“My family had been in business when I was young, and even before, in the Caribbean,” Sahely said.
After 36 years as the owner of Brighton Clover Farm, Sahely was the recipient of special recognition by the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association with an award presentation Wednesday during its annual State of the Industry conference at the Charlottetown Rodd Hotel.
Sahely was given the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association’s inaugural President’s Award by Premier Robert Ghiz and Mike Hammoud, president of the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association, to kick off its two-day conference on P.E.I.
During the presentation, a video clip was shown of customers and past employees thanking Sahely for his service and kindness over the years and congratulating him for his award.
Sahely said during his acceptance speech he was very happy to receive recognition for doing something he loved for so many years.
“I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t even read what I wrote (in my acceptance speech). I was very emotional, I was very happy,” Sahely said during an interview.
What was really special for him was the video that was put together which showed him how much he was appreciated by the community, Sahely said.
(The store) was really part of the community and part of our family. - Premier Robert Ghiz
“What blew me away was the customers on the tape.”
Before presenting Sahely with the award, Ghiz recalled going to the store many times while growing up and said his father, former premier Joe Ghiz, would call him at the store to remind him to pick up certain items.
“(The store) was really part of the community and part of our family,” Ghiz said.
The comments made by customers in the video clip painted the perfect picture of what Sahely means to the community, Ghiz said.
“The video said it all.”
The Atlantic Convenience Stores Association, which represents approximately 2,000 stores in Atlantic Canada, is a division of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association.
The Canadian Convenience Stores Association, which is a non-profit association funded by its members, represents the collective economic interests of convenience store retailers and vendors in Canada and acts as the industry voice in acting as a liaison with all levels of government and community groups.
