Take A Hike, a Thunder Bay outdoor sporting goods store, was among eight independent retailers inducted into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC).
The award is typically bestowed on an executive, but the industry association elected to present this year's honour to a group of leaders who exemplify the spirit of the award.
“The induction was a complete surprise and although the retail industry is personally honouring us in this way, by doing so it's also making the important statement that independent retailers contribute enormously to local communities and the country as a whole,” said owner Diane Petryna,
Petryna has been a long-time member of the RCC's Independent Retailer Task Force.
As an active community and business leader in Thunder Bay, Petryna established Take A Hike in 1996 as an independently owned and operated outdoor lifestyle store offering outstanding customer service with a unique collection of gifts, toys, clothing, footwear and gear.
In May, she took home the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce's Business Excellence Award for medium-sized businesses.
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