Towers Department Stores: Where are they?

Where are they?
Last updated February 22, 2010

[Ed note: As information becomes known to me about former Towers/Bonimart employees, typically through Internet searches, I will include it here. I'll also include contact information from former Towers/Bonimart employees that have signed the Towers Guestbook. If you would like to add information here, please contact me at towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com. Thanks.]

Al Hammond If you can provide some background information about Al, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Anne Reid "I worked at Orfus briefly then Airport Rd. working in the mailroom with Cliff then moving to reproduction with Dale and covering the switchboard breaks for Pat and Carmen.. played badly on the baseball team but had many a laugh and met some great people."
Amy Prope Ms. Prope started her career at Morgans, which became the Hudson’s Bay Company. The last 10 to 15 years of her working career were spent at Towers Department Stores as a head buyer. Amy passed away July 3, 2007, at the age of 91, in Huntsville, Ontario.
Andre Roch aroch@videotron.ca Verdun, Quebec
Ann B. Waller Ann was employed as a clerk with Towers Department Store in Saint John. She passed away August 4, 2007. MORE
Anne Marie Brown annamariab@rogers.com Anne Marie started with Towers in 1973 at the Dixie and Dundas store. She lives in Toronto.
Ann Walters aiwalters@rogers.com Ann Walters was an employee of the Oshawa Group for 22 years. During that time she worked at Towers Head Office on Orfus Road and was secretary to Bill Atkinson, Don Beaumont, and Hugh Simpson. Anne left for the Corporate Offices for a while but returned for a second stint at Towers in their new offices on Airport Road as secretary to Ed Harsant. She's happily retired and lives in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Art Large artlarge2001@yahoo.ca Art worked at Towers from 1971 to 1979: Jane and Finch, Brampton and Dixie. Still keeps in touch with friends.
Art McGaughey mgrstore052@gianttiger.com Art worked for Towers for 17 years. He worked at lots of Towers locations: Sudbury, Westside, Cyrville and North Bay. He lives near Embrun, Ontario. MORE
Barry Jackson Barry worked at the Owen Sound store for 5 years - starting as a stock boy, then Department Manager and finally shipper/receiver. He worked with Al Hammond, Mel Reinhart, Rick Courtios and many others.
Barry Smith dreyfuss1@cogeco.ca Barry worked for Towers from 1974 to 1980 at the Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Dixie and Dundas stores. He lives in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Bernie Vermette bvermette@sympatico.ca Bernie started at Towers in 1963. He worked in Cyrville “Ottawa”, Montreal, London, Scarborough and Dixie. After managing numerous stores in Montreal area he was promoted to toy buyer. He lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Bill Douglas bcdouglas@bmts.com Bill started with the chain in 1964 in the Dixie Store Men's Wear Department which at that time was a concessionaire [Rockower of Canada Ltd]. He went to the old Riteway store in Brampton, the new Riteway store at Carlaw and Gerrard, and was promoted to the buying office. Over the next 20 odd years he held many positions such as buyer, Sr. buyer, Merchandise Manager, Group Merchandise Manager and Vice President Marketing. He lives in Owen Sound, Ontario.
Bill Waicus towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com Bill started part-time at the Jane and Finch store in 1970. Twenty-two years later, with the company sold, we was "encouraged" to leave -- along with many others -- by the new owners. Things worked out well since. He still lives in Toronto and is the web master of this site.
BJ Arsenault BJ worked for Towers at the Summerside store in the summer of 1975 when he was 19 years old. He worked in the Records and Cameras section because he had also been a student disc jockey (BJ the DJ on CJRW) since the age of 15 at the local radio station CJRW.
Bob Clubley Bob worked at the Towers Rexdale store for 14 years as department manager of Toys, Sporting Goods and Seasonal and, later, Hardware/Housewares. He lives in Furgus, Ontario
Bob Hogg If you can provide some background information about Bob, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Brenda (Larabee) Lanetta rlanetta@hotmail.com Brenda started with Towers in 1979 and worked at several locations. She lives in Maple, Ontario.
