A true athlete and sports enthusiast, Drew Knightley has been involved in sports his entire life and has logged over 1000 hours of volunteer work. Watching his favourite team, the BC Lions, win the Grey Cup after coming back from a 0-5 record in 2011 is a memory Kightley won’t soon forget. Kightley has a passion for giving back and wants to be sure that youth have the opportunity to play the great game of football on a field they can be proud of.

Rod Brown served an astounding 20 years in Canada’s Military where he was involved as a coach, mentor and sport coordinator. Brown fondly remembers the “Eskimo Years” when the Edmonton Eskimos claimed 5 Grey Cup wins in a row. With his grandson now involved in minor sports, and thinking back to when his own son played, Brown understands the importance of a proper facility for youth and minor sports organizations. Brown is proud to spearhead this refurbishment project and showcase RONA as a leader in the community.

As a transplant from Calgary, Kyle Smith is new to both the Leduc RONA store and the City of Edmonton where he is learning to adopt the new team colours of green and yellow. Working with the Eskimo’s and the City of Edmonton, Smith is excited to assist with the improvement of the facility and the lasting legacy it will bring to the community. Smith can’t wait to unveil the project and knows the highlight will be seeing teams play on the field that he had a part in refurbishing.

Store Manager Tyler Murphy is humbled by RONA’s commitment to local communities. It was seeing RONA’s consistent support that drove Murphy to volunteer his own time towards the local field refurbishment project. With a background in Horticulture and Landscape Design, Murphy looks forward to organizing activities and contests to motivate volunteers, like a friendly game of touch football and cheering on his favourite team the Calgary Stampeders.

Jeff Kosmynka is passionate about giving back to the community. An expert in Commercial and Building Material Sales, Kosmynka is a strong believer of the importance of sports in the lives of youth as well as an avid sports fan. He supports his local team, the Calgary Stampeders but Winnipeg is where his heart is, citing the ’91 Grey Cup as his favourite football moment watching the game in minus 30 degree weather in Winnipeg with John Candy and Wayne Gretzky on the field.

Tracy Gall started with RONA as a Human Resource Generalist and now, six years later manages a store in Regina. A Saskatchewan Roughriders fan for more than 46 years, Gall is thrilled to be working with the Roughriders on the local refurbishment project. Gall describes Saskatchewan as having a close community feel and is eager work alongside the Saskatchewan Roughrider players, the Riders cheer team, RONA staff and community members to make the project a success.

Store Manager Donn Thomas loves to make people happy. Thomas hosted Milt Stegall at his store for an autograph session after he became CFL’s all-time touchdown leader in 2007. The excitement on the faces of customers and children is something Thomas will always remember. Thomas can’t wait to refurbish the local football field, knowing that he will play a part in providing an opportunity to help local youth achieve their dreams and maybe even one day play for his favourite team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Evan Stewart enjoys working with customers and assisting them with the completion of their projects. A fan of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Stewart remembers fondly their Grey Cup win in 1999. Stewart is looking forward to finishing an important project; The RONA field refurbishment program in Hamilton. He believes that the program is a great way for the RONA employees to get involved in the community and is pleased that minor football and all youth in Hamilton will benefit.

Born and raised in Toronto, Michael Watson grew up watching the Toronto Argonauts play first at the Exhibition Stadium with his father. Watson is excited to relive history as amongst the refurbishments in Toronto and to honour of the 100th Grey Cup, the “Mud Bowl” will be recreated and RONA will be replacing the sod on the field after the game. Watson feels a great deal of pride being able to help make the City of Toronto a better place and Watson credits RONA’s partnership programs for allowing him to make that difference.

RONA employee Scott Fallow is dedicated to community involvement. A fan of the Toronto Argonauts, Fallow’s favourite CFL moment was watching football great Doug Flutie capture both the ’96 and ’97 Grey Cup wins with the Argos. Fallow is looking forward to working with RONA volunteers on the local field refurbishment and motivating them with celebratory meals.

Louis Famery comes from a family of entrepreneurs and home renovators. The rivalry between Ottawa’s Rough Riders and Famery’s favourite team, the Montreal Allouettes make up his most cherished football memories. The competitive spirit Famery values may explain his openness to take on any challenge, like the opportunity to represent RONA and develop a project for the community. His excitement is contagious as he easily rallied installers, employees, parents, family and friends to assist with the project right from the beginning.