Raymond E. Robicheau - Unlimited

The ' E ' is for Entrepreneur. Raymond Robicheau is something of a legend in the island village of Westport. Born and raised here, he has worked many different jobs throughout the years, in many different places, but the magnetism of Brier Island always brought him home.

After serving 4 1/2 years in the Army during World War 2, Raymond returned to Westport in 1946 with his bride Rieke Verburgh of Nymegen, Holland. It was in 1948 that he invested his $900.00 gratuity from the war and purchased the A.R. Hicks store, starting R.E. Robicheau Ltd.

" In 1948, there were five other stores on the island. It was hard going for the first five or six years. Lots of times I would have to go out and do other work while my wife tended the store with the kids around her skirts".

Three years after starting his first store, Raymond bought out the E.C. Coggins store across the street. A year later he purchased another store from Holland Titus. The next year he bought the E.C. Bowers General Store and the year after that the store owned by Mary Chaycko. During this time of hard work and acquisition, he also was running three pool halls and a restaurant. As the economy slowed he closed the pool halls and eventually the restaurant. When business at the store quieted down, Rieke took over and Raymond went pollock seining.

" That's what gave me the idea to go into the fish business. I decided that would be a good business to get into because we couldn't sell the fish we got ".

Even though there were six fish firms in Westport at the time, they couldn't begin to handle the number of fish that were being caught. He purchased George Kenney's fish firm and built on to it to process salt fish, which he sold to the West Indies. Two years later, he expanded by purchasing the E.C. Bowers fish company. After several good years, the fish business began to go down hill with the intervention of Government rules and regulations which made it impossible to turn a profit. Ever the fighter, Raymond consolidated his businesses into the one store. By this time he and the Westport Co-op were the only two stores on the island.

Groundhog Day 1976

On this day in 1976, Westport was savaged by an unbelievable storm. High tides and fierce winds combined to wash away Westport's waterfront and the road. Raymond's store, pictured on the left, disappeared completely a half hour after this picture was taken. Both of his fish plants were also washed away.

The rubble pictured on the right is all that remained of R.E. Robicheau . The building you see standing became the present day location of R.E. Robicheau Ltd. Just two days after the storm, Raymond opened up in a temporary location and was back in business selling bread and milk. Canned goods collected off the beach were sold without labels for $5.00 a case.

In 1982, Raymond purchased the Westport Co-op and has been the only store on the island ever since. In 1986 he sold the store to his daughter Ruth Ellen and she ran it until her sister Joyce and her husband Wally took it over in 1997. Raymond continues to be a presence in the store to this day. And though he's quick to tell you that he's in his 80's now, his enthusiasm and spirit still stem from a time when hard work was something to be proud of.

" I still say as old as I am I could go out and find work of some kind. I could find some way of making some money ".

The Tradition Continues

Today the spirit started by Raymond Robicheau is kept strong by the efforts of his daughter and son in-law. R.E. Robicheau Ltd. strives to be a focal point for the community, as is witnessed by the Brier Island Community Barbecue pictured to the left. As a place to talk with friends and neighbours, a place to get the latest news and weather, R.E. Robicheau's carries on the tradition of serving the community.