Brian Hillier brianhillier@nexicom.net Brian worked at the Scarborough Towers store in the early '70s in security.
Cheryl Hickey-Singh Cheryl worked at the Dixie store from 1977 - 1980 as a part time cashier, also working the "cash room" on weekends 1979 - 1980.
Cherylyn A. Booth Currently employed at Nestlé Canada, Cherylyn worked in the IT department at Towers Head Office.
Colleen McParland Parker Colleen worked at the Towers North Bay store from 1979 to 1985 as a cashier. She "...just loved the old Sweda cash registers since I got to push a lot of buttons. I didn't have nails back then either so it made me even faster =)."
Colleen Zuber Colleen was Towers buyer from April 1973 to May 1992.
Dale Stokoe Dale was a district manager for Belleville, Peterborough, and the Ottawa stores. He passed away March 28, 2004 in the Peterborough area at the age of 79.
Daniel Roch strikeout55@live.ca Daniel has great memories at Décarie Square with Jacques Valence. Daniel lives in Montréal.
Dave Jones davejones12@live.ca Dave worked at many stores including Brampton, Dixie, High Park, Rexdale, and Sudbury. He particularly recalls that "Bruce Downey our store manager at High Park was like a father to all of us" and that the "Sudbury stores grand opening was the craziest". Dave lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Dave Morrow dmorrow@rogers.com After helping security take down a shoplifter at a Towers store, Dave decided to say goodbye to Towers when the shoplifters gun fell out of his pocket! He started, at the age of 16, as a stock clerk at Towers Rexdale. Later he became a supervisor at Jane & Finch. He now lives in Thornbury, Ontario.
David Rabinovits A IT Project Leader from 1984 to 1988, David is currently a Project Director at Algorithmics.
Diane Young Diane worked at the Towers Head Office on Orfus Road from1979 to 1991. She worked in many areas including the reproduction department and supply room. "After Pat retired I took her position on reception/switchboard... until closure. I was transferred to Oshawa Foods on Viscount from 1991 - 2001 as a switchboard/receptionist. I then decided to leave and move to Winnipeg with my family.
Donald A. Beaumont Associated with Towers since 1977, Mr. Beaumont held the positions of vice president of marketing and executive vice-president and chief executive officer. In 1991 he was appointed president and chief executive officer of K Mart Canada Ltd.
Donna Corcoran If you can provide some background information about Bob, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Edie Andrews If you can provide some background information about Bob, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Edward (Ed) C. Harsant Ed Harsant held the position of vice president of Operations at Towers. He left Towers to become vice president of merchandising for Kmart Canada. Harsant joined The Business Depot as president in January 1995. In 2000 he took on the position of president, North American Superstores for Staples. He now sits on the board of directors of the Empire Company Limited - a Canadian company whose key businesses include food retailing and related real estate.
Emily Twigg twiggeh@hotmail.com Emily worked at several stores and at the Towers Head Office for a total of 24 years. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Eric Richardson wille@sympatico.ca Currently living in Kitchener, Ontario, Richard started with Towers full time in 1962 in the High Park store. Over his 28 years with Towers he held a number of positions in the Toronto area stores and for a time was a Merchandise Specialist on the road covering Toronto, Northern Ontario along with Peterborough & Belleville.
François Belgiorno francoisbelgiorno@hotmail.com François started his career in 1970 with Rockower of Canada, at that time, the Men's Wear concession at Towers. When Towers bought Rockower, he joined the Towers buying group in Montreal as a junior buyer. Over the years he was promoted to Buyer for Children's Wear and then Ladies Wear. He now teaches Purchasing Management at the Sherbrooke Cegep College.
Frank Grossi A Towers Systems Analyst for three years (1984 - 1987), Frank is currently Senior Project Manager, Network Access Services Project at the Ministry of Government Services Legislative Bodies.
