february 2008,

The Source • 1Issue 80 - February 2008

A window into the world of RootsRootsRootsRootsRoots Issue 80 • February 2008

AAAAATTITUDE & ALTTITUDE & ALTTITUDE & ALTTITUDE & ALTTITUDE & ALTITUDETITUDETITUDETITUDETITUDEThe right mix ofThe right mix ofThe right mix ofThe right mix ofThe right mix of

WWWWWith their positive approach, Roots stores in ski resort townsith their positive approach, Roots stores in ski resort townsith their positive approach, Roots stores in ski resort townsith their positive approach, Roots stores in ski resort townsith their positive approach, Roots stores in ski resort townsenjoy a banner season up highenjoy a banner season up highenjoy a banner season up highenjoy a banner season up highenjoy a banner season up high

Carol Young, Carolyne Duprasand Audrey-Anne Carron of theRoots store in Mont Tremblanttake to the slopes

PublishersMICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN

EditorROBERT SARNER

Editorial AssistantCARLY ANDERSON

InternsKASI BRUNO

LAURA TSCHERNOW

The Source is published every monthby Roots Canada Ltd. We welcomeletters from readers for publication.Please address all correspondence toThe Source, Letters to the Editor, RootsCanada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto,Ontario, M6B 4C4 or by email [email protected] Letters may beedited for length and clarity.

Each issue of The Source is alsoavailable, in an abridged version, on theRoots website at www.roots.com

DepartmentsFINE PRINT

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

GREEN TIPS

HEALTH TIPS

STAYING POWER

I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI S S U E 80I S S U E 80I S S U E 80I S S U E 80I S S U E 80

SPECIAL DELIVERYA selection of recent letters from the world of Roots

EXTRA! EXTRA!In keeping with our monthlypublishing schedule, the nextissue of The Source will appear inlate February.

• The Source wants to hear from you.Please send your letters to Robert Sarnerat [email protected]. Letters may beedited for length and clarity.

DEPT. OF CLARIFICATION

- Please address any corrections, relevantupdates and revisions to [email protected]

In Issue 79 of The Source, the ‘New andNoteworthy’ column featured an item onthe alpaca fleece line entitled “Woolwarms this winter.” Please note that theterm ‘baby alpaca’ refers to the quality andfineness of the fibre, not the maturity ofthe animal. Also, the collection is madeout of a blend of acrylic and alpaca.

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ON AND OFF THE SLOPESRoots stores in North Americanski resort towns enjoy abanner season

EARNING ITS INDIE CREDRoots outfits the stars withofficial Sundance merchandise

IT’S EASY BEING GREENEco-friendly line of appareldebuts in stores in time forspring

HAVE A CHARM-INGVALENTINES DAYNew products arrive for thatmost romantic of occasions

CROWE-ING OVER ROOTSAcademy Award winner givesthe gift of great style

MUCH MUSIC DEMANDSROOTSPopular television host getsoutfitted in classic sweats

AN ORGANIC PROCESSRoots joins eco-friendly tradeassociation

TIMELESS STYLEThe other day, we had a cus-tomer come into our store alldressed up in some fabulousRoots clothing. While he wastalking to us, he showed us awonderful belt buckle that hewas so proud of and which hesaid Roots used to make back inthe mid-1970s when the storefirst opened.

He told us how his father hadbought a pair of the originalRoots shoes with the negativeheel and that as part of a specialpromotional offer at the time, foran additional 50 cents, his fatherreceived an awesome beltbuckle.

It is so amazing to see peoplestill wearing original Rootsmerchandise and yet looking so“now.”Pia LohfikRoots Store ManagerCalgary (TD Centre)

WILDNERNESS BLISSMy son-in-law, Eren Howell,and my granddaughter, Kailey,are avid outdoor enthusiasts. Infact, they recently went off towinter camp, which includedspending their nights sleeping inan igloo that Eren dug out of thesnow. Eren and Kailey both lovethe Canadian wilderness andtheir Roots camping T-shirts. Tothem, happiness is camping.

Happy New Year to everyoneat Roots!Bonnie LeeThornhill, ON

NEW MEETS VINTAGEEarlier this evening, I was doingsome laundry and as I wasfolding my Roots sweatshirt, Iremembered that I had actuallypurchased it in 1986. It’sprobably the oldest thing I own.At first, I felt embarrassed thatI’m still wearing something fromthe 1980s but who would know?The pink writing is a bit fadedbut it still looks good and itbrings back memories.

My girlfriend Veronica and Itook a bus as teenagers toToronto from St. Catharines justso we could go to a Roots store.I still can’t believe that ourparents allowed us to take a busalone to the “big” city to doback-to-school shopping.

Tonight, as I folded that1986 sweatshirt, I was wearing anew Roots hoody I recentlybought. If the new one has thesame lifespan as the old one, Iwill probably be a grandparentfolding it. In thinking aboutthis, I realized that I have a lotof Roots stuff that I still wear orkeep at the cottage that neverages. Roots apparel is timeless. Great job!More than 20years later, I’m still a happycustomer.Lisa CorneliusToronto

FAMILY ROOTSI just wanted to send an email tothank you for a great product.During my 27 years, Rootssweatshirts have become very

meaningful to my family. Eachsummer, we would vacation atmy grandmother’s home inVancouver, and each year wegot to pick out a new sweatshirtat Roots.

