Lynn Laming-Kerr to be Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at International Women’s Day Celebration

Brockville – Lynn Laming-Kerr, long-time owner of Kitley Grocery & Service Centre in Toledo, has been selected to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

For over 36 years, Ms. Laming-Kerr’s Kitley Grocery & Service Centre has been a staple in Elizabethtown-Kitley. Known as a welcoming hub in the village of Toledo, Lynn and her husband, Peter, continue to provide essentials such as McEwen fuel, Levac propane, M&M frozen foods, hand-crafted breakfast, lunch, and snacks to-go, beverages, lottery tickets, and more. The store became an LCBO Liquor Convenience Outlet Operator in 2021, years before the expansion of retail liquor sales.

“I was 19 when I started with the store. I came to help provide for my family, but then it changed as the community became my family,” Lynn said.

“Lynn’s success and dedication are to be commended as she has demonstrated the importance of female leadership in small business while balancing the needs of her family and supporting her community. Lynn’s commitment and longevity have attributed to her accomplishments and gained her the admiration and respect of many in the region,” said Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Warden of Leeds Grenville.

Lynn has been a member of the Legion for 25 years. “We are a very close community; we support schools and churches, and the community supports our business. We stay connected by being there and staying present for our customers,” she says.

Kerr-Laming leads a team of employees who have consistently served with a commitment to customer engagement and breaking down barriers. “Everyone is welcome here,” she added. Her efforts have created meaningful connections and fostered economic opportunities in the region. In 2021, Kitley Grocery & Service Centre was featured as one of ten regional entries into the “Grow Your Business, Love Your Lifestyle” video promotion, ultimately emerging as the top entry with over 3,300 views.

“I am absolutely thrilled for Lynn. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient for an award such as this one. Kitley Grocery & Service Centre has become a well-known and long-standing fixture in the Township thanks to her tenacity and leadership, along with her unrelenting dedication to customer service and a friendly atmosphere. In a time when so many village stores have become relics of the past, Lynn’s establishment not only lives on – it thrives! She genuinely loves her community, and the community loves her.”, said Brant Burrow, Mayor of Elizabethtown-Kitley.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action,” aligns perfectly with Laming-Kerr’s lifelong mission to seek out growth opportunities. Her tireless efforts have not only demonstrated economic resilience but also served as an exemplary role model to the next generation of empowered women leaders.

Lynn is the 12th business leader to be selected for this coveted award, which recognizes decades of commitment, innovation, and leadership in empowering rural communities and championing women’s roles in driving economic growth.

The Leeds Grenville Small Business Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize a woman who has been in business for over 20 years and has demonstrated hard work, community contribution and resilience. The award, presented annually by Leeds Grenville Small Business, will be given at the Brockville Memorial Civic Centre on Thursday, March 6th, 2025.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award presentation, valuable insights will be shared by Julie Caffin, President and CEO of Brockville General Hospital and Janet Campbell, Founder of Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Foods in Merrickville during the ‘Fireside Chat’. Also scheduled is an interactive ‘Ask the Expert’ session where local professionals will share their business wisdom. Enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner followed by gifts and door prizes. Registration is open, purchase your tickets today.