may 2008

The Source • 1Issue 83- May 2008

A window into the world of RootsRootsRootsRootsRoots Issue 83 • May 2008

JUMPING FOR

With great spirit and a sharper focus, new retail teamat Head Office helps take Roots stores to a new level

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PublishersMICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN

EditorROBERT SARNER

Editorial AssistantCARLY ANDERSON

InternMARA SOFFERIN

Cover Image EnhancementMATT COE

The Source is published every month byRoots Canada Ltd. We welcome lettersfrom readers for publication. Pleaseaddress all correspondence to TheSource, Letters to the Editor, RootsCanada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto,Ontario, M6B 4C4 or by email [email protected] Letters may be editedfor length and clarity.

DepartmentsFINE PRINT

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

GREEN TIPS

HEALTH TIPS

STAYING POWER

I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI S S U E 83I S S U E 83I S S U E 83I S S U E 83I S S U E 83

SPECIAL DELIVERYA selection of recent letters from the world of Roots

EXTRA! EXTRA!In keeping with our monthlypublishing schedule, the nextissue of The Source will appear atthe end of May.

• The Source wants to hear from you.Please send your letters to Robert Sarnerat [email protected]. Letters may beedited for length and clarity.

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SUBMERGED DOWN UNDERIn January, my family and I wenton a camping trip to the coast ofNew South Wales, Australia.One afternoon, we stopped at abeach and took to the waveswith our surf mats.

At one point, my boardsnapped its ankle strap and Iwaded in closer to shore to enjoythe shallows. While I wasstretching out in the water, Inoticed a shiny object flickerbeneath me and discovered thatit was a watch.

More specifically it was aRoots men’s watch with a leatherstrap. To my surprise, it was stillworking, with the correct time!As one of the pins was missing,I figured that someone (perhapsa Canadian tourist) had lost itwhile in the water.

I walked up and down thebeach looking for the unluckyperson, thinking that if it was aCanadian traveler I might see amaple leaf flag on a backpack oreven overhear some foreignaccents. However, I made nosuch discovery and decided tokeep the watch for the timebeing.

I would be happy to return itto its rightful owner if you haveproof of who he/she is. Even ifthat’s not possible, I thought youmight enjoy learning of my findand know that although thewatch may have been in the seafor days, weeks or even months,

it was still working just fine.Simon LyasCanberra, AustraliaEditor’s note: We have deletedseveral identifying details from thisletter. If you or someone you knowlost a Roots watch in Australia earlierthis year, please send an email [email protected]. Include themodel of the watch or the name of thebeach where it was lost.

MAKING A DIFFERENCEI recently went on a quest to finda Canadian company to purchaseclothing from for the kids I workwith at the Adelaide Street YouthCentre. Many of those who arriveat our doorstep have only theclothing on their back. Weprovide them with a safe envi-ronment to stay and all thenecessities of life.

Our clothing is typicallydonated by our staff who workhere and their families. Luckilythis year, we were fortunate toget a small amount of funding topurchase some items for theyouth to wear while in our care.My requirements were not sosimple. I needed 50 outfits ofexcellent quality in a range ofsizes from small to XXL, thatwere fashionable but alsocomfortable.

I stopped by the Roots 73 storein London, Ontario and talkedwith store manager PhilPapadopoulos. I told him what Ineeded and how much I had tospend. Within a few shortweeks, I had the outfits at a

price I could manage. Your staffwent above and beyond the callof duty, and providing excellentsupport and care. They made theexperience a positive one. Iknow that Roots has an excellentreputation for supporting localcommunities, but I was im-pressed with the outstandingservice we received.Derek MuirResidential SupervisorAdelaide Street Youth Centre,London, ON

SIMPLY AMAZINGI was recently in your store inBayer’s Lake, Halifax and as Ireceived outstanding customerservice there, I wanted to writeyou a letter about the associate,Jen Hendren who served me.She did an excellent job.

I really appreciate the effortthat Roots has made over theyears and continues to make inthe present. What an amazingcompany and an excellent team!I commend you for all yourwork.Jason CrouseHalifax, Nova Scotia

KNOWING RETAIL ISDETAILLed by Jarar Kazmi, the newretail operations team hasintroduced fresh energy andmany innovations to Rootsstores, making for a betterexperience for customers andstaff

ROOTS HONOURSROBERT KENNEDY JR.Special event pays tribute toenvironmentalist’s work

IMPRESSIONS FROMTHE EASTNew Brunswick store recog-nized for great achievements

LUCKY CHARMSFree gift celebrates theSummer of Love

WALKING THE ROOTSRUNWAYEdmonton staff strut theirstuff in the latest fashions

Continued on next page

PARITA NARANManager of Recruitment and Training

BETHANY PECKHAMCustomer Service Coordinator

Yes, theproductshave to be

great. Yes, theprices have to befair. Yes, thestores have tolook inviting.Yes, the brandhas to stand forsomethingrelevant andcredible. Yes, allthe above arecritical to thesuccess of abusiness likeRoots. But evenall that is notenough if youdon’t have a good retail teamboth in the stores and behind thescenes at the head office.

