers 28 years in Ottawa, starting when he was 16 years old. He lives Rockland, Ontario.
Ron Dunn
Ron worked in various capacities at Towers from 1973 to 1992.
Rose Clayton
Rose was employed by Towers from 1979 to 1984 and lives in Brantford, Ontario.
Sam Singh
Sam Singh Sr. began his confectionary career at Towers Department store as a buyer. When Towers was sold, Sam decided to venture out on his own, starting the family business. S/M Enterprises is a privately owned company operating for over 17 years. The family business is now run by father and son (Sam Singh Jr).
Samuel J. Rosenstein
Samuel Rosenstein lived in West Hartford from 1946-1961 where he co-founded Roosevelt Mills and subsequently started Towers Department Stores. He passed away in 2009.
Scott Brodie
If you can provide some background information about Scott, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Sharon (DiGiorgio) MacDonald sharrick@ns.sympatico.ca
Sharon worked for Hugh Simpson at Orfus Road (1965 - 1972) and Don Beaumont (1979 - 1984). Sharon lives on a farm located at North West Arm, Cape Breton, NS., where she raises Highland beef cattle.
Sherry Lawrence
Sherry worked at the Towers Riverdale store. If you can provide some background information, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Shirley Dawes
Shirley is living in Meadford, Ontario. She started, part-time in the cash office, at the Brampton store. She left Towers, 23 years later, as a Housewares buyer.
Stephane Joly stef350@hotmail.com
Stephane started in 1984 in the packing department on Rockland Blvd. As a truck driver drove for Towers/Bonimart from 1989 until 1991.
Steve Heyworth
Towers sporting goods buyer.
If you can provide some background information about Steve, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Steve LeBlanc sbleblanc055@sympatico.ca
Steve worked for Towers at Cyrville Rd Baseline Rd Eagleson Rd. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Sue Fukushima
From 1984 until 1986, Sue was a Towers Systems Analyst. She currently works at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Susan Bihuniak susan_bihuniak@hotmail.com
Susan started with Towers 1974 in the reproduction department. She married long-time employee and buyer Bob MacDonald and is living in Oakville, Ontario.
Susan Williams
A Senior Research Analyst at Towers Department Stores, Susan is currently Director National Research and Marketing at Cadillac Fairview.
Terri Kennedy Murray
If you can provide some background information about Terri, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Terry Bowman
Terry worked at the Towers High Park store. He lives in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Tim Ladouceur
Tim worked in the Sudbury store from April 1981 to April 1983. He started as part timer building bicycles and eventually went to the toy department. "I never became more than part time though I put in full time hours. Every once i awhile our supervisor would leave me in charge while he went off to do other business."
Tom Large thomas.l.large@gmail.com
Tom's history with Towers goes back to Riteway Stores at Westside Mall in Toronto. He was able to work in many stores in Quebec, The Maritimes and Ontario for store openings and set-ups and got to know many of the buyers and other DMs. He lives now in Milton, Ontario. MORE
Tracy-Lynn Denis Facebook link
Tracy worked in the Ottawa store, on Cyrville Road, from 1987 to 1991. "I have to say for my first job I loved working there and the people were great. I left a little time after Zellers took over, didn't like it then."
Trevor Carroll
Trevor began his retail career as a sales supervisor for Towers, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1986. Four years later he moved to the Hudson Bay Company as sales manager.
Vince Martino martinovince@gmail.com
Vince worked at the Towers Rexdale store from 1978 to 1981. He currently lives in Vaughan, Ontario.
Wayne Cammack
Wayne was the Vice-President, Information Systems at Towers from 1985 - 1988, responsible for Systems Development, Data Centre Operations, Electronic Point of Sale and Personal Computers. He's now Managing Director at E. Wayne Cammack & Associates. MORE
Wayne Noiles
Wayne worked at various Towers stores from 1969 to 1979 including St. Catherine, Woodstock, Waterloo, High Park, Belleville, Sudbury, Malton, Stony Creek, and Scarborough. In 1970 he married Gaye-Anne Overholt. In 2001, Wayne passed away in Alberta.
Wendy Evangelista
Wendy worked for Towers from 1974 to 1988 from the East Coast to Ontario. She lives in Bolton, Ontario. She says "Towers taught me so much that I still use in everyday life, retail ended for me in 2006 and I miss it everyday."
William Bar
As a buyer for Towers, Bill travelled extensively, for six weeks at a time, throughout Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China purchasing sporting goods. MORE
William L. Atkinson
President and CEO of Towers Department Stores from 1967 until 1992. Mr. Atkinson, now retired, is living in Oakville, Ontario. (Photo - Toronto Star - September 11, 1980).
Woodman Chan
Woodman was an Assistant Manager from 1985 - 1989 and a Merchandise Presentation Manager in 1990. MORE
Woody Bornstein wborenstein@sympatico.ca
Woody started his retail career working for Towers Riverdale in 1990. He worked in many different stores in many different capacities. His last job was at the Head Office. When Towers was sold he went on to run a vending company. He then went to work for Shoppers Drug Mart until he retired in 2005. He lives in Ballinafad, Ontario (near Georgetown).
Yves Payette yves.payette@sympatico.ca
Yyves worked for Rockower of Canada and then Towers from 1965 until 1977. He worked my way up to childrens' wear buyer at the Montreal head office. He lives in St. Donat, Quebe
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