2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Leigh Swinimer
Leigh Swinimer
Store manager
McDougall Energy | Seaforth Shell
How did you get into this business?
After 20 years running my own equestrian centre, a major life transition led me to start over in a new town as a gas station cashier. To my surprise, I loved my job.
What are you most proud of during the last 12-18 months?
Keeping my team engaged while navigating significant change at our site. We successfully transitioned to a new back-office and POS system, launched alcohol sales and tackled the challenges of large-scale road construction with unwavering optimism. The highlight of the year was being named one of only eight winners in Shell’s National Spring Clean Campaign.
What do you like most about your job?
The unpredictable energy. There’s always a new challenge thrown my way. The best part is working alongside an incredibly diverse team and meeting people from all walks of life.
Biggest challenge?
Balancing the administrative side of my role with my natural drive to be on the floor with my team practicing a customer-first attitude.
Best advice ever received?
Do one thing every day that makes your future self grateful and your past self proud.
Career highlight?
Transitioning from business owner into the unknown world of retail as a CSR, then working my way up to lead hand and now site manager. This achievement means so much because I’ve experienced the business from every angle.
What excites you most about the future?
We’re in the middle of huge changes in fuel and convenience. You can feel the shift from the old ‘gas station food’ stereotype toward premium selections and true experience hubs.
Nomination highlights
With multiple nominations under her belt, Leigh Swinimer brings energy, care and leadership she brings to the Seaforth Shell every single day. Over the past seven years, employees and customers alike have watched her grow from customer service representative to retail site manager through hard work, initiative and an unwavering commitment to people. What makes her stand out is her ability to create a workplace and community space where customers feel welcome and employees genuinely enjoy coming to work. Whether stepping in to cover night shifts for nearly a year, mentoring new staff, or bringing humor and positivity to the team, she consistently leads by example. Under her leadership, the Seaforth Shell has earned recognition through Shell Canada’s “Make It Shine” campaign, becoming one of only eight winning locations nationally. She introduced creative initiatives such as seasonal store displays, the popular “Retro Rack,” staff training videos and customer-focused programs tied to the rollout of beer and wine sales. Her operational focus, paired with strong merchandising and compliance standards, has strengthened both customer experience and store performance. She oversees all day-to-day operations for a team of nine employees, including scheduling, inventory, health and safety, merchandising and customer service. Employees describe the store as supportive, upbeat and team-oriented, while customers recognize it as a welcoming part of the Seaforth community.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
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