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Local legends

 

Convenience stores and gas stations are the essential lifelines across Canada. With 58% of the industry powered by independent entrepreneurs, these local heroes fuel commutes and anchor communities from coast to coast to coast.

The inaugural Outstanding Independents Awards Canada (OIAC) program was created to champion these resilient independent operators—including dealers and franchisees managing up to 20 locations—who turn mounting pressures into monumental success.

Today, Convenience Store News Canada proudly celebrates 35 extraordinary pillars of the community. From mastering customer loyalty and responsible retailing to pioneering innovative business practices, these winners prove that the independent spirit is fundamental to the fabric of Canada. Join us in honouring the local legends who keep our country moving!

  • Arnie's Grocery

    New Westminster, B.C.
    Owners: Amy Zhang and Jack Liang
    Profile

  • Country Snacks

    Niverville, Manitoba
    Owners: Rose and Pete Friesen
    Profile
    Pete and Rose Friesen, standing inside Country Snacks

  • Crossroads Market

    Invermere, British Columbia
    Owners: Tracey and Greg Urichuk and Melanie and Keith Irwin
    Profile
    Greg and Tracy Urichuk inside Crossroads Market convenience store

  • Daisy Mart

    Belleville, Ontario
    Owners: Divya and Paraskumar Shah
    Profile
    Divya and Paraskumar Shah at the counter inside their Daisy Mart store

  • Daniel's Market

    Victoria, British Columbia
    Owner: Daniel Tsai
    Profile
    Daniel Tsai and manager outside Daniel's market

  • Dank Mart

    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Owners: Mike Smaill and Kevin Wong
    Profile
    Kevin Wong (left) and Mike Smaill (right) in front of their counter with Dank Mart sign behind them.

  • Dépanneur Voisin Famille Baril

    Shawinigan, Quebec
    Operator: Éric Labranche
    Profile
    Operator Éric Labranche in front of his counter at Dépanneur Voisin Famille Baril

  • Dunrovin North Atlantic

    Lethbridge, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Owners: Wendy and Deon Penney
    Profile
    Wendy and Deon Penney outside the front door of their store, Dunrovin North Atlantic

  • Eagle Bay Mercantile

    Eagle Bay, British Columbia
    Owners: Brittany and Dave Huston
    Profile
    Eagle Bay owners in front of Crush sign

  • Elmwood Grocery

    Swift Current, Saskatchewan
    Owners: Wendy and Eldon Campbell
    Profile
    Wendy and Eldon Campbell in front of their Elmwood Grocery counter

  • Enniskillen General Stores

    Five locations, Ontario
    Owner: Thomas Sheehan
    Profile
    Enniskillen General Stores owner, Thomas Sheehan holding an ice cream cone.

  • Gas King

    Seven locations, Alberta
    Owners: The Morris Family
    Profile
    Brent Morris, left, in front of a bright yellow truck in Gas King's forecourt

  • Green Mountain Petro-Canada

    Hamilton, Ontario
    Owners: Ketan Dave and Udayan Pandya
    Profile
    Udayan Pandya and Ketan Dave in front of their counter at the Green Mountain Petro-Canada

  • Jackman's One Stop

    Harbour Breton, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Owners: Mary and Cliff Jackman
    Profile
    Jackman's owners

  • Katie's Konvenience

    Halfway Point, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Owners: Linda and Larry Edmonds
    Profile
    Katie's Konvenience owners Linda and Larry Edmonds in front of their store

  • Kenny's Store

    Westmeath, Ontario
    Owners: Amanda and Derek Kenny
    Profile
    Winners of 2026 OIAC awards and Kenny's Store owners, Amanda and Derek Kenny with their family

  • Madaan's Country Market

    Cochrane, Alberta
    Owners: Neelam Madan and Anil Madan
    Profile
    Neelam Madan and Anil Madan in front of their store, Madaan's Country Market

  • MTM Retail Gas Limited | Masstown Petro-Canada

    Masstown, Nova Scotia
    Owner: Laurie Jennings
    Profile
    MTM Retail Gas Limited | Masstown Petro-Canada owners standing in the forecourt

  • Mel's

    16 locations, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia
    Owners: Dan MacIsaac and president Jeff Doucette
    Profile
    Unnamed owner stands in front of Mel's convenience store.

  • Mountain Mart

    Golden, British Columbia
    Owner: Mark Baxendale
    Profile
    Exterior shot of Mountain Mart with owner

  • Red Pine Convenience | Golden Eagle Convenience

    Lac Seul and Frenchman's Head, Ontario
    Owners: Tracey Bullock and Todd Nadon
    Profile
    Red Pine and Golden Eagle owners, Tracey Bullock and Todd Nadon in front of a festive background.

  • Roote's Gas Bar

    Southampton, Ontario
    Owners: Brenda and Randy Roote
    Profile
    Owners: Brenda and Randy Roote in front of their gas pumps at Roote's Gas Barote"s

  • Seafair Smoke & Mixers

    Richmond, British Columbia
    Owners: Youngmi and Sean Lee
    Profile
    Sean Lee stands in front of the counter in his store, Seafair Smoke & Mixers

  • Seal Cove Grocery & Liquor Express

    Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Owners: Kristen and Thomas Dwyer
    Profile
    Owners of Seal Cove Grocery & Liquor Express, Kristen and Thomas Dwyer stand in front of their store

  • Sherry’s

    Williamsburg, Ontario
    Owners: Kayla Helliker and Sherry Mowat
    Profile
    Kayla Helliker (left) and Sherry Mowat (right) owners of Sherry's convenience store standing inf fornt of a selection of baked goods.

  • Silver Creek Travel Centre

    Hope, British Columbia
    Owner: Bill Miller
    Profile
    Silver Creek's Bill Mahr

  • Station-Service Proxi Extra Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

    St-Roch-de-Mékinac, Quebec
    Owners: Patrick Duchesne and Chantal Lapointe
    Profile
    Station-Service Proxi Extra Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac St-Roch-de-Mékinac, Quebec Owners: Patrick Duchesne and Chantal Lapointe

  • Sweetleaf Fuels and General Store

    Alderville First Nation, Ontario
    Owner: Jason Marsden
    Profile
    Owners of Sweetleaf standing outside, in front of their store.

  • The Wooden Shoe Store & Coffee Shop

    Gull Lake, Alberta
    Owners: Christine Luymes and Val Van Aken
    Profile
    Owners of The Wooden Shoe standing outside their store.

  • TJ’s Convenience Store

    Kentville, Nova Scotia
    Owner: Stephen Morine
    Profile
    Owner, Stephen Morine stands in front of TJ's Convenience Store.

  • Ure's Country Kitchen & Mini Golf

    Amherstburg, Ontario
    Owners: Laurie and Randy Ure
    Profile
    Owners, Laurie and Randy Ure stand in their store, under the shop sign "Ure's Country Kitchen"

  • Vani's Convenience

    Brampton, Ontario
    Owners: Vani and Manish Thakker
    Profile
    Owners: Vani and Manish Thakker in front of their store, Vani's Convenience

  • Walsingham Food Market, Busy Bee

    Walsingham, Ontario
    Owners: Vijay Parekh, Gautam Patel and Pragnesh Patel
    Profile
    Walsingham owners

  • Willow Smoke and Cigars

    Guelph, Ontario
    Owner: Jay Modi
    Profile
    Jay Modi, owner of Willow Smokes and Cigars stands behind the counter

  • Yellow Stores

    Alberta and British Columbia
    Owners: Vikram Bhown and Tejbir Singh
    Profile
    Yellow Stores leadership team
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