Costco Connection | August | Cover Story | Member mania!
Left to right: Janina Resus, Di Honorio, Jan Resus and Krystin Cousart
© COURTESY OF DI HONORIO
Member mania!
It’s no secret that people who love Costco really love Costco and are always ready to share that love with anyone who will listen. On the following pages, you’ll meet a handful of just such members who are passionate about their favourite shopping destination.
BEST BUDS AND BEST BUYS
Di Honorio • Calgary, Alberta
Di Honorio shares how Costco has helped keep their friendships strong. “My best friends and I are bona fide Costco lovers. We love Costco so much we got matching Kirkland Signature™ pullovers and had a mini photo shoot at our favourite [warehouse] in Calgary.
“Ever since the beginning of the pandemic we’ve planned monthly Costco runs together, and it is always a blast showing up in our ‘uniform’ and getting asked by random passersby where a certain item is.
“As corny as it sounds, our friendship has deepened thanks to the food, fun and awesome finds at Costco. We all park on a certain side of the building, have a tried-and-true warehouse walking route and even have each others’ Food Court orders memorized!
“You can be sure we will all be members for life!”
"I have bought his picks because [they are] JT approved!" says Julie Oullette.
COURTESY OF STEVEN SPENCER
JT APPROVED
Steven and JT Spencer • Edmonton, Alberta
If the YEG Costco Lovers’ Facebook page has a star, it’s JT Spencer and his popular JT’s picks. Steven Spencer, JT’s father, tells the Connection how JT’s picks got started: “I went to Costco, and the limoncello biscotti bites looked good. We tried them and everyone loved them. I posted it on YEG Costco Lovers, and most people felt the same. So I went back a few days later with JT and took a picture with him, and the comments were non-stop about him and the biscotti bites.”
JT’s picks are still crowd-pleasers, as nearly 30 members of the group wrote in to nominate him. Here’s what member Julie Oullette had to say: “I have bought his picks because [they are] JT approved! He is the cutest, sweetest boy with the biggest smile who has a wonderful and proud father.”
Pamela and Paul Anderson
© NICOLAS TAYAOUT
TRUE LOVE
Pamela Anderson • Edmonton, Alberta
Pamela Anderson shares the following: “My husband and I are so crazy for Costco that we took our wedding photos inside the Nisku, Alberta, location. We purchased our wedding bands from Costco as well as all of our fine jewellery.
“Whenever we go on vacation we make Costco one of our first stops in order to check the similarities and differences.
“I have been to Costcos in Japan, South Korea, England, Mexico and We are the unofficial advertisers for Costco by wearing Kirkland Signature™ sweaters and spreading our love for Costco wherever we go.”
Pat Clermont
COURTESY OF PAT CLERMONT
LOST BET
Pat Clermont • Prescott, Ontario
Pat Clermont of Prescott, Ontario, has lost only one bet in the past 20 years in which he wagered a Costco hot dog. An old Food Court sign serves as a reminder of a current bet he has with his wife: that he’ll get the book series he’s currently writing into Costco warehouses within the next three years.
© GENEVIÈVE GAGNON
FIRST-PLACE PRIZE
Geneviève Gagnon • Repentigny, Quebec
If there’s one iconic image from the warehouse that strikes a chord with members, it’s the people who staff the sample tables. Geneviève Gagnon of Repentigny, Quebec, is one of many members—both children and adults— who have created a costume by donning a hairnet and a red apron while handing out samples. Gagnon’s 2021 Halloween costume earned her a first-place prize at the school where she works.
Sandi Bjorgum
COURTESY OF SANDI BJORGUM
MOM ON THE RUN
Heidi Schollenberg • Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sandi Bjorgum says, “My mother is the head of a very large and very close-knit family. She has eight adult children and nine grandchildren. She runs a tight ship, and Costco is a big part of how she does it. Because she loves shopping at Costco so much and knows how challenging shopping with babies and toddlers can be, we will receive a family text at least three times per week saying, “Doing a Costco run, what do you need?” She picks up diapers, wipes, milk, toilet paper, chicken, cereal, batteries, you name it. Here’s a picture to show you her dedication: I’m pretty sure these receipts are all 2022.”
The Valdez family
COURTESY OF NADINE VALDEZ
COSTCO CHRISTMAS
Nadine Valdez • Mississauga, Ontario
Every year, Nadine Valdez (third from the left) and her family wear coordinated outfits for Christmas. The theme for 2021? Kirkland Signature™. The Mississauga, Ontario, resident says, “I guess a family that saves together, stays together.”
Celebrating with Costco
COURTESY OF LAURA FLOREZ
Ilisandro Taveras of Toronto shares the following story:
“My favourite story has to be when I celebrated my 20th birthday at the Costco Food Court in 2019. I think that the greatest part of that story is that all of the invitees came. When my family and friends arrived, they gave me gifts, we ate together and they sang me ‘Happy Birthday’ with a custom Costco cake that my friend made. It was an excellent evening. I loved it.”