Roots has always beenfortunate to attract excellentpeople to work in its stores.Thanks, in large part, to suchcommitted, motivated men andwomen, the retail shopping

experience in Roots stores is sopositive. It is of course theattitude and attentiveness ofsales people that help determinewhether a customer makes apurchase and leaves the storesatisfied or frustrated. They’rethe ones on the frontlines dayafter day, exuding the spirit and

values of Roots.It’s easy to overlook those

who, far from the view ofcustomers, play an equallycritical role in the retail realityof Roots. In recent months, therehave been a number of majorchanges and innovations at theHead Office concerning the

company’sretail opera-tions. Theirimpact has beenwelcomed byall concerned,staff andcustomersalike, resultingin higher salesfigures.

The newapproach islargely theresult of a newretail manage-ment team puttogether thispast winter byJarar Kazmi,

Executive Director of RetailOperations. A seven-year veteranat Roots, Jarar was appointed tohis current position last Octoberafter having worked in a seniormerchandising role and as astore manager in Toronto.

Parita joined Rootslast November afterworking atAbercrombie andFitch in retailmanagement. Bornand raised inWinnipeg, sheattended the Univer-sity of Manitobabefore moving toToronto in 2005.

“I was attractedto work at Rootsbecause of the pridein being a Canadiancompany that isthoroughly involvedin helping the environment andthe community,” says Parita, 23.“More specifically, what appealedto me about being part of theretail team was helping provide

our store associatesmore knowledgeabout our merchan-dise so they canbetter educate ourcustomers on whatRoots really standsfor as part of makingfor a better shoppingexperience. I’m alsoexcited about helpingformulate andimplement a strategyand seeing thetrickledown effect ofwhat we can produce.Roots has performed

amazingly for the past 35 years,but with the ever-changing retailenvironment it’s really important tokeep up with our competitors, andbe one step ahead of the game.”

Bethany took up hercurrent position inJanuary after workingin various positions atRoots stores since2000 includingAssistant Manager ofRoots in Kitchenerand Waterloo, Ontario.Born in Hartland, NewBrunswick, shegraduated from theUniversity of Guelphwith a Bachelor ofApplied Science.

“I welcomed theopportunity ofcoming to the headoffice after manyyears in stores,” says Bethany,30. “It was a way to continuegrowing with Roots while goingfrom having an impact on onestore to impacting stores across

Canada. I wantedto help not only ourcustomers, but alsoto be a source ofsupport for oursales associates intheir dailyendeavors. I enjoybuilding relationshipswith our stores.Having been amanager myself, Iunderstand howdisconnected fromHead Office youcan sometimesfeel, especially for

the stores located far from Toronto.In my work, I like trying to bridgethat gap. I want to be someoneour teams can trust to supportthem through any customer issues.”

Here are the people on the Retail Operations Team (in alphabetical order) who are making things happen. See also the next page:

The new team (l to r): Justin Sood, Bethany Peckham, Parita Naran, Jarar Kazmi, Anne Theriault and Josh Tillo

KNOWING RETAIL IS DETAILLed by Jarar Kazmi, the new retail operations team has introduced fresh energy and

many innovations to Roots stores, making for a better experience for customers and staff.BY ROBERT SARNER

4 • The Source Issue 83- May 2008

Continued from previous page

JUSTIN SOODRetail Operations Analyst

ANNE THERIAULTCustomer Service Coordinator

JOSH TILLORetail Operations Coordinator

“Over the winter and spring,we’ve introduced new peopleand practices that have alreadymade an important difference inhow our stores are functioning,”says Jarar. “In addition to our

new members of the retailmanagement team at the HeadOffice, we’ve created a solidretail district management teamthat allows us to be moreconsistent operationally. Withthese changes we now have asolid platform from which wecan aggressively pursue andexplore all kinds of opportuni-ties.”

The new and expanded retailmanagement team consists of (inalphabetical order): ParitaNaran (Recruitment andTraining Manager); BethanyPeckham (Customer ServiceRepresentative); Justin Sood(Retail Operations Analyst);Anne Theriault (CustomerService Representative); JoshTillo (Retail Operations Coordi-nator).

Together, they represent thestrongest retail managementteam ever assembled at theRoots Head Office, in terms oftheir abilities and responsibili-ties, and strengthen the vital linkbetween the Head Office and allof the stores.

“The connection between theHead Office and the stores iscritical to our retail success,”says Jarar. “It must work well inboth directions. Store employeeshave to feel comfortable incontacting us in the office,

Justin joined Rootsin January afterworking in severalretail positions atAbercrombie andFitch/Hollister Co.during eight years.Born and raised inKitchener-Waterloo,Ontario, Justingraduated from theUniversity ofWestern Ontario inLondon, majoring inBusiness andSociology.

“With myprevious retailexperience, I felt Icould bring a fresh perspectiveto Roots,” says Justin, 27. “Iwas attracted by the history ofthe brand and by the prospect ofbeing a part of the company’s

growth. I wasexcited aboutworking with aCanadian brand,at a Canadianhead office, withpeople who’ve hadan impact on theretail operations ofRoots in recentyears. Working oncustomer experi-ence is the mostimperativeinitiative I can helpimplement atRoots. I want our

customers to leave our stores witha feeling of awe and satisfaction,having had the best service andan overall incredible experiencewhile shopping at Roots.”

Anne beganworking at Roots in2005 as a salesassociate in Halifax.After moving toToronto last year,she was transferredto the Rootsdowntown store onQueen St. Threemonths ago, shealso became a part-time CustomerService Representa-tive at the HeadOffice. Previously,she worked at asecond-handclothing store andas a caregiver and tutor for a youngman with autism. Born in Montreal,Anne grew up there and inKitchener, Ontario before studyingat Dalhousie University in Halifax,majoring in Classical Studies.

