After 43 years serving the community Yvon Robert is closing down his sales, repairs and rentals store in Luskville. With a heavy heart, Robert has had to say goodbye to the business.

THE EQUITY spoke to Robert’s daughter Julie Robert who has been helping with the transition and informing their customers of the recent changes.

Yvon always had a knack for handy work, he worked in construction in his early life and on the side he started renting out chainsaws in 1979. Over time he expanded his inventory to trimmers, lawnmowers, tractors, snowblowers, and generators. These are just some of the things he rented out to community members. Until he decided to go full-time with his business and open up a brick-and-mortar in 1986, explained Julie.

He then began expanding what he did and offered repairs and selling products as well. Helping him run the business was his wife, Hazel Robert who did the accounting and the administrative work at the store.

Yvon was always self-employed, he left school very young to go and support his family and would always find work where he was working for himself, that is the kind of person he is. Julie said his customers were very valuable to her father and if he could help someone out he would do it even on his off days.

“He would always serve his clients even though we were all packed up to go let’s say fishing or go visit family, he would always take the time to serve the customer like that. That’s my dad,” said Julie.

One of the biggest storms in Quebec in 1998, was a big year for him because everyone needed a generator and chainsaws and he was able to serve the community without jacking up the prices. Julie mentioned when everyone else was taking advantage of the situation, he kept his prices low to help serve the community.

After facing some health issues in 2022, he took a break from the business to focus on his health with the intention of going back, but later decided that he might need to walk away from the business as it is becoming hard to manage it for him and his wife alone.

“We really decided during the Christmas holidays that he wasn’t going to reopen,” said Julie. A decision she said was tremendously hard for her father because the store and his work were his life.

When people found out that Yvon was ill, people had been calling and checked on her family and that was a reminder of how much he gave to his community, she said. Because she was so young when her father started the business she never saw what he did but she sees his impact now. “But now to really be talking with the customers and seeing how much he really helped a lot of people it’s really touching,” said Julie.

For now, Yvon is focusing on his health. As for the business, they haven’t decided what the next steps will be but it is currently closed. Julie is still taking calls if any community members need anything and doing her best to serve her father’s clients. As they navigate these unsure times, the Robert’s appreciate all the kind messages from their community, she said.

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