Leaving a legacy. (Robert "Bob" Hoare)

Leaving a Legacy
By: Shawn Michaud


In September 2015 I decided to leave my hometown of Cornwall, Ontario and venture west to the small town of Port Perry. I was given the opportunity to work with a great man named Bob (Robert) Hoare and his family business called Brian's Towing; managed by his son and daughter in law (Lee & Rebecca Hoare). Brian’s Towing has a high work ethic and strives for exceptional customer service, all while keeping their rates fair in an area where price gouging seems to be more common than one would like to think.
Unfortunately in January of 2016, Bob Hoare passed suddenly. His loss was felt greatly within the community and family run business. Lee and Rebecca decided to carry on the business and have done an exceptional job at maintaining the morals and practices that Bob worked so hard to achieve. Bob would be proud.

Bob’ Towing Career:
Bob’s interest in towing started very young while still in school. In the late 60’s early 70’s Bob would spend his summers working for his uncle who owned a garage in the Port Perry area. Many times he would be sent out to pick up customers cars with the old Holmes wrecker that his uncle owned. It wasn’t until 1995 that Bob’s towing career truly took off and he began brokering with his partner Danny Sullivan for Diamond Towing in Toronto.  In his time at Diamond Towing, Bob was taken under the wing by a man named Ernie Quinn (Duff Diamond Towing). Over the years Bob looked back and gave much credit to the things taught to him by Ernie. In 2000, five years after starting his towing career, Bob was joined by his son Lee. Together they worked for Diamond Towing for another two years while they refined their skills and grew their passion for the towing industry. In early 2002 the decision was made for Bob to leave Diamond Towing and venture out on his own. After purchasing two trucks he began working with the CAA south central Ontario with his son Lee. By this time Bob’s passion and enthusiasm for the industry had grown exponentially. In 2005 he took the biggest risk of his career:buying Brian’s Towing in Port Perry. Bob put everything on the line financially to wander into this business venture with no idea what the future would hold for him and his new business.
I think it’s safe to say he did very well, and worked as hard on the first day, as the last.

Outside of work:
When he was working Bob was a very strict and clear on what he expected from his employees. Outside of work, he was a much more relaxed, kind and comedic man who was never one to miss an opportunity to crack a joke or make someone smile. He was a man who set goals and did everything he could to achieve them. Bob was an avid golfer and an active member of the community.

Although I did not get to work under Bob for nearly as long as I would have liked to, in the short time I spent with him I was able to realize that any person who invest the time and passion into something like Bob did, will without a doubt,put himself in the right direction for success. Ten years after the purchase of Brian’s Towing the company is as successful as ever. Bob’s legacy will continue on for years to come under the direction of Rebecca and Lee. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.