SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With a couple discarded bottles, a keen eye for creation and an urge to lighten Yellowknife’s waste, Old Town Glassworks creator, Matthew Grogono, was unknowingly creating what would later be an internationally recognized enterprise.

Old Town Glassworks staff Rob Beauregard, left, Lois McDonald-Layden, Shannon Moore, Matthew Grogono, Valerie Desjardins and Tamlin Gilbert are all smiles as they celebrate the shop's 20th birthday. Missing from the photo are staff members Peyton Straker and Stephen Richardson. - photo courtesy of Lois McDonald-Layden

“I had no idea, but I knew I had to start somewhere,” said Grogono.

And now, after years of raising local waste management awareness and creating thousands of custom glass works, Old Town Glassworks -- previously known as Yellowknife Glass Recyclers -- is celebrating its 20th birthday this month.

In light of the birthday, Grogono, general manager Lois McDonald-Layden and recent hire Rob “Robbie” Beauregard, fondly remember the past, embrace the present and plan for the future.

Undoubtedly, the past has treated the store well -- bringing in thousands of patrons a year and providing workshops and products for tourists and local Yellowknifers.

“At Old Town Glassworks we've listened to what the customers want. They want hands-on, tactile activities that are creative and challenging, but only as challenging as they want,” said Grogono.

Currently Old Town Glassworks is rated at the top of Yellowknife shopping destinations listed on Tripadvisor, with five stars and 16 positive reviews.

Old Town Glassworks has gone through many changes throughout the years, including its name.

But it's not always fun and games. Old Town Glassworks, like many local businesses, feel the ill-effects of drawing from a sometimes transient employee pool.

On July 1, 2006, Old Town Glassworks became a co-operative, as an initiative to generate employee interest and investment.

“The labour force is our biggest challenge for sure, which is why Matthew encouraged it to be a workers co-operative -- so that workers would have an invested interest. That was eight years ago.”

Despite rocky employment trends, the present state of Old Town Glassworks is rather hopeful. In fact, local and international revenue has never been better.

“It’s been growing exponentially, there have been months that have doubled or tripled previous years,” said McDonald-Layden.

When asked what accounted for the growth, she said, “Me! I’m joking, but that’s part of it. It’s about maintaining stable employees -- it is very difficult.”

However, Old Town Glassworks continues to show success, both through a recent prototype franchise developed by former Yellowknife resident, Denise Lockett – named Bowen Island Glass – and a hugely successful soap pump developed by McDonald-Layden.

Old Town Glassworks also continues to ship glassware overseas.

According to McDonald-Layden, they recently shipped a Robbie Craig-designed mug to Singapore last week. And to her, social media have been influential in this expansion.

With new, eager employees, a promising international platform and in-house adaptations, the future for Old Town Glassworks appears just as bright.

Beauregard, a “very youthful, energetic well intended guy,” according to Grogono, started working as a grinder on Nov. 17 after moving to Yellowknife from Penticton, B.C. some two weeks prior.

“The job came up online,” Beauregard said. “I had my tablet, and I was watching ads pop up and then there was an ad for Old Town Glassworks, and within a minute I was over here.”

“It's worked out great, he's a really great fit,” added McDonald-Layden. “Grinding is not an easy thing to try and teach... and some people are never good at it. He was an instant expert.”

Despite popular belief, it's Beauregard, along with other employees, who make the glasses that are sold, not Grogono.

“Most of Yellowknife thinks that Matthew is out here making every glass well sell. He doesn't do any production. He does occasional workshops, is the facility manager, a brilliant mechanic as well as the president of the co-op,” said McDonald-Layden.

The plan is to celebrate the milestone in June.

“We're hoping to do a music video on the property and film it as a promotion tool. We may also do a fundraiser on the side,” said Mcdonald-Layden.

“We have lots of big plans. Last year, we opened up the bike shop, and we’re starting to do entertainment in the backyard.”

Old Town Glassworks also hopes to continue to improve offered workshops. Currently, the co-op hosts several birthday parties, conferences, events and school field trips.

“The big thing is making our production as efficient as possible because recycling glass is not profitable. We're not doing this to make money, it is a labour of love and we're happy that everyone has jumped on board and supported it,” said McDonald-Layden.