Arnel Michel never strayed too far for too long from the family farm where he was born, but he has lived an interesting and varied life.
He grew up in the South End when it was still on the outskirts of the city. Then, with his wife, Laurette, raised six children and owned several businesses on Bouchard Street, a street named after his mother's family.
Now 89, he and Laurette, 92, are enjoying the results of their labour of love with a happy and healthy retirement.
The Michels owned Gloria's Restaurant for many years and were co-founders of A & J Home Hardware in Regency Mall.
In the 1970s, Arnel and his seven siblings established Ludger Michel Estates and developed Moonglo subdivision on their father's 360-acre farm.
The Michels celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in August. Laurette, who grew up in a large family in Quebec, met her future husband at a wedding.
"A friend said she had a cousin, a businessman, she would like me to meet," remembers Laurette.
They married in 1957 and shortly afterwards purchased Gloria's Restaurant from Arnel's sister Gloria. Their first home was on the second floor of the restaurant.
They built a modest house just a stone 's throw away from the house where Arnel grew up.
"That house was built around 1912 because old French newspapers with that date were found when the chimney was repaired," said Arnel.
Entrepreneurship runs in the family. Both of Arnel's grandfathers, Georges Bouchard and Delphis Michel, were successful lumber pioneers in the area.
Arnel studied at Sudbury Business College, but got practical experience working at the family-owned dairy, Standard, which was located on Victoria Street near the old Northern Breweries building.
His children learned about the business world working in the family hardware store or restaurant as teenagers.
"We never spoiled them," said Laurette. "If they wanted something, they worked for it."
Marc, the oldest son who died in 2014, was a co-owner of A & J Home Hardware with Valerie and Brigitte. Mario, now a business professor at Collège Boréal, took over Gloria's in 1989. Bruno ran the restaurant from 1996 to 2017. He became a church deacon and is a board member at Foyer Inner City Homes. Claude, owned the Grand Theatre for almost 30 years.
The family is a generous supporter of many good causes including Place des Arts.
Arnel was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Sudbury for 70 years and was president numerous times before the club resigned its charter last year.
He was honoured with the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Chair's Award in 2001. Gloria's Restaurant and A & J Home Hardware have also won chamber awards.
The Michels have vacationed widely in places such as Finland, Australia and New Zealand but they are happiest at home. Their children live nearby and visit often. They delight in the success of their nine grandchildren and enjoy watching their two great-grandsons grow.
What is the secret to their success as business and life partners?
"We respect each other. We never told each other what to do," said Arnel.
"We had our problems but they brought us closer together,” adds Laurette.
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury. Success is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