“I love that Iwork for such awell-knownCanadian com-pany as Roots,”says Anne, 25. “Ialso appreciatethe company’simage, with ourenvironmentalethics andimpressive code ofconduct. It’s greatto be in CustomerService as I loveserving customersnation-wide and

even internationally. I enjoytalking to people and helpingresolve their problems. Anotherbonus is I now get to deal with thefantastic staff at all of our stores.”

Like many on thenew Head Officeretail team, Joshstarted working inhis current positionin January, althoughhis Roots careerbegan long before.Since joining thecompany five yearsago, he worked atseveral Rootsstores, mostrecently as Assist-ant Manager ofRoots Central inToronto. Born andraised in Toronto,Josh graduatedfrom York University, majoring inkinesiology with a minor inpsychology. Since 2006, he’s beenworking part-time as an on-siteAthletic Therapist.

“The camaraderie and

atmosphere at Rootsare the biggestreasons I’m stillworking here,” saysJosh 28. “Despitethe many tightdeadlines andchallenges in mywork, I find the HeadOffice a friendly andwelcoming environ-ment. As the liaisonbetween the storesand Head Office,things are beingthrown at me everyday (not literally!).

Multi-tasking, prioritizing and quickresolution are big keys in my work.As we’re trying to implement bothnew and existing strategies, wehave to make sure that none ofthem interfere with store operations.”

informing us of any aspects thatneed improvement. We in turnmust make them feel confidentthat we in the office are attentiveto their needs and follow up ontheir requests promptly. Theremust be a good free flow of ideasand opinions exchanged includ-ing sharing with us feedback onthe products. The retail team inthe field including our DistrictManagers needs to be very clearon the expectations and strate-gies in a timely manner. That’swhy we’ve made various

changes in the way we commu-nicate with the field.”

Thanks to the work of thenew retail management team atthe Head Office and the work ofthe expanded group of DistrictManagers (see box, A VitalLink), there’s a stronger senseof coordination and vigor inthe relationship between thestores and the Head Office. Is itany mystery then that thedifference is manifesting itselfpositively on the bottom line?No mystery. - R. S.

A VITAL LINKNew team of DistrictManagers plays importantrole in Roots retail world

Seen far more often at thestores than the Head Office,

the District Managers contributegreatly to the retail success ofRoots. Each is responsible for adifferent region that can includebetween 10 to 20 stores. Inrecent months, three new DMshave joined the Roots retailteam. Here is the current DMroster, listed alphabetically:Kim Anderson - East CoastJennifer Aycock - Alberta,Saskatchewan, ManitobaHeidi Botis - TorontoSusan Kalbfleisch - NorthwestOntarioMonica Urbaniak - BritishColumbia

In addition, Roots has twotop-notch senior retail peoplewho each brings a wealth ofexperience and expertise totheir respective areas ofresponsibility. RosemaryEisenhut is the Director ofRoots 73/Outlet stores inOntario and Quebec, whileGinette Fillion is RegionalDirector, Quebec.


LUCKY CHARMSFree gift celebratesthe Summer of Love

There is much more thanmeets the eye when purchas-

ing a Roots leather bag. Not onlyare you getting a high qualityproduct made at the state-of-the-art factory in Toronto, but sincelate April, all bags come affixedwith a complimentary peace signcharm (available in assortedcolours).

Inspired by the new RootsSummer of Love collections nowsweeping stores, the symbol ofthe ‘60s is a stylish, eco-friendlyaccessory perfect for adding flairto any leather purchase. They aremade from recycled leatherscraps, which would otherwiseend up in landfills. The detach-able embroidered charms arejust one of the many ways Rootsis doing its part to be environ-mentally friendly.

The time for peace signs is now

ROOTS HONOURS ROBERT KENNEDY JR.Special event pays tribute to environmentalist’s work

Late last month, while intown to speak at Toronto’sGreen Living Show, the

founder of the WaterkeeperAlliance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.attended a dinner in his honourat the home of Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman andhis wife Diane Bald. Theevening was co-hosted by fellowCo-Founder Don Green and hiswife Denyse Green.

In his speech introducing thenoted environmental lawyer,Michael recalled how in 1968,as a student at Michigan StateUniversity, he and fellowfraternity brother Don Greenwent to Lansing Airport to greetSenator Robert Kennedy Sr. as

he arrived to speak atMSU as part of hiscampaign to becomethe Democratic Partycandidate for Presi-dent. (Less than twomonths later,Kennedy would beassassinated in LosAngeles.) Today, 40years later, Michael isa good friend of thelate Senator’s sonRobert and sits on theBoard of the WaterkeeperAlliance, an organizationdevoted to protecting rivers andlakes and which Roots has oftensupported in the past.

Following Michael’s speech,Robert Kennedy Jr.addressed the crowd,speaking passionatelyabout Waterkeeper’sorigins and achieve-ments and theimportance ofsustainability. Hiswords echoed theideas he expressed socogently in an essayin this month’sspecial green issueof Vanity Fair inwhich he urged the

next American president tomake eco-responsible energydevelopment a top nationalpriority.

