Slice of Life | Personnel Manager

Eaton's Building in Moncton

Sporting Goods
Marina Landers | far right

As a young lady, my mom started working at Eaton's which at one time was Canada's largest retail store. After working as an assistant in their personnel office, she was offered a full-time position as the Personnel Manager at Woolco. I started going to my grandparents' farm after school every day (wonderful memories) and sometimes I would visit Mom at work. Mom or the staff would find little jobs for me like the pinning of price tags on underwear.

Throughout the years, I was extremely proud that my mom was "Mrs. Landers". I could always tell that the employees thought a lot of her. Beyond hiring, scheduling and more, my mom was loving, kind and understanding. She worked hard and was excellent in her position. 

Sometime after Woolco became Walmart, she was asked to be the Personnel Supervisor for the region. After one trip away and a homesick call to Dad, she decided the traveling (and 25 cent raise) was not something she wanted. She wanted to be home.

Even after my parents had two vehicles, they would still travel to work together. Dad would drop Mom off and pick her up. One day I heard her say, "When I see Cedric, I still get butterflies in my stomach." Words that I can still hear clearly and they remind me again and again of how much my parents love each other.

Working and taking care of us could not have been easy, but as a kid and teen, I didn't notice Mom being frazzled or tired. The other day Mom sent a reply to me by email: "Don't forget you are having a busy week. I remember working full time and pulling my hair out." I so get it now! Thank you, Mom!