Statement made on 21 April 2009 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, I am pleased to extend my congratulations to three outstanding entrepreneurs from my home province of Prince Edward Island who are being inducted later this spring into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. They have made tremendous contributions to the Island economy and play an integral role in the life of their communities. The three inductees are: Jim Casey, Chair of the Board of Padinox Incorporated; Ray Murphy, President of Murphy's Pharmacies; and Don Smith, President of Metro Building Supplies.
Jim Casey took over Padinox Incorporated in 1986 when it was facing financial difficulties, but because of his great business expertise and hard work, this company is now thriving in Canada and the U.S. The company manufactures the famous Paderno line of cookware. I am told its products have even been used in the White House. He recently led a highly successful fundraising campaign for the province's central referral hospital and was one of its leading financial contributors.
Ray Murphy began with one pharmacy in 1981. Today, Murphy's Pharmacies, a household name in Prince Edward Island, consists of eight locations, five medical centres, health care and laboratory facilities, a health education centre and a community centre that provides entertainment and programming for all ages. He has received five national awards for health promotion, patient care and charitable work. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Canadian Pharmacist Association Centennial Award.
Don Smith established a building supply business in 1969 and has expanded it over the years to include a number of other enterprises, including manufacturing and real estate. He is a highly successful breeder of standardbred horses and Hereford cattle. Throughout the years, he has been very active in a number of community organizations. He attributes much of his success to a solid and loyal staff, and has earned the trust and confidence of his customers.
Honourable senators, small- and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the Canadian economy. Those who have built these businesses deserve our support and praise. I commend and congratulate Junior Achievement of Prince Edward Island for recognizing and honouring these business leaders in this way. I am confident that their induction into the hall of fame, where they join other illustrious business leaders, will continue to inspire and inform new generations of entrepreneurs.
I ask all honourable senators to join with me in expressing our congratulations to these individuals and wish them all the best in the future.