Myrna McFadden ended her 34-year stint as the operator of the concession booth in Crescent Point Place in much the same way as she started, with her family and friends helping her celebrate her retirement.
She wore a shirt that proclaimed “The Legend has retired”, as she met family and friends at a come-and-go reception for her on Friday afternoon in the lobby of the arena. In the evening 170 family and friends filled tables on the ice surface to enjoy her “rink burgers” as they continued the celebration.
Looking back on the venture that started for her on Sept. 1, 1984 in the Weyburn Colosseum, Myrna said she’s enjoyed every step along the way and has no regrets for getting involved in a business that has seen all of her children and grandchildren working alongside her through the years, along with many young people from the community.
At the time she began operating the concession in the arena, she also operated the concession at Tom Laing Park, and for a time she also began the ice cream bus — but had to sell that as she was simply too busy with her other business operations.
One of the aspects she’s enjoyed has been getting to know the Red Wings over the years, as for some of the players, it is their first time away from home.
With the minor hockey teams, Myrna has literally seen kids grow up, and then come back with their own kids playing hockey, and said she’s seen three generations of families come through as she and her staff have fed them and watched them play their favourite sport on the ice.
Her family has been a huge support and help for her over the years, noting that all of her children have worked with her, and many of her grandchildren also.
“When I started in here, I couldn’t have done it without them. They were a big part of getting it off the ground. My oldest son was the popcorn king — he came in and made popcorn, filling up bags for people as they came in to watch games,” said Myrna, adding, “They could run this place. When the grandkids got old enough, they’ve all worked with me.”
In addition to her own family, Myrna said she’s had a second family as Kim Trobert has worked with her for 24 years, and her children have also come in to work at the concession, and when her mother, Lorraine Trobert, retired from working at Tatagwa View, she also came in to work there for the past six years.
She said she has no regrets whatsoever about being busy with the concession, and with the catering business that grew out of that.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done in these last 34 years if I hadn’t done that. The time has gone by quickly,” she said, noting that now she will have time to watch her three granddaughters who are playing hockey, not to mention Red Wings games.
Among her many memories were the two national championship events she served food for, including the Royal Bank Cup in 2005, and then the Esso Cup national championship, which she catered meals for at the Curling Rink in addition to the concession in Crescent Point Place. After the Red Wings won the RBC Cup, the team and coaches all signed a jersey for her, and it remains one of her most treasured mementoes, along with a large framed photo of the team.
At the retirement event, she had a number of tables displaying the many mementoes from over the years, not only from the two national championship series but from other sports and events hosted here, such as a serving tray signed by Paul Brandt, and a signed picture from Walter Gretzky, the father of Wayne Gretzky.
The largest event she has ever catered was the first MMA event, with 900 people served, which she said was one of the biggest challenges she has had to meet.
A big help to her was when the City of Weyburn renovated the kitchen at the concession, and she had input on the design of it to help make the business much more efficient and able to handle a high level of traffic.
“I said to Mathew (Warren) and Greg (Button), you let me help design this kitchen, and I will show you what we can do with it,” said Myrna.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the business has been the young people she’s hired on over the years, as it has been the first job for many of them. The most satisfying part is when the young people come back to work, because they enjoyed working for her so much.
“It taught them self-confidence, how to problem-solve, time management, and even how to handle money, and that money isn’t plastic,” said Myrna, noting one boy she employed learned how to handle money and subsequently did much better at school from what he learned on the job.
Now that she’s retired, she will now have time to fulfill one of her longest-held dreams, namely to travel to Memphis, Tenn., to see Graceland, the home of her idol, Elvis Presley, as well as other sites related to him, such as his birthplace. Her children will be accompanying her for the trip this summer. As her daughter Tanya Kwochka pointed out, it will be right when hockey schools will be starting up at Crescent Point Place, a time when she normally would be busy at the rink running the concession, only this time she won’t be rushing back to the business but can take it easy and enjoy the trip.
