The call of home brought Cam Trott back to Collingwood back in the 1980s.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we sat down with Trott, 65, owner of Trott’s Sports Excellence.
Q: For how long have you lived in Collingwood?
A: We moved here in 1983. I’m the only Trott that wasn’t born in Collingwood since 1862. After the war, my father moved to Toronto.
We lived there until I had the opportunity to move back in ’83. My kids have all been born here.
I’m the only Trott that’s not a local.
Q: What brought you back to Collingwood?
A: I was working with a company called Carnation Milk at the time.
My territory was in the city, but then this territory (Collingwood) became available. My father had just passed away at that time.
Something in the back of my mind said, come home.
So I came home.
There was an opportunity to open up a sporting goods store, so we did.
Q: What is it about sports and sporting goods that appealed to you as an option?
A: It was a business opportunity. There was a vacuum here. A friend of mine already had a sporting goods store in Elmvale. He thought it was a good idea.
I opened Trott’s Sporting Excellence in 1986.
Q: Trott is a well-known name in Collingwood. What is it like being a legacy here?
A: People know the name. It’s an old Collingwood name. This area is changing so much, so fast. People are coming here. The population has nearly doubled since I moved here in the 1980s. The name doesn’t mean much anymore to the new people. (laughs)
Q: How has the changing population affected the business?
A: It’s helped all the businesses in town. The town has to grow.
Q: How is Collingwood different from Toronto?
A: I know a lot of the people who come in here. We’re still a small town. I recognize people all the time. People nod and say hello. I think people who come to Collingwood enjoy that aspect of it.
Q: With the Collingwood Colts starting out here this season, has that affected your business?
A: Oh, yes. All the apparel to support the team sells well.
I’m not sure they’re even that interested in hockey, but they all want to go to the games on Friday nights. The arena’s full.
Q: What does the future hold for the business, or for yourself?
A: I think one day I’ll sell the business. Maybe the person I sell it to would let me come back to work for them two or three days a week, if they’ll have me, rather than the six days a week I work now.
I’m still enjoying it though, and I’m still relatively healthy too.
No definite plans yet though. It’s not for sale right now.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