More than just a new pieceof clothing, these sweatshirtshold many sweet childhoodmemories. They have all beenpassed down to younger siblingsand now to our own children.Recently, my whole family gottogether for a family picture andit was only natural that wewould all wear our latest Roots.For your interest, I’m sending aphoto.

Thanks again for a greattradition that has come to meana lot in our neck of the woods.Megan TippettsDraper, UtahEditor’s note: Turn to page 9 tosee the family photo.

ON AND OFF THE SLOPESRoots stores in North American ski resort towns enjoy a banner season.

By KASI BRUNO

True to annual tradition, thepast two months have beenparticularly busy at Roots

stores located in high altitudescatering primarily to skiers andsnowboarders, especially duringthe holiday season. Roots storesin ski towns were opened over aspan of seven years, with Aspen,Colorado the first in 1991 andPark City, Utah the most recentaddition in 1998. Along with thefresh powder and majesticmountain sights, many ski townsin Canada and the United Stateswhere Roots has stores are alsohome to many internationalfestivals and competitions.These special events celebrateboth sports and entertainment; acombination with which Rootshas long been associated.

In Quebec, favorable skiconditions and an early abun-dance of snow have made for agreat season in the picturesquevillage of Mont Tremblant, 115kilometers north of Montreal.With an ideal location in theheart of the ski resort town,Roots Tremblant is often packedwith an endless stream ofshoppers taking time away fromthe nearby slopes.

The period starting justbefore Christmas and ending a

few days after New Year’s istypically crazy as it’s virtuallywall-to-wall customers frommorning until evening. “Thesetwo weeks are very exciting anda source of great energy at thestore,” says Carolyne Dupras,Manager since 1996. “Adding tothe attraction of our store is thefact that during the holidaysthere’s a stage almost rightoutside our front door featuringdaily entertainment and otherlive activities. The holidays arealways a special time atTremblant.”

Similarly, at the Roots storein Park City, Utah, the staff gearup every winter for an intense

ski season. While Park Cityskiers were not as lucky as thosein Mont Tremblant, with a laterthan expected snowfall, theregion was busy nonetheless.With its new city logo line ofapparel, Roots Park City isenjoying a good season. Addi-tionally, in mid-January, thehighly-prestigious annualSundance Film Festival, at-tracted a large number ofcelebrities and fans to the skitown and into Roots. ActressAlicia Silverstone visited thestore in late-January, as did castmembers from popular TVshows Heroes and SaturdayNight Live.

“Roots is right in the heart ofthe film festival action in ParkCity,” says Steve Cummings,Manager since 2004. “It’s afunny thing, because for theduration of the event, what isnormally a Utah ski towntransforms into almost anextension of Hollywood. Thearea is much busier than usualand there are celebrities comingthrough the store every day.”

In addition to the filmfestival, what makes Park Cityunique is that it’s home to one ofonly two novel Olympic trainingfacilities in the US. As a result,Park City and its surrounding

area host many Olympic athletesand hopefuls, with some evenworking in the area. Roots ParkCity has its very own ski experton staff. Olympic hopeful andUS ski team member, ZacAmidan, a part-time employeesince 2005, is aiming to competeat the Winter Olympics in 2010in Whistler. Between the widerange of entertainment and theathletics, there is never a dullmoment at Park City.

Moving southeast into theneighboring state of Colorado,the popular ski destination ofAspen is now in the midst of anevent-filled season. One of therecent highlights includedJanuary’s ESPN X-Games,which led to an increase invisitors to the popular resortlocale. The buzz of the games

attracts a youthful, energeticcrowd of shoppers who enjoy anactive lifestyle.

“The X-Games are great funfor us at Roots,” says HelenaSvensson, Assistant Managersince 2002. “The event puts thespotlight on Aspen and attracts adiverse and youthful crowd.ESPN fans tend to be young andsporty and, as a result, they all

Continued on next pageBanff staff are all smiles as they weather the retail storm

In the heart of the action, Mt. Tremblant is having a great season

Whistler’s city logo line hasproven a popular seller

4 • The Source Issue 80 - February 2008

Continued from previous page

know about Roots and make apoint to stop by the store.”

For its part, the Roots storein the town has been decoratedand merchandised to highlightthe location’s exclusive collec-tion. Roots Aspen also has thedistinction of being a smallerretail location, offering a moreintimate shopping experience.The quaint outdoorsy ski vibe isfurther emphasized through thestore’s log cabin style and setup.

If the countless festivals andevents were not enough to keepstaff busy, Mother Nature hasgiven Aspen a year for therecord books. This winter marksthe biggest in terms of snowfallsince 1983, making the townbusier than usual. This has led toincreased foot traffic and a steadystream of high-profile shoppersat Roots, including singer Seal.

