I chose one last delicacy from the caterer then I thanked my gracious hosts for holding the reception in their beautiful Point Grey home. I had to leave early. I headed back onto Southwest Marine Drive and had my tie off by the time I got to the tunnel.

My sports jacket was coming off as I climbed the stairs in the Fort 91原创 Community Hall where I could hear raucous laughter bouncing off the walls followed by applause and cheering. The area around the bar was crowded and the tables along the back wall were filled with enough food to choke a horse. This was an old time, Friday night, small town party.

The Fort 91原创 community had organized the event to thank Jim and Margo Dyck and their family for their 40 years of service as the owners of Frontier Hardware. Jim鈥檚 parents had run the store prior to Jim taking over and eventually, three generations of the family had seen to the hardware needs of the surrounding area.

People from all walks of life got up to pay tribute to the family. Some were sorry the store had closed, for selfish reasons they admitted. Now they would have to drive quite a distance to buy the little things like light bulbs, batteries, and mouse traps. Others had grown accustomed to running in from the farm to pick up a couple of two by fours or nails. Some were just going to miss the conversation and Margo鈥檚 jokes.

Many revelations were made during those tributes. It seems that the women folk were treated much better than the male customers and a lemon pie, a cake or a batch of cookies could get a lady a fair discount on a can of paint or a pair of gardening gloves, if she dealt only with Jim.

So how do you stay in business for 40 years? I talk to many folks who can鈥檛 seem to make a go of it for two or three or less. Jim told us you have to work at it. That鈥檚 an old time attitude, working for a living.

But you could set your watch at 7:30 a.m., when Jim pushed the racks out, seven days a week. If it snowed he would shovel his walk and the neighbours鈥� as well. The doors were open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and the customers relied on that. Frontier always had what the customers needed and Jim knew what they wanted even if they didn鈥檛. If you didn鈥檛 need the whole box, they would sell items 鈥渂y the each.鈥�

Words like reliable, dependable, cheerful, helpful, trustworthy and family popped up in each tribute. If you were a regular or a first-timer you were always acknowledged when you came in and smarter when you went out; all done without a website or a Twitter account.

Jim summed it up by saying he was reluctant to call Fort 91原创 鈥榤y town.鈥� But when you stop to clean up the sidewalk flower pot that was tipped over, hang the street banners and Christmas lights or do something about the graffiti on the church, you soon feel a sense of responsibility and the town recognized that ownership Friday night.

The community now has a great opportunity to step up and fill in the blanks left by the Dyck family. Maybe it鈥檚 your time to make a difference. At least that鈥檚 what McGregor says.