2023 Impact Awards winner: Canadian Tire Gas+: Grand Falls, Nfld.

With less than 15,000 people, Grand Falls is a small Newfoundland community that believes in supporting one another. For gas station owners Fred Mills and his wife, Tracy Oldford, it is also an opportunity to give back to all those who have supported his business.

Mills is the first to step up when someone wants to use his property to set up a car wash to raise funds for the day. Recently, it was the high school volleyball team that took advantage of his location right across from a busy mall for their event.

Having had children of their own playing sports, the couple wanted to give other young people in the community the same chance, by donating to local youth sports organizations. “They’re a worthy cause,” says Mills. “The geography is big, so they need to travel quite a way to get to St. John’s or go off island for tournaments and the costs are high.”  

The local food bank is another meaningful cause. There’s always a need. The business has done food drives, inviting customers to donate items, and given out food hampers. Employees are behind these efforts, too, collecting food and mentioning the drive to customers.

“Everything starts with the community,” he says. “We take care of our friends and neighbours, then branch out from there. It all begins at home.”

READ ABOUT ALL THE 2023 WINNERS HERE

Winners are also featured in the September/October 2023 issue of Convenience Store News Canada