A golden arch farewell

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/01/2016 (2981 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

McDonald’s unofficial ambassador is putting away his uniform for good this week but it surely won’t be the last time you can say hello to Cliff Friesen at the popular eatery.

Even now, on days he isn’t working, you may catch Friesen with a group of men who welcome him to their table for conversation and laughs. They are some of the regulars—a part of the lifeblood of Steinbach’s McDonald’s.

But there may be no regular as recognizable as Friesen.

IAN FROESE | THE CARILLON
Cliff Friesen will depart from his job at McDonald’s in Steinbach after 23 years on Jan. 29.
IAN FROESE | THE CARILLON Cliff Friesen will depart from his job at McDonald’s in Steinbach after 23 years on Jan. 29.

He is not the most talkative but wish Cliff well, and he’ll always reply. He has a smile that doesn’t waver, a contagious laugh and can always tell you how the Jets did last night.

The 67-year-old has been at McDonald’s for nearly 23 years as a cleaner. Regular patrons have seen him around. Friesen is in the lobby, picking up trays, cleaning them and putting them away, but not for much longer. His last day as an employee is Friday, but he’s sure to be a customer for years to come.

Dave Petrishen, director of operations at the Steinbach McDonald’s, will miss Friesen’s regular presence. He describes Friesen as the lobby ambassador.

“I’ve never seen the guy have a bad day,” said Petrishen.

“He becomes part of the fabric of the community. There’s a different energy when he’s here.”

And it’s noticeable when he’s not there, said Petrishen.

“Any time of the day I could ask him, ‘Did you watch the game yesterday?’” added assistant manager Jodi Friesen. “I have no idea what I’m talking about but he has watched the game,” she said.

There’s that humour of Friesen’s his colleagues and friends can recall vividly.

Cliff would always call Jodi “old lady” despite him being a few decades her senior.

Cliff Friesen used to come across Jayda Wiebe when she worked at enVision. Friesen, who has an intellectual disability, lives in an enVision group home. He would joke with her that her marbles were going backwards.

She first got to know Cliff like many before her—at McDonald’s.

“I remember going to McDonald’s as a young kid and Cliff was already working there, and then I grew up and started supporting Cliff. It was like, ‘Oh, I remember you,’” she recalled.

“He never complained about going there. I mean, he does the trays and the garbage, like if anyone is going to complain that would be the job that you’d complain about, but he never did.”

Brad Kehler, now with mySteinbach.ca, oversaw some of the hiring and training at McDonald’s when Friesen came on board in 1993.

If you needed something done, Friesen was your man.

“I don’t think Cliff ever had a bad day, he was the most positive person,” said Kehler. “If he had to do something it was, ‘Sure thing, Brad. I’ll do it.’”

Friesen was stumped when asked what comes after retirement, which he slowly eased into after leaving Kindale Industries a few years ago. He has been working at McDonald’s three days a week.

“I don’t know what to say now,” said Friesen, laughing.

The major item in his schedule is a trip to Las Vegas. He went last year, inviting support worker Noel Inggao to join him, and the duo will make another visit next month.

Inggao has made a friend out of a client, a guy Inggao will spend time with on days off. When there’s a call from Friesen it’s probably a request to grab coffee at McDonald’s.

“When we go to McDonald’s, I can see all these seniors. They always greet him.

“McDonald’s created an avenue for him to get to know more people and for people to get to know him,” said Inggao.

For Friesen, he says it’s time to move on from this job, but he won’t forget the many who have said hello.

“I will miss everybody,” he said.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Local

LOAD MORE