Guests at the event includedactor/environmentalist EdBegley Jr. (who also spoke atthe Green Living Show); filmdirector/producer NormanJewison; Toronto mayor DavidMiller; CEO of Indigo Booksand Music Heather Reismanand her husband Onex Corpora-tion Chairman Gerald Schwartz;Zoomer magazine editorSuzanne Boyd; and WaterkeeperCanada’s Mark Matson. Anacapella performance by TheCanadian Tenors of theirspecial blend of pop-opera wasanother highlight of the evening.

Michael Budman, Diane Bald greet honoureeRobert Kennedy Jr. (middle)

Eco-crusaders Kennedy (left), MayorDavid Miller (middle), actor Ed Begley Jr.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE EASTNew Brunswick store recognized for great achievements

Since being appointedExecutive Director ofRetail Operations last fall,

Jarar Kazmi has traveled todifferent regions across Canada,visiting as many Roots stores aspossible. He recently returnedfrom the East Coast where hepersonally met with dozens ofRoots retail employees at storesin two provinces. Among thehighlights was the Regent Mallstore in Fredericton, NewBrunswick.

“I was impressed with theirincredible visual standards,”says Jarar. “This kind of commit-ment leads to a great lookingstore that complements thebrand image and truly distin-guishes Roots from others. It

also has the effect of elevatingthe perceived value of theproducts we carry. The manager

had the entire staff motivatedand as a team they were able tomake their location one of thebest I’ve seen so far in terms ofvisual presentation.”

For Store Manager SarahLewis, there’s little mystery

behind her store’s success. Sheattributes it to her team’s strongsense of organization anddedication to the brand, which isevident throughout the store.

“We have a great staff whoare all really interested in thevisualside ofthings,”saysSarah.“It’s asmallstore buteveryonecontrib-utes inhis or herown wayand we

make sure to pay really closeattention to detail. The newproducts this season are veryexciting, so it makes everyonethat much more enthusiastic.We’re having a great quarter sofar!”

Fredericton staff


WALKING THE ROOTS RUNWAYEdmonton staff strut their stuff in the latest fashions

Spring is finally here andthe Roots employees atAlberta’s West Edmonton

Mall were so inspired by therecent collection in its stores,they just had to show it off.

With a new season full ofenvironmentally friendly,organic materials (such asbamboo, hemp, soya andcotton), Store Manager MichaelRohanchuk conducted aninformation session about theline for the staff, helping

everyoneto get onthe samepageabout theeco-innova-tions. Tocap offthemeetingas ateam-

bonding event, they put on animpromptu fashion show whereeveryone got to experience lifeas a Roots model.

Styled by KeyholderHeather Challoner, eachemployee walked the makeshiftcatwalk while showcasing thelatest trends in leather bags,sweats, organic tees and theever-popular textured scarves.As an added educational bonus,the features and benefits of eachoutfit were narrated aloud as the“models” proceeded down therunway.

“Everyone here loves theatmosphere of Roots andworking with such amazingpeople,” says Sales AssociateSarah Cheung. “We all reallyenjoyed modeling such a greatcollection, even if it was onlyamongst ourselves. Ourfavorites, and the productsgetting the biggest customerresponse so far, are those withorganic cotton in them from theRoots Green line. They are allextremely soft to the touch andso comfortable to wear that theyshould be in everything!”

Living the life of Roots modelsManager Michael Rohanchuk

Sarita Stauffer

Saluting those who gothe distance

Recently, many Rootsemployees marked major

anniversaries of their time atthe company. By ‘major,’ wemean benchmark achieve-ments as in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25and 30 years spent at Roots.

We invite anyone cel-ebrating such an anniversaryto send the relevant informa-tion to The Source.

Congratulations to thefollowing employees for theirsignificant contributions andenduring loyalty to Roots:• Maria Fonseca, LeatherLining, Leather Factory, 25years• Maria Teresa Dos Santos,Leather Stitcher, LeatherFactory, 15 years• Dan Donnet, SeniorNetwork Administrator,Information Technology,Head Office, 5 years• Daisy Li, MerchandiseFlow Analyst, Merchandis-ing, Head Office, 5 years• Elizabeth Rogers, Techni-cian, Head Office, 5 years

STAYING POWER

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAILSpotlighting the top performing stores in March

As this issue of The Sourcewent to press, the finalsales figures for stores in

April were not yet in. But, we’redelighted to report the perform-ance of most stores in March isto be commended.

Topping the pack in termsof company stores was theRobson Kids store in Vancouver,British Columbia that capturedthe latest Store of the Monthhonours, beating its sales targetby 126%.

As for the Roots 73/Outlet

category, the Park Place Outletstore in Lethbridge, Alberta tookfirst place with a score of 142%over its sales budget.

Congratulations toJacqueline Thomas, Managerof the Robson Kids store andAmber Wray Burbank, StoreManager of the Park PlaceOutlet along with their teams fortheir winning performances.

Likewise, hats off to all ofthe other stores that met orsurpassed their sales goals in themonth of March.

A WORKING LUNCHBehind-the-scenes of Head Officepilates sessions

Roots has always embracedan active lifestyle as one ofthe core values of the

company, and as such supportspilates sessions at Head Office forthe staff. Introduced as a 12-weektrial shortly after Roots moved to1400 Castlefield Ave. in 2005, theprogram has run non-stop sincethen with much positive feedbackfrom staff.

