Mark's

👋 Meet Jill Fletcher! Jill has been a part of the Mark's team since 2015, and has dedicated over 8 years of her career in various leadership positions in our stores across Saskatchewan and Alberta. Recently, Jill has further progressed her career with Mark’s and has taken on a new adventure by joining the corporate office team as a Store Operations Support Coordinator.  In her new role, Jill enjoys taking her in-store retail operations knowledge and expertise and applying it to her corporate role to further allow her to make life in Canada better for our customers. Throughout Jill’s diverse experiences with Mark’s she has found her voice and built a connection with our Core Values and Brand Purpose. She no longer feels that her personal values and advocacy have to exist separately from her work environment; instead, they are encouraged to be integrated as one with the work she does here at Mark’s. 🟧Learn more about Jill’s journey with Mark's 

#WhatMattersNow ft. Koushik C. “The world we live in is LOUD – our days are filled with complexities, busy schedules, demanding deadlines, and seemingly endless noise. Recognizing the need to counteract this chaos, it’s important to make the conscious decision each day to try and quiet it. When I moved from Winnipeg to Calgary last summer, I realized that to thrive in a new city, I needed to actively seek things to bring me peace. I’ve always found comfort in discovering new cultures, and being in nature is something that always seems to nourish my mind, body, and soul. In a place as beautiful as Alberta, it isn’t hard to stay committed to the personal goal I’ve set to get outdoors every week. Whether it’s biking, hiking, paddle boating, camping, or skiing, I always find something to do. #WhatMattersNow is having a mindset shift and understanding happiness is a choice which requires work. By embracing curiosity and a sense of adventure, I’ve learned to quiet some of the constant noise.”

#WhatMattersNow ft. Susan Loeppky “Family has always been and will always be the front and centre of my attention. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have both children and stepchildren in my life making every day better. Witnessing their growth brings me more joy than anything, especially as they continue to grow.  It’s been a busy time in our family lately as my daughter was married last year, my stepson graduated from university, and my first granddaughter Joanie Marie was born in April. It was truly special to witness my daughter step into her new role as a mother, and being promoted to grandma is something I’ve been looking forward to since I first received the news. Excitement fills me once again as my second granddaughter is due at the end of August! #WhatMattersNow is prioritizing quality time together as a family. I love to go for walks and try out new restaurants and breweries, but those trips are always better when I’m accompanied by loved ones. Above all else, my desire for my family always is health and happiness, although my hope is they never forget how important connections and family ties are to both of those things.”  

#WhatMattersNow ft. Maria Patria Viguilla “I was born and raised in the Philippines. After graduating with a degree in industrial engineering and working for eight years, I successfully paved the way to immigrate independently to Canada in 2000. Through faith and the availability of economic opportunities, I was able to make the important choice to move, and I’m proud of all I have achieved since doing so. When my parents were alive, my siblings and I used to visit them in the Philippines at least once a year, a privilege allowing me to reconnect with my roots, visit cherished places from my childhood, and reunite with extended family and friends. After a long wait of eight years, I finally chose to travel home last year. #WhatMattersNow is understanding our lives are shaped by a series of decisions and how we make the best of them. Life is short, and we never know what tomorrow holds, but we do have control over the choices we make today. For me, no amount of wealth or success will ever take priority over time spent with loved ones. Cherished moments and memories are what we hold closest to our hearts, and although I miss my parents dearly, the memories I have of them make it feel like they are always with me, influencing every decision I make.” 

#WhatMattersNow ft. Kavan Ng  “#WhatMattersNow is family and providing the best upbringing for my daughter I can. I was born in Saskatchewan, raised in Vancouver, graduated from university in Toronto, and soon after moved to Hong Kong. For 15 years, Hong Kong was the perfect place for me – I embraced the challenge of living where competition for space, skills, and career was high due to the dense population. As exciting as the city’s ‘sink or swim’ mentality was, after having my daughter I recognized my family needed a more balanced environment. Three years ago, we made the decision to pack up and return to Canada, this time, to Calgary. Here, we’ve discovered a city providing a much healthier balance between people, career, and nature. We've enjoyed exploring the mountains and experiencing multiculturalism throughout the city as we learn what it means to be Canadian again. I’ve cherished raising my daughter in a place where, as she continues to grow, she has the ability to listen to diverse viewpoints, speak up when necessary, and make a difference without needing to worry.” 

