While watching a special tribute, Malcolm Jenkins shares a laugh. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Inspiring people

Longtime P.A. business owner ready to start new chapter

Oct 3, 2023 | 5:00 PM

After more than three decades as owner of the Prince Albert Canadian Tire store, Malcolm Jenkins is preparing to move on.

His retirement takes effect on Oct. 12 and on Sunday, a special party was held at the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation Building. Reflecting back on when he first arrived in the city in 1990, Jenkins recalled asking someone what there was to do for fun and being told go for a swim at the pool in Melfort.

“So we thought why don’t we start advertising a bit and see if we can get a community thing going,” he said.

Through money from the store’s profits, and what Jenkins termed the public confidence in their business, a number of community projects have been built including the EA Rawlinson Theatre and Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse. There’s also been a number of spray parks, a skate park, the SPCA and most recently the Rotary Adventure Park at Little Red park. Jenkins reminded the staff they built those projects, and he was just the messenger.

“You enabled me to stand up front with the flag,” he explained.

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For the man who helped set toffifee sales records, his retirement cake was splattered with pieces of toffifee. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Jenkins has actually been with Canadian Tire for 44 years and prior to Prince Albert he worked in Thompson, Manitoba, and in Ontario.

“People say find a job you love and you will truly never work a day in your life. I worked for five companies before I joined Canadian Tire and they were great companies and treated me very well, but Canadian Tire is the best company in the world,” he said.

While Jenkins’s last day is on the 12th, the store will be closed next Wednesday afternoon and all day on Thursday for inventory.

Jenkins told paNOW the actual decision to step down this month was made last April when both he and his longtime General Manager decided it was time. Looking ahead, Jenkins said he’s looking forward to working on the board for the new hospital, as well as continued work with the theatre and charities.

“I’m not worried about having nothing to do. These six months have been long and lingering like sitting in the dentist’s waiting room… just wanna yank the tooth and move on with your life,” he said.

When appearing over the years at the numerous dedication ceremonies, Jenkins has also made a special point to mention his dad.

At a young age, the late Alfred Jenkins was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and doctors told his mother he likely would not make it past 20. Alfred would live to be 90 and his ashes have since been spread at Prince Albert’s Little Red River Park.

“All his life he worked hard, and he smiled and joked a lot. He was the same to everyone whether it was the street cleaner or the Queen walked in, he would treat them exactly the same and that rubbed off,” Malcolm explained.

Further describing his father as a brilliant man, Jenkins said even with a bad heart, he worked all his life in blue-collar jobs. He added that work ethic and keeping busy may have been what prolonged his father’s life.

Jenkins added his hope all these years was to get kids out of the house to enjoy the outdoors and be active.

“They’re gonna live a happy long life too,” he said.

The store staff’s final gift to Jenkins was a homemade blanket with the words never underestimate the difference you made and the lives you’ve touched.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell