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Co-op manager recognized for three decades of service

Feb 8, 2018 | 11:00 AM

Thirty years of dedication didn’t go unnoticed last night at the Co-op Service Award Banquet as grocery manager Trevor Ylioja was recognized for his decades of service.

Ylioja began his career in 1984 while he was still a high school student in Outlook. In 1987, he began working as a full-time clerk, he said, before moving to Kinistino in 1990 to be the store manager. He then moved to La Ronge to work at the Lake Country Co-op’s Food Store in 1994 as the grocery manager ­– a position he still holds today.

“It was kind of in my blood,” Ylioja said. “My mom worked for the Co-op for over 20 years and my stepdad had 44 years. I grew up with it in the household and learned the business at the dinner table.”

Throughout the years, there have been many changes but Ylioja noted the biggest one was when they moved into the current store in 2006. The building replaced another store along La Ronge Ave., and while he said much of what they do is still the same, it’s just on another scale.

Ylioja went on to say his position did come with challenges, adding the store has a fairly large staff. In the future, he said he has no plans to continuing climbing the Co-op ladder to corporate as he is happy with his current career.

“My wife and I enjoy La Ronge and I don’t see us going anywhere at this point,” Ylioja said.

Ylioja’s manager, Margaret Floch, was hired at the Food Store only months before him and she said she’s enjoyed working with him every day. Floch said Ylioja has the heart and passion for the job, and they’ve been able to complete a lot of work together.

“We had a good working relationship and we talked to one another on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “What one doesn’t think of, the other one does. I couldn’t see myself working with someone different.”

 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @saskjourno