Back in Canada in Alberta’smajestic Rocky Mountains, theRoots store in Banff is enjoyinga banner season with a staff asdiverse as its customers. Inaddition to the host country,employees come from all overthe world, including Australia,Japan, England and New Zealand.The international mix reflectsthe range of visitors to thepopular ski town. Given itslocation in the heart of the actionon Banff Avenue, tourists arealways dropping into the store,often purchasing items from thespecial Roots Banff collection,which figures prominently in thestore’s displays.

Moving to the west coast,where the almost daily snowfallin Whistler, British Columbiaattracts locals and tourists aliketo the slopes. World renownedfor its alpine skiing and forbeing a main site for the 2010Winter Olympics, in addition toits many major arts and culturefestivals, the resort town ispacked during the winter.

At the Roots store, locatednear the skiing action, businesshas been booming with theRoots Whistler collection andski gear (especially thesnowboarding graphics intro-duced this year) particularly hot.The athletic store staff havegone above and beyond adedication to great quality, test-driving products on the slopesand giving their input onconstruction and design. Nodoubt Roots Whistler willcontinue to be a popular stop forskiers and snowboarders alike,especially with the countlesssporting competitions in the areaas well as the 2010 Olympicsfast-approaching.

Overall, it is shaping up tobe an excellent year on theslopes and in stores. Themountain locations are wellaligned with the fundamentalpillars of Roots, as the atmos-phere atop the slopes offers agreat blend of sport and celeb-rity. Given its longtime involve-ment with sports and a healthylifestyle, it’s little surprise thatRoots looks so good — and sellsso well — in major ski resorttowns in North America. - K.B

The Park City store welcomed Sundance to the popular ski town Utah staff are proud of their Roots

A distinctive door handleat the Mt. Tremblant store


Mt. Tremblant staff welcome the wintry weather

The picturesque Aspen store is a haven for skiing and Roots enthusiasts

Banff’s city logo line


EARNING ITS INDIE CREDRoots outfits the stars with official Sundance merchandise

Last month, for the sixthstraight year, thelargest independ-

ent cinema event in theUnited States had adistinctly Canadiansense of style. Rootswas highly visible at the2008 Sundance FilmFestival in Park City,Utah, the premiershowcase for new workfrom American andinternational filmmak-ers.

As in years past, Rootsprovided the official merchan-dise for the 10-day gala in lateJanuary. The order of more than7,000 items was executed inToronto by Mary Jane Saliba,Account Manager in the Busi-ness-to-Business Departmentand in Hollywood by WendyGoodman, Los Angeles-basedRoots sales rep.

Indie movie aficionadosvisiting the Sundance store wereoffered a wide range of comfort-

IT’S EASY BEING GREENEco-friendly line of apparel debuts in stores in time for spring

In keeping with its time-honoured environmentalheritage, Roots has launched

a new collection called “RootsGreen.” The eco-friendly line forall ages is based on the beliefthat clothing can be affordable,fashionable and still make apositive difference. It addressesthe growing customer concernfor easy, innovative ways toreduce one’s environmentalfootprint and look good whiledoing so.

Initiated by Jarar Kazmi,

Executive Director of RetailOperations, the project’s graphicconcept was conceived byStephanie Briers, Manager,Graphic Design. The designersand sourcing team have longbeen exploring other alternativesto conventionally grown cotton(which contains chemicalpesticides, herbicides andsynthetic fertilizers harmful tothe environment). Although thereis currently a limited supply of100% organic cotton on theworld market, a significant

portion of the Roots Green lineis made from the pure fibre, withblends used when it can’t beprocured.

Other sustainable fabricspresent in many of the garmentsare bamboo, hemp and soy.These renewable resources growrapidly without human interfer-ence and require very littlewater. Additional textiles utilizedinclude polyester, inventivelyfashioned from recycled popbottles.

With a wave of productsalready available, other itemswill be introduced in the comingmonths. The collection consistsof sueded full zip hoodies, chicpeacoat sweaters, T-shirts,baseball caps and cozy kangasand sweats.

A ‘way-finding’ system of in-store signage and icons will beimplemented, using visual cuesto help guide customers to goorganic in style.

able casuals emblazoned withthe festival’s logo, includinggraphic tees, fleeces, workouttees and twill caps.

Founded by actor RobertRedford in 1978, Sundance hashelped launch the careers ofdirectors such as Kevin Smithand Quentin Tarantino.

For more information and abetter look at the Roots custom-made products visit: http://www.sundance.org/festival/store/.

New appointments andpromotions at Roots

ON THE MOVE

• Michele Haugh promoted toDirector, Merchandising Roots 73/Outlets, Head Office• Bethany Peckham promoted toCustomer Service Coordinator,Head Office• Anne Theriault promoted toCustomer Service Coordinator,Head Office• Josh Tillo promoted to RetailOperations Coordinator, HeadOffice

HAVE A CHARM-INGVALENTINE’S DAYNew products arrive for thatmost romantic of occasions

Always one to provide great giftideas for various holidays on the

calendar, Roots once againprepared an ideal selection of goodsto sweep someone off their feet onFebruary 14.

