Cape Breton woman honoured for 50 years of service at Canadian Tire store

Martha MacIsaac celebrates half a century of service at a Canadian staple.

Any day you wear a sash and tiara to work isn’t exactly a regular workday — but it’s not every day someone marks 50 years of employment with the same company.

On Tuesday, family, friends and co-workers both past and present came to the Canadian Tire in Sydney, N.S., to celebrate Martha MacIsaac’s half-century working there.

“I started in 1976,” said MacIsaac, noting her first shifts were on the store’s cash register.

Since then, she has worked in departments including paint, plumbing, electrical and sporting goods.

“The funny thing is, my mother and Canadian Tire are the same age,” said MacIsaac. “My mother was born in 1922, September, and Canadian Tire started in October 1922. So, I think it’s a little bit of synchronicity going on.”

Considering the company marked its 100th birthday only a few years ago, MacIsaac has been around for nearly half of its existence.

“It doesn’t matter where we go, people see her and they know her as Martha from Canadian Tire,” said MacIsaac’s daughter, Angie Hanrahan.

Hanrahan said, not only is her mother a familiar face to generations of customers, but her loyalty to her workplace of 50 years is unmatched.

“I’ve spent many Friday evenings with her wandering numerous other department stores, that shall go nameless, to do price comparisons,” Hanrahan said with a laugh.

“The licence plate on her car has always been a Canadian Tire licence plate.”

MacIsaac’s loved ones celebrated her golden anniversary with a special cake. She also received a card signed by all her colleagues, a 50-year service pin, and a watch — though her boss said she doesn’t need the watch because, in 50 years, she was rarely, if ever, late.

“No, it’s pretty special,” MacIsaac said of the day’s festivities. “I didn’t expect this at all.”

“I really hope she knows how much she’s loved and appreciated,” her daughter added. “And if she knows by the end of today how much her 50 years have meant to a lot of people and to a community, as a whole, I think it’s well done.”

When asked why she stuck around for so long and through all the changes over 50 years, MacIsaac’s answer was simple.

“Just working with people and seeing different customers,” she said. “It makes life so interesting.”

As for retirement, she says she’s in no rush.

“I don’t know, I might go for my 75 years!”

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