Community Pillar of the Year: Rob Reid

Community Pillar

VICTORIA’S ROB REID

Rob Reid, owner of Frontrunners Footwear in Victoria, was selected for this award because of his dedication to the running community

as well as his broad-based efforts with local and international outreach work in supporting cancer research and to end homelessness.

The former elite marathoner is the chair of the Terry Fox Centre, where visitors can view the icon’s artifacts and the progress being made in cancer research. Reid is also a founding sponsor of Every Step Counts, a community-based service that endeavours to end homelessness in Victoria by helping to empower people who face housing and social barriers. Every Step Counts is a partnership with the not-for-profit Cool Aid Society of which Reid also serves on the campaign cabinet. Reid also started the Kenya Run Camp, a charitable event that enables outreach work in the local community in the Rift Valley.

Reid makes sure that Frontrunners supports many community initiatives in the communities they serve as a retailer, providing support to over a dozen Vancouver Island-based age-group athletes who struggle with the costs of competing and equipment. Shoes for Youth is a program that was founded by Reid in partnership with another of his charity concerns, Runners of Compassion, which he started in 1996. Since then Shoes for Youth have provided over 1,000 pairs of shoes to underprivileged youth on Vancouver Island. Frontrunners also supports Victoria Footprints, which encourages youths to participate in local races.

Reid opened Frontrunners in 1988. Currently, he owns four stores on Vancouver Island, along with Nick Walker, Normon Thibault and Stefan Jakobsen, as well as New Balance Victoria.

Reid, now in his 50s, continues to run recreationally. He has a marathon best of 2:22, which he achieved during the 1980s. He is a four-time winner of the Calgary Marathon and had set the course record of 2:26:37 in 1981.

-Christopher Kelsall