Legg auction for charities

Life was different back then and Michael Legg, now 73, A lot can happen in 37 years. Back in 1971 Richard Nixon was the American president, Disney World first opened its doors in Florida and southern Quebec received 42 centimetres of snow in early March.

Life was different back then and Michael Legg, now 73, was witnessing the world evolve from the retail store he purchased in Hudson.

“I bought the business as a means to live in the community,” Legg said. “I never thought I would stay in it that long and I had a lot of fun.”

Legg & Compagnie enjoyed a blissful relationship with the off-island community’s shopping core. And now he is ready to call it a career.

“Because it’s been 37 years, it’s much easier to walk away and say ‘I’ve done it, it’s been great, thank you’,” Legg said. “I was coming across some old work agendas from 10 years ago, I was actually astonished at the amount (of work) I packed into a week. And thought to myself I couldn’t do it today. It’s that slowing down affect and that’s when you start to recognize it’s time.”

Having specialized in many items ranging from Christmas decorations to furniture gave the opportunity for Legg to give back to Hudson by auctioning everything in his store and donating all proceeds to charity.

“It just seemed like a nice way to end up and give back to the community,” said Legg. “By doing it this way, (the retirement) is no longer about me, it became for the community and we got an incredible number of volunteers to help (for the auction).”

All the proceeds from the auction will go to three charitable groups: the soon-to-built palliative care centre in Hudson, NOVA and Hudson Village Theatre. Auction registration starts Saturday at 8 a.m. and the auction begins at 9 a.m. at 422 Main Rd. A preview of items will be held at Legg & Compagnie on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.