In 1948, 13-year-old Ray Lothian started work at the Carlyle Bakery - and seven decades later, he's still there and still going strong.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lothian's legacy goes beyond longevity, however. And Saturday, June 16's 鈥淩ay Day鈥� celebration proved that, as family members, friends, customers, former co-workers and employees -聽 past and present -聽 paid tribute to a man whose work ethic is only outmatched by his kindness towards -聽 and respect he earned - from everyone he encountered during his amazing - and ongoing - career.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Former employee and retired teacher Barb Swanson of Kenosee Lake was one of many who praised Ray as an employer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗e was one of the best bosses I've ever had,鈥� says Swanson. 鈥淚 worked for him for four years聽 and he was my first boss. Three of the kids in our family worked for him and I remember he gave me a beautiful candle as a grad gift. He was just so thoughtful and such a good boss.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A former co-worker of Ray's who travelled to Carlyle especially for the celebration agrees, adding: 鈥淚 worked with Ray in 1956, when Mr. Elgar owned the bakery. Ray was always, always working; always, always smiling and always, always getting along with the other employees 鈥� and it seems as though that hasn't changed.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'd say I've easily worked with over 200 people in the bakery,鈥� says Lothian. 鈥淲e took it over in the 70s and I'm proud to say that our employees seem to stay and I see a few of them are here today.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lothian says of his beginnings at the Carlyle Bakery: 鈥淲e baked bread by the fire, and we had no sewer and water when I started, so I had to haul water from about a block away and I had to haul wood, too. There was no sliced bread and everything was done by hand.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Since then, the bakery's output and product line has expanded, with Carlyle Bakery cinammon buns and fruitcake earning iconic status, with fans both near and far.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hundreds of congratulatory messages were gathered for Lothian, including accolades from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and the province's Lieutenant Governor, W. Thomas Molloy.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In his letter, Premier Moe referred to Ray as 鈥渁n integral part of the Carlyle Bakery鈥� and lauded his contribution to 鈥渙ur way of life and the Saskatchewan economy.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lieutenant Governor Molloy extended his 鈥渃ongratulations on 70 years of service to the Carlyle Bakery鈥� and thanked Lothian for his 鈥渙utstanding commitment to excellence.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 However, for Ray, the work - and his family - are reward enough.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'd like to thank Steven (Lothian) for keeping the bakery going and Wilma (Lothian), Elaine (Porter), Jacky (Lothian) and Laurie (Day) for putting this day on.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淔or me, the best kind of exercise is working and I want to keep on working while I can,鈥� he says.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t will always be Raymond's bakery.鈥�
