by Chris Lowrey
Norway Bay, one of the Pontiac’s quintessential summer communities, is losing a gathering spot.
Henderson’s store, which has served the community for more than three decades, will shut its doors on Sept. 30.
The announcement was made on social media and immediately garnered dozens of responses.
Residents of the bay and elsewhere expressed their shock that a community institution like Henderson’s will be no more.
Many who took to social media thanked Val and her son Andy Henderson for their years of dedication to the area.

Others reminisced about the memories they’d accumulated over the years. They pointed to the hours they spent playing pool, the jukebox that belted out tunes, the many employees who put in time behind the counter and the simple joy they got as a kid from plunging their hands into the freezer for a frozen treat.
In fact, the site is so integral to the fabric of the community that the Norway Bay Historical Society erected an informative sign outside the building chronicling the site’s history.
In 2013, the Ottawa Citizen even did a story on the store as part of its “Days of Summer” series.
The store – or the structure that would eventually become the store – first came under the Henderson’s ownership in 1979 when it was acquired by Graham Henderson, who continued using it as a boat repair shop and storage facility.
Prior to the Henderson’s ownership, Sylvio Arbic constructed the boat storage facility in 1959. The site was previously used as an ice-house.
Norway Bay used to be served by Louis “Pop” Welch’s store until his death in the early 1980s.
“We were passed the torch from him,” Andy said.
And so, in 1981, the Henderson’s converted part of the facility into a convenience store in order to fill the newly-created void in the community.
The family had no intention of getting into the convenience store business, but realized there was a need in the community.
“My dad bought this business for boat repair and boat storage,” Andy said.
While it started out relatively small, the venue evolved over the years.
At one point, it featured a pool table, arcade games and a jukebox. In the mid-eighties, they started renting VHS tapes for those rainy summer days in cottage country.
Originally from Toronto, the Hendersons were enticed to the Pontiac in 1978 thanks to family connections of Graham’s brother.
Andy started working at the store in 1986, and has been a mainstay behind the counter for years. He took over the reins of the business when Val retired.
While the summer months offer a steady stream of customers, the winter months tend to be leaner for Andy.
“We get good support from the locals, but it’s quiet,” he said.
The closure is due to the fact that costs have gone up and sales have gone down, putting a strain on the business. To top it off, competition from bulk beer sellers like Costco and dépanneurs in the city have also eaten into profit margins.
“We sell less groceries now than we ever did, it’s harder to make money off beer now,” Andy said. “Profits have dipped because of that.”
As anyone who has owned a small business can attest, the commitment can be grueling.
“Small business ties you down and takes up a lot of your life,” Andy said. “I’m hoping to have a little bit more life.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by Val.
“The place owns you, you don’t own it,” she said.
Andy said the plan is to turn the site into storage units.
Not only will this be a huge change for the community itself, it will be the first time in decades that Andy won’t have to worry about the store.
“It’s a bit of a life-changing decision for me,” he said.
He said he’ll be looking for a job locally, as he plans to stay in his farmhouse in Clarendon. He said the recently-announced abattoir in Shawville is promising since he has previous meat-cutting experience.
But for now, Andy and Val plan on soaking up what time they have left in one of the hubs of Norway Bay and reminiscing about their time spent as the purveyors of post-swimming lesson treats.
“I think it’s the people,” Andy said when asked what he’ll cherish most. “We met lots of people, made lots of connections, had lots of laughs.”
He couldn’t help but get emotional about the thought of all the patrons that have come and gone over the years.
He has a unique perspective on one of the Pontiac’s most unique communities.
He’s seen generations of kids who spent their money on candy grow up and bring their own kids into the store for treats.
He’s seen kids turn into parents and parents into grandparents. With that, comes losses too.
“The toughest part is you get to know so many people,” Andy said while wiping a tear from his eye. “When you lose them, it’s hard.”
The reaction on social media – people expressing thanks and understanding – was touching for Val.
“It’s heartwarming and sad for the community,” she said. “Most of our customers have become our friends.”
Val recounted her experience a few years ago with a broken ankle where she was wheelchair-bound for six weeks. During that time, people from the bay dropped by every night to make sure that she had dinner.
Another frequent refrain on the social media thread were people recounting their memories of working at Henderson’s.
“We’ve had very good, wonderful staff,” Val said. Both she and Andy had especially high praise for their current employees, Charlie Woermke and Debbie Greer.
Approaching her 80th birthday, Val said she plans on going back to her birthplace of South Africa for a vacation.
Although she plans on travelling, Val said she’ll still be a fixture in the community.
“I live across the street,” she said. “Norway Bay is home.”