In conjunction with SphinxPilates, classes run three times aweek with anywhere from eight to12 people per class. InstructorRiikka Wilson teaches theMonday evening session, whichutilizes the pilates principle of corestability to focus on strengthtraining. Jessica Acs takes overthe one-hour lunchtimeclasses on Wednesday andThursday, which incorporatethe stretching and releasingof major muscle groups.

Lessons are based on asliding price depending onthe number of peopleregistered, with Rootscontributing half the cost.

“The classes are fun, chal-lenging and convenient, not tomention competitively priced,”says Caroline Brentnall, Men’sTechnician and coordinator of thepilates program at Head Office.“There’s no need to travel to agym after work and the instructorsare excellent!”

Pilates is a physical fitnesssystem developed in the early 20th

century by Joseph Pilates. Heintended to improve the rehabilita-tion program for returning veter-ans from the First World War. Theexercises focus on the corepostural muscles, which help keepthe body balanced and areessential to providing support forthe spine.

Robson Kids store tops the pack Park Place leads the outlet stores

Pilates is in session at Head Office


BEST OF

2 0 0 7FINE PRINT

HerearesomerecentsightingsofRoots

in the pages of newspapersand magazines:

- Compiled by Carmela Ledo

A selection of coverageof Roots in the media

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

• Wish, May issue. Spotlight on RootsJack Purcell white leather sneakersand the new Emily Bag (in Equestrianleather).• Living Magazine Windsor, March/April. Article entitled ‘Eco-friendlyfashions’ mentions Root Greenbamboo and cotton blend shirt. Also,cites Roots products made of organiccotton and bamboo, including thepopular Flick Off T-shirts, braceletsand purple graphic print tee.• Elle Quebec, April. Article mentionsRoots as among the socially andenvironmentally responsiblecompanies in the fashion business.• Bayview Mills Town Crier, April 30.Article entitled ‘East York TownCentre a real community bag’spotlights Roots tote, scarves,costume jewellery, wallets andknapsacks.• Where Edmonton, April 30.Mentions Roots bed linens in the‘Home Furnishings & Décor’ section.• Luggage, Leathergoods & Access(Markham) April 30. Roots miniumbrella featured in the ‘InspiringOuterwear’ section.• The Globe and Mail, April 27.Article entitled, ‘Shirts, shorts, shoes’mentions Roots purple Super PalmaLux Midtown Slide.• Wish, April 17. Roots Treetap WildRubber tote featured in the ‘DailyWish’ section.• Winnipeg Free Press, April 12.Canadian Blood Services partneredwith Roots to offer T-shirts,sweatshirts, key chains andbackpacks to attract, retain andreactivate blood donors.• The Globe and Mail, The NationalPost, Calgary Herald, La Presse(Montreal), Winnipeg Free Press,Calgary Sun, and other newspapersApr. 8. Articles mention how Rootsgains from no longer being anOlympic outfitter as media report onRoots and US Olympic Committeemutually agreeing to go their separateways while Polo Ralph Lauren will bethe outfitter for the US team in Beijingthis summer.• Metro, April 11. Roots lemon yellowrelaxed fitted hoody in soft, organiccotton and new lux leather envelopeclutch in hot pink and deep orangefeatured in the ‘You know you want it!’section.• Hello, April 7. Photo of MichaelBudman, his wife Diane Bald andtheir daughter Alex at the Fall/Winter2008 L’Oreal Fashion Week.• The Globe and Mail, April 5. Rootsshirt mentioned in the ‘Off-Duty Cool’section.

THE ROOTS CLASS OF 2008Scholarship program begins for lucky grads

With a goodeducation asvaluable as ever,

Roots and Cosmoda areteaming up for the thirdyear in a row to helpgraduating members ofthe Class of 2008 in theirquest to attend post-secondary institutions thisSeptember.

Five eligible students willeach win scholarships of $1,000to put toward their higherlearning goals. Applicants cannominate themselves or berecommended by family andfriends. Those interested in theprogram are required to fill outan application form (available atselect Roots stores) and answer

questions relating to theirscholastic objectives, currentacademic standings and futurecareer aspirations. Entries willbe accepted until June 30, 2008,with the winners chosen sixweeks later.

For more information andfull contest rules visitwww.watchroots.com.

Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

Celebrities have long madea point of shopping atRoots. Here

are the latestsightings of promi-nent figures in theworld of entertain-ment, sports andmedia who visitedRoots stores recently:• Queen St., Toronto- With her Roots Chatelaine bagin tow, Canadian fashion mavenand host of Fashion TelevisionJeanne Beker shopped at thestore, picking up a Village bag intan.• St. Clair, Toronto – Canadian

R&BsingerJullyBlack wasa pleasureas sheshopped atthe

store, stocking up onseveral pairs of leggings,tank tops and hats.• Kanata Outlet,Kanata, ON – FormerPittsburgh Penguins star

Mario Lemieux andhis wife Nathalie went

on aspendingspree atthe outletstore.•Kenaston Outlet,Winnipeg, MB –Prior to winning the

title at the Women’s WorldCurling Championship, TeamCanada (skip Jennifer Jones,lead Dawn Askin, second JillOfficer, third Cathy Overton-Clapham, and coach JanetArnott) dropped by the store topick upCanada-themedsweatshirtsand T-shirts towear in

thecompetition.• Spring Garden Place,Halifax, NS – Front manfor the Canadian rock bandMatt Mays and El Torpedo,Matt Mays shopped at the

store, purchasing amen’s Tuff belt.• Beverly Hills, CA –While in town, actorand long-time friendof Roots RussellCrowe dropped inwith his family,

picking up several sweatshirtsfor himself, along with someyogapantsand avarietyof tanktopsfor hiswife.