Available in stores now are arange of sweetly girlish graphictees, (made out of a blend oforganic cotton) versatile enough tobe worn year-round. Offered inwhite, pink and red, the shirts arespotted with tiny polka dot heartsand come with a choice of imagesemblazoned with a love birdgraphic, a classic Roots logo or‘Love is all you need.’

For those looking to spice up aleather purchase for Valentine’sDay, the new heart-shaped keychains crafted at the Roots factoryin Toronto are a fun, romanticaddition to the new Sweetie andBliss bags out this month. Keychains are sold separately.

As another option for a sophisti-cated gift for the holiday, Roots andCosmoda have teamed up again tocreate a Valentine’s Day line ofstylish timepieces, which arefeatured in this issue’s New andNoteworthy on page 12.

For more information visitwww.roots.com.


MUCH MUSICDEMANDS ROOTSPopular television host Matte Babel getsoutfitted in classic sweats

Regular viewers of MuchMusic’s live video requestshow Much on Demand

(MOD) might have noticed aspecial cameo appearance madeby the iconic beaver design inmid-December.

Roots and EmpirePR worked togetherwith MOD co-hostMatte Babel to outfithim in a fun, fashion-able and telegenicstyle for the youthfulshow. He opted forthe classic comfort ofthe Cooper Full ZipHoody and matchingsalt and peppersweatpants.

Much on Demandis an interactivetelevision programairing nightly onMuch Music. Co-hosted by Babel andon-air personalityLeah Miller, itfeatures the latest in

music and entertainment newspresented in front of a live teenaudience.

Roots and Much Music haveteamed up previously as partnersin the Flick Off environmentalcampaign launched last spring.

Much Music VJ, Matte shows his Roots

AN ORGANIC PROCESSRoots joins eco-friendly trade association

Having worked with organicmaterials since the late1980s, Roots took another

step in its commitment to eco-friendly processes late last year,as it became a member of theOrganic Trade Association (OTA).Based in Massachusetts, the OTArepresents North Americanbusinesses across the supplychain. Its mission is to promoteand protect organic trade. A keyplayer in influencing marketregulations, the OTA has been aleader in advocating standardsfor organic products.

“I encouraged Roots to jointhe OTA because we share thesame values,” says AndreDesouza, Director of GlobalSourcing. “Being a part of theorganization gives us access tothe evolving organic industry,while also serving as a self-

monitoring tool to ensure we arein sync with the best possiblepractices in the procurement ofeco-friendly products for ourcustomers.”

As a member, the Rootsprofile (detailing the sustainableproducts and services offered)can be seen on the OTA’sOrganic Pages Online, a virtualmarketplace connecting buyersand sellers of organic productsand services from farm to retail.For more information visit:www.ota.com.

CROWE-ING OVER ROOTS

to take part in the “Australia DayChallenge,” an internationalmatch against England’s LeedsRhinos. As a gesture of thanks,Crowe presented Ellen withblack and white Rabbitohshoodies custom-made by Roots.

The order was coordinatedlast year by David Jackson,Account Manager in the Busi-ness-to-Business Department.The apparel has received muchmedia exposure since then,appearing in the documentaryseries, the South Sydney Storythat chronicles the team’sreinvention in their 100th seasonof rugby competition.

Academy Award winner gives the giftof great style to TV talk show host

The New Year got off to apromising start when inearly January, actor and

long time fan of Roots, RussellCrowe visited EllenDeGeneres’ daytime talk showto promote his latest film, thecrime epic American Gangster.

Word quickly turned toCrowe’s other passionatesideline, his co-ownership ofAustralian rugby team, the SouthSydney Rabbitohs, whom Rootshas outfitted off field with FullZip Hoodies and Poor BoyCaps. Crowe was hoping todrum up support as his teamtraveled to Jacksonville, Florida

Saluting those whogo the distance

Recently,many

Rootsemployeesmarkedmajoranniversaries of their timeat the company. By ‘major,’we mean benchmarkachievements as in 5, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 yearsspent at Roots.

We invite anyonecelebrating such an anni-versary to send the relevantinformation to The Source.

Congratulations to thefollowing employee for hissignificant contribution andenduring loyalty to Roots:

STAYING POWER

• Richard Duquette, LeatherShoes, Leather Factory, Toronto,30 years

• Please send us details of similar good newsand we’ll be happy to publish it in TheSource (email: [email protected])

MOMENTSTHAT MATTERBig developments inthe life of Roots staff• Lindsey Russell, StoreManager, Pen Centre, St.Catharines, ON gave birth to ababy boy, Sullivan on January27.

Hearty congratulations toLindsey for this great momentin her life.

Russell, (left), has visited the Ellen show several times throughoutthe years, promoting his many projects


BEST OF

2 0 0 7FINE PRINTA selection of coverageof Roots in the media

Here aresomerecentsightingsof Rootsin thepages of

newspapers and magazines:

- Compiled by Carmela Ledo

GREAT MOMENTSIN RETAILSpotlighting the topstores in December

As this issue of The Source wentto press, the final sales figures

for stores in January were not yet inbut we’re delighted to report theperformance of most stores inDecember was to be applauded.