Gerald Albert jeffalbert@rogers.com Gerald, and his father, sold their family business, Albert's Hardware Stores, to open the Hardware & Houseware concessions at what used to be called Allied Towers. Gerald, along with many other concessioners, opened the 1st store on November 20th, 1960. He left Towers in 1974 to become the Vice President of Kent Drugs Limited. He passed away August 17, 2009. [MORE]
Gloria Silbernagel gsilbernagel@rogers .com Gloria was an Inventory Control Manager for 27 years. She currently lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Gord Adams gorshe6769@hotmail.com Gord worked at Towers Head Office and, later, at Oshawa Foods Head Office. He lives in Newmarket, Ontario.
Gord Murray If you can provide some background information about Gord, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Greg Rambo Greg worked at Towers form 1991 to 1997 in various capacities including Sale Promotions Manager, Image Centre Operations Manager, Department and Assistant Store Managers.
Helen “Nellie“ Storin Nellie worked for Towers Department Store for many years before retiring. Helen passed away April 2, 2009.
Hilda Brideau Hilda worked at the Saint John Towers Department Store for over 15 years. She passed away August 30, 2008. MORE
Indera Ramsaroop iramsaroop@rogers.com Indera started working in the Jane and Finch store in 1988 as a student. She currently lives in Etobicoke, Ontario and says "If I could only turn back the time - I would once work again for such an amazing store."
Ivana Pannozzo Facebook Link Ivana worked at the Dufferin & Dupont Towers store from 1979 to 1988 as cashier.
J. McIntyre First job was at the Towers store in London while in high school (1981-84). Lives now in Whitehorse.
Jack Genser Mr. Genser was, for a period of time early in the history of Towers, Vice President and General Manager of Towers Department Stores of Canada.
Jacqueline Shaftoe-Stonhill jackston@hotmail.com Jacqueline started at Towers Head Office in the advertising/sales promotion department, then moved to the Mens & Boys Wear department. Jacqueline lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
James (Jamie) Defreitas jamesdefreitas@hotmail.com Now living in Brampton, Ontario, Jamie started as a stock clerk and worked his way up to a supervisor in the Rexdale store. He left after thirteen years - when the store closed.
Jane Denison McKenzie clarkson20032000@yahoo.ca Jane worked at the Towers Head Office at 10 Orfus Road from 1974-1979. She left as a Home Furnishings Buyer. She lives in Brampton, Ontario
Jeff Sutton jms1966@mac.com Jeff worked at Towers #27, Waterloo (Bridgeport Road), from 1984 until 1989. He recalls working in electronics, moving later to the photo lab after the "Store of the Future" renovation. He remembers that Towers was ahead of the times when it introduced bar code scanning! Right now he's in Russia.
Jim Forbes jimforbes@sympatico.ca Jim worked at the Towers Head Office from 1979 until 1990 and currently lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Jim Wilks Jim worked from 1972 to 1974 as a stockboy in the Brantford store. He live is Carlisle, Ontario.
Joel Myerson An Information Center Analyst at Towers from January 1986 - December 1988, Joel is currently Customer Category Manager at Schering-Plough.
Jo-Anne Porter jponheritage@yahoo.ca Jo-Anne worked at Towers Head Office on on Orfus Rd and on Airport Road, Ad Control, toys, men's wear and notions buyers. She lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Josephine Prestia Josephine had been an employee of the Niagara Falls Towers Department store for many years, She enjoyed her Tuesday lunches with her friends from Towers. She passed away in 2008.
Karen Baker Karen work at the Towers London store from 1975 to 1987.
Karen Rambo (nee Schmidt) tinakcbeagle@yahoo.ca Karen remembers "A whole lot of work and a whole lot of fun!" working for Towers. She lives in Seagrave, Ontario.
Karen Thompson (Zeigler) klthompson55@hotmail.com Karen worked at Cyrville from 1973 to 1990 when it changed to Zellers. She lives in Ottawa.
