HOLIDAY SPIRIT AT ITS BEST, PART 2

Quebec and Ontario stores show their real colours by helping their communities

As mentioned in the previous issue of The Source, one of the nicer traditions at Roots during this time of year is that the staff at many, if not most, stores comes together to do something in support of their respective communities. The initiatives are numerous - so many that we can’t spotlight them all in one issue - and take many forms with different recipients. But the intention is always the same: to try to make the holiday season sweeter for people whose daily reality is anything but festive.

In the last issue, we highlighted the actions of stores in Eastern Canada. This time, we’re focusing on stores in Quebec and Ontario.

QUEBEC

• Blue Bonet, Montreal - Store Manager Mark Yoders and his team are donating their old Roots clothes to the Salvation Army in their community.

• Brossard - Store Manager Nataly Keroack and her staff are collecting money so that a woman with a disabled child can enjoy a day out, while someone looks after her child.

• Centreville, Montreal - Store Manager Aran Pamplona and her staff are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital.

• Champlain, Brossard - Store Manager Neil Dilis and his team are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital.

• Kirkland Outlet, Montreal - Store Manager Aline Nazarian and her team are helping needy children in their community by asking customers for donations for food and toys. They are also collecting clothing to donate.

• Laval - Store Manager Marisa Pamplona and her staff are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital.

• Pointe Claire - Store Manager Nathalie Massicotte and her staff are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Saint-Justine Hospital.

• Rockland, Mont Royal - Store Manager Stephanie Campeau and her team are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital.

• St. Bruno - Store Manager Genevieve Boisseau and her team are collecting donations to help the children at Montreal’s Saint-Justine Hospital.

ONTARIO

• Cambridge - Store Manager Lori Normore and her staff are helping the local church with the “Out of the Cold” program by serving warm food in the church. They are also collecting food among the staff, to give to the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank.

• Colossus, Woodbridge - Store Manager Sarah Will and her team are collecting food and money among the staff to donate to a women’s shelter.

• Durham Outlet, Ajax - Store Manager Michael Veira and his staff are collecting stuffed animals and toys to donate to the Chum City Foundation.

• Eglinton Power Center, Scarborough - Store Manager Dennis Ibara and his employees are purchasing items for the Ernestine’s Women Shelter.

• Fanshaw, London, ON - Store Manager Phil Papadopoulos and his staff are collecting money and clothing for London’s Women Abuse Organization.

• Guelph - Store Manager Lindsey Howat-Kinsella and her staff are creating and donating Christmas stockings to the Guelph Aids Committee to give to 18 families affected with HIV or AIDS. The team also bought a goat and a flock of chickens to send to a family in a third world country through Heifer International, a non-profit organization that fights hunger.

• Heartland, Mississauga - Senior Manager Colleen Weber and her team are arranging a food drive to collect food for needy people in their community. They are also collecting used clothing to donate.

• Kanata - Store Manager Susan Van Dalen and her staff are collecting money for the Canadian Forces Personal Assistance Fund, which provides assistance to former wounded members and families of the Canadian Forces.

• Niagara Falls - Senior Manager Jamie Quinn and her team are collecting donations to buy Christmas gifts for the Nova House Women’s Shelter.

• Orfus, Toronto - Store Manager Andrew O’Neill and his staff are arranging a canned food and clothing drive to collect donations for the North York Salvation Army.

• Sarnia - Store Manager Debra MacDonald and her staff are arranging a canned food drive to collect donations for the Inn of the Good Shepherd, which provides services to those who are in need of food and shelter.

• South Keys, Ottawa - Store Manager Susan Van Dalen and her team are sponsoring a family that has two daughters at the Children’s Hospital.

• Thunder Bay - Store Manager Donna Andreychuk and her staff are collecting money and donations for the Bay Patterson Hou- se, a battered women’s shelter.

• Vaughan Mills Outlet, Vaughan - Manager Glenys Hepplestone and her team are collecting money to purchase a gift for the Porter Place, a shelter for boys and men. They are also collecting money to purchase a gift basket for a staff member with MS, who has two daughters.

• Windsor Outlet, LaSalle - Store Manager Bernie O’Beid and her staff are collecting money and clothing for students (and their families) at the Immaculate Conception School in Windsor. The money will go toward a turkey dinner for the students.