Jully Black

Jeanne Beker

Mario Lemieux

Matt Mays

Canadian women’scurling champs

• Kim Anderson appointedDistrict Manager of the EastCoast• Jennifer Aycock appointedDistrict Manager of Alberta,Manitoba and Saskatchewan• Susan Kalbfleischappointed District Managerof Northwestern Ontario

ON THE MOVENew appointments andpromotions at Roots

Danielle, Russell Crowe

GIFTS FOR A GRADCelebrate the Class of ‘08

As graduation nears, a timelessgift is close at hand. The latest

commemorative watches areoffered in two classic, stainlesssteel designs with a“Class of 2008” imprinton the face of the dialas well as etched onthe back of the case.Each timepiece comeswith a Roots photoframe as an addedkeepsake (whilequantities last).

For men, the RootsSaratoga is sporty andstylish with a rotating

bezel and stop-watch function.Retail price: $125.For women, theRoots Café is asleek, jewellery-inspired piece.Retail price: $100.

Saratoga

Cafe


TAKING UP THE CAUSEWindsor Crossing gets great response in store-wide challenge

The results are now in andRoots staff have onceagain proven how willing

they are to give from the heartand support a charitable cause.As previously mentioned in TheSource (see Issue 81), theWindsor Crossing Outlet putforward a challenge in March,encouraging stores to aid themin their fundraising for World

Vision.Led by Sales

Associate TammyClavet and StoreManager BernadetteO’Beid, donationswere put towardpurchasing a varietyof animals throughthe humanitarian organization’sonline marketplace for needy

families to use as asource of food, healthand income.

In total, theyraised more than$400, which wenttoward purchasingtwo goats, two hens,one rooster, three

piglets and two rabbits.“We really appreciate how

everyone pulled together tohelp,” says Bernadette. “To raisemoney for such a worthy causeand know you’re making adifference in people’s lives is agreat thing. Thanks to the OrfusRoad, Kirkland and ThunderbayOutlets, along with RosemaryEisenhut [Director of Outletsfor Ontario and Quebec], fortheir donations.”

FLYING THE FRIENDLY SKIESRoots provides bags to VIPs on inaugural flight

In late March, guests on themaiden voyage of PorterAirlines’ new service from

Toronto to Newark, New Jersey,got more than just a luxuriousride in the sky. As a commemo-rative token of their much-publicized trip, custom-madeleather goods courtesy of Rootswere given to the 70 VIPs at theinvite-only event.

The order was coordinatedby Vice President of Wholesale

and Business Development,Melinda McDonald. Membersof the select group each receivedthe Destiny bag in navy bluenylon and leather, embellishedwith the airline’s logo, whichgenerated positive reviews.

“The bags are excellent,”says Andrew Wilson, Directorof Sales and Marketing forPorter Airlines. “We are pleasedwith the product and the serviceprovided to us by the Rootsteam.”

In March, the airline ex-tended its service to includeseven daily weekday flights toNewark Liberty InternationalAirport (whose close proximityto midtown Manhattan makes itone of the busiest airportsystems in the world) in additionto regular weekend service.Flying out of the TorontoIsland’s City Centre Airportminutes from downtown, Porteroffers a refined and streamlinedtravel process.

Porter VIPs took home a Roots bag

YOUR DAILY BREADRoots outfits Le Pain Quotidien’s launch in Canada

Early last month, celebratedBelgian bread makerAlain Coumont traveled to

Toronto to take part in the openingof the first Canadian location of hishighly successful European bakery/café called Le Pain Quotidien. Notonly did the food live up to itsbilling but the staff couldn’t havelooked better thanks to their Rootsapparel.

Coordinated by Ladi Popoola,Account Manager in the Business-to-Business Department, employ-ees were outfitted with custom-made black T-shirts and matchingbaseball caps emblazoned with thefamed bakery chain’s logo. These

garments will also be provided tostaff at the several other Toronto-area locations slated to open in thecoming months.

Le Pain Quotidien, whoseFrench name means “daily bread,”focuses on serving high quality,fresh-baked loaves using locallyproduced and organic ingredientswhere possible. Originating 18years ago in Belgium, the bakeryand restaurant now has locationsin New York, Dubai, London andParis. The internationally recog-nized establishment is famous forits oversized communal diningtable in each location, encouragingconversation among strangers.

THE GREENING OF ROOTSNew pamphlets inform staff and customers about company’s commitment to environment

Eco-enthusiasts at Toronto’sGreen Living Show in lateApril got the first look at

the just-printed environmentalliterature about Roots. Designedto give both retail staff andcustomers easy-to-read informa-tion on the brand’s longstandingsupport for sustainability, thepamphlet is now available in all

stores.Entitled The

Greening of Roots andprinted on recycledpaper, it explains whygreen is much morethan a colour at Roots,detailing many of thecompany’s eco-respon-sible policies, including

support for Flick Off, theWaterkeeper Alliance,David Suzuki and theuse of sustainablematerials in clothing,among others. An onlineversion is also availableunder “About Us” atwww.roots.com.