Kathy Stivin Kathy provided IT services from 1981 - 1984 and is currently Independent Information Technology and Services Professional located in Vancouver.
Larry Dobbs gproolz@rogers.com Larry now lives in Kitchener. He worked at the Jane & Finch, Dixie and Stratford stores. He left Towers in 1989.
Laurent (Larry) Chapman Larry Chapman worked for Towers department store and then for Zeller's in New Minas. He passed away August 19, 2007.
Leni Wieder-Jensen leni.hoier@bigpond.com Leni started with Towers in Training & Development under Michelle Ball (Darling) and Gordon Murray. She left in 1990 as Director, HRD & Employment and went over to Dutch Boy as Director HR for four years. She splits her time between Hong Kong and Australia.
Linda Neilson "I worked at Towers from 1979 until the closure in 1991. On Orfus Rd, I worked in the "Reproduction Dept", "Mailroom" and "Switchboard". On Airport Rd, I worked in the "Sign Shop/Typesetting Dept" and "Switchboard". I remember Cliff in the Mailroom and his young helper Gord."
Linda Symes From 1973 to 1975, Linda worked as Store Operations Manager at Towers Dixie.
Lisa Lake Lisa worked at Towers Head Office in Malton starting in 1988. She was in the Food Services Division and Store Operations along side people such as Marlene Kershaw, Susan Sutherland, Doug Johnson, and Paul Zettel. Lisa lays claim to be one of the last people to walk out of the old building when they shut it down.
Lissa DeChamplain Lisa started at the Towers Airport Road Head Office to, as she recalls, "...cover mat leave for Diane on switchboard". She was temporarily put into the "Sign shop/Print shop", then "...worked for Janet in advertising for a ...couple of years until I joined the buying group, where I worked with Bob McDonald. The last time I seen the gang was at the good-bye party Bob organized. I had just had my baby three days before the party, but nothing was going to stop me from attending!"
Lois Cowick Although Lois worked for 23 years in security at Towers department stores (Ottawa), she always said that the proudest accomplishment was her children. "God blessed me with wonderful kids. I couldn't have lived through the (last) four years without them. They were always there. They always looked after me, always there if I needed them." Lois passed away December 29, 2004.
Mac Sinclair mbsinclair@sympatico.ca Mac worked in Owen Sound, Belleville and Kanata. He currently lives in Guelph, Ontario.
Max Wolfe Max Wolfe was a grocer and businessman born in Lithuania in 1893 and raised near Newmarket, Ontario. At age 16, with $25 cash and a $60 loan, he bought a horse, wagon and load of apples and went into business. In 1914, he launched Ontario Produce Co. with his brother Maurice to supply army bases. The operation expanded to become known as the Oshawa Group Ltd. and at his death it included IGA, Food City, Dutch Boy, Towers Department Stores and Drug City. Mr. Wolfe passed away March 11, 2004.
Margaret (Hines) Sweeney Margaret was born in Reserve Mines, Nova Scotia and lived most of her life in New Waterford, moving to Ontario in 1968 where she was employed with Towers Department Stores until her retirement. Margaret passed away March 2008.
Marie Alfreda Bouchard Born in Sudbury, she worked at K-Mart and Towers Department Stores. Marie passed away June 5, 2008.
Mariellen Penrose sampenrose@hotmail.com Mariellen worked at the Towers Rexdale Store and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Martin Cato wmcatto@yahoo.com Martin was SVP & CFO at Towers from 1978 - 1981 and is "...alive and well and living in Upper Nyack, New York and officially retired as I have reached an age where I correctly appear to be generally considered unemployable."
Mary Findlay maryfindlay1@rogers.com Mary worked at the Lawrence and Midland Towers store for 15 years, most of the at the Courtesy Desk. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario.
Mel Rinehart mel.rinehart@sunlife.com Mel worked for Towers from 1970 until 1987. We worked in the Oakville, Stoney Creek, Owen Sound, and Collingwood stores. He lives in Wiarton, Ontario.
Michael Balz michaelbalz@yahoo.com Michael Balz worked at Towers of Rexdale from 1975 to 1978, working mainly in Hardware and Pets. It was his first great first job, being only 17 when he started. In 2000, he moved to Cancun, Mexico.
Michel Charlebois michelcharlebois@rogers.com Michel started in 1968 at the Towers store in Cyrville (Ottawa) store number 51. He worked part time in the camera and records department. Around 1970 he became a management trainee. He left Towers/Bonimart in the spring of 1972 and still lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Michelle Ball If you can provide some background information about Michelle, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Michelle Dietrich "My mother worked at Towers on Orfus Road and on Airport Road. She was a supervisor in Accounts Payable and the filing room. I worked there briefly between high school and college in the reproduction department..... RIGHT BESIDE THE MAILROOM!! My mom moved on to Oshawa Foods when Towers was sold as well and then w...hen it changed again to Sobeys. Her name was Debbie LeBlanc."
Morley Whittle mo_les@rogers.com Morley worked for Towers for about 20 years - most of them in the Scarborough store. He lives in Keswick, Ontario.
Myrtle Churchill myrtlechurchill@live.ca Myrtle says "Towers was a great company to work for. We were all family. Worked hard but always had fun." She live in Toronto, Ontario
Nancy Sarchuk-Hussary Nancy's first job, at 16 years old in 1976, was working at Towers Dundas/Bloor St location in Toronto - in the tobacoo and cosmetics departments.
Norine Adams As a student, Norine worked five years at the Towers Scarborough store. She recalls "...baseball teams and tournaments, dances, just a lot going on. I even still have my 25th anniversary key chain. Great place to work."
Paul Gillen pagill2@yahoo.com Paul ran the produce operation for the two Towers stores on Prince Edward Island for 16 years. He now lives in Washington DC.
Paul Nowlan As assistant manager in the Towers Scarborough store, Paul went on to become managers of the Westwood Mall, Charlottetown, St. Catharine’s, High Park and Jane and Finch stores. He lives in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
Paul Okeefe paul-okeefe@hotmail.com Paul worked at the Towers Kipling and Queensway store from 1980 to 1987 as a stock-boy and "paint department guy." He lives in Burlington, Ontario.
Paul Zettle If you can provide some background information about Paul, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Peter Christos Peter Christos was only 16 years old when he left his native Greece for Canada, landing in Halifax in May 1948. From there he travelled to Belleville, where his uncle had a restaurant. It was there he got his first introduction in running a restaurant. He also worked for seven years as a waiter at the Royal York Hotel. Later he opened his own restaurant, but sold it after awhile to take on the position as manager of Towers Department Stores cafeteria. Peter passed away April 17, 2006.
Peter Skewes pskewes@sympatico.ca Peter joined Towers as an Assistant Electronics Buyer 1974 and when on to become the Towers Buyer for electronics and cameras. While on a buying trip in Hong Hong, he received word that Towers was no more and rushed around cancelling orders. He lives in Mississauga.
Randall McKeown randy.mckeown@rogers.com Randall worked at the Villager Restaurant and the Lawrence and Midland Towers Store starting when he was 17, over 27 years ago. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
Ray Wolfe In 1949, Ray Wolfe acquired what was then known as Oshawa Wholesale. A couple of years later he brought Chicago's IGA grocery chain into Ottawa. Oshawa went public in 1957 and entered the retail trade in 1971. It had assets of about CAD 800 million and more than 100 food stores under the banners IGA Dutch Boy, and Food City. Ray Wolfe passed away in 1990.
Rick Keddy keddy56@yahoo.ca Rich started with Towers in 1971 as a part-time stock boy at the Owen Sound store. He left towers in 1976 to join Beaver Lumber and have been in that business ever since. He lives in Barrie, Ontario.