• Woodside, Markham - Store Manager Melanie Wright and her staff are arranging a food drive to collect money for people in need in their community.

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN...

Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

Celebrities have long been attracted to Roots and in 2006 countless figures from the world of movies, music, media, sports and other fields dropped in to Roots stores in Canada and the United States. There were so many in fact that we can’t list them all here.

For this year-end wrap, we’re including a selection of well-known names (in alphabetical order) of those who we had the pleasure of receiving in our stores in 2006. Actor Jessica Alba, actor/comedian Dan Aykroyd, the Barenaked Ladies, actor Antonio Banderas, singer Buck 65, film director Mike Binder, film producer Jerry Bruckheimer, actor Joan Collins, actor/comedian Drew Carey, comedian Dave Chapelle, actor Russell Crowe, singer Deborah Cox, singer Mariah Carey, actor Jamie Lee Curtis, actor David Duchovny, actor Robert Downey Jr., actor Donna Dixon, actor Harrison Ford, the Foo Fighters, film producer John Goldwyn, actor Melanie Griffith, actor Cuba Gooding Jr., screenwriter Mitch Glaser, actor John Hurt, actor Tom Hanks, actor Dustin Hoffman, actor Goldie Hawn, actor Angelica Huston, actor Eric Idle, actor Michael Keaton, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, actor/comedian Eugene Levy, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, comedian Howie Mandel, the Dave Matthews Band, hockey star Mark Messier, TV/film producer Lorne Michaels, actor Mike Myers, musician/singer Paul McCartney, actor/comedian Bill Murray, actor Rachel McAdams, the Oasis band, actor Jason Priestly, actor Natalie Portman, actor/singer Queen Latifah, musician/singer Robbie Robertson, singer Ed Robertson, actor Kurt Russell, actor Molly Ringwald, snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, film director Jason Reitman, actor Sissy Spacek, skater Jamie Sale, comedian Gary Shandling, actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actor/comedian Marty Short, actor Tori Spelling, actor Vince Vaughn, actor Robin Williams and actor Catherine Zeta-Jones.

MORE GREAT MOMENTS IN 2006

Jan.: Roots releases official collection for Canadian Speedskating Team whose members excel at Winter Olympics the next month.

Feb.: Roots is the official sponsor and merchandiser of the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

March: At 78th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Roots products included in gift baskets presented to nominees in major Oscar categories including Best Actor/Actress.

May: Roots produces first-ever Pride collection in recognition of gay community and their annual celebrations in North America.

June: Roots hosts evening at Head Office to raise funds for Art Gallery of Ontario.

June: Roots involved in annual Idea City Conference in Toronto, providing custom-made Idea City canvas and leather bags to participants.

June: For second year in a row, Roots takes part in Sensation Mode fashion and design festival in Montreal.

June: Roots creates and outfits the official team clothing for Barbados at Central American and Caribbean Games in Columbia.

July: Roots sponsors the Toronto Lesbian and Gay Sports Alliance and provides uniforms for Team Toronto at Gay Games VII in Chicago.

Aug.: Roots launches new fragrance for men, Roots Spirit for Men.

Sept.: Toronto hotspot restaurant and champagne lounge, Lobby, gets major facelift with help from Roots Home Design.

Sept.: During visit to Vancouver, Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, wears different Roots headwear while taking part in conferences.

Sept.: One of TV’s top rated shows, Entourage, orders customized Banff Bags from Roots for cast and crewmembers.

Oct.: Roots wins two major interior design awards for Head Office work environment.

Oct.: Roots launches first-ever limited edition collection of hats in partnership with legendary US-based cap maker New Era.

Nov.: As part of its continuing support of fight against global warming, Roots stores promote and sell the environmental documentary film An Inconvenient Truth.

Nov.: Indigo Books and Music selects Roots to outfit staff for its stores across Canada in addition to its Chapters and Coles locations.

Nov.: Roots takes part in Toronto lecture by French writer/philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, presenting him with customized Banff Bag and guests with leather-bound journals.

Dec.: Roots Rosedale store hosts event for launch of new book on original form of yoga.

Dec.: Roots stores feature the work of acclaimed nature photographer Don Standfield.