Marie Louise Robbins
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Marie was a soft spoken, highly skilled, well-traveled, businessperson.
She acquired a small flower shop in summer of 1975 with sales less than $80,000 per year, and through a series of 12 acquisitions, excellent marketing, good advertising and a dedicated loyal workforce, revenues at Smith/McKay Florists and Stoney Creek Florists grew to more than $1.6 million supported by a staff of 30:
She sold her business in late 2006.
Since then, she continued to have an active role with numerous school boards and taught English as a second language part time until July of 2019. She spent two years teaching life skills to indigenous children at ‘Kettle Point Reserve’ in South Western Ontario, and has special teaching accreditations in Home Economics, Music, Kindergarten and English as a second language.
Community involvement was a priority in Marie’s life. She was a catalyst in starting the ‘annual street barbeque’ on Leslie drive. She ran for city council in 2016 looking to represent a portion of Stoney Creek and was later appointed to serve on two City of Hamilton committees. She had been an active promoter for the proper development of the Devil’s Punchbowl in the Niagara Escarpment.
Marie was a strong believer in giving back to the community and brought dynamic leadership, in depth business skills, along with a strong passion for excellence into everything she did.
Community involvement has always been a priority in Marie’s life. Starting in school as a safety patrol crossing assistance led to being chosen as representative visit to Ottawa as a thankyou for her volunteerism. As a member of the Saltfleet high school band, she toured Europe with the band representing Canada in its centennial year. She participated regularly in many community events such as the recent visit to Hamilton by the tall ships. She participated in the ‘Pan Am Games’.
1975-2006
Married to Doug (45 years), one son Mark (Senior Researcher at the Institute on Governance in Ottawa).