Rick Larkin mom_and_pop10@hotmail.com All through the seventies, Rick worked in the Peterborough store, running the shoe department. He lives in Cornwall, Ontario.
Rod Desjardins In 1981 Rod started working at Towers Department Store in North Bay. After ownership of Towers changed he took a couple of short term positions before becoming a member of the STAPLES team.
Ron Chenier chenier.ron@videotron.ca suzannebelgiorno@hotmail.com Ron worked for Towers 28 years in Ottawa, starting when he was 16 years old. He lives Rockland, Ontario.
Ron Dunn Ron worked in various capacities at Towers from 1973 to 1992.
Sharon (DiGiorgio) MacDonald sharrick@ns.sympatico.ca Sharon worked for Hugh Simpson at Orfus Road (1965 - 1972) and Don Beaumont (1979 - 1984). Sharon lives on a farm located at North West Arm, Cape Breton, NS., where she raises Highland beef cattle.
Shirley Dawes Shirley is living in Meadford, Ontario. She started, part-time in the cash office, at the Brampton store. She left Towers, 23 years later, as a Housewares buyer.
Stephane Joly stef350@hotmail.com Stephane started in 1984 in the packing department on Rockland Blvd. As a truck driver drove for Towers/Bonimart from 1989 until 1991.
Steve Heyworth Towers sporting goods buyer. If you can provide some background information about Steve, please write towersdepartmentstores@gmail.com.
Sue Fukushima From 1984 until 1986, Sue was a Towers Systems Analyst. She currently works at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Susan Bihuniak susan_bihuniak@hotmail.com Susan started with Towers 1974 in the reproduction department. She married long-time employee and buyer Bob MacDonald and is living in Oakville, Ontario.
Susan Williams A Senior Research Analyst at Towers Department Stores, Susan is currently Director National Research and Marketing at Cadillac Fairview.
Tracy-Lynn Denis Tracy worked in the Ottawa store, on Cyrville Road, from 1987 to 1991. "I have to say for my first job I loved working there and the people were great. I left a little time after Zellers took over, didn't like it then."
Wayne Cammack Wayne was the Vice-President, Information Systems at Towers. He's now Managing Director at E. Wayne Cammack & Associates.
William Bar As a buyer for Towers, Bill travelled extensively, for six weeks at a time, throughout Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China purchasing sporting goods. MORE
William L. Atkinson President and CEO of Towers Department Stores. Mr. Atkinson, now retired, is living in Oakville, Ontario. (Photo - Toronto Star - September 11, 1980)
Yves Payette yves.payette@sympatico.ca Yyves worked for Rockower of Canada and then Towers from 1965 until 1977. He worked my way up to childrens' wear buyer at the Montreal head office. He lives in St. Donat, Quebec.


Buyers and Associates Back Row: Jacqueline Shaftoe, Horst Shultz Middle Row: John, June, Brian, Helen Front Row: Glynnis, Anna, Doreen, Blanche

Men's and Boys Wear Standing: Brian, David, Ronnia. Gilles, Jacqueline, Horst Shultz, Doreen Sitting: Glynnis, Georgia, Blanche, Helen, Jackie

Buying Group Seminar Back Row: A. Ianni?, 19?, Bob McDonald, Noel Cruz, Francois Belgiorno, Peter Skewes, Steve Edwards, 25?, Jean-Guy Chabot, 27?, John Thiessen Middle Row: Bob Hogg, Donna Corcoran, June Edamura, Sharon Sherman, Rhonda Wolfe, 13?, 14?, 15?, Edie Andrews, Gord Murray Front Row: Michelle Ball, 2?,Jack Genser, John Share, Ernie Koenig, Maria Kaldy, 7?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? Here's a shot of Towers buyers. Can you name names? If so, please email me the # with the name. Thanks.
Far East buying tour Dave Bowyer, Don Beaumont, Peter Skewes, Bill Atkinson