Topping the pack in terms ofcompany stores was the Whistler,British Columbia location thatcaptured the latest Store of theMonth honours, beating its salestarget by 141%.

As for the Roots 73/Outletcategory, the Bramalea Centrestore in Brampton, Ontario took firstplace with a score of 134% over itssales budget.

Congratulations to Manager JMOgden of the Whistler store andAarti Sharma of the BramaleaOutlet along with their respectiveteams for their winning perform-ances.

Likewise, hats off also to all theother stores that met or surpassedtheir goals in December.

The Whistler store

ODE TO THE ETERNALLY HIPClassic sneaker now available at Roots

When former Canadianand world championbadminton player Jack

Purcell designed a lightweightcanvas and rubber shoe with theB.F. Goodrich Company in1935, he had no way of knowingthat more than 70 years laterthey would still be the epitomeof timeless style.

A stapleof earlyHollywoodand ‘rebelswithout acause,’such asactor JamesDean, thepopular

shoes are still produced todayby Converse. The refined andsimple style, with the telltale“smile” (a curved band ofrubber) on the front toe is nowavailable in select Roots storesand retail from $69.95 to$79.95.

Born in Guelph, Ontario,Purcell went on to win fiveconsecutive Ontario badmintonchampionships from 1927 to1931 and was national title-holder from 1929 to 1930. Heturned professional in 1932 andwas declared world champion in1933. He retired undefeated in1945.

Matching his love of thegame was his appreciation for

the great outdoors, as he spentmany summers in Ontario’sfabled Algonquin Park. With alove of nature and a stylishlywell-made product, JackPurcell’s shoes fit in perfectlywith Roots.

JackPurcell

• Lou Lou (Montreal), Feb. 29. Rootsyoga mat featured in the ‘Fashion hotright now’ section.• Life & Style, Feb. issue. JasonPriestley’s daughter is wearing redRoots pants.• Ottawa City, Jan. Roots Aviatorwatches featured in the ‘Oh, ChristmasSpree’ section.• Wedding Bells, Jan. Roots VillageBag featured in the ‘What to Pack’section.• Adorable au Summum (Montreal),Jan. Roots equestrian sweater inlambswool and Downtown bag in longbeach leather.• Strut, Jan. Roots Alpaca/Acrylic knitscarf. Also, features Roots brownleather briefcase.• Toronto Life, Jan. Photo of DianeBald and Michael Budman featured inthe ‘Model Citizen’s section• Canadian Family, Jan. Roots cottonzip-up hoodie featured in the ‘Fashion’section.• Globe & Mail, Jan. 20. Rootsorange/fuchsia Envelope Clutchfeatured in the ‘style’ section.• The Globe & Mail, Jan. 19. Greatphoto of the Roots foldable clutch.• Now, Jan. 16. Roots peace scarffeatured in ‘Life & Style’ section.• Globe & Mail, Jan. 12. RootsHeritage Athletic bag is featured in thecover story’s photo shoot. Roots slip-resistant towel for your mat for floorexercise featured in the ‘Gym GearTrends’ Style section.• Photo Life (Quebec), Jan. RootsEuro D SLR System Bag featured inthe ‘Bags and Cases’ section.• Temple City Star, (Cardston, AB)Dec. 31. Roots men’s 3-in-1 Jacketwith Down-Fill Vest.• Star Phoenix (Saskatoon), Dec. 29.Article mentions collaboration betweenRoots and Debbie Travis for designerwindow treatments available at Sears.• Dawson Creek Daily News, Dec.21. Article entitled ‘It’s time to pick theperfect gift’ mentioning Roots watches.• The Toronto Star, Dec. 20. Rootsbaby blanket featured in the ‘Wrap itup’ section.• Times-Colonist (Victoria), Dec. 18.Roots yoga fashions, the Free Spirityoga mat and tote featured in the ‘Top10 gift ideas for her’ section.• The Vancouver Sun, Dec. 18. RootsSt. Tropez women’s watch featured inthe ‘That last-minute gift’ section.• NB Telegraph-Journal (Saint-John),Dec. 15. Roots Venetian Bag featured‘In the Bag’ section.• HFX Your Complete Guide(Halifax), Dec. 12. Article entitled,‘Watches are fashion accessories, notjust wrist-clocks’ mentions RootsTropez women’s watch.• Where, Dec. Roots leather pillowfeatured in ‘The Gift List’ section. Alsospotlights Roots NHL collection watches.

‘GREEN IS GORGEOUS’Heather Cooper’s classic painting figuresprominently in new eco-shopping bag

One of the latest additionsto the Roots retailexperience is yet another

extension of the brand’s ongoingcommitment to providing eco-friendly alternatives. Therecently introduced “Green isGorgeous” bag,made of 100%polypropylene,joins a collec-tion of retailtotes designedto minimizewaste stemmingfrom single-useplastic andpaper shoppingbags. Byoffering thefree, reusablebag to custom-ers on pur-chases over$100, Roots is encouragingsustainable shopping.

The first wave of these bagswas in stores this past holidayseason and, based on valuableconsumer feedback, the originaldesign is now undergoing somefine-tuning ahead of a re-order.

