SASKATOON A beloved member of the city s Mayfair neighbourhood has died. Bruce Thomas owned and operated Mayfair Hardware for 70 years before deciding to retire last May. He died last week at the age of 89. I’ve never worked for anybody in my life, Thomas said In a June 2019 inteview with CTV News. I got the idea into my head I wanted to drop out of school, so my parents OK’d that,” Thomas said, explaining how he got his start. Some of them at Bedford Road Collegiate, they were telling me that I was making a mistake and everything, but it worked out OK for me quitting school.
Learning what happens to a tree over the 10 to 20 years of the life of the tree prior to filling your house with the scent of the forest is interesting. Gaudet shared that this year was definitely the most challenging year he has ever experienced as a Christmas tree grower and broker. Growing quality trees is for sure challenging, as each and every year every single tree needs to be touched to promote appropriate growth. There is a wide array of tasks done over the years including initially preparing the ground, planting the stock, irrigation, pre-shearing care, basal and leader care and shearing, side shearing, pest, disease and weed management and then, of course, harvesting, wrapping and shipping the stock. The multitude of skills and equipment to provide us with beautiful real Christmas trees every year is impressive.