Thompson, Small Potatoes Bazaar celebrated

Photo by Megan Grittani-Livingston/The Question

Ed Thompson, left, and Sweda Franken show off the awards they won at the Pemberton and District Chamber of Commerce event last Thursday (Jan. 28) at the Meadows golf course. Thompson was named Citizen of the Year while Franken’s Small Potatoes Bazaar was named Business of the Year.

Pemberton should be grateful for both Ed Thompson and his grandfather. Thompson, the 2009 Citizen of the Year, took up the mantle of portraying Santa Claus at community events from his grandfather in 1978, and he keeps on contributing to Pemberton life in a variety of volunteer avenues following his relative’s mantra.

“My grandfather said, ‘Always be a volunteer. Be nice to people,’ and that’s what I do. Keep a smile on everybody’s face and be happy, and you’ll always get everything you want in life. And I have,” Thompson said on Thursday (Jan. 28), while keeping a tight hold on the plaque he received that night from the Pemberton and District Chamber of Commerce’s president Paul Vacirca and outgoing president Sandy Ryan.

Small Potatoes Bazaar, owned and operated by Sweda Franken, was honoured in the same ceremony as the 2009 Business of the Year.

“I won’t let go,” Thompson joked about his grip on the award, saying he was deeply moved and “totally speechless” to win when he was nominated among a group of such worthy candidates.

“I’m honoured, I really am,” he added.

He said the plaque will go on his living room wall, so he can see it every day.

“I’ll look at it every day and say thank you to the people of Pemberton,” Thompson said, praising the warmth and friendliness of this community.

Thompson, who has lived in Pemberton since 1992, has become widely known in his long-standing service as the jolly, present-packing man in red, as Thompson delights in bringing Santa Claus to local children. He also serves the community through a variety of volunteer roles, stepping up wherever he is needed, including contributions for the Pemberton Legion and events such as the Barn Dance.

He said he loves stepping into the Santa Claus suit, and it’s the kids who keep him coming back for more.

“Just to see the smile on kids’ faces, it’s totally awesome,” Thompson said warmly.

The Nova Scotia native started serving as Santa in 1978 at his grandfather’s behest.

“It was my grandfather’s last wish before he passed away (in 1977),” Thompson said.

In Pemberton, he puts in festive appearances at a wide range of events around the community, bringing out those children’s smiles and the spirit of Christmas.

Thompson has also served inside the costume of Potato Jack, Pemberton’s spud mascot – he said he was initially asked to do it since he’s already been basically everything else, and he replied that he would “just love to” do it. He’s happy to see how kids and families respond to the super-sized spud.

The grocery manager at the Pemberton Valley Supermarket, Thompson knows exactly when he started working at that local business: Sept. 14, 1999. Mark Blundell, the store’s general manager, went out of his way to attest to how much Thompson deserves the award, as someone who does almost 40 appearances in a year for everyone from children to seniors.

The citation for Thompson as a nominee praised his boundless contributions to the community in such a cheerful and selfless manner, saying he does anything that is asked of him, is adored by children and is a true ambassador for the Legion’s visitors.

“What would Christmas be without Ed?” the nomination said.

Franken and her five-year-old store, Small Potatoes Bazaar, were voted Pemberton’s 2009 Business of the Year. Vacirca said the Chamber received many comments about the friendly and helpful nature of the store’s smiling staff, reflecting what Franken instills.

Franken expressed her gratitude to everyone who voted for Small Potatoes Bazaar, to her supportive customers and to her family and staff members, saying it was amazing to be recognized after the hard work and long hours that have gone into the store.

“I was really happy. It’s nice to be recognized for all the effort you put in for a small independent business. It’s nice, because you make a lot of sacrifices with your own time and family. It’s a nice way to cap our five-year anniversary,” she said.

The store, which offers everything from party supplies, toys and crafts to household items and recreation and outdoor goods, turned five on Dec. 11, and Franken said the birthday will be celebrated on Feb. 20 with draw prizes, refreshments and discounts to thank customers.

Before stepping out on her own, Franken worked for several businesses in Whistler and Pemberton, and found herself starting at the bottom and working her way to the top in managerial roles, so she knew she could start her own. She encouraged budding entrepreneurs to go for it, backed by good business plans and cash forecasts, hard work and determination.

“You should just believe in yourself and go for it,” she said.

The list of nominees for Citizen of the Year included: Stephanie Coughlin, Dorothea Frisse, Jill Giese, Jennie Helmer, James Linklater, Jenna Markovic, Rob Meilleur, Paul Selina, Marnie Simon and Sharon Soames.

The other nominees for Business of the Year were: Brenda and Geoff McLeod, the Meadows at Pemberton, the Pemberton Valley Supermarket, Scotiabank and Len and Christine Spierings of Spierings Automotive.

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