Currently, on its front panel, thebag features a full-colourreproduction of Canadian artistHeather Cooper’s paintedbeaver, commissioned for Rootsshortly after the company beganin 1973 and since then it’s taken

on a near-iconic status.The back sideof the bagshowcases the‘Green isGorgeous’motto.

On itsnarrow sidepanels,variousenvironmentaland health tips(originallypublished inThe Source)

are presented as practical adviceas part of the Roots accent onhealthy and eco-friendly living.

The ‘Green Is Gorgeous’ bagis available in company storesacross Canada, (except Quebec),with the newly designed versionslated to hit stores this spring.

Jack Purcell shoe’s are famousfor the trademark ‘smile’ on the toe


SUPPORTING HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY EFFORTSKanata staff comes up big in charitable Christmas giving

Staff at the Roots store inKanata, Ontario made amark in the community in

December by sponsoring afamily over the holidays. Theinitiative was led by high schoolsenior and keyholder AngelaRossi, whose school runs aproject that gives local busi-nesses the chance to make anunderprivileged family’sChristmas more enjoyable.Roots sponsored one of 40families in need.

Using their own money andresources, the Kanata staff filledtwo large shipping boxes andtwo large Roots bags to offerthe family gifts of clothing andfood for the holiday. Thegesture was all the more

meaningful as the family hadrequested certain items specifi-cally and, though their generos-ity, Kanata staff fulfilled thoseneeds.

While the 15 employees whotook part in the project could notmeet the family, as the programprotects the anonymity of therecipients, the Roots store laterreceived a Christmas card fromthe family, who were extremelygrateful for the outpouring ofkindness.

Every year, the studentcouncil at the local Kanata highschool organizes the holidaysponsorship event and lessfortunate families are chosen andtheir needs matched with anappropriate sponsor.

Kanata staff brought some holiday cheer to a family in need.From left to right: Steve Bowa, Angela Rossi and Erin Colby

PARTY FUNDS REDIRECTEDTO LOCAL SHELTER

In late December, in keepingwith an annual tradition atmany Roots stores, staff at

the Roots 73 Outlet location inNiagara Falls, Ontario decidedto use the budget provided fromthe Head Office for a Christmas/end-of-year party to make 10special gift bags.

The employees purchasedmuch-needed items for the bagsthat they gave to a local YWCAshelter that provides temporaryhousing for homeless women.Each bag included various basicgoods including toiletries and a

$10-gift card for a local big boxretailer. Ella Ferguson, a Rootsemployee since 2000 and akeyholder at the Niagara Fallsstore, is a part-time supportworker at the shelter. Sheinitiated the holiday effort anddelivered the gift bags.

“The ladies were verythankful for the bags,” says Ella.“Many of these women comeinto the YWCA’s facilities withabsolutely nothing. They were sohappy to know that someone wasactually thinking about them,especially at Christmastime.”

Staff make basic neccessities gift bags forwomen in need in Niagara Falls

REMEMBERING MONICARoots store employee passes away

On a sad note, MonicaWeys, who worked as a

temporary sales associate atthe Roots store in Kamloops,BC, passed away last month.

“Even though she sufferedfrom diabetes, Monica stillsmiled and made her co-workers and customers enjoyher very friendly nature,” says

Darlene Thorne, StoreManager. “She is missedgreatly by the Kamloopsteam.”

In memory and celebrationof Monica, Roots sent adonation to the JuvenileDiabetes Research Founda-tion, in keeping with thewishes of her family.

The big-hearted staff from Niagara,put their money to good use

As noted in her letter in Special Delivery on page 2, Megan Tippettsand her family have long made a tradition out of Roots

FAMILYROOTS


A U G U S T THE ROOTS TOP 10A guide to the sounds ofRoots for February

- Compiled by Davin Bujalski

1. Like You’ll Never See MeAgain, Alicia Keys2. Lively Up Yourself, BobMarley & The Wailers(Bombay Dub Mix)3. Mare, Alkemx4. Amor Amor, ClaudeChalle Buddha Bar5. Love Like This, NatashaBedingfield Feat. SeanKingston6. Wanna Be Startin’Somethin’, Akon & MichaelJackson7. No One, Alicia Keys8. Shalom, Claude ChalleBuddha Bar9. Apologize, TimbalandFeat. One Republic10. Winterlong, Neil Young

MUSICAL ROOTSThis month, we spotlight cultural catalyst Claude Challe

Acolourful figure onFrance’s culturallandscape, Claude Challe

is known not so much as amusician, but rather as a vision-ary and catalyst. Over the past35 years, he’s been on thecutting edge of Parisian music,nightlife, and fashion. Challe haslong been recognized asFrance’s premier club DJ, afashion and nightlife impresarioand more recently a new ageguru.

Born in Tunisia in 1945,Challe’s father was a rabbi whomoved the family to Paris whenChalle was three. He claims thatthose early years, which in-cluded a mix of Arabic sounds,Jewish mysticism and Frenchculture, helped shaped hisdestiny. He has spent his adultlife pursuing his ideals, workingunder the motto, “too much isnever enough.”

