St. Jacobs – Home Hardware recognized its top stores at a ceremony last night at its semi-annual Dealer Market by presenting them with the company’s Proud of My Home and Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year awards.

Winning stores were selected from among more than 1,000 stores from coast to coast for achieving the highest standards in retailing, merchandise presentation, staff performance and overall quality of the store.

The following stores were awarded Proud of My Home Awards:

* Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre – St. Thomas, Ontario
* Brantford Home Hardware – Brantford, Ontario
* Bradford Home Hardware – Bradford, Ontario
* United Lumber Home Hardware Building Center Georgetown – Georgetown, Ontario
* Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre – Peterborough, Ontario
* Perth Home Hardware Building Centre – Perth, Ontario
* Echo Bay Home Hardware Building Centre – Echo Bay, Ontario
* Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre – Kitchener, Ontario
* Fredericton Home Hardware - Fredericton, New Brunswick
* Buck’s Home Building Centre – Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
* Handyman Home Hardware – Conception Bay South, Newfoundland
* Selkirk Home Hardware Building Centre – Selkirk, Manitoba
* Richards Home Hardware – Outlook, Saskatchewan
* Home Building Centre – Vernon – Vernon, British Columbia
* Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre – Camrose, Alberta
* Oak Bay Home Hardware – Victoria, British Columbia
* High Level Home Hardware – High Level, Alberta
* Materiaux J. Lajeunesse Inc. – Val-des-Bois, Quebec
* Quincaillerie Home Hardware - Rimouski – Rimouski, Quebec

To be recognized with a Proud of My Home Award, the store must demonstrate excellence in staff performance and customer service; interior presentation including clear signage and merchandise presentation and displays; exterior presentation including cleanliness and attractive window displays; staff training; and participation in dealer network initiatives.

“The winners of the Proud of My Home Award truly encompass all that Home represents,” said Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO of Home Hardware, at the recent awards presentation. “A total team effort, hard work and the value of dedicated people working together to serve their communities is apparent in all of this year’s winners. Congratulations to these Dealers and their staff members.”

From among the Proud of My Home Award recipients, one store is chosen to receive the Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year Award for retailing excellence. Its namesake, one of the original Home Hardware founders, who remains president today, presents the award. This year’s recipient is Quincaillerie Home Hardware – Rimouski in Rimouski, Quebec, which is owned and operated by Alain Brochet and Renée Bellavance.

“All of us at Quincaillerie Home Hardware – Rimouski are excited to be recognized among Canada’s best and I’d like to thank my great team for all their hard work,” said Brochet. “We’re proud to serve our community by providing great products, selection and expertise in a welcoming, neighbourhood shopping environment.”

Home Hardware Stores Limited is a cooperative of Dealer-owned and operated independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture stores under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Founded in 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers, the company today has grown to include more than 1,000 stores across Canada.