A very special anniversary was celebrated in Chesterville when Mike Dean Local Grocer celebrated 50 years of serving the local community on May 11. It was exactly 50 years ago that Mike Dean purchased the Laflamme Grocery on King Street in Chesterville from Adele and George Laflamme. Over 80 people gathered in the late afternoon to enjoy some time to congratulate the family on this milestone and some light refreshments. As the event drew to a close, Dean family members joined with store staff for a photo. Thompson Goddard Photo

CHESTERVILLE – On May 11 of this year, Mike Dean Local Grocer celebrated 50 years of providing the communities they serve the best in grocery goods and commitment to the community. The business continues to be one of a few unaffiliated and independent grocery supermarket stores in Eastern Ontario.

Mike Dean Local Grocer currently has stores located in Bourget, Sharbot Lake, Campbell’s Bay, Chesterville, Notre Dame de la Salette, and provides wholesale product to the Canadian north. Chesterville serves as the administrative hub of the company with the warehouse located at 15 Industrial Avenue and the offices located on the second story of the Chesterville grocery store at 19 King Street.

As a teenager, Dean had apprenticed as a butcher and then worked for Dominion stores, one of Canada’s top grocery chains. His work with this company included being a store-opener for the chain as well as a problem solver in stores throughout Eastern Ontario.

After making the decision to own and operate his own grocery store business, Mike purchased Laflamme Grocery in Chesterville from George and Adele Laflamme, and on May 11, 1976 the Mike Dean Butcher Limited grocery store opened for business. His son Gordon explained that George Laflamme helped during the transition, which may account for many residents of that era remembering the two working together at the store.

Gordon mentioned that his father was a hard worker, spending six days out of seven in the store before returning to his grandmother’s home in Ottawa for a visit on Sunday. Mike had been raised by his grandmother Ethel Ahern, who had come to Canada as a British Home Child.

When the British Home Child Day in Ontario was passed by the Ontario Legislature in 2010 Dean accompanied by his wife Nancy, whom he had married in 1979, witnessed its passing in the public gallery of the provincial legislature in Toronto.

In 1982 the present location of the store in Chesterville, now known as the “Chesterville Heritage Market” was purchased. Nancy remembers how initially the grocery store area was smaller than presently, with the basement and back area of the building serving as the warehouse. She recalls how the basement was filled to the top with merchandise, making inventory time a challenge. As time went by a loading dock at the rear of the store was added to facilitate truck deliveries to the business.

The company has always been a family business, with the children of Mike and Nancy working in the store as they grew. Gordon has fond memories of spending time with father Mike helping out in the store.

He noted how his mother, who worked as a full-time teacher for many years, continues to enjoy her time at the store and how his father up until his death in July 2017 maintained a strong and vital force in the business. Nancy and Mike’s grandchildren, as well as extended family members, continue the tradition of working and contributing to this family-run business.

There has been a significant amount of change both locally and nationally since 1971. Gordon mentioned when his father began the business, the meetings with suppliers would be in person with changes in technology affecting changes in working with suppliers.

Interestingly, Gordon mentioned the business began when his father had one telephone line, one calculator and one manual cash register. 50 years later the company utilizes the latest technology which includes 170 networked computer devices used to run the business.

Gordon commented many changes have resulted from technological advances, noting how the grocery business has become less labour intensive. He feels that automation and centralization will provide even more changes to the grocery business in the future.

When asked about these changes Gordon mentioned they include products offered for sale, packaging of items, the lay-out of the store and increased administrative requirements. He noted that running a grocery business requires a lot of work, encompassing many hours per day every day to ensure its smooth running.

There are national and international products available to purchase in the stores, Gordon explained when compared to the larger chain stores, Mike Dean Local Grocer has a much higher percentage of products from local agri-food businesses.

What has remained constant since the business began is ensuring the quality of the food supplied remains high and the support provided to their local communities constant. “As we grew, we were able to do more for the community.” said Nancy. She continued how the business continues to provide as much support to the community as possible.

Wishing the store to be a cornerstone in the communities they serve, Gordon mentioned it is important to be “invested in our community.” The stores are committed to supporting the communities because this is where they live, putting time and energy into supporting local organizations.

On Tues., June 16 beginning at 7 p.m. in the hall at the Chesterville Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be a celebration to honour the business which was begun by Mike Dean in 1976 and continues to serve our community 50 years later. Hosted by the Chesterville and District Historical Society, the event will feature refreshments and presentations to the family which ensures their founder’s legacy continues. Everyone is welcome to come and congratulate the Dean family on this important milestone.