Ever since he opened Paris’sfirst unisex hair salon in 1964,he has been well known amongParisian hipsters. In 1968, hehung up his scissors and went tolive out a hippie dream in acommune in Sardinia beforeending up back in Paris. Challequickly immersed himself in thefashion business. He importedclassic American urban styles,then focused on what was

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED INTaking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

Celebrities have longmade a point ofshopping at Roots.

Here are the latest sightingsof prominent figures in theworld of entertainment and

sportswhovisited Rootsstoresrecently:• 100 BloorSt., Toronto– BaltimoreOrioles

pitcher AdamLoewen dropped bythe store;- Catcher for the LADodgers, RussellMartin was in townand was spottedperusing

the Roots wintermerchandise;- First baseman of theMinnesota Twins andthe 2006 MVP forthe American League,Justin Morneau

visited the store;- BlairUnderwood, seenon the ABC dramaDirty, Sexy Money,and the new HBOhit In Treatment,

droppedby thestore to check out theleather merchandise;• Pen Centre, St.Catherines, ON –Shane Kippel, oneof the stars of

happening in London and beganimporting clothes from the likesof Malcolm McLaren andVivienne Westwood.

Challe also turned hisattention to the Paris nightclubscene, opening Le Privé in 1974,a chic yet bohemian club and therestaurant CentreVille in 1979.The success of these venturesled him to take over Les BainsDouches in 1985, quicklyturning it into Paris’s premiernightspot.

In 1996, Challe set up hisown record label Chall’OMusic,offering “music to make thebody resonate, to go straight tothe heart and the emotions, thusexpanding the mind.” Drawingon his DJ skills, he mixed a

double-CD compilationLes Bains Douches thatcelebrated the blend ofhouse and world musicthat he had pioneered atthe club. It was wellreceived and Challewent on to releaseseveral more compila-tions, most notably theBuddha Bar series, andhelp develop the famousrestaurant Buddha Bar.

A monument to theParisian chic, BuddhaBar was a five starrestaurant, dominated

by a giant Buddha statue andsurrounded by a giant barserving cocktails and sushi.Challe was resident DJ and bymixing his musical influences,house, ambient, North African,Asian, and a touch of Frenchpop, he created Zen soundscapesof mellow beauty. As more andmore patrons asked for mixtapes of what Challe wasplaying, including variouscelebrities, he issued the doubleCD Buddha Bar in 1999. Itsinstantaneous success led Challeto follow up with Buddha Bar IIand Nirvana Lounge. All haveproved immensely popular inFrance and abroad.

In recent years, Challe hasalso been a highly sought-after

DJ for major events, includingCeline Dion’s wedding and theDalai Lama’s Parisian appear-ances. Having recently left theBuddha Bar, he is currentlyworking on a project, whichinvolves him directing musiciansto make specific Claude Challemusic which he hopes to followwith a circus tour and a spiritualautobiography. Today, he splitshis time between Paris andMarakech. - Davin BujalskiListen to Roots Radio to hear themusic of Claude Challe. To find outmore visit www.claudechalle.com

Adam Loewen

Blair Underwood

Russell Martin

Canadian teen dramaDegrassi: The NextGeneration, dropped bythe store and was seenlooking through the men’smerchandise. He ended uppurchasing the ScriptCanada Sling.Justin Morneau

Shane Kippel


GREEN TIP #45Easy ways to help theenvironment

As part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of TheSource is shining the spotlight on the Mic Mac Mall store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. From left to right: Kiya

Wagg, Amanda Baker, Breagh Brown, Chelsea Hammer and Joelle Marshall.

STARTING LINEUPIntroducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

SPEAK TO MY AGENTThe littlest customers show their Roots

Regular readers of TheSource know that lastyear, we launched this

special feature to showcasephotos of children wearingRoots. It grew out of the factthat we often receive unsolic-ited photos from customers whowant to share with us picturesof their children, cousins,

Easy ways to stay healthyHEALTH TIP #42

nieces, nephews, grandchildren,or even pets wearing Roots.They often ask if they could beused in a future advertisingcampaign for the brand. Wecan’t promise that but we arehappy to publish them in TheSource.

Everyone is welcome tosubmit their favourite shots to

The Source to be consideredfor publication. Please sendyour pictures [email protected].

Be sure to include the nameand age of each child or pet inthe photo, where it was takenand a sentence stating that youagree for the photos to be usedin a future issue of The Source.

MAKING THE AIR CLEANER:Nearly 70% of Canadian childrenlive within walking distance of theirschool, yet only 36% actually walkto school. If dropping kids atschool is part of your regular caruse, consider saving yourself thegas money and your neighborhoodthe pollution.

Start a walking school bus.Parents or caregivers walk theroute to school, stopping at otherhouses to collect kids along theway. For more information, go to:www.goforgreen.ca/asrts has anActive and Safe Routes to Schoolprogram, with everything you needto get a walking school bus startedin your area.- Source: Green Tips: How to SaveMoney and the Planet, publishedby Green Living Enterprises

THE FAT OF THE MATTER: Thereare three types of fat:monounsaturated, polyunsaturated,and saturated. Not all are bad foryou.

