PARTY TIME

Staff usher in holiday with annual celebrations

In late December, in keeping with a time-honoured tradition at Roots and the festive spirit of Christmas, staff at the Head Office, Distribution Centre and leather factory took part in their annual holiday get-togethers.

At the Head Office, employees converged on The Hub area for an evening of live music, refreshments and prizes. During the event, Roots Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman presented gifts (leather jackets and bags) to employees who recently celebrated landmark anniversaries in their careers at Roots (5 and 10 years).

The leather factory hosted its traditional holiday lunch for its employees with freshly cooked turkey along with potatoes and fresh vegetables. Karl Kowalewski, Director of Leather and his brother Henry Kowalewski, Plant Product Manager at the factory, participated in the celebrations as they always do every year. As part of a lucky draw, Leather Stitchers Ibette Urbine won a 32" LCD High Definition flat screen TV and Maria Silva won a mountain bike with anti-shock suspension. All employees also received a turkey and other gifts.

A little further south at the Distribution Centre, Bob Baker, Director of the DC, held a holiday luncheon on the premises for his entire team. Adding to the holiday spirit, they were accompanied by Buddy the Roots Beaver and Mrs. Clause. Several prizes were given away including a 27” Toshiba TV, won by Jaswinder Phull and two Panasonic Microwave ovens won by Yvette Gordon and David Cheng. Other prizes included a music system and Roots items.

Michael and Don participated in all three celebrations where they thanked employees for their hard work, gave away prizes and congratulated everybody for the success of Roots in 2006.