Bring your difference
Make your difference

In the town of Listowel, Ontario, Jessica Lucas, an Optician at the Zehrs store, has made a name for herself not only for her professional skills but also for her genuine passion for helping others. Since joining Loblaw in 2010, Jessica's commitment to enhancing her patients' vision has been evident in every interaction.

Jessica's journey in eye care began with a simple desire to help people see better. "I've always believed that clear vision is a fundamental part of living a full life," she says. "Seeing the difference it makes in someone's day-to-day experiences is incredibly rewarding."

Her dedication goes beyond fitting stylish frames and ensuring perfect vision for her patients. Outside of work, Jessica volunteers at a local retirement home, where she visits residents regularly to clean and adjust their glasses. "It's a small gesture, but it means a lot to them," she shares. "For many, it’s the difference between being able to read a book or see their family photos clearly."

One particularly memorable experience involved helping a customer with a request for someone in Cuba who couldn't afford new glasses. The prescription was incomplete, but Jessica didn't let that stop her. Drawing on her expertise and determination, she managed to create a pair of glasses that fit perfectly. "Knowing I could help someone so far away was an incredible feeling," Jessica recalls. "It reminded me of why I love what I do."

Jessica's story is a testament to the profound impact that dedicated professionals can have on individuals' lives, both near and far.

Book an eye exam at a Theodore and Pringle location near you and meet licensed Opticians who will make sure to fit you with the perfect pair of glasses.

When the enterprise approached Anne Fontaine about piloting a Language Pin program at the Winnipeg Real Canadian Superstore® location where she’s the Store Manager, she knew right away that it would be a winning idea.

“We've worked in this environment for a very long time, and so many of our colleagues are not from Canada and speak different languages. The diversity in our colleagues is amazing. And then our customer base is not just English-speaking people, so you could tell right away that it was going to be helpful,” she says. “It's not always easy being in a grocery store and not knowing the language, so it’s great to be able to show them that we understand.”

As part of the program, colleagues wear pins identifying the languages they speak in the language they speak, which is a key difference from other, similar programs.

“Back in the day, colleagues might wear a pin saying they can speak Spanish or Tagalog, but it would be a small pin, and in English. So I really do think these badges are making a big difference from the customer's point of view,” she explains. In fact, she’s already seen a super positive response from customers who speak Spanish, Ukrainian, Farsi, and dozens of other languages. One customer always seeks out a particular manager who’s from Cuba and can help her find things in the store. Similarly, two women from Ukraine regularly ask a Ukrainian-speaking colleague for help finding the products they’re used to using back home, or the Canadian equivalents. The language pins have even come in handy during emergencies.

“We had a colleague help a customer who had injured herself,” she says. “She translated everything for the ambulance drivers! So, the program is helping the customers overall; it's been a great experience.”

It’s not just customers who are benefitting from the new program, though. Anne says among store colleagues, the pins have offered opportunities for bonding and team building.

“The day we got the pins in was super exciting. I remember everyone was putting them on, and it was neat to see all the different languages that were in the store—languages I didn't even know existed, which was really fun. Sometimes colleagues hadn’t even realized that they spoke the same language, so I found that the connections in the lunch room even got better with the language program, before it even affected my customers,” she says.

For a relatively small change, the impact has been huge—and to Anne, it’s clear there are benefits beyond the practical.

“The world is hard, right? So if we can make something just a little bit easier for our customer—if they can find that comfort food that they want, or something that reminds them of their heritage, or helps them share their culture with their children, it can make such a big difference in their day-to-day life,” she says. “They can say, ‘Hey, this is something my grandma made every day for breakfast,’ or that kind of thing. It's heartwarming and, I think it improves everybody's life.”

From coaching basketball across the street from his store, to delivering baskets of food with his family to those in need during the holiday season, Jeff Brierley always knew he wanted to serve his local community.

