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durhamregion.com Clarington man juggles community, family, business From page 1 ijing to be acknowledged for his work, too, winning the Paul Harris Award in 5004 from the local Rotary Club, an honour he says he was overwhelmed to receive. With so many commitments, it's hard |jp imagine that there would be time to Jpare for family life, but Mr. Hooper's family is never far away. He and his Brother are second-generation jewellers, jewellers, and they inherited the business from their father, Arthur, who is now fetired but is still a regular fixture at flic store that he opened, originally just tjown the street from its present location, location, almost 60 years ago. As well, Ron Hooper's wife of 33 years, Joan, works in the family business, as does Carrie, |9, one of the couple's two daughters. ^Daughter Janet works in the hospital- fly industry.) p "My brother, lie's the watchmaker, he Actually studied in Switzerland.... All these people bring their own expertise to the business," he says, adding that the store now employs four full-time find three part-time staff members, p As for Mr. Hooper himself, he says t}ver the more than 30 years he's been involved in the jewelry business, lie's come to focus more on managing managing the store than spending time "on the bench." And so, he's had to learn how to juggle business and family. The trick, he says, is understanding everyone's different view points and being open to change. But while Mr. Hooper's training as a jeweller came in part from courses he took at Durham College (he claims to be among the school's earliest alumni), he credits much of what he's learned to one person. "The greatest teacher I had was my dad. I can remember when I was this high," he says motioning to his belt. "I used to go in on the weekends and wash windows and burn the garbage and polish the crystal." And, even though he's now a proud grandfather to three boys -- Connor, 9; Jared, 5; and Callum; ;l-7v'months; f-Ron Hooper still finds time to carry ' on another passion, as the drummer of the Charles Street Band, which plays Top 40s contemporary country tunes, and some classic rock 'n' roll, and performs performs shows all over Durham Region. "It's like someone said one time, 'You're really in your element when you're up there playing,"' he says, "I think it's because you're in control. You kind of set the pace of how fast or how slow the song goes... There's no phone calls to interrupt... It's a release for you." ,But, true to form, Ron Hooper doesn't just play music for his own enjoyment; the band has played for many fundraisers, fundraisers, including a recent benefit for two Port Perry girls who were seriously injured in a car accident earlier this year. The experience, he says, was an extremely moving one, and gave him a chance to talk to the girls' father. '"I almost started to cry," he recalls, "but I wanted to show I was really strong. So I just let him talk about his kids.... I just thought to myself, 'My god. Here I am thinking I'm having a rough day.,.'" Courtice gym plays Santa with toy drive COURTICE -- Members of a Courtice Courtice gym worked out a way to help Santa this year. Curves in Courtice asked members to donate items for its annual toy drive and were overwhelmed with the response. "The tree was disappearing,"... said Sandy Goulding, acting manager of the facility, which has about 600 members. members. One member went so far as to forgo receiving birthday gifts this year, and ij'istead, asked family members to give her toys to donate to the drive. -Organizers estimate that between 300 and 400 toys were donated. They were given to the Bowmanville Salvation Army for distribution, THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 22, 2004 ♦ PAGE A5 Wishing you a holiday Filed with merriment and mirth- Plus lots of love and laughter, With Joy and peace on earth! With our thanks for your valued patronage. Fuels 905-697-2300 Toll Free: 1 -866-324-4328 2365 South Service Rd., Bowmanville Walter Passarellaffhe Canadian Statesman Ron Hooper, a second-generation jeweller who operates Bowmanville's Hooper's Jewellers alongside his brother Dan, says his father, Arthur, was the best teacher he ever had. entertainmentdurhamregioii.com Just one more way to get your news (hanks to your friends at W\)t Canadian Statesman home stores FURNITURE ■ APPLIANCES • MATTRESSES Barrie Hwy. 400 S Molson Park Dr. (705) 727-9287 Brampton 535 Steeles Ave. E. 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