Generations of Jewellers

Many Cornwallites will remember the first Pommier Jewellers in town, operated Mr. Armand Pommier, at 105 Montreal Road, who made jewellery , and optometry his lifetime career.

Many Cornwallites will also remember his youngest son Georges branching out on his own after a five-year apprenticeship with his dad. The year was 1952 and he set up shop in the Cornwallis Hotel under the trade name "House of Gifts".

Georges was walking not only in the footsteps of his father but also those of his grandfather, Mr. Eugene Pommier, a man had a feel for the diamond as far back 1879 and who launched the first Pommier Jewellers in Rockland, Ontario. Eugene Pommier was a pioneer in his day and little could he predict how far his enterprise would go. As it happened however, he had five sons who all inherited his love and knowledge of the diamond, and they all eventually opened their own stores in various parts of Ontario and Quebec.

When the House of Gifts was born seventy three years later, it adopted a style to suit the times and business expanded until in 1967, it merged with another firm in town, owned by the well known and well-remembered Mr. Harold Warren. And so began "Warren-Pommier Jewellers Ltd.", which operated at 13 Second St. East until 1986.

The business has since relocated in their own building at 6 Second St. E., again as Pommier Jewellers Ltd., and today as in 1879, the diamond is still the heartbeat of the business.

Tradition is still going strong from father to son, and over 100 years later, it has become André Pommier's turn to head the business. Like his forefathers, he brings his own personality into his work and has added a new dimension to it, well in tune with the 90's, and his is designing. André's background with Toronto's George Brown College led him to become an award winning Canadian designer Goldsmith. He has gained recognition in several major Canadian competitions as a successful designer and he now creates pieces of jewellery which are unique and personalized for his clients. André is seconded by another member of the family, his sister Maryse, who joined the firm nine years ago. As well, Mrs. Ann Fortier, also a graduate jeweller, has been with the business for over 30 years.

One could say that for many people, Pommier has become synonymous to diamond, and though the stores changed their image as the years went by, the values have remained the same, and that is "Honesty, Quality and Personal Service."

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