With a long-term goal of becoming a franchisee; he accepted the role of store owner for what is now known as Brierley’s Your Independent Grocer® (YIG) in 2023 and found himself attached to the store more than ever before. “Knowing that this is now ‘my place’ has made this fun on a whole other level,” says Jeff. “Everyone is pleasant, the customers are great, and I’ve developed such meaningful relationships. It truly feels like home.”

A time of need created an opportunity for Brierley’s to support their local community directly; after a demographic study was conducted, revealing that there were over 600 households living below the poverty line in Riverside South. Food banks across the city were overburdened with families in need of food and many other resources, which in some cases have doubled or tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“I believe that as food operators, we have this huge opportunity (almost privilege) to help people out,” says Jeff. “Grocers naturally have the ability to give back more than the average person and can make such an impact.” Last year, Jeff was invited to sit in on a Riverside South councillor community partner meeting and spoke about his relationship with the Ottawa Food Bank, a charitable organization he has been involved with for many years. After hearing about the need for food and space to accommodate another local food bank, it was a no-brainer. Jeff immediately offered up his store to host The Community Table, a 100% volunteer-run food bank located in Riverside South.

Jeff cleared out what was previously used as a dietitian’s office and met with an engineer to effectively and efficiently design the space. The Community Table food bank officially opened its doors inside Brierley’s YIG on May 6, 2024.

Although proud of this initiative, it’s not something that is broadcast widely in-store. There is no signage directing customers to the food bank and everything is located on the inside of the room, to help those in need feel like every other customer. When clients come in, they are escorted through PC Express to pick up their items.

“When an opportunity arises to help, I naturally want to give back,” says Jeff. “The way we can impact our community the most is with food. People need it and we have the means to provide it, so that’s exactly what I want to do.”

Amelia Duffy has always been passionate about fostering inclusivity and diversity, particularly in the workplace. When she learned about the opportunity to attend the Thrive leadership training provided by Pride at Work Canada (PWC) through the Enterprise Proud pillar at Loblaw, she eagerly applied.

Thrive is a ten-week virtual program dedicated to two-Spirit, queer, and trans people managers where participants get exclusive access to queer and trans leaders working at the highest levels of Canadian businesses and engage in important peer-to-peer discussions.

“Being selected for the program was very exciting and a great honour,” says Amelia, who is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner.

As a 2SLGBTQIA+ individual, Amelia has faced both challenges and triumphs in her journey to be her authentic self in various environments. She sought the skills and knowledge to empower others at work and in her community, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and accepted. Amelia's commitment to this cause was evident in 2023 when she helped launch the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at Maple Grove DC. This initiative, with its designated Pillar Champions, aimed to lead communication, events, and activities within the DC, fostering an inclusive culture. The committee's success was reflected in the growing participation at each meeting, showcasing the increased trust and open communication within the team.

Amelia knew that the Thrive leadership training would further enhance her ability to support her team. Throughout the program, she gained valuable insights into intersectionality, creating inclusive workspaces, and more. However, the lesson that resonated most with her was the focus on mental health. She learned how compassion in an organization profoundly impacts employee well-being, engagement, and overall productivity.

“When leaders demonstrate genuine care and empathy, they create a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and understood,” Amelia shared. “This fosters trust, loyalty, and collaboration among team members. I strongly believe that leading by example, showing kindness and understanding in daily interactions, and promoting a culture where empathy is a core value, results in enhanced morale, reduced stress, and a resilient, high-performing team.” Loblaw’s commitment to promoting inclusivity enriches the entire workplace culture.

“It demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement, which is crucial for fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected,” says Amelia. “Seeing Loblaw invest in such initiatives makes me proud to be part of this organization and motivates me to contribute to its success.”

By actively learning about the issues, terminology, and experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, leaders can better advocate for policies and practices that promote equality and respect. This commitment not only enhances the well-being and productivity of 2SLGBTQIA+ colleagues but also strengthens the overall organizational culture.