Produced by the

Communication and PublicAffairs Department, TheGreening of Roots will bedisplayed at all cash desks instores, beside the newly revisedpamphlet on the making ofRoots products, which answersmany frequently asked questionsabout how and where Rootsmerchandise is made.

Alain Coumont brings Belgian bread and Roots apparel to Le Pain Quotidien


A U G U S T THE ROOTS TOP 10A guide to the sounds ofRoots for May

- Compiled by Davin Bujalski

MUSICAL ROOTSThis month, we spotlight singer Mariah Carey

CHEF’S CORNERRoots-friendly recipes to bring pleasure to your palate

- Anne Theriault

For this month’s Chef’s Corner,we present the recipe for

making smoked salmon breakfastwraps.

INGREDIENTS6 eggs1 tablespoon milk or waterA pinch of salt1/8 cup fresh dill weed (or 1/2tablespoon dried dill weed)6 flour tortillas (8-inch burritotortillas work best)About 1/2 package smokedsalmon, torn into bite-size pieces

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion3/4 cup shredded Havarti cheese

INSTRUCTIONS1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line ajelly roll pan or a large loaf panwith foil.2. In a large bowl, beat eggs,milk and salt thoroughly.3. Pour egg mixture into a skilletor frying pan and cook overmedium heat. Rather thanstirring constantly, as the mixturebegins to set at the bottom andside, lift the cooked portions with aspatula so that the uncookedmixture can flow to the bottom ofthe pan. Cook until eggs areSmoked salmon wraps

1. Touch My Body, MariahCarey2. Piece Of My Heart, BigBrother & The HoldingCompany3. Like You’ll Never See MeAgain, Alicia Keys4. You Are, Estelle Feat. JohnLegend5. Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis6. Cruise Control, MariahCarey Feat. Damian Marley7. Any Other Day, WyclefJean Feat. Norah Jones8. Beautiful Nightmare,Beyonce9. Go Back To Your Woods,Robbie Robertson10. Everything I Do (I DoFor You), Bryan Adams

The most successful femalerecording artist of all time,Mariah Carey rose to

superstardom largely on thestrength of her stunning five-octave voice. Moving easily fromheartfelt ballads to hip-hopinspired dance-pop, Carey is oftencompared to rivals WhitneyHouston and Celine Dion,although Carey stands apart bycomposing most of her ownmaterial.

Born and raised in LongIsland, NY, Carey moved to NewYork City at age 17, just a dayafter high school graduation, topursue her music career. Her bigbreak came as a backup vocaliston a studio session with popsinger Brenda K. Starr, whohanded Carey’s demo tape toColumbia Records head TommyMottola at a party. According tolegend, Mottola listened to thetape in his limo while drivinghome that same evening and wasso struck by Carey’s talent that hereturned to the party to track herdown.

After signing to Columbia,Carey began work on her 1990self-titled debut LP. It proved achart-topping smash, launchingfour number one singles. Herovernight success earned herGrammy awards as Best NewArtist and Best Female Vocalist,and high expectations for Carey’s1991 follow-up. Emotions did notdisappoint, as the title trackreached number one, and twoother tracks hit the Top 5. Carey’s

next release,1992’s MTVUnplugged EP,also generated anumber-one hit:a cover of theJackson 5’s“I’ll Be There.”Carey seemedunstoppable.

In June1993, she wedMottola in aheadline-grabbingceremony.Months later,Carey releasedher third album, Music Box, herbest-selling record to date. Shereturned in 1994 with a holidayrelease entitled Merry Christmas,scoring a seasonal smash with“All I Want For Christmas IsYou.” 1995’s Daydream reflecteda new artistic maturity. The firstsingle “Fantasy” debuted atnumber one, making Carey thefirst female artist and just thesecond performer to accomplishthis feat.

Carey also had successcollaborating with other artists,including “One Sweet Day,” aduet with Boyz II Men. She alsoreleased a duet with WhitneyHouston, forming a dynamic duoof the two most successful femalerecording artists in pop history.In 1997, after separating fromMottola, Carey returned withButterfly, her most hip-hop-flavored recording to date, and

anothermajorsuccess.Then, with“Heart-breaker,” thefirst singlefrom her1999 albumRainbow,Careybecame thefirst artist totop thecharts ineach year ofthe 1990s.

How-ever, the first years of the newmillennium weren’t as kind toCarey. In 2001, after signing an80-million-dollar deal with Virgin,the biggest record contract ever,she suffered a public meltdownthat included the critically pannedmovie Glitter and its soundtrack,(her Virgin Records debut), whichbombed.

Following these failures,Virgin and Carey parted ways in2002. That spring, she found anew home with Island/Def Jam,where she set up her own label,MonarC Music. In December, shereleased her ninth album,Charmbracelet, to little success.Nearly three years later, Careymade a comeback with 2005’s TheEmancipation of Mimi, her mostsuccessful record in years.