#WhatMattersNow ft. Scott Reid “At 13, I picked up a guitar and started playing. It wasn’t long before some friends and I decided to form a band. I loved to sing, and being the only one who could carry a tune, I became the lead singer, and by the time I turned 15, the band was born. Fast forward 50 years, we’re still performing, grown up with families of our own. During this wild journey, I met and married my lovely wife Heather (who is my #1 fan!), and had our two children, Braden and Kaylee. Being a dad, I’ve been able to share my passions with my children, who've now developed their own love for music – Kaylee sings, and both her and Braden play the guitar. I treasure the time we spend together as a family. They are always my favourite faces to see in the audience at our shows. #WhatMattersNow is how important family is in shaping our well being and overall happiness. While I firmly believe in ‘work hard, play hard’, I would not be able to do either without the love, support, and companionship I receive from my loved ones.” 

👋 Meet Jason Miles! As a dedicated leader with Mark's since 2015, Jason has supported Eastern Canada as a District Manager and is now the AVP of Operations for our Quebec and Atlantic Canada teams. Jason is committed to fostering an open and supportive culture of safety where team members feel comfortable taking risks, sharing opinions and feel empowered in their work. Throughout Jason’s career as a leader he has learned the importance of building strong relationships with his team, as well as the significance of aligning a strong culture and strategy for achieving successful outcomes. He says “culture and strategy only work together…when you lean into both and they are aligned, everything seems easier and we achieve outcomes together. That’s the magic.” #StongerTogether. 🟧Learn more about Jason’s journey with Mark's 

#WhatMattersNow ft. Lalaina Nasinto “This past year has been all about embracing change and treasuring moments. After spending a few years being a stay-at-home mom, I decided I was ready to head back to work. At the same time, our son, who is on the autism spectrum, started full day classes in grade one. These transitions were challenging for my family, but we managed to navigate them together, finding strength and resilience in the process. In the past year, we were also able to take a weekend getaway to Invermere and the kids absolutely loved it! From exploring surrounding lakes and relaxing in hot springs to multiple ice cream stops, the experience was so enjoyable and led us to decide to make it an annual tradition. #WhatMattersNow is the moments of our lives, big and small, which bring us joy and remind us to slow down and embrace the present. In a world constantly urging us to move faster, moments of connection and joy are invaluable.” 

Sharing Our Stories: Embracing Belonging 🌈 Meet Trevor Forbes! Trevor is an integral part of our Mark's team as a Store General Manager. With his exceptional leadership skills, he ensures that the store thrives and provides top-notch customer service. Trevor believes in making life in Canada better by ensuring every customer leaves with a smile and the right products they need. 🍁 As a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA community, Trevor found his place here at Mark's. The unwavering support and genuine care from his peers and colleagues have made him feel welcomed and valued. Being part of a company that prioritizes inclusion has given Trevor the courage to stand tall and proud every day.  #CTC #TheresaPlaceForYouHere #PrideMonth #InclusionMatters #Marks 

#WhatMattersNow ft. Lara Douville “I started dancing at age four and still haven’t stopped – and to this day, I travel across the country to compete in dance competitions with friends I made in dance classes over 15 years ago. Despite having full-time jobs and families now, we are no less passionate than we were as kids. Another passion of mine is bioarchaeology, the study of human remains. I have my master’s degree in archeology and take vacation every year to explore new places. Most of my excavations involve ancient sites scheduled for development after 150-200 years, where I relocate bones to nearby cemeteries. Occasionally, I venture into different specialties, as seen in the photo, where I’m digging to find traces of the first industrial glassware in Canada from 1848. #WhatMattersNow is our passions and how they define our lives. Every time I’m on stage and with every discovery I unearth, I’m reminded of how our current lives will someday become artifacts for future generations, reinforcing the importance of appreciating what we have. For me, this means balancing my time between dance and archaeology with my greatest passion of all – my family. I’m grateful to have a wonderful husband, supportive parents, and three sisters who mean more to me than anything. If someone were to dig up something of mine one day, I would hope they would see evidence of my passions: dance, archaeology, most importantly, my family.”