THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK
Lorne Johnson is the man behind the desk at the Thrift Shop. He’s a wonderful storyteller, he’s well traveled, well read…and well….he’s a really cool guy!
Lorne has seen parts of the world that we can only dream of in travel books or blogs. He’s been through the Panama Canal three times, he’s cruised the St. Lawrence Seaway, he’s seen Cape Horn as he sailed around South America, and he’s visited the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic via Europe’s river waterways. Most recently, he visited Africa, and while on Safari, he saw the ‘big five’ (four of them up close, and one from a distance) – ask him what they were next time you see him! And what’s next? Japan and Iceland are on the shortlist for 2025.
A 3RD GENERATION SEBA BEACHER!
As a third-generation Seba Beacher, he can tell stories of his grandfather building the first family cabin in the late 1920s before a road was built to Seba, more tales of his parents’ cabin built in 1967 and share many memories of the three grocery stores, two gas stations and a bakery that used to fill main street. Before retiring to Seba Beach about 10 years ago, he lived on Haida Gwaii for 13 years, doing survey work, reforestation, and brushing where he was nick-named the “Plant Guru”, then family brought him to Parksville, and back to Edmonton. Upon his return to Edmonton, he spent a few years working in varied roles at Sobey’s.
When asked how he came to work the till at the Thrift Store, where he has been volunteering for 10 years, he says he was the only one who wasn’t afraid of the cash register given his Sobey’s experience! In addition to his regular shifts on Wednesdays and Saturdays, he often does a weekly run into Edmonton, where Thrift Shop Donations are dropped off at Find, where they are either used or shared with other charities such as the Bissel Center and the Re-Use Center.
Interestingly, Lorne shared that upwards to 60% of all sales at the Thrift Shop are now using e-technology (Square) rather than cash, but cash will always be accepted. Unfortunately, e-transfers are not accepted, but Lorne will hold an item for you for up to two weeks.
Lorne has a hidden skill – he is remarkable at multi-tasking – not only at the Thrift Shop! Next time you drop in, ask him how many books he currently is reading- he reads books like most folks channel surf.
And be sure to ask him about his adventures, he will share a story, or two, and you will leave with more than a purchase, you’ll leave with the joy of meeting a wonderful member of our community.