Monounsaturated fats suchas olive oil, sesame oil, canola oil,almond oil, flax oil, and fish oil aregood fats. They contain essentialfatty acids such as omega-3 andgammalinolenic acid (GLA) that arecritical in brain development andfunction.

Polyunsaturated fats -margarine, hydrogenated saffloweroil, sunflower oil, and corn oil,among others - also containessential fatty acids. However,these fats are highly refined andcontain large amounts of trans fat(created when vegetable oils arehydrogenated to make themspreadable), which is linked toheart disease and cancer.

The bad fats are the saturatedfats and trans fats produced bydeep-frying: butter, palm kernel oil,peanut oil, coconut oil, and lard.These raise cholesterol andtriglyceride levels, increasing thechance of heart attack and stroke.- Source: Secrets of Longevity, byDr. Maoshing Ni

Kiauna Woo, age 3, Tien Woo, age 1, Oshawa, ONNoemie Faubert, age 5, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QB


NEW & NOTEWORTHYA guide to just-launched Roots products

THE NATURE OF LOVE, THE LOVE OF NATURENew holiday watches give the gift of compassion

This February 14, give thatspecial someone a gift that

will touch their heart and alsomake a difference in the world.In conjunction with Cosmoda,Roots is introducing the Valen-tine’s Day WatchCollection, a seriesof four romanticjewellery-inspiredtimepieces. Avail-able in select storesnow, a portion ofthe proceeds willbe donated to theCanadian WildlifeFederation.

The RootsEntwined tank-

style design featuresa delicate, genuineleather band thatweaves around thewrist. The silveraccents on the face

play up the richburgundy of theanalog dial.Retail price:$100.

Like a finewine, the RootsBordeaux watch is clean andclassic. Deep red leatherbands are inset in the demi-bangle bracelet and analogbezel. The sleek piece is amarriage of fashion and

function. Retail price:$120.

The Roots Cosettecombines classic utilitywith a minimalist geomet-ric design. The result is apolished interwoven metalbraceletas thebase fora ruby-colouredanalog

dial. Retailprice: $110.

The RootsAzure watchemploys someof the same

design ele-ments as theCosette. Theglossy jewel-lery-inspiredband isintricate and

thicklyinterwovenwith stunningdetail. Thedark maroonface of thesquare analog dial gives afeminine, romantic feel to thesleek metal.

Retail price: $115.For more information, visit:

www.watchroots.com.

Entwined

Bordeaux

Cosette

Azure

MAKING TRACKSDenim gets a makeover in new line for children

In a take on traditional denim,Merchandise Manager for Baby

and Kid’s clothing MarisaBattaglia and BabyDesigner, Elsa DeSouzahave introduced acollection of sturdypieces with fashionabledetails perfect for activechildren. The line isavailable in stores now.

The Travis Jean for boys is acomfortable basic suitable for

everyday wear.The contrastingstitching andverticalpinstriping(featured inrailroad only)add playfuldetails to thegarment.

The 100% cotton denim/denimstripe fabrication is available inblack and railroad.

Sizes: S-5T; Retailprice: $29.95

The matching TravisOveralls in railroad featurethe same 100% cottondenim stripe but offeradditional coverage with abibbed front and secure

shoulder straps. Snaps at the innerleg and waist offer roomy comfort

and ease of access. Alarge chest front pocket isconvenient for storingchildhood finds.

Sizes: S-XL; Retailprice: $34.95

For girls, the CassieJumper Dress is a sweet,

feminine take on the traditionaloverall. The button-down top iseasy to slip on, while the largeslantedpockets of theskirt allow forstoragecapacity.Available inblack andrailroad, thejumper ismade of 100%cotton denim/denim stripe.

Sizes: S-5T; Retail price:$32.95

The Cassie Jean is abasic fashioned out of100% cotton denim stripe.Available in railroad, theflattering design iscomfortable and versatile

Sizes: S-5T; Retailprice: $29.95

THE COOPER EVOLUTIONMen’s basic hoody gets a stylish update

With February still blusteryand cold, the new Cooper

Icon Pop Over Hoody byAssociate Men’s wear DesignerDylan Anderson offers a warmand cozy respite from the winterweather.

An updated version of theclassic Cooper Basic Hoody, thematerial remains a soft blend ofcotton and polyester suededfleece, finished with a heavywash for a comfortable worn-infeel. Double layer tapingreinforced in the neck and kangapocket ensures ease of wear. Thehoody has also been pre-washed

for minimal residual shrinkageand comes self-lined for extrainsulation from the elements.

The athletic-inspired graph-ics on the chest are a mix oftextures including appliques,embroidery, print and flocking.In stores now, the new CooperHoody will make a great transi-tional piece during the cool daysof early spring.

Available in storm, athleticblue, after dark and coronet blue.A differing range of colours willbe available at all stores.

Sizes: XS-XXL; Retail price:$74.

Travis Jean

Travis OverallsCassie JumperDress

Cassie Jean The Cooper Icon Pop Over Hoody will keep you warm this winter

february 2008,

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