In 2008, Carey released her11th studio album, E=MC2.“Touch My Body” became her

18th number-one single on theHot 100, pushing her past ElvisPresley into second place for themost number-one singles amongall artists in the rock era. Carey isnow second only to The Beatleswho had 20 number-one singles.Collectively, Carey’s singles havetopped the charts for 79 weeks. Tocelebrate her new # 1 albumE=MC2, New York’s EmpireState Building was recently lit upfor two days in lavender, pink andwhite lights, the colour motif ofthe album, now available in storesand online. - Davin BujalskiListen to Roots Radio to hear themusic of Mariah Carey. To find outmore about Mariah Carey, visit:www.mariahcarey.com

.

thickened throughout, but still moist. Stir inchopped dill weed.3. Spoon about 1/3 cup of thecooked eggs down the middle ofeach tortilla. Top with salmon,onion and cheese.4. Fold and roll the tortilla as youwould a burrito and place thewraps seams side down in thepan. Cover with foil and bakeuntil cheese is fully melted.5. Serve with fresh cut fruit and aside salad or homefries


GREEN TIP #48Easy ways to help theenvironment

STARTING LINEUPIntroducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

SPEAK TO MY AGENTThe littlest customers show their Roots

Regular readers of TheSource know that lastyear, we launched this

special feature to showcasephotos of children wearingRoots. It grew out of the factthat we often receive unsolic-ited photos from customers whowant to share with us picturesof their children, cousins,nieces, nephews, grandchildren,or even pets wearing Roots.They often ask if they could beused in a future advertisingcampaign for the brand. Wecan’t promise that but we arehappy to publish them in TheSource.

Everyone is welcome tosubmit their favourite shots toThe Source to be considered forpublication. Please send yourpictures [email protected].

Be sure to include the nameand age of each child or pet inthe photo, where it was takenand a sentence stating that youagree for the photos to be usedin The Source.

Easy ways to stay healthyHEALTH TIP #45

Tinkerbell Woodbury, age 3,Mississauga, ON

Cameron Daniel Schacter, 21 months,Richmond Hill, ON

Bubba, Prince George, BC

As part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of TheSource is shining the spotlight on the West Edmonton Mall store in Edmonton, AB. Back row (from l to r):

Sarita Stauffer, Tracey Balehowsky, Sarah Supersad, Michael Rohanchuk, Heather Challoner, Michelle Cheung,Toby John. Front row: Terri-Lynn Holiday.

BETTER IN PAIRS: Here’s asmall change that can easily beincorporated by most homeown-ers to save time, fuel anddollars. Toronto resident LucySilva recently informed us of hereco-initiative which getsneighbours in adjacent homes toplace their garbage bags/bins ona coordinated spot so that whenthe garbage truck stops at thesidewalk, it makes two pick-upsat the same time.

The benefits include fewerstops, therefore less timeneeded to pick up garbage;reduced fuel and pollution due tofewer starts and stops by thetruck; significant dollars savedby the Sanitation Department,thereby allowing it to use savingson other necessary projects.

BRING ON THEBROCCOLI...AND APPLES:Our life expectancy is directlyproportional to our lung capacity.For the majority of people livingin or near metropolitan areas,traffic and secondhand smokevastly accelerate loss ofbreathing capacity and increasethe incidence of lung cancer.However, antioxidant-richvegetables and fruits such asbroccoli and apples can helpmitigate these effects.

One study revealed thatpeople who ate more than fiveapples a week had better lungfunction than those who ate noapples. It’s also been shown thatthe antioxidant isothiocyanatesin cruciferous vegetables likebroccoli substantially reducelung cancer risk.- Source: Secrets of Longevity,by Dr. Maoshing Ni


NEW & NOTEWORTHYA guide to just-launched Roots products

IT’S IN THE BAGNew multi-purpose carrier perfect for summer

There’s nothing more usefulthan a lightweight totebag. This month, Roots

customers get their choice offour stylish colours as the sleek,practical Locker Athletic Baghits stores.

Created by Senior Accesso-ries Designer Lynne Morris,the polyurethane bag wasdesigned to adhere to the eco-responsible specifications ofRoots. This includes making it100% PVC-free, therebyreducing factory workers’exposure to hazardous chemi-cals.

The clean exterior design iscontrasted with the numeroushandy interior pockets, making

it easy to keep things neat andorganized. Larger compartmentsare suitable for storing an MP3player or cell phone, withsmaller mesh ones for otherkeepsakes and an individualsection for a water bottle. Anexterior zipped pocket is perfectfor storing wet items withoutsullying the rest of your valu-ables. An extended key ring alsoallows for quick, easy access todaily essentials.

The lightweight quality ofthe Locker Athletic Bag allowsyou to load up on belongings,while looking fashionablewithout being dragged downwith excess weight. The longerhandles allow for the bag to

gently rest on your shoulder orhang elegantly from the crook ofyour arm.

Available in black, white,silver and bronze. Retail price: $68.

DYE-ING FOR A CHANGEBohemian men’s tee inspired bythe Summer of Love

The colourful, carefree style ofthe Sixties is sweeping Roots

stores this season and themenswear line is no exception.Inspired by the Summer of Lovetheme and Jack Kerouac’sseminal novel On the Road,Associate Menswear DesignerDylan Anderson has created aline of T-shirts in bright, boldhues.

The Carlo Slim Dip Dye Teeis made of lightweight 100%cotton jersey for optimumcomfort and breathability

during the hot days of summer.The slender fit of the garment’storso allows for a more flatteringappearance, while the printedlabel at the neck won’t rub andirritate the skin.

The dip dye process, done byhand, ensures that each garmentis an original. The T-shirt mustbe washed separately to avoidcolour bleeding. All graphicswere designed by Graphic ArtistTracy Klem.

Sizes: XS-XL; Retail price:$29.95.

The play of colour puts an interesting spin on the traditional tee

may 2008

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